TraditionSpring/Summer 2006

Volume 1, No. 2

Penn State Lehigh Valley

One Man’s 40 Years of Service

First Theatre Production: Chekhov Vaudevilles

THON Success

THIS ISSUE

SPRING/SUMMER 2006 � VOL. 1 � NO. 2

CAMPUS FEATURES 5 A Production of Comedic Proportions

5 Donley Renaissance Scholarship Committee

6 A New Look for the Bookstore

7 A Quiet Man with a Gentle Roar: One Man’s 40 Years of Service

DEPARTMENTS 2 Insights

3 Alumni Calendar

4 Alumni Voices

6 Professors Making a Difference

9 The University Connection

10 Class Notes

10 In Memoriam

TraditionEDITORKimberly Golden Benner

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSAdam Beani, Dr. Barbara Cantalupo, Darryl Christman, Marsha Goss,Dr. Nichola Gutgold, Donna Hahn, Janice Pope, Nicole Ronco, Christina Weadon, Ken YoungPHOTOGRAPHY & GRAPHICSKate Morgan

Send Correspondence to:Tradition Alumni MagazinePenn State Lehigh Valley8380 Mohr Lane, Fogelsville, PA 18051-9999E-mail kog1@psu.edu

Printed in the USA — Tradition is published twice a year by the Offi ce of University Relations, Penn State Lehigh Valley.

THIS PUBLICATION IS AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE MEDIA BY REQUEST.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to pro-grams, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifi cations as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. The Penn-sylvania State University does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquires regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affi rmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801; Tel: 814-863-0471: TDD 814-865-3175.

U.Ed. LVO 06.1021 TRADITION Spring/Summer 2006

Chekhov Vaudevilles

7 Ken McGeary

9

THON 2006

The Penn State Lehigh ValleyNewswire

Keep informed about what’s happening at Penn State Lehigh Valley through the University’s Newswire Service. The service sends newswire members an e-mail with campus specifi c information on a regular basis. Penn State Lehigh Valley launches a Newswire update at least twice a month that keeps newswire members and media aware of campus activities and special events.

To create an account, go to Penn State University’s Newswire Web site at:

http://newswires.psu.edu/

CONTENTS

5

On the Cover:Students (1-r): Christina Weadon, Adam Beani, Lori Kapes, David Mory, Luis Candia, and Jay Thomas share a moment in the picnic area that will become The Orchard at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

A look at the world through the eyes of our very own Nittany Lion...

At an alumni event complete with a lot of little children, I was busy giving hugs and shaking hands when in the midst of this joyful and loud crowd a little boy reached up to give me a hug – or at least that’s what I thought – and he hands me his favorite book, When I Grow Up I Want to be a Nittany Lion! Clutching a pen, he asked for my autograph. Oh, what to do! I wrapped my big burly paw around the pen, scribbled my Nittany Lion signature, and sealed it with a hand-drawn paw print. All smiles, the little boy skipped away saying, “I have an autographed Nittany Lion book.” — NL

Through the Eyes of the Lion

INSIGHTS

Spring/Summer 2006 TRADITION 2

From the Chancellor Representing Penn State University in the community is something we, as University staff and faculty, do with pride ev-ery day. Whether our athletic teams are having a good year or a “not-so-good” year, whether our researchers have discovered a signifi cant breakthrough or not, or whether people are question-ing the extent of our academic freedom in our classrooms, we remain proud of the consistent quality of a Penn State education and the Penn State experience. There are always times when news media report in gory de-tail the behavioral mistakes of students, faculty, and staff. It hap-pens at every college or university and always includes headlines. Unfortunately, our media does not seem to respond with the same reporting intensity when it comes to the collegial successes. Every time something negative is reported, like Joe Pa’s com-ments taken out of context or a student doing what 19-year-olds sometimes do, the public shakes its collective head and wonders whether the University is doing its job. Let’s put things in context. If one negative report is made per week for a year (and that is a lot), that would be fi fty-two times a year someone associated with the University did wrong. If you integrate that into the fact that there are over 38,000 employees, 83,000 undergraduates, 11,000 graduate students, and more than 280,000 alumni just in Pennsylvania, then that becomes fi fty-two negative reports out of a possible 412,000 opportunities. Factor in the statistic that out of every ten decisions each of us makes, two of them are wrong, then this tremendously low probability of negativity attached to Penn State University is staggering. What about the reports that should have received headlines? Let’s talk about Dr. Tai-Yin Huang, physics professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley, who is conducting atmospheric research supported by the National Science Foundation because they see the value of her research. Or, Ken McGeary, Sandy Litzenberger, Sean Kelly, and others who developed and run a program for at-risk youth in Allentown and Bethlehem. For fi fteen years, this program has helped area youth with family problems, as well as academics. Many of these “youth” are now Penn State graduates who live

