12th ANNUAL

academic excellence SERIES

venango

NIGHT OF EXCELLENCE

APRIL 17, 2017
6:30 P.M.
ROBERT W. RHOADES AUDITORIUM

VENANGO

Night of Excellence
Monday, April 17, 2017
Robert W. Rhoades Auditorium
6:30 p.m.

Welcome............................................................................................................................ Debbie Sobina
...................................................................................................................... Venango Acting Executive Dean

PRESENTATIONS
What is Respiratory Care?
The respiratory care class will present on What is Respiratory Care? They will cover what respiratory
therapists do, including explanation of equipment and will provide asthma education with an audience
interactive component. Discussion on job opportunities and explanation of the field will be covered.
This presentation will prove to be enlightening, entertaining and educational.
Tori Baldwin
Lauren Bogar
Emma Mohnkern

Amanda Baughman
Jenny Cipriano
Shanel Ware

Learning through Civic Engagement
S.E.E.D. (Seeking, Engaging, Exploring, Discipleship) Club performs a multitude of community service
throughout the year. The club participated in an alternative spring break trip traveling to Valdosta, GA to
participate in Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge where they assisted in building a brand new
affordable home for a family in need. The students have developed academic excellence through experiential
learning; a true understanding of life and success skills through mission and community work and how they
feel better prepared for the real world will be shared in their presentation.
Matthew Beightol
Emily Knowles
Kelsey Monro
Courtney Paton (Club Vice President)
Kaitlyn Vale

Taylor Berger
Casey McVay (Club Advisor)
Jenna Paratore (Club President)
Gabrielle Stoehr (Club Secretary/Treasurer)
Josh Wilson (Habitat Team Leader)

Refreshments will be served in the foyer between the Auditorium and Gymnasium.

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POSTER PRESENTATIONS
IN THE ROBERT W. RHOADES GYMNASIUM
VENANGO COLLEGE - CAMPUS TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Venango Campus Student Affairs promotes student learning and development by providing high-quality
programs and services that enhance the educational experience and prepare students to be contributing
members of the local community and global society.
We envision a community where all students are encouraged to explore their hopes and dreams and to
achieve their full potential through participation in collaborative, innovative and outcome-oriented programs
and services exemplifying best practices and positive community partnerships.
In addition to the many services provided, students enjoy various student-run clubs and organizations.
These organizations help students become acclimated to college life and provide valuable skills and
knowledge to excel in a competitive job market.
The following clubs would like to share with you today, their poster displays, showcasing the many activities,
events and service that they have engaged in over the past year. Students from each club will be on hand to
talk with you about their involvement and how they have grown from those experiences.

EQUESTRIAN CLUB/TEAM
As a club sport, Clarion’s team has competed for seven years against teams from nearby schools including
Slippery Rock University, Allegheny College, California University of PA, Seton Hill University, Grove City
College, Indiana University of PA, West Virginia University, Saint Vincent University, Mercy Hurst College,
Edinboro University, Penn State Behrend and the University of Pittsburgh. The team is currently a member
of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). They show in Zone 2 Region 5 in English and Western
competitions.
The Western team has earned High Point Team ribbons and High Point Team Reserves. As individuals, the
team has had High Point Riders, High Point Rider Reverses, and qualified for regionals. Clarion riders won the
Western High Point Team Regional Championship on Sunday March 5, 2017. Clarion University’s Equestrian
Program has won its first ever Western Semi-Final, 9th place on all, held on March 25 - 26, 2017. The team is
currently ranked 27th in the nation. There were 38 participating schools in the Semi-Finals hosted by St.
Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
The entire Equestrian team maintains a GPA of 3.2 overall. Four student-athletes are currently on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Academic Honor, All Academic First Team, and four students are on the
All Academic Second Team. First Team is achieving a grade point average of 3.8 or higher and the Second
Team is achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. This club builds team work, dedication, and self
esteem.

PHI THETA KAPPA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Phi Theta Kappa kicks off the fall semester with A Catapult to the Frontline - workshops to provide all students
the tools they need to be successful: study skills, test taking strategies, conflict resolution, advising advantages,
navigating D2L and email are just a few of the topics covered. They hold a large community Halloween Party
annually to provide area children a safe environment in which to trick-or-treat. In addition they sponsor blood
drives for regional blood banks and their ever growing Totes for Tots project.
The Totes for Tots project was created in 2008 as an educational venture that aims to join members of all
generations in Venango County in order to inspire a new generation of learning. This project has directly
benefited the Oil City, Rocky Grove, Clintonville, Titusville, and Cranberry Head Start Programs by providing
totes full of items that positively support reading and education for life. This year they were fortunate enough
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to receive their fourth grant aimed specifically at funding this project from The Samuel Justus Charitable Trust.
The group delivered 200 totes this year containing several items that focused on reading, writing, mathematics,
art, science, history and fitness. Behind the scenes, this project brought together children of all ages from
toddlers to college students, as well as local nursing home residents to assist in preparing the totes for
distribution.

