ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â

Problem Solvers and Storytellers

It’s no secret that the landscape of higher education is evolving rapidly, presenting universities across the country with both challenges and opportunities. At ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, we are meeting our challenges head-on with creativity, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to our mission. Although there is a lot of work yet to be done, we are seeing positive results in many areas.

In this issue, you’ll find examples of the great ways ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â can impact people and the world around us. This inspires us to continue our good work, and I hope it will inspire you.

One of the hallmarks of an ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â education is our ability to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable in their fields but also adept at solving problems. Take, for example, the story of Donta Green. Donta is the football coach at Westinghouse Academy and the CEO of the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh. A 2010 ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â graduate, Donta works every day to improve the lives and communities around him, with results that are gaining a lot of attention. Donta’s story is a testament to the transformative power of an ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â education and the lasting impact our graduates have on their communities.

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â is also home to a world-class faculty that uses teamwork and innovation to learn more and then share that knowledge. A great example is the story about the work of a group led by Distinguished University Professor Ben Ford. With faculty members Erin Conlin, Jeanine Mazak-Kahne, and Chris Schaney and with several undergraduate and graduate students, the group is working to understand and re-tell the history of a multiethnic settlement near Johnstown believed to date to the 1800s. The group’s work at the Laurel Hill settlement exemplifies the spirit of inquiry and exploration that has always defined ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s academic community.

As we continue to build toward a brighter future using curiosity, creativity, and commitment, I am filled with optimism. I hope that by staying engaged with us, you are, too. Together, we will continue to inspire excellence, foster innovation, and shape the leaders of tomorrow.

Michael A. Driscoll
President

Young Achievers

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Young Alumni Achievement Award is given to one graduate of the last 15 years from each academic college. Following are the fall 2023 recipients with their descriptions from the time of the awards presentation.

Behind the Lens

Last fall, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â teams won two awards from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences:

Members of the COMM 360 Digital Sports Production class, under the direction of faculty member Stephanie Keppich M’09, won a Crystal Pillar Award in the Live Sporting Event category for their coverage of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â football’s 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game.

Office of Marketing and Communications members Bill Hamilton ’92, Brian Henry, and Emily Jaros Smith ’03, M’05 won an Emmy award in the Short Form Content category for the video featuring faculty member Luke Faust D’17 and his former student Imani Jefferson ’16.

Science of Linguistics

David Hanauer, professor of English and applied linguistics, is in the top 2 percent of cited scientists in the field of education and linguistics, according to a ranking compiled by Stanford University using  Elsevier’s Scopus database. Hanauer has been on the English faculty more than 20 years.

50 over 50

News organization City & State Pennsylvania named Michael Driscoll, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â president, to its “50 over 50” list for 2023, recognizing the commonwealth’s 50 most influential people over the age of 50. Driscoll has led the university since 2012.

Funding Received

In recent months, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â received these major grants:

• From the US Department of Education, more than $2 million to improve retention and persistence rates among Pell-eligible, first-generation, and underrepresented students. This funding will build on initiatives within the Student Success Infrastructure.
• From the US Department of Defense, nearly $1 million for a pilot program to help cybersecurity students become proficient in Chinese. Waleed Farag, professor of computer science, was the grant proposal’s author, and Shijuan (Laurel) Liu, professor of Chinese, will be the lead instructor.

‘Inflammatory Accusation’

Reading the story on Weyandt Hall in the Fall 2023 edition of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine reminded me of a strange message inscribed on one of the first floor men’s restroom stalls during the 1970s. It wasn’t a typical graffiti statement complaining about the president at that time (Nixon, Ford, or Carter), nor did it contain a name and phone number. It was unknown if it was written by one of the biology, chemistry, or physics majors who basically lived in Weyandt Hall or by a disgruntled student who had to take one of the tough science courses in the building. Perhaps it was written because Weyandt Hall’s main doors opened toward the Oak Grove. It may have been a satirical statement made by a professor in hopes that it would make a student think. The mysterious graffiti was an inflammatory accusation about a beloved star of movies in the 1940s as well as television shows in the 1950s. The statement simply read, “Lassie kills squirrels.”