and work in the Lehigh Valley. That’s a worthy headline. Or, let’s talk about Penn State Le-high Valley senior, Jacqui Kromer, who won the William W. Asbury Award for Student Organizational Leader-ship; or Christine Weadon who received the Eric A. and Jose-phine Walker Award; or alum-nus Todd Dietrich who, when a senior at Penn State Lehigh Valley, won the Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award. These are students at the Lehigh Valley campus who, because of the Penn State experi-ence, were chosen out of the 83,000 possibilities that year because they excelled in caring about their community. Perhaps the most dramatic headline that was missed focused on the impact that Penn State has on the regional and state econo-my. Penn State Lehigh Valley alone contributes nearly $30 million per year to businesses in Lehigh and Northampton counties. The University overall contributes more than $13 billion in annual eco-nomic impact in the state. As we approach this year’s state appro-priations, let me give you another interesting fact—the University returned $1.56 in tax revenue for every $1.00 that we received in state appropriations. Here’s what the headline should have said: “State of Pennsylvania Profi ts from its Investment in Penn State University—Everybody Wins.” The fact is, everyone can win with the Penn State experience. Students, faculty, and staff can choose the best environment to work and learn in while being a part of a major impacting institu-tion. I certainly would like to see more positive headlines because there are many positive things happening. So, feel free to serve as our town crier. We hope that much of what you read in TRADITION provides you with a fl avor of the grand things that are occurring. Every day we are proud to be a part of Penn State. We hope you are, too.

Enjoy, Dr. Ann Williams

Commencement and Graduate Reception, 11 a.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville.

Lehigh County Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville.

Renaissance Scholarship Dinner honoring Ed and Inez Donley,6 p.m. at Holiday Inn, Fogelsville. $100/person. R.S.V.P. to Marsha Goss at 610-285-5039.

A Student Exhibit (April 1 – 30), Penn State Lehigh Valley students’ artwork. Concourse Gallery, Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Alumni Society Meeting,2 p.m., Location: TBA

Lehigh County Chapter Dinner Meeting, 7 p.m., Location: TBA

Student Etiquette Dinner, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn, Fogelsville. R.S.V.P. to Career Services at 610-285-5002.

Penn State Student Offer Program, 9:30 a.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville.

Body Worlds Exhibit Bus Trip, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. R.S.V.P. to Nicole Ronco at610-285-5073 or via e-mail at njm107@psu.edu. Price: $38.

Lehigh County Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center.

Mamma Mia Bus Trip sponsored by Lehigh County Chapter, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City. R.S.V.P. to Darryl Christman by March 1 at 610-760-8839 or e-mail at dmcpsu@enter.net. Price: TBA.

Penn State Student Offer Program, 9:30 a.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville.

Reality Depends: Photographic Exhibit by Dr. Kevin Kelley(Feb. 6 – 28). Concourse Gallery, Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Chekhov Vaudevilles: Four One-Act Comedies by the Russian Master (Feb. 23 – 25), 8 p.m., IceHouse Performing Arts Center, Bethlehem. A Penn State Lehigh

Valley theatrical production. Tickets at the door: Adults–$15; Penn State Alumni

and Senior Citizens–$12; Students–$6.

LION SIGHTING — Family Bowling, 5 - 7 p.m. at Emmaus Bowling Center. Free. An evening of bowling and refreshments. R.S.V.P. to Nicole at 610-285-5073 or njm107@psu.edu.

Through A Woman’s EyesExhibit (March 1 – 31), features photographs and artwork by area women. Concourse Gallery, Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Chekhov Vaudevilles: Four One-Act Comedies by the Russian Master (March 2 – 4), 8 p.m., IceHouse Performing Arts Center, Bethlehem. (Details above.)

Alumni Society Meeting,2 p.m., Location: TBA

Great Jazz Divas, 12 noon, Atrium, Penn State Lehigh Valley. Featuring jazz and pop standards.

