Education briefs
Graduates announced Several area students were among those graduating from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania at the end of summer 2002 sessions.
Those with local affiliations receiving degrees were: Hillary Shearer of Belle Vernon, bachelor of science, social work; Sarah A. Magerko of McClellandtown, bachelor of arts, Spanish, international business; Autumn Leah Johnson of Perryopolis, bachelor of science, sport management; and Shelbey Wardman of Uniontown, bachelor of science, sport management.
Dean’s list posted
Several local students have been named to the dean’s list at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the first and second summer 2002 sessions.
They are Dennis A. Madorma of Perryopolis, Robbie R. Ritz of Uniontown and Danielle S. Anderson of Belle Vernon.
Instructor appointed
Anthony Todd Carlisle of Monroeville is a new instructor in the English department at California University of Pennsylvania.
He has a bachelor of arts in journalism from Cal U, 1990, and a master of arts in liberal arts from Duquesne University, 2000.
He has worked 11 years as a newspaper reporter with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review listed as his most recent job. He worked there for nearly three years, covering city government, police and minority issues. He has also worked for the Beaver County Times, Pittsburgh Business Times, Daily News and New Pittsburgh Courier.
Professor hired
Ralph John Belsterling of Pittsburgh is a new assistant professor in the communication disorders at California University of Pennsylvania.
He has a bachelor of science and master of education degree in speech pathology from Cal U; master of science in audiology from Clarion University; and doctorate degree in audiology from University of Florida.
Belsterling had a private practice specializing in audiology. He then worked at the DePaul Institute, a speech-language clinic.
Event kicked off
Last summer, a Geographic Information Systems and Initial Statewide K-12 Teacher Training session took place at California University of Pennsylvania’s Southpointe site, which served as the kickoff event for a long-term technological endeavor.
Drs. Thomas Mueller and Chad Kauffman, faculty members of Cal U’s earth science department, coordinated the event in conjunction with Jan Smith from Slippery Rock University.
The goal is to thoroughly train teachers in GIS and GPS technology throughout the state. This project aims to concentrate on approximately 60 teachers from training sites at Wilkes Barre University, Shippensburg University and Cal U.
Follow-up activities during the 2002-2003 school year will be created to help develop additional GIS skills and provide trouble-shooting. Six universities will collaborate to provide content, directions and follow-up support to teachers in their area. A final goal of this project is to complete assessments the following summer of how the teachers trained in GIS can effectively teach GIS technology, addressing the state geography standards and utilizing this project as a guide for future summer workshops.
Alumna featured
California University of Pennsylvania alumna Mary Beth Buchanan was featured in the November 2002 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal, a monthly publication of Meredith Corporation, New York.
Buchanan was one of 10 women listed in the nationally respected magazine’s exclusive feature titled “The Women Who Keep You Safe” by Kathryn Casey.
Buchanan was named United States Attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania Nov. 5, 2001, during a swearing-in ceremony at the United States Post Office and Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Buchanan graduated from Cal U in 1984 with a degree in business administration. She is the first permanent female U.S. Attorney in the state as well as the youngest ever to be appointed the position.
The 39 year-old Buchanan joined the war against terrorism when hijacked American Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Western Pennsylvania — her jurisdiction – Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, Buchanan has pursued leads with law enforcement organizations here and abroad.
Money raised
Students from California University of Pennsylvania’s department of applied engineering and technology (AET), who are members of the Screen-Printing Student Association and the Student Craftsmen’s Club, raised $500 to support a multi-million dollar web-press at the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF).
This is part of GATF’s renovation fund. GATF, located in Sewickley, is a technical organization that supports printing organizations. Not only does GATF go out and train industry members, the organization also supports higher education by providing student scholarships, internships, and significantly reduced prices on textbooks.
Cal U’s participating AET students raised money by providing a variety of printing services for on-campus clubs and organizations.