Dr. Whitney’s 500-Day Plan
April 2011

Vol. 58 No.1

www.clarion.edu

Thank You Clarion
Brian Hastings (’95, ’99)
Education: Bachelor’s degree in secondary education/
physics; master’s degree in science education, both from
Clarion University

clarion and beyond

Career: High school physics teacher, Spring Grove (Pa.)
Area School District

April 2011

Home: Spring Grove, Pa.

President:

Dr. Karen Whitney

Hastings graduated from Clarion University’s honors
program with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/
physics in 1995. He started working toward his master’s
degree at Clarion and began his teaching career at Spring
Grove Area School District in 1996. He finished his
master’s degree in science education in 1999.
Hastings’ work keeps him busy. He and his wife,
Jennifer, are also kept hopping at home with their two
sons, Brian Jr., 3 1/2, and Adam, 3 months. Hastings tries
to return to Clarion during Autumn Leaf Festival to catch
up with the news on campus.

Executive Editor:
David Love (’86, ’87)
Co-Editors:
Rich Herman (sports)
Tina Horner
Design:
Scott Kane (’04)/PAGES
Contributors:
Chris Rossetti
Brandi Stretavski
Photographers:
Rich Herman, David Love, George Powers,
Jerry Sowden, Jason Strohm and
Brett Whitling.
Cover: President Whitney with Clarion
University students.
Address comments and questions to:
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion and Beyond Magazine
Center for Advancement
840 Wood St.
Clarion, PA 16214
E-mail address: alumni@clarion.edu
Visit Clarion University on the Web at

www.clarion.edu
Clarion and Beyond is published three times a
year by the Center for 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, affectional 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 the Assistant to the President for Social
Equity, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 216 Carrier
Administration Building, Clarion, PA 16214-1232.
814-393-2109.

02 | December ’10

Rocket Science
It’s not just anyone who can advise Rocket
Scientists. For Hastings, that’s one part of his
work as physics teacher at Spring Grove, where
he teaches 10th through 12th grade physics.
The Rocket Scientists is a group of high school
scientists who compete against students from
other high schools, up to the national level. “We
just finished the Physics Olympics. I took two
teams, and they took first and third overall,”
Hastings said. “In Science Olympiad, we’ve
advanced to states every year since 2005, and in
Team America Rocketry Challenge, we had two
teams advance to nationals the past two years.”
For the past 10 years, Hastings has taught a
residential summer program for talented youth at
Johns Hopkins, for the top two percent of students
from around the world.
In 2007 he was named Outstanding Educator
of the Year for Spring Grove Area School District.

A Perfect Fit
For Hastings, Clarion University was a perfect
fit. “When I chose Clarion, they were in the top 10
in science education in the United States.” For the
future physics teacher, “It was the right choice.”
Hastings was also drawn by Clarion’s honors
program, as well as the size and atmosphere of the
campus.
“I liked the smaller class sizes and the
personal attention from the professors,” he said.
Hastings had a few mentors at Clarion. “My first
adviser was Dr. (Jack) Blaine. He was my mentor
for a while, until I started working more closely
with Dr. George Glander. I was doing research for

him in the summer and working on my master’s,”
Hastings said. He was a graduate assistant for
Dr. Ed Zielinski. “He had what was called the
‘BISCITS’ (Biotechnology Initiative for Systemic
Change in the Teaching of Science) program,
which focused on biotechnology and improving
biotechnology education in schools.”

The Role Financial Support Played
Hastings didn’t qualify for financial aid, so he
was responsible for paying for his own education.
He was awarded scholarships in varying amounts,
which were helpful, he said. He received the
Clarion University Alumni Association scholarship
in 1994 and the Paul Shank Award for Excellence
in 1994 and 1995.

The Future Of Science
The same things that attracted Hastings
to Clarion University are attracting some of his
students. “Spring Grove is a moderately-sized
rural school. As a result, we have smaller class
sizes, more personal relationships with students.
Students in the (Spring Grove) area are interested
in that kind of atmosphere. Couple that with
Clarion’s history and reputation in terms of science
education – Clarion is a name that’s recognized for
that program,” he said.
“Right now there is one of my (former)
students who is attending Clarion for physics.
She’s a sophomore and is a lab assistant in the
physics department,” Hastings said. “I have
another one who’s a junior, who is interested in
coming to Clarion for physics.”

President Whitney Outlines
Plan For First 500 Days Of Presidency

L

ast July, when Karen Whitney reported for her first day
as Clarion University’s 16th president, she embarked
on a 90-day campaign of listening. She had more
than 2,000 personal conversations on campus and in
the community; she hosted open forums and attended
departmental meetings; and she made available an online
survey, open to everyone, which resulted in 70 pages of text.
At the end of the 90 days, Whitney used what she learned as
the foundation for her 500-Day Plan, her presidential plan of
action.

Whitney said the themes were so strong during that time of
listening that it wasn’t hard to categorize them into five key
areas:
• Academic advancement
• Campus climate
• Civic engagement
• Financial stewardship
• Institutional leadership

www.clarion.edu
www.clarion.edu || 03
03

“The role of a civically engaged university
is to first commit to serving a community
as central to our mission, and then to
leverage our teaching, research and
service activities to benefit, mutually, the
university and the community.”
Campus Climate

Academic Advancement
Whitney’s goal is to champion increasing the
degree attainment of the regional community
through faculty-driven programs, services and
facilities which are of interest to students and
employers.
“My job as president today is to provide the
greatest breadth of flexibility, so as academic
leaders of the university move forward, they have
as many tools in the toolbox as possible,” she
said.
“I think it’s important that we, at Clarion,
be very clear on what our current and future
strengths are and not feel like we have to meet
all of the post-secondary needs ourselves,”

Whitney said. “We want to create the
environment where we can be very intentional
about where we go in the future in terms of our
offerings, and not feel we have to be all things to
all people. We won’t be all things, but we’ll have
partnerships, we’ll cultivate relationships (with
institutions) that may be in a better position than
we are to provide what the region needs.”
The president cited, as examples, remedial
courses.
“The state does not fund us to provide
remedial courses, so should we actually be
providing them, or should another institution
that’s being reimbursed do it? That’s a
question,” she said.

Whitney’s 500-Day Plan calls for Clarion
University to cultivate a campus culture of civility,
listening, entrepreneurialism, achievement and
relationships.
“A culture of civility has been a historic
strength on this campus that I want to see
continue, so it’s going from good to great,”
she said. “Particularly when organizations are
undergoing quite a bit of change, as we are with
our funding, and we’re attempting to hold on to
values and things we believe strongly in, a campus
culture of civility and professionalism is hugely
important.”
Whitney added that there’s a noticeable
amount of incivility in the world today, and Clarion
University has an opportunity to model civility for
the rest of the world.

Civic Engagement
“It’s really simple. In working together we
accomplish what we cannot do separately,”
Whitney said of the relationship between Clarion
University and the community. “The role of a

Pfannestiel Accepts Faculty Fellow For Pai Appointment

O

ne of President Karen Whitney’s
five areas of focus in her 500-Day
Plan is institutional leadership,
and one of the people who will help
realize the goals in that area is Dr. Todd
Pfannestiel, professor of history.
Whitney appointed Pfannestiel a
faculty fellow for Planning, Assessment
and Improvement. He will begin working
in that role in summer 2011 and will
continue through summer 2013. He
will take leave from his classroom
responsibilities during his tenure with
PAI.
“We are most fortunate that Dr.
Pfannestiel has agreed to work with

04 | April ’11

leadership of the campus to help us
become a university that has a strong
approach to planning, assessment and
institutional improvement,” President
Whitney said. “Todd is just the right
person for this important endeavor.”
Pfannestiel explained that within the
university’s strategic plan, every college
and every division has its own plan.
“That’s where I will come in, helping
the various divisions to develop their
plans and make sure the left hand knows
what the right hand is doing, that there’s
no needless redundancy,” he said.
“There’s a lot of coordination, a lot of
integration.”

Key points will be to align Clarion
University plans with Pennsylvania
State System of Higher Education plans
and with county, regional and state
strategic interests; to advance PASSHE
performance funding measures; to
ensure that all university plans will
be specific, measureable, attainable,
relevant and timely; and to ensure that
all university plans include both Clarion
and Venango campuses.
“It gives me a great opportunity to
help the president set the course for the
future of the institution,” Pfannestiel
said.

CLARION AND BEYOND
civically engaged university is to first
commit to serving a community as
central to our mission, and then to
leverage our teaching, research and
service activities to benefit, mutually,
the university and the community.”
Whitney said a university brings
an intellectual, cultural and economic
vitality to a community, while a
community brings a special sense of
place and history to the university.
She wants to see Clarion University
leadership meeting regularly with
the leaders of target organizations
ranging from the national to the local
level with the goal of strengthening
or establishing partnerships that
contribute to achieving the university’s
vision, mission and goals.

Financial Stewardship
Whitney is committed to leading the
university community in reorganizing
itself in a manner that will ensure the
future fiscal capacity of the university.
“As we move forward to ensure our
financial capacity to meet our mission
of teaching, research and service, it
is important to organize ourselves in
such a way that allows us to thrive as a
university. We will have to change some
of the things we do and how we do
them,” Whitney said.

“I look at measures and being
clear about what we’re doing,
because I want us to be in
command of what we’re doing.
I want us to be intentional.”
To that end, she has introduced the
Responsibility Centered Management
model to guide the university. The
stages of RCM are expected to move
Clarion, from a situation of deficits, to
balancing revenues and expenditures,
investing to secure the future and
finally, thriving, where revenue always
exceeds expenditures.
The change is necessary, the
president said. “If we do not change,
we will continue to suffer reductions
in funding which will slowly cause us
to do less and less and will force us to
not fill open positions or fill them with
temporary positions.”
“While I cannot guarantee
our future, I do know that Clarion
University is comprised of smart,

passionate and courageous faculty
and staff,” she said. “I also know our
students, alumni and friends in the
community want to work with us to be
successful. So, with excellent planning,
hard work and a focus on our finances,
we will thrive.”

Institutional Leadership
Whitney is putting together a
team to lead Clarion in reaching
its goals. She seeks to ensure that
the leadership - including provost,
vice presidents, associate/assistant
vice presidents and provosts of the
university - holds the confidence of the
faculty, staff and students to the extent
that focused goals can be pursued in a
clear and purposeful way.
Dr. Susan Turell joined Clarion
University Feb. 1, as vice provost,
and Dr. Todd Pfannestiel, professor of
history, has been appointed to a twoyear term, beginning this summer, as
faculty fellow for Planning, Assessment
and Improvement. A search for provost
is currently under way; the target date
to have a new provost in place is July 1.
“We are building a team that is
committed to leading Clarion University
to meet its mission of teaching,
research and service. The leadership
team will work to hold the confidence
of the campus through being hardworking, approachable, engaging, clear
and results oriented,” she said.
Whitney wants to establish a
culture of planning, assessment
and improvement. Those activities
will produce data, which she sees
as evidence and as a source of
empowerment, and which will be the
driving force behind decision-making.
“I can measure pride. I can
measure happiness. I can measure all
kinds of things. Measuring is important
because we need to be very thoughtful
about how we use our resources: time,
talent and treasure,” Whitney said. “I
look at measures and being clear about
what we’re doing because I want us to
be in command of what we’re doing. I
want us to be intentional.”
Whitney said the goals outlined
in her 500-Day Plan are on her mind
simultaneously. “Right now, in my first
year, the two I find myself spending the
most time on are building institutional
leadership and financial stewardship.
“All of these are very important,
and one isn’t subordinate to the
others,” the president said. “I am very
determined to ensure the financial
capacity of the university. It helps to
advance many of these other goals.”

The Inauguration of
Dr. Karen M. Whitney
For only the 16th time in Clarion University’s nearly
150-year history, a new president will be installed on
April 15. The installation ceremony for
Dr. Karen M. Whitney will begin at 1:30 p.m. in
Marwick-Boyd Auditorium; a public reception
will follow in Carlson Library.

Details are available at
www.clarion.edu/inauguration
Prior to beginning her presidency at Clarion on
July 1, 2010, Dr. Whitney served as vice chancellor for
student life and dean of students at the 30,000-student
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
(IUPUI) since 1999. Prior to joining IUPUI, she was
associate vice president for student life at the University
of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Whitney earned both a
bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master’s
degree in public administration from the University of
Houston and a doctoral degree in higher educational
administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
In recognition of the scholarly achievements of Clarion’s
students, faculty and staff, the inaugural events are being
held in conjunction with the university’s Sixth Annual
Academic Excellence Series (AES).

Details are available at www.clarion.edu/aes

www.clarion.edu | 05

Venango Campus

Clarion University–Venango Campus Launches Program
For Marcellus Shale-Related Career Preparation

C

larion University–Venango Campus
announced a new concentration March 4
within its Associate of Applied Science
in Industrial Technology (AAS-IT) degree
to prepare students for upward career mobility
in Marcellus shale-related and other natural
gas industries. The natural gas technology
concentration is offered through Clarion’s
Department of Applied Technology in partnership
with Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) of
Meadville.
“My colleagues and I are very pleased
to announce this unique new program for
the residents of our region and beyond who
want to prepare for the growing employment
opportunities available in this emerging
industry,” said Dr. Christopher M. Reber,
executive dean of Venango Campus. “Through
our partnership with PMI, students will receive
technical training that is relevant for entrylevel employment, and a Clarion University
associate degree that will provide the foundation
for upward career mobility and/or continued
education immediately or in the future.”



