Spring 2017 YSURA Board of Directors President From Your President ... Ed James 330-856-6933 [email protected] I’m happy to report that the YSU Retirees Scholarship Endowment continues to reach new milestones. The Vice President endowment balance has now reached $57,759, which Hugh Earnhart 330-757-4727 will allow us to award at least two $1,000 scholarships [email protected] annually. Selected from a pool of 46 applicants, our $1,000 recipients for the 2017-18 academic year, Diana Secretary Deehr and Kaitlyn Leonelli, are profiled on page 2 of Marsha Wolfe 330-457-0170 this newsletter. Our congratulations go out to these [email protected] ladies. Treasurer Jeanne Tydings 330-542-2415 For the fifth year running, YSURA is sponsoring a trip [email protected] to see a touring Broadway show. On April 25, we will travel to Cleveland to see the musical comedy, Some- Directors thing Rotten. These theatre trips are very popular with YSURA members and sell George Beelen 330-702-1749 out quickly. As with all bus trips, capacity is limited and reservations are taken on a [email protected] first-come, first-served basis. Due to the lead time required to develop some events, Darla Funk 330-533-3722 cancellations may occur which will open up spots for others. If you’re interested in [email protected] an event but the published deadline has passed or the bus has been filled, check Phil Hirsch 330-539-1116 with the contact person listed on the event notice to have your name added to a [email protected] Gwen Latessa 330-757-2485 waiting list in case there’s a cancellation. [email protected] Loretta Liptak 330-758-8931 One of YSURA’s mainstays, our annual spring luncheon, is scheduled for May 23 [email protected] at the St. George Croation Center. Barbara Krauss from WYSU-FM will be the Don Mathews 330-743-8538 speaker, and our newly selected scholarship recipients will be there as well. The [email protected] YSURA board is in the process of developing a number of other events for the Pam Palumbo 330-536-6322 remainder of the year, including the possibility of an overnight casino trip. Details [email protected] of future events will be available soon. Warren Young 330-876-5497 [email protected] At our December meeting, the board discussed using e-mail to communicate with YSURA members who prefer electronic communication. A board committee has OCHER Representative been formed to examine its feasibility and determine a process for implementation, George Beelen 330-702-1749 should we decide to move forward. Once our committee has finished its review, we [email protected] will communicate the results to all YSURA members. Regardless of the outcome, those who wish to continue receiving communications by mail may do so. If you have any suggestions or comments concerning this issue, please feel free to forward Ex Officio/Website your ideas to one of our board members. Robert Hogue [email protected] Small world! Those who participated in the New York City bus trip last fall will certainly remember our McCarter Coach and Tour bus driver, Bonnie, who maneu- Newsletter Gwen Latessa 330-757-2485 vered her bus through the busy streets of NYC like she was piloting a Volkswagen. Editor [email protected] On March 7, Sandy and I spotted her and her immaculate bus at a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game in Bradenton, Florida. Turns out she was ferrying a Slippery Sharyn Fees 330-707-0319 Rock University alumni group on a tour of the Sunshine State. Asst. Editor [email protected] I hope to see each of you soon at some YSURA events. Ed James, YSURA President Introducing the 2017-18 YSU Retirees Scholarship Recipients DIANA DEEHR graduated from Howland High School in 2003 and enrolled in YSU’s dental hygiene program in the fall of 2013. Now in her junior year, she carries a 3.4 GPA. Returning to school after ten years was a big adjustment for Diana, but she was surprised at how much she thrived during her initial year on campus. Her first inspiring experience was meeting a peer mentor at orientation, and she continued meeting with the mentor every week for the first two semesters. Not only did this help Diana develop better time management skills, study strategies and connect her with campus resources, but it also encouraged her to believe in her abilities and to reach for the stars. The following year, Diana became a peer mentor herself. While working in the position, she was introduced to even more of what YSU had to offer as far as organizations and free student resources. She was also asked to share her YSU experience on a panel to recruit nontraditional students. Diana considers YSU’s dental hygiene program to be an outstanding learning environment. The small class size gives her more opportunity for individual instruction, guidance and the chance to form bonds with