CLARION AND BEYOND

It’s Goodbye Communication;

Hello Mass Media Arts And Journalism What’s in a name?

F

or the Clarion University student, the renaming of Department of Communication as the Department of Mass Media Arts and Journalism (MMAJ) could have significant impact. “This will mean more to students in terms of recruiting, internships, and finding a job,” said Dr. Sue Hilton, chair of the department. “Our program is still much the same, offering a broad foundation for students and then allowing them to focus on a specific area of mass media.” The decision to rename the department followed examination of what was being done at other institutions of higher education and consultation with alumni. “The name communication had existed for a long time, but it was not reflective of what we were doing in the department,” said Hilton. “What we are doing matches up better with mass media arts and journalism. This is part of the effort to keep things current and the department’s desire to remain in the forefront of this discipline.” Graduates of the undergraduate program will receive a B.S. degree in Mass Media Arts and Journalism and could find jobs in print or broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcast or video production, and film production. Graduate students are also part of the change and welcome additional career opportunities. In addition to the campus-based graduate program, Clarion is also planning an online program that will start this summer, featuring a blend of online courses and campus courses. The newly named department is already quite busy. It is seeking accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Media (ACEJMC). It will also begin a 14-month online graduate program in Summer 2007. Other efforts currently underway by the department include: • Raising money for the refurbishing of the WCUB-TV studio, • Raising money for equipping the recently purchased used, remote location truck, and • Preparing for the 30th anniversary of the recently upgraded radio station, WCUC-FM. “These are things that keep it exciting and happy in the department,” concluded Hilton.

New life for WCUB-TV sets

4

In addition to a new name for communication, the program’s television station (WCUB) also got a new look for the first time since the early 1980s.

The ongoing project to make Clarion University’s television experience among the best in Pennsylvania is being headed by Dr. Robert Nulph (’80, M.S. ’87), assistant professor of mass media arts and journalism. Nulph returned to teach at Clarion University in 2005 and discovered little change in the look of the studio. “When I walked into the studio I was surprised to see that it looked nearly the same as it had when I left Clarion 18 years earlier,” recalled Nulph. “At a department meeting I said we had to look at the studio and update it. The department was fully behind me and I became the agent for change in the facility.” Revamping studios is something Nulph had done in the past including in his most recent previous position at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Mo. With Becker Hall, the home of the TV studio, already on the schedule for painting in 2006, the job started immediately. Everything had to be removed from the walls and cleaned out of the studio. “We had to clean out 25 years of set and dust,” said Nulph, who has completed a great deal of the work himself. “It was sad, because I had to take down the set that Dr. Henry Fueg had built. As a tribute to him and to save money the lumber from the old sets is being used to construct the new sets.” Once the room was empty the work could begin. But it also meant that there were no sets, with the exception of the sports set, newly constructed by Nulph just prior to the Fall 2006 semester. All of the Fall 2006 work in the studio was done using cameo lighting. That all changed in February 2007, when the new sets were completed and the studio went into full use again. Three sets were ready for use–a chromo key wall, news set with a triple backdrop, and the sports locker room set. “We are indebted to the maintenance department,” said Nulph. “They did a wonderful job of painting the chromo key wall and installing the cyc strip on the bottom.” The green chromo key wall is used as part of an electronic special-effects system for combining a desired background with live foreground action. It will be used to do the weather and allows for placement of people into virtual settings. News will be telecast from a set featuring a main desk with a WCUB-TV logo backed by a stand-up desk, which will leave those standing at the same height as those seated at the desk. There will be three backdrop options: the Clarion University logo, an aerial photo of campus, or a chromo key panel.

The sports set features a background of Clarion University uniforms in a locker-style setting. The set is adaptable for need, opening up so a monitor could be placed to show highlights for discussion. “During the summer, department chair Dr. Sue Hilton and I went to Pittsburgh,” said Nulph. “We visited KDKA-TV, WTAETV, and WPXI-TV to look at their set designs. The design we decided upon is something in between all that we had seen.” Through design, the sets will have an organic look and feature unique angles, which will allow for many options for the cameras. The majority of the new sets are moveable and designed so they can be backlit. “This is the result of what I learned when I was a student at Clarion under the tutelage of Norm Dodge,” said Nulph. “The students have been very supportive in coming in to help. Graduate students Pat Muldowney, Doug Marshall, and Dan Rinkus provided a lot of assistance. “This is all being done for the students. It provides them with a professional looking set for their broadcasts. The resume tapes they prepare will look more professional and help them in the job market. They will also gain an idea of what to expect when they enter a professional studio. Clarion’s studio is bigger than many professional studios and is among the biggest in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.” The sets are not the end of the project. Nulph wants to see an upgrade to digital technology, the direction where professional stations are already headed and required in order to meet Federal Communications Commission regulations. He also wants to add a third camera to the two currently in operation and wants to make it a permanent addition.

“THE NAME COMMUNICATION HAD EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT

WAS NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE

”

WERE DOING IN THE DEPARTMENT.

