News and Views Fall 2003. - Slippery Rock University

NEWS & VIEWS
www.SRU.edu
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Slippery Rock
University Named
One of 98 Great
Schools to Consider
The nationally respected
Princeton Review has named
Slippery Rock University one of the
98 best universities in the nation’s
six-state, mid-Atlantic region, which
includes Delaware,
Maryland,
Virginia,
Washington,
D.C., West
Virginia and
Pennsylvania.
“Princeton Review’s ranking are
considered especially important
because of the influence current
students have on the rankings,”
said Interim President Robert
Smith. SRU students reported that
the environs of the university
“provides an academic setting for
those serious about learning,” and
they praised the small classes sizes
and “excellent tutoring center, the
writing center and resident hall study
groups.” The review also reported a
“marked friendliness pervades the
Slippery Rock atmosphere.” “To have
us included in this list, with some
very big names, is certainly
something our entire campus
community and alumni can be
proud of,” Smith said.
International Alumni Newsletter
Office of International Initiatives
Volume 11 Issue 2 Fall 2003
Editor: Pam Frigot, Int’l Student Advisor
ALUMNI FEATURE –
Catching up with Katherine Rideg
“Thrilled to be doing what she loves!” Those words best sum up Katherine
Rideg’s view of her life at the moment. Many people and experiences have
contributed to this enviable position in life, and SRU is prominently included.
Katherine grew up speaking both Portuguese
and English and she decided to come to Slippery
Rock University after spending a couple of years
working and looking into Brazilian universities.
Her interest has always been special education but
the area of special education was not yet being
explored at that time in Brazil and the need for it
was, and still is, great. SRU was represented at her
high school college fair and was recommended as
an excellent choice for special education by several
different people. Fortunately, the programs that SRU offered for international
students and the courses matched her interest. She considers her choice of SRU
to be “one of my best decisions yet.” While at SRU, Katherine was active in the
Internations Club as president as well as in intramural sports.
(Continued on page 2)
SRU’s Finest International Students
Honored at Scholarship Reception
April 25, 2003 was a great day to celebrate on the SRU campus as three
international students were honored with scholarships for the upcoming
academic year, and two additional students were honored with the
International Student Recognition Award.
The International Student Recognition Award began in 1995 as a means
to acknowledge their unique and diverse contributions to SRU. Up to three
awards are made each spring, with recipients receiving $50., a commemorative
certificate, and their name permanently on display in the International
Initiatives Office. For the 2002-03 Academic Year, Nimra Joyappa, India, and
Madeliene Atzeva, Bulgaria, were honored. Nimra, a senior psychology major,
has been an officer for the Internations Club, works in the Student Accounts
Office, and interned in the Social Services Office of Butler County.
Madeliene, pursuing her second SRU degree, is now in the Physical Therapy
Program, and is involved as a tutor, in the All Saints Student Ministry, and as
(Continued on page 3)

New Home
Recently, the International Initiatives
Office moved from Eisenberg
Classroom Building to the newly
renovated Carruth Rizza Hall. The
office is located in room 114. Carruth
Rizza Hall was originally built in 1900
as a state-of-the-art Model School.
As a Model School, the facility
originally served as the school building
for the Slippery Rock community as
well as a training school for those
studying to be teachers at Slippery
Rock Normal School, today’s Slippery
Rock University. Built at a cost of
$27,000, the two-story, buff brick
building served elementary through
high school students in the Slippery
Rock area while providing
opportunities for those studying to be
teachers, to both observe and to
undertake student-teaching responsibilities
as was the custom of the day.
When a Laboratory School, now SRU’s
McKay Education Building, was built,
the Model School facility became
another university classroom building
and formerly housed the Art Department.
A generous gift of $2.5 million from
Mrs. Ethel Carruth enabled the massive
restoration project. Mrs. Carruth of
Houston, Texas, is mother and motherin-law
to the building’s new namesakes
who are retired SRU faculty. The Rizzas
are professors emeritus at SRU having
52 years of combined service. Dr.
