Lehigh Valley Source

Cedar Crest College Offers Adults a Variety of Information Sessions

Allentown, Pa. — Cedar Crest College will offer a variety of information sessions in March 2010 for adults seeking to advance their careers through education or earn a degree. Participants can learn about specific program requirements, how these programs can enhance their career opportunities, financial aid availability, and much more. Information sessions, which are approximately one hour in duration, are as follows:

Monday, March 15, 6 p.m.

· Undergraduate nursing, Hamilton Blvd. Building, Room 11—B.S. in nursing, registered nurse to B.S. in nursing, and school nurse certification programs

· Master of science in nursing, Hamilton Blvd. Building, Room 9—program includes a two-year, part-time option for busy health care professionals

· Health care management/human resources certificate programs, Tompkins College Center, Alcove A—addresses industry specific skills in process, management, marketing and finance

Wednesday, March 17, 6 p.m.

· Master of education, Tompkins College Center, Alcove C—for professional educators looking to improve their craft, as well as those with bachelor’s degrees seeking elementary or secondary education certification, or add-on certification in special education or English as a second language (ESL)

Thursday, March 18, 6 p.m.

· Education, Tompkins College Center, Alcove A—program includes elementary and secondary certification, and add-on certification in special education or English as a second language (ESL)

Wednesday, March 24, 6 p.m.

· Nutrition, Miller Family Building, Nutrition Lab/Room 19—promote health and wellness in an emerging field

To reserve a space at any of these information sessions, which is suggested but not required, or for more information, call 610-740-3770 or send e-mail to lifelong@cedarcrest.edu.

Located in Allentown, Pa., Cedar Crest College was recently selected as one of the 10 best women’s colleges in the United States by Forbes. The liberal arts college is committed to the education of women leaders in an increasingly global society. Founded in 1867, Cedar Crest currently enrolls approximately 1,900 students—full-time, part-time and graduate—in more than 30 fields of study.

Harhart Reschedules College Aid Funding Seminar for March 31

HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Northampton/Lehigh) has rescheduled her college financial aid seminar for area students and parents from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School.

"Due to a snow storm, I had to reschedule the financial aid night for March," said Harhart. "I am hopeful the new date does not inconvenience anyone. We will still be following the same program as originally scheduled in February."

Participating in the seminar will be presenters from Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Moravian College, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). There also will be someone to provide information about the Tuition Account Program and military funding.

Harhart said each panelist will give a 10-minute presentation on his or her financial aid options. Students and parents also will have the opportunity to ask general questions following the presentations, as well as specific individual questions at tables set up by each presenter before and after the program.

Whitehall-Coplay Middle School is at 2930 Zephyr Blvd. in Whitehall.To register, please contact Harhart's Slatington district office at (610) 760-9805 or Northampton district office at (610) 502-2701 and leave your name and the number of people attending.

Harhart to Host Feb. 25 College Financial Aid Seminar

HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Northampton/Lehigh) will host a college financial aid seminar for area students and parents from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School.

"This is an excellent opportunity to gather valuable information on college financial aid options," said Harhart. "So many families, especially during the recent and ongoing economic climate, are concerned about how to finance their child's college education. This seminar is designed to inform you of the options available and provide information from the primary financial aid agencies and local colleges most families seek information from."

Joining Harhart for the seminar will be panelists from Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College, Kutztown University, Moravian College, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. A representative will provide information about the TAP program and military funding.

Harhart said each panelist will give a 10-minute presentation on his or her financial aid options. Students and parents will have the opportunity to ask general questions following the presentations, as well as specific individual questions at tables set up by each presenter before and after the program.

Whitehall-Coplay Middle School is at 2930 Zephyr Boulevard in Whitehall Township.

To register, please contact Harhart's Slatington district office at 610-760-9805 or Northampton district office at 610-502-2701 and leave your name and the number of people attending.

ESU Students Visit The Arctic Circle To Learn About Environmental, Cultural Challenges Of Teaching In Isolated Region

Eight miles north of the Arctic Circle, a group of East Stroudsburg University students discovered the environmental and cultural challenges of teaching in an isolated Native American community. Nine students spent 10 days in Alaska, three days of which were dedicated to a project which involved interviewing teachers, former students and villagers at the Fort Yukon School in northeastern Alaska.