Sue Hilton

was an old ambulance is still ongoing, it is another step ahead for MMAJ students. “It has already proven its worth,” said Nulph. “We are still in the process of finding money for equipping the truck. We have the New Tek Video Toaster in place and a computer so we can operate three or four camera shoots, but we have to piece the equipment together each time we take it out. University Relations helped get decals to mark the truck.” Decals were designed by Scott Kane (’04), PAGES. The purchase of the used vehicle was accomplished through the use of computer services and department funds. Bruce Exley, chief engineer for WCUC-FM, found an old ambulance. It had previously been used as a portable intensive care unit. That meant it had a long bed, the perfect size for WCUB-TV’s needs. Money is being sought to purchase permanent equipment for use in the truck. It is estimated that an additional $5,000 is needed to complete the effort. By Fall 2007, Nulph projects that the unit will be in use for football games and other out-of-studio activities providing an expanded experience base for students in the department.

Masters Program Moves Online Along with a new name, Clarion is also offering a new version of its master’s program. Graduate students can now enroll in an Online Master of Science in Mass Media Arts and Journalism program. “We are doing incredibly well with what we have now,” said Nulph. “But we need money to make the jump to digital. Between $300,000 and $500,000 is needed to make this studio one of the best in the state. When we reach that point, Clarion’s students can move directly from here into a professional broadcasting experience.”

TV On The Move Students can now also move with a new remote television truck. WCUB-TV first used the new truck during ALF 2006 to broadcast the parade. During the Spring 2007 semester it was used to provide coverage of basketball games and wrestling matches in Tippin Gymnasium. While the refurbishing of what

Starting in July, students at Clarion will be able to earn a one-year Master of Science degree in Mass Media Arts and Journalism in a hybrid online format. The 36-credit program is aimed at career professionals working in media, corporate, healthcare, nonprofit and other sectors utilizing communication professionals. The program’s online structure allows working parents and busy adults to complete a graduate degree on a flexible basis. Students will begin the program as a cohort, with one week of intensive study in early July on the Clarion University campus, while staying at Reinhard Villages. The cohort completes the rest of the program through online coursework. The program is broad-based, and imparts a range of communication skills and theory. Students may pursue a thesis, internship or portfolio option. “Our graduate program allows students a rich, demanding and intense educational experience, combining theory and practice in a highly structured sequence of courses,” said department chair Dr. Susan Hilton “Students form a cohesive unit yet can maintain their employment and live where they choose. The faculty is working closely together to make certain the coursework and its delivery provide all a student needs to complete the program. Our graduates leave with an understanding of mass media theory and strong application skills.”

FEATURES

Applications for the Online Master of Science in Mass Media Arts and Journalism program will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program fills. Anyone interested may contact Dr. Susan Hilton, department chair, at 814-393-2540 or via e-mail at [email protected].

5

CLARION AND BEYOND

Jake Yale (’04)

C

Art By Design A

larion University graduates not only see the big picture . . . they make it.

Clarion graduates with a B.F.A., B.A., or minor in art, who have studied graphic design and illustration have found success in fields such as advertising, graphic design, clothing design, Website design, illustration, photography, and teaching, among many others. “Most go into graphic design and more than half of all majors concentrate in graphic design,” said Jim Rose, assistant professor of graphic design, illustration, and director of the multimedia studio. “We provide a foundation in design, drawing, and photography. These skills can be adapted to the job that you get. Part of the curriculum is teaching creativity. Once you can design, you can design anything.”

“

We provide

a foundation in design, drawing, and photography. These

Students taking graphic design and computer courses receive introductory techniques in design, typography, photography, and computer graphic software with a focus on state-ofthe-art industry software and creativity. Advanced

skills can be adapted

get. Part of the

creativity. Once you can design, you can

”

Jim Rose

“Students leave here with a professional portfolio,” said Rose. “Because our department is small, we don’t specialize. They know they can make a living as designers in advertising agencies, corporate art departments, independent business, and many other fields.” The students receive practical, hands-on experiences. Rose cited specific examples such as design competitions to promote campus events such as Holocaust Remembrance Week and S.A.F.E. Most of these design competitions pay a stipend to the top designers. “I believe they learn by doing projects,” said Rose, who requires approximately 20 projects to be completed each semester. “The more they do the more they will learn. They have to work under a deadline, just like they would on a real world project.” While a great deal of both the graphic design and illustration courses are computer based using programs such as Adobe Illustrator, QuarkXPress, and Photoshop, Rose requires 10 hand-made portraits and has his students start many projects by hand and finish them on the computer.

Rose received his certificate in painting from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pa., and M.F.A. from Syracuse University. He has completed graphic design and illustration projects for IBM, Westinghouse, General Electric, Western Illinois University, Clarion University, The Scranton Times, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, and others.

curriculum is teaching

6

Illustration introduces students to a variety of drawing and painting media and industry standard computer software. The course encourages the use of the principles of design, creative problem solving, and the integration of illustration with graphic design.

“For design we start with the dot and move on to the line, triangle, and square,” said Rose. “They also learn the legalities of copyright so they know anything they create is theirs unless they sign it away.”

to the job that you

design anything.

classes explore layout, typography, photography, and computer graphics, incorporating all previous knowledge acquired. Students are encouraged to develop their personal direction while producing a professional portfolio.

