CLARION
U N I V E R S I T Y

M A G A Z I N E

SPRING 2021

KEELING HEALTH CENTER
which has long been the clinical site for the Department
of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has undergone
renovations in its lower level where students tend to clients.

Dworek said the monitoring system where supervisors
watch therapy sessions has been upgraded, and they are
using new equipment in the voice lab.

The waiting room and therapy rooms have been painted
and updated.

“The Clarion University Speech and Hearing Clinic stayed
open through the pandemic by offering speech-language
services to the community through teletherapy,” said
Dr. Mary Pat McCarthy, CSD professor.

“It’s like a brand new place,” said Kristina Dworek,
CSD chair and assistant professor.
In addition to paint and basic updating, the clinic has kept
up with necessary improvements for clinic equipment.

The program typically has about 100 clients (both children
and adults) who seek diagnostic and therapeutic services
for speech and language disorders. The clinic is currently
serving 60 clients via teletherapy.

WWW.CLARION.EDU/CSD-RENOVATIONS.

CLARION

S PR I N G 2 0 2 1
VOLUME 7
NUMBER 1

FEATURES
12 From the Fog Emerges Hope

DEPARTMENTS
4 News Digest

Successful prosthodontist David McFadden is now a

Student Mary Clare Smith creates 'It Isn’t Over'
clothing, website; theatre majors honored for pandemic
productions; university publishes second law journal;
Madison Shilk’s wins prestigious award for excellence
in internship; Venango students add some play to
their hard work; Clarion University held a modified
commencement May 8 for students wanting an
in-person ceremony.

two-time author by compiling into books the extensive
research he’s done to inform his own interests.

10 Paint ‘n Sip

Alumnus Nick Brucker turned a supermarket conversation
into Aeras Fog Co., which uses drones for electrostatic
sanitization of large areas in little time.

18 Million Dollar Man

24 Peer Leadership

The COVID-19 Student Task Force educates and encourages
peers to engage in safe practices to stay well.

28 Safe Spaces

Maintenance and custodial workers have been integral to
keeping campus safe during the pandemic.

32 Sports Digest
Dave Hrovat retires after 30 years of coaching diving
champions, former Clarion diving champ Heath Calhoun
returns to take helm; athletics was back in action with
modified schedules this spring.

40 Class Notes
48 #WingsUp

30 A Shot in the Arm

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
get a jump start on their careers by helping to staff COVID
testing and vaccination sites.

When Jada Smith experienced unfair treatment because
she was female, the then-8th grader responded by using
her birthday money to start a scholarship for girls in
her high school. Now a member of Clarion’s women’s
basketball team, Smith continues helping other young
female athletes through a nonprofit organization she
founded.

On the cover
New graduates celebrate at a modified in-person
commencement ceremony May 8 at Memorial Stadium.

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

1

President:
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson
Executive editor:
Tina Horner
Co-editors:
Sean Fagan (sports);
Amy Thompson Wozniak ’02, ’06G
Design:
Bryan Postlewait ‘04
Contributors:
Michelle Port
Shawna Bish
Photographers:
Adam Reynolds ’15
Bryan Postlewait,’04
Address comments and questions to:
Clarion University Magazine
Center for Advancement
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
840 Wood St., Clarion, PA 16214
Email: alumni@clarion.edu
Visit Clarion University on the web at
www.clarion.edu.
Clarion University Magazine is
published by the Division for University
Advancement for alumni, families of
current students and friends of Clarion
University. Alumni information is also
located at www.clarion.edu/alumni.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania is
committed to equal employment and
equal educational opportunities for
all qualified individuals regardless
of race, color, sex, religion, national
origin, affection or sexual orientation,
age, disability or other classifications
that are protected under Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, and other pertinent state and
federal laws and regulations.
Direct equal opportunity inquiries to:
Director of Social Equity
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
216 Carrier Administration Building
Clarion, PA 16214-1232
814-393-2109

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Board of Governors
Chair: Cynthia D. Shapira
Vice Chair: David M. Maser
Vice Chair: Samuel H. Smith
Rep. Tim Briggs
Audrey F. Bronson
Joar Dahn
Donald E. Houser Jr.
Rodney Kaplan Jr.
Barbara McIlvaine Smith
Marian D. Moskowitz
Thomas S. Muller
Noe Ortega, designee for Sec. Rivera
Pedro A. Rivera, secretary of education
Rep. Brad Roae
Sen. Judith L. Schwank
Meg Snead, designee for Gov. Wolf
Neil R. Weaver '00
Gov. Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans
Council of Trustees
Chair: J.D. Dunbar ’77, ’79G
Vice Chair: Milissa Steiner Bauer ’84
Secretary: James L. Kifer ’83G
Susanne A. Burns
The Honorable R. Lee James ’74, ’83G
Kaitlyn Krupa, Student Trustee
The Honorable Donna Oberlander ’91
Larry Pickett ’77
Brendan Shepherd ’16
Howard H. Shreckengost ’83
Neil Weaver ’00
Alumni Association Board of Directors
President: Theresa Zacherl Edder ’91, ’05G
President-Elect: David Reed ’09
Treasurer: Michael Phillips ’03, ’04G
Secretary: Samantha Noblit Thauvett ‘09
Michael Chapaloney ‘99
Brian Cook ’03
Henry Crawford ’02
Jeffrey Douthett ’79
Chelsea Signorino Ewing ’15
Sandra Hollenbaugh Jarecki ’69
Bridget Linnan Kennedy ’90, ‘07G
Thomas Launer ’10
John Marshall ’87
Barry McCauliff ’72
Sean McDonald ’97, ’01G
Chris Myers ’12
Ryan Peffer ’03
Joseph Sciullo ’02
Shannon Fitzpatrick Thomas ’92
Virginia Cole Vasko ’88
Sydney Spang
Eagle Ambassadors President
Ann Thompson ex-officio
Director of Alumni Engagement
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson ex-officio
President, Clarion University

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INTEGRATION MOVES FORWARD;
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPEN
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher
Education Board of Governors has
approved the proposed implementation
plan for integrating Clarion, Edinboro
and California universities. The approval
represents a major milestone in what
has been a nine-month planning process
involving more than 400 students,
faculty, staff and alumni from across the
three campuses.
Clarion, Edinboro and Cal U – three
sister institutions with rich histories
– all began as schools to prepare
much-needed teachers to serve their
respective regions. Over time, they
adapted as the needs of students,
employers and our broader communities
changed.
Integration marks yet another
adaptation in that continued evolution.
The Board of Governors’ action
prompted a 60-day public comment
period, during which the State System
will accept feedback on the integration
plan for these three campuses. The
voices of our campus community
continue to be essential. Those who
would like to comment may do so via
web form, email, mail and at a public
hearing June 9 and 10 as outlined at
www.passhe.edu/integrations.
We look forward to seeing the
comments that will be submitted to the
State System and also to the board’s
final vote in July. We stand poised to
honor our past, while continuing to
chart a course for a future in service to
our mission and the students who are at
its heart.
For more information about integration, visit www.passhe.edu/integrations
and www.clarion.edu/integration.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Clarion Family,
I hope this finds you and your loved ones well. Spring semester whizzed by at
the university. As we continued to work with COVID restrictions in place, nearly
650 students lived on campus, they participated in classes through a combination of face-to-face and remote learning. Particularly this past spring, our
campus community made us all Clarion proud.
We have behaved responsibly to minimize the spread of COVID. We continue
to wear our masks, abide by distancing guidelines, and wash and sanitize our
hands. We tested students before they arrived on campus and implemented surveillance testing throughout the semester. Through these actions, we
kept cases extremely low on campus. We care for one another.
Amid the complications and distractions of a pandemic, we continued to
focus on learning. In many ways, we created new opportunities for learning.
Notably, our Bachelor of Science in Nursing students were essential in staffing COVID testing sites and vaccination clinics.
In fact, my own vaccine was administered by one of our students. Theatre students learned new skills in presenting performances in an online format. Two productions were livestreamed this spring, and two of the students involved received
Kennedy Center honors for their work. Education students gained experience using technology in new and non-traditional
ways, and our entire campus became proficient at navigating online meeting platforms. Many of us continue to telecommute to this day. Our dedicated maintenance and custodial staff kept and continue to keep us safe and our campus clean.
We plan to fully reopen this fall, and we are so excited to do so.
And what better way to end an unusual semester than with a bear up a tree between Founders and Hart Chapel. That,
too, became a teaching moment when game officials invited assembled students to get a close-up look at the bear after
it had been tranquilized. Many students, faculty and staff watched the whole procedure. Three nursing students had the
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assist with processing the bear before it was relocated to game lands.
Planning for the integration of Clarion, California and Edinboro universities also kept us busy. More than 425 students,
faculty, staff and alumni were members of working groups that the moved the process forward. The purpose of integration
is to provide more academic program offerings to our traditional students and achieve financial sustainability for generations to come. Our online programs will be expanded primarily for our post-traditional students. Our beautiful campus will
remain, and we look forward to Stevens Hall and Moore Hall renovations being complete.
On the previous page, you will have seen the most recent integration news, along with where to find more information.
We look forward to the fall, reopening the campus as fully as we can, and seeing you at Homecoming and Autumn Leaf
Festival.
We are keeping our Wings Up!