“We worked very closely with
leaders in the oil and gas industry
to ensure that the curriculum
provides students the best
foundation for upward mobility in
the industry.”
Dr. William Hallock

“We are excited to be partnering with Clarion
University on this natural gas concentration,”
said Chuck Guiste, executive director of PMI.
“Precision Manufacturing Institute has been
providing technical training for industry in the
region for more than 20 years. Our partnership
with Clarion University has enabled us to
better meet the needs of employers by offering
meaningful training programs with both the
technical and soft skills that are critical to all
industries. The new natural gas concentration
is the latest example of PMI and Clarion
University’s dedication to responding quickly to
the changing needs of our region’s industry.”
The 19-month natural gas technology
associate degree program will prepare students
for a wide range of entry-level employment
opportunities. Students earn transcripted
university credit for technical as well as general

06 | April ’11

education courses and graduate
with a Clarion University Associate
of Applied Science in Industrial
Technology degree.
The first offering of the natural gas
program will begin in June 2011 and
will run through December 2012. The
program will continue in the future at
times that meet the needs of students
and the industry. A comprehensive
curriculum includes industrial
technology courses related to the
natural gas industry and general
education courses.
“We worked very closely with
leaders in the oil and gas industry to
ensure that the curriculum provides
students the best foundation for
upward mobility in the industry,”
said Dr. William Hallock, chair of the
department of applied technology.
“While the development of natural
gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus
shale is in its earliest phase, the
demand for a skilled workforce
is already expanding rapidly. The
growth of the natural gas industry
in the area already has created an estimated
88,000 jobs and holds the potential to more
than double that number in the next decade,”
said Danielle Boston, director of public outreach
for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas
Association. “Clarion University’s Natural Gas
Technology associate degree program gives the
student a strong foundation for the skills and
knowledge that are needed for this industry and
prepares them for many different aspects of this
industry.”
The curriculum is designed to blend
general education and business courses with
technical courses that familiarize students with
natural gas industry and processes. Courses
will also ensure that students receive in-depth
knowledge of critical industrial safety standards
and practices related to working in confined
spaces with hazardous materials and energy,
hazard communication, fire protection and
electrical safety, welding and others. Students
will learn the theory of maintenance and gain
the skills necessary to maintain electrical/
mechanical equipment used in industrial
settings. Courses will include industrial process
control instrumentation concepts, devices
and systems and the basic principles of fluid
power, component operation, circuit design
and applications. Students also will gain an
understanding of programmable logic controllers,
engine and compressor operations, as well
as issues and applications facing petroleum
facilities and networks.

Randy Seitz, president and CEO of the Oil
Region Alliance of Business, Industry and
Tourism (ORA), sees the degree program as
especially beneficial to the recruitment of new
industry.
“The ORA is very excited about the potential
for job growth and regional investment that the
drilling and production of Marcellus shale will
provide,” he said. “Our short-term strategy is to
position the Oil Region to be a ‘business friendly’
community, ready and poised to meet the
demands of Marcellus shale producers and their
suppliers. We will be aggressively going after and
recruiting these companies, as well as preparing
local businesses to supply to Marcellus shale gas
producers. We are particularly excited because
the Clarion University Marcellus shale academic
program will help position us to better recruit
these companies and opportunities through a
better-educated and more-prepared workforce.”
The industrial technology program at Clarion
University–Venango Campus was awarded
full national accreditation in 2009 by the
Association of Technology, Management and
Applied Engineering (ATMAE), the premier
professional association for the accreditation
of industrial technology programs in colleges,
universities and technical institutes. It is the
only associate degree program in Pennsylvania
that is accredited by ATMAE.
For information call the office of admissions
and financial aid at 814-676-6591, ext. 1211
or 1275.

CLARION AND BEYOND

Eagle Commons Is Certified
Environmentally Friendly

C

larion University’s Eagle Commons dining
facility has been awarded Silver LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Certification by the U.S. Green Building
Council.
Eagle Commons joins Campus View and
Valley View residence hall suites in receiving
Silver LEED Certification. Those buildings, as
well as Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science
and Technology and Gregory Barnes Center for
Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion
University, were designed for energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly LEED rating.
“With the Silver LEED certification
of our Eagle Commons, Clarion University
continues to realize our commitment to the
environment through environmentally responsible
construction,” Clarion University President
Karen Whitney said. “We have a commitment
to pursuing LEED certification for all building
projects as part of the university’s long-term
strategic plan.”
Buildings that meet LEED standards have
less environmental impact and lower operation
costs. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program
for the design, construction and operation of
green buildings.

The LEED innovations at
Eagle Commons feature:
•

Building construction – an energy
conserving building envelope; a cool
roof; high performance glazing; space
sizing to improve heating and cooling;
and introduction of daylight into the
interior

•

Outside – native vegetation; location
of the building on two different public
transportation routes; areas for bicycle
parking; and preferred parking for lowemission and fuel-efficient vehicles

•

Inside – use of low-VOC (volatile organic
compounds) products and materials;
introduction of daylight into the interior;
energy conserving mechanical/electrical
systems; energy efficient cooking equipment;
and water conservation measures projected
to reduce usage a minimum of 30 percent

Eagle Commons is a “trayless” facility,
which reduces food waste. In fall 2008, the
former Chandler Dining Hall went trayless,
resulting in an estimated 32 percent decline in
wasted food.

Recycling stations are located throughout
the building. A green tenant coffee bar, for
which the majority of products are purchased
locally, reduces transportation costs.
Along with sustainability, Eagle Commons
serves palatability. Within the facility, diners can
mix and match from an array of culinary stations.
Eagle Commons was a $12 million project.
Chartwell’s, the university’s food service provider,
contributed $1 million. The building will be
paid for through the sale of meal plans and
other operational income. The architect was STV
of Douglassville with Hudson Construction of
Hermitage serving as general contractor.

Area Resident Boosts Community With Education Degrees From Clarion

S

ince Jessica Moore (’96, ’00) earned her
education degrees from Clarion University,
she’s done plenty to give back to her
community.
The Clarion resident has worked as a support
teacher at five area schools and served as a
developmental specialist at UPMC Northwest.
Last July, Moore became director of operations
at Service Access and Management, Inc., a
nonprofit organization that manages many
human services on behalf of Clarion County
Mental Health/Mental Retardation.
“It’s most certainly been a challenge,” said
Moore. “Often, I work up to 50 hours a week
doing everything from monitoring budgets and
giving community presentations to interacting
with interns. The job requires lots of time
management, but I sure love what I do.”
Moore earned her bachelor’s degree in
special education from Clarion in December
1996. She returned to the university in
1997 to pursue her master’s degree in
special education. Since finishing that
degree in 2000, Moore has continued
to take graduate-level courses in

special education and rehabilitative sciences at
Clarion, many of them online.
“As a parent and a full-time worker, there
is no way I could have continued my education
unless it was on my own time in an online
format,” Moore said. “Both degrees required me
to take a number of courses in the rehabilitative
sciences program. I didn’t realize
it at the time, but all of those
courses applied directly to my
future, and to the job I am doing
now.”
One of her favorite
courses was “Administering
Rehabilitation Delivery
Systems,” taught by
Dr. Ray Feroz. “At
first, I thought
I would be
intimidated
because I
didn’t know
much about
accounting
or anything

related to business,” she said. “But the course
was structured so that people like me could
easily understand it.”
According to Clarion professor Dr. Greg
Clary, Moore’s work with Service Access and
Management, Inc., draws heavily upon what she
learned in the rehabilitative sciences program.
“Jessica’s job is closely related to her
degree work, especially in terms of coordinating
community-based services for youth and adults
with developmental disabilities,” he said.
Clarion University’s Master of Rehabilitative
Science program prepares students to work in a
range of human services positions: mental health
case managers, drug and alcohol counselors,
probation and parole officers and intervention
specialists with agencies on aging and assistedliving facilities. Many students are mid-career
human services professionals looking to advance
their careers.
Moore works with Clarion faculty to utilize
interns from the rehabilitative sciences program
and to expand collaborative efforts involving her
corporation’s psychiatric rehabilitation program.

Moore with Morpheus

www.clarion.edu | 07

news briefs

Stay Current On Pennsylvania Budget

NEWS FROM THE CAMPUSES

For updates on Clarion University’s response to
the proposed Pennsylvania budget, go to

Emmy Award-Winning Producer Kicks Off Equity Week 2010

www.clarion.edu/pabudget

Mary Murphy, winner of six Emmy Awards, kicked off Equity Week
2010: Voices that Transform Communities, with a presentation on her
documentary film, “Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird,”
Nov. 8 in Hart Chapel. Murphy worked for 20 years at CBS where she
produced stories for “60 Minutes,” “48 Hours” and “Sunday Morning”
programs. Other Equity Week events included a roundtable by the
President’s Commission on Human Relations and the Equity Dinner and
Awards Ceremony.

Also, look for the “Get Connected with
PASSHE” button on Clarion’s website for
information on state-related issues, in
particular, the budget.

Special Agent Talks About Cyberbullying
Elaine Surma, a senior supervisory special agent with the Pennsylvania
Attorney General’s Office, discussed cyberbullying Nov. 11 at Clarion
University. Surma said the technology of computers and cell phones
has expanded the platform from which bullying is done. “I think it’s the
enhancement of the technology where people don’t feel comfortable
saying things in person, so they’ll go about it on Facebook, texting, e-mail
or that sort of thing,” said Jim McGee (’03, ’05), coordinator of health
promotions for Clarion University, noting an increase of cyberbullying on
campus.

Activities Encourage Acceptance, Tolerance
Transitions Services and ALLIES encouraged behavior of acceptance
Oct. 20. The university community was encouraged to wear purple; take
the tolerance and acceptance pledge; cover doors with purple paper;
leave a handprint on the awareness banner; watch “Out in the Silence,” a
documentary about a local high school student’s struggles after he came
out as gay and join others at an evening vigil. The events coincided with
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Spirit Day.

EFSN Offers Every-Weekend Activities
It couldn’t be any easier. Show up, have fun. No money? No problem.
It’s free. No car? No problem. It’s on campus. No gadget for organizing
your social activities? No problem. The fun is at 8 p.m. every Friday and
Saturday night at James Gemmell Student Complex. It’s a no-brainer.
“We want it to be easy for everyone, whether it’s a student or an
administrator, to think 8 o’clock, Gemmell, every Friday and Saturday
night, there’s something going on,” said Brian Hoover, assistant director
of Clarion University’s Center for Leadership and Involvement.

‘Service To Others’ Is Theme Of Martin
Luther King Jr. Celebration
“Service to Others” was the message
at Clarion University’s Martin Luther King
Jr. Holiday Community Celebration Jan.
19. An area high school student and a
Clarion University student addressed the
audience, and student poets recited.
Clarion University’s Lift Every Voice
gospel choir performed, as did the Buffalo
Soldiers, a group of young men from
Vision Quest who perform stepping drills.
“This program is an opportunity for local
residents and students from small, rural
communities to see, hear and learn about
Brandi Cox and Geo Miller
others who are a little different from
them,” said Brenda Dede, chair of the
organizing committee and a founder of the event.

08 | April ’11

Keeling Health Center Earns Reaccreditation
Clarion University’s Keeling Health Center has earned its fourth, threeyear accreditation through the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory
Health Centers. Representatives from AAAHC spent two days on campus
reviewing policies and procedures and making sure the center meets the
27 standards set forth by the accrediting body. “It’s completely voluntary
for us, and we still do it, just to show our standards of care are superior,”
said Susan Bornak, dean of student development and health center
director.

Rehabilitative Sciences Programs Accredited
Clarion University’s Rehabilitative Sciences associate and
baccalaureate degree programs have received national accreditation from
the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) through
October 2015. The CSHSE board complimented the Department of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Sciences’ human services programs
and described the self-study as “thorough and comprehensive.”
The following faculty members earned the Human Services - Board
Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) credential: Dr. Greg Clary, Dr. Raymond
Feroz, Dr. Mark Kilwein, Ms. Shari Wynkoop and Mr. Sam Cangemi.
Clarion’s Rehabilitative Sciences Program is highly regarded
throughout Pennsylvania as a producer of high-quality, entry-level
rehabilitation/human services professionals.

MS In Library Science Program Reaccredited
Clarion University’s Master of Science in Library Science program has
been reaccredited by the American Library Association for seven years,
the association’s longest period of accreditation. The process involved
two years of self-study, leading to the production of a 100-plus page
program presentation, which was the basis for a visit to the department
in September 2010. Only 57 programs throughout the United States and
Canada have ALA accreditation. Clarion MSLS graduates have a strong
track record of success in the profession, and are employed in libraries
and other information institutions around the globe.