The goal was to find out what it takes for a teacher to succeed in such a remote and culturally different spot. The cross-cultural exchange trip was led last summer by Professor Doug Lare and Assistant Professor Rod Weston of ESU’s Professional and Secondary Education Department. The trip and project was funded in part through a $6,500 faculty development and research grant.

“A lot of the older members of the community grew up in segregated schools. Native students were sometimes beaten for speaking their language. It would impact the students’ belief system and heritage, and this has only recently begun to change,” said Weston who taught in the Yukon Flats School District for six years.

An ESU class departing from their weekend of research in Fort Yukon, Alaska last summer.  From left: Ryan Connors, Dan Uphold, Miles Weston, Marc Walter, Dr. Rod Weston, assistant professor of professional and secondary education, Tony Kuder, Chris Hipp, Miguel Tibbit, Beth Weston, Dr. Doug Lare, professor of professional and secondary education, Sharon Santiso and Brittany Maccia.  This picture was taken at the Fort Yukon airport. Half the crew disembarked on the plane, while the remainder of the team flew out with the supplies.
Contributed photo.

The school, which was located in a tiny village of about 600 people, had 125 students, most of them from Native American families. Professor Weston also taught during his earlier time in Alaska, at the Fort Yukon School. He indicated that the population had been very isolated in the Yukon region in the past because of a lack of technology.  “They didn’t have their first telephones until 1980,” he said.  “But now it’s progressed, from shortwave radio to the Internet.” Dr. Lare added, “Now we can have a video conference with Fort Yukon.”

The ESU group explored the difficulties faced by outsiders hired to teach in such a community, with the goal of determining what made some teachers more successful there than others.  “There are a lot of challenges specific to Alaska,” said Christopher Hipp, an undergraduate social studies student who took part in the exchange.  “It can get down to -60°F at night, and then there are long periods of total darkness.”

Added to the physical isolation are cultural barriers that many from outside the community have been unable to cross, resulting in a high teacher turnover rate.  Through their interviews, the ESU group hoped to gain a greater understanding of how native culture can be approached in the curriculum, as well as how technology is improving the way teachers from the outside can integrate into the community.

The ESU students, working in pairs to conduct half-hour interviews, found that the most successful teachers in Fort Yukon were those who made an effort to engage with local culture.  A greater emphasis on integrating native culture and language into the classroom, making it an important part of growing up for local students, is proving to be key, as are technological advances that allow classrooms to connect with people outside of the area.

 The ESU group also had a unique chance to experience life in the Arctic, camping and boating on the Yukon River and Denali National Park, getting experience with dog sled teams and observing wildlife and native culture. “We saw a working fishing wheel on the river, and it really showed us how much Alaskans depend on providing for themselves,” said Elementary Education Major Brittany Maccia.  “There isn’t a grocery store you can get to easily, so you need to be self-sufficient.” Before making the trip, the group developed protocols for the interviews, and practiced camping skills at ESU’s Stony Acres Recreation Area in Marshalls Creek. Since returning to campus, the students have met several times to discuss their work, in preparation of publishing their findings.

The Fort Yukon study was funded by a grant, and also made possible through the work of ESU’s Director of Extended Learning, Jennifer Serowick, and Assistant Vice President of Instructional Support and Outreach, Michael Southwell.

Cedar Crest College Inaugurates its13th President

Carmen Twillie Ambar was inaugurated as 13th
president of Cedar Crest College, Allentown, during
ceremonies held on campus on Friday, Oct. 23.
Following the declaration of her presidency, Ambar
received a standing ovation. Among honored guests
joining Ambar on the dias were Lehigh County
Commissioner Don Cunningham, Allentown Mayor
Ed Pawlowski, State Rep. Jennifer Mann, and
Lehigh University President Alice P. Gast.
Photo by Diana Morse

By DIANA MORSE
Of Lehigh Valley Source

Carmen Twillie Ambar shared her vision for a “reconstruction” of Cedar Crest College at her Friday, Oct. 23, inauguration as the institution’s 13th president.

