May 29, 2007 By The 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania is set for a variety of activities during the 2007 Alumni Weekend and President’s Gala, set for this weekend. On Friday, an alumni reception will begin at 5 p.m. at the Kara Alumni House, followed by a Pioneer Dinner at 6 p.m. At the dinner, special recognition will be given to the Class of 1957 in honor of the 50-year anniversary since graduation. All alumni are invited to attend the dinner. The cost is $15 per person.

On Saturday, the Cal U Alumni Association annual meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in Room 206 of the Natali Student Center.

At 11 a.m., guests will convene for the Annual Alumni Association Awards Luncheon in the Performance Center of the student center. The cost is $10 per person.

Alumni award recipients include Geraldine Jones, who will receive the John R. Gregg Award for Loyalty and Service; Dr. Roger Emelson, who will receive the C.B. Wilson Distinguished Faculty Award; Dr. Walter Sickles, who will receive the W.B. Jackman Award of Distinction; Dr. Donald R. Franks, who will receive the Michael Duda Award for Athletic Achievement; Jesse McLean Jr., who will receive the Pavlak/Shutsy Special Service Award; Michael A. Perry, who will receive the Professional Excellence Award; and Marc J. Keller, who will receive the Young Alumni Award.

The day will conclude with university president Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. and his wife, Barbara, hosting the annual President’s Gala with a “Nobody Does it Better” theme in the Grand Ballroom of the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

During the gala festivities, Armenti will present the Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award to Dr. Annette Kaleita of California, who graduated from Cal U in 1955 and taught in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department, which is now the Communication Disorders Department, before retiring in 1992.

Also being honored at this year’s gala are three current outstanding faculty members: Dr. Emily Sweitzer of Grindstone, who teaches in the Psychology Department and will receive the President’s Faculty Award for Teaching; Dr. Thomas Mueller of Charleroi, who teaches in the Earth Sciences Department and will receive the President’s Faculty Award for Research; and Dr. Melanie Blumberg of Boardman, Ohio, who teaches in the History and Political Science Department and will receive the President’s Faculty Award for Service.

Two dedicated and loyal emeriti faculty members, Drs. Dorothy Campbell of Indiana, Pa., who taught in the Elementary Education Department, and Lawrence D. Romboski of California, who taught in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department and retired in 2005 and 2002, respectively, will receive special recognition as the Emeriti Award recipients.

This year’s gala chairmen are Frank and Michele Karnash Mandell.

The 25th annual Cal U Athletic Golf Outing will take place at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington on June 4. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the shotgun start scheduled for 10 a.m. All the foursomes are sold out for the Mystic Rock course but there are still openings for the Links course.

All proceeds from this popular event assist the scholarship allotment for the 18 Cal U varsity sports.

For further information concerning any of the Alumni Weekend events, call the Office of Alumni Relations at 724-938-4418.

For specific information concerning the President’s Gala, call Ren? Brooks, executive staff assistant to the vice president for university advancement, at 724-938-5938.

And for further information concerning the Cal U Athletic Golf Outing, call Frank Bauer or Anne Malkowiak at 724-938-4351.