Carolyn Rizza, who retired in 1998,
was a professor of geography and
environmental studies, and Dr. Paul
Rizza, who retired in 1999, was a
professor of sociology, anthropology
and social work.
The restored building also serves as
the home for the Department of
Modern Languages and Cultures.
Maltby Avenue entrance to Carruth Rizza Hall.
Alumni Feature (Continued from page 1)
Katherine has many fond memories of SRU. She will never forget the first day
that she arrived, walked into the international office and met Pam. She felt that the
welcome that she received at SRU was unlike any other she could have received
elsewhere. From the start the support that was given was fantastic. She remembers
the first orientation, being swept into activities immediately, forgetting all shyness
and meeting wonderful people that, whether she is still in touch with or not, will
always be a part of her life. She had a wonderful time getting to know Pittsburgh,
going ice skating, and playing paintball. She especially remembers waking up at 5
am to go shopping for the international dinner, which was one of Katherine’s
favorite events every year.
Academically, Katherine doesn’t think she could have asked for more. She
remembers all of her professors with fondness, especially those who, like Dr. Grant,
pushed her and made her search for answers. The opportunity to work in the lab
school was a life changing experience where she learned that simplicity, openness,
love and honesty take one to extraordinary heights, and highs. It is hard for
Katherine to pinpoint any one favorite fond memory of SRU. There were many
memorable events, and the people that she met at SRU are some of the most
amazing people she ever met, who gave her much more than memories to live on.
Katherine graduated from Slippery Rock 1998 with a BA in Special Education.
Katherine has been working full time since 2000 at a Brazilian school called Pueri
Domus, where she and her colleagues have been planning and implementing an
American curriculum. In Brazil there are many American and international schools,
but not many bilingual ones. She feels that she is fortunate to also have the
opportunity to work with special education in a more American kind of way as her
classes have several students with disabilities. Sometimes she finds it frustrating to
work in Brazil with special education because the ideas, which are prevalent in the
U.S., are just beginning to be explored now in Brazil. Unfortunately, education in
Brazil is still not recognized the way it should be, especially special education.
However, it is good to know that in a tiny way she can make a difference within her
school and community. Katherine also works as a special education consultant to
other schools and individuals whenever she has the chance. She is thrilled to be
doing what she loves and she says that she doesn’t know how many people can
actually say that. She also feels that she is very lucky to be able to be in the
classroom and also participate in a curriculum planning process.
Katherine is happily single and enjoying her nephews for the time being. In
her spare time, she jogs on a regular basis and has her sights on a marathon. This is
new for her and she began serious training in the beginning of October! She also
enjoys reading and she tries to get out of town to the beach or countryside as often
as possible.
Since graduating in 1998, Katherine has been trying to get to know Brazil better.
Even though she had traveled around Brazil quite a bit before, since she has been
back she has been discovering the tremendous diversity, and the needs, of the
country in the other regions she did not know. She finally got to go to England and
Scotland, including the Orkney Islands, which Katherine says “was an unbelievable
experience”! Unfortunately, time did not allow her to get to Ireland. She is looking
forward to a special “only Ireland” trip in the future.
Katherine recently moved into a lovely little apartment close to work. After two
and a half years of driving sometimes up to two hours in traffic, she is now a 15-
minute walk away from work!!! As far as the future is concerned, Katherine is
looking into getting her masters. Hopefully by next August or September she will
be back at school. Good Luck Katherine!
2

Before
SRU Student
Donates 30 Months
of Hair Growth to
Help Children with
Medical Hair Loss
Build Self—Esteem
An off-hand challenge from a
friend headed to the Army and
facing the dreaded haircut was all
Adam Ward, a Slippery Rock
University secondary education
major, needed to launch a 30-
month avoidance of
haircuts. The “growing”
ended when Ward had his
hair cut to benefit
children facing medicalrelated
hair loss. Ward, a
junior from West View,
had all but an inch of his shoulderlength
locks shorn for forwarding to
Locks of Love. The Florida-based
organiza-tion provides free
hairpieces to financially
disadvantaged children with
medical problems that have resulted
in hair loss. More than 850
children have benefited
since the group’s
inception in 1997. The
group says hairpieces
build self-esteem and
confidence.