Steve Claudy ’80
Butler, PA

Editor’s Note: ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â photographer Brian Henry may jog more memories with his online photo gallery “.” 

The university community is grateful for the following gifts and pledges of $25,000 or more, made to the Foundation for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â between July 1 and December 31, 2023.

Addison Gibson Foundation, a gift to support the Addison Gibson Foundation Scholarship for continuing full-time students who live in western Pennsylvania

An anonymous gift to support men’s basketball and football scholarships

An anonymous gift to establish the A. Daniel Bilko (’66) Memorial Scholarship for dual-enrollment students from Cambria Heights, Bishop Carroll, Central Cambria, and Penn Cambria high schools

Thomas Baker ’05 and Dilini Pinnaduwage, a gift to establish the Tom Baker Scholarship for Research, which encourages students in pursuit of degrees in either chemistry or biochemistry to apply for the Research Experience for Undergraduates program

Charles Baltzer ’53, a planned gift to establish the Charles and Margaret Baltzer Memorial Scholarship for full-time students pursuing an education degree or certificate, with preference given to active-duty military personnel, veterans, or the children of active-duty military personnel or veterans. Margaret Johnston Baltzer was also a member of the Class of 1953.

Jane Miller Banks ’56, a gift to support the Jane Miller Banks ECOB (Eberly College of Business) Scholarship for full-time, undergraduate business majors who graduated from a Pennsylvania high school and who have reached junior standing

Jeffrey Bobich ’93, a gift to support the creation of a college of osteopathic medicine

Victor Campbell III ’68, a gift to establish the Victor H. Campbell III Scholarship for full-time students who live in Cameron County and who are in good academic standing

Richard Caruso ’83, a gift to support the creation of a college of osteopathic medicine

Vito DonGiovanni ’72, M’75, D’88 and Donna Dellafiora DonGiovanni ’74, M’79, a gift to establish the Eleanora Dellafiora and Sandra E. Dellafiora Memorial Scholarship for full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the Department of Music

Michael Driscoll, gifts to support the creation of a college of osteopathic medicine and to support the Fund for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â and the Sutton Scholarship

The Estate of Peggy Cox Frankenfield ’49, a gift to support the Sutton Scholarship

Mary Leisher Leipheimer ’66, a planned gift to support the Mary Louise Leipheimer Scholarship for Teacher Education for junior and senior teacher education majors in any ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â college

Leonard A. and Mary Jane Schafer Foundation, a gift to support the Fund for the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Library and, for students with financial need, the Student Assistance Fund. Mary Jane McMurray Schafer was a member of the Class of 1931.

Meredith Light, a gift and planned gift to support the Academy of Culinary Arts

David Moore ’82 and Karole Scurci Moore ’83, a gift to establish the Tim Moore Memorial Scholarship for full-time students in the Eberly College of Business

Michele Wippich Norwood M’92, a gift to establish the Michele Norwood Professional Development for Student Success Initiatives fund to benefit the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Navigator program

Richard Polaski ’72 and Linda Tobias Polaski ’73, a planned gift to establish the Richard F. Polaski and Linda Tobias Polaski Scholarship for Medical Technology and the Richard F. Polaski and Linda Tobias Polaski Scholarship for full-time students, with preference given to Elk County residents and to undergraduates pursuing a degree in computer science

Punxsutawney Area College Trust, a gift to support the Department of Culinary Arts Student Scholarship and the Punxsutawney Campus

Matthew Schroeder ’91 and Stacy Schroeder, a gift to establish the ECOB Student Support Fund for students enrolled in courses through the Eberly College of Business who are experiencing emergency needs or needing further assistance to continue their education

Marilyn Silvey, a gift to support the Bedford John “BJ” Silvey Sr. (’62) Scholarship for full-time students, with preference given to first-generation college students

Frederick Streams ’55, a gift to support the Dr. Fred ’55 and Hazel (Grant) ’55 Streams Scholarship for full-time undergraduates majoring in secondary education in natural sciences or in early childhood/special education

Primo Toccafondi ’62 and Patricia Kurtz Toccafondi ’63, a gift to establish the Toccafondi-Kurtz Scholarship for full-time, continuing students pursuing an education degree or a teaching certificate

Rolando Toccafondi ’65 and Barbara Toccafondi, a gift to establish the Toccafondi-Kurtz Scholarship for full-time, continuing students pursuing an education degree or a teaching certificate

By Matt Burglund

Former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â coach Curt Cignetti now leads Indiana University’s football program. (Credit: IU Athletics)

When Curt Cignetti arrived at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2011 to take over the football program, he said he was betting on himself. He had spent the previous 30 years as an assistant coach, and he was wagering that he was ready to be a head coach.

