Eat Their Dust! - Robert Morris University

Eat Their Dust!RYAN HENDRICKSON ‘08 LEADS ATEAM OF RMU ENGINEERS AT THEBAJA SAE CHALLENGEALSO IN THIS ISSUESowing the Seeds of Nonprofit SuccessThe Bayer Center for Nonprofit Managementprovides valuable support to nonprofits likethe Mattress Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

D E A R A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S ,Every year, like clockwork, those of uswho work in higher education encounterat least one person who says, “It must benice not to have to work all summer.”The truth is that summer is a hectic time inthe life of a university. Professors plancourses, coaches prepare their teams, prospective students visit, and workers make repairsand oversee construction.As you well know, summer isn’t exactly a lazy time for students either. This past summer,for example, we had students who traveled to The Gambia, Ireland and Nicaragua as partof their RMU coursework. Other students helped German exchange students in Pittsburghproduce a documentary about life in the former steel town of Braddock. And in this issueof Foundations, you will read about engineering students who went to Illinois to race anall-terrain vehicle at the Baja SAE competition, the culmination of a two-year project thatthey initiated themselves.These kinds of opportunities are available all year at RMU, and we attract the kind ofstudent who seeks them out. What students learn in the classroom is vitally important, butwhat they do outside the classroom – like international studies, internships and communityservice – is just as important when it comes to shaping their character and leadership skills.That’s why this fall we are introducing the Student Engagement Transcript (SET), a way forstudents to formally document their involvement in leadership activities, community service,study abroad, work experience and more. If a student desires, their SET will be provided toprospective employers and graduate schools that request a copy of their academic transcript.Together, these two documents will demonstrate how each student has applied what theyhave learned in the classroom to real-world situations.The SET is comprised of seven categories: Arts, culture and creativity; Transcultural/globalexperiences; Undergraduate research; Service; Leadership; Professional experience;Special recognition/special projects/student activity participation.For students who are currently enrolled at RMU, participation in the “SET for Success”program is voluntary – though we certainly encourage everyone to take part. Startingwith the freshman class in the fall of 2009, students must participate in activitiesin at least two of the seven categories, which will then bedocumented on their SET.Not that we’ll have to prod anyone into filling up their SET.Many of the activities that give life to our campus are studentdriven,like the Baja SAE project or RMU Radio. This is whatsets RMU, and our students, apart.Sincerely,G R E G O R Y G . D E L L ’ O M O , P H . D .P R E S I D E N T

FALL/08FoundationsDEPARTMENTS02 < CAMPUS REPORT> 08 SCOREBOARD25 < CLASS NOTES> 31 UPCOMING EVENTSCREDITSEDITORJonathan PottsCONTRIBUTORSValentine J. Brkich, James Duzyk M’00,Jonathan Potts, Adam Mistick ‘08 (design)ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNERAmy Joy16PHOTOGRAPHYFront Cover: Kevin CookeBack Cover: Valentine J. BrkichOther Photos: Valentine J. Brkich,Glenn Brookes, Terry Clark, Jason Cohn,Kevin Cooke, Alan Freed, Adam Mistick,Jamie SandersPRINTINGHerrmann Printing & Litho Inc.Foundations (ISSN 1934-5690) is published threetimes a year by the Office of Public Relationsand Marketing in conjunction with the Office ofInstitutional Advancement and mailed free ofcharge to alumni, donors, trustees, faculty, staffand friends of Robert Morris University. Theopinions expressed in the magazine do notnecessarily reflect the official policies ofRobert Morris University.Contributions to Class Notes and addresschanges may be sent to:Office of Alumni RelationsRobert Morris University6001 University BoulevardMoon Township, PA 15108-1189Phone: 412-397-2586Fax: 412-397-2142E-mail: rmualum@rmu.eduIt is the policy of Robert Morris University toprovide equal opportunity in all educationalprograms and activities, admission of studentsand conditions of employment for all qualifiedindividuals regardless of race, color, sex,religion, age, disability, national origin and/orsexual preference.Sowing the Seedsof Nonprofit Success . . . . . . . 10As executive director of the Bayer Center for NonprofitManagement, Peggy Outon is providing local nonprofitswith the tools and guidance they need to achieve their goals.Historical Heritage . . . . . . . . . 20The new Heritage Room and Historical Display, located inthe Nicholson Center on RMU's Moon Township campus,pays tribute to the University's celebrated namesake.Forgotten Frontier . . . . . . . . . 22Through his tireless research and various published works,Daniel Barr, associate professor of history, is shedding lighton the importance of Pittsburgh in our nation’s early years.10 Questions With . . . . . . . . . 32Hank Fraley, former left tackle for the Colonials and currentstarting center for the Cleveland Browns, takes a momentto answer our questions.

CAMPUS REPORT> School of Education and Social SciencesEarns National AccreditationRMU’s School of Education and Social Sciences (SESS) has been accredited by the Teacher EducationAccreditation Council (TEAC). The certification is the culmination of a rigorous four-year process inwhich RMU’s education and teacher training programs were evaluated largely on the quality ofinstruction and student learning. SESS is the first education school in Pennsylvania to be accredited byTEAC, who granted the school the agency’s maximum initial accreditation of five years. “The facultyand staff of the School of Education and Social Sciences are to be commended for this outstandingachievement,” said RMU President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D. “This accreditation is a benchmarkof RMU’s academic quality and its commitment to student-centered instruction.” Approximately700 students are enrolled in SESS, and about 500 of them are pursuing an education degree orteaching certification.RMU’s five-year strategic plan, which was crafted in 2007, calls for the University to seek andmaintain discipline-specific accreditations for its academic programs. Accreditations aresignificant because they represent third-party validation of the University’s instructionalprograms. The University’s engineering, computer science and nursing programs have beenaccredited, and RMU is in the final stages of accreditation for its School of Business. As an institution,RMU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.John Graham, dean of the school and a professor of education, noted that, among other things, theaccreditation process demanded intense assessment of program quality by nationally recognized expertsand peers from other TEAC-accredited institutions. “These are professionals from very prestigiousuniversities, and they are evaluating whether RMU faculty provided sufficient evidence to support theircase for becoming nationally accredited,” said Graham. “This means a lot for our students, who can saythey’ve graduated from a high quality, accredited institution.”“THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ANDSOCIAL SCIENCES ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THISOUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.”> Serapiglia Delivers KeynoteConnie Serapiglia, D.Sc., director of Information Technology Customer Services at RMU, was thecommencement keynote speaker at Sto-Rox High School on June 5, 2008. Serapiglia is a four-timegraduate of RMU, holding an A.S. in administrative services, a B.A. in communications, anM.S. in communications and information systems, and a D.Sc. in information systems andcommunications. Serapiglia’s speech focused on the subject of change, its challenges, and theimportance of making the most of the opportunities it presents.2 W W W. R M U . E D U

Heroes of Post 639“The Heroes of Post 639,” a World War II documentary by Justin Seaman ’08, recently won first placein the first MCA-TV Film Fest held in Moon Township on May 31, 2008. The film first premiered atRMU on Veterans Day 2006, with several veterans in attendance. In addition, Seaman’s feature-lengthfilm about child abuse, “The Miracle of Danny,” which he made for his senior project at Robert MorrisUniversity, premiered in Claysville, Pa., on May 30 to a sold-out crowd of over 500 people. Seaman iscurrently working a summer internship in Los Angeles with the Academy of Television Arts andSciences (Emmys). He is the second consecutive RMU student to receive one of these prestigiousinternships; the first was Brad Grimm ’07.> FOR THE LATEST NEWS RACE ON OVER TO WWW.RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS> Three CheersRandon Willard, community andvolunteer services coordinator atRMU and staff member of theCoalition for ChristianOutreach(CCO),wasrecentlynamedHonoraryBrother of theYear by Alpha Phi Omega, aservice fraternity. Each year, thefraternity nominates one RMU faculty orstaff member for the honor. Willard wasinitiated into the fraternity on March 24,2008, and Alpha Phi Omega held theirend-of-the-year banquet on April 18,where Randon was invited to speakabout the influence that communityservice has played in his life. CCO isa campus ministry that partnerswith churches, colleges and otherorganizations to develop men andwomen who live out their Christianfaith in every area of life.In its spring 2008 issue,the Hiram Poetry Reviewpublished an essay byJim Vincent, associateprofessor of English andcommunications skills. “Livingin the Shadow of Hart Crane” wasthe title of an address given by Vincentat the Seventh Annual Bissell Symposiumin March 2006 at Hiram College. HartCrane, the American poet and authorof the long poem, The Bridge, was bornin Garrettsville, Ohio, and was anchoredin the northeastern parts of the state.Vincent’s personal essay recounted thevillage life of Crane and the impact ofthe area on Crane’s poetry.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3

Going GlobalShortly after commencement,a group of RMU studentstraveled to The Gambia aspart of a communicationscourse, Communicationsand Society in The Gambia.The trip was the first forRMU to Africa, and itwas led by MichaelDiLauro, director of RMU’sAcademic Media Center.On June 28, Jim Vincent, associateprofessor of English and communicationsskills, led 16 students to Ireland, wherethey studied Irish literature at GriffithCollege in Dublin.“I’m encouragingmy students to thinkof themselves ascitizens of theplanet Earth andnot simply residentsof Allegheny Countyand Beaver County,” said Vincent.Approximately percent of RMUundergraduate students participate insome kind of study abroad experienceduring their collegiate career, more thantwice the national average.> We’ll Miss You> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE STORIES VISIT WWW.RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS> Howard Speaks in SingaporeValerie M. Howard, Ed.D., RN, associate professor for RMU's Schoolof Nursing and Health Sciences, presented at the Sigma Theta TauInternational Nursing Society Research Congress in Singapore on July 8.The Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society is a prestigiousorganization that supports the learning, knowledge and professionaldevelopment of nurses committed to making a difference in healthworldwide. Howard spoke about her research on nursing simulation,which involves the use of realistic computerized mannequins to recreateactual clinical situations.> Anderson CommissionedChristopher Anderson M'08 was commissioned a second lieutenant intothe United States Army Field Artillery Corps on May 8, 2008, in theSewell Center. 2LT Anderson was the second RMU ROTC student to becommissioned since the program returned to campus. He received hisbachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh before coming toRMU in 2007 to take part in the ROTC program and pursue a master’sdegree in information systems management. After completing the FieldArtillery Officer Basic Course in Ft. Sill, Okla., 2LT Anderson will beassigned to a permanent duty station in Hawaii.After 41 years of service to Robert MorrisUniversity, Georgia Ogrizovich, coordinatorof environmental services for facilitiesmanagement, retired in June. Ogrizovichwas hired by RMU in 1967 to work as acoordinator in what was then known asPhysical Plant Administration. “To Georgia,the RMU community was not simplyco-workers of hers, but part of herextended family,” said Perry Roofner,chief facilities officer.Brad Pendell also retired in June after over 31years at RMU. Pendell served in a variety ofpositions at the University in the areas ofadmissions and financial aid. “Brad wasa valuable member of the admissionsteam and we are thankful for hiscontributions to our recruiting effortsover the years,” said Kellie Laurenzi,dean of admissions. “He truly lovedworking at RMU and will alwayshave a great affection forthe University.”Margot Turner, who has been a part ofRMU for over 20 years, serving as a secretaryin several departments, retired in May.“Margot has been an invaluable assetto the athletics department for the past18 years,” said Carol Bonner, assistantdirector of compliance. “We can onlyimagine how we will continuewithout her.”4 • W W W. R M U . E D U> BRAD PENDELL