Dr. Dale
President, Clarion University

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

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STUDENT NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
STUDENT PROMOTES SELF-HEALING
IN ‘IT ISN’T OVER’ CLOTHING
Mary Clare Smith, a senior nursing major with a minor in social work,
has created a clothing design and website focused on mental health.
Smith said the “it isn’t over” design is a reminder that although you may
deal with issues, you may struggle to find yourself, and you may feel
hopeless, you can control how you react. “Your life is so precious, so
never let one rough patch in the road define the person you are or will
become.” See Smith's work at selfhealing-com.myshopify.com.

FYE AND RUPP
EARN KENNEDY CENTER ACCOLADES
Benjamon Fye of Woodland, a senior double majoring in theatre and communication, and Zachary Rupp of Nottingham, Maryland, a senior majoring in theatre,
were awarded certificates of merit at The Kennedy Center American College
Theater Festival (region two).
They were recognized in the Film Recording/Editing/Production category for
their work on "The Marowitz Hamlet" and in the Video Control and Preparation
category for "Hate Mail." KCACTF certificates of merit are given for extraordinary
achievement in design and technical areas, directing, stage management,
dramaturgy playwriting, ensemble acting, costume running and acting.

Clarion University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis
of sex in its education programs or activities. See the full statement at clarion.edu/nondiscrimination.

FYE

RUPP
Clarion University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis
of sex in its education programs or activities. See the full statement at clarion.edu/nondiscrimination.

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STUDENT NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
STUDENTS PUBLISH SECOND EDITION
OF LAW JOURNAL
The College of Business Administration and Information
Sciences has published the second edition of Clarion
University Law Journal. The 56-page journal, which
can be viewed at www.clarion.edu/lawjournal2, is the
culmination of a class project for Advanced Legal Writing
and Research. Dr. C. Frank Shepard, associate professor
of finance and instructor of the class, said law journals
contain advanced legal research on topics of interest to
legal professionals and anyone interested in the current
state of our legal system.
"In preparing the journal, the students engaged in
detailed legal analysis and applied that analysis to the
tough societal issues of our time. This type of in-depth
analysis and application will serve them well in their legal
careers," Shepard said.

Volume 2, 2021

SHILK RECOGNIZED
WITH PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Madison Shilk of Ridgway, a sophomore who triple
majors in management, human resource management
and finance, won the prestigious JoAnne Day Student
of the Year award through Pennsylvania Association of
Colleges and Employers. The annual award recognizes
the achievements made by undergraduate students who
have completed an internship or co-op with the Student
of the Year Awards program. Shilk won in the Business
category for her work as a human resource intern at
Contact Technologies, Inc., St. Mary's.

CLARION UNIVERSITY
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VENANGO NEWS I CLARION DIGEST

FULL SLATE OF FUN KEPT VENANGO STUDENTS ENGAGED
Clarion University – Venango kept students
engaged throughout the year with a variety
of new and tried-and-true activities, held
via Zoom or in person with COVID safety
guidelines in place. Along with favorites like
Name That Tune and WINGO – bingo with a
side of wings – the Campus Activities Board
sponsored free pop-up lunches and food
truck days. The semester concluded with a
virtual concert by The Josephines.
Fall is (rubber) duck season at Venango. Students won prizes and
Amazon gift cards for finding ducks.

Venango campus celebrated Halloween with a costume contest. Students
submitted pictures of themselves in their costumes, and staff voted for the top
three costumes. Winners received Amazon gift cards.

Students play campus favorite WINGO.

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A mini-golf course gave students a
respite from their studies.

Students were able to make – or stuff – a new friend at
the Stuff-a-Plush activity. Participants could choose an
eagle, a moose or a bear.

ALUMNI NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
CARTER AMONG
BLACK FEMALE
ADMINS TO PRESENT
LEADERSHIP
CHALLENGE
Dr. Laurie Carter ‘86 is one of five female
African American college presidents/
administrators who presented Shippensburg
University’s virtual leadership challenge
seminar, “From Challenge to Change:
Leading the Next Generation of Women
for Change in a Global Economy.” Carter
has served as president of Shippensburg
University since 2017. This summer, she
will transition to presidency of Lawrence
University, Appleton, Wisconsin.

CAUVEL RECOGNIZED
FOR HR EXCELLENCE
Erika Cauvel ‘13, interim coordinator of
part-time talent acquisition, received the
2020 Ray T. Fortunato Award for Excellence
in Human Resources for her contributions to
human resources at Penn State.
“Erika is an excellent leader, dedicated team
player and is an asset to the Human Resources
organization,” said Lori Yacisin, Cauvel’s
supervisor. Those who submitted letters of
support for Cauvel’s nomination described
her as “a creative problem solver,” “an outstanding leader,” and “a can-do person with a
positive attitude and calming presence.”

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

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CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST

PET FRIENDLY CAMPUS

Word is getting around that Clarion University is a petfriendly campus.

This 250-pound female black bear was spotted in a tree
between Founders Hall and Hart Chapel and provided a
two-hour diversion from finals week, as well as unexpected
hands-on learning for some nursing students.
After Pennsylvania Game Commission responded
and tranquilized the bruin, university police, university

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employees and volunteer firefighters caught the falling bear
in a tarp.
The game warden invited three nursing students from an
assembled group to assist in processing the bear, which
included pulling a tooth, which will be used to determine
the bear’s age, and tagging the bear’s ear for tracking.
The bear was released on state gamelands.

CAMPUS NEWS I CLARION DIGEST
CU, STATE SYSTEM SHOW AFFORDABILITY COMMITMENT
Clarion University students won’t see increases in several
areas of their educational expenses after the university
and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education took
action to keep costs flat. The State System took the historic
step of freezing basic in-state tuition at $7,716 for a third
consecutive year. Also remaining the same will be the
system’s $478 technology fee for students.

Additionally, the Student Government Association has
selected eCampus.com as its online bookstore provider, a
move that will deliver substantial course material savings for
students. Students can choose the buying option – rental,
used, new or eBook – that works best for them.

Clarion also is reining in costs. For the third year in a
row, housing rates will remain the same, and a new dining
contract will keep costs in line with current meal plans.

New graduates
celebrate at
the modified
commencement May 8
at Memorial Stadium.

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Artist Kylie Allen guided
alumni in creating winter
and spring masterpieces
in December and April
paint ‘n sip events.