Ward, who had not had his
After
haircut since fall 2000, hopes others
will follow his lead. He says a recent
television magazine show detailing
the work of Locks of Love
motivated him. “I had about 11
inches, and as they explained it, I
knew my hair could help others.”
His stylist told him his contribution
provided enough hair for two,
children’s wigs. Those needing
additional information on Locks of
Love should contact:
www.locksoflove.org
DONORS AND SCHOLARS: (from left) Sibil Akcambazyan, Stan Kendziorski, Shafraz Branudeen;
Renato Cardoso, Dr. Carol Holland.
Scholarship Reception (Continued from page 1)
a volunteer at a variety of health related agencies in the local area. Madeliene’s
undergraduate major was biology.
Competition for the Stan Kendziorski International Student Scholarship
was unbelievably difficult this past year because of the large number and
highest quality of applicants. After hours of individual review, and even more
hours of committee discussion, it was decided to split the award between two
very deserving students. This scholarship is designed for a well-rounded
international student, with significant contributions to both the academic and
student life of SRU
For Fall 2003, Mohamed Shafraz Branudeen, Sri Lanka, will attend SRU
tuition free. Shafraz, an information technology major and information
science minor, maintains a 3.82 cumulative QPA. He has co-authored a
variety of academic articles, has worked as a computer lab assistant and
international student orientation assistant, serves as a Computer Science
Mentor, has been an officer in the Computer Technology Club and Internations
Club, and is the webmaster of the International Initiatives Website.
Sibil Akcambazyan, Turkey, is the spring 2004 recipient. Sibil is a dual
accounting and economics major, with a 3.58 cumulative QPA. Her diverse
interests and activities include serving as a tutor, a volunteer for Special
Olympics, a member of the SRU women’s volleyball team, and a member in a
variety of business related organizations.
Also in appreciation of the contributions that international students bring
to the SRU campus, and in recognition of the challenges of study in a foreign
country, Dr. Carol Holland, Assistant Professor in the University’s Counseling
Center, has established an additional scholarship. The Carol Holland
Scholarship will award $1000at annually to a full-time international student
who has earned a minimum of 64 credits at SRU, with a demonstrated
financial need and a progressively improved academic standing. The 2002-
2003 recipient was Linda Ochieng, Kenya, community health major and
gerontology minor. For 2003-04, Renato Cardoso, Brazil, will receive the
award. Renato is a dual communication and theatre major.
Sincere congratulations to these students for their accomplishments, and
a heartfelt thanks to Stan Kendziorski and Carol Holland for their
generosity. Remember that contributions to scholarship opportunities for
our students are always welcome. Contact Pam for further information.
3

Reunion 2003
by Pam Frigot
Prague…a city of
history, art, culture, good
food and drink. Add some
lovely summer weather and
a great group of friends,
and the result was a perfect
SRU international alumni
reunion! For those of you
who joined us from July 25
– 27, 2003, we hope that
the following is an accurate
summary. And for those of
you, who could only make
it there in spirit, please
know that you were
missed and all hope that
you can participate in
person next time!
The official SRU
delegation included
Interim President Robert
Smith, Don Kerchis, and
Pam Frigot. In addition to the
excitement of the events ahead and
the usual jetlag, lost luggage was
one of the initial adventures.
Thankfully, within half a day, all
luggage was accounted for and no
doubt all were grateful for that!
Friday night’s traditional
Welcome Meeting was held in the
courtyard of the Nebozizek
Restaurant, located in the
Malostranska area, and on a hillside
overlooking central Prague. For
those who arrived early…okay, on
time…the traditional SRU
international student introduction
and welcome to those who were not
yet friends, occurred. So thankfully
no one felt alone or that they ended
up in the wrong place since those of
us from SRU were a little late.
