Penn State Scranton Launches Leadership Workshop Join Penn State Scranton for our half-day Leadership Essentials Workshop Series which can benefit you, your employees and your business. Help your team members, managers, and supervisors in today’s work environment by providing the leadership tools that will help them become a valued part of your team. Leadership Workshop Schedule – Spring 2023 WorkshopDescriptionTimeDateCostRegistrationCommunicating EffectivelyFocus on enhancing your speaking and listening skills.9 am – Noon Thursday 4/13/23 $89 discounts availableTo register call 570-963-2600Building Work RelationshipsExplores the characteristics of high quality work relationships and understand interpersonal styles9 am – Noon Thursday 4/20/23 $89 discounts available To register call 570-963-2600Developing and Retaining EmployeesFocuses on an employees continuous improvement and learning.9 am – Noon Thursday 4/27/23 $89 discounts available To register call 570-963-2600Developing a TeamTools and methods to benefits of organizations to adding or existing teams.9 am – Noon Thursday 5/4/23 $89 discounts availableTo register call 570-963-2600 *NOTE: These leadership workshops are non-credit courses. TBD = To be determined Location: Penn State Scranton 120 Ridge View Drive, Dunmore, PA 18512. Please contact 570-963-2600 for more information or to be placed on our mailing list for upcoming workshops.
Penn State Scranton Begins Library Construction Penn State Scranton’s Library Building is undergoing a $13.1 million renovation that will dramatically change both the front and back facades of the structure and include technology and interior updates aimed at making the facility a premier learning environment.Built in 1970, the Library Building also houses the campus’ nursing program labs and support spaces on the first floor, as well as faculty offices, and library spaces on the second floor. The existing nursing facilities were designed for what was then a two-year associate degree nursing program. Penn State Scranton now offers a four-year bachelor of science degree in nursing that requires patient simulation training and debriefing spaces, as well as additional learning spaces, for this growing program. The library currently serves anywhere from 250 to 400 students per day. In an average semester, students check out and use its textbook reserves over 1,000 times. It has not been significantly updated in over 50 years, and in its current state, is not capable of meeting all of the needs of the campus community. The renovation project will consolidate the nursing program into one area on campus and provide additional room for nursing faculty, teaching spaces and labs, including patient simulator labs. A new lower-level entrance will improve ADA accessibility to the building and increase the nursing program’s visibility on the campus. The library space will be transformed to make it suitable for the 21st-century student. Improvements include an increase of study rooms from two to five; a devoted quiet study space for students; an updated instruction classroom that allows for more interactive class time; numerous power outlets at convenient locations; and book stacks at heights and locations that allow for natural light. Overall, plans also call for: ADA compliant restrooms; improvements and additional space for the building mechanical systems, including the HVAC system, which will be improved in both areas for occupant comfort and energy efficiency; installation of LED lighting; a more accessible lobby area; a public elevator; the addition of a lactation room; and enhanced site connections to the campus’ walkways. “This renovation project will help grow enrollment in the nursing program, thus graduating more nurses from Penn State to help address the shortage of nurses currently being experienced in northeast Pennsylvania,” Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa said. “The library project will provide a comfortable and encouraging space for our students to study and improve access to all the resources of Penn State’s library system, helping our students to succeed academically.” Penn State Scranton Nursing Program Coordinator Justina Malinak said her department is looking forward to the facility improvements, which will help further future growth and development in the program and equip campus nursing graduates for the evolving healthcare environment. “While the library always has provided, and will continue to provide, stellar services to the Penn State campus community, this newly renovated space will help to draw students to the campus and provide current students with a more comfortable and safe space to study,” said Jennie Knies, head librarian of the Scranton campus and Nesbitt Libraries and co-director of the Commonwealth Campus Libraries. Construction is expected to be complete in January 2024. In the interim, the nursing department has moved its simulator labs and faculty to the campus’ Gallagher Conference Center and the Library is operating out of space on the ground floor of the Dawson Building. A $13.1 million renovation project will update the Classroom-Library Building at Penn State Scranton to consolidate the nursing program into one area on campus, and provide additional room for nursing faculty, teaching spaces and labs, including patient simulator labs, among other improvements. Credit: Penn State
