{ 0 3 MILLERSVILLE THE MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY W.l ARCHIVES VOL. XXII NO. 15 May 4 ,1 9 8 9 To Speak at May 13 Commencement Commonwealth Court Judge to Get Honorary Degree The Honorable Genevieve Blatt, senior judge A pioneer among women in law, Judge Blatt of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, was the first woman elected to serve as will receive an honorary doctoral degree during Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Internal Affairs, a Millersville’s spring commencement on Satur­ position she held for three terms, and as judge day, May 13. She also will be the speaker. of the Commonwealth Court. She also was the Ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m. in first woman to win major party nominations in Biemesderfer Stadium. Pennsylvania for State Auditor General and for Participating faculty, staff and trustees will the United States Senate. assemble for robing on the north main floor area Encouraging able young people to consider of Puclllo Gym at approximately 10:30 a.m. In careers in public service has been judge Blatt’s case of inclement weather, the ceremony will major interest. As a result, she founded and be moved to Pucillo Gymnasium led Pennsylvania’s Intercollegiate Conference Approximately 645 persons are candidates on Government for 38 years, and established for degrees including 615 undergraduates and the 27-year-old James A. Finnegan Fellowship 30 graduate students. Included among the Foundation. undergraduates are five students who are Judge Blatt has received numerous awards enrolled in two-year associate degree over the years. To name a few, she was programs. recognized as one of “ Pennsylvania’s Distin­ Millersville will award a Doctorate of Humane guished Daughters” in 1956, and was named Letters to Judge Blatt for exceptional service “National Woman of the Year in Government” to mankind during her long and distinguished in 1963. She also has been listed in “Who’s career in politics and government. Honorary Who Among American Women.” doctorate degrees from Millersville are awarded A western Pennsylvania native, Judge Blatt to those persons who have made outstanding received her undergraduate degree in political contributions to the welfare and well-being of science and her graduate degrees in political society. The degrees are granted to recognize science and law at the University of Pittsburgh. creativity, distinguished service, scholarship She also holds honorary degrees from 14 other and accomplishment colleges and universities. GENEVIEVE BLATT Hundreds Discuss Children’s Literature Tomie dePaola, a name known by everyone readers and toward trade books In the class­ value of literature in their children's lives, who reads children's books, told more than 800 room, but warned about “basallzing” books with dePaola believes, pointing to the growing teachers attending a conference at Millersville worksheets “that will turn kids off to reading.” phenomenon of “children only” bookstores. that he approves of the trend away from basal The author/artist made his comment during DePaola’s career recently has taken on a new the closing session of a Children's Literature dimension. He has been granted the imprint Festival held April 22. Conference registration “Whitebird Books” by G. P. Putnam and Sons was cut off four weeks prior to the event when to act as creative director for a series of response exceeded the expections of the illustrated books of folktales and ancient myths sponsors: MU’s departments of elementary/ from around the world. early childhood education and library science Illustrator of over 100 children’s books and and the Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Council. author/illustrator of more than 40, dePaola’s The all-day program included book exhibits, work has received many awards, including the workshops and presentations by experts in Caldecott Honor for Strega Nona in 1976. children's literature. A second major address DePaola, a charming man with long gray curly by Molly Bang, well-traveled author/illustrator hair, had a ready smile for the teachers lined of children’s books, opened the day. up for hours in Gordinier Hall to seek his In his 25th year as a children's book author autograph on books brought from classrooms and illustrator, dePaola told an E xchange or on new editions purchased at the conference. Author Tomie dePaola greets Dr. Rosemary reporter that he has seen public interest in Because of the crowds, the addresses by Winkeljohann, chairperson of the Children's children’s literature “skyrocket” during the past Molly Bang and dePaola were moved to Pucillo Literature Festival. decade. Parents today are more aware of the Gymnasium. Four Long-Time Faculty to Retire Eighth Graders Attend Science Seminar Series Some 15 selected eighth-grade students from the Solanco School District are attending a series of Saturday morning science seminars at Millersville. Supported by a $2,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the five seminars, now under way, are designed for students who might otherwise not