March-April 2009
April 2009
4th Annual Cycle-Thon and 5K Breaks Records
A record 250 people attended this year's Cycle-Thon and 5K on April 26 to benefit SCOPE. The event raised $6,000 from registration fees, t-shirt sponsors, and donations.
New Faces on the Alumni Society Board
Tonya DeVecchis-Kerr and Marcia Pomeroy will be filling two vacated spots on the College's Alumni Society Board.
F.E.A. State Conference Welcomes 60 Participants
High school students from across the state came to Penn State on April 16-17 to participate in the Future Educators Association state conference.
Students Publish 6th Volume of Higher Education in Review
Graduate students in the Higher Ed program published the peer-reviewed journal this month.
What Do Children Need to Know to be Successful Readers?
Researcher Gail Boldt points out that the mechanics of early reading involve a combination of phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Accomplished University Executive and Public Servant Named Distinguished Alumna
J. Bonnie Newman will be honored on June 6 for her achievements since graduating from Penn State. She has served in the administration of two U.S. presidents and has a background in academia and non-profit sectors.
Kate Ascah Named Student Marshal for Penn State College of Education
Ascah, majoring in special education, has amassed a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average.
Values and Leadership Conference, Call for Papers
The 14th annual Values and Leadership Conference will take place on the University Park campus on October 1-3. It is sponsored by Penn State and the D.J. Willower Center for the Study of Leadership and Ethics.
Innovative Early Reading Strategy Helps K–2 At-Risk Students
Robert Stevens headed a research group that implemented an instruction model called RAILS, which promises to improve the reading abilities of low-achieving elementary school students.
Collaborations Between Schools, Families, and Communities Must Have Shared Responsibilities
Researcher Elizabeth Mellin says effective collaborative efforts to improve student well-being require that goals be implemented in a mutual way.
Daniel Duke Delivers 4th Annual Nicely Lecture
Duke, professor of education at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education, visited Penn State for the April 20 lecture.
Sharon Patrick Appointed by President Spanier to Penn State Task Force
The group will work to develop best practices that would further enhance a healthy work environment for the University's employees.
Dean's Development Council Co-chairs Endow Scholarship
Mark and Sue Breedlove have endowed a $50,000 Trustee Matching Scholarship to support students with financial need in the College of Education.
Local Couple and University Employees Support Higher Ed Program
Alumni Roger Williams and Karen Magnuson have made provisions in their estate to create a program endowment in Higher Education.
Upcoming Regional Forums to Highlight REL Mid-Atlantic Activities
The Regional Educational Lab Mid-Atlantic is planning forums for educators and policy makers throughout a five-state area through the end of April.
Richard Hazler Named American Counseling Association Fellow
ACA Fellows recognized for significant and unique contributions in professional practice, scientific achievement and governance, or teaching and training.
Hunnell Scholarship to Benefit Greene County Students
Charles E. Hunnell has endowed a $100,000 Trustee Matching Scholarship to benefit students with financial need with a first preference for those who graduated from a high school in Greene County, Pa.
Professional Development Schools is Topic of Summer Conference at Penn State
The 2009 Penn State Summer Conference for Partnerships and Professional Development Schools is set to run July 9–11.
Penn State Alumni Head the Two Top PDS Programs as Recognized by National Association of Teacher Educators
Diane Yendol-Hoppey ‘86 M.A., ‘99 Ph.D. is director of West Virginia University's Benedum Collaborative, and Jacob Easley ‘04 Ph.D. leads the Mercy College Teacher Residency Program.
Elizabeth Skowron Wins Fulbright Scholarship to Ireland
Skowron will serve her Fulbright at Ireland’s National University of Galway during the spring 2010 semester.
EDUCATE Marks First Year, Receives Donor Support
Under Orrin Murray, assistant professor and director of EDUCATE, the program marks its first-year milestone and receives support from donors Joyce '57 Ed and Vince McLean.
Education Students Invited to Experience Diversity of Puerto Rico
Jackie Edmondson and Maria Schmidt are leading a group of students to Puerto Rico in August as part of a course designed to introduce them to the culture and educational system of the U.S. Territory.
AACTE President and CEO to Deliver Commencement Address
Sharon P. Robinson became the top executive of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in 2005.
Jenkins Endowment will Support PEPP Initiatives for At-Risk Students
Tom and Jackie Jenkins create a $100,000 endowment to support PEPP.
March 2009
Education Historian to Present Waterbury Lecture
John Rudolph will present the second Waterbury Lecture of the semester in a talk titled "How Understandings of Scientific Practice are Built: The Case of High School Biology in the 1960s." The lecture will be held on April 30.
Multicultural Student Group Presents at National Conference
Kaela Fuentes, outreach chair of F.E.A.–MESA, provides her perspective on the group's recent trip to Denver to participate in the Future Educators Association National Conference.
Education is Slowing AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, According to College of Education Researchers
David Baker, John Collins, and Juan Leon are co-authors of a newly released article in the UNESCO journal Prospects.
Barbara Grabowski Wins 2009 Penn State Excellence in Advising Award
The University honored 32 outstanding faculty and staff for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and meritorious service.
Local Alumni Give of Their Time for Education Program
Steve and Carol Gentry will serve at the first alumni honorary track and field officials during the College's 4th annual Cycle-Thon and 5K on April 26.
THON 2009 Benefits from the Work of Education Student Organizations
The Education Student Council and the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association were among the groups that volunteered to help raise a record-setting amount for the dance marathon.
Penn State/State College PDS Wins Exemplary Achievement Award
The recognition, given by the National Association for Professional Development Schools, is the initiative's third major national award in the past eight years.
WFED Students and Recent Grads Present Papers at Human Resource Development Conference
The papers were subject to peer review before being accepted by the conference.
Student Group in Workforce Education and Development Formed
The WFED Society for Peer Mentoring helps its members prepare for candidacy, dissertations, job interviews, research, internships, and presentations.
Cheryl Ostryn Wins Grant to Study Non-Vocal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Her study, funded by the Organization for Autism Research, stems from an article Ostryn recently published in an academic journal.
David Saxe Named Winner of Fulbright Scholarship
He will be teaching America History and Cultural Studies at the University of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany, from January to August 2010.
Kaprea Johnson Wins First-Place Research Award
Johnson's entry at Penn State's 2009 Achievement Conference Research Exhibition addressed career counseling of former inmates.
CSATS Faculty and Staff Attend Briefings at Kennedy Space Center
The Center directs the Aerospace Education Services Project, NASA’s longest running educational initiative.