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE OVER 200> RMU Gallery UnveiledThe RMU Gallery, located in the University’s 600 Fifth Ave. buildingin downtown Pittsburgh, is holding a grand opening reception to kickoff the annual Faculty Exhibition on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 5–8 p.m.The reception will feature tours of the Media Arts program’s newclassroom and studio space. “These beautiful and superbly equippedfacilities are rich with cutting-edge technology and will add significantsupport for our mission to place RMU graduates in the very bestmedia arts careers, regionally and nationally," said Tim Hadfield,head of the Department of Media Arts at RMU. The Faculty Exhibitionruns through Oct. 31, and is free and open to the public.> Kalevitch in GreeceIn May 2008, Maria Kalevitch, Ph.D., professor of science andassociate dean for RMU’s School of Engineering, Mathematicsand Science, received the invitation from Athens Institute forEducation and Research, Greece, to make an oral presentationat the 3rd International Symposium on Environment.Her presentation was titled “Bacterial and MineralContent in Manufactured Soils.” More than 100researchers participated in this InternationalSymposium, with participants comingfrom Europe, Asia and Africa.TOWERING PINES SCATTERED BETWEEN MASSEY HALL AND THE NICHOLSON CENTER?> ScholarshipsRMU’s School of Business (SBUS) hasannounced its Integrity First Scholars andfinalists for 2008. The recipients of the$2,500 scholarships are Michel Jandrasits,Katie Marseilles, Luke Mohamed,Ross Gensler and Erik Herleman. Theremaining finalists are Joshua Dadeboe,Peter Fetchin, Kimberly Gardner, ErinNeely and Julie Nelson. Applicants hadto address an ethical dilemma in caseformat and submit it to the SBUS EthicsCommittee, headed by Darlene Motley,Ph.D., head of RMU’s Department ofManagement, and director of its M.S. inHuman Resource Management program.The committee then worked withRande Somma ‘73, member of the boardof visitors, in doing a blind assessment ofall the submissions. All 10 finalists will berecognized at the SBUS Faculty Retreat -sponsored by Somma - on Sept. 26, andeach will receive a plaque acknowledginghis or her effort.For the second consecutive year, theSociety of Manufacturing Engineers(SME) has awarded scholarships to threeRMU students. SME awarded only ninescholarships to students in Pennsylvania,and no other institution in the statecaptured as many scholarships as RMU.“Our students received this recognitiondue to their excellent academicperformance and their contributions tothe field of manufacturing engineering,”said Arif Sirinterlikci, associateprofessor of engineering and advisorto RMU’s student chapter of SME. TheRMU scholarship winners are: ChrisBird, a senior from Bridgeville, Pa,who received the $5,000 SME Directors’Scholarship; Kayla Miller, a seniorfrom Manns Choice, Pa., who receivedthe E. Wayne Kay Scholarship for$2,500; and Justin Laughner, a juniorfrom Indianapolis, Ind., who alsoreceived the E. Wayne Kay Scholarship.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 5

Nothing ExpectedNothing Expected, a band that includes RMU student AdamDvorsky, took part in the New American Music Union,Aug. 8–9, 2008. Sponsored by American Eagle Outfitters, thefestival, which featured a main stage with headliners and a CollegeMusic Stage featuring top college bands, took place at the clothier’sPittsburgh headquarters at the South Side Works. The main stageline-up was selected by Artistic Curator Anthony Kiedis of the RedHot Chili Peppers and featured Bob Dylan and His Band, GnarlsBarkley, The Roots and Tiny Masters of Today, among others. Otherbands in the college line-up included Bears (Kent State University),The Elizabethan Report (BYU), Flying Machines (The New School),Gospel Gossip (Carleton College),Magic Bullets (College ofSan Mateo), My DearDisco (University ofMichigan) and The Steps(University of Texas at Austin).> Colonial SportsCenterColonial SportsCenter (CSC), a student-produced 30-minute sportshighlight show airing weekly on RMU-TV, celebrated its 10thconsecutive season in a live special on April 18, 2008. The specialrecapped the show’s 10 years, highlighted the progress of theUniversity’s athletic department, and reunited of many of the show’scurrent and former anchors and producers. CSC features highlights ofathletic events, features on athletes and coaches, as well as commentaryon regional sporting events. It has received numerous local and nationalaccolades during its existence. Past anchors and producers have foundsuccess as on-air talent at NBC affiliates, sports writers at regionalnewspapers, a managing producer for a national high school sportswebsite, and a producer/director for the Pittsburgh Steelers.6 • W W W. R M U . E D U

Rooney ScholarOn March 20, Robert Morris University welcomed its spring 2008 RooneyScholar, Arie Maharshak, Ph.D., and his wife, Dafna. Maharshak wason sabbatical as head of the department of industrial engineering andmanagement at ORT Braude College in Israel. He has worked as seniorresearch associate with the Aeronautics & Astronautics Advanced RoboticsLaboratory at Stanford University, co-founded the Israeli Tele-WorkingAssociation, and received the Israeli Television Award for Innovation andCreativity. He holds a B.Sc. in electrical engineering as well as M.Sc. andPh.D. degrees in regional planning from the Technion Institute ofTechnology in Haifa, Israel.> RMU Receives NationalScience Foundation GrantRMU’s School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science (SEMS) hasreceived a five-year, $562,000 grant from the National Science Foundationto fund a mathematics, science and engineeringscholars program for students enteringRMU in the fall of 2009. The grant wasawarded under the foundation’sScholarships in Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM)program. The S-STEM Scholars Program atRMU will be open to 21 undergraduate studentswho plan to major in one of the fields offeredby SEMS. The program will promote students’academic success through seminars,internships, research, and cultural andsocial events, according to RMU ScienceProfessor Maria Kalevitch, Ph.D., who willdirect the S-STEM Scholars Program.> FOR MORE ON THESE AND OTHER 2007–08 FACULTY PROMOTIONS, VISIT WWW.RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS.> Movin’ On UpBarbara J. Levine, Ph.D., wasnamed dean of RMU’s School ofCommunication and InformationSystems in June 2008. Levine succeedsDavid L. Jamison, J.D., who last yearwas named RMU’s provost and seniorvice president of academic affairs. After anational search, Levine, an associateprofessor of communication at RMU,was one of a small group of candidatesrecommended for the position by afaculty-led search committee. Levineholds a Ph.D. in communicationfrom the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has 18 years ofexperience in higher education.RMU has conferred theranking of universityprofessor on three of itscurrent faculty: ValeriePowell, R.T. (R), Ph.D.(Computer InformationSystems), Carl Ross,Ph.D., CRNP, CNE(Nursing) and RobertSkovira, Ph.D.(Computer InformationSystems). The university professortitle is conferred upon certain facultymembers in recognition of exemplaryservice over eight years or more,following an evaluation by facultycolleagues, the department head anddean, and a specially constitutedcommittee including experts in theirfield from other universities. These threenewly promoted professors join otheruniversity professors Denis Rudd, Ed.D.(Hospitality Management), Alan Smith,Ph.D. (Marketing), Jay Carson, D.A.(English Studies/Communications Skills),Ann Jabro, Ph.D., (Communication),Fred Kohun, Ph.D. (ComputerInformation Systems) and ConnieRuzich, Ph.D. (English Studies/Communications Skills).R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 7

SCOREB ARD> OLSON AND GASPERSIGN WITH CHIEFSJoey Olson ‘07 and Joel Gasper ‘08 recently signed withthe Johnstown Chiefs of ECHL Premier AA Hockey League.Olson, who signed in January, had previously been playingwith the Mon Valley Thunder of the Mid-AtlanticHockey League. Gasper, who was studyingengineering at RMU, joined the Chiefs in March.> COLONIALSRECEIVE HONORSIn the spring of 2008, four Colonials were named to theirrespective ESPN The Magazine District II AcademicAll-America Teams by the College Sports InformationDirectors of America (CoSIDA). Juniors Brooke Panepintoand Susan Perich were named for softball, senior JeffWitmyer for track and field, and Joel Gasper ‘08 of themen’s ice hockey team to the at-large squad. Panepintoowns a 3.53 cumulative GPA as a marketing major, Perichis studying elementary education and carries a 3.78GPA, and Gasper posted a 3.92 GPA as a manufacturingengineering major. Witmyer, who was also named the2008 Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete for outdoortrack and field, earned a Bachelor of Science degree ininformation sciences and a master’s degree in informationsecurity and assurance, and owned a GPA of 3.73.> RMU HAS MEMORABLE SOFTBALFor the first time since 1997, and thefifth time overall in Craig Coleman’s18-year tenure as head coach, theColonials reached the 30-win plateau in2008. RMU finished 30-20 overall,including a 15-3 mark in the NortheastConference to finish in second place.The Colonials reached the finals of theNEC Tournament, falling to LongIsland.Freshman shortstop Jessica Calderonewas named the 2008 NEC Rookie of theYear after hitting a team-high .388, with29 runs, six doubles, three home runsand 16 RBI. Earning All-NEC First Teamhonors were juniors Brooke Panepintoand Susan Perich, while freshmanAnnie Dubovec was named to the All-NEC Second Team. Panepinto hit .355on the year and led the Colonials inruns (32), doubles (9), home runs (9)and stolen bases (11), while finishingsecond in batting average and RBI (26).She also earned a spot on the All-NFCAMid-Atlantic Team. Perich hit .310 onthe season with four home runs and 22RBI, while Dubovec hit .351 with threehome runs and 15 RBI. In 13 leaguegames, Dubovec hit .485 and wasnamed to the All-NEC TournamentTeam, along with senior Brenna Reedand freshman Lindsey Moates. Reed hit.324 on the 2008 campaign and led theColonials with 33 RBI, while Moatesfinished 15-6 in the pitcher’s circle,posting an ERA of 2.50, with threesaves and 113 strikeouts.> TICKERMEN’S LACROSSE > Led by head coach BearDavis, the Colonials finished with a record of4-11. Senior attack Andrew Watt led RMU with55 points, scoring 36 points while adding 19assists, and was named to the All-CAA SecondTeam. Earning spots on the All-CAA RookieTeam were a trio of Colonials: freshmen CorbynTao-Brambleby, Trevor Moore and Keith Lee.Tao-Brambleby scored 19 goals and added 12assists for 31 points to finish second on theclub, while Moore scored 18 goals and addednine assists. Lee was a faceoff specialistfor RMU, winning 134 of his 236 faceoffs for asuccess rate of 56.8 percent – the highest amongall freshmen in Division I lacrosse. WOMEN’SLACROSSE > RMU posted an overall record of5-11 under head coach Katy Phillips, includinga mark of 4-4 in the Northeast Conference. JuniorJennifer Collins paced the Colonials in goalswith 23 and finished third on the club in scoringwith 31 points by adding eight assists. Juniorattack Ashley Levering led the team with 40points on 15 goals and a team-high 25 assists.Sophomore attack Alana Beck added 20 goalsand 18 assists, while junior Emily Tomlinsoncontributed 21 goals and six assists, and juniorKara Blakeley recorded 22 goals and two assists.TENNIS > Led by head coach Jeff Layman, theRMU men’s tennis squad reached the semifinalsof the 2008 NEC Tournament before falling toeventual champion Fairleigh Dickinson. TheColonials finished with an overall recordof 7-14, including a mark of 3-1 in NortheastConference matches. Freshman Robert Switzerfinished 11-9 in dual matches to lead theColonials, including a combined record of8 • W W W. R M U . E D U

TICKERMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD > RMUfinished fourth at the 2008 NortheastConference Outdoor Championships,L SEASONThe softball team had a once-in-alifetimeopportunity in May, takingon Team USA in an exhibition gameat Consol Energy Park in Washington,Pa., as part of the Bound 4 Beijing Tour.Team USA defeated the Colonials, 16-0,in the six-inning contest in front of astanding-room-only crowd of 4,132.But the final score isn’t what themembers of the RMU softball teamwill remember.“To have an opportunity like this issomething that our players are going toremember forever,” said Coleman. “Ourplayers couldn’t have been happier totake part in something like this. Itproves how much the sport of softballhas grown in Western Pennsylvania.”The Colonials mustered three hitsagainst Team USA, as LaurenNisivoccia, Panepinto and Duboveceach singled. Moates retired TeamUSA in order in the bottom ofthe fourth inning.Many of the Colonials had family inattendance, including Panepinto, whoserelatives drove in from Kentucky. Onething Panepinto can always say is thatshe got a hit off a gold medalist. “I’musually pretty modest,” Panepinto said.“But when I got to first base, I was like‘Yes! I just got a hit off the Olympicsoftball team!’ This was a big deal tome and my teammates.”> FOR THE LATEST SCORES VISIT WWW.RMUCOLONIALS.COMwhich was hosted by the Colonials at theRMU Island Sports Center. Led by headcoach Michael Smith, RMU finishedthe two-day event with 102 points.Jeff Witmyer ‘08 won the high jumpthanks to a leap of 6’7”, while sophomoreNasim Siddeeq claimed gold in thetriple jump with a leap of 51’0.75”,breaking a 13-year-old NEC outdoormeet record of 49’7”. In the 3,000-metersteeplechase, Phillips Thompson ‘08posted a time of 9:20.71, winning theevent by almost nine seconds. Takinghome silver medals were sophomoresAnthony Trunzo and Duri Greene.Trunzo finished second in the polevault with a leap of 14’9”, while Greenefinished second in the javelin thanks to athrow of 195’9”. Witmyer was crownedan IC4A champion in the high jump,posting a mark of 6’8.25” in his firstattempt. WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK &FIELD > Also led by head coach MichaelSmith, RMU finished seventh at the2008 Northeast Conference OutdoorChampionships, recording 77.50points. Jordhanna White ‘08 won the100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.22seconds, and sophomore Melitta Brownclaimed gold in the long jump by postinga leap of 18’10.25”. Sophomore AshleyTurici finished second in the javelin witha throw of 140’10”. Each advanced to theNCAA East Regional, with Turici earninga 15th-place finish in the javelin with atoss of 1391’1”.7-3 playing at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles flights.Layman also served as head coach of the RMUwomen’s team, guiding the Colonials to anoverall record of 3-11, 2-1 in the NortheastConference. RMU finished ninth at the 2008NEC Championships and was led by juniorKali Delorie, who finished with a record of3-11. GOLF > Jerry Stone, head coach of theRMU men’s and women’s golf teams, led theColonials to a sixth place finish at the 2008Northeast Conference Men’s Championships atHershey Links in Hershey, Pa., while the womenfinished seventh at Lake JovitaGolf and Country Club in DadeCity, Fla. At Hershey, freshman C.G.Mercatoris finished 14th individuallywith a three-day score of 224. JimmyTomaseski ‘08 was one stroke back ofMercatoris, tying for 17th individuallywith a 225. Mercatoris averaged 75.81strokes in 2007–08, tops on the club.He also won the Tri-State AmateurChampionship at Cranberry HighlandGolf Club in June, with a score of 136.Pacing the women wassophomore LaurenLancia, who finished 25thindividually with a three-dayscore of 261. Sophomore AshleighFrieday finished two strokesbehind Lancia with a final tallyof 263. Lancia, had the bestaverage round score in 2007–08for the Colonials, posting anaverage score of 72.75 strokes.> C.G. MERCATORISR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 9

SowingtheSeedsof NonprofAround the turn of the 18th century, John Chapman, a.k.a., Johnny Appleseed, left hisMassachusetts home and headed west out into the vast American wilderness. Always barefoot,dressed in rags and donning a metal pot for a hat, this pioneer and early conservationistwandered throughout the Midwest planting apple trees from Pennsylvania toIllinois. To those who knew him, Appleseed was a generous, selflessman who found great satisfaction in helping others.Peggy Outon is the Johnny Appleseed of nonprofitmanagement support – minus the metal pot hat and rags.Since 1987, she has been spreading the seeds of nonprofitmanagement throughout the country, from Austin to NewOrleans to Pittsburgh and beyond. She’s even founded threenonprofit management organizations during her career,including the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management atRobert Morris University, where she serves as executivedirector.Founded in 1999, the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Managementprovides the necessary tools for nonprofit organizations toeffectively manage and compete in today's society. Based indowntown Pittsburgh, the Bayer Center works with nonprofitsto assure that the money they receive from both publicand private sources is efficiently and effectively spent inorder to advance their charitable mission.10

itSuccessThe Bayer Center offers consulting services in many areasincluding board development, business planning, collaborationand alliances, financial management, fund development,organizational effectiveness and technology planning. It alsooffers workshops on such topics as collaboration, technology,innovative financing, human resources and marketing. Thecenter provides information and referral services, conductsapplied research and convenes in-depth discussions on thesocietal problems addressed by nonprofit organizations.Furthermore, it works to build mutually beneficial partnershipsrather than conventional donor-recipient connections.In addition, the Bayer Center staff members teach some of theclasses in RMU's M.S. in Nonprofit Management Program,which is offered by the School of Business. Students in theprogram study finance, accounting and human resourcemanagement, as well as nonprofit-specific topics likeorganizational culture, legal issues and fundraising. The BayerCenter staff adds the seasoned practitioner’s point of view tothe program.The Bayer Center was initiated by a gift from the RichardKing Mellon Foundation to RMU to ensurethat nonprofits had access to goodpractice, tools, information, educationand research, and that they understoodhow to be well managed. Scott D.Izzo, director of the foundation, wasthere when the idea for the BayerCenter came about. “The BayerCenter provides value by offeringan array of programs, bestpractices and a variety ofservices at a relatively large‘‘Washington County Habitat for HumanityPeggy OutonLaura Karl Vincenti, Executive DirectorWe had some organizational issues and realized that we needed an outsideperspective. Representatives from our board of directors and I met withPeggy Outon to talk about our areas of concern and what services theBayer Center for Nonprofit Management would be able to provide. It wasa big decision for our small organization to invest in a consultant, and wediscussed it over several board meetings. Peggy talked with our board,discussed the proposed contract and answered our questions. It becamecrystal clear that not only was engaging the Bayer Center something thatwould be smart to do, it was something we had to do to help us becomethe well-run organization we strive to be.Nonprofit organizations are doing vital work and rely on the members oftheir communities to help by providing funding and volunteer service. Thepeople who give so generously of their time and money demand anddeserve the organizations they support be well-run, organized, ethical andgood stewards of the money and talent entrusted to them. The BayerCenter helps nonprofits be all those things.Aside from never having enough money, I believe the biggest challengefacing nonprofits, especially small organizations, is appropriately educatingand utilizing their board of directors, who are legally and fiscally liable forthe organization. They are key to developing the vision of the organizationand leading it into the future. Too often, however, they are not properlytrained as to their duties and responsibilities. Also, since staff is not alwaysadept at tapping the talents of the individual board members or at sharinginformation, board members can feel disconnected, which is just as bad.‘The Bayer Center has helped our board members embrace their roles asadvisors, mentors and chief fundraisers. In turn, our staff has learned howto better utilize the members’ talents and expertise and how to keepthe members appropriately informed and engaged.Thanks to the Bayer Center, we are working muchbetter together as a team to provide the highestand best service we can, and to reach evengreater levels of service in years to come.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D A T I O N S • 1 1

