Garden of Cedar Celebrates 2024 Success The Garden of Cedar’s second year of operations has come to a close. The highlight of 2024 was the commencement of full-scale operations at the Garden of Cedar’s annex located at 921 Cedar Ave. which doubled the capacity of the Garden. Truckloads of topsoil were added during the Spring. Soon thereafter a distribution network reaching out to approximately 100 families was established. During summer, eggplant, tomatoes, and corn were popular. The Indigo Spoon Foundation was back on site with their popular summer lunch program. The employees of Citizens Savings dedicated their harvest to the neighborhood community. During the season we experienced growing pains as air bound and ground intruders took a liking to Garden plantings. See damaged corn crop picture. A soil test indicated several vital soil nutrients are needed for a productive 2025 planting season. Steps are being taken to discourage pests humanely. Natural compost and cow manure will be added to the soil to provide nutrients. Marywood University students designed and built several functional sculptures which will be installed at the Garden of Cedar. The Garden’s annex will get a storage shed. Quality seeds and seedlings will be purchased and the ongoing bills must be paid. Best wishes for a joyous holiday season & a Happy New Year!
Marywood University Historian to Present Free, Virtual Talk on “Victorian Vegetarians” Dr. Adam Shprintzen, a historian of nineteenth century America and Associate Professor of History at Marywood University, is presenting a free, virtual talk for the Maine Historical Society about the history of vegetarianism in 19th-century America on Monday, January 13, at 7 p.m. Dr. Shprintzen will look at the lively history of early American vegetarianism and social reform. Vegetarianism, practiced in the United States since the country’s founding, has been misunderstood and understudied, especially with regard to the early years of the movement. Through the Civil War, the vegetarian movement focused on social and political reform, but, by the late nineteenth century, it became a path for personal strength and success in a newly individualistic, consumption-driven economy. This development led to greater expansion and acceptance of vegetarianism in mainstream society. Featured in national publications ranging from the New York Times to Slate, Dr. Shprintzen is a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows. He is the author of The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of an American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. Presently, he is researching the history of the Automat and its place in popular memory. While the Zoom presentation is free and open to the public, registration is required. This program is offered as a companion to the organization’s exhibit, Maine’s Untold Vegetarian History, which is on view through May 17, 2025. To register for this virtual event, visit the Maine Historical Society’s event website: mainehistory.org/events/food-of-the-future and follow the registration link.
TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty Cohort 3 Showcases Innovative Startups During Final Presentations The latest cohort of TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty celebrated their entrepreneurial journey with a final presentation event held at Marywood University on Wednesday, December 11. Surrounded by local funders, dignitaries, family, and friends, the participants demonstrated the progress of their innovative business ventures developed during the 10-week program. TechCelerator @LackawannaCounty, operated by The Greater Scranton Chamber entrepreneurship and incubator program, IGNITE, in partnership with Lackawanna County, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and tecBRIDGE aims to cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lackawanna County by empowering tech-based startups with the tools and support needed to succeed. “You are pioneers,” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan told the entrepreneurs. “By daring to bring your ideas to life, you are not only shaping your own futures but also the future of our community. Your hard work, creativity, and determination embody the entrepreneurial spirit that will drive Lackawanna County forward in the years to come.” Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber, echoed this sentiment, “TechCelerator is a perfect example of what can happen when public and private interests come together. Under this program, the concerted efforts of the Lackawanna County Commissioners, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, tecBRIDGE, and The Chamber have now given a total of 23 individuals and business partners the opportunity to pursue their dreams of business ownership.” This third cohort featured a diverse group of entrepreneurs, each with a unique vision to address real-world challenges: Don McGowan, The Cusp Club John George, CrasherConnect Eric Farrell, EZ Fantasy Sports Veronica LaRocque, Grow with L.E.A.R.N. LLC Fred Aebli, GetMeCoding.com Justin Byrd, SelfServeMenu.com Joel DeCarli, Apex Innovations Bill Booth, trasectory The program provided participants with access to expert mentors, business development resources, and networking opportunities to refine their business plans and pitches. The event culminated in powerful presentations that highlighted each entrepreneur’s vision and progress. The Greater Scranton Chamber and The County are committed to supporting two more cohorts of entrepreneurs who dream of owning and operating their own businesses in the region.