Unfortunately a detour of Prague’s
With Prague’s Lesser Town behind them, a few of the reunion participants break for a photo while
at Hradcany Castle.
trams caused this, but we didn’t shy
away from the challenge and
eventually figured it all out. Sharing
in the fun that evening were Wojtek
Capala (Poland, ’04), Dagnis
Dreimanis (Latvia, ’96), Juraj
Hvorecky (Slovakia ’95), Zuzana
Kleschtova (Slovakia, ’00), Matej
Kordos (Slovakia ’96), Rasto Koys
(Slovakia,’95), CK Lim (Malaysia,
’94) and his wife Siaw Hui, Vaclav
Milacek, (Czech Republic,’81),
Peter Nemec (Slovakia, ’01), Erika
Niepelova (Slovakia, ’95), Magda
Stanova (Slovakia ’02), and
Arkadiusz Zbronski (Poland, ’96).
Without a doubt, the location and
view were the perfect place to enjoy
an informal evening with friends.
And of course, the nightlife
continued thereafter for many!
Saturday morning began with a
tour of Hradcany Castle. But first,
it’s a very long uphill walk through
the Lesser Town section of the city.
So after a moment to catch our
breath, we spent about 2 hours
touring the castle and gardens,
with our very knowledgeable and
personable guide, Hannah.
Truthfully, a full day could be
spent at the castle and still not all
would be seen. So if your travels
ever take you to Prague Castle, be
sure to plan for the uphill climb as
well as many more hours than we
had to appreciate the
expansiveness of the castle!
The great summer weather
continued to be enjoyed outdoors
Saturday afternoon as we toured
Prague by boat. Unintentionally,
all of our reunions with the
4

exception of 1999 event held at
SRU have involved a boat tour!
So down the Vltava River we went,
enjoying a unique experience of
seeing the city from a different
perspective, which included a
switch from the city center to more
natural scenery of the countryside,
as well as evidence of the summer
2002 flooding. We were joined by
Matej Kubes (Slovakia, ’02) and
Akemi Miwada (Japan,’95).
After a few introductions, you’d
never know that they just joined
the group!
Saturday evening found us at the
official alumni meeting and dinner
at the Café Louvre, one of Prague’s
most historic restaurants and
billiards hall. While we opted not to
take in a billiards game, we did
enjoy a wonderful dinner of
traditional Czech food and drink, as
well as two very unique
presentations by President Smith on
SRU. The first was a humorous
introduction to SRU based upon
the film, “Lord of the Rings.” It’s
intended audience is those that
doubt there really is a place known
as Slippery Rock University, but our
group appreciated the light-hearted,
creative approach to a place many
still refer to as “home.” The second
presentation showed many of the
current projects back in Slippery
Rock, including our new home of
Carruth Rizza Hall, ECB
auditorium, and the Main Street
redevelopment project. So lest
anyone think that things never
change in Slippery Rock, President
Smith proved otherwise. Also as our
reunion tradition continues, we
were pleased to recognize special
alumni in attendance. First was the
one who’d been at SRU longest ago
(much more polite than saying the
oldest one!), and that was Vaclav
Milacek. Next, we honored CK
Lim, who along with his wife
traveled from Malaysia. Fortunately,
they’d had a few other stops first, so
they weren’t suffering from jet lag!
And last, and most certainly not the
least, we extended our appreciation
to Juraj Hvorecky who was our
local coordinator for the weekend.
After plenty of e-mails and a few
phone calls between the two of us,
we were honored to be spending
such a special and successful
weekend with him. THANKS
JURAJ!!!!! Again the evening
continued late for some, and stories
are still coming in, perhaps to be
reported at another time!