JIM ROSE

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the national accrediting agency for art and design related disciplines, accredits the Clarion University Department of Art. There are 248 NASAD accredited art programs in the United States, 16 of them in Pennsylvania.

Attracts Students Graphic Design Graduates Keep Skills At Clarion University While some design students take their portfolios to positions throughout the country, two 2004 graduates remained at Clarion University to start their professional lives. Their work is readily viewable to alumni, students, and friends of Clarion University. Anyone reading this magazine is experiencing the ninth issue of Clarion and Beyond designed by artist/illustrator Scott Kane. Anyone visiting the Admissions pages at Clarion University’s Website will see the work of Jake Yale, assistant director of admissions. Both are in their third year of employment at Clarion University. “I didn’t plan to go to college,” said Kane, who is originally from South Park. “I went to Steel Center Vocational Technical School in Pleasant Hills for one-half day and fell in love with graphic design. I learned to do print and graphics there and decided to pursue college by taking collegelevel classes, my senior year of high school.”

taking images and text and designing it into something that can communicate something,” said Kane. “The biggest thing I learned at Clarion was the elements of principles and design. It has carried through into everything I do. I took classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Coupled with my experiences at PAGES and The Call, it helped bring everything together. “Working as a designer at PAGES and The Call provided real-world experience that was crucial to my development,” said Kane. “I would recommend to any student, no matter what field they are in to take advantage of internship opportunities.” Kane is a son of Robert and Bonnie Kane of South Park. He is engaged to marry Deborah Schneider in March 2007. Yale was looking at art schools after high school and discovered they were not a good fit for him. That’s when Clarion University entered the picture.

“I like the whole process of

Yale’s second advisor, Kristen Nowlin, helped him find a work-study position with the Office of Admissions. He worked on enrollment management and web and e-marketing in higher education. He was hired by Admissions following his graduation as a student recruiter and provides design work for the web site and e-marketing messages. Since Yale has taken over the admissions Website it has been ranked twice, most recently eighth in the North Region by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions and recognized by Hobson’s Inc. for best design and best use of admissions VIP pages to convey information. “During my senior year, we worked assignments in proposals like freelancers would carry out on projects with live deadlines,” said Yale. “That was when I really grew as a professional. I built my own portfolio and I could have gone many directions when I graduated, but I choose a place I was familiar with and offered a good environment and relationships. “I am using all of the skills I learned as an undergraduate in this job. Through my classes, I learned to be flexible. An art degree is a thinking degree that allows you to make adjustments. There is always a different ways to solutions and problems. Creativeness makes it easier for me to work with other offices to find a better way of doing something.”

Scott Kane (’04)

Yale is a son of Michale and Deborah Yale of Brockway and has an older brother, Jason.

FEATURES

Kane selected Clarion after viewing its modern design laboratory and having a good experience with student Jason Strohm (’01), who took the time to show him around the department. His classroom work was supplemented by working for five semesters at PAGES, (Printing and Graphics Express Services, the publications office of University Relations), and 2½ years as the advertising design manager for the Clarion Call.

“I had a good visit,” he recalled. “I had lunch with faculty members Jim Rose and Gary Greenburg during art day in Spring 2000. We talked about illustration and art. When I took a graphics class, I discovered design was my strong point. At the beginning of my junior year, I decided on design.”

7

CLARION AND BEYOND

SUPPORT GROWS

FO R S C I E N C E AND TEC F

inancial support for Clarion University’s new science and technology building is coming in from alumni, businesses, and foundations. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is contributing $31 million to construct the facility, scheduled for completion in Spring 2008, pending Clarion University’s ability to raise $2.7 million in matching funds. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new facility are scheduled as part of this year’s Alumni Weekend on May 5. Clarion University is committed to strengthening the knowledge base of students entering the science technology workforce and providing a hands-on laboratory experience for non-science majors by constructing a new science and technology facility to replace Peirce Science Center. The project is expected to be one of few Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)– certified science buildings in the country and possibly the first certified public university building in Pennsylvania. LEED certification requires meeting national standards and reflects facilities that best meet sustainable environmental energy concerns. The science and technology building will house many core programs–mathematics, chemistry, physics, geography, geology, molecular biology/biotechnology, archeology, nanotechnology, and anthropology, among others. Every Clarion University student will take at least four classes in the new building, where they will do research alongside faculty in fields such as astrophysics, experimental physics, plasma physics, material science, physics education, and sustainability. The building will house 11 collaborative research laboratories, 25 teaching laboratories, a state-of-theart computer lab, a science museum, a cold room, and individual resource centers for biology, chemistry, earth science, mathematics, and physics. Provisions have been made for a greenhouse, but it is not part of the construction project. The 98,000 square foot building also will house 55 offices. The current planetarium and auditorium also will be renovated and add another 8,000 square feet to the complex. Smart classrooms will be available throughout the building with wireless Internet inside and outside, allowing students and professors to connect with the entire world through video, computers, and the Web.