Penn State Scranton Accounting Students Provide Services Through IRS VITA Program With tax season now underway, a handful of Penn State Scranton accounting students from Angela Bassani’s accounting courses are applying the skills they learned in the classroom by getting involved in this year’s IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program to help the local community by doing individuals’ taxes for free. Bassani, assistant teaching professor of accounting, became a full-time faculty member at Penn State Scranton in January 2019 and has had her accounting students involved with the VITA Program since her first month on campus. Now, each spring semester, her accounting students join Bassani in running the VITA Program. Bassani explained that some students who get involved in the program complete their internship credits this way, as all business majors must complete a minimum of three-credits of an internship as part of the curriculum, while others come solely to gain experience and volunteer. This is the case for two of her students, Jordan Coles and Charles McAvoy, who are current interns with VITA. Coles, a fourth-year business administration major, wanted to get involved in the VITA Program to understand more about doing taxes in a different environment and learning a new system to expand her knowledge from what she learned in her previous internship of working at a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) office. McAvoy, a fourth-year student majoring in accounting and double minoring in IT and finance, also wanted to get involved with VITA because he believes it is a great public resource. “Taxes can be tough for people and the fact there is an organization that helps people through it a turbulent and tough to grasp concept,” he said. Applying classroom concepts to a real-world environment Students learn the federal tax regulations, along with how to prepare a federal tax return in the fall semester, when they take Bassani’s ACCTG 405 – Principles of Taxation course. “In tax class, I have students prepare tax returns for fictitious families as we learn the tax laws,” Bassani said. “This helps them to understand how the financial information gets reported and calculated throughout the tax forms in a controlled environment. However, it’s a whole other ball game when students are sitting in front of taxpayers with all of the documents they brought with them.” Bassani also stressed the importance of communication. “Students need to be able to have a conversation with each taxpayer and identify the relevant pieces of information presented to them. That is one way that participation in VITA really helps to hone their communication skills,” she said. Students’ communication skills are also enhanced when they need to explain concepts to the taxpayers. “For example, a taxpayer may be confused as to why their refund is quite different than it was last year,” Bassani explained. “Students need to draw on their knowledge and understanding of tax law, which is complex, and then verbally explain it in a way that makes sense to a taxpayer that likely has little background or formal understanding of tax.” In addition to what’s taught in the classroom, students who choose to participate in the VITA Program must learn additional concepts to fully serve taxpayers, including how to utilize our tax preparation software (TaxWise), how to prepare state and local taxes in addition to federal, and how to prepare Pennsylvania property tax and rent rebates for those who qualify. Coles is excited to put the knowledge she learned in the classroom and apply it to the VITA Program, “especially to help people in our nearby communities file their taxes for free,” she said. “I think this is a great program to offer because everyone needs to file their taxes, but not everyone can afford to pay a CPA or other enrolled agent to do so for them. Being able to help out those who may not be able to afford this service while also putting my tax knowledge to use is a great feeling,” Coles said. McAvoy agrees with Coles about how rewarding it is to apply his knowledge in the real-world. “It will let me get a better grasp on concept realization in the workplace,” he said. “I believe that what my classes really helped me prepare for is that simple errors can do so much damage to a tax return,” McAvoy said. “I learned various common issues that can and will occur out there, which will help me prepare myself for VITA. VITA also showed me some new things so far in actual tax preparation via how software works to error recognition.” Our students are certified All student volunteers and intern tax preparers are certified by the IRS. In addition, every single return that is prepared is also checked over by either a CPA, such as Bassani and/or Richard Kokas, adjunct professor of business, as well as an Enrolled Agent (EA), Dillon Lukus, who has her own tax firm in Clarks Summit. Appointments are still available within Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. The first day on this current tax schedule will be Friday, February 3, so booking appointments in advance is encouraged. You can learn more about the complete checklist of what you’ll need for your tax drop-off and a schedule of this year’s appointments. “We are available at each location to answer questions and review tax returns prior to finalizing them,” Bassani said. “Based on what we’ve been told, tax return preparation fees for individual and family returns will range from $200-$600 in our area this year. We’d much rather that money stay with taxpayers and their families, especially during these