FALL 2011 - The University of Scranton

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Continuing Our Fulbright Success In a banner year for an already strong tradition at Scranton, six graduates were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year. Fublrights are the U.S. government’s premier scholarship program for overseas graduate study, research and teaching. Our recipients are traveling in the United Arab Emirates, India, Germany, Malaysia and Canada. Pictured (from left) are: Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright program advisor at Scranton, and 2011-2012 Fulbright scholarship recipients Gian P. Vergnetti ’08, Philip J. Kachmar ’11, Aileen M. Monks ’10, G’11, Rebecca Bartley ’11 and Kaitlyn L. Doremus ’11. Melissa C. Beltz ’11 is not pictured. Since 1972, a total of 134 University students have received grants in the competitions administered by the Institute of International Education. For six consecutive years, The Chronicle of Higher Education has listed Scranton among the “top producers” of Fulbright awards for American students. Two More Prestigious Scholarships Our six Fulbright scholarship recipients weren’t the only Scranton students recognized for their academic excellence and merit. Abbe Clark ’12, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major, joined just 274 other sophomore and junior college students in the United States to be awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s most coveted honor in science, mathematics and engineering. She is the ninth Scranton student in the past nine years to have earned the honor. Sarah Marie Neitz ’12 is one of just 60 students from 54 colleges in the nation to be selected as a 2011 Truman Scholar, awarded to college students who plan to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or public service. A triple major of international studies, Hispanic studies and philosophy, Neitz is the eighth University student to be named a Truman Scholar in Scranton’s history and the fifth since 2000. Abbe Clark Sarah Neitz 6 The Scranton Journal Class of 2015: By the Numbers • 1,059 members (surpasses previous record of 1,034 incoming students, set just two years ago) • 80 transfer students • 200 new graduate students • 9,045 applicants (an increase of more than 15 percent from previous year) • 1,127 average SAT score • 15 valedictorians and salutatorians • 443 different high schools • 15 states • 73 legacy children • 11 legacy students from alumni couples Student Research on Display More than 50 students participated in the University’s 11th Annual Celebration of Student Scholars in May, displaying their work in poster presentations, as well as through oral presentations. Student work presented at the event, held in the DeNaples Center, included thesis research, studies conducted as part of the Faculty/Student Research Program (FSRP), results from a President’s Fellowship for Summer Research, and other projects carried out as independent study. The topics on display varied from the use of social media in the marketing efforts of Fortune 500 companies (only 49 percent used social media links on their corporate websites) to student eating habits according to gender (female students were far more likely to choose salads and fruit with their meals than males). Other research presentations included: • “Bath Salts: Proposed Mechanism and Potential Treatments” by neuroscience major Cristina Rivera ’11 of Lansdale and George Gomez, Ph.D., associate professor of biology • “Comparative Study: Energy Costs of Walking in Overweight vs. Normal Weight College-Aged Individuals” by exercise science major Sinead Farrelly ’11 of River Ridge, N.J., and Ronald Deitrick, Ph.D., associate professor of exercise science and sport • “Effects of anthropogenic carbon dioxide on the sea anemone Aiptasia pillid” by biology and philosophy double major Danielle Torres ’11 of Mountain Top and Janice Voltzow, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Biology Department The inaugural Weinberg Memorial Library Research Prize was presented this spring. Rosemary Shaver ’12, a double major in history and political science, was selected as the winner, recognizing her knowledge of the methods of research and the information gathering process, and use of library resources, tools and services. Charles Kratz (from left), dean of the library, presents the award to Shaver with Brian Conniff, Ph.D., G’80, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Bonnie Oldham, information literacy coordinator, looking on.