More than a decade later, that bet continues to pay off.

Cignetti, who went 53-17 as the Crimson Hawks’ coach from 2011 to 2016, was hired this past December to take over the “other” Indiana—Indiana University, of the Big Ten Conference, which competes with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State.

“Sometimes you’ve got to make hard decisions in life,” Cignetti said during his introductory news conference. “This was a hard decision for me, because you’ve got to be uncomfortable to grow, and I’m too young to stop growing.”

At 62, when many people are planning for retirement, Cignetti is just hitting his stride. Since leaving ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, he has had successful tenures at Division I schools Elon (14-9 from 2017 to 2019) and James Madison (52-9 from 2020 to 2023) and became a hot commodity on the head coaching market.

The oldest son of the late ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â head coach Frank Cignetti ’60, M’65, he credits much of his success to the four years he spent as an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2007 to 2010. With the Crimson Tide, Cignetti learned what he calls a “blueprint” for success, a plan Saban created that focuses on steady daily improvement, from both the players and the coaching staff.

He used that plan well in his six seasons at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â. Taking over a team that had gone a combined 11-11 the two previous seasons, Cignetti rejuvenated the Crimson Hawks and led them to a PSAC championship and a deep playoff run in just his second season. He led ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â to the NCAA Division II playoffs two more times, in 2015 and 2016.

Cignetti’s success at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â helped him land the job at Elon, where he turned the historically bad Phoenix into a playoff team and gained national attention. He parlayed that into the job at James Madison, where he guided the Dukes through a transition from Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) to Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision). In its second season in the top level of college football, James Madison finished 11-1 and earned a trip to its first-ever bowl game.

One highlight came when ESPN brought its popular pregame show, College GameDay, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Cignetti was a guest in front of a huge crowd and the live broadcast’s millions of viewers.

After the season’s end, his name was everywhere when jobs opened at some of the biggest programs in the country. It was Indiana that landed Cignetti and signed him to a reported six-year contract potentially valued at $27 million. Indiana also landed two assistants who have been with the coach since his ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â days: offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan (who coached at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2016) and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines (2014-15).

Cignetti faces a huge challenge: since 1994, the Hoosiers have had only one season with eight or more wins, and they have not won a conference title since 1967 or a bowl game since 1991. Indiana went 3-8 in 2023.

But Cignetti is betting he can turn around the Hoosiers’ football fortunes.

“We have a blueprint and a plan that’s been successful, proven to be successful, and no reason it shouldn’t be successful again,” Cignetti said.

Achievements

In December, the Men’s Rugby Club defeated the University of Memphis to win its third Division II national championship in two years. This is the first 15s national championship for the club, which won its first sevens national title in 2022 against the University of Lander and its second against North Carolina State last year. Sevens and 15s, played in different seasons, refer to the number of players per team allowed on the field.

Former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â women’s volleyball coach Julie Torbett Thomas M’22, now the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, earned her 500th career head coaching victory in the Mocs’ 3-0 sweep of Furman in October. Thomas coached the Crimson Hawks in 2020 and 2021, compiling an 18-14 record, although there was no season in 2020 due to the pandemic. Before ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, she coached at North Carolina Asheville (304 wins), East Carolina (109), and Winthrop (34). Her first team at Tennessee Chattanooga finished 17-16.

Two recent members of the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â football team signed contracts to play in the Arena Football League. Raunya Mitchell ’23 signed with the Billings (Mont.) Outlaws, and Darrell Davis ’21 inked a deal with the Albany (Ga.) Firebirds.