3 TRADITION Spring/Summer 2006

ALUMNI CALENDAR

FEBRUARY MAY (continued)

JUNEAlumni Society Meeting,2 p.m., Location: TBA

Jack Cooney Scholarship Golf Outing, sponsored by Lehigh County Alumni Chapter at Moselem Springs Golf Club. Contact: Don Klein at 610-395-7933.

APRIL

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16

11 918

13

MARCH

2

6

23

25

MARCH (continued)

12

25

20

23

1

MOMMA MIA!

123

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JULYAlumni Society and Lehigh County Chapter Picnic, 1 p.m., Emmaus Community Park. Free. R.S.V.P. to Nicole Ronco at610-285-5073 or njm107@psu.edu.

Lehigh County Chapter Picnic Meeting, 7 p.m., Location: TBA

16

18

22

AUGUSTAlumni Society Meeting, 2 p.m., Location: TBA

Lehigh County Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Fogelsville.

Phil Grosz Nite, sponsored by Lehigh County Chapter, 6 p.m., Days Inn, Rts. 22 and 309. Contact:Dale Greenzweig, 610-266-1416.

15

30

13

21

MAYBest of the Valley Art & Poetry Exhibit (May 1 – 26). Concourse and Library Wing Galleries, Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Alumni Society Meeting,2 p.m., Location: TBA

1

21

Spring/Summer 2006 TRADITION 4

ALUMNI VOICES

Lehigh County Chapter Be a part of the Penn State Family. Become a member of the Lehigh County Chapter of Penn State. Our chapter hosts numerous events throughout the year including bus trips to athletic events, golf outing, speakers, happy hour/ social events, and other activities that benefi t our local community. Membership also entitles you to receive our newsletter that keeps you informed about chapter events. Members get fi rst priority when reserving seats for trips to athletic events and for our ticket exchange. All alumni and friends of Penn State are welcome to join. Best of all, it only costs $10.00 per year to join! Any questions about our chapter can be directed to chapter president Darryl Christman at 610-760-8839 or via e-mail at dmcpsu@enter.net. Visit our Web site at www.psualum.com/chapter/lehighcounty for more details on joining our chapter and for further event information.— DC

Ridge Avenue Alumni Penn State Lehigh Valley is Penn State’s oldest continuously operating campus outside of University Park. In 1948 after growth of technical courses, Penn State opened its fi rst full-time day technical institute at Allentown’s McKinley School building. In 1952 Penn State purchased a building at 725 Ridge Avenue and the Penn State Allentown Center continued to grow. The new building had enough space to offer two-year programs in engineering. Between 1955 and 1974, the Penn State Allentown Center at Ridge Avenue educated 682 graduates from the associate engineering programs in drafting and design technology and electrical engineering technology. The Ridge Avenue Alumni APG is composed of alumni from those years at Ridge Avenue. We are committed to honoring these alums and helping them continue to be involved and active in Penn State Lehigh Valley’s future. The fi rst graduates of Ridge Avenue from 1955 are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. We congratulate those early alumni: Joseph E. Bondy, Kent R. Boyer, Arthur F. Crow, Robert B. Dailey, John E. Foresman, Jr., Richard L. Frank, Harry Friedland, Robert P. Gumo, David F. Harwick, Erwin R. Hendricks, Robert V. Herd, Dale L. Kleintop, Joseph J. Kovic, Charles F. Pechacek, Daniel C. Postupack, Karl G. Repsher, Ralph W. Seaton, Jr., John D. Weinhold, and Roger L. Williams. For more information about Ridge Avenue, please contact Nicole Ronco, njm107@psu.edu, 610-285-5073.— KY

Mark your calendar!!!

Jack Cooney ScholarshipGolf Outing

sponsored by the Lehigh County Alumni Chapter

June 26Moselem Springs Golf Club

Fleetwood, PA

The 1955 graduating class from Penn State Allentown, Ridge Avenue

Become Active in a Penn State Alumni Chapter or Society

All area alumni are invited to become a part of any of the alumni groups in the Lehigh Valley. Each group has its own events and special programs. Check out which group best suits your interests. Go to the Penn State Lehigh Valley Alumni Web site at:

http://www.lv.psu.edu/alumni/alumni.asp

5 TRADITION Spring/Summer 2006

Donley Renaissance Scholarship DinnerCommittee Named

A Production of Comedic Proportions Theatre Group Presents Chekhov Vaudevilles:Four One-Act Comedies by the Russian Master