times!” she exclaimed. The VITA Program is special because it offers students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom in the real world, while helping those in their local communities. – Angela Bassani, assistant professor of accounting One of Bassani’s favorite things about running the VITA Program is getting to watch her students come full circle. Professors often work hard to prepare students for the real world, but they do not always get to actually witness them in action outside of the classroom. “For many of the students, it’s their first real foray into the accounting field. They often start the tax season quite nervous and unsure of themselves,” Bassani said. “It’s a wonderful experience to watch them witness how capable they truly are and to become confident in their abilities.” Coles and McAvoy credit Bassani’s strong impact on them both in and outside of the classroom. “Dr. Bassani has had a huge impact on my college career as an accounting concentration student because she has taught me so much relating to the accounting profession, but also simply life in general,” Coles said. “It is so important to help the local population with their taxes,” McAvoy said. “Tax law, itself, is a convoluted jumble to most people with constant shifts and changes that people cannot be able to know at all times and be aware of how tax legislation can affect them in real time.” Involvement in VITA is a great resume booster VITA is a national program that has operated for over 50 years and is recognized by accounting and finance professionals in all parts of the country. “Some of the past VITA interns have gone on to work for the “Big Four” accounting firms – Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young and KPMG — in Philadelphia and New York and have shared that VITA helped provide them with so many experiences to reflect back on during their recruitment interviews,” Bassani said. “They really felt that VITA helped to set them apart from intense competition as they sought employment after graduation.” The IRS VITA program has existed since the 1970’s. About 16 years ago, the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties noticed an article explaining that many residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania were missing out on earned income credits that they were eligible for, so they decided to get involved with a VITA Program to help area residents get the tax refunds they qualify for. All VITA volunteers and interns must take exams administered by the IRS to become certified to prepare taxes with the program. You don’t need an accounting background to get involved with VITA Tanner Begin, a fourth-year student majoring in corporate communication and minoring in business administration, is also involved in the VITA Program. “I heard from my friend Jordan Coles, one of the tax interns for this year, about VITA, and she mentioned that Dr. Bassani was interested in expanding the social media presence of the program,” Begin said. “After talking with Dr. Bassani, I decided that it would be an amazing opportunity to get involved and to help out in any way that I could.” In his role, Begin has been in charge of building VITA’s social media presence from the ground up. “The organization that operates the program, the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike Counties, has their own social media following, but I’m essentially starting separate Facebook and Instagram pages that are their own entities under the umbrella of the whole operation,” Begin said. “Mainly, I design graphics and/or promotional material to be posted online or printed for VITA, or I go on-sight to take pictures and to conduct content interviews.” Begin also creates consecutive social media posts ranging in topic from educational and promotional material, volunteer spotlights, and more. Begin feels that being a corporate communication major has prepared him significantly for this role. “I feel like corporate communication covers so many topics such as techniques of internal/external communication, aspects of public relations, media ethics, and more,” he said. “I feel that my education has prepared me to be ready for anything in this social media role, and I feel that I am knowledgeable in so many areas that can lead me to be successful in understanding and growing the VITA Programs social media presence.” Begin appreciates the skills he has learned in the classroom and his ability to apply them within the VITA Program. “Learning about things like external communication or graphic design is one thing, but it’s a whole other thing to recognize and see the effects in person,” Begin said. “Seeing the graphics that I design end up in posts or in promotional flyers makes it all so much more real, and I feel like being able to apply what I’ve learned in aspects of my internship is allowing me to improve my skills further and is preparing me for success in a post-grad profession.” Begin expressed his excitement for having the opportunity to give back to the local community and being able to raise awareness about the VITA Program. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many may think that the program or its resources may not be there anymore, but my goal is to challenge this and to say, ‘Hey! We’re here and we want to help you!’” Begin explained. “The VITA Program does so many good things and saves people so much money and aggravation when doing their taxes, and I’ll do anything that I can to spread the word.”