Sunday morning we met up once
again with our guide Hannah, and
experienced some of Prague’s other
unique sights. These included the
Astrological Clock, Old Town,
Jewish Quarter, and of course
Charles Bridge. To me, the view
from the middle of Charles Bridge,
looking across both sides of the
Vltava River, really captured the
magical beauty of Prague.
While we may only have seen a
very small portion of one of the
world’s best cities, we had the
pleasure of doing it with some of our
most wonderful alumni. To them,
and again to Juraj, thanks again for a
wonderful experience. Let’s hope
that we can once again spend such a
wonderful weekend together again
somewhere in this world!
Slippery Rock
University’s Student
Newspaper Takes
30 National Awards
Slippery Rock University’s
weekly student newspaper The
Rocket has captured more than 30
national competition journalism
awards, including first-place honors
from the Society of Professional
Journalists and the American
Scholastic Press Association. The
Rocket was the only student
newspaper in the Pennsylvania State
System of Higher Education
recognized by the Pennsylvania
News Press Association. The Society
of Professional Journalists honored
The Rocket as the top newspaper in
the non-daily newspaper category.
In the American Scholastic Press
Association Award Program, The
Rocket took the First Place with
Special Merit Award and received
the Outstanding Sports Coverage
Award for its winter sports preview.
The Society for Collegiate
Journalists awarded 12 honors to
the campus newspaper, including
citing the on-line version of The
Rocket as a first-place recipient.
In addition, many awards went to
individual staff writers.
5

New Library
Director at SRU
Sets Goals
Slippery Rock University’s new
library director, Philip Tramdack,
will shepherd a major technology
upgrade at
Bailey Library,
including
installation of
30 new
computers and
36 laptops.
Laptops,
available for use
anywhere in the library, will provide
students opportunity for use in
study carrels or the library’s stacks.
The library is also making the
most of recent technology upgrades,
including online databases and links
to sister State System of Higher
Education libraries. Its computers
will soon be connected to the
EnCompass federated search engine
system, allowing increased
efficiency in searching catalogs,
indexes and the Internet without
changing databases.
Reunion 2004
and beyond…
Now calling all international
alumni to make suggestions for
future reunions. 2004 should
have us back in the US, while
2005 could take us to Asia.
Please let Pam know ASAP of
any locations you’d like
considered. Remember, CK
traveled from Asia to E.
Europe…so you too can plan
to join us even if we’re not in
your neighborhood!
Faculty-Student Research in Spotlight at
SRU’S Third Annual ‘Symposium for
Research, Scholarship’
The academic research work of more than 40 Slippery Rock University
students and faculty, including five of our own international students, was
spotlighted when the university opened its third-annual, two-day “Symposium
for Research and Scholarship.”
Dr. Patrick A.
Burkhart, assistant
professor of
geography, geology
and the environment,
says the annual
symposium is held to
encourage intellectual
exchanges between
faculty, students and
the public. The
presentations enhance
education for all
students by allowing
them to be involved,
Students and staff pause to review an environmental geoscience
research project.
not only in subjects related to their own major, but in other academic areas
across the campus, he explains. SRU’s expanding emphasis on research allows
students to get involved early in their academic career, and demonstrates the
university’s commitment to inquiry-based education, he adds.
The symposium spotlights campus research projects from a wide range of
academic areas, including education, technology, a variety of science-based
areas and health, among others. Various presentations examined research work
on cell changes, computer systems, kidney tissue, and ideas and methods that
can be used in a problem-based composition classroom. Other sessions
reported on research involving costal migratory behavior of dolphins, the
mental health of college students, and risky health behaviors seen among
college students, as well as the geology and geography of Newfoundland.
International students were involved in the various facets of the research
symposium. Sunil Gurung of Nepal presented research on Graphical User
Interfaces for Sorting and Searching Algorithms, while Mahesh Pun also of
Nepal presented Toxicity Determination of Sumac (Rhus typhina) and Maple
(Acer rubrum) leaf-water extracts. From Japan, Ryoko Funada offered an
analysis of A Laboratory Methodology for the Identification of Selected
Phenolic Substances, and Adnan Mahmood of Pakistan presented research on
the Classification of Practical Uncertainties Created by Either Unascertained or
Accurate Information. Shafraz Branudeen from Sri Lanka presented research on
On-demand Student Grades Check Over the Web. A complete list of the
research topics are available on the Web at www.SRU.edu/pages/5172.asp.