AROUND CAMPUS

Comedy is the bill of fare at Penn State Lehigh Valley with the production of Chekhov Vaudevilles: Four One-Act Comedies by the Russian Master, featuring four of Anton Chekhov’s best-loved comedies: The Bear, The Proposal, and The Jubilee, as well as his treasured comic monologue, On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco. Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. on February 23, 24, and 25, and March 2, 3, and 4 at the historic IceHouse Performing Arts Center, Sand Island, Bethlehem. The cast features students from Penn State Lehigh Valley along with Penn State alumni and outstanding performers recognizable from their work on area community theatre stages. Penn State Lehigh Valley students cast in the production include Erik Omdalen and Becky Hawk, both of Allentown; and Tessa Kashuba, of Macungie. Brad Madden, Whitehall native and former Penn State Lehigh Valley student

will appear in a major role in the production. The cast also features veteran performers well known to theatre audiences in the Lehigh Valley area including Carole Silvoy, Kindall Goble, Dan Sigley, Jerry Brucker, Nancy Mikkelsen, and Alan Allegra; as well as Parkland High School senior, Frances Klapac of Fogelsville.

Stage manager for the production is Lehigh Valley native and Penn State Berks staff member, Courtney Russell. The production lighting designer is Tony Galanti (’02, BFA, Theatre Arts), a Penn State Lehigh Valley alumni who graduate from the

Penn State University School of Theatre. Assistant stage managers are Penn State Lehigh Valley students, Joseph Haines, Corey Dweck, and Mercedes Pereira, all

of Allentown. Janice Pope, director, is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Penn State Berks and Penn State Lehigh Valley. In addition, she serves on the administration of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region II. Her Penn State Berks and Penn State Lehigh Valley directing credits include On the Verge, Story Theatre (invited scene 2002 Region II Festival), Nightmares a la Durang: Six One-Act Comedies by Christopher Durang, Chamber Music, and her original adaptation of Little Women.—DH

Erik Omdalen, Alan Allegra, and Franny Klapac (l - r) rehearse theone-act farce, “The Proposal.”

John V. (Jack) Cooney, CEO Emeritus of Penn State Lehigh Valley, has accepted the position of Chairperson of the Donley Renaissance Scholarship Dinner Committee. Ed and Inez Donley, two of our region’s leading citizens, will be honored as the Penn State Lehigh Valley 2006 Renaissance Man and Woman of the Year on May 23 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. All pro-ceeds from the dinner will establish scholarships in the Donleys’ names to be awarded to Lehigh Valley students attending Penn State University. The following individuals are also serving on the committee: Tim Holt and Kassie Hilger, both from Air Products & Chemi-cals; Jan Armfi eld, Wachovia; Lee Butz, Alvin H. Butz Co; Curtis Barnette, Chair Emeritus, Bethlehem Steel; Jack Bradt, Hamil-ton Business Center; Attorney Martin Cohen, Cohen & Feeley; Jane Ervin; Elmer Gates, Embassy Bank; Kostas Kalogeropoulos,

Meyer Jabara Hotels; Attorney Don S. Klein, Pavlack & Klein, P.C.; Kathie Leslie, Lutron Electronics Co.; L. Charles Marcon, Duggan & Marcon, Inc.; Harry McGuirk, National Penn Bank; Don and Doug Patt, Patt-White Co., Kathryn Stephanoff, Allen-town Public Library. For more information regarding participation in the dinner and scholarship program or to request an invitation, please contact Marsha Goss at the campus at 610-285-5039 or mag34@psu.edu. —MG

Spring/Summer 2006 TRADITION 6

Professors Making a DifferenceDR. JACQUELINE McLAUGHLIN, assistant professor of Biology, who developed and directs the international professional development program, CHANCE, won the 2005 “Bringing the World to Pennsylvania” award from the The Pennsylvania Council for International Education. This prestigious

award supports and gives visibility to international/multi-cultural collaborative projects between K-12 and higher education institutions in the state of Pennsylvania. McLaughlin and two of her 2004 CHANCE fellows – Rosemarie O’Neill and Andrea Ferraco – presented: “CHANCE - A Program that Promotes Learning for Teachers and Students Using Inquiry” at the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 5-9, 2005. McLaughlin was also promoted to the vice-chair position of The National Association of Biology Teachers.