Keth Establishes Amphibian Research/Education Facility
Dr. Andrew Keth (M.S.,’98), Department of Biology at Clarion University,
in a joint venture with Clarion-Limestone Area School District, is
establishing an amphibian research and education facility on the ClarionLimestone campus. The laboratory will begin by housing two species
of salamander native to the Clarion River watershed and developing
research programs examining their natural history and ecology. The target
organisms are the Eastern Hellbender and the Spotted Salamander. The
primary research mission will be to illuminate any evolved mechanisms
for disease resistance inherent in housed amphibian populations.
Breeding programs can then be developed using those individuals to
produce resistant “seed offspring” that can be reintroduced into the wild.

CLARION AND BEYOND

Student News
Clarion Student Co-Authors Paper Published In International Journal
Drs. Vasudeva Rao Aravind and John Heard, both assistant professors of
physics, and Hope Miller, a junior, published an article with co-author Dr.
Mehmet Goksu of Millersville University in the international peer-reviewed
physics journal, “Latin American Journal of Physics Education” (Vol. 4,
No. 3, Sept. 2010, page 552). Their article was entitled “Natural cooling
of hot water: An experimental study in thermal processes.”

Huebert, Marsico, Hunter Attend Collegiate Media Summit
Three representatives from Clarion University’s student media
traveled to Harrisburg Nov. 8 for a collegiate media summit hosted by
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Kelsey
Huebert, news editor for The Clarion Call, Alyssa Marsico of WCUB-TV
and Ian Hunter of WCUC-FM/WCUB-TV attended with student media
leaders from other PASSHE universities. Dr. Laurie S. Miller, adviser
for The Clarion Call, accompanied the students. The event included
a conversation and question/answer session with PASSHE Chancellor
John Cavanaugh; a discussion on “Budgets and Negotiations - What’s
the Real Story?” with Vice Chancellors Karen S. Ball and Gary K. Dent;
and a presentation on “Campus and System Resources” with Rita
Abent, executive director of university public relations at Slippery Rock
University, and Kenn Marshall, PASSHE’s media relations manager.
Students also had the opportunity to “Talk with the Pros.”

CU Senior Participates In THIS
Taylor Bricker of Karns City is working for the
state Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED) as part of a 15-week
THIS internship (The Harrisburg Internship
Semester), sponsored by the Pennsylvania State
System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Bricker
is a senior political science major and business
administration minor at Clarion University.
Bricker, son of Tom and Donna Bricker, is a
graduate of Karns City High School.

Dr. Larry Bering, chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department.
Lockwood and Overly are the faculty advisers of Clarion’s ACS student
chapter and assistant professors in the chemistry and biochemistry
department.

‘Let’s Be Amazing Together’ Commercial Wins
APSCUF-Sponsored Contest
A group of students and two faculty members are on the winning
end of the Association of Pennsylvania College and University Faculties
(APSCUF) 2010 television commercial contest with their 30-second
“Let’s Be Amazing Together” commercial. It was the creative skills of
the communication students involved, with the guidance of Bill Mushrush
(’84) and Bill Adams (’86, ’89) of Clarion University’s Department of
Communication, that secured the winning spot. Participating students
are Ryan Litzinger, Caitlin Zarecky, Alyssa Marsico, Kelly Prozialeck, Laura
Conti, Ryan Loverick and Becky Hoover.

Faculty and staff news
Olivas-Luján Named Editor-In-Chief Of Hispanic Business Journal
Dr. Miguel R. Olivas-Luján, professor of administrative science, was
appointed editor-in-chief of the Business Journal of Hispanic Research
(BJHR), a publication of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs
(NSHMBA). BJHR publishes articles relevant to Hispanics and business
decision-makers of any ethnicity.

Latour Will Serve As Secretary Of Americas
Regional Council Executive Committee
Clarion University Dean of Libraries Terry S. Latour will serve as
secretary of the Executive Committee of the Americas Regional Council.
Latour, in his sixth year at Clarion, is responsible for library operations on
the Clarion and Venango campuses.

Trio Present At National Mental Health Conference
Bricker

Clarion Students Bring Home Kennedy Center/ACTF Honors
For the 12th consecutive year, a Clarion University student or faculty
member received an Excellence in Design Award at the Kennedy Center/
American College Theatre Festival Region II competition. Kevin Lichty,
senior, won the regional award for his lighting design for “Romeo and
Juliet” and garnered the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas award. He was
named first alternate to the national festival held each spring at the John
F. Kennedy Center for the Arts.
• Elizabeth Hultz, senior theatre major, won the Regional Design Award
for sound for “USA.” In addition, she was awarded the Regional
Design Award for properties design for the summer theater production
of “Oliver.”
• Nicholas Barilar, junior acting major, won the Regional Design Award
for graphics for the projection design for last year’s “Rent.”
• Samuel Levy, senior theatre major, was a finalist in stage management
for his work for “Rent” and “USA.”
• Nicolas Bigatel, senior theatre major, was named as a finalist for
scenic design for “Romeo and Juliet.”

Clarion University’s Susan Bornak, Mark Lapore and Jim McGee (’03,
’05) presented during the 2011 NASPA Mental Health Conference.
NASPA is a professional organization for student affairs administrators in
higher education. Bornak, dean of student development, Lapore, clinical
supervisor of counseling, and McGee, coordinator of health promotions,
discussed resiliency-the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity-in
college-age students. About 700 presentations were submitted for review,
and between 20 and 40 were approved for delivery at the conference.

ACS Student Chapter Earns Kudos For Activities
The American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapter at Clarion
University received an ACS Honorable Mention Award for activities during
the 2009-10 academic year.
“Drs. Amanda Lockwood and Joyce Overly deserve special
commendation,” said ACS President Joseph S. Francisco in a letter to

Pennsylvania General Energy Co. LLC presented a check to the Clarion University Foundation Inc. for
$20,000 to support the 2011 Summer Academy. The donation was made through the state’s EITC program.
From left to right: John Jarzab, director of tax compliance and strategy, PGE; Dr. Hallie Savage, director of
Clarion’s Honors Program; Douglas Kuntz, president/CEO, PGE; Debbie Huffman (’93), development officer,
Clarion University Foundation; and Dr. Yasser Ayad, professor in the Anthropology, Geography and Earth
Sciences Department.
www.clarion.edu | 09

venango
campus
Alumni
Information

Update

Seifert-Mooney Center for Advancement
840 Wood Street • Clarion PA 16214-1232
814-393-2572; Fax 814-393-1834
e-mail: alumni@clarion.edu
Please check one:
o For publication in Clarion and Beyond and online

*Please note: Information in the yellow shaded portion
is for Alumni Office use only and is not for publication.
o For Alumni files only, not for publication
Name _________________________________________________
First

M.I.

Last

Maiden

Graduation Year _________ Major ________________________
Birthday ______________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________
City___________________ State ________ Zip______________
Home phone _______________ Cell phone_________________
Preferred e-mail _______________________________________
Spouse’s name________________________________________

Looking For A Reason To Get
Your Friends Back To Campus?
Homecoming Headquarters
Friday, October 7
Courtyard of the
Clarion Holiday Inn

NEW!

For help finding your fellow alumni and
getting the word out about your reunion, contact
Jessica (Tenfelde ’04) Zacherl in Alumni Relations at
jzacherl@cuf-inc.org or 814-393-2572.

Spouse’s graduation year (if alumni) _____________________
Children’s names, gender, and birth dates ________________
______________________________________________________

Clarion University Alumni Calendar

Employer’s Name______________________________________
Employer Address _____________________________________
City___________________ State ________ Zip ______________
Employer Phone_______________________________________
Position/Title__________________________________________
Comments____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Signature (required)____________________________________

Submit your update online at
www.clarion.edu/alumni-update
We need your preferred e-mail address in order for our
communication to reach you in a timely manner.
Please send your preferred e-mail address, along with your name, to
alumni@clarion.edu or update your record using the form above.

Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education Board of Governors
Kenneth M. Jarin, chairman, C.R.
“Chuck” Pennoni, vice chair,
Aaron Walton, vice chair, Leonard
B. Altieri III, Rep. Matthew E.
Baker, Guido M. Pichini, Marie
Conley Lammando, Paul S.
Dlugolecki, Rep. Michael K. Hanna, Sen. Vincent
J. Hughes, Jonathan B. Mack, Joseph F. McGinn,
Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola, Harold C. Shields, Thomas
M. Sweitzer, Christine J.Toretti, Gov Tom Corbett,
Ronald J. Tomalis, secretary of education, Jennifer
Branstetter, designee for Gov. Corbett.
Pennsylvania State System
of Higher Education

Council of Trustees
R. Lee James (’74, M.B.A. ’83), chairperson,
James L. Kifer (’83), vice chairperson, Howard H.
Shreckengost, secretary, Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, The
Honorable Ross C. Cioppa, Susanne A. Burns, J.D.
10 | July ’10

Dunbar (’77, M.S.’79), Christopher Myers, student
trustee, The Honorable Donna Oberlander (’91), Larry
C. Pickett (’77), and Jeffrey J. Szumigale (’82).
Alumni Association Board of Directors
Patrick Kahle (’92), president, Robert A. Dandoy (’74),
president-elect, David Bailey (’65), treasurer, Mary
Rose (Vescio ’55) Reno, secretary, Dr. S. Floyd Barger
(’58), Daniel G. Bartoli (’81), Kay (Ordiway ’61) Clark,
Merrilyn (Murnyak ’93) Dunlap, Deborah (McNerney
’06, ’07) Eckelberger, Elisabeth (Sibley ’64, ’80, ’97)
Fulmer, Terri “Tiki” Kahle (’87), Kraig Koelsch (’95,
’97), Nancy (Terwilliger ’75) Lendyak, Ronald Lucas
(’82), Richard Malacarne (’63), T.J. McCance (’06,
’08), Jean (Weaver ’59, ’74) Mills, Paul D. Palmer
(’61), Brian Perkins (’09), John T. Pulver (’95), Lt. Col.
Brian Schill (’88), Ashley D. Stroup-McCauley (’06),
Jon Catanzarita, president of Eagle Ambassadors,
and Brooke Murray, executive director.

April 15, 1:30 p.m.
Inauguration of
President Karen M. Whitney
Marwick-Boyd Auditorium
For more information, go to
www.clarion.edu/inauguration.

April 29, 5:30 p.m. (social hour);
7 p.m. (dinner)
Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner
Moore Hall and Eagle Commons
For more information, contact Wendy
Snodgrass at wsnodgrass@clarion.edu.

April 16, 11 a.m. (shotgun start)
Football Alumni Golf Outing
Hi-Level Golf Course, Kossuth, Pa.
For more information, contact Bo Garritano
(’66) at robertgarritano@comcast.net.

May 7
Theta Xi Clarion Alumni Golf Outing
Clarion Oaks Golf Course
For more information, contact Kevin Bussey
(’87) at rkbussey@aol.com.

April 16, 5:30 p.m.
Extravaganza 2011
Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh
For more information, go to
www.clarion.edu/extravaganza.

May 20, noon (registration);
1 p.m. (shotgun start)
Fran Shope Golf Outing
Clarion Oaks Golf Course
For more information, contact Wendy
Snodgrass at wsnodgrass@clarion.edu.

April 18, 4:30 p.m.
CUAA Board of Directors Meeting
Seifert-Mooney Center for Advancement
For more information, contact Brooke
Murray at 814-393-1784 or bmurray@
cuf-inc.org.
April 29, 9 a.m. (shotgun start)
Men’s Basketball Golf Shamble
Pinecrest Country Club
For more information, contact Norb
Baschnagel at nbaschnagel@clarion.edu.

Oct. 7-9
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

Oct. 8 Clarion Golden Eagles vs. Lock Haven

University at 2 p.m., Memorial Stadium

Oct. 29, 1 p.m.
Family Day
Clarion Golden Eagles vs. Gannon University
Memorial Stadium

Watch For Updates at www.clarion.edu/alumni

CLARION AND BEYOND

1963
William and Alexis (Rutko ’70) Monzo
recently traveled to Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, to celebrate retiring from
teaching after 47 years. They reside
in North Versailles, Pa.

1968
Keith Will is employed part time
at Home Depot, Bridgeville, Pa.
He is retired from teaching and
also retired from the Pennsylvania
Liquor Control Board. He recently
traveled to Europe for 17 days.
Keith resides in Carnegie, Pa.

1970
Alexis (Rutko) and William (’63)
Monzo reside in North Versailles,
Pa. They recently traveled to Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, to celebrate retiring
from teaching after 47 years.

1972
Linda McGuire recently retired from
teaching in the Hancock County
School District. She resides in
Weirton, W.Va.
Kathleen King is president and CEO
of Summer Scholars in Denver,
Colo. She resides in Denver
with her husband, Michael, and
daughter, Alicia.

1973
Kent Kretzler (M.S. ’74) is semiretired as a broker for Coldwell
Banker Residential Real Estate,
Punta Gorda, Fla. He travels a few
months each year, and when he is
home in Punta Gorda, he spends
time golfing and performing with
a local bagpipe band in Ft. Myers.
Kent is currently serving on the
board of directors for a number
of charitable organizations in
southwest Florida.
Dan Dippold recently retired from
teaching secondary English at
Lebanon High School, Lebanon,
Ind. He is also a retired adjunct
professor of English at the
University of Indianapolis. He
resides in Brownsburg, Ind.