6

Dr. David Culp
Named New Chair
of SRU’s School
of Business
The new chair and assistant chair
of Slippery Rock University’s School
of Business have their agenda in
place: Making
their school the
best undergraduate
business program
in western
Pennsylvania. “It’s
an attainable goal,
and we have a plan that will make
us successful,” says Dr. David Culp,
a 24-year SRU faculty veteran who
was recently named chair. “Our
plan’s first step calls for earning
accreditation from the Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business, and we have already
entered what they term ‘the preaccreditation’
phase,” he explains.
In addition, the school has started a
“School of Business Advisory
Committee,” charged with
expanding contacts with regional
businesses and developing programs
that fill specific business needs.
AACSB accreditation requires
seven years, including assessment of
current programs, design and
implementation of new and
expanded programs and finally both
internal and external program
reviews by business professionals.
SRU’S Park Ranger Program
Named Best in Nation by Outside Magazine
The September issue of Outside magazine names Slippery Rock
University’s Park Ranger Program the best in the country, calling it one
of 10 “fast tracks to adventure” in academia. The program is so good Rock
graduates may soon be calling Yosemite “the
office,” the Santa Fe-based magazine,
circulation 650,000, noted in a special report
on colleges. Outside named its 10 favorite
adventure jobs and the top academic programs
in higher education that will get you there.
Other careers and universities included
environmental activist at Duke University,
environmental architect at the University of
California, Berkeley, and geologist at the
University of Michigan.
SRU has offered park ranger training for
more than 30 years, having launched its
program in the early 1970s after the National
Park Service recognized the need for additional ranger staffing. The program
includes five, three-hour courses over two consecutive semesters. The program
is based on an integrated academic model, which allows students to pursue a
degree program while in ranger training. The National Park Service and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service certify the ranger curriculum.
Graduates have found full-time employment at Yellowstone National Park,
Yosemite National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gates of the
Arctic National Park (Alaska), Antietam Battlefield, Chesapeake and Ohio
National Park, and Glen Cannon National Recreation Area in Arizona,
among others.
65 SRU Students ‘Focused On’
Community Service in Five Cities
Across America During Spring Break 2003
Sixty-five Slippery Rock University students, including four
international students spent spring break in programs offered in five
cities across America as part of the university’s Institute for Community,
Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership’s on-going “Care Break”
program. The programs are always popular with Slippery Rock University’s
international populations.
This past spring, programs focused on the homeless/homeless children
in Atlanta; human service needs in Memphis; poverty, working in the East
St. Louis [Ill.] School District to provide tutoring/mentoring; homeless
children and at-risk youth and adults, and environmental projects in
Phoenix; and human services, working with service agencies across the city
of San Francisco.
7

alumni updates
Matias Allendes: Chile ’94
Working at Interbrand, brand
consultants and delighting in his
year old baby!
Karin Anvret: Sweden ’90
Enjoying maternity leave after
the birth of her one year old son
and expects to return to work as
a Human Resources manager at
a company called ENEA Systems
AB in Stockholm in September.
Jose Luis Ayala: Spain ’94
Recently promoted to Branch
Manager of Air Logistics Group
and is now located in Madrid.
Philippe Belliard: France ’97
He and his wife are still living in
Northern Virginia (Alexandria)
and working downtown DC. His
wife delivered a beautiful baby
boy on June 27 th . Adrien was 8.7
pounds and 21 inches at birth.
Lavena (Kit-Mui) Cheong:
Marao ’94
Is pleased to be a new mom and
is enjoying her daughter, Jovita.
