Under the Arch

POWER TO TRANSFORM CAMPAIGN QUICKLY NEARING $30 MILLION GOAL

With record total enrollment, consistent top-tier national and best value rankings by U.S. News & World Report, and increasing financial support from Gannon University and Villa Maria alumni, trustees, friends, and local and regional business leaders, corporations, and foundations, Gannon University is poised for continuous growth and success. The University is very grateful for the support received thus far to The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign.

Gannon launched the public phase of The Power To Transform Campaign in May, 2006. To date, the University has raised $28 million, or 94 percent of the $30 million Campaign goal. The $28 million in gifts to the campaign is in addition to $7 million that University has received in state and federal funding over the past five years, including a $4 million state capital grant to establish the region’s first-ever technology incubator, which will open on campus in summer 2008.

The goals of The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign are:

To strengthen Gannon’s Annual Fund and Endowment.
To increase support for student scholarship funds, as well as for faculty research and development.
To improve campus facilities.

Recent Major Gifts to Gannon University and the Canpaign

On Jan. 31, 2008, Gannon received a $1 million gift from Mr. James E. Winner, Jr. on behalf of the Winner Foundation. Although not a Gannon alumnus, Mr. Winner received an honorary doctorate of laws degree from Gannon in 2001.

Mr. Winner, a native of Transfer, Pa., is the CEO, President and Founder of Winner International, a successful consumer products company, and The Winner, Inc. in Sharon, Pa. Winner developed The Club®, the original patented vehicle steering wheel lock, and the number one selling mechanical anti-theft device for cars and trucks worldwide.

In addition to Winner International, Mr. Winner owns and operates The Radisson in Shenango Township, Pa., and Tiffany's, a banquet hall facility in Brookfield, Ohio. The hotel and banquet center are managed by Winner Hotel Group. Winner is chairman of the Board of Winner International Inc. and other Winner businesses, including: Winner Aviation, the private flight side of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Youngstown, Ohio; and Tara, a country inn located in Clark, Pa. In the Sharon, Pa., area, Winner and his family own, and manage Winner Steel, an advanced galvanizing facility, as well as clothing stores, a culinary school, an inn, day spa and an art gallery.

“Gannon is very grateful for Mr. James Winner’s support. His generous gift will help many more deserving students attend Gannon University and reap the benefits of a quality private Catholic education,” said Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

The Winner Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund will be awarded during the fall 2008 semester to Gannon students with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Preference will be given to students who are the dependent children of Winner employees, or high school graduates of the Reynolds and Sharon City School Districts, as well as graduates from Mercer County high schools.

Erie Insurance Group has also agreed to support The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign with its recent gift of $250,000 to name the Erie Insurance Learning Center in Room 101 of the Zurn Science Center on West Seventh Street. The Zurn Science Center, which is more than 35 years old, is about to undergo extensive renovations that will transform the building into a state-of-the-art academic and research facility to support Gannon’s science and engineering programs.

Some donations to The Power To Transform Campaign will be used to fund a substantial portion of the Zurn renovations. Planned renovations will include the creation of more interior space for research, educational programming, and the addition of eight new laboratories. The renovation of Zurn and The Power To Transform Campaign represent an ongoing investment to: attract and retain high quality Gannon faculty and students, enhance a facility that will help advance learning and research, and strengthen Gannon’s roles in the scientific and engineering communities.

The Erie Insurance Learning Center will serve as a technology-rich classroom, but will also be used for conferences, workshops and lectures sponsored by Gannon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the forthcoming Erie Technology Incubator (ETI), and for other events open to the public.

“We are grateful for this generous gift to the Campaign and value our strong community relationship with Erie Insurance. The Erie Insurance Learning Center will be an enduring tribute to Erie Insurance’s support of Gannon University and to its generosity and vision in making a lasting impact on our region,” said Ms. Susan Black-Keim, Vice President for University Advancement.

Gannon also recently received a gift of $237,000 from the Orris C. & Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation. This gift will help to build a high-tech simulation center on campus to strengthen Gannon’s already strong health science programs. As a result of a major gift from Gannon alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Robert H. Morosky `63, Gannon purchased and named the Robert H. Morosky Academic Center at 150 West Tenth Street in the fall of 2007. The Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences will open on campus in the new building at the start of the fall 2008 semester.

This new College and the simulation center will enable the University’s dynamic faculty to provide the latest technological resources and cutting-edge laboratories necessary to enhance faculty and student research, and the overall teaching and learning environment at Gannon.

“In addition to their ongoing valuable clinical placements, Gannon’s nursing and other health science majors will soon be able to train on adult and infant mannequin simulators, which will help to refine their skills and prepare them to become even better health care professionals. We are very grateful for this valuable $237,000 grant from the Orris C. & Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Foundation,” said President Garibaldi.