Penn State Scranton Center for Business Development and Community Outreach Penn State Scranton has an Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Professor that is looking for businesses /organizations in our area that have a needed project that can be incorporated into his Spring semester course. The students are seniors who have completed all courses in our IST program including networking, programming, organizational processes, databases, and security. There will be about 4 teams of 3-4 students who will be able to work on a specific industry IT real world project. The project can have a wide range of employer interaction from weekly to much less frequently. The majority of the work will need to be accomplished offsite of the employer’s premises. Projects can be in web design, networking, programming, software analysis, security, business process, or other IT related topics. There is no compensation allowed as this is a class project. We have worked successfully in the past with large and small companies in our area on a wide variety of projects. We hope that we can find some great projects that can help our local businesses as well as our students. Please let us know if you and your colleagues have any needs in this area and would entertain some collaboration. Email us at ScrantonOutreach@PSU.edu The professor makes the final decision as to the proper fit of projects for the course.
Penn State Scranton Program Helps Students Get a Head Start on College Career Third-year nursing student Megan Lucey, shown here at Penn State Scranton’s 2022 Undergraduate Research Fair, where she presented a research project of her own, credits the campus’ PaSSS program with helping her become a more successful student. Every summer, Penn State Scranton offers the Pathway to Success: Summer Start (PaSSS) program, which is specifically for commonwealth campuses and designed to support students to make an early transition to Penn State University. Select campuses across the state started offering the program in 2015. Students at those select Commonwealth campuses are provided with the tools and resources needed to increase the likelihood that they will graduate and earn their Penn State degree on time, or even early in some cases, with less loan debt. According to Penn State Scranton Associate Director of Learning and Disability Services and PaSSS coordinator Eileen Giovagnoli, the program started being offered after a few years of offering the Summer Bridge program, which had an English and math academy as well as success sessions to help incoming students with the transition to college life. “Five years ago, the campus was selected by the university to participate in the PaSSS program,” Giovagnoli said. “This allowed us to expand our summer programming and to offer scholarships for summer courses and provide funding for on campus employment in addition to the well-established academic and success academies.” In the first summer they participate in the progam, students enroll in two general education classes for a total of six credits and scholarship support of $2,000 ($1,000 per class). The courses complement each other and the faculty work together to provide engaging classroom and community experiences. Some of these experiences have included field trips, guest speakers and service projects in the community. All students are enrolled in the same two classes in the first year, and as a result, they get to know their classmates and professors well. There is a tutor to support each class and students can seek assistance to achieve success. In addition to the early start in the first summer, returning PaSSS students can take up to four classes in the following summers with scholarship support of up to $4,000 total ($1,000 per class). Returning students can enroll in the courses of their choice, as long as they are a student at one of the select Commonwealth campuses. Students also develop relationships with fellow students and with faculty and learn about the resources available to help them achieve success, and these relationships turn into connections and friendships that last throughout their time at Penn State. PaSSS participants gain additional relevant experience through on-campus jobs or through funding to participate in career-related experiences or service projects. Students can request up to $2,000 in engagement funding in the second year to support them as they participate in internships, research, or community service. Students save money through scholarship assistance for summer classes and by completing degree requirements in fewer semesters, saving both money and time. They also report feeling more prepared to start college and more comfortable to take advantage of the resources Penn State has to offer. Nursing major Megan Lucey, now in her third year, said that she learned about the PaSSS program when she was invited to participate in it and believed it would have immense benefits for her. “I decided to participate because I was coming to college from an online high school and wanted to get a head start with the new class format,” Lucey said. “I thought it would be a good way to get used to college classes with a lower course load and easier environment in the summer. I also liked that it was designed to help ease the transition to college.” Through participating in the PaSSS program, students also get to become part of a learning community prior to the start of the fall semester, and one of the goals of the program is provide bonding experiences through community service