Linda Christensen: Denmark ’98
Has been living in Madrid, Spain
for the last 4 years and is
currently working on her Master’s
in International Relations and
International Trade.
Altantos Chuluun:
Mongolia ’03
Working as a journalist at a TV
station in Mongolia.
Singi De Silva: Sri Lanka ’01
Continues working for NASA
Peer Review Services Global
Science & Technology, Inc in
Washington DC.
Jonathan Donado: Spain ’90
Is the proud father of two girls:
Emma who is 2 years old and
Clara Marie who is 9 months.
Bente Eskildsen: Denmark ’95
Recently received her MA in
International History from the
University of Southern Denmark.
Judit Farkas: Hungary ’91
Was excited to welcome a son
named Christopher, born in
April 2003.
Olesya Govorun: Ukraine ’99
Currently studying for her
comprehensive exams and
planning to marry Jerome
Strauss, France ’99, in
December!
Alice Yioning Guo: Taiwan ’97
After graduating from SRU, Alice
returned to Taiwan in 1999 and
obtained a master’s degree in
Public Health then switched
career paths and started working
for Hewlett Packard International
PTD. Lte. Global Procurement
Services in the Taiwan branch.
She is working as a financial
administrator, managing financial
related reporting and human
resource matters.
Chika Haga: Japan ’03
Living in Osaka, Japan and will
be teaching English this year.
Birthe Hansen Segerian:
Denmark ’91
Became a mom in February 2003
when her son, Andreas, was born.
Sook Ching He: Malaysia ’97
Is currently working in Singapore
for an IT company and was just
promoted as Deputy Manager
of eCommerce & Network
Infrastructure.
Josien Heijn:
The Netherlands ’90
After working 5 years for Ernst &
Young as an IT consultant in
system implementations, she
has decided to change her career.
She will be teaching Math to firstgraders
(12-13 year olds), while at
the same time getting her
teachers degree.
Munira Ismail: Sri Lanka ’92
Is the proud mother of two girls
ages 3 and 2 years with another
child on the way!
Dong-Ho Kim: South Korea ’98
Currently studying at Garret
Theological seminary in Chicago.
Matej Kubes: Slovakia ’02
Working as a computer lab
teacher and on-line learning
coordinator for Quality Schools
International, an international
school for expatriates and
international community in
Bratislava.
Michiel Leij: The Netherlands ’92
Married Bregje Heijmans and
recently became the father of,
Boris Leij. Michiel is the Business
Unit Manager for the Unit
Application Services and has been
working for this company for the
last 9 years. He is also starting an
online wine selling company.
8

alumni updates
Peter Milosheff: Bulgaria ’02
Recently offered a full-time
position with the Revenue
Accounting Group under the
department of Finance at
Moody’s in NYC.
private practice in the field of
Orthopedic Manual Therapy
and has been accepted into the
Master of Manipulative Therapy
programs at Curtin University
of Technology.
Mourijntje Lourier Van’t Hof:
The Netherlands ’85
Working as a project leader for
the Rotterdam Municipal Port
Authorities and enjoying her
husband, daughter and son.
Henry Muoka: Kenya ’76
Currently working for the Kenya
government as an Economist in
the Ministry of Trade and
Industry.
Sukanta Nag: Bangladesh ’99
Now working for Buck
Consultants (Mellon Financial
Corporation) in Monroeville, PA
and recently married to Vanessa.
Chris Nedden: Germany ’02
Working as Recreation
Supervisor at the Marriot at
Hilton Head Island in South
Carolina.
Yan Yuen (Vincent) Ng:
Hong Cong ’02
Living in Irvine, California with his
parents and sister while working
for a medical company as an
analyst in the IS department.
Andreas Noren: Sweden ’93
After leaving SRU in 1993 he
moved back to Sweden and
completed his Bachelor’s
degree in Physiotherapy at
Lund University in 1996. Then he
spent 4 years as a Registered
Physiotherapist in the field of
orthopedic manual therapy.
