Under the Arch

GANNON OUTPACES COMPETITION TO WIN LOCAL WALKING CONTEST

Gannon University consistently put one foot in front of the other to win the recent Erie Walks Program.

During the eight-week contest, Gannon averaged 6.22 days walked per week to outpace Hamot Medical Center, which averaged 5.43 days per week, as well as Highmark BCBS with 5.10, Erie County with 5.0, and the City of Erie with 3.88.

The trophy will be displayed at Gannon until next year’s winner is crowned. Some 100 Gannon colleagues participated.

The Erie Walks Program, held between Gannon, the city, county, Hamot, and Highmark, began in September and concluded in late October. The friendly competition was designed to promote walking at least 20 minutes per day over the course of eight weeks. The program combined physical activity with peer support and education to encourage participants to develop healthy habits.

Gail Tatalone, secretary, Campus Police and Safety, was one of Gannon’s participants. “We walked religiously every day and we are still walking,” she said. “I feel so much better it is unbelievable. When we first started walking, I thought I wasn’t going to make it up this one hill… well, now it is a breeze. I really do notice the difference in my energy level.”

Jay DiFrank, associate director, human resources, said Gannon was successful in the competition partially because the university already had established Walking and Wellness programs. Other incentives also were offered to program participants.

Between all the participating organizations, a total of 330 people started in the program, with 294 finishing.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

Summer Orientation update: The Office of New Student Services asks faculty and staff to encourage students to apply for positions as Summer 2008 Orientation Advisors. Applications are available in the New Student Services Office and should be returned by Friday, Feb. 1. For more information call ext. 7596.
Save the date: The next Technology Buffet will be held Friday, Jan. 11 in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, room 1050 of the Palumbo Center. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Presenters include Charles Bennett, Mehmet Cultu, Gang Zheng, Phil Kelly, Sara Lichtenwalter, Cindy Liotta, Suzanne Sturdivant, Ronald Cuzzola, Robin Powers, Rebecca Willow, Pamela Reynolds, and Sreela Sasi. For more information call ext. 7541.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Wednesday, January 16 – Financial Aid Workshop: The workshop will cover the entire financial aid process as well as a step-by-step review of the questions on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), as well as definitions of terms that parents and students should know and the various aid programs available. The workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Palumbo room 1200.
Thursday, January 17 – Community Mass: Offered at 11 a.m. in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
Friday, January 18 – Faculty and Staff Community Meeting: 3 p.m. in the Yehl Room.
Friday, January 18 – Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. The orchestra will perform A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The concert will feature the Shiloh Baptist Church Choir and Evangelist D.M. Jamerson, minister of music, and will begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick, Church, 130 East Fourth Street.
Sunday, January 20 – Special liturgies in honor of Dr. King will be offered during the 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. masses at the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
Monday, January 21 – Several events are scheduled: Nonviolence Training: Beginner and advanced sessions from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Waldron room 219. Memorial Prayer Service: 10:45-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Memorial March: Gather at 11:30 a.m. in Perry Square and join march to MLK Center at West Third and Chestnut streets. Martin Luther King Memorial Luncheon: 12:45 p.m., first floor, Waldron, simple sandwiches and soup for Memorial March participants. Memorial Service: “March with America in Erie, Pa.” 1:30 p.m., Hammermill Center. Dr. Garibaldi will be the speaker.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Monday, January 7 – The Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Institute. Thursday, January 10 – Gannon men’s and women’s basketball vs. Findlay. Friday-Monday, Jan. 11-14 – NCAA Convention.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the deaths of:

Darrel Hogan, husband of Ronda Hogan, secretary, Student Development.
J. Kevin Quinn, Gannon retiree. At his retirement in 2000, Quinn was vice president of Finance.
Glenn Wagner Jr., husband of Becky Wagner, retired payroll coordinator.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Deacon Richard Shewman. Teraza Koul-Arop. Pam Eckert. James O’Harrow. Mimi Waldman. Jack Marcus. Kara Morgan. Lesley Hite. Lin Zhao. Mary Carol Gensheimer. Greg Duffin. Kayla Coan. Paul Griesacker. Lora Zill. Tim Zarnick. Bryan Prior. Daniel Kelly. Jim Kelvington. Wes Tallmadge. William Haggerty. Douglas Allen. John Coffman. Thomas Adamczyk. Kelly Holmberg. Phil Kelly. Gary Berringer. Debra Steiner. Joanne Revelt. Thomas Sebunia. Maggie Sikora. Michael Goebel.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Gannon Wins Erie Walks Contest: Jim Martin (left), Northwest Pennsylvania community affairs director at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, recently presented the Erie Walks Program Trophy to Dr. Garibaldi. Gannon won the contest with an average of 6.22 days walked per week. Also shown is Jay DiFrank (right), associate director, human resources. DiFrank was one of Gannon’s walkers, coordinated the university’s efforts in the contest, and served on the Erie Walks Committee. See lead item above for more information.