In basketball, former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â star Armoni Foster ’22 began his professional career by playing for Cherkasy in Ukraine’s SuperLeague. Foster played three seasons for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â before transferring to Division I Buffalo for his final season of college basketball.

New to the Hall—The ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was inducted in September. Front row, from left: Don Lindich ’65, Jackie Rutkowski ’07, Jack Frank ’58, Jeannette Frank, Brianna Liebold ’11, and Michelle Jones ’07. Back Row: ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Athletics Director Todd Garzarelli M’22, Paul Bingham ’10, Kerry Yacamelli ’95, M’01, Derrick Freeman, Ron Trenney ’84, Megan Woodall Mills ’01, Frank Trenney ’92, Chris Morgan’08, M’09, and ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â President Michael Driscoll. The 1968 golf team and the late Nicholas Yutko ’83 were also inducted.

Noteworthy

Last fall’s World Series had an ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â connection. Travis Jankowski, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers, played a key role in his team’s first-ever series title. He is the son of Paul Jankowski ’73, who played baseball for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from 1971 to 1973 and was a member of the ’71 team that placed third in the NAIA World Series.

Mike Butler ’83 recently retired after a 40-year career in the NFL. He was a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1983-87), the director of college scouting for the Indianapolis Colts (1987-2006), and a scout for the Detroit Lions (2007, 2008) before returning to the Steelers in 2009.

Three ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â alumni have been chosen for induction into the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame: veteran sports writer Bob Fulton ’75, who was a writer and editor at the Indiana Gazette for parts of five decades and is the author of five sports books and countless articles in magazines, including ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine; George Busovicki ’69, M’76, a longtime local high school football, wrestling, and track and field coach; and former basketball star Don Douds ’67, who has the distinction of scoring both the final basket at Waller Hall and the first basket at Memorial Field House.

Coaching Moves

Bob Ligashesky ’85, who most recently was the special teams coach at Syracuse, was hired in December at Minnesota for the same position.

Former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â women’s basketball assistant coach Ryenn Micaletti, who was on Tom McConnell’s first staff in 2013-14, recently completed her first season as head coach at Slippery Rock. She came to the Rock from Saint Louis University, where she worked under another former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â assistant, Rebecca Tillett, who was also on McConnell’s inaugural coaching staff.

Former all-conference softball player Renee Wall ’21, M’22 was hired in October as an assistant at Division I Bucknell. It’s her first coaching job at the college level.

Last August, former ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â player and assistant men’s basketball coach Greg Bearer was hired as an assistant at fellow Division II school Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina. Also, Jake Perrin M’23, who was an assistant at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â last season, is in his first year in a similar role at Division I Tennessee-Martin.

In Memoriam

Jim Mill, who coached football, served as an associate athletic director, and chaired the Health and Physical Education Department at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in a 32-year career, died December 18 at 82. He was an assistant football coach under Bill Neal and Owen Dougherty from 1970 to 1980.

Julius Misurda ’57, who was an assistant football coach under Bill Neal for two seasons, died December 3 at 88.

Bill Neal, who was head coach of the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â football team from 1970 to 1978 and a faculty member until 1995, died March 28 at 92. Neal came to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 1969 after a successful career as a Division I assistant. After one season under Chuck Klausing, he took over the program. He finished with a career record of 50-31-3.

Dave Watkins ’63, M’76, who coached ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s swimming teams for eight years, died December 21 at 82. An Indiana native, he served the community in many roles, including director of the YMCA, volunteer firefighter, and borough tax collector.

New Dean Advances Medical College Plans

Miko Rose spoke at a reception welcoming her in January.

Miko Rose, a board-certified psychiatrist and an award-winning medical educator, started in November as founding dean of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine. Her hire was one of the first steps in establishing the college, which ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â has been exploring since late 2022.

Rose came to ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â from the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, where she was an associate professor and chief of the Division of Psychiatry, as well as assistant dean for Clinical Education. She also has served as an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan State University and as program director of the Joy Initiative, a project she started at MSU’s medical colleges to help physicians build emotional resilience. Rose received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wellesley College and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency training through Michigan State.

