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YOUR CONNECTION TO PENN STATE DUBOIS SPRING 2014 HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 2 Students Help Create Flight 93 Memorial PAGE 8 Engineering Student’s Research Tapped PAGE 11 Daughter of Baseball Legend Draws Crowd for International Conference TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology student Mandy Marconi conducting field work on the Flight 93 Memorial site last summer. 1 A Message from the Chancellor CAMPUS 2 Students Help Flight 93 Memorial Grow 4 Job Fair Connects Occupational Therapy Assistant Grads with Careers 5 Palumbo Charitable Trust Grows Scholarship Fund 6 Honor Society Inducts New Members 7 THON Raises $13 Million, DuBois Contributes Record $17,000 LEARNING 8 Campus Engineering Student to Present Research at International Conference 9 New Program Launches Tomorrow’s Leaders Donor Robert Umbaugh offered the donor’s perspective at this year’s Scholarship Lunch. 10 Career Event Connects Students, Jobseekers with Employers For more on that story, turn to page 15. OUTREACH 11 Sharon Robinson, Daughter of Baseball Legend, College Place is Jean Wolf Speaks to Community produced by the Public Director of Development Information office at Phone: 814-372-3038 12 Students Spend Spring Break Serving the Nation’s Capital Penn State DuBois E-mail: [email protected] and Penn State Multimedia & Print Julie Frank ATHLETICS Center, University Park. Development and Alumni Relations Officer 13 Golfers Recognized for Winning Season For more information Phone: 814-375-4775 about the newsletter or 13 Penn State DuBois Wrestlers complete Season at E-mail: [email protected] to comment on articles NCWA Championships or photos published Steve Harmic 14 Lion Wine and Cheese Fundraiser Scores Support for Athletics herein, please contact: Public Information Officer Phone: 814-375-4776 Office of Public E-mail: [email protected] SCHOLARSHIP Information Penn State DuBois 15 Scholarship Support Celebrated at Annual Luncheon 1 College Place DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801 ALUMNI 16 Alumni Society Update from President Michael White Special thanks to Marcia Newell and Garrett Roen for their photo contributions. 17 Roush, Cogan, Bean Honored at Alumni Awards Banquet This publication is available in alternative media on request. The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have FACULTY/STAFF equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and 20 Demi Recognized with Undergraduate Program employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as Leadership Award determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimina- RE-CONNECT tion, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment 21 Re-connect with Penn State DuBois Alumni Society against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or Back Cover Triple Take—Three of the campus’ top administrators from veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against past and present were all together at this year’s Scholarship faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries re- Luncheon. garding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY. DS.PSU.EDU U.Ed. DSO 14-6 MPC128273 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR Greetings from College Place! Now that I’m closing in on my first full academic year in It’s true that the difference between working at a job and having Symmco House, along College Place, I’m happy to share with a fulfilling career is often passion. Passion can make all the you how much I’ve settled into this big house, and our campus. difference in one’s attitude, work ethic, and determination to It is time now to look forward to our future, and the bright succeed. Passion for what you do makes you strive for excellence future our students have ahead of them. in your accomplishments, in your work, and in your service to others. I hope it’s evident to all of our readers that the students It’s no surprise that due, in part, to the wonderful support network we highlight on these pages possess that passion for the endeavors our students have on campus, that they go on to achieve great they’ve chosen to undertake. success. We have for you in this issue of College Place several stories that highlight the different ways our students are finding their own success, and thereby changing the world for the better, one step at a time. Melanie Hatch, Ph.D. Success comes in many forms; from embarking on a meaningful Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer career, to participating in research that will benefit people on the national and international levels, to helping individuals in need on a one-to-one basis. We have students who have done all of these things, and done them well. You’ll read about just a few of them here, who have accepted the responsibility of great achievement. Chancellor Melanie Hatch, center, shares a laugh with Director of Enrollment Melissa Duttry, left, and Director of Development Jean Wolf, as the trio waits for the recent presentation by Sharon Robinson to begin in the campus gym. Robinson, the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, spoke on campus on March 31. For that story, turn to page 11. College Place Penn State DuBois 1 CAMPUS Students Help Flight 93 Memorial Grow A national memorial for those who lost their lives in the crash of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, is continuing to develop near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and students in the Penn State DuBois Wildlife Technology program are among those working to foster the memorial’s growth. “Our partnership with the memorial started by assisting with the annual reforestation project at the site. In 2013, five faculty from Penn State DuBois and Altoona accompanied over 30 students from the two campuses to plant trees on the property. In planning meetings we discovered that the site required an assessment of invasive plant species on the property and it seemed like a natural fit as an internship for some of our students in the wildlife program,” explained Keely Roen, senior instructor of Wildlife Technology at Penn State DuBois. Through an internship program, three students were chosen to work directly with the National Park Service (NPS), at the Flight 93 Memorial site. They conducted a survey on the memorial property that surrounds the crash site to identify invasive and noxious specifies of plant life. They then provided GPS coordinates for the locations of the plants Toby Neal and Alyssa Knee pause during a they found. Those students, Mandy Marconi, Alyssa Knee, and Toby Neal, were selected day afield. and advised by Roen. Marconi had significant experience with invasive species surveys through an internship the previous summer and served as a team leader to the crew of three. In all, the team found seven invasive species on the 120 acre survey area. They then recommended action plans the NPS can take to eradicate the species. 2 College Place Penn State DuBois CAMPUS “The Penn State DuBois inventory will be utilized as the base survey not take it for granted. There is something very spiritual about to plan future invasive removals at the park,” explained Keith Flight 93 that will carry with me far into the future. I am grateful Newlin, deputy superintendent of Western Pennsylvania Parks with for the opportunity to be a part of a great partnership that Mrs. the NPS. “An inventory is necessary to successfully plan an invasive Roen developed between Penn State and Flight 93.” removal event at the park. We hope to plan an invasive removal in Neal found satisfaction in making contributions that will have a 2014.” lasting impact. He said, “I was very happy to be able to assist by “These species don’t belong in this environment. They displace the collecting data and spending time in the field. Being near the crash natives, growing where natives would grow,” Roen explained. She site was sobering. I was impressed to see how many visitors came noted that these species may take root in a foreign environment to pay their respects and learn more about the events of one of the by accident or because they’ve been introduced by humans. “They saddest days in American History. I am thankful to the park for take over and change the character of the area,” she said. allowing us to become a part of the project to make the park a little better for future visitors.” Among the invasive plants identified were autumn olive, multiflora rose, Canada thistle, and more. Those sentiments were not lost on Knee, who looks forward to seeing a completed park on the site, and knowing she was part of By completing the survey, the students provided a tremendously what made it possible. “It was such an honor to be able to help valuable service to the NPS and to this national memorial. and I am so glad that we were able to provide them with some However, they also found enormous benefits for their education by information that can help the park look incredible,” she said. “I gaining extensive hands-on experience. can’t wait to see what the park will look like years from now when “It allows them to apply some of the knowledge they have gained in they finally have it all done. I do have to say that this internship the Wildlife Technology Program in a real-world situation,” Roen meant a lot to me.