In 1998 he received his Postgraduate
Diploma in Sports
Medicine from Karolinska
Institute in Sweden. Recently
having moved to Are in northern
Sweden, he is currently involved
in research projects and his own
Akiko Ohata Hassila: Japan ’91
Now married, living in Finland,
and as of May 27, 2003 is the
mom of a baby girl.
Euijeong Park: South Korea ’97
Working on the International
Trade & Investment Team for the
Gangwon Provincial Government.
Piotr Plewa: Poland ’99
Completed comprehensive
exams at the University of Lyon,
spent an incredible summer
backpacking through Singapore,
Malaysia and Thailand and
finally returned to the United
States where he has resumed
PhD studies at the University
of Delaware.
Jerome Strauss: France ’99
Recently admitted to the MBA
program at the Ohio State
University with a fellowship!
And he is planning to marry
Olesya Govorun , Ukraine ’99
in December.
Wendy Tai: Macau ’95
Works for Macau government
on trade promotions helping
foreign enterprises set up
business in Macau and trade with
China. She welcomes friends and
new businesses to Macau.
Ildiko Toth: Hungary ’93
Recently had a little girl and
named her Abigail Elizabeth Toth.
Liping Weng: China ’97
Teaching English reading and
conversation in the School of
Vocational Training of Shanghai
International Studies University
and recently was blessed with a
baby boy named Jimmy.
Johan (Isac) Widstrom:
Sweden ’80
Temporarily working on a
Broadband project in Malacca,
Malaysia. His wife and children,
Kasper, one year old and
Thelma, nearly four years old
appreciate the souvenirs of his
travels.
Jung Eun Yum: South Korea ’98
Studying at Fuller Theological
Seminary in Pasadena, California
since 1999. He recently finished
his Master of Divinity degree
and is currently pursuing a
Master of Theology. He has
become a father as well!
Abraham is 3 and a half and his
daughter is 16 months.
9

Slippery Rock University Student to
become Czech Republic’s
First Certified Athletic Trainer
Slippery Rock University
has established itself as a
leader in the preparation of
athletic trainers and has
recently achieved another
international milestone. The
Rock, which has been
training prospective athletic
trainers for 30 years, is on
the brink of sending into the
professional field the Czech
Republic’s first certified
athletic trainer. According to
the National Athletic
Trainers’ Association, Marketa
Schublova will be the trend-setting
recipient of the Athletic Training
Certification. She came to SRU
four years ago on a basketball
scholarship. She was named as a
Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference Scholar-Athlete during
2000-2001. She eventually traded
her basketball scholarship for a fulltuition
academic scholarship. She
was the first recipient of the Stan
Kendziorski International Student
Scholarship. Schublova was part of
an enhanced Athletic Training
Program at SRU and is currently
pursuing her masters degree at
Ohio University.
SRU Receives
Second $20,000
Grant from
Christopher Reeve
Foundation
For the second consecutive year,
the Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Foundation has awarded a grant to
Slippery Rock University to fund
scholarships for five students with
spinal cord injury. The students are
in SRU’s adapted physical activity
minor, a program that prepares
graduates for work with children
and adults with mental and physical
disabilities. SRU received a $20,000
“Quality of Life Grant” from the
Reeve Foundation for 2003-2004.
The grant will fund the second
year of tuition for the five students.
Last year, SRU received $23,265, the
second highest grant in the country
from the Reeve Foundation. SRU’s
adapted physical activity minor is the
only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.
We love to hear from you!
Please help us keep your records up to date!
E-mail & phone:
Brenda brenda.mckissick@sru.edu 724-738-2652
Denise denise.barger@sru.edu 724-738-2604
Don donald.kerchis@sru.edu 724-738-4894
Kelly kelly.slogar@sru.edu 724-738-2603
Pam pamela.frigot@sru.edu 724-738-2605
Mailing Address:
Office of International Initiatives
114 Carruth Rizza Hall
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
USA
www.SRU.edu
Slippery Rock University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution
A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education