DR. NICHOLA GUTGOLD, assistant professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, presented ‘Just Like Azaleas in the Spring’: The Autobiography of Elizabeth Dole at the National Communication Association Conference in Boston, November 17-20, 2005. This paper has since been accepted as a chapter in Contemporary Women and Autobiography, Brenda DeVore Marshall and Molly Mayhead, editors, from Rowman and Littlefi eld. In addition, Gutgold recently received a contract for her book, Women’s Road to the White House: Five Who Paved the Way, from Lexington Press.

DR. DAVID LIVERT, assistant professor of Psychology, and Penn State Lehigh Valley student HEATHER STOPP (’06 Applied Psychology, Schreyer Scholar) presented to the International Studies Program at Penn State, University Park, November 18, 2005, during International

Education Week. Their presentation entitled: What Makes for a Positive Experience Abroad? was based on their longitudinal study of Penn State education abroad students. — NG

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Bookstore – a staple at every university campus – has always offered a variety of items that would warm the heart of any Penn Stater. From Penn State stuffed Nittany Lions and T-shirts to notebooks and textbooks – it can all be found in the store which is operated by Barnes & Noble. Today, the Penn State Lehigh Valley Bookstore has even more. The walls are lined with new Penn State pants, jackets, scarfs, socks, shorts, and hooded sweatshirts. A new line of giftware featuring footballs, cups, frisbees, gym bags, book bags, water bottles, golf balls, and much more line the shelves. There are more items and Penn State paraphernalia featured in a new shopper-friendly layout. The changes to the bookstore can be attributed to MaryJo Hui, new bookstore manager, and Marie Mack, bookstore clerk. This dynamic duo have been updating the bookstore to offer more products and services for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Hui started at Penn State Lehigh Valley in July 2005, coming to the campus from Barnes & Noble College Bookstores at Northridge Campus of Austin Community College, Texas, where she was the supervisor. Prior to that she worked and trained in Barnes & Noble’s management program – “The Best Seller Program” – at Camden County College in Blackwood, New Jersey. Hui’s initiatives, combined with Mack’s efforts and more than fi ve years’ experience in the Lehigh Valley campus bookstore, have led to creative changes, expanded store hours, and a presence at some area Penn State alumni events. It’s a new look for the Penn State Lehigh Valley Bookstore and every Penn Stater benefi ts. — KB

A New Look for theBookstore

Students try on a newshipment of Penn State

baseball caps!

(l-r)Bill Speth,Dr. Ann Williams, and MaryJo Hui with Penn State wares being sold at an alumni tailgate event sponsored by WAEB.

7 TRADITION Spring/Summer 2006

t is with a quiet elegance that Ken McGeary (’65, B.A., Liberal Arts) has made an impact on the Lehigh Valley community. It’s an impact that has affected and positively

changed the lives of children, teens, and adults alike for forty years. McGeary, Regional Director in the Offi ce of Continuing Education for the University, has used a kind and gentle hand to help others on their path to success. When he walked through the doors of the Allentown Campus of The Pennsylvania State University in February 1966 as the assistant district administrator in Continuing Education, no one could have predicted the infl uence McGeary would make in people’s lives – both in the community and within the University. This quiet man has spent forty years at the University creating some of the most innovative programming the University has implemented and directing the success of the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem. Since the onset of his continuing education career, McGeary’s initiatives have received public recognition and well-deserved praise from his colleagues. Press clippings from 1971 show a smiling McGeary accepting an award for antipollution seminars he led for industry and community leaders. Fast forward to 2003 and, again, a smiling McGeary is being recognized — this time with the Outstanding Leadership Award in Continuing Education from Penn State. Of course, in between those years are countless awards, plaques, and accolades that pay tribute to this visionary’s ability to not only understand what his community needs, but to respond to those needs with viable programs. McGeary was the mastermind behind Penn State Lehigh Valley’s innovative Precollege Youth Partnership program that, for more than fi fteen years, has partnered corporations, school districts, and community organizations together to provide inner-city, at-risk youth with academic and social programming opportunities. This program has been the springboard for countless others like KidsConnect (benefi tting over 90 inner-city children each year by connecting them with academic programs) and the Keystone Program (a middle-school program preparing more than 100 students for future education or gainful employment). From the Lehigh Valley Writing Project – a National Writing Project site which provides high-quality professional development programming for teachers – to workforce development and customized corporate training programs that meet the demands of the Lehigh Valley industry, McGeary has had a hand in all of it. Along with a dedicated staff, Penn State Lehigh Valley’s Continuing Education Offi ce has consistently been one of the leading, if not the leading, offi ces in generating profi table programs.