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If the pandemic has given us anything, it might be more time or
the opportunity to use our time differently, especially for those
of us now working from home. Alumnus Nick Brucker '09 hasn’t
let any extra time go to waste.
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In fact, Brucker has seized the opportunity to foster his
inventive and entrepreneurial sides during the past year as
well as keep up with some hobbies. With Brucker, however,
his hobbies usually have a way of becoming not just side
hustles, but full-blown companies.
Already the CEO and founder of Sparq Designs in Pittsburgh and Nashville, he randomly met Eric Lloyd in a Whole
Foods and that meeting led to a friendship with big ideas.
The pair developed the idea of combining electrostatic
sanitization and drones for a solution to a major problem
that hit when the pandemic did.
Their venture, Aeras Fog Co., uses electrostatic science
with drones in order to sanitize large areas in a short
amount of time – as little as three hours to disinfect an
entire stadium.
“Right now, the most practical applications for the technology includes sanitization of large venues, stadiums and
arenas as they pertain to the drone,” Brucker said. “We are
currently negotiating deals in the hospitality and agriculture
space as well.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
“electrostatic sprayers apply a positive charge to liquid
disinfectants as they pass through the nozzle. The positively
charged disinfectant is attracted to negatively charged
surfaces, which allows for efficient coating of hard
nonporous surfaces.”
Brucker explained in an interview on Fox News that this
science eliminates human error by reaching places a person
might miss. The sky’s the limit for such an invention, which
could be used in any place people touch.
“Our plans with Aeras are not limited to drone sanitization, as we’ve released and developed commercial backpack
units that will be effective in office settings, education,
fitness facilities and more. We also have released a
residential unit, called the Aerasmini that will be an exceptional product for at-home and inside of automobiles,”
Brucker said.
Developing ideas is nothing new to Brucker, who challenged himself and the team at Sparq Designs to “build a
brand from scratch and self-propel it into the market” in
2019.

Aeras has sprayed for the Pittsburgh Penguins, PPG
Arena, and for ASM Global.

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The result was Aiden Ross, a golf glove and apparel
brand.
“Our first go-to-market product was the golf glove. I
saw an opportunity in the space to enhance a current golf
accessory that has remained stale for quite some time.
We introduced a unique style and design component to a
premium Cabretta leather glove.”
The idea for a golf glove and apparel isn’t surprising since
Brucker was a golfer for the Golden Eagles during his time
at Clarion and understands the requirements for this type of
product.
The brand features Cabretta leather with unique design
options on the inside thumb.
“We see golf as an outlet for individuals to express their
personalities and style through their clothing and accessories. Golf and fashion have always gone hand-in-hand, and
we believed that the premium golf glove space was up for
grabs. From a style standpoint, we’ve created a brand that
will stand out, but at the same time be subtle,” states the
Aiden Ross website.
The idea for the name Aiden Ross was purely market
driven, Brucker explained. Knowing the target market would
be millennials and that one of the top baby names millennials were choosing for their boys at that time was Aiden, the
first part of the name was selected. The second part of the
name has a strong connection to golf in general so the full
name of Aiden Ross was born.
Fueled by green tea, a little red wine and daily exercise,
Brucker is full of ideas. Brucker said he’s up before 7 a.m. to
prepare for the day. After work, he exercises for an hourand-a-half and then heads back to the office to get caught
up.
“After exercising, I will usually get back into work and
filter through emails, proposals, and campaign work. At
night, it feels like downtime to me and I think better – so
this is when I brainstorm more. I usually get to bed around
midnight,” Brucker said.
He also carries around notebooks and utilizes the notes
feature on his phones, lest he forget an idea that might have
legs. His ideas come from observations.

“I like to pay attention to people and trends and what is
happening. I think that I have a pretty decent sense of what
people want and what they are looking for. I think that my
ideas are driven by paying attention to others and watching
patterns evolve,” Brucker said.
For now, however, he’s focusing on what has already
been built.
“At this point I am realizing that I am only one person and
I need to harness my efforts to ensure success of all the
companies,” Brucker said.
Admittedly, he believes his work-life balance could use

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some attention and it’s one of his goals in 2021.
One of those existing companies is Sparq Designs, which
has hired Clarion graduates in the past and, Brucker
suspects, will continue to do so in the future.
“I feel that we Clarion grads have a lot of grit. I think that
in business this plays extremely well and helps us to deal
with adversity. Our team of Clarion grads have all been
great to work with and have helped build Sparq along the
way. We understand what it takes to achieve our goals and
we know what hard work is all about,” Brucker said.
Brucker further explained that Clarion helped him develop
his social and networking skills
.
“I built a group of lifelong friends and people who I’ve
been fortunate enough to build companies with. This is
something that I don’t take for granted. Jim Blundo (vice
president and founder of Sparq) and I were friends at
Clarion, and I have been fortunate enough to create one of
Pittsburgh’s fastest-growing companies with someone who

shares the same drive and passion as myself,” Brucker said.
Brucker’s has an interest in entrepreneurship, which was
enhanced with a BSBA in marketing degree. His advice to
anyone who wants to build or invent something to trust
your intuition, do your research, and surround yourself with
a team of people who help you execute the ideas.
“I’ve always enjoyed entrepreneurship, and I have been
that way since I was a kid. I remember starting little businesses and having ideas for them since elementary school.
In college, I realized that I really enjoyed the marketing and
advertising side of business. This focus led me to start a
design and web marketing firm in 2010. It allowed me to
develop my skill set and start a business that would later
evolve into Sparq Designs,” Brucker said.

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MILLION-DOLLAR MAN
If you’ve ever uttered the phrase, “Someone should write a book about
that,” Dr. David McFadden '84 just might be your superhero.
His first book, “Million Dollar Prosthodontist,” is a guide to building a
successful private dental practice.
McFadden is a prosthodontist in Dallas. Prosthodontics is a dental specialty
for replacement of teeth with man-made parts such as crowns, bridges,
partials and full dentures. As he sought to build his practice – which is now
twice the size as most prosthodontist practices – he found a lack of resources
that addressed the business side of a dental or medical practice.

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With only about 2,500 prosthodontists in the
United States, McFadden knew the book would have
limited demand, but he wanted to help his colleagues
by championing the private practice sector of
prosthodontists.
“We’re a tiny drop in the ocean,” he said of private
practitioners. He added that many general dentists are
trying to do reconstructive procedures, and they’re not
referring patients to specialists.
“Anyone in medicine or dentistry practice management
can benefit from the book,” McFadden said. “It talks about
advertising, finances, accounting, location – everything I
found about establishing myself in Dallas.”
McFadden said those who have purchased it have raved
about it.
“It’s rich with pearls, even if you have a strong, healthy
practice,” he said. “People love the whole book, but they
find individual chapters particularly valuable.
That’s what he does: When he encounters an area that
lacks a good, comprehensive resource for consumers, he

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researches to teach himself, then he shares the knowledge
through his books.
In 1999, McFadden bought a horse that he describes as
“too much for me.” As a new rider on the spirited animal, he
can still remember feeling terrified.
Committed to learning how to train and ride the animal,
he began buying DVDs and going to clinics. He searched
without success for a manual that would guide him. Through
his own research, he extracted the information he needed,
spliced it together and became proficient at working with
horses.
He spent a lot of time and money finding and organizing
the information he needed. Certain that amateur riders like
him would welcome such a book, he started writing.
As often happens, the project was put on the back burner.
There, it simmered until 2019 when he decided to buckle
down and spend every weekend writing until he finished.

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“‘Trail Riding Assessment and Informational Learning
System’ is a do-it-yourself horse training book geared
for the amateur rider,” McFadden said of the 400-page
volume with 230 illustrations. “It’s probably the most
comprehensive horse training book ever written, from prepurchase to extreme trail riding.
A third book he has in mind is about parenting.
“There’s been a paradigm shift,” he said. “Parents are
killing themselves to make their kids happy instead of the
other way around.”
As a prosthodontist, McFadden typically works 14-hour
days. He said the work is exhausting, both mentally and
physically, but it’s immensely rewarding.
“My practice is full-scope prosthodontics,” he
said. “I offer everything from fillings to full mouth
resconstructions. I sit with the patient and discuss needs,
wants and finances. The average patient comes from
neglect or bad dentistry.”
He has found that he’s particularly adept at helping
patients who are fearful of going to the dentist; some
haven’t been to a dentist in decades.

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“I’ve had dozens of people go from crying in the chair
to laughing and booking appointments in the next 15
minutes,” McFadden said. “Those patients are your most
rabid fans. I get cards and gifts years into the future. I
love to do treatment on all patients, but that first patient
consult – that’s the most rewarding part of my job.”
McFadden said he and his team change people’s lives on
a daily basis.