The college’s first new president in 20 years said her objective is “to reshape the world, one Cedar Crest College student at a time.”

“We are not going to do ‘the same old thing,’ ” she said. “We must embrace the women’s  college status that our graduates are disproportionately high achievers.”

Ambar, who holds degrees from Georgetown and Princeton universities, credited her parents for her success.

“In our home, we had a saying: ‘Plow to the end of your row,’ ” she said. “Here, we've all agreed to do the same--trustees, administrators, and students.”

Susan Everitt Hudgins (’64), chairwoman of Cedar Crest College’s board of trustees, administered the oath of office to Ambar, who received a lengthy standing ovation and cheers.

Carmen Twillie Ambar addresses guests during her inauguration.
Photo by Diana Morse

Colleges, Individuals Take to Streets for Via

Bruce Keele of Bridgewater, N.J., raises his hands
in triumph after completing the 26.2-mile
Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via.
Photo by Steve Andreas

By STEVE ANDRES
Special to Lehigh Valley Source

Runners from colleges and universities across the Lehigh Valley took to the streets on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, for the inaugural Via College Cup, which was part of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) Marathon to benefit Via of the Lehigh Valley. 

“From the very young to the very old, and everybody in between, we [Via] provide[s] services and support for people with disabilities,” says Lisa Walkiewicz, Via communications director.

Joining the schools in the LVHN Marathon were individuals and corporations, all competing in the event, either running or walking. It was a successful turnout, easily surpassing last year’s total.

“The participation level has been outstanding” says Walkiewicz. “We had more than 2,000 runners registered this year. We’re close to a thousand more runners than we had last year.”

The third-year event drew a number of runners from outside Pennsylvania, says Walkiewicz, noting that the influx means a boon to the local economy.

“They’re not just staying one day to run the race,” said Walkiewicz. “They’re going to all these [other] events around the Lehigh Valley—which is great for the Lehigh Valley.”

Via’s goal was to raise more money than last year’s $90,000. This year’s marathon exceeded that mark, says Walkiewicz, noting that the totals won’t be official until the end of September.

Winners of the Via College Cup were the Lapping Leopards “A” team from Lafayette College, Easton. A team of five from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, finished the marathon in four hours, placing 128th and clocking in at 4:02:05.

However, the main focus of the Via College Cup was not to win but to get as many faculty members away from their desks and the glare of neon, and into the open for a worthwhile cause. Spearheading the College Cup was Paul Pierpoint, LVHN Marathon chairperson and dean of Northampton Community College’s Southside Campus.

Pierpoint says that the local colleges and universities have a major impact in a number of areas, including economically, culturally, and socially, making it a natural fit for their participation.

“It’s the one event for every college and university—from the community colleges to Lehigh to Penn State—in which we can all compete,” says Pierpoint. “We can all hang in there to be together.”

When Pierpoint originally floated the idea for the College Cup, the schools were “pumped,” he says. Participation demonstrates the colleges’ level of community engagement, he says, and taps into the competitive spirit of the schools by leading to bragging rights. He challenged each school to field five teams, with each team sporting runners to compete in the marathon relay.

Pierpoint began his association with Via as a volunteer. His involvement has grown over the years, an association he describes as “fun.”

“It’s been a great experience,” he says.

For more results from the marathon, visit Via’s Web site at www.vianet.org.

Steve Andres is a freelance writer.

Laura Barany of Harmony, N.J., finishes
her leg of the relay as she competes in the LVHN marathon for Via. The race, which began in Allentown and wound along the Lehigh River Canal towpath, also featured half-marathoners and walkers.

Meredith Longo (left) of Allentown and Brenda Keim of Bethlehem finished second in the corporate women’s division. The pair, who laced them up for Olympus, finished with a 3:45:23 mark.

  

  

Distributing medals to all racers were volunteers Kathy and Dick Ryan of Easton.

Live music was part of the finish festival that dotted downtown Easton during the race.