1975
Susan (Janson) Kardell is an account
manager for Heartland Label
Printers, Little Chute, Wis. She
resides in Murrysville, Pa., with her
husband, Michael.

Jane (Dobrosielski) Conner recently
retired as director of special
education at Carroll County
Public Schools. She resides in
Westminster, Md.
James Thieret recently retired
as fire marshal of the Massillon
Fire Department. He resides in
Massillon, Ohio, with his wife,
Sharon, and has six children:
Lynae, Tonia, David, Suzanne,
Christian and Jimmy.
Roberta Nelson is a special
investigator. She resides in
Goldsboro, N.C.
Rich and Judi (Kulp ’76) Kochik
reside in Raleigh, N.C. Rich is
a vice president of underwriting
for Redwoods Group Insurance,
Morrisville, N.C. Judi is a
minister of music for Berea
Baptist, Durham, and owns
Kochik Piano Studio, teaching
piano lessons. They have four
children: Susan, Scott, Stephen
and Sean.

1976
Christine (Aungst) Findlay is the
instructional materials center
director for the Centerville City
Schools. She was named the
2010 recipient of the Award of
Merit from the Ohio Educational
Library Media Association. The
Award of Merit recognizes an
Ohio certified library media
specialist who has made
outstanding contributions to
school librarianship. She resides
in Dayton, Ohio.
Deborah (James M.S.L.S.
’81) Hendrickson is a media
specialist/technical coordinator
at Westernport Elementary,
Westernport, Md. She resides
in Cumberland, Md., with her
husband, Gary. She has two
stepchildren, Lindsey and Alex.

Words Of Comfort
Most people think of Craigslist as
a place to buy or sell an item. Amanda
(Kunz ’10) Rinker used it for her job
search, however, and found a great deal in
launching her career.
Rinker graduated from Clarion
University in May 2010 with a bachelor’s
degree in English with concentration in
writing.
“I had taken an editing course at
Clarion. I was really interested in it, so
that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.
As she searched for work, Rinker
found that Craigslist provided better
rinker
opportunities with smaller businesses that
are just kicking off, and she discovered an opening with a web-based
company, Prayables. She applied for and was hired as managing editor.
The company is based in Chicago, but Rinker works out of her Columbus,
Ga., home.
Prayables, accessible at www.prayables.com, is a free online prayer
community that offers short prayers that reflect a woman’s story. They
are relevant to our times and honor all faith perspectives. Women can
register at the site and receive a daily prayer in their inbox, as well as
a joke of the day. Additionally, Prayables offers prayer support through
a chat room and community wall posts, as well as a Facebook page
that delivers another daily prayer for fans and more community prayer
support.
“It’s a multi-faith website that addresses common women’s problems
– mommy problems, relationship issues, peace, career, depression,
financial problems, even death,” Rinker said. “Even if you’re not spiritual
or religious, prayers are like poetry. It’s easy for women to relate to these
situations.”
Rinker knows the positive impact that the written word can have.
Literature, in fact, helped Rinker work through her mother’s death when
she was 14.
“My passion for writing and literature led me through four great
years at Clarion University,” she said. “Like many, I have suffered many
hardships in life and have found my comfort in the pages of literature.
From fiction to poetry, I believe words can help people get through the
toughest of times.”
She has found inspiration in the faith of the women who visit the site.
“Being involved in a spiritual website built for women is important
to me because we encourage empowerment,” Rinker said. “The women
in our community support each other through emotional and spiritual
needs.”

alumni spotlight

Ronald and Candace (Miller)
Stimpson reside in Myrtle Beach,
S.C. Ron is continuing his
education at Florence Darling
Technical College to embark
on a new career in the medical
field. They have three children:
Amanda, Casey and Jesse.

Kochik Piano Studio, teaching
piano lessons. They have four
children: Susan, Scott, Stephen
and Sean.

Judi (Kulp) and Rich (’75) Kochik
reside in Raleigh, N.C. Rich is
a vice president of underwriting
for Redwoods Group Insurance,
Morrisville, N.C. Judi is a
minister of music for Berea
Baptist in Durham and owns

Tom Bowman was recently
chosen as the recipient of the
Professional Association of Small
Business Accountants’ Spirit
Award for his firm, Bowman &
Company, CPA, PC. Tom was

1977

nominated by the association’s
board of directors to receive this
prestigious lifetime achievement
award which honors a member
who has consistently demonstrated
the beliefs of the association’s
motto, Teach~Share~Learn. Tom
is a frequent presenter at national
conferences and has served a
three-year term on the association’s
board of directors. In addition, Tom
developed and currently teaches
a course entitled “Blueprint for
www.clarion.edu | 11

alumni notes
Success.” The course is designed
to teach accountants how to better
serve their small business clients.

1979
Susan (Weinheimer) Hart has
homeschooled all nine of her
children. She travels with her
husband and their children to the
Dominican Republic to work with
Haitian refugees. She resides in
Midland, Pa., with her husband,
Henry, and children: Katie, Stephen,
Laura, Anna, Rebekah, Abigail,
Emily, Caleb and Lydia.
Karen (Masters) Eggert is a deputy
division chief for the Joint Bank
Fund International Monetary Fund
Library, Washington, D.C. She resides
in Huntingtown, Md.

1982

1984

Carol (Petras) and Joel (’83)
Geary reside in Boiling Springs,
Pa. They have three children:
Jacob, Brianne and Victor. Joel
is a teacher education liaison for
the Pennsylvania Department of
Education, Harrisburg, Pa.

Jeff Cleland is a sales manager for
Johnson and Johnson. He resides
in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife,
MaryBeth, and sons, Tyler and
Jordan.
Linda Leshowitz resides in
Charlottesville, Va., with her
husband, Tim Brazill.

1983
Joel and Carol (Petras ’82) Geary
reside in Boiling Springs. Pa.
They have three children: Jacob,
Brianne and Victor. Joel is a
teacher education liaison for
the Pennsylvania Department of
Education, Harrisburg, Pa.
Vincent Benz is a senior director for
Gartner Research, Stamford, Conn.
He resides in Washington Crossing,
Pa., with his wife, Bonnie.

1985
Charlene (Wisniewski) and Richard
(’87) Hrivnak reside in Plum
Borough, Pa., with their son,
Richie. Richard is deputy director
of human resources for Allegheny
County. He was elected to a second
term as mayor of Plum Borough.
He is also on the board of directors
for the Soldiers and Sailors Hall
in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh
Human Resources Association.

Pam (Wheeler) Jefferson is a
manager for Cardinal Health,
Dublin, Ohio. She resides in
Pickerington, Ohio, with her
husband, Howard, and son, Taylor.
Karen Long is a dealer lending
manager for Toyota Financial
Services. She resides in
Hackettstown, N.J.

1986
Mary Alice Ozechoski is dean of
students at Wesley College, Dover,
Del. She was honored in December
2010 as one of Delaware’s Business
Women of the Year. She resides in
Dover.

1987
Richard and Charlene (Wisniewski
’85) Hrivnak reside in Plum
Borough, Pa., with their son,

Stebler Guides Disabled People To More Independent Lives
Wendy Stebler’s (’91) ultimate goal is to
help people. That’s why she studied special
education and rehabilitative services at Clarion
University. She graduated in 1991 with a
bachelor’s degree in rehabilitative services, with
specialization in developmental disabilities.
Stebler is self-employed as a contractor
for the military. She lives with her husband in
Tacoma, Wash., providing rehabilitative services
to military family members who have physical
or mental disabilities.
Her work is multi-faceted. One client, who
now has graduated from treatment, is a mother
of two who has bipolar disorder and suffers
from depression and agoraphobia. The woman’s
son is autistic and has attention deficit/
hyperactive disorder. Stebler added the boy
to her caseload. Then the woman’s daughter
also was diagnosed with ADHD, as well as with
obsessive compulsive disorder. The girl, too,
became a client of Stebler.
“Through the years of working with her
and her kids, we set up a nice program where
she built up her abilities, learned how to work
around barriers, to get resources, to learn daily
living skills,” Stebler said. “We worked through
the ups and downs, and she got to where she
was able to do it.”
When Stebler started classes at Clarion,
her plan was to become a special education
teacher. In her senior year, one of her
professors suggested she consider rehabilitative
sciences, instead.

12 | April ’11

“I wanted more of a one-on-one,” Stebler
said of the work environment she sought. “He
felt this was more for me.”
Stebler has a personal appreciation for
rehabilitative sciences after having suffered a
head injury in a car accident during college.
She was comatose for four days and missed a
semester of classes while she rehabilitated.
“It helped me to understand and respect
what people go through,” she said. When
she returned to Clarion, she found the
encouragement she needed to finish her
education.
“I got support (from Clarion professors)
during that and was able to graduate,” she
said. “I had some really good professors.”
In turn, she finds great satisfaction
in assisting the individuals through their
challenges.
“I’ve watched kids that were born
prematurely and had developmental
disabilities catch up to the point of not being
developmentally delayed anymore,” she said.
“Another client is an autistic boy with ADHD
who is 10 years old and getting a little more
independent. He’s really growing.”
Depending on preferences, Stebler will go
to the clients’ homes, or they’ll go to Stebler’s
home, where she has a room set up to work
with them.
“I help to get them as independent as
they can become. Each person has different
abilities, but we work to get them as
independent as possible,” Stebler said. “I’ve

Stebler works with Josh to help him gain independence.
been working with people with disabilities since
before I graduated from Clarion in 1991. It’s
what I like to do. I like to help people.”
Stebler’s penchant for helping others isn’t
limited to people. Two years ago when she
was looking at a litter of kittens, considering
adopting one, she noticed that one of the
kittens’ back legs bent the opposite direction
of how it should. The people who owned the
mother cat were planning to euthanize the
kitten, but Stebler noticed him fighting to eat,
took him home and sought veterinary advice.
“The veterinarian said the problem wasn’t
with the kitten’s bones – its ligaments were too
tight,” she said. “She showed me how to give
him physical therapy, which I did three days a
week for six months. He just turned 2, and now
he runs and jumps and plays.”

alumni spotlight

CLARION AND BEYOND
Richie. Richard is deputy director
of human resources for Allegheny
County. He was elected to a second
term as mayor of Plum Borough.
He is also on the board of directors
for the Soldiers and Sailors Hall
in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh
Human Resources Association.
Betsy (Rustad) Snell resides in
Hummelstown, Pa., with her
husband, Scott, and daughter,
Olivia.
Kristen (Lepke) Mayer has been
elected as partner with Tucker Ellis
& West LLP. Tucker Ellis & West LLP
is a full-service law firm with more
than 150 attorneys with offices in
Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Los
Angeles and San Francisco. Kristen
resides in Hudson, Ohio.

1988
Janet (Shattenberg M.B.A ’93)
Stewart is a principal consultant for
Siemens, Malvern, R.I. She resides
in Knox, Pa., with her husband,
Vaughn, and daughter, Courtney.
Dr. Carolyn (Kusbit) Dunn is an
assistant professor at East Carolina
University, Greenville, N.C. She
recently received her doctorate in
English with a concentration in
technical and professional discourse
from East Carolina University.
She resides in Greenville with her
husband, Paul, and daughters,
Olivia and Katherine.

1989
Joseph Fails is an administrator
of student support for Worcester
Public Schools. He resides in
Northborough, Mass.

1990
Jeffrey James was recently named
Secret Service liaison to the
National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children in Washington,
D.C. He resides in Centreville, Va.,
with his wife, Julie, and children,
Dalaney and Jackson.
Dr. Susan (Dutch) Batastini is
coordinator of educational
and psychological services for
Moorestown Friends School,
Moorestown, N.J. She resides in
Moorestown with her husband,
Frank, and children, David and
Sarah.
Jim Allen is a school counselor for
the J.R. Masterman Laboratory
and Demonstration School in the

Philadelphia School District. He
resides in Prospect Park, Pa.

1993
Dr. Stephen Caliendo was recently
promoted to professor of political
science at North Central College,
Naperville, Ill. He published two
books: “The Routledge Companion
to Race & Ethnicity” (co-edited
with Charlton D. McIlwain)
(Routledge) and “Race Appeal”
(co-authored with Charlton D.
McIlwain) (Temple University
Press). He resides in Chicago with
his wife, Jillian, and children:
Mary, Gianna and Stella.
Jim Sallay is vice president of
application development for First
American Title, Cleveland, Ohio. He
resides in North Ridgeville, Ohio.
Mark Dressler is a technology
manager/AVP for First
Commonwealth Financial Corp.,
Indiana, Pa. He resides in
Pittsburgh with his wife, Kathy,
and daughter, Zoe.
Dr. Todd Eberly is the interim
director of the center for the study
of democracy at St. Mary’s College
of Maryland. In October 2010,
he signed with Routledge Press
to co-author the book, “America’s
Dysfunctional Political System:
Popular Mistrust and Professional
Government.” He resides in
California, Md., with his wife,
Christina, and two daughters,
Abigail and Kathryn.
Sharon (Grove) Johnson is managing
commercial counsel for VCE
Company, LLC, in Dallas. She
received her master’s degree in
December 2010. She resides
in Grapevine, Texas, with her
husband, Tommy.