“Imagine people who haven’t smiled in
decades because they’re ashamed of their
teeth, or they haven’t eaten a good meal in
decades,” he said. “It’s a snowball effect. It
affects the patient’s personality.”
It profoundly affects McFadden, too.
“Not only does it change the patient’s life, it changes my
life, too. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be able to
help another person in such a profound manner.”

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STUDENT TASK FORCE
WORKING WITH PEERS
TO REDUCE SPREAD OF COVID
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Clarion University developed a COVID-19 Student Task
Force to help fight the spread of the virus as 650 students
returned to campus Jan. 25.
The task force comprises 24 student leaders who will
work to encourage and educate their peers to follow CDC
and state guidelines in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The Student Task Force has been charged with analyzing
multiple areas of student life and working to implement
projects, as needed, to decrease the spread of infection,
promoting student wellbeing, decreasing irresponsible
behavior, and increasing students’ general knowledge about
the pandemic and how it is currently affecting their day-today lives.
Student leaders will manage six work groups focused on
public relations and public education, personal protection,
governing regulations, programming and events, resident
life, and off-campus and remote living.
“While the university has done an excellent job thus far
in sharing COVID-19 information with students, we felt that
one of the best forms of communicating information to
students is through peer interaction,” said student trustee
Kaitlyn Krupa, chair of the Student Task Force.
Kaitlyn Krupa

Krupa is a student trustee and has served on the university’s COVID-19 Taskforce since July.
“Students deserve to know what is happening on their
campus to keep them safe, as well as feeling accountable in
keeping each other safe. There is so much power in a sense
of community. If we can work together during this troubling
time, there will be so much to gain,” Krupa added.

IN ADDITION TO KRUPA,
STUDENTS SERVING ON THE
TASK FORCE INCLUDE:
Eugenia Barboza, Clarion
Taylor Boyle, Pulaski
Savannah Buttery, Brockway
Mackenzie Carver, Spencer, Indiana
Zack Condron, Rochester Mills
Shelly Jones, Monroeville
Sara Custer, Pittsburgh
Danielle Haley, Butler
Colleen Healey, Bethlehem
Jenna Joseph, Pittsburgh
Emily Keltz, Bradford
Bridget Kent, Pittsburgh
Lindsey Morris, Monroeville
Allie Myers, Morrisdale
Kaylee Olszewski, Pittsburgh
Zoe Ott, Amissville, Virginia
Autumn Pettinato, Butler
Katie Robinson, McDonald
Sam Shannon, Vandergrift
Sydney Spang, Ford City
Antronice Wilson, Pittsburgh
Kaitlin Windt, Youngstown, Ohio
Ryan Zavinksi, Warren

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“We are so thrilled to have our students taking the lead
on such an important issue,” said Dr. Susanne Fenske, vice
president for Student Affairs. “We knew having their ideas,
voices and guidance at the forefront of the university’s approach to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 would resonate
strongly with their fellow students. Our student leaders have
really stepped up and exemplified the characteristics we
need from them right now – thoughtfulness, dedication and
innovation. We are very excited to see the outcome of their
work.”
The idea, Krupa explained, is to give students best and
better practices.
“I have faith that students will be diligent in following
the guidelines put forth by the university and by the state,”
Krupa said. “We understand that some students are appre-

hensive in following all the guidelines in place, so we wish to
educate them on better practices.”
Students who have questions or concerns regarding
COVID-19 can check the university’s COVID-19 web page
at https://www.clarion.edu/covid-19/ or email Krupa at
k.e.krupa@eagle.clarion.edu, and the task force will work
to address any student issues. Students also should follow
university social media accounts for updates to remain
engaged and up-to-date with the latest issues.
“I believe that students are excited to return. Any step
toward a return to normalcy is positive. There is fear, which
is natural, but our university has been working non-stop to
address any areas of stress,” Krupa said.

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FACILITIES
PLAYS BIG PART IN
SPRING SUCCESS

Clarion University enjoyed a successful partial reopening
this spring, permitting up to 1,000 students to live in oncampus housing and offering 25 percent of classes face to
face. The semester went smoothly, in large part due to initial
and follow-up testing and the campus community behaving
responsibly by wearing masks and maintaining physical
distance from others.
Behind the scenes, however, another of the reasons for
a low incidence of on-campus COVID cases – the facilities
management department – was hard at work.
Last fall, facilities management teamed with Johnson
Controls to install ionization units, according to Chad
Thomas, director of facilities management. Two different
styles are being used on campus: built-in and portable.
Built-in units have been installed in the ductwork of
buildings with HVAC, and portable units are being used in
buildings without HVAC.

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According to American School and University’s website,
ionization units work in three ways:
• Ions are attracted to and steal hydrogen atoms from the
pathogens, leaving them to die. In the virus that causes
COVID-19, the ions bind to the cellular receptors that
enable the virus to attach to and infect human cells,
rendering the virus particle inactive and non-infectious,
effectively “killing” the virus.
• The ions cause particles that are suspended in the air
to become positively or negatively charged. They are
attracted to each other, increasing their mass and size.
As particles stick together, they create a larger surface
and mass that can then fall to the floor or travel within
the airstream back to the filters in the HVAC system.
The HVAC system can remove more effectively the
agglomerated particles from the airstream.

• The ions break down odors and volatile organic
compounds into constituent components that are
naturally occurring within the atmosphere. Studies of
occupants residing in ionized spaces have shown a 70
percent reduction in headaches and a 60.3 percent
reduction in flu-like symptoms.
Facilities management has also purchased electrostatic
sprayers that the custodial staff can use to disinfect
classrooms and other spaces. In addition to using the
sprayers, staff has continued to wipe down surfaces and
clean high-touch areas.

“Jessie did an amazing job of looking at the class
schedules and spacing out the custodial staff so everything
is covered,” he said. “The shortest amount of time we have
(to clean a space) is 15 minutes; for most we have at least
30 minutes.”
Thomas said the custodians and maintenance crews have
really stepped up to meet the challenges of the pandemic.
Their normal schedules and routines have changed, but
they’ve shown flexibility during a challenging time.

Schedules were reviewed to make sure sufficient time was
allowed for cleaning between uses of a space. Thomas said
custodial supervisor Jessie Hummell took on that task.

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Clarion University’s
Associate of Science and
Bachelor of Science in nursing
students have been part of the
fight to stop the spread of the
COVID-19 by volunteering to
vaccinate thousands of people
in western and southwestern
Pennsylvania.

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31

Nursing students have been using the skills they’ve
acquired in their CU classes by administering the vaccine
at the Butler Health System-Clarion, UPMC-Northwest, Penn
Highlands-Dubois, UPMC Somerset and UPMC Somerset
Hospital, Somerset High School, Meyersdale High School
and at two vaccination clinics at the Somerset site with
Mainline Pharmacy.
“The students have been so excited to take part in this
extraordinary worldwide effort to mitigate the spread of
the COVID-19. We teach health promotion and disease
prevention in our programs, but this has been an opportunity of a lifetime for our students to actually participate in
these mass vaccination clinics,” said Dr. Deb Kelly, nursing
department chair.
Students were more than willing put on their scrubs
and help.

32

“I have administered vaccines at Clarion University
Somerset Campus, UPMC Somerset Hospital, and Somerset
Area High School" said Clarion University-Somerset ASN
student Leah Wahl. "I feel very honored to be a part of the
vaccination movement. I feel confident in the skills I have
learned at Clarion. With that being said, I get to apply my
skills while representing my school and serve my
community by vaccinating.”
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Clarion Hospital chief nursing officer Leslie Walters ’93
first approached Clarion University with the idea of using
nursing students to help administer vaccines with the Butler
Health System, of which Clarion Hospital is a part. Walters
also is an alumna of Clarion University’s nursing program.

BY THE NUMBERS
The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19
Vaccine Dashboard reports that in Clarion County nearly
11,000 people have been vaccinated and more than 2,000
have been partially vaccinated. In Venango County, nearly
14,000 people have been fully vaccinated and more than
3,000 have been partially vaccinated.
In Forest County, nearly 4,000 people have been fully
vaccinated and nearly 350 have received partial vaccinations.
In Somerset County, more than 21,000 people have been
fully vaccinated, while more than 5,000 people have been
partially vaccinated.
Also, in Clearfield County, more than 24,000 people are
fully vaccinated, while nearly 5,000 people are partially
vaccinated.
In Pennsylvania, there are more than 3.8 million people

have been fully vaccinated out of 12.8 million people living
in Pennsylvania.

