April 2006 PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON Volume XVIII Number 4 A Goldwater, a Truman and a USA Today First Team Member Three Scranton students have been nominated by memorial to the 33rd President of the Academic Teams, and the second in three selected for some of the nation’s most com- 311 universities. United States. The foundation awards years to be named to the first team. petitive and prestigious scholarships and The merit-based scholarships to college stu- Ms. George also received a 2005 academic accolades. University of dents who plan to attend graduate school Morris K. Udall Kristy Gogick has been named a Scranton is in preparation for careers in government Scholarship, Goldwater Scholar; Vincent Solomeno has one of only or elsewhere in public service. which recognizes been selected as a Truman Scholar; and five Jesuit Tina Marie George, USA Today All-USA college stu- Tina Marie George has been named a USA universities to College Academic First Team Member dents who have Today All-USA College Academic First have a student Tina Marie George, a senior major- demonstrated Team Member. named as a ing in biology and philosophy, is listed outstanding Kristy Gogick, Goldwater Scholar 2006 Truman among the top 20 college students in the potential in their Ms. Gogick, a junior majoring in Scholar. Vincent Solomeno nation as selected by USA Today for its study of the chemistry with a minor in mathemat- Mr. Solomeno is the seventh All-USA College Academic First Team. environment and ics, is among just 323 sophomore and Scranton student to be named a Truman The academic teams, announced in the related fields. Tina Marie George junior undergraduates in the nation to be Scholar. In the past six years, The Feb. 15 issue of USA Today, were selected Additionally, she awarded a Goldwater Scholarship for the University of Scranton has nominated 12 by a panel of judges from 600 students was among the 75 students in the nation 2006/2007 academic year. students for Truman Scholarships, eight nominated by colleges and universities to be named as a 2005 Truman Scholar. “The Goldwater Scholarship is con- of whom became national finalists, with from across the nation. She is working with Rev. Timothy sidered to be the premier undergraduate four, including Mr. Solomeno, being Ms. George is the only resident Cadigan, S.J., Assistant Professor of scholarship for the fields of mathematics, named as Truman Scholars. from Pennsylvania named to the first Biology, on a study of the Lackawanna natural sci- As a Truman Scholar, Mr. Solomeno team, and Scranton is the only college in River. She was inspired by a group of ences and will receive $30,000 for graduate study. He Pennsylvania and the only Jesuit school neighbors working to rid the town of the engineering,” plans to pursue a law degree with a concen- with a student named to the first team. remnants of creosote, a carcinogen that said Gretchen tration in civil rights and public interest. Ms. George is the fifth University was used extensively by a plant in Avoca. Van Dyke, Congress established the Truman of Scranton student in four years to be To view the full text of the news stories Ph.D., Associate Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as a included in USA Today’s All-USA College visit the Web at www.scranton.edu/news Professor of Political Science and the University’s Performer Will “Jazz” up Commencement Director of The principal to this entirely American The University of Scranton also Kristy Gogick Fellowship address at Scranton’s art form. This promises to raised more than $7,000 in donations for Programs. 2006 Commencement be among our most mem- Katrina victims through a series of cam- “Kristy, a member of the university’s hon- ceremony will be, quite orable and moving com- pus initiatives and collected instruments ors program, was chosen from a highly literally, music to the ears mencement ceremonies.” for New Orleans band students. competitive field of more than 1,000 of all those attending. The University A frequent and welcome guest art- nominees from colleges and universities Acclaimed jazz of Scranton Jazz Band ist with The University of Scranton from across the country.” musician and educator and Jazz Combo will Performance Music Ensembles, Mr. Ms. Gogick is one of only eight Wycliffe Gordon will accompany Mr. Gordon Gordon has had an extraordinary career as Goldwater Scholars to be selected this communicate through his in his performance of a a performer, conductor, composer, arranger year from six Jesuit schools (Georgetown, music and perform the number of arrangements and educator, receiving high praise from Holy Cross, St. Joseph’s, Loyola New “principal address” at the of traditional and well- audiences and critics alike. As a solo art- Orleans, Loyola Maryland and Scranton). University’s 2006 com- known New Orleans ist and member of the Wycliffe Gordon