Marywood University: Summer 2025 Sessions Begins in January Marywood University is opening registration for its summer courses in January, to give both Marywood students and visiting students an opportunity to review courses and plan ahead for summer during the holiday season. Registration for Marywood students begins during the week of January 6. Enrollment opens for all students, including visiting students, on January 9. Registration for each session is open up until the start date of that particular session. Marywood University currently offers three summer sessions for students at all levels of study, consisting of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses and featuring online, hybrid, and on-site formats. Session dates include: Summer I (May 19 – June 28) Summer II (July 7 – August 17) Summer III (May 19 – August 16); this is an extended, primarily cohort-based term. “Summer courses are an important part of each student’s educational experience, providing options to get ahead, as well as to take, or even to retake, courses that they need to stay on track and improve their grade point average,” said Leslie Christianson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Strategic Initiatives. “In the summer, students can focus exclusively on one or two classes at a time and mitigate the stress that can sometimes accompany the full course load of a regular semester.” Visiting students are welcome to enroll in summer classes at Marywood, whether for enrichment or for transfer to their home institution. Students who are planning to transfer from another institution to Marywood University in the fall can speak with their advisor about getting a head start on classes in the summer. To get more information on course subjects/listings, session dates, pricing, and more, visit: marywood.edu/summer.
EMPOWER Women’s Network Luncheon The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted its November EMPOWER Women’s Network Luncheon at The Greenridge Club in Scranton. Lisa Lori, president of Marywood University, presented on the topic of Dream Big. Dress for Success Lackawanna executive director gave special remarks at the luncheon. Register for the January EMPOWER Women’s Network Luncheon at ScrantonChamber.com.
Marywood Named “Most Engaged Campus for Student Voting” Marywood University has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, a designation that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. Marywood University joins a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions: Sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. “As part of our ongoing efforts, Marywood continues to promote civic engagement every year, not just during major election years,” said Kevin Farrell, associate vice president for the student experience at Marywood University. “With our Pacers to the Polls initiative, as well as our participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the university has made a strong statement about its civic mission to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy. We are eager to continue engaging students, not just in major election years like 2024, but in all election years, because voting is something we should consistently do.” Pacers to the Polls is Marywood’s nonpartisan campaign focused on increasing voter registration, preparedness, and turnout among students. This year, voter registration drives were held on campus and in the community, and educational efforts and events, such as a Constitution Day talk, took place. Each of the different events and initiatives held throughout the year as part of this campaign are led and managed by a task force of students, staff, and faculty members. “The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.” The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. ALL IN works to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on more than 1,075 campuses nationwide. ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students, motivating them to engage in American democracy, and instilling the value of lifelong participation. ALL IN is an initiative of Civic Nation, a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives, working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, Save On Clean Energy, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote.
Marywood University Is Celebrating the Season by “Making Spirits Bright” Marywood’s annual celebration of the Christmas season through festive programming, community service, spiritual opportunities, and student and alumni events, will begin in December continue through New Year’s Eve. FESTIVE PROGRAMMING The signature event of the Christmas season, Marywood’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, will take place in the Rotunda of the Liberal Arts Center on Wednesday, December 4, at 4 p.m. Festive music will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. The public also may view the Marywood Christmas tree during the normal operating hours of the Liberal Arts Center, Monday through Friday, from December 4 to December 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Additionally, Marywood’s campus will feature an outdoor Christmas display of the Nativity scene at the Memorial Arch on Adams Avenue, and the Motherhouse and Seminary Morgan Memorial Garden in front of the Learning Commons will be adorned with lights and seasonal decorations. Sounds of the season will be broadcast by Marywood’s award-winning, student-run