ALL HANDS ON DECK
In addition to nursing students, other qualified students -including those enrolled in Clarion's pre-professional health
programs -- have joined the fight.
According to Dr. Craig Scott, who manages Clarion's
pre-professional health programs, a sign-up sheet was
placed in Ralston Hall where pre-professional health
students could volunteer. Students helped with registration
to assist at vaccination clinics. Students volunteered their
time and helped with registration, scheduled follow-up
appointments, monitored vaccinated individuals for up
to 30 minutes after vaccinations in case of reactions, and
cleaned areas for safety.

that commitment,” Scott said.
Clarion University offers Associate of Science in Nursing
at Venango and Somerset campuses as well as a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing, an RN to BSN program, a Doctor of
Nursing Practice and a Master of Science in Nursing Family
Nurse Practitioner degrees.
The ASN at the Venango Campus, BSN and the MSN
programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission
for Education in Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing Practice
program at Clarion and Edinboro Universities is accredited
by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
In Clarion’s pre-professional health programs, students
choose paths such as chiropractic, dentistry, medicine,
optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant,
podiatry and veterinary medicine.

Scott said he’s not surprised Clarion University students
stepped up.
“I am very proud and not at all surprised that Clarion
students volunteered their time to support and protect
the local community. Our nursing and pre-professional
students (i.e. pre-med) are dedicating their lives to care for
and treat the public. So this opportunity to help support the
distribution the vaccine to fight COVID 19 is demonstrating

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SPORTS ROUNDUP
After 31 years,
48 national champions,
294 All-Americans and
hundreds of thousands
of hours on the pool
deck, Dave Hrovat is
hanging up his flip flops.
The longest-tenured
coach in Clarion athletics
history will retire in June.

When Hrovat arrived at Clarion in 1990, he was stepping
into the shoes of one of the most respected diving coaches,
not just in the NCAA, but in the entire United States. Don
Leas was the Golden Eagles’ first diving coach and was a
giant in the sport, serving as one of the original architects of
Clarion’s dominance at the collegiate level. To call the legacy
of the program “immense” is, perhaps, still an understatement. But in his time as the Golden Eagles’ diving coach,
Hrovat did not just rise to the standard left by his forebears.
He made his own indelible mark.
“It was certainly part of the challenge of coming to
Clarion,” Hrovat said of the program’s legacy. “I knew what
Clarion diving was, and I knew it was going to take a lot to
live up to that standard.”
The numbers are, in a word, staggering. In 31 years as
Clarion’s diving coach, Hrovat’s charges claimed 48 national
championships. His athletes earned an incredible 294
All-American finishes. He was named the College Swimming
Coaches Association of America Division II Women’s Diving
Coach of the Year 15 times, and the Men’s Diving Coach of
the Year another 11 times. In 30 appearances at the NCAA

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Division II Championships, Hrovat’s divers failed to capture
at least one national championship only four times. Hrovat’s
women divers captured 27 national championships from
1990-2020; by comparison, the rest of the field combined for just 33 national titles. Likewise, the men won 21
out of a possible 60 national titles.
To date, four athletes that Hrovat coached have been
inducted into the Clarion Sports Hall of Fame: Ken Bedford
(2012), Dr. Jamie Wolf Jackel (2014), Kayla Kelosky Renninger (2017) and Logan Pearsall (2019). A fifth, Stephanie
Sutton, was elected to the most recent Hall of Fame class.
That quintet alone combined for 23 national championships.
Kristin Day Shute, herself a three-time national champion,
became the first recipient from a Pennsylvania-based
institution of the NCAA Woman of the Year award, and
just the fourth recipient from a Division II institution. Most
recently, Collin Vest was a four-time national champion and
a two-time NCAA Men’s Diver of the Year, and Christina
Sather was a two-time national champion and two-time
NCAA Women’s Diver of the Year.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

“While his accomplishments as a collegiate coach on a
national level are unrivaled, they were achieved through his
genuine care and support of his student-athletes and their
success in the pool, classroom and community,” said Dr.
Wendy Snodgrass, director of intercollegiate athletics.
“I’m proud of everything they accomplished, but what
I’m really proud of is all the kids that came through this
program that worked hard academically and earned their
college degrees,” Hrovat said. “The most rewarding part of
my job, the thing that makes me smile when I reminisce, is
seeing these kids grow up, get jobs and become parts of
their communities.”
Hrovat’s care for his student-athletes is reflected in the
way they have spoken about his impact on their lives.
“Coach Hrovat was such an integral part of my success
in college, in graduate school, and even in my life today,”

Jackel said. “He was so much more than a coach. He taught
values like hard work and teamwork. We built a family in
that pool. He taught us how important success was, not just
in athletics, but in academics and in our communities.”
“I congratulate Dave Hrovat on the completion of an
incredible career as Clarion’s diving coach,” said Clarion
president Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson. “Dave helped our
university earn the reputation as the home of the best collegiate divers in the nation. More importantly, he mentored
student-athletes through their college years, urging them to
be champions not just on the boards, but in the classroom
and in their communities. As a leader and a teacher, he
embodies everything we want in our coaches at Clarion.”
“There is not a more decorated or successful coach to
ever come through Clarion than Dave Hrovat,” said Clarion
head swimming & diving coach Bree Kelley.

NATIONAL CHAMPION CALHOUN RETURNS TO COACH CLARION DIVING
Heath Calhoun ‘14, a three-time Presidents Athletic Conference Diving Coach of
the year and a six-time All-American diver at Clarion, will join the Golden Eagle staff
as diving coach. He will be just the third diving coach in school history, joining Dave
Hrovat and the late Don Leas.

“The tradition that Coach Hrovat and Coach Leas established is something I will strive
every day to continue with the current and future student-athletes,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun has spent the previous seven seasons as diving coach at Westminster, where
he helped make the Titans a premier program. He won seven PAC Diving Coach of the
Year awards (four men’s, three women’s) in large part by developing some of the top
performers in the nation. In 2021, Calhoun’s divers took home three of a possible four
PAC titles at the conference championships.
Calhoun was a six-time All-American as a diver at Clarion. He won the NCAA
Division II national championship in the 3m Dive at the 2014 NCAA Championships. A
team co-captain his senior year, Calhoun was named the College Swimming Coaches
Association of America Division II Men’s Diver of the Year.
CLARION UNIVERSITY
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SPORTS ROUNDUP

ABBREVIATED SEASONS MARK RETURN TO PLAY
WRESTLING
The Golden Eagles competed in an
abbreviated dual match season before
heading to the 2021 Mid-American Conference
Championships, where they improved five
spots on last year’s finish by placing seventh
overall. It was a matter of quantity as well
as quality as the Golden Eagles placed six
wrestlers in the top eight in their respective
weight classes, including a third-place finish
for Greg Bulsak and a fourth-place honor for
Max Wohlabaugh. Bulsak punched his ticket
for his fourth NCAA Division I Championships
appearance, with the senior winning a match
at the tournament in St. Louis March 18.