Girl Scouts Western PennsylvaniaPatricia A. Burkart, Chief Executive Officerscale,” says Izzo. “It has truly been a wonderful additionto the region.” Izzo, along with Jim Denova of the BenedumFoundation, and Edward A. Nicholson, past president ofRMU, served as the impetus for the center back in 1999.When we decided to merge the five Girl Scout Councils in WesternPennsylvania, we looked for a consultant to help support our work throughthe realignment process. We had worked with the Bayer Center for NonprofitManagement before, regarding training for our board members, and sowe ended up choosing them as our consultant through our 18-monthrealignment process. The Bayer Center made commentsand recommendations that helped us move along the process.The members of our Council Realignment Committee knew how to move theGirl Scout Councils forward, in general, but Scott Leff helped direct us withregard to legal considerations and encouraged us to bring in legal councilwhen we needed it. He was also instrumental in guiding us through trainingof our board members and staff. Scott listened intently to everything wediscussed. He was very considerate and gave us an objectiveperspective, making recommendations for other considerations asneeded. We relied upon him to jump in when we were struggling withthe proper direction to take. His experience and knowledge regardingthe merger process was a tremendous asset as a member of our team.One of the biggest challenges we faced was helping the members andvolunteers of our organization feel good about and support our merger.Scott Leff and Yvonne Von Haitsma worked with us to prepare anextremely beneficial training program for our board members andstaff. This really set us off on the right foot and helped everyone feelsupportive of our merger.‘‘Another challenge was understanding what was required during themerger process. Scott attended our meetings and guided us on thosekey parts of the process. We really needed that additional level of mergerexpertise that Scott brought to the discussion. He was our mergercompass. He guided us when we were heading off track.The staff members from the Bayer Center are absolutely invaluableto this community. They provided a breadth of knowledge thatwas imperative to our success.“It took a few meetings for the concept to evolve,” says Izzo.“We then formed a community committee of several fundersand community group leaders, and shaped a job descriptionfor the executive director position. Peggy, with her nationaland regional background in nonprofit technical supportwork, emerged as the strongest candidate.”The Bayer Center spends enough time to know each clientwell and be able to help them effectively, whether that takesa few months or as long as a year or more. The center workswith clients as large as Pressley Ridge, a storied,international organization for troubled youth;and as new and growing as the GoodGrief Center, a bereavement supportorganization.“We are market-driven,” says Outon.“We don’t really have an average client.If someone calls us and asks us forassistance, our job is to help them.”The Bayer Center offers training infundraising, finance and technology, andtries to remain current in each area. Theylisten to what their clients are talkingabout and, in response, try to craftprograms around their needs. “We offersummer camps and executive breakfasts,”says Outon. “We do avariety of things.In fact, we arethe only placein our regionthat offersworkshopsyear-round.”“We are attempting and1 2

A Growing DemandNonprofits are, to a great degree, a phenomenon of the past35 to 40 years. The explosion of the nonprofit industry can betraced to the early 1980s and the redefinition of the role ofgovernment in the lives of its citizens. As government hasgotten smaller, services it once provided are now beingdelivered by nonprofits. What's more, the amount ofmoney flowing through nonprofits has grown exponentially.Southwestern Pennsylvania alone has at around 6,000nonprofits.“Society’s need for the nonprofit solution is urgent,”says Outon.The Bayer Center serves a 10-county region, bridging thesectors between government and business, and providingthings that are essential for quality of life. It brings people’stalent and time into nonprofits through volunteerism andboard service as well as through professional staff.As the nonprofit market grows, it’s clear that there is muchwork to be done. Fortunately, resources are becomingavailable to pay for that work. Many colleges and universitiesare recognizing the need and are offering courses in nonprofitmanagement.“We’re certainly in a very competitive marketplace,” saysOuton. “Being affiliated with RMU gives us a distinctiveness.The way in which we’ve organized ourselves gives us a lot ofopportunities.”As the market grows, the Bayer Center is looking to be aneven more comprehensive resource. It has extensiveconsulting services and offers educational programming onapproximately 100 topics a year through its non-credit classofferings. It also conducts vital research including a wageand benefit survey commissioned by the United Way,which documents in great detail the employment practiceof nonprofits locally. In addition, the center charts the use oftechnology by nonprofits and does a biannual surveyof connectivity, application, board engagement andtechnology use.Few other nonprofit management organizations are asfar-reaching as the Bayer Center, and few have such aknowledgeable staff. Nicholson, who writes and teaches inthe center’s nonprofit management program, recognizes thecenter’s importance to the nonprofit community.“The mission of the center is still vital,” says Nicholson.“Many nonprofit organizations still need to adopt bettermanagement practices to serve their clients effectively.We’re here to help them do just that.”Other staff members include Scott Leff, associate director;Michelle David, consulting assistant; Jeff Forster, director oftechnology services and research; Cindy Leonard, technologyservices analyst; Carrie Richards, marketing manager; andCarrie Bennett, staff consultant and researcher.In addition to its nine full-time workers, the Bayer Centerboasts a large team of volunteers from the Executive ServiceCorps, many of whom are retired executives from Alcoa,Westinghouse, PPG, Highmark and other respected localcorporations. These knowledgeable volunteers work withmostly smaller nonprofits on executive coaching, strategicplanning and facilities management. The center alsocollaborates with approximately 60 attorneys in their LawLinks program, a service that provides pro bono legal servicesand clinics where nonprofits can get basic legal consulting fora nominal fee.“The main strength of our team is its diversity,” says Outon.“No one at the Bayer Center has the same background. Theyall come at the nonprofit world from a different place. Butthey all work well together.”Sowing the SeedsContrary to popular belief, Johnny Appleseed didn’t justrandomly scatter apple seeds over the landscape. In reality,he planted nurseries, built fences around them and returnedevery year or two to tend to them, nurture them and helpthem grow.succeeding as a comprehensive resource for nonprofit organizations.”R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D A T I O N S • 13

Bayer Center StaffPeggy OutonAs director of the Bayer Center, Outon does the same thingwith nonprofits. She helps them plant their seed, so to speak,and then gives them the tools and knowledge they need togrow and thrive. Of course, all this comes naturally to Outon,who’s made a career out of working with nonprofits.Born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in Dallas,Outon attended Sweet Briar College inVirginia for two years before earningdegrees in drama and government fromthe University of Texas at Austin. Shestarted her career at the Laguna GloriaArt Museum in Austin as a fundraiser,working in community management.Ten years later, she moved to NewOrleans to be the director ofdevelopment for the city’scontemporary arts center. While there,she helped build the Ogden Museumof Southern Art at the University ofNew Orleans, and she started a nonprofitcenter as well.Outon is a pioneer of the nonprofit movement,and her career reaches backto the beginnings of nonprofitmanagement as a discipline.She has served as a management consultant to more than600 nonprofit organizations in fund development, boarddevelopment, strategic and operational planning, andvolunteer management. As a volunteer, she has served on 34boards – seven as president – including chairing the foundingboard of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, a nationalnetwork of nonprofit capacity builders.Outon started teaching nonprofit management at thegraduate level at the University of New Orleans in 1993. Backthen, the field was new and resources were scarce. “I had togo to New York City to find books on the subject,” she says.“Now there are nonprofit management books available onlineand in bookstores everywhere.”Since then, the nonprofit industry has grown dramatically,creating a great need for the kind of services the Bayer Centerprovides. “The stakes have gone up exponentially,” saysOuton. “If you look at nonprofit study programs, you’ll findthat most of them, the earliest ones, are about 25 to 30 yearsold. This is a pretty young industry. Using evidence to guidedecisions is relatively new for nonprofits.”Outon believes very strongly in the people who choose towork in nonprofits. “We are enormously served by theiridealism, their ambition for our communities to thrive andtheir generosity to us all to try to see that the child gets thevaccine or that the elderly person has a place to live,” she“I think the Bayer Centerfor Nonprofit Management is a great resource for all the nonprofits in Pittsburgh because they providevalua

says. “They’re brave and I respect them. If you believe ininterconnection, which I absolutely do, we are all so muchsafer, happier and stronger because of the people who workat nonprofit organizations.“I always say that nonprofits build strong communities.We (the Bayer Center) build strong nonprofits. I have been anonprofit employee all of my life and have learned a lot frommy own mistakes. So bringing my knowledge and expertiseto others who are trying to make the world better is areal joy.”In July 2006, Outon was named a NonProfit Times Power& Influence Top 50 Honoree. In May 2008, she received thePearl of Excellence Award from the Girl Scouts of WesternPennsylvania – the organization’s highest honor, which isgiven to a woman who exemplifies sacrifice in service tothe community.Outon is also a founding member of the Peter F. DruckerFoundation international training team. The late Drucker,who’s widely considered to be the father of modernmanagement, once said that the 21st century would bethe century of the social sector. In one of Outon’s favoritequotes, Drucker once asked, “What are you going to doMonday morning?” It is a quote that Outon recalls oftenfor inspiration.“Unlike a lot of people, I look forward to Mondays,”she says. “Each new week is another chance to helpsomeone grow their nonprofit organization, which inturn will benefit those in need. I love my work, and Icouldn’t imagine doing anything else.”Written By Valentine J. BrkichPhotography By Kevin Cooke‘‘The Mattress FactoryCatena Bahneman, Assistant DirectorI think the Bayer Center is very important because they provide anecessary resource for many nonprofits.I first became involved with the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Managementby attending several of the workshops they provide. One of our boardmembers had suggested I look into their classes, and I ended upenrolling in the Quickbooks/Financial 101 classes, as well as one onExcel, and also their HR workshop series.Since my job involves several departments, such as accounting and HR,I was able not only to pick up more efficient ways to do things, but I alsodiscovered areas that I didn't even realize I had overlooked. The BayerCenter helped me set up procedures and provided necessary backuptools to refer to. I worked with several of the in-house instructors andattended a breakfast seminar with Executive Director Peggy Outon,and I also worked with professionals in the field – employmentlawyers – for the HR workshop. I also worked with a member of theirExecutive Service Corps to help us with our employee handbook.The biggest challenge I face in the nonprofit industry is beingresponsible for many areas in our organization, while many forprofitcompanies have entire departments responsible for thosesame duties. The Bayer Center has been a great help to me byshowing me the best way to manage all my responsibilities andget the most out of our resources.‘The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management is an incredibleresource for the Pittsburgh region, and here at The MattressFactory, we’re so glad to have such a valuable partner to helpus achieve our goals.ble information andresources to a lot of organizations in the area.” – Kevin Perkey, 3 Rivers Connect1 5

