UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- With the legendary sounds of Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra bridging a three-generation gap, students from Penn State New Kensington and residents of Logan House tripped the light fantastic April 10, at the inaugural Senior Citizens Prom.
The prom brought together the guys and dolls of the Logan House, an assisted living facility in Lower Burrell, and Lion Ambassadors, a student organization on campus. The festivities provided an entertaining evening for the senior residents and an opportunity for the students to share time with those who may not have visitors on a regular basis.
The event was the brainchild of Corinne Coulson, enrollment services specialist at the campus and adviser to the student group. She suggested a unique event that had the potential to become into an annual affair.
“Our adviser had mentioned it, and we thought it was such a cute idea; we had to do it,” said Marissa Russo, a senior information sciences and technology major. “One of our Lion Ambassadors went to the Logan House to talk to them, and they were ecstatic about hosting this event.”
The students took ownership of the idea in January, at the beginning of the spring semester, and planned the entire bash, from securing the venue to decorating the hall to providing the entertainment. The students served dinner, handed out corsages and boutonnieres, and crowned a king and queen. Alex Stack, a sophomore in the Civil Engineering program, volunteered his DJ services. The play list featured hits of the 50’s and 60's.
“Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ was the favorite of the seniors,” said Stack, who will move on to Penn State University Park in the fall to complete his degree requirements. “So was the ‘Beer Barrel Polka,' and of course, everybody loved Sinatra.”
Although dressed to the nines, the residents weren’t digging the hoofing scene in the beginning. However, a couple of “ducky shincrackers” (40's slang for good dancers) broke the ice, and the dance floor was soon Fat City for the seniors.
“At first, no one was dancing, and we had trouble connecting,” said Russo, who studied in Ireland last semester. “But soon after the music started, everyone was dancing and chatting and having a great time.”
With the big band sounds emanating from the speakers, the hep cats and kittens cut some rug by doing the jitterbug, foxtrot, and cha-cha. The night was a blast for all, and by the end of the evening, nearly every resident had been on the dance floor with a Lion Ambassador. Families of the senior citizens were also on the dance floor.
“Dancing was my favorite part of the prom,” said Sandra Muhhuku, a sophomore petroleum and natural gas engineering major from Uganda and president of the Lon Ambassadors. “It was so neat to see them dance with us freely, and it just warmed my heart.”
At the end of the night, the sheiks and shebas (40's slang for attractive men and women) of Logan House split the scene and headed back to their pads to pile up the Zs. They have 12 months to prepare for the prom redux as the success of the inaugural event has smoothed the way for the Lion Ambassadors to make the affair an annual event.
“We were told by staff that they hadn't seen some of the residents smile in such a long time before that night,” said Coulson, who joined the campus community in 2012. “Some of the residents never had a chance to go to school dances because of the war, Depression, or other economic constraints. Our students created an environment for them that was almost magical.”
Lion AmbassadorsTo prospective students, Zak Hudak is the face of the campus. To the local community, Kristy Parola is a selfless volunteer. To the Admissions office, R.J. Hines and Dayanna Lugo are invaluable resources of goodwill.
Lion Ambassadors personify the campus. The club acts on behalf of the campus and is tasked with making a good first impression on visitors. Club members work closely with the Enrollment Management Office to promote the campus to prospective students. They lead campus tours and assist with other recruitment activities. Additionally, Lion Ambassadors represent the campus in the community through volunteer and service activities. Membership in the organization involves an interview and maintenance of a minimum grade-point average.
The 2014-15 Lion Ambassadors: president Sandie Muhhuku, vice president Subi Charyulu, treasurer Craig Synan, and members Zak Hudak, Marissa Russo, Trevor Guercio, R.J. Hines, Kristy Parola, Dayanna Lugo, Alex Stack, Kayla Dowling, Ben Lesko and Jeff Woodings.
“We have been fortunate this year to have grown the club from six members last year to 13 tour-certified LAs this year,” Coulson said. To say that I am proud of these students and the club is quite an understatement.”
Zak HudakHudak (Kiski Area High School), a freshman with a double major in computer science and math, joined the Lion Ambassadors to share his love of the campus with others. He embraces the responsibility of being the face and voice of the campus.
“When I came to the campus, I noticed that the Lion Ambassadors were a group of students that regularly represented the campus, and I wanted to be a part of that,” said Hudak, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average. “I love meeting new people and giving them my personal perspective of Penn State.”
He highlights his personal perspective when he gives campus tours. Visitors are treated to a story about his most memorable day at the campus, which involves a faculty member. After getting a high score on his first Matrices test, Kwang-Shang Wang, assistant professor of mathematics, lent him a book on number theory. When Hudak needed time during the holiday break to finish it, he asked Wang if he could hold on to it for a little while longer.
“He told me that he didn't lend it to me, he gave it to me,” said Hudak, a recipient of the William and Claudia Harbaugh scholarship. “I was dumbfounded and so thankful. I can't imagine many other places that a student can have an experience like that. That is how that professors and staff at Penn State New Kensington are. They really do care. Talk about reinforcement.”
In addition to his studies and club duties, Hudak's extracurricular activities include volunteering for a campus community service project in Puerto Rico during spring break and working as a math tutor on-and off-campus. In the community, the Vandergrift native is a member of the Kiski Valley Community Band and an assistant scoutmaster.
Hudak is a member of an elite campus program, GREAT (Growing Regional Excellence through Experience, Academics and Training). A collaboration of the New Kensington campus, Electro-Optics Center and industries in the region, GREAT establishes internships at local companies for engineering students. Whereas most internships are geared to juniors and seniors, GREAT interns can begin as soon as their first year in college. Hudak’s internship begins in the summer at Siemens Inc. in the Westmoreland Research and Business Park on State Route 780 in Upper Burrell Township, about five miles from campus.