CROSS COUNTRY
The Golden Eagle cross country squad
competed in just two dual meets before their
conference championship meet March 20,
with Clarion placing 11th overall in the field
at the PSAC Championships hosted by Lock
Haven. Leading the pack was sophomore
Courtney Kosanovic, a two-sport athlete who
also competes on the women’s swimming
team; she took 20th in the field with a time of
19:32.9. The rest of the lineup was dominated
by underclassmen, including another twosport athlete in sophomore Abigail Sullivan
(soccer) and freshmen Chelsey Kabel, Mackenzie Carver and Autumn Pettinato.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Playing with a short bench primarily due to injuries,
the Golden Eagles showed fight and heart in their
shortened season of action. Leading the way was
freshman Gerald Jarmon, a first-year player who
posted one of the best scoring seasons for a Clarion
player in recent memory. Jarmon averaged a teamhigh 22.4 points per game, the best per-game average
for a Golden Eagle in nearly 30 years.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Also playing with a smaller roster than normal, the
Golden Eagle women’s basketball squad made the
most of the situation as a number of freshmen and
reserves gained valuable in-game experience during
the 2020-21 season. Newcomers such as Abby
Gatesman and Devon Adams cut their teeth against
top competition for the first time in their college
careers, while seniors such as Keke Massiah and Neely
Whitehead adjusted to new roles necessary to their
team’s success.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S
SWIMMING & DIVING
The Golden Eagles kicked off a shortened
dual season Jan. 30 against IUP, adjusting to
a schedule that saw the PSAC Championships
take place in April, two months later than
normal. The teams were rounding into form
fairly quickly given the circumstances, as
evidenced by the strong showings at a PSAC
invitational hosted by IUP in February. The
conference also hosted a series of virtual
meets, with teams swimming in their home
pools and submitting their times to the PSAC
for placement at the conference meet in April.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

STUDENT-ATHLETES BACK IN ACTION THIS SPRING
It didn’t happen when originally expected. Even for the
optimistic sorts, there was probably a time when they
thought it might not happen at all in 2020-21. But after
delays, additional precautions and some schedule juggling,
athletic events returned to Tippin Gymnasium Jan. 9, the
first competition in more than 300 days.
The Golden Eagle wrestling program was the first to start
their 2020-21 season, hosting Navy in a Saturday matinee,
and things certainly looked different from normal. The
match drew thousands of viewers online, but inside the gym
there were only friends and families of the participants,
event staff, and just shy of 100 cardboard cutout fans in the
stands. Plexiglass dividers were ubiquitous, masks mandatory, and disinfectant foggers hummed as precautions taken
to create a safe environment.
For head wrestling coach Keith Ferraro, getting to match
day was a challenge in and of itself. The dual against Navy
was not actually the first event planned, as the team was
forced to adjust its schedule almost immediately. And
navigating a world with extensive COVID-19 testing, distancing protocols and other changes immediately proved to be
different from the normal task at hand.
“The rate of change is mind-boggling,” Ferraro said.”
It was the start of what has been a successful return
to action for Golden Eagle athletics. Men’s and women’s
basketball, as well as the men’s and women’s swimming
and diving teams, kicked off competition in January, and a
couple of displaced fall sports – volleyball and cross country – began competition in February. In several instances,
events were postponed, canceled or substituted a new
opponent, but at least the games were back on.
“It’s been worth the effort for all of us,” Ferraro said.
“Student-athletes only have a limited window when they
get to do this. When you spend this much time with them,
you don’t want to see them cheated. You continue to do it
because we know the value of it is worthwhile.”
For swimming and diving, cross country, and men’s and
women’s golf programs, it was an opportunity to compete
for PSAC titles, albeit at a time of year different from
normal.
“We’re so happy to have this opportunity to be one of
the few sports to have a conference championship to look
forward to,” head swimming and diving coach Bree Kelley

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said. “Not long ago it seemed almost impossible that we
would ever get things to where they are, but I’m so excited
to get this season off the ground.”
“We were beyond excited to have the opportunity to
compete for a PSAC championship this spring,” said head
cross country coach Eric Laughlin. “For most of these girls it
had been more than a year since they last competed.”
For sports such as the Golden Eagle volleyball program,
the return to play was a chance to look across the net at an
unfamiliar opponent for the first time in nearly 500 days.
It did not take long for the competitive fires to reignite, as
Clarion started the spring with familiar PSAC opponents
Gannon and Slippery Rock.
“Excitement would be the best way to describe the emotion going into the beginning of our spring season,” said
head volleyball coach Jennifer Herron. “This team hasn’t
competed against another opponent in well over a year, and
our freshman class hasn’t had the opportunity to participate
in a collegiate match, yet. We’re extremely fortunate that
we have a department and administration that has worked
toward finding solutions and created opportunities for our
student-athletes.”
The biggest announcement came Feb. 26 when the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference officially announced
return to play guidelines for the spring season, paving the
way for full conference competition for spring sports.
“Everyone at our member institutions has done an exceptional job getting us to this point, and we are all excited to
make it happen,” PSAC commissioner Steve Murray said in
an official statement. “We will remain vigilant to the circumstances of COVID-19 across our league and make changes as
necessary, but for now we are very positive about returning
to competition.”
The spring season began in earnest during the first week
of March, when the baseball and softball programs kicked
off their regularly-scheduled conference seasons, with track
and field, tennis and men’s and women’s golf not far behind.
With each swing of the racket and ping of the aluminum
bat making contact with a ball, things started to settle
into a familiar pace. Victories soon followed, with baseball
defeating Millersville – the 10th-ranked team in the nation
– in non-conference action, and softball claiming big home
sweeps of Lake Erie and Pitt-Johnstown in the early going.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

CLARION UNIVERSITY
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A look back…

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ALUMNI NOTES spring 2021

1966

John Acklin is a retired athletic
director. John and his wife Jeanne
will celebrate their 50th wedding
anniversary July 17. They have two
children, Jordyn Acklin Bibiloni '01
and Jarrett Acklin.

District Attorney’s Office in
Brooklyn. Laura received her
juris doctorate from the New
England School of Law.

1984

Rev. Loye Startzell is a retired pastor. Loye and his wife Joyce reside
in Brookville.

Kenneth Reddinger is a
project manager for North
Tide, Falls Church, Virginia. He
resides in Falls Church with his
wife Tiffany. They have four
children: Kenneth Jr., Rhianna,
David and the late Alexander.

1972

1987

Kent and Cindy Facciolo ’71 Hart
reside in Prescott, Arizona. They
have two children, Benjamin and
Alison. Kent is retired.

Greg Salser is director of
national sales for JetPro
Pilots, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He resides in Fort Wayne and
has two children, Derric and
Elizabeth.

1971

1980
Robert Hall recently retired from
the Barber National Institute in Erie.
He resides in Garland.

1983
Chris Jirak O’Donnell is a humane
police officer for Armstrong County.
In her new role, she will enforce
Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty/neglect laws. Chris resides in Ford City
with her husband Kevin.
Laura Watanabe is a partner with
international law firm Withers in its
New York office. Laura is admitted
to practice in New York, California
and Connecticut, which are the
three states in which Withers’ seven
U.S. offices are located. She joins
the firm from her own practice, The
Watanabe Law Firm LLC, and has
previously worked with Morrison &
Foerster in California and as deputy
bureau chief at the Kings County

1996
Bridget Yusavage Adams is
a care navigator for the Area
Agency on Aging for Greater Erie Community Action
Committee, Erie. She resides
in Edinboro with her daughter
Sarah.
Alex Joseph is a chief technology officer for Siren Marine,
Newport, Rhode Island. He
resides in Portsmouth.

1997
Shauna Kush Tucker is a billing
specialist for Empire Distributors, Charlotte, North Carolina.

lyn. Michelle received the 2020
Outstanding Nonschool-based
Leader for Fairfax County
Public Schools, Falls Church,
Virginia. She is a coordinator
of instructional coaching for
Fairfax County Schools.

2002
Mark Despotakis is director of
public and government affairs
for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Hamburg. He
resides in White Oak.

2005
Diane Rylander Baranski is a
manager of talent acquisition
and development for Bechtel
Plant Machinery Inc., Monroeville. She resides in Apollo
with her husband Chris and
their sons, Andrew and Derek.

2012
Lance and Vicky Lucas Astorino reside in Inwood, West
Virginia, with their children,
Adelyn and Aubrey. Lance is a
principal for Jefferson County
Schools, Ranson.

2015
Rory Lockhart is a business
operations analyst for Dish
Network Corporate, Denver.
Rory resides in Colorado
Springs.

1999
Michelle Adams and Michael
Lis reside in Gainesville, Virginia, with their daughter MadeCLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

41

WE WANT TO

know about YOU!

Clarion University Magazine's fall issue will be delivered electronically.
Make sure you don't miss it by updating your email address at www.clarion.edu/alumni-update.
If you prefer to receive all future issues electronically, please indicate that in the comments section.

2016
Michael and Molly Schultz ’17 Callas
reside in Pittsburgh. Michael is a financial advisor for Janney Montgomery
Scott, Sewickley. Molly is a corporate
underwriter for PNC.