radio station, VMFM 91.7, which once again becomes Christmas 91.7 and continues its traditional community gift of broadcasting commercial-free Christmas music, 24/7. Christmas programming starts on Tuesday, December 3, and continues through New Year’s Eve. Those outside of the station’s local broadcast range can stream it for free online or through the Tune-in app. Salute to Service Basketball games for the men’s and women’s teams, in conjunction with the local National Guard, will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 1 p.m. (women’s) and 3 p.m. (men’s) at the Insalaco Arena, Center for Athletics and Wellness. Some military vehicles will be on display, the team will borrow military jerseys that they will wear, and there will be a tunnel for the team to run through onto the court. Military alumni, students, supporters, and families will be recognized at these games. The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance is presenting several free seasonal concerts: 12/5 Guitar Ensemble Concert, Marian Chapel, 5 p.m.The Marywood Guitar Ensemble presents its traditional Holiday Concert by performing a diverse repertoire, including songs, old carols, Viennese Waltzes, and contemporary music. 12/5 Clarinet Choir Concert, Marian Chapel, 7 p.m. 12/12 String Project Concert, Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, 5 p.m.String students, ages 4-18, will be performing in small ensembles and string orchestras in this Holiday Gala performance. Admission is free and all are welcome to join this celebration of our young musicians. Additionally, there will be a Marywood Wind Symphony Holiday Concert at Marywood Heights, December 11, 7 p.m. The Band does this event each year to bring joy to the residents/staff of Marywood Heights. They will perform many traditional holiday favorites including sing-a-longs for the residents. Attendance at this event is limited to residents and staff of Marywood Heights. COMMUNITY SERVICE An on-campus Christmas Giving Tree service project will run from November 20 to December 6. Several Giving Trees on campus feature tags that can be selected to purchase a gift for a child in need in the local community. Gifts can be dropped off to the Office of Community Service and Social Justice in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life or the Student Engagement Office in Nazareth Student Center by Friday, December 6. Student volunteers will also collect gift donations at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4. This year’s Christmas Giving Tree is co-sponsored by the Office of Community Service and Social Justice, Marywood University Student Educators (MUSE), and Marywood Student Government Association. All gifts will be donated to the annual “Gifts for Kids” program, which is the collaborative effort of Catherine McAuley Center, Catholic Social Services, Friends of the Poor, and the Salvation Army. Contact communityservice@m.marywood.edu with any questions. SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIESMarywood’s annual Advent/Christmas Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, December 8, at 7:30 in the Marian Chapel. This will be a Candlelight Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent. This will be the last Sunday Mass of the semester. Marywood will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, its patronal feast, on Monday, December 9, with Mass at Noon in the Marian Chapel. It is a tradition of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to renew their vows on this day. On the liturgical calendar this feast is celebrated on December 8, but because it falls on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, it has been moved to Monday, December 9. STUDENT AND ALUMNI EVENTS The Student Government Association (SGA) will host the Annual Christmas Office Decorating Contest on campus. The SGA will announce winners at the tree lighting on December 4. The winning offices will have their monetary prizes awarded to the charity of choice in their honor, as follows: First Place – $250, Second Place – $150, and Third Place – $100. The SGA also is sponsoring a “Letters from Santa” project for members of the Marywood community (including alumni) and their families, who request letters for the children in their lives. The deadline for requests is December 4. For more information, contact marywoodclubs@marywood.edu. The traditional Breakfast with Santa event, hosted by the NEPA Marywood Alumni Chapter in conjunction with the Office of Alumni Engagement is set for Sunday, December 8, 10 a.m., in the Latour Room, Nazareth Student Center. Seating is limited, and preference is given to Marywood alumni. Advanced registration is required; once event capacity is reached, registration will be closed. Alumni can join the Office of University Advancement for “Cookies and Cocoa” in Maria Hall after the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 4, from 5-6:30 p.m. Also, the Marywood Alumni Association is hosting several off-campus events, including: NYC Alumni Meet Up at the Met, Friday, December 6, at 6 p.m., and a NYC Happy Hour Alumni Meet Up on Friday, December 6, 8-9:30 p.m., at Five Mile Stone, 1640 2nd Ave, New York, NY. Hershey Hotel Alumni Meet Up, at the iconic Hershey Hotel, featuring an exciting wine and chocolate pairing session, is set for Wednesday, December 11, 6-9 p.m. Alumni Gathering at the Binghamton Club, Binghamton, NY, Thursday, December 12, 6-9 p.m.