Vincent Solomeno, Truman Scholar mencement ceremony for music. Their performance Quartet and as a former member of the Vincent Solomeno, a political science undergraduate and gradu- Acclaimed jazz musician will underscore how the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Lincoln Jazz major and the student body president at ate students. and educator Wycliffe University community Orchestra, and the Gully Low Jazz Band, Scranton, is one of only 75 students from Mr. Gordon will also Gordon will use his has been affected by and Mr. Gordon has toured the world per- 63 colleges in the nation to be selected receive an honorary degree trombone to communicate responded to the tragedy forming jazz for audiences of all ages. His as a 2006 Truman Scholar. The scholars at the ceremony, which when he performs the of Hurricane Katrina. extensive performance experience includes were selected from among 598 candidates will begin at noon at the principal address. Scranton joined recordings and concerts with many of the Wachovia Arena at Casey its sister Jesuit colleges world’s greatest jazz musicians, past and Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, on Sunday, May 28. in accepting visiting students affected by present. His discography includes nine solo In this Issue “Wycliffe Gordon is equally gifted Hurricane Katrina last fall. Scranton wel- CD’s, and an impressive list of recordings as Jesuit Heritage Week . pg. 3 both in musical talent and in his passion to comed more than a dozen students from a co-leader and/or sideman. educate and inspire others through music,” Loyola University New Orleans and Tulane Praised by The New York Times for Second Annual J.J. Quinn, S.J. said Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., University University. In addition, 40 University of his “masterful” playing, Mr. Gordon has Memorial Lecture . pg. 4 of Scranton president. “Wycliffe will Scranton students, along with eight staff and received the Jazz Journalists Association Cura Personalis Program . pg. 5 perform New Orleans jazz music at our faculty chaperones, volunteered at Catholic Award for Trombonist of the Year, the Athletics . pg. 6 Commencement, and I can think of no charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Jazz Journalists Association Critics’ better way for our community to stand in this January, helping to repair homes and Choice Award, and has been nominated Calendar . pg. 7 solidarity with the great city that gave birth remove debris in flood damaged areas. for the Jazzpar Award. Page 2 The Scranton Record, April 2006 The Royal Fund: A New Way of Giving Post-graduation Survey Shows Strong What was formerly known as Annual The Young President’s Circle recog- Employment, Salaries for Scranton Grads Giving Programs at Scranton will become nizes gifts made by alumni during their The Royal Fund, effective June 1, 2006. first 10 years after graduation. The giving The results of a University of on the 83 graduates that provided salary The new name is more than a new levels in the Young President’s Circle are Scranton post-graduation survey reveal information, an increase of 1.7 percent name. as follows: that 98 percent of its 2005 graduate and above last year. The highest average sal- “The Royal Fund represents a 1996-$500 undergraduate class members are either ary reported is $112,693 for graduates whole new way of showing support 1997-$500 employed or pursuing additional educa- with master’s degrees in nursing (mainly for Scranton,” says Carol Maculloch, 1998-$400 tion within six months of graduation. nurse anesthetists), followed by $63,500 Director of The Royal Fund. 1999-$350 The survey is based on responses for software engineering graduates and The Royal Fund recognizes both unre- 2000-$300 received from 61 percent (148) of the 244 graduates with master’s degrees in physi- stricted giving, as well as donor-designated 2001-$250 students who received master’s degrees cal therapy at $54,139. annual contributions. At the same time, 2002-$200 and 75 percent (670) of the 899 students Sixty-seven percent of the master’s the new name recognizes that many donors 2003-$150 who received bachelor’s degrees from the degree graduates who are employed make gifts weekly, monthly and quarterly, 2004-$100 University in 2005. full-time are working in Pennsylvania, as well as annually. 2005-$100 For the master’s degree graduates, 92 with 49.3 percent working in northeast While the name is changing, the The Royal Fund will be aligned to percent of respondents are employed full- Pennsylvania. purpose and effects of the fund remain the University’s fiscal year, running from time, three percent are employed part-time Of the 2005 graduates earning a the same. June 1 – May 31. For additional informa- and 3.4 percent are pursuing additional bachelor’s degree who responded to the Increasing funds available for student tion, call 1-800-SCRANTON.