A Quiet Man with a Gentle Roarby Kimberly Golden Benner

I

Spring/Summer 2006 TRADITION 8

In his years of service, he has learned to work within the system – every system, actually. McGeary has brought together partnerships that others only dream about and has received unprecedented grant award funding that make other institutions green with envy. One Pennsylvania Department of Education grant supported McGeary’s Master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language degree program in partnership with the University of Turabo in Puerto Rico. As if all this doesn’t keep him busy enough, McGeary fi nds time to teach evening courses and even spend a moment or two with his wife (of nearly 42 years) Carol, his childen Jodi and Jake, and his three grandchildren. McGeary has worked to change the face of his community and to offer programming that would actually make a difference. He has done it with heart and conviction, with diligence and grace, and with a quiet disposition that roars above the rest.

In early 1990s McGeary speaks about the Precollege Youth Program.

McGeary (second from left) meets with Liberty Trust representatives and Dr. AnnWilliams to review plans for the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center.

Some Thoughts on Ken McGeary “Describe Ken McGeary? What immediately comes to mind is that he is one of the last ‘gentle’ men in today’s society. He has unknowingly served as a mentor to many and truly displays Penn State’s philosophy of ‘Making Life Better’ wherever he goes.He’s not bad at golf, either.”

— Dr. Ann Williams, Chancellor, Penn State Lehigh Valley

“After thirty plus years, working with Ken McGeary is still an exciting and challenging experience. He is and always has been the ‘wind beneath my wings’ and sometimes the hurricane.”

— Sandy Litzenberger, Area Rep., Continuing Education Penn State Lehigh Valley

“What I admire most about Ken is his ability to provide insightful advice. I have called on him several times to advise me, and I can truly say that he provided me with valuable and instrumental

advice that helped me make those decisions.”

— Lenny Jenkins, Social Services Director Allentown Housing Authority

“A great man who likesto think outside the box.”

— Sean Kelly, Precollege Program Specialist Penn State Lehigh Valley

“As a manager, Ken is a visionary leader. It is indeed rare for a visionary to also be a “doer.” Ken leads the charge and always encourages and inspires those that work with him to accomplish

the tasks at hand.”

— Lothar Gumberich, Management Development Coordinator Penn State Lehigh Valley

“For many people and organizations, Ken is Mr. Penn State Lehigh Valley. He possesses a unique ability to recognize opportunities and to create partnerships for the common cause of helping others.”

— Ed Murray, President and CEO Private Industry Council of the Lehigh Valley

“Ken epitomizes the servant leadership philosophy. By encouraging trust, collaboration, foresight, and ethics, he has

touched the lives of generations of learners.”

— Diane Lewis, Area Rep,. Technical Programs Coordinator Penn State Lehigh Valley

“Working with Ken means getting a bit of “continuing education” every day – from compassion to ambition to fearlessness – he

defi nes the true meaning of outreach to others.”

— Kristy Weidner-Gonzalez, Co-Director Lehigh Valley Writing Project

Congratulations to Ken McGeary on 40 Years with Penn State!

All U-Day

THE UNIVERSITY CONNECTION

9 TRADITION Spring/Summer 2006

Together We’ll Prevail Penn State Students Unite for THON The weekend of February 17 – 19, Penn State stu-dents from every campus gathered at Recreational Hall, University Park, for THON – the 48-hour dance marathon to benefi t the Four Diamonds Fund supporting families battling pe-diatric cancer. Giving it there all from Penn State Lehigh Valley were Heather Hansen (’08) and Luis Candia (’08) who spent their weekend on the dance fl oor as other Penn State Lehigh Valley students cheered them on. Every year, THON grows with an increased numbers of stu-dents, alumni, families, local residents, and donors dedicating more energy into this organization and the children who benefi t from it. Penn State Lehigh Valley is no exception – with more individuals from the campus being involved and donating to this worthy cause. THON activities began at the campus in October 2005 with a kickoff event complete with games and entertainment. Over the next four months leading up to the THON “main event,” the campus THON committee held a Silent Auction, a THON Idol concert, and several canning weekends to try to reach their goal of $12,500. The results will be formalized in early March, but a $1,000 corporate donation from Rothrock Motors in Allentown should help the committee attain their goal. — AB