8

Early Contributions Frank Pici (’77) has pledged $100,000 to

the new building. He has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Penn Virginia Corporation in Radnor, Pa., since September 2001. He is also vice president and chief financial officer of two other public companies in the Penn Virginia family: Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P., and Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P. “I am very loyal to Clarion University, as I believe my experiences there made huge differences in my life, and allowed me to have a successful career,” said Pici. “I have always wanted to “give back” by supporting important initiatives at the university, and I am at a point in my life where I can do that.”

PICI

“While I am a graduate of the College of Business at Clarion, I believe the university has to be able to provide very high quality learning experiences in all of its major disciplines,” said Pici about the donation. “The new science center will make great strides toward that goal and will help keep Clarion as one the best educational bargains in the state, if not the nation. It was an easy decision when the foundation asked me to consider it.” Pici and his wife, Sharon, live in Malvern, Pa., and have five children, Matthew, Jennifer, Laura, Lisa, and Timothy. Stackpole-Hall Foundation of St. Marys,

Pa., made a $35,000 grant. The Stackpole-Hall Foundation is a private foundation created by the Stackpole and Hall families in 1951. Its mission is to first consider the needs of the people in Elk County, Pa., with a goal of improving the fundamental quality of life. Priority is given to the educational, human service, and community development needs of the county. “Clarion University is one of the more popular destination schools for Elk County students,” said William Conrad, chair of the operating board of the Stackpole-Hall Foundation. “The science building project made a lot of sense to us. Recipients of the grant have to have a service connection to Elk County and Clarion University does a number of things in Elk County.”

William Conrad, executive secretary for the Stackpole-Hall Foundation, St. Marys, and Jean Wolf, advancement officer and director of corporate and foundation relations for Clarion University.

CHNO L O G Y B U I L DING Jack Blaine Remembered



The Dr. and Mrs. Arthur William Phillips Charitable Trust of Oil City, Pa., has donated

$125,000. The trust was created under the will of Dr. Phillps, a resident of Emlenton. He did not specify any specific charities or charitable purposes, but gave authority to the trustees to determine which charitable organizations should receive grants, for what charitable purposes the income is to be used, and in what amounts. “This project connects directly to the interests of Dr. Phillips–education, young people, and science as it is related to medicine and health,” said Robert McFate, a trustee of the Phillips Charitable Trust. “Dr. Phillips was from this area and strongly supported this kind of activity.

From left: Dr. Chris Reber, Executive Dean, Clarion University– Venango Campus; Robert McFate, trustee, Phillips Charitable Trust; and Harry Tripp, Vice President for Student and University Affairs.

“Clarion University is a presence in this area that benefits both the young people and the community. There was a need and we felt it was a good one. The overall affect is going to benefit the area and is consistent with previous grants from the Trust to the University.” S&T Bank made a $100,000 corporate gift. S&T, headquartered in Indiana, Pa., is the principal subsidiary of S&T Bancorp, Inc., operating 50 offices within Allegheny, Armstrong, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Indiana, Jefferson and Westmoreland counties. S&T has a strong history in its support of Clarion University and numerous special events resulting in scholarship endowments, providing opportunities for current and future students.

Front from left: Jamie Lefever, vice president and community branch manager, and Lisa EsserLaugand, assistant vice president and community branch manager. Back from left: Rod Silvis, vice president for commercial lending; Todd Brice, president; Clarion University President Joseph P. Grunenwald; and Ed Say, vice president for commercial banking.

Naming Opportunities Naming opportunities are available for everything from faculty offices to the building itself. For additional information on supporting Clarion’s building program, please contact Jean Wolf, associate vice president for development, at 814-393-1823.

FEATURES

“As a community bank, we are very excited about this opportunity to partner with Clarion University and assist in providing its students with the resources needed to help them pursue their future careers,” said S&T President Todd Brice. “Clarion is an important market for S&T. We are committed to providing its residents with quality financial services as well as avenues such as this donation that directly impact the futures of tomorrow’s leaders of business and industry.”

Memorial gifts received in honor of Jack Blaine will allow for an office named in his honor in the new science and technology building. Blaine was a 1961 Clarion State College graduate and returned to Clarion as a physics teacher in 1965. In 1968, he was appointed the first director of Peirce Planetarium. He continued to serve through teaching physics, physical science and astronomy as a member of the faculty until 1981. Blaine also served as director of funding for the Clarion State College Foundation and was appointed its executive director in 1981. During his time with the foundation, he was responsible for obtaining $8.5 million in private support and increased the university’s endowment from $200,000 to $2 million. He also served as Clarion’s first vice president of development and institutional advancement. In 1992, he returned to classroom teaching until his retirement in 1997. Memorial gifts may be added at any time by contacting Clarion University Foundation, Inc., Center for Advancement, 840 Wood St., Clarion, Pa. 16214, telephone 814-393-2572, or e-mail [email protected].