Mud. Dust. Dirt. Exhaust fumes. That may not soundtoo appealing to you, but for Ryan Hendrickson ’08,it’s the stuff dreams are made of.For more than two years, Hendrickson longed for theday when he’d be splattered with mud and breathingin the pungent fumes of a Briggs & Stratton engine.Between April 2006 and May 2008, this engineeringmajor, with a concentration in software engineering,led a team of students and faculty that designed andbuilt an off-road vehicle for the annual Baja SAECollegiate Design Series competition.Sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE), Baja SAE is a unique competition in whichteams of engineering students design andbuild an off-road, all-terrain vehicle toconquer a rugged course and survivevarious grueling events. Theinaugural Mini Baja event washeld in 1976 at the Universityof South Carolina, and it wasthe first competition inwhat would becomeSAE's CollegiateDesign Series.Baja SAE offers students a challenging engineeringproject that teaches them about the process ofintroducing a new product to the consumer industrialmarket. The competition pits teams against eachother as they battle to have their design accepted formanufacture by a fictitious firm. It’s a comprehensiveproject that requires students to work together notonly to design, build, test, promote, and race a vehicleaccording to a set of strict guidelines, but also togenerate adequate financial support. And they haveto achieve all this while still keeping up with theirother academic obligations.This year’s Baja SAE Illinois competition – one of threeoffered by SAE – took place May 29–31 at Caterpillar'sEdwards Demonstration Center & Learning Center inPeoria, Ill. The testing grounds featured a challenging1.4-mile dirt and gravel endurance track filled withobstacles that challenged every aspect of the vehicle’sdesign, and included a log pull, a hill climb and a landmaneuverability test.RMU’s team was led by a core group made up ofproject manager Hendrickson, freshman and leadengineer Jeff Cox, freshman Craig Hatok, freshmanAdam Lutty and junior Mike Wood. Other teammembers included freshman Jason St. Jacques,sophomore Tim Skelton, junior James Doswell, andRich Johnson ’08, Tanuj Kohli ’08, Dominiq Perrian ’08,Kevin Siverd ’08, Mike Boehm ’08, Alan Hickey ’08and Dave Zusinas ’08.The project was completed with the support of WinstonErevelles, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering,Mathematics and Science; Joe Iannelli, Ph.D., head ofthe Department of Engineering, who served as resourcecoordinator; Priya Manohar, engineering professor, whoserved as full-time faculty adviser; and Gary Yarmeak,associate laboratory engineer, who served as thetechnical advisor. The project came about becauseHendrickson approached Erevelles with a requestto embrace a project with significant studentengagement. The two hunted for a projectthat would challenge students from various

engineering majors to practice engineering techniques,solve real-world problems, motivate other students towant to participate in the engineering department, andraise national and local awareness of the University.Hendrickson and Erevelles discovered the Baja SAEchallenge while searching online for national engineeringcompetitions. A hands-on project that attracted nationalattention, it seemed like a good fit. “We wantedsomething that would enable our students to exercisetheir engineering skills while getting their hands dirty,”says Erevelles. “Obviously, this was the perfect projectfor that.”The engineering team approached the project in fourphases: research, design/integration, building andtesting/racing, with the first step being the completionof a cost and design report.By fall of 2006, expecting to race the car in the spring,the team spent numerous hours working on the vehicle,gathering information and building a prototype frameusing 3-D modeling software. However, by Decemberthey had significant setbacks. They had no sponsors, nobudget, and they also had deferred some key decisionsthat were now coming due. By the time they went toregister for the event, the race was already full.Reluctantly, they had to postpone the project foranother year.“We put it off for a year to go back and revisit some ofthe design decisions that were initially made,” saysHendrickson. “We had to decide whether we weregoing for 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive, what typeof transmission it was going to have, and so on.”The team didn’t let this setback discourage them,however, and they knew that they couldn't let asemester go to waste. By the spring of 2007 theywere diligently working on a PVC prototype,which would give them a better idea of how theywere going to design the car and would alsohelp to recruit new team members during the freshmantours. An added advantage of the PVC constructionwas affordability – the model could be built forunder $100.As the freshman class began arriving that fall, newstudents became interested and started to participatein the project. Cox, Hatok and Lutty rose to thetop. “Of all the students initially considered for theproject,” says Hendrickson, “Jeff, Craig and Adam werethe most interested. Jeff, especially, really wanted totake a leadership position. So, as my senior semesterwound down, Jeff assumed the role of project manager,although I stayed very active in the project.”By spring of 2008, Lutty had been heading up thechassis design modifications. “This was without adoubt the largest part of the project,” says Hendrickson.“Without having a solid frame design, components maynot attach correctly or break during racing.”Facilitated by Manohar, the team went to TriArc, aBlawnox, Pa., company that manufactures steel rollingladders, where an RMU Engineering alumnus, TimResciniti ’02, spent several hours helping them bendthe pipe for the vehicle chassis. Manohar and Yarmeaktrained the Baja team members on how to use thewelding equipment and different welding techniques.The team also looked at competitors’ cars that did welland modeled theirs off of those. They went throughfour revisions of their original model before theycame up with a final design. “The Baja rulebook is verystrict,” says Lutty. “Every time a new part came in, I’dhave to change something in the design to make surewe met the guidelines.”R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D A T I O N S • 1 7

Saturday was the real test for the vehicle, however, asthey participated in the endurance part of thecompetition. The RMU vehicle, piloted by Hendrickson,completed 10 laps and was one of only 25 to survivethat long.In May, once finals were complete, Jeff, Adam,Craig and Ryan dedicated every waking minute tothe vehicle's completion. By the end of the month,they were finally ready to take on the challenges ofBaja SAE 2008.The team arrived in Peoria on Tuesday, May 26. Thefollowing day, they worked on putting the finishingtouches on their vehicle. On Thursday, the team had abusy schedule that included a tech inspection as wellas both a sales and design presentation. Hendricksonand Lutty handled the presentations, in which theymarketed their vehicle as two models: a sport modeland an economy model.1 8 • W W W . R M U . E D USteve Daum, SAE Collegiate Programs manager, wasimpressed with the RMU team. “Lasting as long as theydid in the endurance race exhibited sound engineeringpractices,” says Daum. “Each time they went aroundthe track, we were waiting for them to be towed off.And yet, just a little while later, there they weregoing by again.”In the end, RMU finished 84th out ofa field of 94 – a respectable resultfor a first-year team. They came in56th in the endurance event and42nd in the sales presentationcategory.“I can now say, without a doubt,that Robert MorrisUniversity is a respectedname at Baja SAE,”says Hendrickson.“We were definitelythe favorite, root-forthe-underdogteam.”In 2007, RMU’s Center for Applied Research in Engineering andScience (CARES) received a grant from Pittsburgh-based InnovationWorks to design and build a robotic workstation for Penna FlameInc. – a Zelienople-based company that provides flame hardeningfor industrial machine parts. On May 15, 2008, the new workstation,developed solely by students and faculty at RMU, was presentedto Penna Flame at its 40th anniversary open house.Flame hardening is a process that leaves industrial machine partsmore resistant to wear. Traditionally, this task was done by a workerwielding a hand-held torch. “It can be back-breaking,” says PennaFlame owner Jim Orr, “because you’re leaning over doing very precisework. With the robot, however, the precision is much greater, and theresults are much more consistent.” The new robotic arm streamlinesthe process with a built-in flame torchthat heats metals to temperatures ashigh as 2,000 degrees Celsius (about1,650 degrees Fahrenheit). “We had accepted the old way for somany years that it just became standard. We were stuck,” saysOrr. “RMU opened up our eyes. They not only provided anoption, but they took the concept and showed us how it wouldwork, then delivered by making it work.”The robotic arm is nicknamed Robubb, after the company’s firstemployee, Robert Bubb. Robubb has already helped PennaFlame cut production and inspection time and increaseoverall quality. “We were running job shopproduction work within one week afterdelivery,” says Orr.CARES selected an industrial robotappropriate for the company, thendesigned and built the station where therobot performs its work. The robot itselfwas built by Fanuc Robotics of Michigan.

Erevelles is extremely proud of the team’s results, buteven more so of their efforts.“I offered the team my thanks and congratulationson a job well done,” says Erevelles. “The first race isalways the toughest, and each of the team membersworked extraordinarily hard to bring this maiden raceto a memorable conclusion. I cannot tell you howproud I am of our engineering students for their effortand perseverance in the face of significant odds. Thisis a prime example of student engagement and activelearning. I am also grateful to the members of theSEMS Board of Visitors, whose contributions towardsstudent projects and initiatives funded variousexpenses associated with the event.”Iannelli admires the team’s commitment,enthusiasm and determination. “Failure is aword that just does not exist in the vocabulariesof these energetic students,” says Iannelli. “Imarveled at their stamina as they kept workinginto the early morning hours, two days beforethe competition, in the parking lot of a Peoriahotel, welding last-minute components to thevehicle. Their resolve made RMU’s Baja SAEparticipation an unquestionable success.”Baja SAE 2008 was not only a great way forHendrickson to finish his studies at RMU, it wasalso a positive springboard to launch him into hisnext endeavor as a software developer for Boeing inHouston, where he now works on software qualitytesting for the International Space Station.“RMU’s software engineering program is excellent,”says Hendrickson. “It helped me get a job by givingme the tools I need to succeed on the next level. Whatmore can you ask for?”Written by Valentine J. BrkichPhotography byKevin CookeOrr credits Gary Yarmeak, an associate labengineer in RMU’s Department of Engineering,for creating several additional vital components.Shawn Auth ’07 was one of the students whoworked on the project at RMU, and he washired by Penna Flame after he graduated inDecember. The former manufacturingengineering major now oversees thecompany’s nascent robotics division.“It’s definitely a hands-on job,” saysAuth. “The applied lab work I had inmy engineering classes at RMU is reallyhelping me now.”CARES is the industrial outreacharm of the RMU School ofEngineering, Mathematics andScience. It offers technical and consulting services to local industrieswhile providing hands-on, real-world experiences for RMU students.The center offers a series of professional development workshopsthroughout the year for manufacturers, managers and other technicalprofessionals. “The Penna Flame project highlights what CARES andour school can do for the region,” says Winston Erevelles, Ph.D.,dean of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science. “Weare pleased to have had this opportunity to work with PennaFlame and Innovation Works for the betterment of our region.”“The successful completion of the Penna Flame project is one of theexamples that demonstrates how CARES can successfully deliverpractical and effective solutions,” says Zbigniew J. Czajkiewicz,Ph.D., head of CARES and a professor of engineering.“In the process,we also offer excellent educationalopportunities to our students.”

historicalDuring the Revolutionary War, Robert Morris usedhis financial expertise to support the ContinentalArmy in its fight against the British. Had thecolonists been defeated, there’s a good chancethe British would’ve taken Morris’ head – alongwith those of the other Founding Fathers.Instead, Morris’ head is on display at the university that bearshis name. Well, a model of his head, that is.The Heritage Room is RMU’s first-ever permanent tribute toits namesake, the celebrated patriot, statesman and financierof the American Revolution – Robert Morris. Located on thethird floor of the Nicholson Center, the Heritage Room’scenterpiece is a plaster bust that was used by sculptor PaulWayland Bartlett (1865-1925) to create his statue of Morris,which stands in Philadelphia’s Independence Mall. The bust,which was given to RMU in 2007 by the Tudor House Galleryand Museum in Washington, D.C., was preserved andrestored by artists at the Carnegie Museum.The idea for the Heritage Room came from RMU PresidentGregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., who felt it would be a greatway to honor the namesake of the University.“Robert Morris University has long been known as placewhere students can get a superior education in business andfinance. The sound financial principles and strategies thatRobert Morris depended upon in his support of the Americancause during the Revolution were the inspiration for ourUniversity’s name,” says Dell’Omo. “When we received thisunique gift from the Tudor House Gallery, we wanted todisplay it in a way that would pay tribute to Robert Morris theindividual. The new Heritage Room accomplishes this goal.”Robert Morris was born in Lancashire, England, on Jan. 31,1734 (some sources list his birthday as Jan. 20). In 1748, heemigrated to America to join his father, a tobacco exporter at2 0 • W W W. R M U . E D U

heritageOxford, Md. In 1754, he and business partner Thomas Willingfounded Willing, Morris & Company. Specializing inimporting and exporting, the company soon became oneof the most prosperous of its kind in Pennsylvania.Like most of the colonists, Morris strongly opposed thecontroversial Stamp Act (1765), which put a tax on everypiece of printed paper including ship's papers, legaldocuments, licenses, newspapers and even playing cards.As a result, he quickly became involved in supporting theRevolution. He was particularly influential in obtainingmunitions and other supplies as well as borrowing moneyto finance George Washington’s army.“The Heritage Room connects us to Robert Morris as anexemplar of the tradition of American entrepreneurship andbusiness success as well as of the commitment of those withresources to give back to causes and institutions they believein,” says RMU Provost David L. Jamison, J.D. “It gives thecampus a focal point for education of our students and thecommunity about the American Revolution, aboutphilanthropy, and, because of the unique nature of thesculptural piece, even of the fine arts. The Heritage Roomis one more way in which we are engaging our campusin learning.”The Heritage Room, which was completed in April 2008, willbe the highlight in a weeklong celebration of ConstitutionDay, Sept. 17. A formal dedication of the Heritage Roomis planned for Tuesday, Sept. 16. To learn more aboutRobert Morris and view more photos of the room, visitwww.rmu.edu/foundations.WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN FREEDR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 1