Penn State Music Professor Wins Two Grammy AwardsUniversity Park, Pa. — Christopher Kiver, assistant professor of music and director of the Glee Club and Chamber Singers, won two Grammy Awards during the annual ceremony February 8 for his involvement in the recording of “Songs of Innocence and Ex-perience,” a massive choral/orchestral work composed by William Bolcom and released by Naxos. As one of the choir directors for the recording, Kiver was eli-gible for and won for Best Choral Performance and Best Classical Album. “Songs of Innocence and Experience” also received the Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. The recording was made from a live performance in the Uni-versity of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor in April 2004. At the time, Kiver was a doctoral student in choral conducting at the University of Michigan, and as a graduate assistant was re-sponsible for directing the 120-voice University Choir. Kiver said, “When you embark upon any musical project, thoughts of awards are the furthest thing from your mind. I just feel honored to have been part of the experience.”

photo by Annemarie Mountz

On October 1, 2005, Beaver Stadium was packed with the usual crowd as the Penn State football team played the University of Minnesota. In the stands that day were students from each Penn State University campus as part of All U-Day — a day set aside for all students to come together with alumni and fans to enjoy game-day festivities. Above, Penn State Lehigh Valley students, Heather Hansen (’08) and Jacqui Kromer (’06), show off the cam-pus banner.

Heather L. (Hahn) Parker, ’97, Lehigh Valley, A.A. Liberal Arts, and husband, Matthew, of Allentown, announce the arrival of their son, Chase Andrew, born on December 29, 2005.

00sChristina J. (Frey) Shoemaker, ’01, University Park, B.A. Lib-eral Arts – English, (1998-1999, Lehigh Valley) and husband, Christopher, had a daughter, Chloe Monroe, September 11, 2005.

IN MEMORIAMRobert Bruce Dailey, ’55, Al-lentown, A. Engineering, recent-ly died at the age of 87. Formerly of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, he leaves behind his wife, Rose.

Joseph L. Jakubco, ’57, Al-lentown, A. Engineering, 72 of Bethlehem Township, passed away on November 10, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Marie, and daughter, Joanne.

CLASS NOTES

Spring/Summer 2006 TRADITION 10

60sRobert A. Schneck, ’60, Allen-town, A. Engineering – Drafting Design, is retired from Rexroth Corp. in Bethlehem, PA. He re-sides in Bethlehem with his wife, Alana.

90sZ. Candi Staurinos, ’97, Uni-versity Park, B.A. Communi-cations – Advertising/Public Relations, (1994-1995, Lehigh Valley) is Senior Marketing As-sociate at Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University. Previously with Edelman Public Relations, she worked in the Times Square offi ce as an account executive.

Ann Marie Yurish, ’99, Univer-sity Park, B.A. Communications, currently is the assistant director of public relations at LifePath in Bethlehem, PA.

00sElizabeth S. Marshall, ’00, Uni-versity Park, B.A. Liberal Arts –Psychology, (1996-1998, Lehigh Valley) received her master’s de-gree in Business Administration in December from Baruch Col-lege, CUNY, and is now working as a full-time human resource management consultant at Buck Consultants in New York City.

Benjamin A. Wagaman, ’00, University Park, B.S. Computer Science, (1997-1998, Lehigh Valley) is a web technologist/de-veloper with Campus Crusade for Christ in Orlando, FL, where he resides with his wife, Kelly.

Alair A. Altiero, ’01, Lehigh Valley, B.A. Applied Psychology, is enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Industrial–Organizational Psy-chology through Capella Uni-versity. She lives and works in Delaware.

Stacey (Peters) Heller, ’01, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business, resides in Bernville, PA., with husband, Glenn. She currently works for the School House Bak-ery in Kempton, PA.

Murtaza S. Jaffer, ’02, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business, of Allen-town, is Director of Marketing for Citiprint of Allentown and Express Business Center (EBC) of Trexlertown.

Katrina (Bird) Xander, ’03, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business – Marketing/Management, earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementa-ry Education at East Stroudsburg University. Currently, she is the admissions counselor at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA. She resides in Lehighton with husband, Brian.