1994
Ken Dague is a self-employed
naturalist/explorer. He recently
spent 15 months in Tasmania
searching for proof of the existence
of the Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger).
He resides in Victoria, Australia,
with his wife, Jacinta, and
daughter, Lily.

1997
Nicole (Gregorich) and Elton (’99)
Sturges reside in Mount Joy, Pa.,
with their children, Jackson and
Isabella. Nicole is a research
project manager for Penn State
University, Middletown, Pa.

Laura (Mynhier) Overmyer is a
teacher for KinderCare. She resides
in Carmel, Ind., with her husband,
Chris.

1998
Dr. Kari Siko is an assistant
professor of English education at
Charleston Southern University,
Charleston, S.C. She resides in
Charleston.
Joseph Gibson is the director of Big
Brothers/Big Sisters of Ithaca, N.Y.
He resides in Newfield, N.Y.
Chris Sprankle is a regional director
for Staples. He resides in Fairfield,
Md.

1999
Elton and Nicole (Gregorich ’97)
Sturges reside in Mount Joy, Pa.,
with their children, Jackson and
Isabella. Nicole is a research
project manager for Penn State
University, Middletown, Pa.
Carl Deiner teaches special
education and is the football coach
for the Palmyra School District. He
resides in Palmyra, Ohio.
Aric and Kristen (Nordstrom ’00)
Hartle reside in Harrisville, Pa,
with their three children: Alysa,
Ellie and Cameron. Aric is a senior
HR/IS analyst for Mylan, Inc., in
Canonsburg.

2000
Emily (Loaskie) Dahlke is an
account executive for Corvel. She
resides in Aliquippa, Pa., with her
husband, Jeffrey, and daughter,
Preslie.
Shawn Morrow is a senior mortgage
consultant for Proficio Mortgage
Ventures, Pittsburgh, Pa. He
resides in Pittsburgh.
Tonya (Thompson) Ackley is
coordinator of community
engagement and the Wick Chapel
for the University of Pittsburgh
at Bradford, Pa. She resides in
Bradford with her husband, Ryan.
Kristen (Nordstrom) and Aric (’99)
Hartle reside in Harrisville, Pa,
with their three children: Alysa,
Ellie, and Cameron. Aric is a senior
HR/IS analyst for Mylan, Inc., in
Canonsburg.

2001
Eric and Alyssa (Curry) Woelfel
reside in West Grove, Pa., with
their daughter, Addison. Alyssa
is employed by the Pennsylvania
Cyber Charter School, Philadelphia.
Carrie Golembeski is director of
sales and move-ins for Newhaven
Court at Lindwood. She resides
in Monroeville, Pa., with her son,
Nico.

2002
Susan Giusti is a technical
services team leader librarian at
Widener University School of Law,
Harrisburg, Pa. She resides in
Harrisburg.
Jennifer (Helt) Hertzog teaches sixth
grade reading in the Chartiers
Valley School District. She resides
in Mars, Pa., with her husband,
James, and daughter, Carys.
Beth (Griffin) Haus teaches learning
support for the Hampton Township
School District. She resides in
Pittsburgh, with her husband,
Jeffrey, and son, Tyler.
Stephanie (Apter) Paolucci
supervises special education for
the Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3.
She resides in Pittsburgh with her
husband, Dan.
Erica (Krahe) Lang resides in Lower
Burrell, Pa., with her husband,
Brian, and daughter, Rylee.
Mark Despotakis is a director of
market development for Progressive
Music, McKeesport, Pa. He also
is the assistant band director for
Baldwin High School. He resides in
Pittsburgh.
Kristy (Sunderland) Koenig is a
stay-at-home mom to her two
children and works part time as a
project manager for Citizens Bank,
Pittsburgh. She resides in Freedom,
Pa., with her husband, Wayne, and
children, Zander and Katera.

2003
Karla (Kinsinger) Myers is employed
by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
She resides in Morgantown, W.Va.,
with her husband, Jeremy, and son,
Hunter.
Geremy and Taylor (Fox ’07) Hoover
reside in Connellsville, Pa. Taylor is
a specialist for Fayette County Drug
and Alcohol. Geremy is a licensed
www.clarion.edu | 13

alumni notes
financial consultant for PNC Bank,
Uniontown, Pa.
Robert and Carrie (Kronenberger
’05) Harris reside in Lower Burrell,
Pa., with their daughter, Kathryn.
James and Amanda (Beam) Hnat
reside in Allison Park, Pa. James
is an exploration geologist for
Shell Exploration and Production,
Warrendale, Pa.
Joe Harmon was awarded third
place in the best civics curriculum
contest, sponsored by Pennsylvania
Coalition for Representative
Democracy (PennCORD), the
Department of Education and
the National Constitution Center.
He teaches eighth grade at
Redbank Valley High School, New
Bethlehem, Pa.

2004
Peter Yencsik is a geologist for
the Maryland Department of the
Environment, working in the
mineral, oil and gas division in
Baltimore. He resides in Parkville,
Md.
Robin (Minster) DelBusso is
employed by Wesley Spectrum
Services as therapeutic staff
support. She resides in Gibsonia,
Pa., with her husband, Anthony.

2005
Tiffany (Carlin) Pedone is a line
merchandiser/account executive for
Steve Madden Ltd., New York City.
She resides in Baldwin, N.Y.
Gerald (J.T.) and Marianne (Milnes)
Halliday reside in Monaca, Pa.,
with their children, Anthony and
Alexis.
Amber Ganoe is a billing specialist
for Reed Smith, Pittsburgh. She
resides in Pittsburgh.
Carrie (Kronenberger) and Robert
(’03) Harris reside in Lower Burrell,
Pa., with their daughter, Kathryn.
Cody Cope is a senior recruiter/CSP
for ASI, in Pittsburgh. He resides
in Greensburg, Pa.

2006
Crystal (Page) Midlik teaches fourth
grade at George P. Phenix PreK8 School in Hampton, Va. She
resides in Newport News, Va., with
her husband, Steven.
Heather (Lewis) Koharchik resides
in Natrona Heights, Pa., with her
husband,Thomas, and daughters,
Abigail and Emily.
Joshua and Stephanie (Zents)
Woodin reside in Pittsburgh.

Kara (Zatezalo) Strauch teaches
kindergarten for Cumberland
County Schools. She resides
in Fayetteville, N.C., with her
husband, Bryan, and son,
Benjamin.

14 | April ’11

Brenton and Rozlynd (Vares) Awa
reside in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Rozlynd
is a graduate student at Carnegie
Mellon University.

2007
Karen (Halesky) and Brandon (’08)
Nesky reside in Wilmington, Del.
Karen is a marketing coordinator
for CoolerSmart in New Castle, Del.
Jamie Wolf is a graduate research
associate at Ohio State University.
She is starting her fourth year
of graduate school working on
her doctorate. She resides in
Columbus, Ohio.
Marcus and Michelle (Javens) Brown
reside in Millersville, Md., with
their daughter, Emma.
Taylor (Fox) and Geremy (’03) Hoover
reside in Connellsville, Pa. Taylor is
a specialist for Fayette County Drug
and Alcohol. Geremy is a licensed
financial consultant for PNC Bank,
Uniontown, Pa.

2008
Brandon and Karen (Halesky ’07)
Nesky reside in Wilmington, Del.
Karen is a marketing coordinator
for CoolerSmart in New Castle, Del.

I Hope You Dance
Dance has always been a part of Victoria
Ames’ (’01, ’02) life. She loves it so much
she wants everyone to experience the joy and
freedom that comes with movement, even if
movement is a challenge.
In October, Ames published her first
children’s book, “I Can Dance, Too!”
Ames wrote the book to inspire children to
accomplish anything their hearts and minds
desire, even if they have physical challenges.
“I’ve danced my whole life, and in my
job I work with children and adults who have
disabilities. So many parents think, ‘My child
has a disability and can’t do things.’ I wanted
to put it out there that they can still do things,”
Ames said.
Ames works as a speech and language
pathologist, and she also teaches dance and
fitness to children and adults.
“I mixed my passion with my profession,”
Ames said of the idea for the book.
Ames used to teach dance to children
with disabilities at a summer camp. She
modified and individualized dance moves to
accommodate each child’s abilities.

Brett O’Neil is employed by BNY
Mellon in Pittsburgh. He resides in
Pittsburgh.

Ames shares her book with a young friend during a
library reading.
“They just get so excited,” Ames said. “I
had a little girl, probably 7 or 8 years old. She
had a form of cerebral palsy. She couldn’t
communicate very well, and it was hard to
understand her talking. Every day, after she
started dancing, I’d see her practicing. I’d
always watch her doing my dance. As she
learned it, she started bringing flowers to me. I
think the kids feel a sense of accomplishment.”

2009
Heather Cooney is an early
intervention service coordinator for
the Seneca Highlands Intermediate
Unit Nine. She resides in
Smethport, Pa.
Rheanne (Carr) Godfrey resides in
Rochester, N.Y., with her husband,
Dan.
Robyn Gray is a project management
administrator for Paul C. Rizzo
Associates, Inc., Pittsburgh. She
resides in Freeport, Pa.

2010
Kelli Grill is employed by Argosy
University – EDMC, Pittsburgh. She
resides in Pittsburgh.
Richard James is a coordinator of
information and technology services
at the Philadelphia Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. He
resides in Wilmington, Del., with his
wife, Kirsten.

Ames said children with communication
disorders don’t always have the words to say
“thank you,” but their behavior improves and
their confidence increases.
Ames completed her bachelor’s degree in
2001 and her master’s degree in 2002, both
at Clarion and both in communication sciences
and disorders.
As a Clarion student, Ames was a member
of the dance team. She describes herself as a
self-motivated person who took advantage of
the educational opportunities at Clarion. Her
additional motivation is children.
“It’s the kids. It seriously is the kids,” Ames
said. “It really motivates you to want to break
down that barrier. Being introduced to the world
of children motivated me to push myself harder
and try to help them.”
“I Can Dance, Too!” is the first book in what
Ames plans to be a series of five.
“All of them will be about children who have
a certain kind of physical impairment, but it
doesn’t hold them back from accomplishing
what they want to do.”
She is now working on the second book.

alumni spotlight

CLARION AND BEYOND

Marriages
Rozlynd (Vares ’08) and
Brenton (’08) Awa, July 11, 2010.
Linda Leshowitz (’84) and Tim
Brazill, Aug. 11, 2010.
Rheanne (Carr ’09) and Dan
Godfrey, Oct. 9, 2010.
Crystal (Page ’06) and Steven
Midlik, Nov. 6, 2010.
Stephanie (Zents ’06) and Joshua
(’06) Woodin, Nov. 13, 2010.

Births
Beth (Griffin ’02) and Jeffrey Haus,
a son Tyler James, Feb. 11, 2010.
Nicole (Gregorich ’97) and Elton
(’99) Sturges, a daughter, Isabella,
March 30, 2010.
Betsy (Rustad ’87) and Scott Snell,
a daughter, Olivia Elise,
June 11, 2010.
Kara (Zatezalo ’06) and Bryan
Strauch, a son, Benjamin Anthony,
June 15, 2010.
Jacinta and Ken (’94) Dague, a
daughter, Lily Mae, June 15, 2010.
Michelle (Javens ’07) and Marcus
(’07) Brown, a daughter Emma
Michelle, June 25, 2010.
Kathy and Mark (’93) Dressler, a
daughter, Zoe Elizabeth,
Aug. 20, 2010.
Karla (Kinsinger ’03) and Jeremy
Myers, a son Hunter James,
Sept. 7, 2010.
Jillian and Dr. Stephen (’93)
Caliendo, twins, a son, Gianna
Merenda, and a daughter, Stella
Francesca, Sept. 7, 2010.
Jennifer (Helt ’02) and James
Hertzog, a daughter, Carys
Elisabeth, Sept. 13, 2010.
Erica (Krahe ’02) and Brian Lang,
a daughter, Rylee Marie,
Sept. 17, 2010.
Emily (Loaskie ’00) and Jeffrey
Dahlke, a daughter, Preslie Monroe,
Sept. 22, 2010.
Marianne (Milnes ’05) and Gerald
(J.T. ’05) Halliday, twins, a son,
Anthony James, and a daughter,
Alexis Marie, Sept. 23, 2010.

Carrie (Kronenberger ’05) and Robert
(’03) Harris, a daughter, Kathryn
Elizabeth, Sept. 28, 2010.

Christina and Dr. Todd ( ’96) Eberly,
a daughter, Kathryn Argyro,
Dec. 9, 2010.

Heather (Lewis ’06) and Thomas
Koharchik, a daughter, Emily
Elizabeth, Dec. 19, 2010.