projects, social programing and field trips that are relevant to the topics they are learning in their courses. Previous PaSSS classes have had scavenger hunts, ice cream socials, and trips to Philadelphia as part of their summer experience. Alvin Binu enrolled in the PaSSS program because he was offered a scholarship to participate, which is what drew him in. “The PaSSS Program offered me two general education classes, which I thought would be great to take early, looking at the fact that the major-oriented course load intensified in the third and fourth years,” Binu said. Lucey said that being enrolled in the program has helped her in an academic sense, as well as a social sense. “The program benefitted me academically by allowing me to figure out how to study for college courses before beginning the harder classes I had in the fall semester. I also got the chance to get to know staff and resources better during the summer, when campus was not as busy,” Lucey said. “Socially, the program helped me get to know people in a calmer and less crowded environment than campus in the fall when it was busier. I got to know other people in my major, which helped me have study partners in my fall courses.” Binu echoed this sentiment, stating that the program took a weight off his shoulders as he looked toward his future. He also said that the program introduced him to Giovagnoli, who then welcomed him into the Learning Center as a math tutor. “I was able to meet the faculty of Penn State Scranton, along with my classmates,” Binu said. “Having been exposed to fellow classmates helped me to be less stressful about my start to my college career.” After her first year as a PaSSS student, Lucey then decided to become a tutor for the PaSSS students that came after her. She says this was a very rewarding experience getting to mentor these students as they started to transition to college life. “When I was in PaSSS I felt inspired by the upperclassmen I met and was mentored by, so in becoming a tutor I hoped to have the same effect on the students I was able to mentor and tutor,” Lucey said. “I think I was able to benefit them through knowing what it was like to participate in the program and take the courses they took in the summer, and I hope that my leadership was able to benefit them by allowing them to feel more comfortable with the transition to college.” Binu followed the same path as Lucey did, becoming a PaSSS tutor for the students that entered Penn State Scranton after him. He is grateful for the opportunity to have been a PaSSS tutor and saw personal growth from being a PaSSS student to then becoming a tutor. “I was excited and had a great time tutoring PaSSS students this past summer,” Binu said. “I feel that I was able to give them the assurance that they’re making a crucial step towards achieving success as college students.” Binu, a third-year aerospace engineering major, took the jump from the Scranton campus to University Park a year early as a part of the 2+2 program. He said that his PaSSS experience has helped him immensely in his transition. “I have been involved with the Learning Center here at University Park and the skills acquired from the Math Academy during my PaSSS Program has helped me to tutor students with similar mathematical questions as the academy,” Binu said. “Having a head start as a college student has given me the motivation and discipline to effectively handle my workload and transition to University Park.” When asked if she would recommend the program to incoming students, Lucey answered with a resounding yes. “It is a big help for transitioning to college, and I would not be as successful if I did not participate in the program,” Lucey said. “With PaSSS I was able to transition to college smoothly and set a foundation for my learning before I began my fall courses. The program is built to help students succeed and be as ready as possible for college classes. It is a huge benefit to participate in the program.” Binu said he would definitely recommend the program to eligible students – for a multitude of reasons. “I believe that all students offered the PaSSS Program should make maximum use of it,” he said. “It will help you have a greater understanding of, and give you a head start on, college life as it will be, with a relatively lower number of your classmates,” Binu said. “You will have the opportunity to find your potential best friend from the PaSSS Program due to its nature, and all of the activities definitely help you in understanding the college culture.” “I was able to make use of the PaSSS Program to its fullest, as I received scholarships for the summer of my first year and also my second year, as I decided to take some courses over the summer again,” Binu stated. “The PaSSS scholarship really helped me financially and I was able to get on track to finishing my major in three years rather than four. I firmly believe that the PaSSS program will definitely have a positive impact on any student.” How can a student enroll in the program? If a student has received an invitation to the program, they can return the completed Pre-enrollment form as soon as possible to the Penn State Scranton admissions office. Students will then meet with an advisor to discuss the program in more detail. Participation is limited and on a first come first served basis. If a student did not receive an invitation but would like to be considered for the program, or has questions regarding the program, please contact Giovagnoli at 570-963-2678 or by email at emg16@psu.edu.
