The University of Scranton Virtual Talk on Challenges of Educating Youth in Uganda Set The University of Scranton’s Gail and Francis Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities will host a virtual presentation titled “Hope and Healing for Ugandan Youth: Educating Amidst Environmental Degradation, Food Insecurity, and Poverty Through the Bethany Land Institute.” Rev. Emmanuel Katongole, professor of theology and peace studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, will present the lecture at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Mar. 18. The talk, part of the 2020-21 Humanities Forums at Scranton, is open to the public and can be viewed on Zoom at: http://bit.ly/3bApVZU, or on YouTube at http://bit.ly/2Ipj8Hv. Father Katongole holds a joint appointment with the Keough School of Global Affairs, where he serves as a full-time faculty member of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. A member of the Contending Modernities Initiative team, he coordinates an inter-disciplinary research project, which investigates how religious and secular forces compete or collaborate in shaping new modes of authority, community and identity within the context of nation-state modalities in Africa. He is a Catholic priest of Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda, where he was ordained in 1987. His research focuses on politics and violence in Sub-Saharan Africa; political theology; global Catholicism; theology and peace studies and reconciliation His publications include “Born from Lament: the theology and Politics of Hope in Africa” (Eerdmans, 2017); “The Journey of Reconciliation: Groaning for a New Creation in Africa” (Orbis, 2017); and “Reconciling All Things: A Christian vision of Justice, Peace and Healing” (IVP Books, 2018). Before joining the University of Notre Dame in 2013, Father Katongole served as associate professor of theology and world Christianity at Duke University, and as founding co-director of the Duke Center for Reconciliation. He taught at The University of Scranton in the Theology/Religious Studies Department during the 1999-2000 academic year.
Geisinger ADMI Offers Online Training for First Responders Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI) is offering free online training for first responders to help them better assist children with special needs during emergencies. The training is also open to other community members. Up to 15% of children have a developmental or behavioral disorder, including autism, speech and language disorders, intellectual disabilities, or conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety. The training program provides an overview of these conditions, their related behaviors, and strategies for communicating with children who have these disorders in a variety of situations. The training is facilitated by Barbara Haas Givler, director of education and behavioral outreach at Geisinger’s ADMI, and Cora Taylor, ADMI assistant professor. “This training for first responders provides practical strategies for approaching and supporting children with special needs in emergency situations,” Haas Givler said. “We appreciate all that first responders do for our patients with special needs, including autism, and we’re thrilled to be able to give something back to them.” Interested community members can view the webinar at geisinger.org/ADMIEMStraining. The training was funded in part by the Rite Aid Foundation. ADMI has also created materials to help children with special needs and their families understand what to do in an emergency. For more information, visit geisingeradmi.org/admi-approved-resources.
Lackawanna College Named one of World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company Lackawanna College announced today that it has been included in Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021 for its Level Up program. The Level Up program responds to the national crisis surrounding the increasing cost of higher education by providing the opportunity for students to earn an associate degree while in high school. Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list highlights businesses and organizations that have made an impact and transformed their industry. Lackawanna College ranked No. 9 in the Corporate Social Responsibility category, which recognizes corporate initiatives that meaningfully make a positive contribution to their community and stakeholders. “We are extremely honored to be recognized as one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President and Chief Innovation Officer. “At Lackawanna College, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to bridge the socio-economic gap and help students obtain a degree quickly and at significantly less cost. More than ever, students need alternative pathways to help them succeed and thrive in an ever-changing world.” President Murray has made innovation a priority at Lackawanna College over the years. Programs such as the Falcons Athletic Learning Community and its Developmental Student Model have demonstrated a commitment to student success through innovation while newer projects such as Level Up, a Venture Lab, and e-commerce programs have been included in the college’s curriculum over the last few years. Lackawanna College would like to recognize its partnerships with local organizations like the Sordoni Family Foundation and the Scranton Area Foundation that continue to enhance enrollment capacity, deepen student learning and support resources that are reflective of Lackawanna’s mission and vision of serving as the “communities’ college”.
Providence Engineering Announce Senior Consultant Providence Engineering is pleased to announce that Vaughn Silar has joined the firm as a Senior Consultant. With more than 30 years of experience in the AEC industry, Vaughn has earned a reputation for building successful businesses and delivering exceptional service to many clients throughout the United States. His commitment to the AEC industry, especially in Central PA, has garnered many longstanding relationships. In his role as Senior Consultant, Vaughn will work closely with the Leadership and Project Management teams at Providence. He will provide high-level strategy as well as guidance on day-to-day operations. Vaughn’s hiring comes as Providence continues to implement its strategic growth plan, while staying focused on client satisfaction and operational simplicity. “I’m excited for the opportunity to join Providence” says Silar. “This is a great firm that has contributed to many successful projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. I believe we are poised to expand market share and I look forward to helping clarify strategic goals and enhance operational efficiency.”