Big Bang Creates Career Of Marvel
When Dave Bishop (‘91) was 10 years old, he
visited Mile High Comics in Denver with his dad.
He told his dad that he wanted to have his own
comics store someday. His dad chuckled at the
boyish ambition.
Although Bishop collected comics, and never
stopped enjoying them, his career goal turned
toward computers. He attended Clarion University
and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer
applications and information systems in 1991.
Around the same time that he had visited the
Denver comic book store, Bishop was diagnosed
with diabetes. He managed the disease according
to what the medical field knew at the time, but still
he found his body deteriorating as time went on,
most evident in his compromised vision, weakened
kidneys and congestive heart failure. He underwent
medical procedures to correct problems with his
eyes and heart. He had become ill enough in 2008
that he was preparing to begin dialysis treatments
when a donor kidney became available.
As he recovered from the transplant, Bishop
turned to comics to help pass the time. He was
bored and began toying with a new line of work. He
talked about an idea with his wife, Beth (Swasta ’91).
“A comic book store was something I had
been interested in for a long time. I’m a long-time
collector. I had researched it four or five years
ago, but at the time I was pretty sick with kidney
failure,” Bishop said. “I talked with my wife and
we said the economy really stinks right now, but it
might be a good time to do this, because we could
negotiate cheaper rent, and we’d be offering an
affordable product.”
The Bishops opened Big Bang Comics and
Collectibles on Broad Street, Sewickley, last May.
The shop is named in honor of the television show,
“The Big Bang Theory,” of which they are fans.
“We’re just coming up in May on our first year
open, and we’re still seeing steady growth. As more
and more people find out about us, more and more
are making their way in,” Bishop said.
He said comics truly offer something for
everyone. His customers are an even mix of males
and females, and they range in age from children
to people in their 60s.
“I see a lot of parents come in, and their
kids are looking at newer books like Sonic the
Hedgehog, and their eye will catch Archie or
Scooby Doo,” he said.
Bishop said there are a lot of good stories
in comic books. He compares the draw to that
of a soap opera. “Once you start reading a title
you’re interested in, you become involved in those

alumni spotlight

Alumni Dave and Beth Swasta Bishop opened Big Bang Comics
and Collectibles last spring in Sewickley.

characters. You get to the end and can’t wait to see
what happens next.”
Bishop has between 10,000 and 15,000 comic
books in his personal collection at home. The
first series he collected was “Spider-man,” then
“X-Men.” His favorite comic right now is “The
Boys,” which is about CIA agents charged with
keeping an eye on the people with superpowers,
because some of them are “dirtbags.”
In addition to comic books, Big Bang Comics
and Collectibles offers a line of collectible, limitededition statues and merchandise, including statues
and 12-inch figures from comics, science fiction
and fantasy, animation and horror-type items.
He is proud of the wholesome entertainment his
shop provides at a low price – most comics sell for
$2.99. He is particularly happy with feedback from
parents.
“A lot of times people think of a comic book
store as a dirty, dingy, hole-in-the-wall place with
some creepy guy working there. I wanted (our store)
to be clean, organized, well lit,” he said. “That has
definitely been noticed. I’ve had mothers tell me
they feel safe having their kids come in.”
Bishop said he still has days that he feels lousy
health-wise. Regardless, he loves what he’s doing.
“It’s kind of like a kid working in a candy store,
having the interest in the comics. It’s like Christmas
when the shipments come in,” he said. He enjoys
talking with the customers.
Bishop’s father didn’t live to see his son’s boyish
ambition realized. “Unfortunately, he passed away
a couple of years ago. I think he’d get a kick out of
it,” Bishop said.
Look for Big Bang Comics and Collectibles on
Facebook.
www.clarion.edu | 15

alumni notes

Deaths
Brian C. Courtney (’79),
Nov. 20, 2009
Dana Jo (Petkash ’73)
Vesperman, Jan. 8, 2010
Florence (Ohl ’50) Richards,
May 5, 2010
Catherine L. Morelli (’76),
May 8, 2010
Ralph H. Blewitt (’49),
May 20, 2010
Paul A. McCarty (’75),
July 7, 2010
Dennis D. Kukulski (’64),
Sept. 25, 2010
Caroline R. (Miller ’78) DePolo,
Oct. 17, 2010
Galen F. Bloom (’49),
Oct. 28, 2010
John D. Sias (’60),
Oct. 29, 2010
Bernard L. Bienio (’78),
Oct. 23, 2010
Helen Louise (Williams ’42)
Burke, Oct. 21, 2010
Harriet (Klein ’67) Feder,
Oct. 22, 2010
Sandra W. Tarr (’79),
Nov. 2, 2010
Erin Elizabeth Kelly (’04),
Nov. 15, 2010
Linda (Shoup ’68) Petrocy,
Nov. 23, 2010
Edward F. Burns (’61),
Nov. 27, 2010

Charles R. Alexander (’54),
Nov. 29, 2010
Edward James Kelley (’50),
Dec. 2, 2010
Carrie L. Danvir (’65),
Dec. 2, 2010
Harold W. Ferguson (’41),
Dec. 7, 2010
Scott M. Lang (’97),
Dec. 10, 2010
William J. Karl (’48),
Dec. 11, 2010
Andrea M. (Dillen ’96)
Eckenrod, Dec. 12, 2010
Edward J. Walsh (’54),
Dec. 13, 2010
Regis Kessler (’66),
Dec. 26, 2010
William Smutko (’60),
Dec. 26, 2010
Marion G. McNaughton (’76),
Dec. 26, 2010
Melissa Lynch (’05),
Dec. 30, 2010
Susan (Hunter ’81) Hays,
Dec. 31, 2010
Jeffrey L. Wollaston (’87),
Jan. 11, 2011
Dennis Crytzer (’75),
Jan. 14, 2011

Dr. Bruce H. Dinsmore, Retired Faculty
Dr. Bruce H. Dinsmore, 95, Jacksonville, N.C., died Dec. 9,
2010, at Onslow Memorial Hospital.
Born Sept. 18, 1915, in Indiana, Pa., he was the son of the
late C.C. and Abby O’Bright Dinsmore.
He was married to the former Betty Byers, who preceded him
in death.
Dr. Dinsmore was a teacher in the public schools in
Pennsylvania and New York from 1937 to 1947. In 1947, Dr.
dinsmore
Dinsmore began teaching at Clarion University and was chairman
of the biology department from 1964 until his retirement in 1978.
He received his doctorate in 1958 from the University of Pittsburgh.
He was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award by the alumni association in
1977 and was named professor emeritus in 1994.
Dr. Dinsmore retired as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy
Reserves after serving from 1942 to 1975. He was an Eagle Scout and past master
for Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge 277 in Clarion.
He is survived by his three children: Barbara McNamara, Charlotte, N.C.; Scott
Dinsmore, Costa Rica, Central America; and Christine Stokes, Jacksonville; six
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Dr. Dinsmore was preceded in death by a sister, Doris
Laymen, and a son-in-law, Michael J. Stokes.
Memorial donations may be made to the Distinguished Faculty in Ecology
Scholarship Fund, Clarion University Foundation.

Daniel J. Bard, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Daniel J. Bard (’74), 59, of Kabletown, W.Va., died Dec. 28, 2010, at Jefferson
Memorial Hospital, Ranson, W.Va.
Daniel was born Aug. 11, 1951, in Johnstown, Pa., to Halcolm P. and Gertrude
(Tadejeski) Bard. He graduated from Kiski Area High School, class of 1969, and
received a degree from Clarion University.
Bard retired from the Maryland Department of Agriculture as a resource
conservationist. He was a member of the Catholic faith. Daniel was an avid
motorcycle rider and writer on his yellow Goldwing. He was a member of American
Motorcycle Association, Between the Sheetz Gang, Goldwing Road Riders Association
and Motorcycle Travel Network. He co-authored “Great Roads, Great Rides, and Moto
Maps.” He also was an avid photographer, Pittsburgh Steelers fan and Beatles fan.
Bard served on the board of directors for Clarion University Alumni Association
from July 1, 1996, to June 30, 2004.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Gale L. (Watson) Bard; brother, Halcolm
Barre Bard and wife Janet of Kane, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ethel Alberta (Moore ’32)
Jones, Jan. 19, 2011
Janice L. (Callihan ’58)
Wrobleski, Jan. 20, 2011

Donald E. Reno, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Donald E. Reno (’55), 84, of McMurray, died Nov. 29, 2010.
Born Nov. 3, 1926, in Rochester, he was the son of the late
Harvey M. and Adela MacMillan Reno.
Beloved husband for 52 years of Mary Rose (Vescio ’55) Reno,
he was the loving father of David S. (Jennifer) Reno and Elizabeth
Anne (Keith) Rouleau; proud grandfather of Mary Katherine and
Patrick Rouleau and Joshua Reno, and brother of the late Alan.
A graduate of Beaver Area High School, Reno received his
reno
bachelor’s degree from Clarion University and a master’s degree
from California University. At Clarion, he was captain of the varsity basketball
team and a member of Alpha Gamma Phi fraternity. A teacher of American history
and assistant basketball coach in the Bethel Park School District, he retired from
teaching in 1989 and coaching in 1998.
During his retirement, he enjoyed an active life, spending time with his
grandchildren, trips to Hilton Head and Penn State football games, golf and various
Clarion University activities. He was a member of the board of directors of the
Clarion University Alumni Association and served 10 terms as president and board
member of the Bethel Park Athletic Hall of Fame.

CLARION AND BEYOND
1

Alumni and friends gathered on Feb. 8, 2011 at the
Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh. Pictured are: Wayne Norris
(’65), President Karen Whitney and Scott Kroh (’74).

2

Gamma golf event held in Punta Gorda, Fla. Pictured
are: John E. “Jack” Bertani (’61), Joseph P. Shaw (’64),
James A. Morandini (’64), David J. Katis (’85, ’88), Wayne
Norris (’65), Stanley S. “Whitey” Rafalko (’65), Dr.
Joseph P. Grunenwald, Robert J. “Tick” Cloherty (’62),
Richard E. Allen (’64), Robert W. Hartz (’62), Robert W.
Montgomery (’65), Carl D. McManamy (’63) and Albert
C. Aston (’63).

3

Alumni and friends gathered on Jan. 29, 2011, at the
Legacy Club outside Orlando, Fla. Pictured are: Front
Row (left to right): Glenn Straub (’82), President Karen
Whitney, John Shreve (’72). Middle Row (l-r): Bob Straub,
Kim Carrick, Phyllis (Corbett ’62) Pionzio, Maggie
Limberty (’92). Back Row (l-r): Deb Huffman (’93), John
Burrows (’96), Angie (Shaffer ’98) Burrows, Bryan
Carrick (’74), Marjorie Straub, Richard Phipps, Caroline
Phipps, Kay (Ordiway ’61) Clark, Frank Clark, John
Pionzio.

4

Michael Smiley (’80) talks to prospective students for an
Admissions event at the Bel Aire in Erie, Pa., on
Jan. 25, 2011.

1

2

3

4

www.clarion.edu | 17

Clarion University

sports

SUMMER 2011
SPORT CAMPS

Baseball

June 20-24: Day Camp
June 25:
Father/Son Camp
June 27- July 1: Day Camp
July 2:
Father/Son Camp

Boys Basketball

June 13-17: Day Camp
(at Venango Campus)
July 10-14: Individual

Overnight Camp
July 15-16: Team Overnight Camp
July 17-21: Individual

Overnight Camp

Soccer

June 27-July 1:

Day Camp-(Coed)
July 25-29: Elite Camp 9th-12th Grade
Girls Team Camp and Girls Elite
Individual Camp- Both Residential

Swimming & Diving
June 5-9:
June 12-16:
June 19-23:
July 26-30:

Week
Week
Week
Week

1
2
3
4

Tennis
Girls Basketball
July
July
July
July
July
July

8-10:
8-10:
10-14:
10-14:
17-21:
22-24:

Senior High Team Camp
Junior High Team Camp
Elite Position Camp
Individual Camp
Individual Camp
Senior High Team Camp

Cross Country

July 24-28: Speed Camp (Coed)

Football

May 28:

June 6-10:
June 25:
July 15-16:

July 31-Aug.


Softball

High School
Prospect Camp
Kids Day Camp
QB/WR Camp
Father/Son
Youth League Camp
5:
High School Team Camp

June 24-26: Hitters and

Fielders Camp
July 1-3:
Pitchers and Catchers

June 20-23: Tennis & Swim Camp
June 24:
Doubles Tournament
June 25:
Singles Tournament

Wrestling

June 24-26:
June 26-30:

July 3-7:

July 31-Aug.