2017
Stephanie Russell is a data analyst for
AllianceRX Walgreens Prime, Pittsburgh. She resides in Carnegie.

Mary Delucia is an IP specialist for
Reed Smith LLP, Pittsburgh. She resides in Pittsburgh.

2018

2020
Kelsey Chizmar is a private practice
therapist for The Counseling Initiative. She resides in Aliquippa with her
daughter Leanna.

Gwen Gatto is a children’s librarian for
Belmont Hills Library, Lower Merion
Library System, Bala Cynwyd. She
resides in Norristown and has a
daughter Camellia.

COMMUNICATION: THE KEY TO LOVE?

Traditionally, the Office of Marketing and Communication employs student writers.
Their work is not only an enormous help to the university, but an excellent opportunity for the students to apply in a professional setting what they’ve learned in
their degree programs.
Former student writers Sam Nolan, Lauren Welsh Worek and Katie Hillman Sparks
have graduated and embarked on their careers, all in the Pittsburgh area. Another
thing they have in common – all three were married during 2020.
Sam Nolan ’14 and Lauren Weeks were married Dec. 19 in a small, self-uniting
ceremony in Mellon Park, Pittsburgh. Best man was Tyler Geiser ’14, and maid of
honor was Kate Schloss. Sam is an associate attorney at Eckert Seamans Cherin &
Mellott, and Lauren is a horticulturist at Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse. They live
in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Lauren Welsh ’15 and Ben Worek ’17 were married Aug. 1. Kayla Hayden Fleming
'13, Laura Domena Sauers '14 and Katie Hammond '18 were bridesmaids, and
Mitch Harancher '17 and Taylor Phillips '17 were groomsmen. Lauren works in the
events and trade show industry, and Ben is employed in tech services by Krystal
Biotech. They live outside of Pittsburgh with their dog, Wally.

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Katie Hillman ’17 and Mike Sparks ’17 were married Aug. 1 by Brendan Cook ‘16.
The bridal party included man of honor Sam Richardson ’17, Becca Podrosky ’18,
Anna Pyne ’19 and Melissa Totin ’18. Standing with the groom were best man
Cody Smith ’16, Jeff Fetterman, Nick Tyler, Chaz Sparks and Jeff Till. Katie and
Mike recently relocated from Erie to Pittsburgh for Katie’s work as marketing programs coordinator at Thermo Fisher Scientific. In Erie, Mike worked for local radio
stations doing board operating and promotional events; he is looking for similar
work in the Pittsburgh area.

IN MEMORIAM
1940s

1970s

2000s

Joyce Rosanna Simpson Lignelli ’48, Jan. 9, 2021

Carol S. Shugarts Niznik ’71, Nov. 6, 2020

Donald L. Airgood ’04, Dec. 29, 2020

William E. Lafranchi ’49, Dec. 2, 2020

Robert M. McBurney ’71, Nov. 11, 2020

Alicia Denise Bradford ’05, Jan. 29, 2021

Howard Fesenmyer ’49, Feb. 3, 2021

James E. Husband ’71, Dec. 1, 2020

Frank Dee Rodgers ’09, Jan. 31, 2021

1950s

Michael C. Bozick ’71, Dec. 3, 2020

2010s

Joseph F. McElhattan ’50, April 19, 2021

Sandra K. Rhoads ’71, Jan. 20, 2021

Joan G. Gifford Smith ’52, Feb. 5, 2021

Harry W. Neuhard ’71, Jan. 23, 2021

Harold V. Kirscht ’56, Nov. 13, 2020

Gasper D. Ozella ’71, April 17, 2021

Rhonda McKinney ’10, Dec. 3, 2020
Shannen Leeann Patton ’14, Feb. 3, 2021
Caitlyn Marie Kaufman ’16, Dec. 3, 2020

Lawrence C. Chiodo ’56, March 21, 2021

Michael Lee O’Neill ’72, Jan. 17, 2021

Lori L. King ’18, Jan. 30, 2021

R. James Smathers ’57, Dec. 16, 2020

Ray A. Zimmerman ’72, March 27, 2021

Joseph Elmer Summerville ’58, Jan. 28, 2021

Roger A. Kelly ’72, March 28, 2021

Student

Faye L. Dryden Raisley ’59, April 18, 2021

Hiram M. Boggs ’73, Nov. 29, 2020

James Solano Whitman, Feb. 20, 2021

1960s

Deborah S. Paup ’74, Nov. 15, 2020
Linda J. Hoover Musser ’74, Dec. 19, 2020

Friends

Victor R. Weidner ’60, Feb. 21, 2021

Thomas E. Greenawalt ’74, April 6, 2021

Gary Defibaugh, Dec. 4, 2020, retired staff

Nancy C. James Brubaker ’61, Nov. 6, 2020

Daniel Bruce Hovis ’75, March 29, 2021

Francis C. Baptist, Jan. 25, 2021, retired faculty

Ronald E. Stewart ’61, Jan. 1, 2021

Chris R. Davis ’76, Jan. 23, 2021

Michel G. Ossesia, March 30, 2021, retired

John T. McCabe ’61, Feb. 8, 2021

Christina King Marshall ’78, Feb. 5, 2021

faculty

Daniel M. Topolski ’61, March 19, 2021

Danny L. Fultz ’79, Jan. 30, 2021

David R. Marchand, April 10, 2021, retired

Neva C. Copeland Ward ’62, Nov. 13, 2020

1980s

faculty

Lee Roy Grosch ’62, Jan. 11, 2021

Karla N. Milford ’80, Feb. 8, 2021

Jo-Ann Smail Ross ’63, March 16, 2021

Orville Harford Lerch ’81, Dec. 24, 2020

David R. Harbison ’64, March 3, 2021

Susan Ellen Camp Brown ’81, March 17, 2021

Marsha Marion Carruthers ’65, Jan. 8, 2021

Kenneth D. Hritz ’82, Jan. 15, 2021

Jerrie Lee Richey Guldin ’65, Jan. 19, 2021

Nancy J. Nicks ’82, Jan. 27, 2021

Robert Thomas Buriak ’65, Feb. 16, 2021

John L. Flickinger ’83, Nov. 15, 2020

Lois Jean Fagley Eisenhuth ’65, April 21, 2021

Barbara J. Gardill Bright ’83, Jan. 28, 2021

George E. Tobias ’66, Dec. 1, 2020

Mary Eleanor Neil Kirkpatrick ’83, Feb. 20,

Joanne A. Axelson Taylor ’66, Dec. 21, 2020

2021

Jerry L. Spangler ’66, Jan. 13, 2021

Rebecca A. Billings ’85, Feb. 9, 2021

John D. Day ’66, March 29, 2021

Timothy M. Gerstbrein ’87, Nov. 6, 2020

Alex J. Arth ’66, April 19, 2021

Melba J. Tomeo ’88, Nov. 13, 2020

James M. Alcorn ’68, Jan. 13, 2021

Janet D. Coryell ’88, Feb. 16, 2021

Robert J. Cisek ’68, March 6, 2021

Shirley J. McCord ’88, March 8, 2021

Doris V. Shever ’68, March 29, 2021

Mary B. Hutchison ’89, Nov. 9, 2020

Barbara J. Hodgson Husband ’69, Nov. 24, 2020
Paul David Stark ’69, Dec. 7, 2020

1990s

Lawrence G. Holly ’69, Dec. 12, 2020

Robert Edward Clowes ’90, Feb. 23, 2021

James R. Matalik ’62, Nov. 8, 2020

Carl W. Rosenswie ’71, Dec. 15, 2020

Martha E. Livermore ’92, March 5, 2021
Rosemary A. Harton ’93, Dec. 12, 2020
Rita Clare Schmader ’95, Dec. 4, 2020
Jane Louise McDonough Johnson ’95,
March 8, 2021
Bradley Rudell Harriger ’97, Jan. 5, 2021
Emily Rebecca Reynolds Bostwick ’98, Jan.
15, 2021

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

43

CLARION UNIVERSITY

BABY EAGLES

OUR GIFT TO BABY EAGLES OF CLARION ALUMNI
IS A DASHING NEW BIB!
To receive a bib, visit www.clarion.edu/babybib and complete the online form.
Once you receive your bib, take a picture of your Eaglet putting the bib to
use, and email a high-resolution photo to us for inclusion in Clarion University
Magazine.
For more information, call the Office of Alumni Engagement at 814-393-2572.