Center City Print March Sale Center City Print is more than just print! We are your community partner, your go-to for custom design and printed gifts, and your mini-marketing team. We are a one-stop-shop offering products that are tailored for your needs, custom graphic design to make it shine, and high quality professional printing to put on the finishing touches. Whether you are looking for a canvas print for a birthday gift or custom party invitations, direct mail services, banners and signage, or photocopies, we’ve got you covered! This month, our featured sale is 10% off Promotional Items. With hundreds of products to choose from like custom hand sanitizers, tech products, pens and everything in between, browse our catalog in-store or give us a call to email it over to you. Promo products are great for handing out to your clients as thank you treats, in swag bags for your employees, trade show events, or just for fun! Put your custom art or logo on just about anything! Offer valid until March 31, one coupon per customer per order. Mention code “March Cal 21” instore/phone. Not valid online.
Boback Announces Virtual Job Fair Available to Service Members and their Families Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) announced two upcoming virtual job fairs to help active military members, veterans and their families. The first was held by the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership on Wednesday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second will be held by the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations on Wednesday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “These virtual job fairs present an amazing opportunity for those who have served our country and continue to serve, along with their families as well,” said Boback. “I am always honored to help out our veterans and their families in any way I can and sharing this information will hopefully provide individuals with interview and hiring experience.” The Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership is hosting its fourth virtual hiring fair for military spouses. The department is committed to ensuring military spouses have the access to education and employment resources to help them thrive in their military life. Providing virtual opportunities and empowering military spouses remains a top priority. For more information individuals can call 800-342-9647 to speak with a Spouse Education Career Opportunities career coach or visit www.msephire.vfairs.com to register for the event. The Pennsylvania National Guard Associations (PNGAS) is hosting its virtual job fair for all job seekers, veterans and non-veterans. PNGAS has been helping Guard members, veterans, their spouses, military families, and job seekers get job opportunities. Right now, in the middle of COVID, the PNGAS Job Board has over 2,000 job postings. For more information and to register for the event visit https://pngas.org/mission/jobs-board.
The University of Scranton Virtual HamSCI Workshop The fourth annual HamSCI Workshop 2021 for amateur radio operators and professional scientists will be held in a virtual format on Friday and Saturday, March 19-20. The University of Scranton will serve as host for the Zoom webinar, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), that will include addresses by guest speakers, poster presentations and demonstrations of relevant instrumentation and software. Participation is free through support from the NSF and the University. The theme of this year’s workshop is midlatitude ionospheric science. The workshop will also serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station project, which is a NSF funded project awarded to University of Scranton physics and electrical engineering professor Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D. The project seeks to harness the power of a network of licensed amateur radio operators to better understand and measure the effects of weather in the upper levels of Earth’s atmosphere. The workshop’s keynote address on the “History of Radio” will be given by Elizabeth Bruton, Ph.D., curator of technology and engineering at the Science Museum of London. She will discuss the history, science, technology and licensing of radio amateur communities from the early 1900s through to the present day, exploring how individuals and communities contributed to “citizen science” long before the term entered popular usage in the 1990s. Dr. Bruton has been a non-licensed member of Oxford and District Amateur Radio Society since 2014 and their web manager since 2015. J. Michael Ruohoniemi, Ph.D., professor of electrical and computer engineering at Virginia Tech and principal investigator of the Virginia Tech SuperDARN Initiative, will review the physics of the midlatitude ionosphere and discuss ways in which the amateur radio community can contribute to advancing scientific understanding and technical capabilities. Joe Dzekevich K1YOW, an amateur radio citizen scientist who recently published his work in CQ Magazine, will present “Amateur Radio Observations and The Science of Midlatitude Sporadic E.” The event will also include virtual oral presentations by researchers from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MIT Haystack Observatory, the University of Oslo, the University of Bath, Case Western Reserve University, Dartmouth College. the University of Alabama, Clemson University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and The University of Scranton, among others. University students Veronica Romanek (KD2UHN), Hampton, New Jersey; Cuong Nguyen, Ashley; and M. Shaaf Sarwar (KC3PVF), Lahore, Punjab, are among the iposter presenters. A full schedule of speakers and registration information can be found on the HamSCI Workshop 2021 website.