Aug. 5-7:
Aug. 5-7:


July 18-20:

July 18-20:


Volleyball
July 24-26:
July 27:

July 28:
July 29-31:

Father/Son Weekend #1
Team Camp
and Fundamentals
Offensive Camp
and Defensive Camp
4:
Father/Son Week
Father/Son Weekend #2
Team & Club
Competition Camp
(at Sharon HS, Sharon, PA)
Technique Camp
(Satellite Camp)
Technique Camp
(at Oxford HS, Oxford, PA)

Individual Skill Camp
Setter, Serve Recover and
Defense Clinic
Hitting Clinic
Team Camp

For more information:

Call 814-393-1997 or
visit clariongoldeneagles.com

Clarion Honors 134 Athletes, Tennis
Team, Trejos, Wilson & Laughlin
Clarion honored 134 scholar
athletes, three individuals and
the women’s tennis team during
the 21st Annual Bob Carlson
Scholar Athlete Luncheon, Feb.
4 in the James Gemmell multipurpose room.
The total number of studentathletes honored represents 37
percent of Clarion University
student-athletes.
Dr. Kevin Roth (MBA ’81),
faculty athletics representative,
welcomed athletes, faculty,
staff, administration, coaches
and special guests and said
that “Clarion University student “Faculty of the Year” Dr. Sandra Trejos (center), with
athletes are graduating at a full President Karen Whitney (left) and SAAC President
10 percent higher rate than the Jared Schmader.
general student population.”
“We are proud of our students who are both athletes and exceptional
students,” said Clarion University President Karen Whitney. “They are a
credit to Clarion University, epitomizing excellence of the mind, body and
spirit.”
Dave Katis (’85, ’88), Clarion’s athletic director, said it’s important
for the university community to support the athletes, who are seen
prominently by the community interacting with others at sporting events.
During the program, SAAC President Jared Schmader presented Dr.
Sandra Trejos with the Faculty of the Year award, as voted on by the
Student Athlete Advisory Committee, representing all student-athletes at
Clarion.
Football player James Eckels described Trejos as his “mom on
campus.” His teammate Ben Fiscus noted that Trejos cuts out newspaper
articles for him and lets him know he’s doing a good job. Wrestler Steven
Cressley said taking a class with Trejos last semester reinforced his
decision to become a business major.
Trejos said the recognition comes at an important time in her life.
“Students last semester saw me go through a health challenge. Even in
tough times, we can do and achieve,” she said.
Katis presented the Carlson Cup Team Award to the women’s tennis
team. The award goes to the team that shows the biggest overall increase
in GPA during the past calendar year. Bob Carlson is a former athletic
director at Clarion University.
Shelly Wilson and Linda
Laughlin, both of Clarion Students’
Association, received the Extra
Effort Award.
“(The CSA) is an outside
organization that’s an integral
part of our success,” Katis said.
It is through CSA that the athletic
department’s travel allowances
are disbursed and expenses are
reimbursed.
To be named a Clarion
University “Scholar Athlete,”
student-athletes must: achieve a
cumulative grade point average
Extra Effort Winners Linda Laughlin (left) and of 3.2 or higher; have two
Shelly Wilson (right) with A.D. Dave Katis.
consecutive semesters of a 3.2

SPRING 2011
grade point average or higher in the spring and fall terms of 2010; or be a
freshman or new transfer who achieved a 3.2 grade point average or higher
in the fall 2010 term.
Each scholar-athlete invited a member of the faculty or staff who has
been particularly influential in their lives at Clarion.

Scholar Athletes For 2011 Include:
Baseball: Josh Beimel, Eric Grejda, William Hasson, Jordan Labue, Nick
Maskrey, Seth Peterson, Billy Ruhland, Samuel Skraba, Matt Warhola,
Jerico Weitzel, Chad White
Men’s Basketball: Mike Kromka, Mike Nealis, Mike Sherry

S
G
N
I
T
U
O
F
L
LARION GO

Women’s Basketball: Joanna Catalano, Ann Deibert, Jennifer Linkchorst
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field: Alexis Carter, Alyssa Cauffman,
Nicolena Guzzi, Kimberly Hanslovan, Amy Kirkwood, Marie Krchnak,
Sarah Loughner, Kristine Mellor, Molly Noctor, Allison Regan, Katherine
Reinhart, Ciara Shorts, Megan Toddy, Jessica Vitous, Alyssa Wittle, Jamie
Wyatt
Football: Craig Bunney, Nathan Conway, Eric Coxon, Edward DeMarchi,
James Eckels, Tyler Edwards, Mike Felker, Ben Fiscus, Raymond Klinger,
Kory Kusick, Robert Mamula, Evan Mastele, Elijah Morres, Steven
Moyemont, Jacques Robinson, Eli Rupert, Nick Sipes, Shawn Sopic,
Joshua Stegena, Anthony Stimac
Men’s Golf: Dylan Reinsel, Nathan Sainovich, Zachary Schloemer, Jared
Schmader, William Stover, Adam Timchak
Women’s Golf: Kayla Lavery, Samantha Veights
Soccer: Jordan Bahr, Lauren Barbour, Lyndsey Brecosky, Jordan Daloisio,
Beth Ellen Dibeler, Tessa Endress, Emily Heasley, Alyssa Katz, Kylie
Keeney, Jenna Kulik, Kathleen Lawson, Megan Lawson, Crystal Miller,
Jillian Miller, Bethany Naugle, Danielle Riley, Kristen Scheutzow, Gina
Shero, Lindsay Thill, Alaina Tintera, Sara Trinclisti, Erin White
Softball: Katie Baun, Jenna Dorazio, Nicole Lollo, Rebecca Lynch, Kacie
Nemeth, Shelia Sheatz, Elizabeth Shiring, Meghan Stanton
Men’s Swimming and Diving: Eric Beichner, Joshua Fry, Scott Harvey, Jon
Kofmehl, Garet Weston, Luke Wilmoth
Women’s Swimming and Diving: Whitney Dudek, Laura Herron, Kayla
Kelosky, Gina Mattucci, Jessica Munoz, Holly Nedley, Morgan Oberlander,
Kim Ogden, Madison Sewell, Kayla Shull, Sheri Symosko, Megan Williams
Tennis: Brittany Buchheit, Lauren Eonta, Claire Kerstetter, Jaclyn Metzger,
Alysia Sturdivant, Tawyna Waggle
Volleyball: Kaitlyn
Anderson, Nicole
Andrusz, Leirin Baker,
Kellie Bartman, Carlie
Bieranowski, Rhianon
Brady, Rebecca
Ferragonio, Aubree Fry,
Hannah Heeter, Leeann
Higginbotham, Breanna
Kochinsky, Lauren
Magalski, Corinne Manley,
Kayla Rodak, Emily
Stewart, Rebecca Webb
Wrestling: Tyler Bedelyon,
Steven Cressley, Ryan
Darch, Jay Ivanco,
Cameron Moran.

C

FOOTBALL ALUMNI SCRAMBLE
Saturday, April 16 – 11 a.m.
Hi Level Golf Course
Entry Fee - $80
CONTACT: Bo Garritano
724-875-7830
robertgarritano@comcast.net
MEN’S BASKETBALL SHAMBLE
Friday, April 29 – 9 a.m.
Pinecrest Country Club
Entry Fee - $125
CONTACT: Norb Baschnagel
814-226-5098
nbaschnagel@clarion.edu
FRAN SHOPE SCRAMBLE
Friday, May 20 – 1 p.m.
Clarion Oaks Golf Course
Entry Fee - $75
CONTACT: Wendy Snodgrass
814-393-1989
wsnodgrass@clarion.edu
OPEN TO ALL FRIENDS OF CLARION ATHLETICS
FOOD – GAMES & PRIZES IN ALL EVENTS
HOLE AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Carlson Cup Winning Clarion Tennis Team Members
Lauren Eonta, Claire Kerstetter, Jaclyn Metzger and
Coach Lori (Berk ’92) Sabatose.

GET MORE INFO & FORMS ONLINE AT

WWW.CLARIONGOLDENEAGLES.COM

sports

Women’s Volleyball
Wins Psac/Ncaa
Regional Titles

Clarion Raises 2010 NCAA Atlantic Region Trophy with Rhianon Brady, Leeann
Higginbotham, and Kayla Rodack.

I

t’s not often a team can
claim to have the best
season in school history,
especially when that team is
part of a program that has made
seven NCAA Division II national
tournaments since 2002.
But the 2010 Golden Eagle
women’s volleyball team definitely
has a strong argument for being
the best team in school history.
Clarion advanced to the NCAA
Division II Elite Eight for the first
time in program history while
winning the school’s first Regional
title, its first PSAC-West title and
its second PSAC Title. The Golden
Eagles finished with a schoolrecord 32 wins going 32-5.
“It was great to be able to
coach such an awesome group
of girls,” Clarion’s fourth-year
head coach Jennifer Harrison
said. “I’m proud of the way they
came together as a team and kept
meeting challenges as the season
went on.”

20 | April ’11

Along the way to success,
Clarion captured the imagination
of the campus and the
community, drawing three
consecutive crowds of more than
500 to Tippin Gym for PSAC
Playoff games including a schoolrecord crowd of 665 to the PSAC
semifinal win over Kutztown
and another 627 to the PSAC
Championship victory against
Edinboro.
“I think it was awesome for
us, and the girls really enjoyed
it and fed off it,” Harrison said.
“I was proud of the community,
the athletic department and
our students for wanting to be
part of what we consider a very
successful season. It was pretty
neat to see that a lot of people
got to come along for the ride
with us.”
But Clarion was more than
just about feeding off the home
crowd.

On the road for the Regional
Tournament at Edinboro, the Golden
Eagles came away with three big
wins on the neutral court, defeating
Chowan (N.C), Wheeling Jesuit, a
team that had beaten the Golden
Eagles earlier in the season, and
PSAC rival California to win the
Regional Championship.
The reward for the Regional
title was a potential once-in-alifetime trip to the NCAA Division
II Fall Championship Festival in
Louisville, Ky. The NCAA rotates its
championship festival, which creates
an Olympic-type atmosphere with
numerous championships being
conducted in the same location,
between fall, winter and spring
sports. That means any one athlete
has, at most, two opportunities to
make a Championship Festival in a
single sport.
“Being a part of that added
something to it,” Harrison said.
“The NCAA does a nice job putting
together an environment where kids
can still have fun, be student-athletes
and support each other. Hopefully,
if we ever get the opportunity again,
it will make us a little bit more
comfortable.”
While the result wasn’t what
Clarion had hoped for – the Golden
Eagles fell 3-0 to Dowling (N.Y.) in the
Elite Eight – the experience left the
Golden Eagles wanting more.
“(The Dowling match) exposed
us to what’s out there,” junior Libero
Rhianon Brady said following the loss.
“I think it kind of shows us the next
level, what we need to shoot for. Being
here and seeing these teams and what
level they are at and the consistency
they have, we will have a different
mindset going into next season
knowing that should be our goal.”
With such a good season,
individual accolades flowed freely for
the Golden Eagles.

PSAC MVP Kellie Bartman (right) and
President Karen Whitney.
Junior outside hitter Kellie Bartman
was named an AVCA Honorable
Mention All-American while also
becoming the first Clarion player
to be named PSAC-West Athlete of
the Year. In addition, she was the
Daktronics Atlantic Regional Player
of the Year, an AVCA All-Region
performer and the PSAC Tournament
MVP.
Joining Bartman on the AVCA
All-Atlantic Region team was Brady,
while junior setter Amanda Gough and
sophomore middle hitter Rebecca
Webb were Honorable Mention AVCA
All-Atlantic Region.
Brady, who was also a first-team
Daktronics All-Region selection, is
the first player in school history to
earn All-Region honors in her first
three years, while Gough and Webb
were both second-team All-PSACWest performers.
Harrison, meanwhile, earned her
second straight AVCA Atlantic Region
Coach of the Year honor while also
being named the PSAC-West Coach
of the Year, the first time in school
history a Golden Eagle mentor has
earned PSAC-West Coach of the Year
honors.

Clarion Men’s Swimmers Support Spikers at PSAC Championships

23rd Induction Banquet

s
H
t
r
a
o
l
p
l
S
o
‘
f
n
F
o
a
i
m
r
a
e’
l
C
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011

T

he Clarion University “Sports Hall of Fame”
Committee has announced that five new
members will be inducted as the 23rd “Hall of
Fame” Class in 2011.
Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, April
29, at Clarion’s student dining facility, Eagle Commons
(located at Arnold Avenue and Wood Street) beginning
at 7 p.m. and all are invited to attend. A social is set for
5:30 p.m. at Moore Hall (former president’s residence)
on campus. Ticket orders are being handled by Associate

A.D. Wendy Snodgrass, 111 Tippin Gymnasium. Tickets
are $35 per person and are available by contacting
Snodgrass at 814-393-1989. Checks should be made
payable to Clarion “Sports Hall of Fame.”
The new inductees include five former athletes:
James E. (Pint) Barton (’87) – baseball, Timothy D.
Brown (’93) – football, Jacob P. (Jack) Derlink (’66) –
basketball, Daniel F. Mahony (’60) – football, Tamara L.
(Tammy) Myers (’91) – women’s tennis.