Kristy ParolaParola (North Pocono H.S.) is a freshman in the Certified Athletic Trainer program, and a member of the Air Force ROTC. She takes the Lion Ambassador’s commitment to community service personally. When she is not on campus helping with THON or the jazz band, she is developing a project that she calls “Children Moving Easier.” The initiative is a part of Pennsylvania Mentor, a human services provider, which offers innovative programs to youth with emotional, behavioral and medical challenges. Parola’s project targets kids in foster care. Children often go from foster home to foster home with few personal belongings.
“These children carry their stuff in garbage bags because they do not have anything else to carry their stuff in,” Parola said. “Often it is thrown away as result of the bags being confused with trash. Therefore, we are collecting duffle bags, draw-string bags, backpacks, or really any new or gently used bags to give to these children."
Parola is inspired by her mother, Amy Parola, the program manager of the northeast region of Pennsylvania Mentor, which is based in Brodheadsville. Kristy’s adopted sister came from the mentor program.
“My heart breaks for these children because all they want is someone to love them,” Kristy said. “So my goal is to show these kids that there are people in the world who care about them without even knowing who they are.”
A native of Moscow, Pa., which is located in Lackawanna County in the northeast area of the commonwealth, Parola decided to attend the New Kensington campus in southwestern Pennsylvania because of the quality of the academic programs.
“It was a campus with everything I wanted,” said Parola, a recipient of the Chancellor’s and Provost’s scholarships. “New Kensington has a personable staff that made it easy to adjust to college life. I was far enough away from home so I can learn how to live on my own, had Air Force ROTC, and had the friendliest environment.”
Parola credits Kevin Snider, chancellor of the campus, for the academic excellence at the campus. Strengthening educational experiences and enhancing the quality of academic programs was the first goal of the campus’ five-year strategic plan that Snider unveiled at the beginning of the fall semester at the annual “State of the Campus” address. The plan featured seven paths to the future.
"Being at Penn State New Kensington allowed me to realize the importance of academics because of the standard our chancellor sets for everyone,” Parola said. “Dr. Snider has been all over the world and has seen amazing things from the stories he has told us. A lot of what allowed him to do that is his higher education. He is a prime example of what hard work can do for a person.”
After two years at the campus, Parola will finish her studies at Penn State University Park, the campus where her father, grandfather and two uncles earned their bachelor’s degrees. Following graduation in 2018, she plans to enlist in the Air Force and become an athletic trainer and physical therapist.
R.J. HinesA sophomore in the four-year Business administration program, Hines (Highlands H.S.) is an adult learner with a 4.0 GPA. Besides participating in Lion Ambassadors, he is a New Student Orientation leader and works at two jobs -- Academic and Career Success Center on campus and Brother’s Brother Foundation off-campus.
Orientation leaders ensure that incoming students feel comfortable and welcome in their new surroundings. The upperclassmen are among the campus’ most selective student leaders. It is a rigorous process, and only the best of the best earn the moniker of Orientation leader. Hines will help new students in fall 2015 to successfully transition from high school to college.
The Academic and Career Success Center is a collaboration of three departments: Academic Advising, Learning Center and Career Services. As a student success assistant, Hines performs a variety of tasks including proctoring student testing, preparing students for meeting with an adviser and helping students find the appropriate career advising tools and resources.
Brother’s Brother Foundation is a 57-year-old nonprofit that focuses on medical and educational needs around the world. The foundation has served 146 countries with over 100,000 tons of medicines, medical equipment, textbooks, educational supplies and emergency disaster aid. Hines drives a box truck and picks up donations at residential and commercial locations.
After beginning his studies in graphic design at another college, Hines switched career aspirations and decided on business because he says, “Without business, nothing will happen.” The Brackenridge native chose to attend New Kensington because of its excellent business program.
“I believe the business program on this campus will allow me to be very competitive in my job search after graduation,” Hines said. “I find marketing interesting because of my background in graphic design. I'm sure I can combine the knowledge I have on both subjects.”
Hines was drawn to the Lion Ambassadors by the opportunity to gain leadership, teamwork and communication skills, which are necessary for a career in marketing, human resources or management.
“I’m not necessarily going to gain these skills in the classroom,: Hines said. “By being a part of the Lion Ambassadors, I feel I will be able to lead in a team environment.”
Dayanna LugoA freshman biology major, Lugo found her way to the New Kensington after a 2,000-mile journey from her hometown of Phoenix. She isn’t sure why she came to the campus, but she knows she made the right decision.
“Penn State New Kensington just seemed like the perfect place as everyone on campus is friendly and amazing” said Lugo, who moves on to University Park in the fall to complete her degree work. “It is a wonderful opportunity to experience a small campus before heading to State College.”
Besides the Lion Ambassadors, Lugo is a member of two other student clubs – Science and Groups Investigating God. She is also a part of a Bible study group. She also works in the campus’ science lab, where she takes care of the lab equipment.
She is a recipient of two campus scholarships that provide financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students -- Dr. Arlene E. Hall Scholarship Gift and the Laura Lee “Lolly” Benner-Booth Trustee Scholarship. Established by Arlene Hall, director emeritus of academic affairs at the campus, the gift ensures student access and opportunity to the most comprehensive, student-centered research university in America. The Benner-Booth scholarship was created by Chuck Booth as a memorial for his first wife, Laura Lee “Lolly” Benner-Booth.
Lugo will attend medical school after earning her bachelor’s degree. She plans to become a doctor specializing in neuroscience.
“I’m striving to work with children and individuals who suffer from neurological disorders,” Lugo said. “I also may do research in the field.”