Marywood Sets Virtual Info Session for Dual Enrollment Program Academically focused high school students can get a head start on college by participating in Marywood University’s pre-collegiate program, Momentum. Courses in the Momentum program are offered at a special rate of $95 per credit, providing students with a head start on their collegiate career at an affordable price. To provide program details to students who are interested in taking dual enrollment classes, Marywood is hosting a virtual information session on Wednesday, November 20, from 6-7 p.m. Students should be ranked in the top 50% of their high school class or have a 2.75 High School GPA (80%) to participate in the Momentum program. Students can register for the virtual session at https://admissions.marywood.edu/register/Momentum. Marywood University’s dual enrollment program provides qualified high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits while completing requirements for high school graduation. Students choose from a wide variety of courses during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. Dual enrollment courses use the same curriculum, assessments, and instructional materials as other college-level courses. Momentum students are eligible to receive: Privileges to utilize Marywood University’s academic and recreational resources (e.g. library and fitness center). Free parking on campus. A Marywood University ID (This can be used for local university student discounts!) Free admission to most Marywood University athletic, musical, social and cultural events.
Marywood University to Inaugurate 13th President Marywood University will mark a historic moment when Lisa A. Lori, J.D. is formally installed as the institution’s thirteenth president during an Inauguration Ceremony set for Friday, November 8. The theme for the inaugural festivities, as well as for initiatives planned throughout the year, is “Ignite the Light.” As Marywood’s first lay president, President Lori’s distinguished qualifications, including a dynamic leadership record as Marywood’s former Board Chair and an extensive background as a lawyer, reflect a growing national trend of lawyer presidents, whose legal training and strategic expertise are highly sought in the challenging, complex climate of higher education. A proud Marywood alumna, President Lori is committed to further expanding Marywood’s scope of influence in higher education. The day of celebration will feature several events, including an Inauguration Liturgy, celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, at 10 a.m. The Inauguration Ceremony, at which President Lori will be formally installed, will take place at 2 p.m. Both events are being held at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. Marywood Presidents Emeritae, Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., and Sister Mary Reap, IHM, Ph.D., will take part in the ceremony. The Inaugural Liturgy is open to the public, but capacity regulations will be observed. Due to space constraints, attendance at the Inaugural Ceremony is by invitation only. However, both the Liturgy and the Inauguration Ceremony will be livestreamed at: marywood.edu/inauguration. There is a watch party planned for students in the Latour Room at Nazareth Student Center. All Marywood students will enjoy a celebratory lunch, courtesy of President Lori, in the Main Dining Hall in between the morning and afternoon events. In the evening, an Inaugural Gala will be held for invited guests, faculty, and staff of Marywood University in the Insalaco Arena at the Center for Athletics and Wellness, beginning at 6 p.m. Throughout the day, an art exhibit, “Highlights from the Maslow Collection,” will be on display in the Mahady Gallery and the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art. The exhibit opens on November 8 and runs through January 24, 2025. Visitors to campus on Inauguration Day are encouraged to visit the galleries in between events to view the largest and most comprehensive collection of Contemporary art in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with over 700 works by more than 150 artists.
Marywood University to Feature “Highlights from The Maslow Collection” Exhibit Runs from November 8, 2024 – January 24, 2025 As Marywood University prepares to inaugurate its 13th President, Lisa A. Lori, J.D., on November 8, the Mahady Gallery and the Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art are planning to kick off a special art exhibit, “Highlights from the Maslow Collection,” which will begin on Friday, November 8 and continue through Friday, January 24, 2025. Jim Dine, “L.A. Eyeworks”, 1982, Etching with Carborundum on 4 Sheets of Paper, 50.5×44″, Edition 17/40 Visitors to campus on President Lori’s Inauguration Day are encouraged to visit the galleries in between events to view the largest and most comprehensive collection of Contemporary art in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with over 700 works by more than 150 artists. Collected by Marilyn and Richard Maslow and originally housed at InterMetro Industries, it is now on long-term loan to Marywood University. The largest part of the Maslow Collection is devoted to paintings by newly established or emerging artists working or exhibiting in New York during the late 1970s through the early 1990s. The Collection also includes major prints and important photographs spanning the 1930s to the 1990s. Featured artists include Berenice Abbott, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Francesco Clemente, Chuck Close, Jim Dine, Jack Goldstein, Valerie Jaudon, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Motherwell, Robert Rauschenberg, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, Frank Stella, Wayne Thiebaud, Andy Warhol, Thornton Willis, and others. The Maslow Collection has loaned works to major exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC; The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC; the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA; P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Queens, NY; and the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA; among others.