peers and mentors. She’s also had the chance to visit local dental practices and learn through observation and hands-on learning. In her spare time, Diana has provided service to the YWCA, Beatitude House, Poverty Awareness Youngstown, Read Across America, Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County, and more. She’s currently president of YSU’s student chapter of the American Dental Hygienists Association and has also been involved with the Emerging Leader Program, Nontra- ditional Student Organization, Sigma Alpha Lambda and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She’s received the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award and the Beating the Odds Award in recognition of balancing motherhood and academic excellence. KAITLYN LEONELLI is a 2012 graduate of Boardman High School. She enrolled at YSU in the fall of 2012, majoring in human resource management. She’s currently a junior with a 3.96 GPA. Kaitlyn made the decision to attend YSU due to its affordability and sense of community. At the time, she didn’t realize what a good decision it would turn out to be. After spending a little over four years on campus, she now says it’s the greatest investment she’s ever made. Her YSU experience has not only helped her grow as a student and a leader, but it’s also helped broaden her perspective and allowed her to become a more well-rounded individual. In her sophomore year, Kaitlyn began serving as a peer mentor/student orientation leader and continued in the position for three years. She helped new students with registration, gave campus tours and facilitated information programs for both students and parents. To help students plan for success, she facilitated discussions on topics such as time management, goal setting, study strate- gies and stress management. She also ensured that each student was able to use appropriate campus resources and find ways to get involved on campus in order to strengthen their connection to YSU. Through this experience, she had the good fortune to meet many faculty and staff who devoted their time to the betterment of students, many of whom she now considers role models. As a business student, Kaitlyn is actively involved in Beta Gamma Sigma. She was inducted into the honorary society in 2016, which is the highest recognition a business student can receive. Kaitlyn was also awarded the opportunity to travel to Dallas, Texas to represent YSU at the Global Leadership Summit where she connected with students from all over the world. She’s a member of the Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club and the Society for Human Re- source Management as well as a recipient of the Academic Achievement Award, Who’s Who Among Students in Amer- ican Universities and Colleges Award, and the Youngstown Business and Professional Women’s Club Award. She’s currently working as a human resource generalist for Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC in Boardman. Spring 2017—page 2 Past Events YSURA Fall Luncheon The YSURA fall luncheon was held on October 25, 2016, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Banquet Center with 51 members in attendance. Our first speaker, YSU President Jim Tressel, was excited to announce the building of a commemorative park to recognize YSU’s Heritage Award recipients. Heritage Award plaques are currently displayed in Maag Library; however, President Tressel thought it was important for those who’ve received the University’s highest award to be rec- ognized in an area that’s more noticeable. Through discussions with YSU Foundation President Paul McFadden, the two thought of the idea of a commemorative park to not only honor Heritage Award recipients but also mark the 50th anniversary of the YSU Foundation. The Foundation’s board of directors then approved a $100,000 donation for the construction of the YSU Foundation Heritage Park. The park’s location will be where the old basketball courts were lo- cated on University Plaza. It’ll consist of a grassy area, sand beach volleyball court, basketball court, dedication monu- ment, and a 10-foot honoree wall with the names of all Heritage Award recipients. Many thanks to the YSU Foundation for its generous donation. Note: The dedication of the YSU Foundation Heritage Park will be held prior to the Staff Recognition Awards Dinner on May 10, 2017; see page 5 for more details. President Tressel also gave an update on the construction along Wick and Lincoln Avenues, the University Edge stu- dent apartments, and the 18,000-square foot Barnes & Noble building. In addition, he informed the group that Joseph Company will be breaking ground on the city’s east side to build four 50,000-square foot buildings to manufacture and distribute the world’s first self-chilling beverage can and other exciting innovations.