ForgottenFrontsteel heritage. We can’t take away that image, nor shouldwe want to. The problem is that it has obscured howimportant the city was in its early days.”22Most people know Pittsburgh as the “Steel City.”Just the mention of its name conjures up blue-collarimages of Bessemer furnaces glowing below thesmoky sky that once hovered above the city. If it wereup to Daniel P. Barr, Ph.D., however, Pittsburgh wouldbe remembered less for its industrial past and more forits early history, when the city was a stepping-off pointinto the American frontier.Barr, associate professor of history at Robert MorrisUniversity, is an authority on early Americanhistory, specifically American Indian history, andhe understands how important this region wasto the founding of our nation.“Pittsburgh was a massively importantlocation in the early westwardmovement of this country,”says Barr. “Today, the cityis known more for itsOn Nov. 23, 1758, British forces under General JohnForbes arrived at the scorched remains of Fort Duquesne,which the French had blown up and abandoned theprevious day. Forbes’ army had just completed anhistoric expedition, cutting a road across thePennsylvania wilderness in order to drive the Frenchfrom the forks of the Ohio River. Gaining control of thiscoveted spot was essential in the British victory in theFrench and Indian War.Here on this important piece of real estate, at theconfluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohiorivers, the British constructed a fort and named it afterEngland’s Sir William Pitt. It wasn’t long before a newsettlement grew outside the walls of the fort – asettlement known as Pittsburgh, which soon grew tobecome known as the “Gateway to the West.”“Until the Cumberland Gap became the main entrywayto the western frontier, most people went west throughPittsburgh and down the Ohio River,” says Barr.“Pittsburgh is really the jumping-off point for the‘First American West’ – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois.”

Barr’s research into the early history of Pittsburgh andthe early American West is extensive. He is the editor ofThe Boundaries Between Us: Natives and Newcomers alongthe Frontiers of the Old Northwest Territory, 1750-1850, ananthology comprised of 11 original essays that presentunique perspectives on the history and significance ofthe contest for control of the Old Northwest Territory.Barr also wrote the book's introduction and one of theessays, “This Land Is Ours and Not Yours,” in whichhe challenges historical characterizations of AmericanIndians as helpless victims. Instead, he depicts theShawnee and Western Delaware as powerful, mindfulparticipants in the struggle for the American frontier.ier“I think we’ve moved toward amore sympathetic view ofAmerican Indians,” says Barr.“This is definitely a step in theright direction. We just have tobe careful not to portray them toomuch as victims. But I think we’vegotten to a point where we’re getting a more accurateportrayal of America’s native peoples.”Barr is also the author of Unconquered: The Iroquois Leagueat War in Colonial America, a narrative overview of nearly200 years of Iroquois conflict during the colonial era thatexplores the complex world of Iroquois warfare. He iscurrently working on his next book, A Colony Sprung fromHell: War and Society on the Pittsburgh Frontier, 1744–1794,due out in 2009, which is a study of the early settlementof the southwestern region of Pennsylvania – what Barrcalls the “Pittsburgh Frontier.” The book’s title comesfrom a quote from Henry Bouquet, a British officerstationed at Fort Pitt in the 1760s, who correctly foresawthe inevitable chaos that was coming as settlers clashedwith Indians.“The major theme of the book is lawlessness and lack oforder,” says Barr. “The Pittsburgh region is really the firstsettlement west of the Appalachians. When this area wasbeing settled, there were really no rules. And what lawsthere were weren’t followed anyway. There was noenforcement, and it was chaotic, violent time.”In March 2008, Barr was awarded the Philip S. KleinPennsylvania History Prize from the PennsylvaniaHistorical Association. The award is given bienniallyto the scholar who writes the best article for theassociation’s journal, Pennsylvania History. Barr earnedthe prize for his article “‘A Road for Warriors’: TheWestern Delawares and the Seven Years’ War,” whichexamined the strategies and motivations behind theDelaware Indians’ decision to fight with the Frenchduring the French-Indian War.Originally from Erie, Pa., Barr attended Slippery RockUniversity, where he earned a bachelor’s in history in1994, and a master’s in history in 1996. He then went onto Kent State University, where, in 2001, he earned adoctorate in early American history with a specializationin the American Revolution and American IndianHistory.Barr actually started his undergraduate education atPenn State University, where he was studyingarchitectural engineering. After just a year and a half,he transferred to Slippery Rock.“Although I had a great interest in architecture – and stilldo – I realized it just wasn’t for me,” says Barr. He hadalways had an interest in history and, after taking onehistory class, decided to focus his studies there.It was Barr’s grandmother who first got him interested inearly American Indian history. “My grandmother was aDelaware Indian from Oklahoma,” says Barr, “and shelived with us during the last couple years of her life. Shealways impressed on me and my brother and sister howimportant it was to value your heritage. It just didn’treally resonate with me until I got into college.“In the recent past, Native Americanswere depicted as bloodthirsty savages,”says Barr. “But modernassessments of them aremore open-minded.Today there’s more of anattempt to understand theirperspective and what it waslike to be in their shoes.”Barr says that this newattitude towardsAmerican Indiansis a direct effect

Kent State and the Community College of AlleghenyCollege. In the classroom, he tries to impart upon hisstudents that history is not just dates and facts,but rather it’s the “how” and the “why” thatreally matter.of the social history revolution that cameout of the 1970s and gave rise to legitimateAmerican Indian history rather than themyths and stereotypes that had existed forso long.“Modern history is definitely much morebalanced and fair,” says Barr. “But it’s hard toerase those images from popular culture.”Barr is also a big fan of baseball, and hewrote a chapter called “Looking Backward:The Life and Legend of Louis Francis Sockalexis,the Original Cleveland Indian,” for Native Athletes inSport and Society: A Reader. In addition, he’s coachedbaseball for 13 years at George Junior Republic inGrove City, a boarding school for troubled boys, andis currently in his final season. Barr also was a walkonplayer in college, and he still plays baseball todayin a competitive adult league during the fall.Barr was hired by RMU in the fall of 2004, afterteaching briefly at Clarion University, Slippery Rock,“The reason I teach history is so that I can understandand help others understand how we got to where weare today and where we’re going as we moveforward,” says Barr. “I’ve found that people enjoystories about people, so I try to weave in as manyhuman elements into history as I can. That’s whereyou really capture the student’s imagination andinterest. Most of all, you have to have enthusiasm forwhat you’re teaching. Enthusiasm will translate to thestudents. If you’re engaged in it, you have a betterchance of engaging the student.”With Pittsburgh celebrating its 250th anniversary thisyear, Barr thinks it’s important that we have a betterunderstanding of the early history of southwesternPennsylvania.“I’ve always been interested in formative history,”says Barr. “For me, I find so much of what it meansto be Americans comes out of that story of initialcolonization and starting to settle the first West – thetrans-Appalachian frontier. It resonates very stronglywith me. This region played such an important partin who we are as Americans today. It’s my hope thatwe can learn to embrace our heritage and really startto appreciate and celebrate the fascinating earlyhistory of the Pittsburgh region.”WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH24 • For a list of other recent RMU faculty awards, visit www.rmu.edu/foundations.

CLASS NOTES70sJAMES SPIZARNY 1973 andELAINE (CHIKOSKY) SPIZARNY1971 recently celebrated their35th wedding anniversary. Jim iscredit manager with AmeridrivesInternational and Elaine is acustomer service representativewith Erie Insurance. The coupleresides in Erie, Pa.RICHARD MIEHL 1979 wasrecently appointed vicepresident of constructionpractice with the Pittsburghoffice of Marsh USA Inc. Richardresides in Bethel Park, Pa.JONATHAN NEAL 1979 is seniorpartner with CCG-CapitalConsulting Group, a salesconsulting and trainingLISA OLACK 1983 recently joinedHarrington Group Inc. as projectcoordinator for the Charlotte,N.C., office. Prior to theHarrington Group, she servedas the director of accounting forAction 4 Kids, a pediatric therapycenter in Shorewood, Ill., as wellas a project controls manager forAreva Inc., an engineering andconsulting firm in Naperville, Ill.DEBORAH A. GRABE 1985 wasrecently named generalmanager of business planningfor the United States SteelCorporation, where she isresponsible for planning andscheduling production at all ofthe company’s North Americansteelmaking and finishingfacilities. She previously servedas general manager ofPATRICIA A. STOCKMAN 1974 wasone of 25 women honored byTribute to Women and Industry(TWIN) in May at its annualconference in Mansfield, Ohio.Stockman was nominated byher employer, Therm-O-DiscInc., a subsidiary of Emerson,where she serves as divisioncontroller. A Pittsburgh native,Stockman currently resides inMansfield, Ohio.company, which he founded in1994. He and his wife, Carol,reside in Norcross, Ga.80sROBERT FUNDERLICH 1982 wasrecently named chief financialofficer for Emerald Innovations,which is headquartered inButler. He and his family residein Wexford, Pa.Lisa and her family reside inAurora, Ill.CARL E. ERHART 1983 wasappointed president of Verizon'sSouthwest region. Erhart hasserved as the company’s vicepresident of regulatory andgovernmental affairs since May2005. His wife, DIANA (CAFRELLI),is also a 1983 graduate of RMU.The couple resides in Austin,Texas, with their daughter,procurement at U. S. SteelKosice in the Slovak Republic.Grabe currently lives inPittsburgh with her husband,Thomas Barefoot, Jr., and theirtwo children.Ashley.This tree is still thriving on the RMU campus inMoon Twp. We’d like to know if the relationshipis doing as well. If “Pete” or “Elaine” are outthere, we would love to hear from you. Or, if youremember these two lovebirds, please e-mail theOffice of Alumni Relations at rmualum@rmu.edu.HELEN MCCRACKEN MBA1984was recently named the as thefirst female superintendent ofCanon-McMillan School Districtin Pittsburgh. McCracken, whowas raised in North Strabane andattended Canon-McMillanschools, received a master'sin business administration degreefrom RMU. She lives inWaynesburg with her husband,Jeff, and their daughter Elissa, 16.JOHN DENNY 1985 was recentlyappointed as one the 2008officers of Pittsburgh SocialVenture Partners, namely,chair and community relationsmanager of The HillmanCompany. John and his wife,Kelley, reside in Pittsburgh.>DIANA REPACK 1985,M’00, D’06, a red belt inTang Soo Do Karate recentlycompeted against many otherwomen from different karateschools to win a Forms (Kata)Competition. Diana and herhusband, Bill, are activelypursuing black belts at “Just ForKicks” karate school in MoonTownship. Bill is an assistantprofessor of management atRMU. The Repacks reside inMoon Township, Pa.RONALD TAKAC 1986 is amortgage banker with Bank ofAmerica in Charlotte, N.C. Heand his wife, Lynne, and twochildren, Lyndsey and Christi,reside in Matthews, N.C.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 5