9

CLARION AND BEYOND

Johnson

Dean’s Marathon Run And Grad’s Sponsorship

Helps Children P

10

icture a clandestine operation from a spy movie, with a taxi pulling up next to a man walking to work and rolling down the passenger side window. The taxi driver slowly rolls down his window and secretively asks, “Hey bud. Want to run in a marathon?” What seems like the start of another Tom Clancy book or movie is based on a true story from Clarion. Dr. George Wollaston, retired faculty member and 1957 graduate, was driving his taxi and Dr. Steve Johnson, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was the walker. “Steve, would you like to run in the Boston Marathon?” asked Wollaston through the lowered window. “Yes, I would,” replied Johnson. A partnership developed that will fulfill Johnson’s goal of running in the Boston Marathon and aid Wollaston’s effort to raise money to support the Valley of New Castle Children’s Learning Center, New Castle, Pa., which provides free tutoring for children with dyslexia. When Johnson turned to competitive running for health reasons in 2004, he set three goals for himself – win a gold medal in the 1500 meters at the Pennsylvania State Senior Games; win a trophy; and run in the famed Boston Marathon. He accomplished the first two goals and will reach the third April 16 in Boston. It was something he did not expect to happen in 2007. “I planned to run in the Columbus Marathon to qualify for Boston, but I injured my foot and couldn’t run,” said Johnson. “The day I was scheduled to leave for Columbus, George approached me about running for the New Castle Children’s Learning Center. It is a good cause and I am excited about doing it.” For Wollaston, a member of the board for the Masonic-supported school, it was a chance to raise money to help children. A 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Valley of New Castle Edenburg Lodge 550 in Knox, Pa., Wollaston previously

served as the chair of the planning committee for the school. Construction began in Spring 2004 and the first students were accepted in October 2004. The school offers one-on-one tutoring help for children with dyslexia. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population has dyslexia. A person with dyslexia has difficulty learning to read despite ability, has problems understanding how letters are used to represent sounds in words, has problems understanding patterns and rules when spelling, may have handwriting problems, and can benefit from multi-sensory instruction with a trained tutor. For more than 10 years, the Scottish Rite Masons, Northern Jurisdiction, have been national leaders in the effort to help children and their families overcome dyslexia. They now have 55 learning

“

I’VE NEVER BEEN IN AN EVENT THIS SIZE. I

AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT FINISHING THE 26.2 MILES. BUT I WILL NEED TO GET USED TO RUNNING THAT LONG, BECAUSE THE BODY

”

CAN’T TAKE THAT KIND OF ABUSE.

DR. STEVE JOHNSON

WOLLASTON

centers in 15 states including the New Castle location. Previously, the closest school for people in the Clarion area was in Youngstown, Ohio. Enrollment has grown to 28 for the 2006-07 school years. There are 12 additional students on a waiting list to work with the 12 tutors. All of the services are free with the exception of bringing the child to the center for the twice a week, one-hour sessions, providing the need to raise $5,000 per child per year through donations. “I knew Steve was a runner,” said Wollaston, a professor of chemistry at Clarion from 1961 until his retirement in 1997, who along with his wife, Twila (Hedegar ’58) and son, Tim (’85), own and operate Wollaston Lease and Rental Inc. and Clarion County Taxi Inc.. “The home office of the Masonic Learning Centers for Children Inc., in Lexington, Mass., has connections with the Boston Marathon to allow a pre-set number of entrants, who have not qualified for the race, to run as fundraisers.” The Boston Marathon, the oldest marathon race in the United States, annually draws 22,000 runners. It will be Johnson’s first marathon. “I’ve never been in an event this size,” he said. ‘I am not concerned about finishing the 26.2 miles. But I will need to get used to running that long, because the body can’t take that kind of abuse. Johnson was in training for the marathon when he injured his foot in a five-mile race. His injury resulted from increasing his weekly mileage too quickly, placing too much strain on the body, and required six weeks of healing time. He has altered his running stride and is using a new training program that alternates longer and shorter distances at a slower pace on Saturdays, shorter runs at a faster pace in the middle of the week, cross training involving elliptical, stairsteppers, stationary bicycles, and swimming, and weight training to target imbalances that may have caused injury. He also has an extensive stretching regimen after workouts and before bed in the evening. His diet is high in carbohydrates and is vitamin and mineral dense. It includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and no refined sugars or saturated fats. He monitors himself closely to make sure he doesn’t consume more calories than needed. In addition to running in the Boston Marathon, Johnson will be attending a reception at a Masonic Learning Center on Saturday, and a Clarion University Alumni Reception on Sunday, April 15. Alumni will gather in the lounge of the Sauciety Restaurant of the Weston Boston Waterfront Hotel at 4 p.m. to wish Johnson well in his first Boston Marathon. Please contact Teresa Martin at 393-1776 to RSVP. Although he will be running in the Boston Marathon, Johnson said it does not exactly fulfill his third goal. “I have a new goal, I want to run in a qualifying race so I can run the Boston Marathon as a time qualifier,” he said. Anyone interested in pledging support for Johnson’s run should contact him at 222 Founders Hall, Clarion University, Clarion, Pa. 16214, telephone 814-393-2328 or Dr. George Wollaston at 814-226-8635 or wollasto@clarion. edu. Donations may also be sent to 320 Masonic Learning Center for Children, New Castle Center, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 110 E. Lincoln Ave., New Castle, Pa. 16101.