Penn State Scranton To Host Italian Heritage Event We are excited to welcome Italian-American Author, Louis Palazzi Jr to Penn State Scranton on Monday, April 25 at 5 p.m. in the Study Learning Center’s Sherbine Lounge. This event is sponsored by the UNICO Chapter of Scranton. Lou Palazzi Jr. lives locally in the NEPA area and in his work “The New Americans: Portraits of an Italian-American Family,” he sheds light on Italian Immigration from the perspective of a family whose origin was predominantly Northern. It follows the stories of immigrants who came during The New Immigration from 1880-1920. We will have special guests from UNICO, The Largest Italian American Service Organization in the United States present for this event who are looking forward to meeting our students. Lou will have copies of his book to personally sign for attendees. Food and refreshments will be provided free of charge. Please use the links below to RSVP so we have a head count for food. Book signing: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=RY30fNs9iUOpwcEVUm61LuRUTfkXZsdNi7Efd8_3ENVUQkJKSDAxUUNNWDAyRUZBRUg5WVFRUFRUWC4u
Women’s History Month Events at Penn State Scranton Penn State student organizations and units at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of National Women’s History Month, and Penn State Scranton is joining in the effort with a weeklong slate of events, many of which are free and open to the public. According to the National Women’s History Alliance, the theme of National Women’s History Month this year is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” which is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and front-line workers during the ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history. March 21, Noon to 1:30 p.m. — International Women’s History Kick-off Event (The View Cafe): International Women’s History Month Kick-off Event announcing a week-long clothing drive in partnership with Dress for Success, as well as showcasing businesses that represent a diverse community of women leaders who are contributing to community wellness. Business owners and student leaders at Penn State Scranton will speak, exploring topics of multiculturalism, professionalism, and challenges women face as global citizens in today’s socio-political climate. This event is free and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. March 22, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Women’s History Month Bingo Night (The View Cafe): Join Student Affairs in the View Cafe for a Women’s History Month-themed Bingo Night and play for a chance to win prizes and learn about prominent female figures in history! OPEN TO PSU STUDENTS ONLY March 22, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Encanto Movie Screening! (The Sherbine Lounge): Join the Student Organization of Latinos for a night with the Madrigal family in Colombia as we watch Mirabel Madrigal try to save her family and her magical house with the determination and strength she possesses as an independent woman! FREE popcorn will be available to attendees! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC March 23, Noon to 1 p.m. — Frontline Worker Panel (The Sherbine Lounge): Penn State Scranton welcomes women frontline workers from the external surrounding community to speak on their experiences and challenges they have faced during the pandemic as they engage participants in a dialogue that will allow the community to reflect on action steps we can take as a collective nation moving forward in participating in women’s solidarity. There will be a Q+A with the panel to follow the presentation. Featured Panelists will include Nuris Perdomo (Women’s Resource Center), Jasmine Berrocal (State Trooper), Casey Lewis (State Trooper), Marybeth Mecca (Nursing Department), Options Women’s Center, Fire Department. Webinar information available soon. This event is also OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. March 24, Noon to 1 p.m. – United Nations Multicultural Fashion Show (The Sherbine Lounge): The Student Government Association’s U.N. Red Carpet Multicultural Fashion Show featuring our very own students, faculty and staff as catwalk participants, will model attire from their own heritages and ethnic backgrounds. There will be brief remarks for each attire as participants walk. Come experience our wonderful women ambassadors of Penn State Scranton in this multicultural event! Free food and giveaways will be provided! OPEN TO PSU STUDENTS ONLY. March 25, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Movie Night: Hidden Figures and Diana Iracheta, A Night with Women in STEM (The Sherbine Lounge): Diana Iracheta, founder of the non-profit organization Latina Engineer, is special guest for a special screening of “Hidden Figures” and panel presentation discussing the challenges women face in S.T.E.M. fields. She will also give a brief overview of her seminal work as an engineer, programs she runs, and services she offers through her non-profit foundation. In tandem with the presentational portion of the evening, Penn State’s very own Engineering Club will feature some of their own female students’ projects on display in a gallery format in Sherbine Lounge where the screening will be held. FREE giveaways including Women in S.T.E.M. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC March 26, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Baseball Game (SLC Patio, Matt McGloin Baseball Field): Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a nationwide event that is meant to raise awareness and show solidarity for women who have suffered sexual assault. Penn State Scranton’s baseball team will partner with student clubs, faculty/staff and the DEI office to lead the 2022 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign on campus from the Study Learning Center Patio to the baseball field. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Leadership U Applications Open Leadership Lackawanna, the Chamber’s premier community leadership and professional development affiliate, has opened applications for its Leadership U program – in partnership with Penn State Scranton. Leadership U is a three-credit college summer course for high school students called Effective Speech. Participants will gain leadership and community engagement skills in the areas of communication and public speaking. The course aims to provide participants with the confidence and expertise to engage in public speaking, use S.T.E.A.M. to empower students to take thoughtful risks, and use historical awareness and appreciation to provide an understanding of our region’s past, present, and future while developing financial literacy skills and college/career preparation. Leadership U applications are open to high school juniors and seniors, charter school, and homeschooled students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The cost of the program is $400. Limited scholarships are available. Deadline to apply is May 4. Leadership U is scheduled to be held in person at Penn State Scranton, every Wednesday from June 29 to August 10 from 1:00-3:15 p.m. Upon successful completion of Leadership U, participants receive three college credits to Penn State for a general education, 100 level class which are transferable to most institutions. Apply through May 4 at www.LeadershipLackawanna.com. APPLY
Penn State Scranton Offering Environmental Science Course for School Students The DeNaples Family Environmental Program Fund at Penn State Scranton has been established thanks to a multi-year gift that will provide hands-on, experiential learning for participating students over the next four decades. Pictured are representatives from the DeNaples Family, Keystone Sanitary Landfill and Penn State Scranton; from left are: Dominick DeNaples, Dan O’Brien, Interim Director of Enrollment Services Terri Nealon Caputo, Director of Development Christine Ostroski, CBDCO Director John Drake, CBDCO Education Program Specialist Jo Ann Durdan, Chancellor Marwan Wafa, and Al Magnotta. Thanks to a generous gift from the Keystone Sanitary Landfill and the DeNaples family, Penn State Scranton’s Center for Business Development and Community Outreach (CBDCO) will be coordinating a course for high school juniors and seniors that is part of a program focusing on environmental studies at the campus, as well as offering a youth summer camp program for younger children. The DeNaples Family Environmental Program Fund at Penn State Scranton has been established thanks to a multi-year gift that will provide $100,000 per year for the next 40 years, enabling educators at the campus to provide hands-on, experiential learning that encourages creative and critical thinking among participating students, while strengthening their bond with local and global environments. “The course will explore the root causes of today’s environmental crises and consider scientific, technological, sociological, psychological, and personal responses to what is considered a very significant dilemma facing today’s world,” said CBDCO Director John Drake. “It will also engage students in recognizing how questions can be powerful catalysts for learning, how to see multiple perspectives in a situation, and what personal reflection can mean for both personal and global transformation.” Beginning with the Spring 2022 semester, CBDCO will offer this inaugural environmental science credit course to high school juniors and seniors in regional school districts. In addition to in-person sessions beginning in January, it will have an online component and potential field trips. The course will be taught by instructors from Penn State Scranton’s science degree program. High school juniors and seniors who take the course will earn three college credits that can later be applied as either an elective or general education course, depending on the degree program and college they choose in the future. As the program expands, more school districts will be added. Full scholarships are being provided through the program fund, which was established by the DeNaples family and Keystone Sanitary Landfill. “This gift comes at a critical time in our planet’s history, with so many environmental changes taking place around the world that will require research, analysis, study and creative problem solving to address,” said Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa. “Penn State Scranton is proud to be able to have the ability to offer a program like this that will encourage our young people to get involved in these issues and be part of making positive contributions and improvements to our regional, national and global environment. We are very grateful to the DeNaples family for making this kind of an educational commitment to our campus, and our region’s young people and future.” To learn more about the environmental programming and what it entails, contact CBDCO at scrantonoutreach@psu.edu, or by calling: 570-963-2600. This gift will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.