CLASS NOTESJEFFREY DEANE 1987, headbrother, Bradley, Jr. The familyof the International Business resides in Imperial, Pa.Group of Malin, Bergquist& Company LLP, one ofPittsburgh’s largest and fastestgrowing certified publicaccounting firms, has beenelected to the board of directorsof the British American BusinessCouncil, Pittsburgh Region.Jeffrey resides in Baden, Pa.90s>KENNETH KEEFER 1993 andBRADLEY RYNIAWEC 1991, chief ANGELA (SECRETI) KEEFER 1997financial officer with Enterprise are the proud parents of BenBank, and his wife Tiffany,Kenneth, born April 5, 2008.became the proud parents of Ken is employed with AlpharmaKiley Elizabeth on April 8, 2008. Pharmaceuticals in sales. AngelaKiley was welcomed home by heris an accountant. The Keeferfamily resides in Canonsburg, Pa.KATHY (MILLIGAN) DILONARDO1993, M’02 and her husband,Jim, became the parents ofLuca Anthony on April 14, 2008.Luca was welcomed by his sister,Guilia. Kathy is employedwith TAP Pharmaceuticals. TheDiLonardo’s reside in Mars, Pa.DAVID MCCLURG 1993 recentlyaccepted a position as ashareproof analyst with BNYMellon. David and his wife, LISA(MARINACK) MCCLURG 1994,have two children, Nathan andMorgan. The family resides inPittsburgh.HAL THOMAS 1993 is autoinsurance/claim director forThe Hartford. He and his wife,Debra, and their twin daughters,Makenzie and Morgan, residein Amston, Conn.RODNEY MOON 1993 recentlyjoined the staff of CompassManagement and Consulting inJacksonville, Fla., as director ofeducation for the Compass Teamof association clients. Rodneyresides in St. Johns, Fla.jÉÅxÇ ÉyRMULuncheon & ProgramUnderstanding PersonalityWednesday, October 15, 200811:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Monongahela RoomThe Omni William Penn • Downtown Pittsburgh2 6 • W W W. R M U . E D U

CLASS NOTESMELISSA VENSEL 1995 is a teacherwith the Pittsburgh PublicSchools. She also is a CarrickHigh School volleyball coach.Melissa resides in Pittsburgh.MARK SHOOK M1995 is employedby American Electric Power as acontract administrator. Markresides in Columbus, Ohio.COURTNEY (ANDRASSY) HEIL1996 and her husband Joe becamethe parents of Casey Elizabeth onJanuary 4, 2008. The familyresides in Willoughby, Ohio.>JASON LONGNECKER 1997 is aretire secure employee benefitsspecialist with The PrincipalFinancial Group. He and hiswife, Alyson, and their children,Amelia and Natalie, reside inBelle Vernon, Pa.TRACY (SILKA) HINDMAN 1998 isvice president, institutionalsales, with Raymond James &Associates in Sewickley, Pa.Tracy and her husband, Randy,reside in Bridgeville, Pa.MARK E. POOLE 1998 and VALARIEPOOLE ’00 reside in Greensburg,Pa., with their two children,Morgan and Braden. Mark is atax in-charge accountant withSchneider Downs.ANNE (ROCKAGE) SANGER 1998is director, commercial planning,with Mirant Corporation inAtlanta. Anne and her children,Richard and Christopher, residein Dacula, Ga.RICHARD DIETRICH M1998 isengaged to Danielle Hodnicki.The couple is planning an Oct. 25,2008, wedding at Holy ChildParish, with a reception to followat Southpointe Golf Club. Richardis vice president, consumersavings and liquidity productmanager for PNC Bank. Danielleis an associate attorney withTucker Arensberg, P.C.>JOELENE (HESTER) HOLDERNY1999 and her husband, Dan,became the proud parents ofSimon Robert on March 4, 2008.Simon was welcomed home byhis brother, Jesse. Joelene is theSenior Financial Accountant withWQED Multimedia in Pittsburgh.The family resides in RossTownship, Pa.00sANDREA (MISENCIK) PLUMMER ’00and her husband, Jeremy, becamethe parents of Logan Charleson April 21, 2008. Andrea isemployed at RMU as a seniormanager for conference andfacility services. The Plummersreside in Pittsburgh.JAMIE SAVATT '00 is a seniorfinancial services consultant withPNC Bank. Jamie resides inNeville Island, Pa.CHRISTIAN SHANE, M’00, anelementary teacher in the NorthAllegheny School District, wasrecently named one of 101Teacher Excellence Honorees inthe 2007–08 Teaching ExcellenceCenter’s Teacher RecognitionProgram. Christian resides inPittsburgh.PATRICIA STUKUS ’00 was recentlyappointed vice president ofmanagement services with thePittsburgh office of Marsh USAInc. Patricia and her husband,Daniel, reside in NorthHuntingdon, Pa.JAMES LUCOT, JR. ’01, a U.S.History teacher at Seneca ValleyHigh, was recently named one of101 Teacher Excellence Honoreesin the 2007–08 Teaching ExcellenceCenter’s Teacher RecognitionProgram. James resides inCranberry Township, Pa.FRED PARKER 1999 and APRIL (ANDERSON)PARKER 1999 were married on Nov. 17, 2007, inAruba. Wedding attendants included RMU alumni:MICHELE SCHMIDT 1999, TESSA (CASTRACANE)DROHAN ’00, RAYMOND THOMAS ’00, M’03, REGGIECHAMBERS ’02, LUTHER LOCKHART 1999, and LesleyRicci. April works at Petitbon Alarm Company inCrofton, Md. Fred works at Regional ContractingServices in Washington, D.C. The couple residesin Odenton, Md.>MARY JO (GIVER) PLUNKARD ’01and her husband, Thomas,became the parents of NicholasJames, born on March 21, 2008,at Sewickley Valley Hospital.Nicholas joins Victoria, 2 ½.The Plunkard family residesin Aliquippa, Pa.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 7

CLASS NOTES>MICHELE (PERSANG)MEEHLEIB ’01 and her husband,Jarrod, became the parents ofZachary Jarrod on July 17,2007. Michele is a categorydevelopment manager at Heinz.The family resides in Pittsburgh.JESSICA MAIER ’02 was recentlyhired as an account executivetrainee with PLS Logistics. Jessicaresides in Monaca, Pa.technology specialist. Joe and hiswife, Heather, became the parentsof Hayley Samantha, born onMarch 18, 2008. The Seidelsreside in Pittsburgh.SEAN KOCAN ’04, a CPA and anaudit supervisor with Malin,Bergquist and Company LLP,received the Certified FraudExaminer (CFE) designation inJune 2008. Sean resides inCranberry Twp., Pa.JAMES LUPARELLO ’06 wasrecently hired by Blattner BrunnerInc. as assistant account executive.Jim resides in Oakdale, Pa.ROCHELLE OAKS D’06 was a guestspeaker at RMU’s Women’sHistory Month Luncheon &Awards Program on March 25,2008. Rochelle is founder andCEO of The Oaks Group LLCtraining and developmentservices. She resides in Pittsburgh.KEVIN BAZNER ’06 M’08 currentlyworks for the Phi Delta ThetaFraternity as a leadershipconsultant. He recently completedthe instructional leadershipmaster’s program at RMU.Kevin lives in Bethel Park, Pa.REBECCA (COUCH) WEATHERLYMSN’06 is a nursing instructor atthe Greenville Technical Collegein Greenville, S.C. Rebecca andher husband, James, live inSimpsonville, S.C.>ANGELA (STORY) MARINO ’06and her husband, Josh, becamethe proud parents of PhilipJoshua “Junior” on March 12,2008. The Marino family residesin Beaver, Pa.STACEY PODPLESKY ’02 wasrecently hired by McCrory &McDowell LLC as supervisor ofaudit practice. Stacey resides inFinleyville, Pa.2008|09KENNETH POMIETTO '03 recentlybecame engaged to CourtneyWoodruff. An Oct. 2008 weddingis planned. Kenneth is a CPAand an auditor with SAIC inMcLean, Va.PITTSBURGH SPEAKERS SERIESPresented by Robert Morris University>JOSEPH SEIDEL ’03 isemployed by DuquesneUniversity as an instructionalRMU is proud to present the seventh season of the Pittsburgh Speakers Series,the region’s most exciting cultural event! Join us this fall as we offer seven eveningsof diverse opinions, profound insights and fascinating discussion. View thisseason’s incredible line-up of speakers and order your tickets today atwww.pittsburghspeakersseries.org.2 8 • W W W. R M U . E D U

CLASS NOTESVALERIE DAWSON '06 is asubstitute teacher with theHancock County School District,New Cumberland, W.Va. She andher husband, Donovan, and twoas a private practice therapist.Wendy resides in Verona, Pa.MARY TURSKE ’07, employedby Rosewood Capital, wasERICA HOLLYFIELD ’08 is employedby Ad-Base Group Inc., locatedin Robinson, Pa., as a staffaccountant. Erica residesin Pittsburgh.IN MEMORIAMJANE K. (COX) ROTH 1941 ofAurora, Ohio, passed away onFeb. 1, 2008, at the age of 84.children, Grant and Aidan, residein Ambridge, Pa.MARTIN PABIAN '06 recentlybecame resident engineer on therecently promoted to businessdevelopment associate. Rosewoodis an investment managementfirm in Pittsburgh. Mary liveswith her daughter, Rebecca, inCHRISTOPHER ANDERSON M'08was commissioned a SecondLieutenant into the United StatesArmy Field Artillery Corps onLEONARD R. ROSKY, JR. 1971passed away on March 4, 2008.He and his wife, Cynthia, residedin Mt. Lebanon, Pa.remodel of the VA MedicalCenter located in Durham, N.C.Previously, Martin worked atthe VA Medical Center in thePittsburgh area. He now residesin Durham, N.C.Carnegie, Pa.AARON LEROY '08, interning withDeloitte & Touche since January2006, recently accepted a positionwith them as a staff accountant inMay 8, 2008, in the Sewell Center.He married Amy Vogel on June14. After completing the FieldArtillery Officer Basic Course inFt. Sill, Okla., 2LT Anderson willbe assigned to a permanent dutyWILLIAM R. “BUTCH” COOPER II1975 of North Fayette passedaway on April 27, 2008, at theage of 58. William was retiredfrom Alcoa.WENDY MCSPARREN M’07 isemployed by Contact Pittsburghthe State Strategic Tax ReviewGroup. Aaron resides inPittsburgh.station in Hawaii.MARTIN W. OBELDOBEL, JR. 1976passed away April 8, 2008. Martin(cont.)ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITYIN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLONIAL ATHLETIC CLUB PRESENTS2 ND ANNUALALLEGHENY COUNTRY CLUB • SEWICKLEY, PAMONDAY, SEPT. 29, 2008Registration/Sponsorship DeadlineMONDAY, SEPT. 15, 2008For more information about registration and sponsorship opportunities,contact the RMU Alumni Relations Office at 412-397-2586 or rmualum@rmu.edu.PROCEEDS BENEFIT RMU STUDENT-ATHLETESR O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 2 9

CLASS NOTESIn Memoriam:Diane Battiste Zinkham 1965Diane Battiste Zinkham, captain, coach and den mother to theSteelerettes, died of cancer on July 24 at her home in Indiana, Pa.She was 62.Born in 1945, Zinkham was a graduate of McKees Rocks HighSchool. She later worked in dentistry as an assistant, officemanager and, most recently, as an independent softwareconsultant. She was also a past president of the Junior Women’sCivic Club of Indiana and the Indiana Hospital Auxiliary.Zinkham coordinated the roughly 50 women remaining from the1961–70 Steelerette troupes who led cheers at Forbes Field andPitt Stadium. Along with the Cleveland Browns cheerleaders,the Steelerettes were one of the NFL’s two original setsof cheerleaders.was employed for 33 years withthe Pittsburgh Board of PublicEducation.ROBERT C. JENNINGS 1985passed away on March 16, 2008,at the age of 49. He and hiswife, Lisa, were married 25years.MICHAEL J. SLUSS M1986 ofScott Township, and formerly ofLower Burrell, passed away onMarch 14, 2008. Michael was aCPA for Schneider Downs ofPittsburgh, a board member ofthe Greater Pittsburgh ArtsCouncil, a member of theAllegheny County BarAssociation, the PittsburghLacrosse Club and thePittsburgh Poetry Exchange.Includes news submitted betweenMarch 1, 2008 and June 23, 2008.Note: Class notes are submitted byalumni and friends and are notverified by the editor. Foundationsmagazine is not responsible forinformation contained inclass notes.Things sure have changedsince 1973. We’re sure you have, too.We’d love to hear about what’s new in your life. E-mail or send us your news on promotions, weddings,births, gatherings, awards, retirements, etc. If you have pictures or video (low-res) you’d like to share, send them along, too.E-mail your news, photos and videos to rmualum@rmu.edu, enter it atwww.rmu.edu/classnotes or fill out the alumni news form (next page) and send it to us!3 0 • W W W. R M U . E D U

Upcoming Events> SEPTEMBER 082 Phon-A-Thon Begins19 RMU Night at PNC Park,Pittsburgh Pirates vs. HoustonAstros (Fireworks Night),7:05 p.m.24 Alumni Luncheon,downtown Pittsburgh29 RMU Colonial GolfClassic, Allegheny CountryClub, Sewickley, Pa.30 RMU Career Expo, SewallCenter Arena> OCTOBER 081 Pittsburgh Speakers Series:Steve Forbes, 8 p.m., Heinz Hall9 Speaking of BusinessLuncheon, Duquesne Club,Pittsburgh, 11:30 a.m. Speaker:Court Gould11 HOMECOMING 2008RMU Football vs. Duquesne,1 p.m., Joe Walton Stadium15 Women of RMU Luncheon,& Program, Omni William Penn,Pittsburgh, 12 p.m. Speaker:Rochelle Oaks, Ds.C.22 Alumni Breakfast,downtown Pittsburgh> NOVEMBER 085 Pittsburgh Speakers Series:Paul Rusesabagina, 8 p.m.,Heinz Hall14 Hockey Showcase, RMUColonials vs. Ohio Buckeyes,Mellon Arena> DECEMBER 083 Pittsburgh Speakers Series:Garrison Keillor, 8 p.m.,Heinz HallRMU ALUMNI NETWORKINGAND HAPPY HOURSThis fall, we are planningnetworking and happy hourevents for our alumni inBaltimore, Cleveland, Erie,Harrisburg, Philadelphia andthe Washington D.C. area.Check for updates at:www.rmu.edu/alumniFOR MORE INFORMATION on these and other upcoming events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 412-397-2586 or rmualum@rmu.edu.alumniNEWSNAME __________________________________________________________________ YEAR OF GRADUATION __________________PREVIOUS/ MAIDEN NAMEADDRESSCITY/STATE/ZIPHOME PHONEE-MAIL ADDRESS____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WORK PHONE ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PROFESSION/POSITION __________________________________________________________________________________________EMPLOYER NAME ______________________________________________________________________________________________ADDRESSCITY/STATE/ZIPSPOUSE’S NAME____________________________________________________________________________________________________CHILDREN’S NAMES AND AGESNEWS ITEM__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________MAIL THIS COMPLETED FORM TO: Office of Alumni Relations, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Boulevard,Moon Township, PA 15108-1189. Or, send your news via e-mail rmualum@rmu.edu or fax 412-397-2142.R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 3 1

Hank F. Fraley was born on Sept. 21, 1977, in Gaithersburg, Md.He attended Gaithersburg High School where, as a senior in1995, he helped his football team, the Trojans, make it to theMaryland state championship game. Fraley studied socialscience at RMU and had a successful football career as a nonscholarshipplayer, playing left tackle. He is still one of only twoColonials to have his number (75) retired. In April 2000, Fraleywas signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the PittsburghSteelers, but was put on waivers later that August. He wasclaimed by the Philadelphia Eagles shortly thereafter and hadsix successful seasons with the team. Then, in Sept. 2006, he wastraded to the Cleveland Browns, where he remains today as theteam’s starting center. Fraley and his wife, Danielle, reside inWoolwich Township, N.J., and have three sons together: Mason,Travis and Beau. Fraley’s oldest son, Trent, currently lives inMoon Twp.1. What’s the toughest part about playing centerin the NFL?Making sure your line calls and I.D.’s are correct. You haveto study a lot of film and really get into your playbooks.Each play has a different I.D. It tells the whole line what todo, as well as your quarterback, running backs and tightend,who are all listening for the call.2. Who’s your favorite NFL center of all time?Dermontti Dawson of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was just sogood at what he did. I wish I was half as talented as he was.He was a big guy, but he could really move and run. Hecould do stuff that most centers could never do.3. What’s it really like down there inthe “trenches?”I won’t lie, it’s tough down there. Whether it’s inpractice or in the games, you’re always bangingheads. It’s like being in a small car wreck 60times a game. Basically, you’re fighting your tailoff. Down there, you do whatever it takes, aslong as it’s within the rules, of course.4. What’s on your iPod right now?A lot of country music. But my favoritecountry music artist changes everyday,so I really don’t have a favorite.5. Do you have any pets?We have two chocolate labs, Brandy and Coconut; oneGerman shepherd, Jager; one pug, Emmie, one Englishbulldog, Rodeo, which is really my wife’s; and we also havea cat, Star. So, yeah, I guess you can say we’re pet lovers.6. Do you have any hobbies?I like the outdoors, and I do a lot of fishing and hunting. Iown a 34-foot fishing boat that’s currently docked in LakeErie, but I also like to take it out in the ocean when we’reback in New Jersey. I also like to ride 4-wheelers with mysons. My wife and I both have our own Harleys – she ridesa Deluxe, and I ride a Fat Boy. I also enjoy golfing andplaying poker.7. What’s your all-time favorite movie quote?My favorite quote is in “Animal House” when Bluto,played by John Belushi, makes his famous speech about“when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”8. If you weren’t an NFL player, what wouldyou be doing?I’d probably be coaching or teaching social studies inschool. I definitely see myself coaching one day, either inthe NFL or on the college level – maybe even at RMU. Iwould also love to coach my boys in whatever sport theydecide to play.9. What do you miss the most about RMU?The college life. It was so much more laid back, andyou didn’t have as much responsibility. Then, onceyou graduate, you have to deal with the real world.I was fortunate to have such a great job when Ileft RMU.10. What was your favorite part aboutRobert Morris University?I guess, most of all, I liked how everyoneknew everyone. My professors were great,too, especially Dr. Charles Zimmerman(Professor of Mathematics), who wasa big influence on me.3 2 • W W W. R M U . E D U

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! On Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, Robert Morris University will celebrate Homecoming. A full day of festivities kicksoff in the morning with hospitality tents and some good old-fashioned tailgating. Alumni and friends will enjoy various pre-gameactivities, including a temporary-tattoo booth, balloon and caricature artists and entertainment from the RMU pep band. Don’t missout on all of the fun this year! WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!YOUR HOMECOMING EXPERIENCE… We want to know about it! Send us your digital photos and video phone flicks from Homecoming2008 and we’ll post them online at www.rmu.edu. Share your personal Homecoming experience with other members of the RMUfamily! E-mail your photos, videos (low-res only please) or YouTube links to FOUNDATIONS@RMU.EDU.

RMU NURSING CAMPATTENDEES, LED BY CARLROSS, PH.D., CRNP, CNE,UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OFNURSING, TOUR THE STATMEDEVAC HELICOPTER ONTHE NICHOLSON CENTERLAWN AT THE MOONTOWNSHIP CAMPUS.6001 University BoulevardMoon Township, PA 15108-1189www.rmu.eduF O U N D AT I O N S F O R S U C C E S S