THEATRE DEPARTMENT ALUMNI EXCELL Clarion Theatre Alumni:

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Connie Alexis-Laona (’71), originally from Bradford, Pa., made her way to

Clarion through the inspiration of her high school drama teacher, who also attended Clarion. At Clarion, she was passionate about funding the theatre program. She was a member of the Student Senate and in her junior year become president. As president, Alexis-Laona worked to fundraise to ensure the theatre department received funding and support from the university. Since graduating from Clarion, Alexis-Laona received her master’s degree from Penn State University. It was from there that she and some classmates made the move to Manhattan. She stayed in the theatre and worked in the box office for 7 1 2 / years. She has worked for Joe Papp at the Shakespeare Festival in New York, where in 1975 “A Chorus Line” opened at the festival before going on to be one of the most successful musicals of all time. She also worked for the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1978 when it had the world premiere of “Ain’t Misbehavin,” the club’s highest profile musical success. She has moved to Nutley, N.J., where she works in fundraising for Kean University, Union, N.J. Joe Colligan (’78), originally from Butler, Pa., made his way to California

following his graduation and began his acting journey in the Los Angeles area in 1980. He has appeared in more than 150 TV commercials for companies such as T-Mobile and Dodge and has made appearances on TV shows such as “Ally McBeal,” “Friends,” “X-Files,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Walker Texas Ranger.” He resides in Van Nuys, Calif., and continues to be a member of the acting community. Terry (Lahr) Wickline (’72, ’89), grew up in the Clarion area with a love

for science and theatre. In her first Clarion-Limestone High School stage performance as Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker,” she fell in love with the stage. She enrolled at Clarion University and graduated in 1972 with an associate degree in nursing. She worked in the health field while participating in the Clarion Community Theatre. In one production, she met her future husband, Dennis. They had three children while Wickline continued working in nursing and theatre. A few years later, a friend of Wickline’s convinced her to take one class at Clarion University. She was interested in Dr. Mary Hardwick and registered for one of her classes. The class inspired her to enroll as full-time and in 1989 she received a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and theatre. She credits Hardwick for inspiring her in her life calling Hardwick, “my creative mother.” Wickline continues to be an active member of the Pittsburgh theatre community.

From left: Clarion University Annual Funds associate Jennifer Troutman (’06), associate professor of theatre Dayna Shaw-Sear, Ben Hughes, Clarion University head basketball coach Ron Righter, theatre department chair Marilouise Michel, and Paul Palmer (’61).

Theatre Advisory Board

PEELMAN Theatre Alumni Reunion A theatre alumni reunion is being planned for Aug. 3-4, 2007. All theatre participants are welcome to attend this long anticipated weekend of entertainment. The weekend will kick off with a picnic in the park inviting back recent and past grads followed by a special presentation of the musical “Annie” performed as part of The Clarion University Summer Musical Theatre Festival. Special lodging arrangements will be provided on campus for alumni, friends, and family. Send an updated e-mail address to receive further information on the event to [email protected].

Clarion Students, Faculty Member Recognized At KCACTF Clarion University students claimed four awards during the Region II Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) held at SUNY New Paltz. A Clarion University English professor was also recognized during the festival. Karl Jacobson of Clarion won the Region II Barbizon Award for Theatrical Excellence in Scenic Design and a KCACTF Regional II Award for Excellence in Scenic Design, both for the “Triangle Factory Fire Project.” He advanced with the winners of the other seven KCACTF regions from throughout the U. S. for the national award. That competition will be held at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., April 17-23. This was Jacobson’s second Barbizon Award for Excellence in Scenic Design. His set design for the Clarion University production of “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds” won in 2004. He was the first runner-up at the national competition and accepted an invitation to spend a summer at the Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Conn. The purpose of the Barbizon Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence is to give outstanding student designers national recognition and the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Kennedy Center. Todd Nonn of New Kensington, Pa., won the KCACTF Region II Award for Excellence in Lighting Design for Clarion University’s production of “The Triangle Factory Fire Project.” Nonn brought back an honorable mention for set design for his class project, a design for a set for “Krapp’s Last Tape” from last year’s Region II festival. Mark Peelman of Erie, Pa., won a KCACTF Region II Award for Excellence in Sound Design for Clarion University’s production of “MacBeth.” Dr. Ralph Leary, professor of English, currently chair of the National Critics Institute and the Student Dramaturgy Initiative, attended the festival in that capacity. He received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, presented to people for meritorious service to the region and to KCACTF in general. A scene from the Clarion University Theatre production, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” directed and choreographed by department chair Marilouise Michel was an invited to performance at the festival. KCACTF Region II includes Delaware, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center’s founding chair, the KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the U. S.

FEATURES

An advisory board has been formed for the Clarion University Department of Theatre. The select group of individuals includes past theatre participants and community members with a love for the theatre program. They will meet twice a year and function to keep the theatre program thriving by volunteering their time in fundraising efforts specifically for the theatre department.