Penn State Scranton Hosting Events to Celebrate Black History Month Throughout the month of February, Penn State Scranton will be hosting a variety of events to celebrate Black History Month, which honors the struggle of African-Americans as well as celebrates their history as it has shaped the current world. It is important to learn about the true history of the African-American struggle in order to properly celebrate and honor Black History Month, said Julia Egan, coordinator for diversity,f equity and inclusion at Penn State Scranton. For example, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African-Americans by a group, including W.E.D. DuBois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey and Ida B. Wells. However, Black history does not begin with slavery, she explained. “Another important tenet of Black history that we must remember is that it is important to learn about the African diaspora and other cultural tenets of Black lineage and culture that were alive before the trans-Atlantic slave trade and were forever changed and disrupted by the injustice of colonialism.” This month, the campus library has a variety of books, novels and DVDs on display and available for lending. Students, faculty and staff, as well as alumni and Pennsylvania residents are able to borrow books from the Penn State Scranton Library, and can visit the library to learn more about doing so. For more information, visit the libraries’ website. The following campus events have been organized and are being sponsored in part by Penn State Scranton’s Black Student Union, Student Government Association, and Student Organization of Latinos. Melanin Monday – Black History Month Kick-off — Monday, Feb. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. in The View Cafe: You’ve heard of Black Student Union’s Melanin Mondays…now get ready for “Melanin Monday: A Black History Month Kick-off” event extravaganza! The theme of Black History Month at Penn State Scranton is “Blackness: An Identity with Multiple Meanings.” This event will feature games, music, and other tenets of Black, African, African American, African-diaspora, and Afro-Latin cultures to experience and participate in. Free food will be available during the event. Cultural Dialogues – Black Bazaar — Tuesday, Feb. 22, from noon to 2 p.m. in The View Cafe: As part of Black History Month, come out and celebrate the multiplicity of Blackness as an identity at the Black Bazaar. This event will feature five local black-owned and operated businesses and organizations from the surrounding Scranton-NEPA area who represent a diverse makeup of blackness and give it a multitude of meaning. They will be presenting on their role in serving the black community as well as offering some items for participants to take away with them. This event is hosted in partnership with external Diversity Award Recipient Rashida Lovely, Student Government Association, Student Organization of Latinos, and Black Student Union. African Dance-Drumming with Erico Ansuade — Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m., and also Thursday, Feb. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in The View Cafe: Please join Penn State Scranton in getting active in celebrating Black History Month with some drumming and dance workshops! In partnership with the Diversity Office, Penn State is thrilled to welcome master djembe player and dancer, Erico Ansuade to campus to host a two-day workshop in drumming and dance. The first day will feature just dancing, and the second day will feature dancing and drumming workshops with a break for lunch in the middle. The first day will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Sherbine Lounge, and the second day will occur on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in The View Café. Please note that the second day of drumming and dancing is open to the Penn State Scranton campus ONLY. Erico Ansuade hails from Ghana, Africa, and teaches a variety of dance-drumming styles from Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso and other surrounding countries. He has performed with world-class national dance companies in West Africa and offers dance-drum workshops at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced level. Zuzu African Acrobats — Friday, Feb. 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building (Gym): Penn State Scranton is excited to welcome the “America’s Got Talent” Semi-Finalists Group, the Zuzu African Acrobats. Zuzu Acrobats is a five-person Kenyan Acrobatic show which embodies the Bantu culture of East Africa. The show lasts one hour and features fast pyramid building, limbo, chair balancing, comedy, fast skip rope, juggling and much more all set to high-energy Lingala music. There will be free Kenyan snacks given out at the event. Students can sign up for the events through the campus’ Engage portal, here. For more information about these events and about Black History Month, you can reach out to Egan by email at jbe5316@psu.edu.