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Caleb Michael Doyle,
son of Brian ’06, ‘07G and Deanna
Weaver ’09 Doyle, born Nov. 4, 2019
Eva Katherine Mish,
daughter of Kyle and Laine Mendelson ’04 Mish,
born Nov. 27, 2019
Maria Kay McKinney,
daughter of Alex ’05 and Valorie Rankin ’08
McKinney, born Jan. 20, 2020
Allison Jade Buttlar,
daughter of Jason and Dana Connors ’13 Buttlar,
born May 3, 2020
Ruby Lynn Russick, daughter of Brooke and Jonathan ’06 Russick, born May 25, 2020

12 Thomas Ray Petry IV,

son of Thomas and Courtney Sanders ’07 Petry,
born Sept. 19, 2020

13 Raelyn Mae Miles,

daughter of Theron ’12 and Alexandra Lippert
’14, ’15 Miles, born Sept. 24, 2020

14 Luca Matthew Mussori,

son of Matthew and Emily Swanson ’06 Mussori,
born Sept. 25, 2020

15 Addyson Marie Bruce,

daughter of Jared ’12 and Ashley Hollis ’12
Bruce, born Oct. 23, 2020

16 Russ Xavier Cornman,

son of Brad ’10 and Melissa Hinkle ’11 Cornman,
born Nov. 18, 2020

Autumn Rae Kopnitsky,
daughter of Dylan and Samantha Stupak ’13
Kopnitsky, born June 4, 2020

17 Bowen William Rice,

Charlotte Jean Haberkam,
daughter of Katie Vitori ’08 Haberkam, born July
11, 2020

Roman Ferrell,
18 Angelo
son of Adam and Ashley Sanders ’07

Aubrey Rae Eidnier,
daughter of Andrew and Kelly Krisnosky ’10, ‘12G
Eidnier, born July 26, 2020

19 Rae Carmella Toborowski,

Luna Frances Hueramo,
daughter of Aldo and Nicolena DeSantis ’10
Hueramo, born Aug. 7, 2020
Maddox Lee Buchanan,
son of Trevor and Shawna Sinclair ’17 Buchanan,
born Aug. 30, 2020
Quinn Annette Snell,
daughter of Nick ’09 and Sara Pratt ’10 Snell,
born Sept. 16, 2020

SPRING 2021
WWW.CLARION.EDU

son of James and Kati Baughman ’07 Rice,
born Nov. 20, 2020

Ferrell, born Dec. 10, 2020

daughter of Thomas ’17 and Karlena Price ’16
Toborowski, born March 10, 2021

Lynn Williams-McMaster,
20 Arya
daughter of Elizabeth Murr ’15, born Jan. 24,
2020

21 Gabriel Thomas Lehman,

son of Bill ’05 and Kate Lutz ’05 Lehman, born
Sept. 10, 2020

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FOCUS ON RETENTION

46

SPRING 2021
WWW.CLARION.EDU

IS NETTING RESULTS

Clarion University is seeing results from strategies put in place to
support students and retain them through graduating with a degree in
four years.
Eight years ago, the four-year degree completion rate was just
under 30 percent, putting Clarion in 11th place among the 14 universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Now, after
employing practices that address students’ reasons for leaving school
or taking longer to complete a bachelor’s degree, 44 percent of
students are graduating in four years, moving Clarion to fourth place
among State System schools.
Dr. Dave Hartley, interim associate provost, outlined common reasons students leave school and Clarion’s efforts to keep them there.
“The overwhelming response to our exit survey is that students are
stopping out due to financial reasons,” Hartley said. “If we can find
ways to reduce the cost, that allows them to stay in college.”
One way of reducing the cost of a degree is to help students stay
on track to complete their degrees in four years. A wide range of
circumstances can slow a student’s progress toward graduation.
“From the academic support side, students must feel that they’re
being well cared for and getting good advisement so they’re not
jumping into courses for which they’re academically not prepared,”
Hartley said. “The university has put a lot of effort into the First Year
Experience, a part of which is helping them develop study skills so
they’ll succeed.”
Several years ago, a group of faculty examined the student curriculum and course sequencing to look for red flags. Many of the courses
on which students stumbled were foundational courses; if the student
earned a C or lower in those courses, there was a good chance they
wouldn’t be retained. Separately, course sequencing addressed the
number of difficult courses a student has in a semester.
“From the student support side, we help students to feel that they
are part of the campus community. By getting involved in clubs and
developing a social network, students stay connected,” Hartley said.
“When a student is surrounded by other motivated students, they are
motivated. It’s easy for students who don’t make social connections to
drift off and not come back.”
Hartley said the university requires faculty to report student attendance. The information goes to success coaches, and they reach out
to students to find out what kind of support they need.

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

47

#WINGSUP
JADA SMITH
Jada Smith has been speaking up when
she sees injustice since she was a young
child. She was in 8th grade, however, when
she took action to right a wrong.
“This all began because of being treated
differently because I was a female. When
all of the athletic awards were specified
for males during my 8th grade graduation,
I felt that was a form of discrimination,”
said Smith, a member of the Golden Eagles
women’s basketball team. "I knew that I was
a more accomplished, decorated athlete,
and I could not be considered for any
recognition because I was female. I, in turn,
said no other girl would experience this."
In addition to speaking with school
administrators, Smith initiated her own
scholarship.
"I originally founded it with just my
birthday money," she said. "My birthday is
in March so I would take that money and
give scholarships in June."
Since then, she started a non-profit
organization called Scholars with Athletic/
Academic/Artistic Goals, or SWAG.

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SPRING 2021
WWW.CLARION.EDU

Your gift matters.

No matter which department or scholarship
you support, no matter the size, your gift makes a difference.
What brought me to Clarion

I’m from a small college town, and I didn’t want to go to the
same school as everyone from my high school. My dad is a
professor at the university, so I thought I would take a tour.
I immediately fell in love with the campus and the staff, and
thought that I could definitely call Clarion my home for the
next four years.

What I love about Clarion
Besides my love for the Clarion community and the small-town
vibe, I love all the professors and staff members at Clarion.
They truly want me and other students at the university to
succeed in our fields. Everyone at Clarion goes out of his or
her way to help others, and I have never experienced such a
supportive environment in my life.

Future aspirations
After graduation, I hope to work in professional sports media
as a sports broadcasting director or be involved in sports video
production in some way.

Scholarship opportunities
Clarion has so many different scholarship opportunities for
students. I have received an academic scholarship every
year I’ve been at Clarion, and I have received Honors College
scholarships for university housing.

Why are you grateful for Clarion?

PARKER SPRENGER, MAY 2022 | INDIANA, PA
Communications: Digital Media
with minors in Sports Media and History

Your gift to Clarion University
creates opportunities
for students like Parker.

I am insanely grateful for all the professional opportunities
that Clarion has given me, especially within my field of study.
At Clarion, I had the chance to get involved with media production in my very first semester, such as sports reporting for
CU-TV News, hosting my own sports talk show, creating videos
for the university, and directing the livestreams for Clarion
University Athletics. Through directing livestreams at Tippin
Gymnasium, I have the ability to use professional equipment
that is utilized in the media industry.

How has the university helped you maneuver
through the pandemic and continue reaching your
academic goals?
The university has been able to move most of its classes online,
and allowed me to continue pursuing my educational goals in
a safe environment. They have also provided both face-to-face
Zoom classes and traditional online learning courses, so I have
the choice to pick which class fits my needs best.

To make a gift today, go to clarion.edu/yourgiftmatters
Seifert-Mooney Center for Advancement | Clarion University of Pennsylvania
840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214 | 814-393-2827 | giving@clarion.edu

CLARION UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

49

NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 2
CLARION, PA

840 WOOD STREET
CLARION, PA 16214-1232
WWW.CLARION.EDU

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2021
OCTOBER 8&9