“We want to congratulate the new inductees, as well
as the Hall of Fame Committee on another job well done,”
said sixth year Clarion A.D. Dave Katis (’85, ’88). “This
will be another great class of inductees who made a very
significant contribution to Clarion Athletics during their
time on campus. We look forward to their induction on
April 29.”
Below is a snapshot of the Clarion Hall of Fame
Careers of our 2011 inductees:

JAMES E. (PINT) BARTON – Baseball

TIMOTHY D. BROWN – Football

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

1987 Clarion University Graduate
1984-87 Four-Year Baseball Starter – Center Field
1987 PSAC-West “Player of the Year”
1987 NCAA D-II All-Region/All-American
1987-Clarion Season Record Batting Average (.452)
1984-87 Clarion Career Record 43 Stolen Bases
1984-87 Career Batting Avg. 344/Slugging % (.548)
1985 & ’87 PSAC-West First Team
1984 PSAC-West Champs/PSAC Runner-up

1993 Clarion University Graduate
1990-93 Four-Year Starter – Tight End
1992 & 1993 First Team All-American
1991-93 First Team PSAC-West
1991 HM All-American
1990-93 Clarion Career Record 169 Catches
1992 Clarion Single Season Record 60 Catches
1990-93 Clarion Career Receiving Yards 1,994
1992 Clarion PSAC-West Champions

JACOB “JACK” DERLINK – Basketball

DANIEL F. MAHONY – Football

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

1966 Clarion University Graduate
1963-66 Four-Year Starter
1966 NAIA All-American
1966 Scored 30 or More Points In Eight Games
1966 Averaged 26 ppg, 14 rpg
First Team All District and Conference
Runner-up District “Player of the Year”
1963-66 - 1,400 Career Points (second)
1963-66 - 840 Career Rebounds (second)

1960 Clarion University Graduate
1956-59 Three-Year Starter
1956-59 Four-Year Letterwinner
1958 & 1959 Team Captain
Two-Way Starter On Offense/Defense
Tight End & DE/Outside Linebacker
1959 Caught 25 Passes Senior Year – 3 td’s
All NAIA & All PSAC First Team
1959 – Led Team To 6-1-1 Record

TAMARA (TAMMY) MYERS – Women’s Tennis
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

1991 Clarion University Graduate
1987-88/1990-91 Four Year Starter
Career Singles Record 70-13
Career Dual Singles Record 49-6
Career Dual Doubles Record 41-3
Three-Time NCAA D-II National Doubles Participant
1987-90 Clarion Won 4 Straight PSAC Titles
Spring 1988 & ’89 Clarion In NCAA D-II Nationals
1987-90 Clarion Team Dual Record 55-1

Find more information
on this year’s class
along with a complete
list of all inductees at
www.clariongoldeneagles.com

www.clarion.edu | 21

Development news

Clarion Benefits From Kaufmans’ Savvy And Generosity

D

uring their lives, brother and sister
Charles and Virginia (’37) Kaufman gave
– substantially. Their generosity has
benefited many, both in Clarion, where they grew
up and where their grandparents were among
the town’s settlers, and in Pittsburgh, where they
lived and worked after graduating from college.
Neither Charles, a chemical engineer, nor
Virginia, an advertising executive, married. They
shared a modest home in Greentree. They spent
little and invested wisely. Through savvy financial
behavior, they accumulated tens of millions of
dollars. The beneficiaries were their communities.
Virginia passed away in 2008, and Charles died in
2010, but their legacy of giving continues.
In Pittsburgh, Virginia gave to Carnegie
Mellon University School of Design, University
of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh
Symphony, University of Pittsburgh School of
Health and Rehabilitative Sciences and the
Charles E. and Virginia Kaufman Fund of the
Pittsburgh Foundation.
Charles also gave financial support to
Carnegie Mellon University, as well as the
American Chemical Society and American
Association for the Advancement of Science.
He supported his alma mater, University of
Cincinnati.
They supported Clarion County Historical
Society, Clarion Hospital and Clarion Free
Library.
Their gifts to Clarion University have been
generous and purposeful. During their lifetimes,
the Kaufmans donated antique furniture from
their parents’ estate for use in university
residences, 25 acres of property for possible
future development, and financial support.
In honor of their parents, Myer M. and Minnie
Hermann Kaufman, Virginia set up the M.M. and
Minnie H. Kaufman Leadership Scholarship
Endowment. First awarded in 2000, the
scholarship has supported 66 Clarion University
students. Virginia was interviewed after the

establishment of the scholarship.
“The Capital Campaign focused
my thinking on how I could, during my
lifetime rather than ‘someday,’ start a
fund honoring my parents and, at the
same time, provide scholarships for
high school graduates who might need
a financial boost,” she said.
Clarion University senior Regina
Finelli, a speech language pathology
major and Spanish minor, received the
scholarship in 2008.
“Your generosity is assisting me
in the fulfillment of my life dreams,”
Finelli wrote to Virginia when she
accepted the scholarship.
After Virginia’s passing, her brother
established the Charles E. and Virginia
Kaufman Fund at Clarion University
Foundation, Inc., to continue support
Former Clarion University President Diane L. Reinhard, who served
of the scholarship.
At the time the scholarship
from 1990 to 2003, and Virginia Kaufman (’37).
was established, Virginia donated
$255,500, designated in part for the
“Charles and Virginia lived their lives in
scholarship and in part for the renovation of
pursuit of learning and demonstrating a passion
Founders Hall.
for the development of business, culture, arts
Virginia had previously given money toward
and education throughout our region. It was a
the renovation of Founders Hall. Virginia,
privilege to know them and to be a part of their
individually, and with Charles through the
ongoing commitment to service and learning,”
Charles E. and Virginia Kaufman Fund,
Harry Tripp, vice president for student and
financially supported the construction of the
university affairs, said.
Joseph P. Grunenwald Center for Science and
Charles earned a bachelor’s degree in
Technology.
chemical engineering in 1936 from the University
Each contributed individually to a scholarship
of Cincinnati. He moved to Pittsburgh to take a
endowment in honor of former Clarion University
job with Hagan Corp., which later became Calgon
President Diane Reinhard. A building at Reinhard
Corp. and was acquired by Merck. He earned a
Village, a student housing complex, was named
master’s degree in chemistry in 1942 from the
for the Kaufmans.
Carnegie Institute of Technology and stayed at
Part of Charles’ estate will be directed to the
Calgon for his entire career.
Charles E. and Virginia Kaufman Fund at The
Virginia graduated in 1937 from Clarion State
Pittsburgh Foundation, which will provide annual
Teachers College. She moved to Pittsburgh to
support to the Clarion University Foundation,
work in marketing at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Inc., ensuring that the legacy of the Kaufman
She later joined Penn-Art Associates, becoming a
family will continue.
business partner and co-owner.

What Your Will Reveals About You
Your will says something about you. First, it
says that you care about your loved ones. You
want to make it easier for them by taking care
of legal matters relating to the transfer of your
estate.
Second, having a will means that you have
sought to conserve your estate. You can reduce
taxes and probate costs by designating what
things will go where and who will be responsible
for handling the details. The cost savings
resulting from a carefully constructed estate plan
means that more of your estate can go to family
members and other beneficiaries.
22 | April ’11

Third, as demonstrated by Virginia (’37)
and Charles Kaufman, your will provides insight
into your lifetime involvements and concerns.
Bequests to family members tell of your love
and concern for their welfare. And bequests to
organizations speak volumes about what you
value.
Including Clarion University Foundation, Inc.,
in your will affirms your belief in the mission of the
university and encourages those you leave behind
to consider how they can also help worthy causes.
Further, including Clarion in your will tells
us that you want us to continue our work in

fulfilling the university’s mission. You reveal your
vision for our future and encourage us to be good
stewards of the new resources you place in our
hands.
We at Clarion University want you to
experience the feeling of having a wellconsidered and well-crafted will and encourage
you to take care of this very important matter. If
you would like to speak with someone or would
like additional information about how to leave
a bequest to Clarion, please contact us at 814393-2572 or giving@clarion.edu.

Sands Shares Business Insight
As Reed Lecture Series Speaker
Clarion University alumnus Vincent
Sands (’78) joins two elite groups this
spring.
On April 16, Sands, chairman
of BNY Mellon of Pennsylvania, will
receive the Clarion University 2011
Alumni Association Distinguished
Alumni Award during Extravaganza
at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Club. A
few days later, Sands, who holds
a bachelor’s degree in business
administration from Clarion, will share
highlights of his career as the speaker
for the fourth annual Reed Lecture
Series at 3:30 p.m. April 19 in Carter
Auditorium (room 112) Still Hall. The
presentation is free.
Reed Lecture Series brings
business people to campus for the
benefit of students and faculty.
“We are delighted that Vince has
agreed to serve as our Reed Lecture
Series speaker this year,” said Dr. Jim
Pesek, dean of the College of Business
Administration, which organizes the
lectures. “Vince’s talk will complement
and reinforce the learning that takes
place in our classrooms.”
Previous speakers include P.J.
(Magaro ’77) Hilbert, Roger (’76)
Oxendale and William Lowe.

“P.J. Hilbert spoke about
her career and her experiences
working at AT&T, when she was
charged with restoring service
to Wall Street and New York’s
financial services district after
9/11,” Pesek said. “Several
students were surprised that a
Clarion business graduate was
given that type of responsibility.”
Oxendale was CEO of Children’s
Hospital, Pittsburgh, and Lowe is
considered to be the father of the
personal computer.
“We believe that these types of
experiences are very valuable for
our students in terms of their own
professional development,” Pesek
said. “We want for them to hear from
practitioners, from those who have
had successful careers.”
Reed Lecture Series was
established through an endowment
fund created by Dr. John H. Reed,
retired Clarion University professor
of administrative science who taught
from 1971-2001, and his wife,
Barbara.

zacherl

King

Through the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization,
and Job Creation Act of 2010 came the extension of the Charitable
IRA Rollover Provision allowing individuals to make tax-free
direct transfers from traditional and Roth IRAs to charitable
organizations, such as Clarion University Foundation, Inc.
Through Dec. 31, 2011, legislation permits donors aged
70½ to make tax free withdrawals from certain retirement assets
and transfer to a qualified charity any amount up to $100,000.
Another potential benefit is that the limits of contribution
deductions (50 percent of adjusted gross income for cash gifts,
and 30 percent for long-term capital gain property) do not apply.

Who should consider THIS?

Alumni Return As Foundation Employees
Clarion University
Foundation, Inc., welcomed
two alumni, Jessica Zacherl
and Laura King, as new
employees.
Jessica (Tenfelde,
’04) Zacherl joined the
Foundation, Jan. 31, as
assistant director of alumni
relations and annual fund.
She will plan reunions
and various events with
alumni, as well as raise
monies for the annual fund.
“It’s an honor to be
able to work on behalf of
the university. I wish I had
known what the Foundation
does for students,” she
said. “I’m honored to be
able to help these students
afford school.”
Zacherl graduated
from Clarion University
with a bachelor’s degree
in marketing. Prior to accepting

Charitable IRA Rollover
Provision Reinstated

employment with the
Foundation, she was branch
manager for Enterprise
Rent-a-Car.
Laura King (’09),
the Foundation’s new
development officer,
graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in liberal arts from
Clarion University’s Virtual
Campus - while working fulltime for March of Dimes in
Erie. At the Foundation, she
will work to establish new
scholarships and build upon
existing ones. She began
Oct. 25, 2010.
King, active in the Miss
America program, received a
scholarship as part of Miss
Pennsylvania and is codirector of the organization’s
Miss Clarion River Valley
Scholarship Pageant.

•

Donors who do not itemize deductions

•

Donors for whom withdrawal of IRA income would cause more
social security income to be taxable

•

Donors already giving at the 50 percent deduction limit
for cash gifts or the 30 percent limit for gifts of long-term
appreciated assets.

Rules:
•

Donors must be 70½ and own a traditional or Roth IRA.
Funds accumulated in 401(k) or 403(b) and other types of
retirement accounts do not qualify.

•

The IRA trustees must transfer the gift amount directly to the
qualified organization. If a donor makes a withdrawal and then
contributes to charity, the amount would be taxable income for
the donor.

•

Qualified organizations do not include advised funds,
charitable trusts, private foundations or other supporting
organizations.

•

IRA gifts cannot be used to fund life income arrangements
such as unitrusts, or gift annuities.

•

Donors cannot receive any benefit in exchange for the gift
(dinners, tickets, etc.).

Contact the Foundation at 814-393-2572 or giving@clarion.edu for
additional information and contact your personal advisers to determine
if the Charitable IRA Rollover may provide a worthy option when
considering a gift to Clarion.
The above article is intended to provide general information, not legal or professional financial advice. Because
individual circumstances vary greatly, we recommend you consult your own adviser/s when considering these ideas.

nonprofit org
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Clarion University

Center for Advancement
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
840 Wood Street
Clarion, PA 16214-1232

Congratulations

2011 Alumni Association Distinguished Award Recipients

Vincent Sands (’78)

James Thornton

Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished Volunteer

Rose Miller (’81)
Distinguished Achievement

Wilma ‘Wid’
Logue (’32, ’37)
Distinguished Service

Saturday, April 16, 2011
Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh
Reception – 5:30 p.m.
Dinner – 7 p.m.

Distinguished Faculty

Samuel Zuck (’74)
Distinguished Alumni
Venango Campus

SPONSORED BY:

Extravaganza 2011
www.clarion.edu/extravaganza

Susan Traynor (’89)

Platinum Level

SILVER Level

SUPPORTING Level