Theatre Alumni and friends in New York City at the Westside Diner. From left: Laura Crago (’05), Miranda Scopel (’02), Mark Bower, Marilouise Michel, Joe Gourely and Trevor Southworth (’01).

An initial meeting was held in February. The advisory board includes alumni Paul Palmer (’61), Terry (Lahr) Wickline (’72, ’89), Jim (’74) and Lydia (Pifer ’80, ’00) Crooks, Connie Alexis-Laona (’71), Chris (’00, ’05) and Kristie (Belles ’00) Taylor, and Andrea Maitland (’92); and Ben Hughes and Ron Righter. Anyone interested in participating should contact department chair Marilouise Michel at [email protected].

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JACOBSON

PEELMAN

CLARION AND BEYOND

Clarion Graduates Find Success

In N e w Clarion B a n k J

ames Kifer (’83) and William E. Hager III (’80) had an innovative idea and surrounded themselves with additional Clarion University graduates to help their plan succeed. In January 2004, following 15 months of planning, they opened Clarion County Community Bank, becoming the only bank with its headquarters in Clarion. Kifer said that four of his employees and five members of the bank’s board of directors hold Clarion University degrees or certifications. A sixth director is a member of the Clarion University Council of Trustees. “I am proud that so many Clarion graduates are involved with starting this bank,” said Kifer, President, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer of Clarion County Community Bank. “From the beginning of the search for board members we didn’t set out to look for Clarion graduates. We were looking for business people who had a good name, a good background, and presented a good face for the bank. After we were organized, we realized how many people we had who were graduates or connected to the university.” Clarion University graduates serving on the Clarion County Community Bank Board of Directors, in addition to Kifer and Hager, who holds the title of chairman of the board, are: Rod Flick (’72) and Mark Neiswonger (’85), while director Antoinette Caruso earned her permanent teaching certificate from the university in 1981. Another of the directors, Susanne Burns, is a member of the Council of Trustees of Clarion University. In addition to the numerous directors having ties to CUP, the entire senior management team consists of Clarion University alumni. Kifer has joined forces with Scott Daum (’88), senior vice president and chief operations officer, and Michael Fornof (’82), senior vice president and chief credit officer. Two additional employees, Michael Meals (’94), loan officer, and Tina Kennemuth (’99), assistant vice president and business development manager, are also Clarion graduates.

Growing up in Clarion, Kifer and Hager became a Clarion University sports fans, attending many basketball and football games, as well as wrestling matches through their early years, one of the factors leading to their decision to attend Clarion. Other factors were location and cost. Kifer worked at Jamesway Department Store while attending Clarion and following his graduation accepted a management job at the store. In December 1984, he joined New Bethlehem Bank, New Bethlehem, Pa., as a loan officer. Learning along the way, he advanced to assistant vice president, then to executive vice president and chief financial officer for the bank. Hager went on to law school following graduation, attending Ohio Northern University School of Law. Following graduation, he returned to Clarion County to open his law office, also serving as Clarion County District Attorney for three years. Upon the sale of New Bethlehem Bank, Hager contacted Kifer and asked if he was interested in becoming involved with organizing a new bank. The two began the process of organizing the bank in October 2002 and opened the doors for business January 2004. “Growing up in Clarion and attending Clarion University brings a bond and a commitment to the area and the desire to give back to the community,” said Kifer. “I believe it is important that Clarion alumni focus their talents in the local area and also believe the current success of Clarion County Community Bank is not by chance but due to the experience the many CUP alumni have brought to the organization.” Kifer, who was approved as a member of the Clarion University Council of Trustees in September 2006, lives in Rimersburg, Pa., with his wife, Brenda. They have two sons, Jason and Dustin. Hager resides in Hawthorn, Pa., with his wife Diana (Murphy ’82). They have three children, Stephanie, Bill and Luke.

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From left: Michael Meals (’94), Tina Kennemuth (’99), Mike Fornof (’82), Scott Daum (’88), William Hager III (’80), and James Kifer (’83).

Sports Fan Shaffer Finds Niche

With Nashville ESPN

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onathan Shaffer (’03) went to Nashville, Tenn., to live a radio dream.

But unlike most who go to the “Country Music Capital of the World,” Shaffer’s dream wasn’t about how Sam’s dog left him but more about buying Sam’s dog a drink, to paraphrase Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame announcer Mike Lange. See, Shaffer, 25, from nearby Knox, Pa. and Keystone High School, has been a sports nut all of his life. Now, he is paid for it. Last fall, Shaffer became host of two radio sports talk shows revolving around the NFL’s Tennessee Titans on ESPN 106.7 The Fan in Nashville. On home-game Sunday’s for the Titans, Shaffer co-hosts a pre-game show, “The Tailgate Show,” with former Titans and Minnesota Vikings president Jeff Diamond–the 1998 Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year–originating from the Hard Rock Café in Nashville. Then, on Monday evenings, Shaffer is the host of a show that includes two Titans–safety Chris Hope, the former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowler, and running back Chris Brown. “I’m just a fan who made it,” Shaffer said. “To some extent, I got lucky with some breaks. It’s really a dream come true. It’s an outstanding experience to get to know more about the inside of the game. It lets me help people see behind the curtain at how things work. Working with Jeff Diamond, Chris Hope and Chris Brown is great. They are first-class, professional people. It’s a very enjoyable experience covering an NFL team.”

