Education briefs
Card to speak at Seton Hill Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Orson Scott Card will speak at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. as part of the January residency for the master of arts in writing popular fiction program.
Best known for his work in science fiction, fantasy and young adult literature, Card has written on a variety of other topics as well. His current bestselling novel, “Shadow Puppets,” has received critical acclaim.
The presentation will take place in Cecilian Hall with a book signing immediately to follow. This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Becca Baker at bbaker@setonhill.edu or 724-830-1069.
For more information on the writing popular fiction program, visit the Web site www.setonhill.edu.
WCCC to host series
Westmoreland County Community College will hold its 27th annual firefighter winter seminar series highlighting “Firefighter Safety: A Pennsylvania Perspective” starting at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at the WCCC Youngwood campus.
The second seminar, scheduled Saturday, Feb. 8, will address “Rural Firefighting Operations with Class A Foam and CAFS.”
The final session, to be held Saturday, March 29, will focus on “Decision Making for Incident Commanders.”
The seminars will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the WCCC Youngwood campus.
The registration fee is $5 for Westmoreland County residents and $8 for other Pennsylvania residents. To register, call WCCC at 1-800-262-2103.
Host families sought
ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking local families interested in hosting a high school foreign exchange student for the 2003-2004 school year.
Interested families have the opportunity to select the student of their choice from student applications, family photos and biographical essays.
The students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return at the end of the school year.
For information on this opportunity to be a host family, call local area representative Tina Graft at 724-529-0664 or 1-800-677-2773. The Web site is www.asse.com.
Registration scheduled
Registration for adults and high school seniors to attend the Adult Evening Classes at the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center will be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 7-8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school in Charleroi.
Classes commence on Monday, Jan. 27. Each course meets from 6 to 9 p.m. with exception of Cosmetology that meets from 5 to 9 p.m. Computer-, health-, business- and shop-related courses will be offered.
Inspection and emission classes will be held upon the successful registration of at least 10 students, with hours to be announced.
For more information, call 724-489-9581.
Nagy inducted
Scott Charles Nagy of Uniontown, son of Louis and Clarissa Nagy, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Chi on Nov. 10.
Nagy is a junior at Robert Morris University, Moon Township, majoring in sport management. He graduated from Uniontown Area High School.
Alpha Chi, established in 1922, is a co-educational, general honor society whose purpose is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students.
The criteria for acceptance into the society are junior or senior standing majoring in any academic discipline and a minimum quality point average of 3.6.
Doctoral degree earned
Dr. Jennifer L. Mesich-Brant recently obtained a doctoral degree in public policy from the department of political science at West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.
She is a graduate of the Albert Gallatin Area School District and Washington and Jefferson College.
She is the daughter of Robert and Mary Louise Mesich of Masontown. Mesich-Brant is employed by West Virginia University and resides in the Morgantown area with her husband, Dr. Richard W. Brant.
Tolbert receives award
A local resident received a special award when Pittsburgh Beauty Academy graduated its fourth class of 2002 recently at the Engineers Club in Downtown Pittsburgh.
More than 75 graduates of all four PBA schools and guests were in attendance and special awards went to students in each of the academy’s schools for their outstanding academic achievement as well as their practical subject achievements.
Janis Diane Tolbert, upon completing the general cosmetology program, received the Top Academic Student Award from Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, Charleroi campus.
While attending PBA, she was a member of SIGMA. She graduated from Uniontown Area High School.
Tolbert resides in Uniontown with her husband, Brandon Tolbert.
She is the daughter of Mrs. Frieda Ludwig Springer and the late Howard C. Springer Sr.
Scholars named
Three graduates of Laurel Highlands High School have earned the designation of AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP exams.
Almost 14 percent of the more than 900,000 high school students in 14,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP exams performed at a sufficiently high level to met the recognition of AP Scholar.
Robert Vernon qualified for the AP Scholars with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all exams taken.
He is the son of Greg and Barbara Vernon. He is attending the College of William and Mary.
Two graduates qualified for the AP Scholars Award by completing three or more AP Examinations with grades of 3 or higher.
Elizabeth Collins, daughter of the Rev. Darwin and Rachel Collins, is attending Swarthmore College. Elizabeth Garbutt, daughter of Gary and Barbara Garbutt, is attending Brandeis University
Brown honored
Joshua D. Brown of Smithfield accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was honored during a campus ceremony this fall at the University of Pennsylvania.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is a highly selective, national, non-profit honors organization.
Founded in 1994, NSCS recognizes first and second year undergraduate students who excel academically.
Books presented
Andrea Wyman, California University of Pennsylvania’s government documents librarian and a faculty member in the department of library and information science, recently presented the head of the National and University Library of Iceland with books from Cal U’s Louis L. Manderino Library.
Sigrun Klara Hannesdottir, national librarian of Iceland, accepted the books presented on behalf of the Fulbright Commission and Cal U.
The books support the public libraries course that Wyman is teaching for the University of Iceland.
As part of a Fulbright that she received, she and her husband, Rick Wyman (Cal U professor of elementary education), and their three daughters are living in Iceland this semester.
Earlier in her visit, she handed the gift President Angelo Armenti Jr. sent to the Rector (same as university president) of the University of Iceland, Pall Skulason.
Dedication held
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the dedication of California University of Pennsylvania’s newly renovated Hamer Hall swimming pool took place.
This dedication preceded a Vulcan women swim meet against Edinboro and West Virginia Wesleyan. A men’s meet with Edinboro and Wesleyan also took place.
At the dedication, Cal U President Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. made opening remarks followed by a brief statement by first-year Cal women’s swimming head coach Ed Denny.
The inaugural 50-yard lap was swum by Jimmy Goldman, the Hamer pool designer who is from Pittsburgh.
Gill added to faculty
New to the California University of Pennsylvania faculty is Dr. Swarn Gill.
Gill is assistant professor in the Earth science department. Gill has a doctorate degree in atmospheric science from the University of Wyoming, a master of science degree in meterology from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor of science specialization in meteorology from University of Alberta.
He and his wife, Magdalena, live in California.
Romani-Ruby new to Cal U
Christine Romani-Ruby is a new professor in the California University of Pennsylvania health science and sport studies department.
The Eighty-Four resident has a double bachelor’s degree in exercise science and natural science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in physical therapy from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and certificate in athletic training from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Her experience includes owner and CEO, PowerHouse Pilates, and staff physical therapist, Southwest Rehabilitation Associates.
Her spouse is Craig, and children are Cassandra, 5, and Chloe, 3.
Professor added
California University of Pennsylvania announced Nedra Kearney-Vakulick is a new professor in the elementary education department.
A resident of Point Marion, she has a doctorate degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh. Her experience includes associate professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Her husband, Vaughn Vakulick is Monongalia County Schools clerk of works.
She has five children and five grandchildren.