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s next step in establishing a medical college is completing the three- to five-year accreditation process through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. The university began exploring the project to address the shortage of primary-care physicians in Pennsylvania’s rural areas. In addition to private gifts, state and federal funding of $2 million and $150,000, respectively, has been secured for the project, and the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Alumni Association committed $500,000 in January.

Fall Enrollment Was Up

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s total student enrollment for fall 2023 was 9,254, an increase of nearly 5 percent from fall 2022. This was the first time in 11 years the university’s enrollment had risen. The number of new, first-time students was 2,002, up 16 percent from the previous fall. Heading into the spring 2024 semester, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â had retained 90.1 percent of those new students, the highest fall-to-spring retention rate since 2010. Find more information about recent trends in enrollment.

Journey to Discovery

In Utah: graduate student Eric Buzzelli, left, and Jonathan Warnock

For more than a decade, Jonathan Warnock, professor of geoscience, has been traveling to Jurassic National Monument in the Utah desert to dig for dinosaur bones. He often brings along students—both to help him with the excavation and to help them gain research experience. ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â is one of only two universities in the country that the US Bureau of Land Management allows to dig on the property. Find out why Warnock calls the site the “world’s greatest natural classroom.”

Pioneering Professor

During Black History Month in February, ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â published an online story about the school’s first Black professor, Robert Vowels, a member of the Social Science faculty in the 1960s. A Baltimore native and World War II veteran, Vowels earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Howard University and his PhD from American University, all in economics. He had taught at Howard and worked for the US Treasury Department before taking the job at Indiana State College in 1963. Six years later, he left ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â for Clark Atlanta University, where he became dean of the school of business. Also active in local politics, Vowels helped with Maynard Jackson’s successful campaign for mayor in 1973. Following a return to the classroom in the 1980s, Vowels retired as a professor at Tennessee State University. He died in Nashville in 2014. Read more, including memories of his sons, Robert Jr. and Scott.

Return of the Winds

Last November marked the first performance in eight years of the Keystone Wind Ensemble. Made up of alumni, students, faculty members, and administrators, the ensemble last performed in 2015 in honor of Jack Stamp ’76, who was retiring as director of bands. Last fall, it was Stamp again who drew 60 musicians back to campus for the ensemble’s reunion weekend. Stamp’s successor, Timothy Paul, organized the event, and the two shared conductor duties. The culminating concert was dedicated to the late Bruce Leek, the engineer who had made all 22 of the band’s recordings since its 1992 formation. Kevin Eisensmith ’78, professor emeritus of trumpet, chronicled the weekend’s activities and collected comments from fellow ensemble members. 

Shooting for the Moon

Studio Art faculty members Sean Derry and Sharon Massey recently received a $70,000 Moonshot grant from Remake Learning for a project aimed at engaging western Pennsylvania teens in creative work. Called “Studio Stream,” the project will transform a Japanese minitruck into an earthbound communications satellite. As the truck travels throughout the region, youth in various communities will be encouraged to create music, poetry, podcasts, and other content that will be broadcast over the truck’s internet-based radio station. A public launch is expected later this year. Studio Stream is part of Derry and Massey’s Local X Change initiative, which has also backed such student projects as Traffic Island Oasis, a temporary outdoor installation made of cardboard, and Common Goods, a pop-up store featuring laser-cut paper art.

Faculty Deaths

The following former faculty members died in recent months:

John Baker, who retired from the Food and Nutrition Department in 2003 after 23 years of service, died November 9, 2023.

Jean Blair, a professor emerita who retired from the Nursing and Allied Health Professions Department in 1995 after 16 years of service, died March 26, 2024.

Arthur Broge M’73, who served on the Chemistry Department faculty from 1985 to 1999, died August 15, 2023.

Jennie Bullard M’84, a professor emerita who retired from the Employment and Labor Relations Department in 2011 after 16 years of service, died January 19, 2024.

Carol Connell, a professor emerita who retired from the ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Libraries in 2018 after 48 years of service, died March 8, 2024.

Robert Frank, who taught mathematics at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â in 2001 and 2002, died August 20, 2023.

Norman Gaggini ’61, M’68, a professor emeritus who retired from the Physics Department in 2002 after 31 years of service, died September 29, 2023.