S.E.E.D. (SEEKING, ENGAGING, EXPLORING, DISCIPLESHIP) CLUB
S.E.E.D. Club does a multitude of community service throughout the year. They have been assisting Venango
County Mustard Seed Missions in renovation, cleaning and preparing a transition house for homeless in the
county. They collect donations for PPC Violence Free Shelters and Network, Mustard Seed Missions, UPMC
Behavioral Health Center and the ABC Pregnancy Center.
In addition to their local mission work, SEED traveled to Valdosta, Ga., to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s
Collegiate Challenge where they built a brand new affordable home for a family in need.

VETERANS CLUB
This unique and diverse group has a membership with various academic majors but united in their service
to honor the less fortunate. This student lead group made up of veterans and students with a veterans
connection continues to make major efforts for the honoring veterans, serving the campus and community.
Community Service: The club purchases and distributes approximately 100 Christmas gifts for veterans
living in area nursing homes. A multi-generational project for Veterans Day began in 2012, when cards were
made by Oil City Elementary School students and then delivered by the club members; it still continues as
a cornerstone of veteran remembrance. Since 2014, the Flags for the Fallen Veterans Day program has been
the signature project for this club; it welcomes the community to hear a speaker and to review the hundreds
of flags on the campus which honor the fallen veterans of the Commonwealth.
Additionally, the Easter gift delivery and visit to elderly vets at Oakwood Heights is another annual tradition
of this club which is their spring veteran’s project along with the Venango County Humane Society “Dogs for
Dogs’ benefit.

NURSING STUDENT PROJECTS:
Older Adult Safety Projects - First Semester Project - (Binders)
Sensory Deficit in the Older Adult
Shania Ditzenberger, Andrew Brosious, Jeremy Brake-Zacherl, Megan Eismont
Medication Safety for the Older Adult
Brianna Mershmer, Gary Douglass, Rhett Ritchey, Hazel Jackson
Nutrition - In the Older Adult
Melissa Kelsch, Nicholas Elslager, Samantha Brison, Randi Myers

Family Culture Project - Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery - Second Semester Project - (Binders)
Malawi - Africa
Jessica Bronder, Jocelyn Forsythe, Laura Mika, Autumn Babcock
Australia
Melinda Carbaugh, Ericka Fox-Feroz, David Kellner, Elizabeth Henry- Steenbergh, Kassondra Ferry
England
Samantha Brison, Erin Causey, Evelyn Tebay, Bailee DiFilippo
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Community Education - Poster or Pamphlet Projects - Third Semester Project
Heart Health Education
Amanda Irwin, Emily Fyock
Prevention and Treatment of a Pulmonary Emboli
Jessica Bronder, Scott Northcott
Tips and Advantages to Smoking Cessation and Asthma MDI and Inhaler Use (pamphlets)
Melissa Kelsch, Melinda Carbaugh
Heparin and Pulmonary Embolism - Calculations and Care (Pamphlet)
Elizabeth Steenbergh, Hannah Hosier
Modifiable Risk Factors for Hypertension and Heart Disease (Pamphlet)
Laura Mika, Jocelyn Forsythe

Acute Care Hospital Education - Bulletin Board Project - Fourth Semester Project
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Jessica Bronder, Scott Northcott

Nursing Club Poster

In Appreciation
In preparing for this event recognizing our students’ academic achievements,
we are thankful for the support of Venango faculty, staff and administration, and our audience.
With our students, we thank their families, friends, and classmates who also
support our campus community’s efforts to seek academic excellence.
Thank you for joining us for this evening’s celebration.

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It is the policy of Clarion University of Pennsylvania that there shall be equal opportunity in all of its educational programs, services, and benefits, and there shall be no discrimination with regard to a
student’s or prospective student’s gender, gender identity, race or color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, religion or creed, genetic information, affectional or sexual
orientation, veteran status, 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 inquiries to the Title IX Coordinator, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 103 Carrier Administration Building, sfenske@clarion.edu or
phone 814-393-2351, or the Director of Social Equity, 210 Carrier Administration Building 16214-1232; Email asalsgiver@clarion.edu or phone 814-393-2109. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director of
the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201.

www.clarion.edu/academicexcellence

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