Anthony J. Fatebene, ’03, Le-high Valley, B.A. Applied Psy-chology, has applied to a Ph.D. program in Psychology at Seton Hall University.

J. Alexander Kent, ’03, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business, has been a management analyst/NFC secu-rity offi cer for the U.S. Depart-ment of Justice, Civil Division, in Washington, D.C. for the past two years.

Todd C. Gehris, ’04, Berks-Le-high Valley, B.S. Science, ’02, Lehigh Valley, A.A., is work-ing as a forensic scientist in the DNA lab at the Bethlehem State Police Barracks.

Daniel A. Hausmann, ’04, Uni-versity Park, B.A. Communica-tions – Journalism, (2001-2002, Lehigh Valley) is a producer at Blue Ridge TV-13, Stroudsburg, PA.

Marta I. Pira, ’04, Lehigh Val-ley, B.S. Business – Marketing/Management, is the evening/weekend coordinator at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Corporate Learning Center in Bethlehem, PA.

Elizabeth A. Zemyan, ’04, University Park, B.A. Commu-nications, (2001-2002, Lehigh Valley) of Allentown has joined the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau as a market-ing assistant. She previously was a marketing assistant with Paul Frederick Menstyle, Fleetwood.

Jonathan Lee, ’04, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business Admin-istration, is a foreign exchange dealer for Forex Capital Markets in New York City.

Jamie S. Ward, ’05, University Park, B.S. Business Administra-tion, (2002-2003, Lehigh Valley) is employed by the Greater Le-high Valley Chamber of Com-merce as an executive assistant.

ENGAGEMENTS

00sMurtaza S. Jaffer, ’02, Lehigh Valley, B.S. Business, has be-come engaged to Farzana Esmail of Toronto, Canada. A Septem-ber wedding is being planned. Jaffer resides in Allentown, PA.

BIRTHS

80sJackie S. Curly, ’89, University Park, B.S. Electrical Engineer-ing, and Mary-Theresa Ka-trishen, ’89, University Park, B.S. Business Administration, announce the birth of their son, Jacques Martin Curley-Katrish-en, on September 17, 2005.

90sKevin S. Brobst, ’95, University Park, B.S. Business Administra-tion – Accounting, and wife, Molly, welcomed their son, Brendon Scott, on July 1, 2005. They reside in Drums, PA.

Steven S. Snyder, ’96, Uni-versity Park, B.S. Liberal Arts – Adm. Justice, and wife, Mi-chele, became the proud par-ents of a son, Chase Joseph, on March 3, 2005. They reside in Schnecksville, PA.

Timothy J. Campion, ’97, Uni-versity Park, B.A. Engineering, (1994-1995, Lehigh Valley) and Denise (Ruckle) Campion, ’95 University Park, B.S. Business Administration, (1992-1993, Le-high Valley) announce the birth of son, Jake, born August 25, 2005.

Be Part ofTradition!

We would like to hear from you. Whether you

attended Penn State Lehigh Valley or are a Penn Stater living in

the area — let us know what’s new in your life.

To submit information for Class Notes, go to the Penn State Lehigh Valley

Alumni Web site at:

www.lv.psu.edu/alumni/

and click on “Update Your Class Notes.”Include a picture by

sending it via e-mail to kog1@psu.edu.

Be part of history and leave your mark in The Orchard at Penn State Lehigh Valley – a formal garden featuring foliage and fl owers amid brick walkways and seating areas. This student-driven initiative will be fi lled with bricks, pavers, stepstones, and capstones engraved with lasting tributes for future Penn Staters and visitors to view. Donors can have a commemorative marker engraved in memory or honor of a beloved relative or friend; give it as a birthday or graduation gift; or engrave it with their name or business. Four types of commemorative markers are available: Brick (3” x 6”) three lines of type, twelve characters at $100 Paver (6” x 6”) three lines of type, twelve characters at $150 Stepstone (6” x 9”) three lines of type, twelve characters at $250 Capstone (16” x 14”) four lines of type, twenty characters at $1,000

Brick orders can be ordered online at www.lv.psu.edu/bricks or by calling 610-285-5018.

Penn State Lehigh Valley8380 Mohr LaneFogelsville, PA 18051-9999

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. Postage

P A I DPermit No. 166

Lehigh Valley, PA

The Orchard