Shaffer’s week isn’t over with the NFL, though. He also produces and co-hosts a daily drive-time show, “The Sports Guys” from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday while also hosting two high school football shows. “From August through January, every day was a 12hour day,” Shaffer said. “It’s very rewarding but very challenging. This is a highly competitive business.” It’s been quite a rise for Shaffer, who broke into the sports journalism business just eight years ago when he was recruited by then Clarion News Sports Editor and now Clarion University Assistant Sports Information Director Chris Rossetti to cover Keystone High School football and basketball as a senior at Keystone. After graduating high school, Shaffer moved onto Clarion University as a communication major, and he went to work in the Sports Information Office where he quickly earned increasing responsibility, eventually becoming the student SID for women’s soccer and tennis while continuing to work at both the Clarion News and the DuBois CourierExpress/Tri-County Sunday. During that time, he also co-founded D9Sports.com, a Website covering high school football in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association District 9. “The experience I had in the Sports Information Office at Clarion has been invaluable,” Shaffer said. “Many of the skills I developed while working in the office, I still use to this day. Sports Information

Director Rich Herman and Assistant SID Chris Rossetti taught me a lot. I would not be where I’m at today without Rich and Chris.” It was during his time at Clarion that Shaffer got hooked on radio first volunteering at a station in St. Marys before eventually moving on to Clarion Radio as the host of Exalted Jubilee, a Sunday evening Christian music show on C-93, 92.7 FM. Shaffer quickly gained more and more responsibility at Clarion Radio before eventually becoming operations manager in January 2004. After spending nearly four years at Clarion Radio, Shaffer and his wife Jyl (Chittock ’02), decided to move to Nashville in July 2004. It didn’t take long for Shaffer to find employment in Nashville working part-time as board operator at another Nashville station owned by Cumulus, which also owns the ESPN station in Nashville. He also worked part-time for the Ashland City Times writing sports while also doing some radio for Vanderbilt University baseball before getting the full-time gig at ESPN Radio in March 2005. Shaffer’s shows can be heard live on the Internet at www.1067thefan.com.

Clarion Alumnus

Helps Solve Cold Case

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had been found face down in the creek, dead in 18 inches of water. Glenda Masciarelli described the man as having a mustache and straight black hair, but no one matching that description had been seen by anyone else. Ramsey spent months re-examining the case, learning that Masciarelli took two inconclusive polygraph tests and that a counselor listed her as suffering from paranoid-schizophrenia. He concluded she had killed her baby, but he had no motive, no evidence, and no tips. He met Masciarelli for the first time on Oct. 24, 2006, interviewing her with his partner. He had planned the conversation and anticipated her responses. He told her the only way to close the case was for her to take another polygraph. After an hour, she agreed. Two days later at police headquarters, without taking the polygraph test and while being interviewed by another trooper, Mascarelli wrote two statements leading to her arrest. She wrote that the man near the railroad tracks never existed and apologized for hurting her baby. Following a second interview, which included Ramsey, she was charged with her son’s murder. On Nov. 30, 2006, during a preliminary hearing, a judge ordered her to face trial for the homicide charge. That decision was upheld at a hearing, February 20, 2007. “Clarion was my first experience away from home and it helped me to grow up,” said Ramsey. “I had the challenge of balancing my class work and football. I still see some of the people I met on campus, such as Ken Roebuck and Reggie Wells.”

FEATURES

ept. 26, 1976, was a day to relax a little after the previous day’s football game for Clarion student Jeffrey Ramsey. It was also the same day that 2 1/2 year-old Alfred Masciarelli Jr. mysteriously died in Fairchance, in Fayette County, Pa. Ramsey and the child weren’t connected then, but a Dec. 24, 2006, front-page story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailed how Ramsey, now a state trooper, solved a haunting cold case. Ramsey, a native of Uniontown, played football for two years under Al Jacks and majored in business. He later transferred, served as an officer in the military, and then completed a long-term goal and became a state trooper. “I aspired to be a state trooper from the time I was in high school,” said Ramsey. “I went into R.O.T.C. because I thought it would help me get in and it did. Once I got the job, I knew I eventually wanted to get into criminal investigation.” Following his graduation from the State Police Academy, Ramsey spent 30 days stationed in New Castle and one year in Beaver, before receiving his transfer back home to Fayette County. While recovering from surgery for a herniated disk, he was confined to barracks. In May 2006, during his recovery he pulled Mascarelli Jr.’s file from among 16 cold cases, homicides or suspicious disappearances, on file. In 1976, Glenda Masciarelli, resided with her son, Alfred Jr., in her parents’ home. Shortly before noon on Sept. 26, Masciarelli, who had told her parents about a suspicious man who had been following her, took her son for a walk along the railroad tracks. Minutes later, she was at a neighbors’ house asking them to call police because a man had taken Alfred Jr. Police arrived, but by that time the boy

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