Gary Grobman, who taught in the Sociology Department in 2007 and 2008, died August 11, 2023.

Zane Kirk, who retired as medical director of Pechan Health Center in 2008 after 22 years of service, died March 3, 2024.

James Mill, a professor emeritus and longtime department chair who retired from Health and Physical Education in 2002 after 32 years of service, died December 18, 2023. He was also a former administrator and football coach. Read more on page 23.

William Neal, a professor emeritus and former head football coach who retired from the Health and Physical Education Department in 1995 after 26 years of service, died March 28, 2024. Read more on page 23.

Richard Roberts, a professor emeritus who retired from the Physics Department in 2002 after 37 years of service, died July 27, 2023.

Royce Walters, who retired from the History Department in 2004 after 34 years of service, died September 30, 2023.

John Worzbyt, a professor emeritus who retired from the Counseling Department in 2003 after 31 years of service, died November 29, 2023.

A scholarship she received last May smoothed the way for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â senior and first-generation college student Jennah Krout.

According to Krout, an environmental engineering major from State College, “Receiving the scholarship allowed me to pay for housing over the summer for a very awesome internship experience working at a power plant in York. I gained invaluable knowledge in my experience working there, and it has sparked my interest in the energy sector so much that I would like to continue on this path after graduation.”

The source of Krout’s assistance was Diversified Energy Company PLC, an independent energy concern that produces, markets, and transports mostly natural gas and natural gas liquids. Two years ago, Diversified Energy made a five-year commitment totaling $50,000 for scholarships for ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â students with majors in the energy sector. Earlier, the company had made a $10,000 gift to the university.

This year and last, scholarships were awarded to a total of eight students. They have included five environmental engineering majors, including Krout, and three geology majors.

“Diversified is focused on giving back to the communities in our operating areas, where our employees work and live,” CEO Rusty Hutson said. “As a company, we are dedicated to investing in opportunities to help individuals find the right path in order to achieve their aspirations in life, and we are pleased to offer scholarships to these bright and talented students to prepare students for fulfilling careers.”

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â faculty member and Environmental Engineering program coordinator Hao Tang said, “I value the Diversified Energy scholarship as a merit-based award, because we select recipients based on their academic achievement. It has motivated our students to excel academically.

“This scholarship has been a boon to our environmental engineering students,” he said, “enriching their academic journey in numerous ways. The corporate philanthropy instills a sense of recognition and validation of the students’ career paths, boosting their motivation and commitment to their studies.”

According to Steven Hovan, dean of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, “ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â continues to offer several key programs related to the energy industry. In addition to the Environmental Engineering program, Geology and GIS [Geographic Information Science] provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills used in exploration and production. We also offer degree programs in safety sciences that help create safe working environments in businesses operating in the energy sector.”

The Diversified Energy scholarship, Tang said, “establishes a direct link between the industry and academia, offering students unique insights into the real-world applications of their learning. It opens up networking opportunities, potentially leading to internships, mentorships, and employment prospects.”

This rang true for Krout, whose summer experience was with a coal/natural gas plant with a focus on environmental protection. “It was super cool to see everything,” she said.

If your company is interested in starting or supporting a scholarship, please contact University Advancement at 724-357-5661 or iup-giving@iup.edu. 

President of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â:
Michael Driscoll

Editor: Elaine Jacobs Smith ’93

Contributing Editors: Karen Philippi Gresh ’67, Bob Fulton ’75

Namedroppers Editor: Matthew Burglund ’98

All About Alumni Editor: Jason Levan ’97

Design: Meghan McMeans Strittmatter ’13

Photography: Brian Henry

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine is published by ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The magazine’s address is John Sutton Hall, Room 321, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705-1046 (telephone 724-357-3112; email iupmagazine@iup.edu). Correspondence regarding any aspect of the magazine may be directed to this office. Print and web images derived from photos submitted for publication become the property of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â and may be reprinted at the discretion of the university.

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine welcomes contributions to help defray the cost of publishing. The Official ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine Form may be used for this purpose.

©2024 by ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â. All rights reserved.

ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity.