May 31, 2005
Planning Meeting
Tomorrow the admissions staff will get together to decide the dates for the two Open Houses and the 4 or so Sleepovers we will offer this coming academic year. These events are so important to students looking for the right university that we take special care in determining the dates. We'll make sure that the dates of the Open Houses don't conflict with when the SAT is scheduled, for example.
More tomorrow!
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:50 AM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2005
Hempfield Awards Ceremony
I had the pleasure this morning to attend the Hempfield Area High School awards ceremony for graduating seniors. I presented two scholarships to seniors who will be attending Seton Hill in the fall. One went to Dan, and it totaled $4000 over the four years. The second one went to Reigh. Hers totaled $48,000 over the four years.
Dan and Reigh looked so pleased when I shook their hands and gave them their certificates. That, of course, was certainly the highlight of the program. But the jazz ensemble's rendition of "Joyful, Joyful" took a close second.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 9:46 AM | Comments (1)
May 26, 2005
McKenna Center
I got to work out for the first time in the McKenna Center last night. I did about 4.2 mph on the treadmill (on an incline of 4--whatever that means) for about 30 minutes. I'm going to go back tonight to try the elliptical trainer.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:51 AM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2005
China
Right now, Mary Ann Gawelek, the VP for Academic Affairs, and Terry DePasquale, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, are in China finalizing plans for us to offer Seton Hill degrees in China! Isn't that nifty? We'd offer undergraduate degrees in business and hospitality and tourism as well as offering our MBA.
They'll be back June 1.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 9:20 AM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2005
Birthdays
We're celebrating a couple of my staff's birthdays today! Dane Dornin and Jenell Krymowski of the Graduate and Adult Studies Office (otherwise known as the GAS Office) have birthdays coming up soon. So we are going to have a little get-together this afternoon for them. I anticipate we'll be having cake or something else I shouldn't be eating.
Dane is a Program Advisor and works with students in the Writing Popular Fiction, Special Education, Elementary Education, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Art Therapy graduate programs.
Jenell is Assistant Director of Adult Studies and works with students in the MBA, Instructional Design, and Physician Assistant graduate programs.
Both women work with adult undergrads in our Adult Degree Program (ADP) which offers classes primarily on Saturdays.
I hope we're celebrating with that almond torte we had at Women in Science!
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 9:11 AM | Comments (2)
May 23, 2005
New Admissions Counselor
Currently the University has a position open for an admissions counselor. We are pretty far along in the interviewing process so I'm pleased to announce that soon I can tell you the name of the new admissions counselor (drum roll, please!). If you are going to graduate from high school this year or next year and live in New York or northwestern PA, you'll have a brand new counselor to work with here at SHU. Yippee!
I'll keep you posted. I promise.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:51 AM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2005
May 21 Orientation
Today is the first freshmen orientation of the summer. We have over 100 students on campus today who intend to start school here at Seton Hill in the fall. It looks like a great group!
I haven't had a huge amount of opportunity to talk with many families yet as students have had to check in, get their photo ID taken, and then scoot off to their writing assessment.
I did get to see the triplets (Bruce, Brad, and Brian) come in, though. Their mom has a nametag on that simply reads, "The Triplets' Mom." And the football players from Florida (Ryan, Joel, and Tony) showed up. Good thing! They came in last night and stayed on campus in Farrell Hall. ;)
Families and students have separate programs at orientation, but with a little overlap. Students and families get to meet with faculty, students pick their classes for fall; and everyone, of course, gets to eat lunch in Lowe Dining Hall. Orientation is a full day with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. and advising finishing up at about 5 p.m.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 9:38 AM | Comments (0)
May 19, 2005
OSCAR Winners
Great fun was had by all last night at the STARS event. Five employees were awarded OSCAR Awards. OSCAR stands for Openness, Service, Community, Amazing, and Respect. These employees exemplify those attributes. Winners were Georgine Hallam, director of our Child Development Center, Doug Snyder in our maintenance department, Betty Cianciotto, the University receptionist, Judy Wiessbock, the administrative assistant in the Office of Career Development, and Dolly Cordera in Food Service. This is a very deserving group of people that make life and learning on the Hill quite enjoyable and productive. The winners were certainly stunned and thrilled.
I was the emcee for the program so I certainly had an up-close view of the whole thing, watching employees come on stage--sometimes clutching their hearts, sometimes crying, sometimes speechless.
The presenters of the awards were the vice presidents and the president. They were all having a good time, too, jibing each other (and me, much to my dismay) on stage.
The program last night was all about Pennsylvania (PA). PA food was served. PA beer was served. Activities involving PA railroads, battlefields, and places of interest were all included. It was great fun and as usual here we learned stuff too. I'd say the highlight, though, was the Grape Stomping that took place. And I'm proud to announce that the Admissions team won the event by producing more juice than the other two teams. The Admissions team was made up of Dane Dornin, Jack Serlo, Keisha Jimmerson, Lois Harbison, and Jason Zimmer.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)
The Winners' Circle
Last night at the Winner's Circle Awards Gala, our VP for Academic Affairs (aka "The Dean"), Mary Ann Gawelek, was awarded Westmoreland County's Athena Award. The whole program was quite inspirational.
The program booklet and tribute video cited Mary Ann's many accomplishments including Science Quest beginning under her leadership and the fact that Seton Hill has been named (for three years now) a Top 50 regional entrepreneurship program by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Other awardees last night were Rebecca Davidson of Thistle Financial Group, who won the Seton Hill University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, and Judith Modecki, who won the Award for Community Service.
As this was the 10th Anniversary for the Winners' Circle and pages of the program booklet were devoted to past awardees, it was especially nice to note how many Seton Hill alums graced the pages of winners.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:51 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2005
Women in Science Day
We just completed another (our 17th) successful Women in Science program. Yippee! The University gave away awards in chemistry, biology, and math to 62 women from 44 different high schools. Barbara Hinkle, VP for Enrollment Services, and Sister Susan Yochum, Chair of the Division of Natural and Health Sciences welcomed the group this morning. A keynote address was given by Seton Hill's very own Barbara Flowers who has been a forensic scientist for over ten years.
While the students were in the labs 
participating in biology, chemistry, computer science, dietetics, forensic science, math, and physician assistant activities, Mary Ann Gawelek, VP for Academic Affairs, talked to the parents and teachers about women scientists.
Then there was my favorite part: lunch! (Our food service's almond torte is to die for.) I sat with Emily and Kristy, juniors at Sacred Heart and Baldwin high schools respectively, as well as their families. Emily won one of the biology awards and Kristy won one of the math awards. Cool, huh?
Rachel, a current student, gave tours to a couple of families wanting to look around a little more. I hope they come back for lengthier visits, though, in the future.
Faculty from all sorts of disciplines were on hand to help with the lab activities (and to eat lunch, of course): Geoff Atkinson, Steve Bassett, Chris Diaz, Barbara Flowers, Richard "Hutch" Hutchinson, Jan Sandrick, Doreen Tracy, and Frances Blanco-Yu. We couldn't have had the day, though, without a very special person from the admissions office, Lois Harbison. She did a lion's share of the work in preparation for the day. Thank you, Lois!
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 2:31 PM | Comments (1)
May 17, 2005
Email from the President's Office
"O.S.C.A.R.s
There is still time to make your reservation for the O.S.C.A.R.s. Call ext 4700 to add your name to the RSVP list and I will send your ticket(s) to your SHU Box. Guest tickets are $5.00. If you have ordered a guest ticket please stop by the President's Office today or tomorrow to pick it up.
GRAPE STOMPING
The O.S.C.A.R.s begin at 6:00 p.m. and this year's theme is Pennsylvania Road Rally. You will journey through our wonderful state with stops at the Amish Country, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Battle Fields, Erie/Altoona, and Pittsburgh. The O.S.C.A.R.s will be presented at 7:00 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., in the Erie/Altoona area, a grape stomping competition will be held. So gather a team (2 - 5 people on a team) together and for 10 full minutes you get to squish as many grapes you can. The team that produces the most juice wins! Come on Dave Droppa, gather up those faculty members, or how about a group from the NECWB, Admissions, the Library, or even Project Forward. Call me at ext. 4212 and I will reserve a tub of juicy grapes for you.
SUMMER WORKOUT SCHEDULE
Don't forget to stop by the weight room in the McKenna Center today or tomorrow for instructions on how to use the equipment properly and safely. Dai Sugimoto explains each piece of equipment and the use of free weights. Last night ten employees learned how to use the equipment to reach their physical fitness goals. The meetings being at 5:15 p.m. on B-LEVEL
The McKenna Center is staffed from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Remember to bring your University ID, you may be carded.
ROLLING STONES CONCERT TICKETS
The University has been given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the September 28th Rolling Stones Concert.These tickets go on sale before they are sold to the general public. The sale starts today at 10:00 a.m. and concludes on Friday, May 20th at noon. There is an 8 ticket limit for this sale. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing tickets.
WATCH YOUR E-MAIL
I will soon be announcing a raffle for two tickets to the Jimmy Buffett Concert on June 26th."
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:56 AM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2005
More Goings On
Wednesday night, May 18, Mary Ann Gawelek, our Academic Dean, will be honored at our local Athena Awards ceremony.
Thursday evening, May 19, Seton Hill holds its OSCARS event where exemplary employees are honored.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2005
WIS
"WIS" is Seton Hill shorthand for Women in Science--which is coming up on Wednesday. Each year, the science labs on campus are opened up to high school-age women who work on experiments during the day and then are served lunch in Lowe Dining Hall. During the luncheon awards are given to the women as well. Even their teachers attend!
I am not involved in the lab stuff (heck, I wouldn't know a Bunsen burner from a hole in the ground!) but I do enjoy talking to families during the luncheon. After lunch we offer optional tours to the attendees.
The sciences are particularly important on campus as we offer Science Quest each year and our chemistry club is nationally recognized.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 8:06 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2005
Commencement
I know you think I probably say this every semester (we have a commencement both in December and May), but this really was one of the best Commencements! The speaker was great, the set up of the new McKenna Recreation Center was nearly perfect, and Eric didn't knock over any diplomas. ;)
Senior President Emily's farewell to the university was memorable and superb. Jennifer told President Boyle she would miss her. Kristen cried. David almost shook the diploma right out of Eric's hand. And Steven was beaming from ear to ear.
We had our usual receiving line where the faculty and staff get to shake the hands of all the graduates. It's a special tradition updated by being held on the patio of the McKenna Center. Debra came through the receiving line with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Nakia had on her very comfy flip flops. Matt came through with a grin and a firm hand shake.
Speaking of, I think this year's class had the strongest hand shakes. I'm always appalled by wimpy hand shakes, but this class knew what it was doing!
After the receiving line, we all headed to Lowe Dining Hall for cookies and lemonade. Next week starts summer classes!
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 6:11 PM | Comments (1)
May 13, 2005
Welcome!
Hi and Welcome!
My name is Mary Kay Cooper, and I am the Director of Admissions and Adult Student Services at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Seton Hill is a small, private, Catholic university.
This blog is a new venture at the university and in the admissions office to allow you to see a personal view into the (nearly) daily life of Seton Hill. I will be your guide to that personal view. In addition, I welcome your comments and questions.
Now, let's get started.
Today I attended Honors Convocation and Baccalaureate Mass. Tomorrow I attend Commencement. I am so glad this blog begins with this particular weekend of the academic year because--let's face it--this is the culminating weekend for any college student. It seems a great place to introduce you to Seton Hill.
Honors Convocation occurs both in the fall and spring semesters and consists primarily of an award ceremony. Faculty, staff, students, and family get to honor great accomplishments of students during the ceremony. I got to see some fine students walk across the stage and receive awards (sometimes multiple times): Ryanne, Emily, Kelly, David, just to name a few.
Monsignor Rubino was the celebrant for Baccalaureate Mass, and he gave an inspirational homily, as usual. I particularly liked the last hymn we sang; it was downright upbeat.
I have some personal reasons to really want to attend Commencement tomorrow. Of course, there's going to be a stimulating speaker, but quite frankly I can't wait to see my husband in his brand new doctoral robes. He became Dr. Eric Cooper on Tuesday! Yippee! In addition, Eric gets to stand on stage tomorrow and hand out diplomas. Ordinarily, the Registrar does this, but the Registrar is away at her daughter's graduation. He's nervous that he'll mess up the diplomas, but I think he's also looking forward to the opportunity to be even more involved in Commencement.
More tomorrow about how Commencement went.
Posted by MaryKayCooper at 12:30 PM | Comments (2)