Get to Know Ronald H. McKinney, S.J., Ph.D. RONALD H. MCKINNEY, S.J., PH.D. Title: Professor, Philosophy Years at Scranton: 27 years Hometown: Grew up in Michigan, but came east with family during college Hobbies/Interests: Fantasy football and baseball; addicted to reading, playing piano, writing plays and walking Most Remarkable Place You Have Visited: El Salvador Childhood Hero: St. Francis of Assisi In 2010, you passed the baton as the director of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, ending a 24-year run. You have called directing SJLA a privilege, how so? To be able to work with remarkable students from the first day of school, to see them develop as persons and scholars over the next four years, and then stay in touch with many of them and their families for years to come, that’s a privilege not every professor gets to experience. If you could ensure your former SJLA students learned one thing in the program, what would it be? Only one thing? Compassion for themselves and others. The realization that we don’t have all the answers, but despite our limitations, God still works through us and others. A close second: A sense of humor and love for the incongruities of life. You have been complimented as having a “sleeves-rolled up” approach to Ignatian education. What do you think your admirers mean by that? Perhaps they mean that my informal attire mirrors a desire to go beyond a merely academic approach to things. That we’re not just educating minds, but whole persons. What does magis mean to you? The usual translation as “the striving for excellence” doesn’t work for me. I’m very wary of perfectionists. Perhaps my legendary “teasing” of students is due to my awareness of our mutual need for humility. Magis, for me, is more the willingness to find serenity in the things we can’t change. It’s linked more to gratitude than to a desire to make the world more perfect. When did you realize you wanted to become a Jesuit and why? I come from a long line of Protestant ministers in my family. Though I converted to Catholicism in order to become a Franciscan, I quickly learned that the Jesuits were a better fit for me as I went through college. Their model of the hyphenated priest (professor and minister) was always the draw for me to the Jesuits. What drew you to philosophy? Philosophy has always enabled me to be the interdisciplinary generalist I am by nature. As an undecided student when I went to college, I chose philosophy because it allowed me to also pursue my interests in science, politics, history, literature, art, theology and psychology. What is your favorite place on campus and why? No, it’s not the chapel. I’m not that stereotypical. Outside my own room in the residence hall (I’m an introvert after all), I would say my favorite place is Jefferson Auditorium during musical productions of the Liva Arts Company, the student group I moderate. It’s easy there to have a tangible feel of pride for what our students are able to creatively accomplish together. Last year, a play you wrote was performed in Baltimore, Md. Tell us about the play, and what was it like seeing it come to life on stage? I have been writing plays for a long time and was lucky to have my first play, “HAMMAR- SKJÖLD,” produced by the Spotlighter’s Theater this past summer. What amazed me most was watching the director and actors discover dimensions within the characters I created that I never “consciously” intended, but were clearly there on some level. 7 OntheCommons Celebrating World Youth Day Several Scranton students spent a portion of their summer break sharing and celebrating their faith during World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. The event, held every three years, celebrates the Catholic faith, but invites all youth, regardless of religious convictions, to celebrate. Pictured (front, from left) are: Ryan Schuster, Steph Boccuzzi, Kelsey Hassig, Elena Habersky, Jess Wiler, chaperone Maria Vital, Leahy Family Clinic, (back) chaperone Danielle Frascella, Community Outreach graduate assistant, Andrew Gentilucci, Maureen Bullis and Danny Satterfield. Family Weekend Showcases Scranton The University unveiled a new direction for Family Weekend to the delight of the more than 2,300 students and family members attending Sept. 30- Oct. 2. Intended to entertain and inform students and their guests alike with classes, facility tours, games, receptions, performances and fairs, the 2011 event was the best-attended Family Weekend to date. Chemistry Professor Michael C. Cann, Ph.D., alias Dr. MC², was among the faculty members presenting a class during Family Weekend. Dr. Cann presented “Science Is Fun,” which showcased several exciting and simple science experiments.
Page 1 and 2: FALL 2011
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS 5 FALL 2011 • VOLUME 33,
Page 5 and 6: Commencement Celebrates Record-Size
Page 7: Expanded Services to Community, Par
Page 11 and 12: Etude The leitmotif of Performance
Page 13 and 14: “To Love and Serve in All Things
Page 15 and 16: FROM THE CITY OF SCRANTON Honorable
Page 17 and 18: FROM THE FACULTY Lori A. Bruch, Ed.
Page 19 and 20: REASONS You Will Fall In Love With
Page 21 and 22: Why We Give Back To Scranton BENJAM
Page 23 and 24: Campaign Case Components Campaign R
Page 25 and 26: Fresh Faces Join Coaching Staffs It
Page 27 and 28: Royals Return Home On June 10-12, U
Page 29 and 30: Jeffrey Schimelfenig ’83 was name
Page 31 and 32: DENNIS SIZE ’76 Shining Bright on
Page 33 and 34: PAT ’89 & SEAN ’94 KANE The Bon
Page 35 and 36: SCRANTON Building a Legacy For many

FALL 2011 - The University of Scranton

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?