consider a university education as part of their career plans, according to Al Hoffman, dean of the School of Science and Mathematics at MU. D. GERTENBACH H. OSMAN C. PATTON R. WILL Hoffman said that the seminar series was Four long-time faculty members, with a total Millersville since 1965. Previous to that he was developed in response to Solanco’s efforts to of almost 80 years of service to the University, an English teacher at Upper Darby High School increase the number of its students who will will retire this year. They are: Dr. Donald G. and an instructor/advlser and quality control seek a post secondary education, as well as Gertenbach, a professor of educational foun­ analyst for American Airlines. Reared in to expose them to the world of science and dations; Dr. Hassan H. Osman, a professor of Marietta, Patton was awarded a bachelor’s mathematics as it exists outside the high school special education; Charles P. Patton, an degree at Franklin and Marshall College and classroom. Several other colleges, also under assistant professor of English; and Richard S. a master’s degree at the University of Maryland. PDE grants, are providing special programs to Will, a professor of educational foundations. All —Will was MU’s supervisor of student assist Solanco in its student goals. They include except Osman will retire December 29. Osman teaching when he came aboard in 1969. In 1975 Marywood College, Wilkes College and Har­ will conclude his MU career August 18. he was given classroom duties; later he was risburg Area Community College. —Dr. Gertenbach came to Millersville in 1971 named supervisor of secondary student teach­ Seminar topics and Instructors for the from InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico ing. Before joining the MU staff, he was a teacher Millersville program are as follows: "Electro- where he was associate professor of education in Warwick Junior High School and Rothsville fishing," Ken Miller, biology; “ Robotics,” Roger and director of the campus lab school. Before Elementary School. An Ephrata native, he Webster, mathematics and computer science; that he was a high school principal and junior received a bachelor’s degree at MU in 1952 “Optics and Lasers,” Michael Nolan, physics; high school principal in New York state, as well and a master’s degree at Temple University in “Chromatography," Patricia Hill, chemistry; and as a teacher of English and social studies. He 1956. “ Meteorology,” Richard Clark, earth sciences. earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science at Syracuse University and his doctorate of education in educational founda­ Staff Activities tions at Lehigh University. students toured the Camp Hill Correctional Institution to —Dr. Osman joined the MU staff in 1968 as JEAN BRADEL BERLIN, music, presented a vocal recital at Chatham College, Pittsburgh, April 9. Her piano view vocational education laboratories and meet with coordinator of programs in emotional disturb­ accompanist was DOROTHY POZNIKO BEAM, also of inmates. The tour was part of a program sponsored by ance and later was named professor of special the music department the Beta Phi Chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau, the international education. Earlier in his career he was a Also, Mrs. Berlin was a recitalist/lecturer for “Arts in honorary professional fraternity for education in technology. professor at New Mexico Highlands University the Classroom” day at Penn Manor School District’s Eshleman Elementary School. CATHERINE GLASS, RAY HACKER, BARBARA and a clinical psychologist at Kansas Neuro­ DR. JACK CASSIDY, elementary and early childhood HUNSBERGER, SAROJINI LOTLIKAR, IRENE RISSER, logical Institute. He received a bachelor's education, made two presentations at the annual meeting and DONALD TRIBIT, library, attended the fifth national degree at Alexandria University in Egypt, and of the National Council of Teachers of English held in conference of the Association of College and Research Libraries held in Cincinnati, April 5-8. master’s and doctoral degrees at the University S t Louis. The topics, "Developing Critical and Creative Thinking in Reading and Writing in Able Elementary DR. MARY ANN GRAY, elementary and early childhood of Kansas. Students” and “How to Prepare for a N.C.AT.E. Review." education, presented a session, “Content Reading in the —Patton has been an English professor at Also, Dr. Cassidy presented an in-service program for Cooperative Learning Classroom," during the International teachers in Logan, Utah. His topic was "Teaching Reading Reading Association’s annual convention in New Orleans. the BEST Way." In addition, he was a speaker during FAY KRAMER, educational foundations, spoke to a meeting of the Colorado Reading Association held in students at Philadelphia High School for Girls, April 14. Denver. He discussed “Nurturing Readers and Writers” Her topic, "Becoming a Teacher." Noninstructional Staff and "Developing Critical and Creative Thinking in Gifted Also, Kramer served as a facilitator for McCaskey High Students." School’s first day-long Holocaust symposium.