The University’s signature health science programs include: physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, sport and exercise science, respiratory care, radiological sciences and medical technology. Over the past five years, enrollment in these health science programs has grown by 42% and currently represents over 25% of Gannon’s student body.

“Additionally, many of Gannon’s and Villa Maria College’s more than 34,000 successful alumni, who live in every state and in 48 countries, are giving back to Gannon University and to this Campaign because they credit their education with transforming their lives. To date, Gannon’s alumni and Board of Trustees have contributed the most to this Campaign with a total of $19.6 million,” said President Garibaldi.

For more information about how individuals, corporations, and foundations can contribute to the Morosky Academic Center, the Zurn Science Center, and other ways to support The Power To Transform Campaign, contact Susan Black-Keim, Vice President for University Advancement, at 871-7464 or blackkei001.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

The Erie Times-News on Thursday, Feb. 28 ran a story on Tom Hassett, who has been hired for the newly-created position of director of international admissions. Tom comes to Gannon from La Roche College in Pittsburgh. His first day is today.
Now that the calendar has turned to March, the university’s annual Spring Open House is less than two months away. This year, the event will be held on Sunday, April 20. Later that same day, the annual Founder’s Day Awards Convocation will be held.
The Gannon University Support Staff Association (GUSSA) would like to thank everyone who purchased daffodils. GUSSA was able to raise $1,540 for the American Cancer Society, which represents an increase over last year. Daffodils will be delivered to campus on Wednesday, March 26.
Gerry and Sue Riddle of Saint Marys, Pa., recently established the Gerry and Sue Riddle Family Endowed Scholarship with a gift of $10,000. The scholarship will benefit students who are business majors, with consideration also given to students from Elk County Catholic High School. Gerry Riddle is a member of Gannon’s class of 1971.
The workshop titled, “Advising Minority Students,” has been changed to Tuesday, March 18 from 1-2:30 p.m. in CETL. Please join us as Bonnie Booker, director of Multicultural Affairs, will be co-presenting on this topic. If interested, please RSVP to Lori Jasinski in the Academic Advising Center at ext. 5569 or jasinski001@gannon.edu.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Tuesday, March 11 – GUSSA Women’s History Month Tea: The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Founder’s Room of Nash Library. A light lunch will be served. March is National Women’s History Month. Men on campus and students are welcome to attend; please RSVP to Katie Bailey at ext. 5457.
Wednesday, March 12 – Senior Salute: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first floor of Palumbo. The event allows Gannon seniors to finalize all of their graduation details in one place. Seniors can pick up caps and gowns, order graduation announcements and class rings, and meet with staff from Registrar’s, Bookstore, Financial Aid, Alumni Relations, Career and Counseling Services, Graduate Admissions, Continuing Education, Campus Ministry, and more. Participating seniors will be eligible for valuable prizes that will be displayed in the bookstore window. Refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Friday, March 14 – Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: Conducted and directed by Bruce Morton Wright. This concert will feature soloist Eric Mann (guitar) and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 – Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre: Jane Austen’s Love and Freindship (sic) will serve as this year’s Alex Clemente Fundraiser. The production, from the team that created Robin Hood: The Musical, promises to be charming and entertaining. Music by Andrew Rainbow, book and lyrics by Father Shawn Clerkin, assistant professor and director of theatre. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. both nights, and tickets are $15. For more information, contact the Schuster Theatre box office at ext. 7494, or call ext. 7493. Proceeds will benefit the Clemente Fund for Performing and Related Arts at Gannon University.
“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-Tuesday, March 3 – Campus Master Plan interviews.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Bill Elias. Geoffrey Grundy. Allen Bonace. Edward Phillips. Karen Larwin. Kevin Cooney. Suzanne Richard. Homer Smith. David LeVan. Cynthia Snyder. Karen Bruce. Joseph Burwell. Frank Garland. Gregory Hardner. Kimberly Lanphere. Wes Whiteside. Peter Zonca. Mary Anne Rivera. Dan Giannelli. Emily Kleps. Ted Marnen. James McGivern. Janice Whiteman. Debra Rastetter. Rev. Joseph Gregorek. Wook-Sung Yoo. Jill Bartlett. Jeffrey Parnell. Sue Grippe. Thomas Lozar. Steven Overholt. Barbara Edwards. Jeanette Schnarrs. Michael Messina. Beth Cerulo. Johnson Olanrewaju. Lori Grossholz. Rose Digello. Frank Hanzel. Shawn Alexander.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Gannon seniors honored: The men’s and women’s basketball teams honored their seniors before their final home games against Mercyhurst College. Shown are (left to right) Katie Kibby, Vince Mosley, and Ashley Lowdermilk. Both teams beat Mercyhurst to sweep their respective season series against the Lakers. On Saturday, the men’s team advanced to the GLIAC semifinals with a win over Ashland.