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Feb. 19, 2009

 

  1. 'BonaResponds returning to Texas for spring break trip
  2. Physical education students give presentation at regional convention
  3. Twenty couples return for Valentine's Day
  4. Challenge Match extended for Faculty-Staff Campaign
  5. The Extraordinary Classroom Series for Spring 2009
  6. Friday Forum
  7. Newsmakers for Spring 2009

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BonaResponds returning to Texas for spring break trip

Students will learn a new meaning to spring break this year when BonaResponds travels to Texas to aid in hurricane recovery. This warm-weather break will not be about soaking up rays on a beach; students will be volunteering their time to clean up debris and rebuild houses.

Several months after Hurricane Ike swept ashore, many areas along the Texas coast remain severely damaged. BonaResponds took 22 volunteers to Bridge City, Texas, over the university’s winter break to help. This time the group will be working in Galveston, Texas, during the university’s spring break from Feb. 27-March 8.

“I think the winter trip showed not only a great need for volunteers but also that BonaResponds can make a big impact in helping the area recover from Hurricane Ike,” said Dr. Jim Mahar, founder of BonaResponds and associate professor of finance at St. Bonaventure.

“Ike impacted a smaller area than Katrina, but where it hit, it hit hard. The destruction along the coast is nothing short of catastrophic,” he said. “Just because it has not been in the news as much as past natural disasters does not mean they do not need help. The news cycle was different this year: There was an election and a recession to cover. Galveston and the area got swept away both literally and figuratively.”

BonaResponds members will be working with other volunteer groups to help with the relief effort by distributing supplies, cooking and serving meals to the community as well as gutting and cleaning flooded houses and installing drywall.

Like all BonaResponds trips and service days, this trip is open to the public. The trip costs $50 for transportation to and from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston as well as food and shelter for the week. For more information or to sign up, visit the group’s Web site at www.BonaResponds.org or its blog at http://bonaresponds.blogspot.com.

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Physical education students give presentation at regional convention

During a recent professional convention in Lancaster, Pa., a group of St. Bonaventure physical education majors described their experiences mentoring area teachers in the use of a systematic observation instrument.

The students presented at the 88th Annual Eastern District Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance on Feb. 6, 2009.

Those presenting were two student teachers, Andria Cuello of Bronx, N.Y., and Marcus Nelson of Rome, N.Y., and two students from Field Block II, Jen Pleakis of Allegany, and Reina Nurnberger of Island Park, N.Y. Other St. Bonaventure students assisting with the presentation were Kristin Crowley of Colorado Springs, Colo., Alecia Dykeman of Leeds, N.Y., Anna Gifford of Falconer, Kaitlin Lipinoga of Buffalo, Robert Ryer of Lockport, and Saprina Woods of Eldred, Pa.

In the presentation — “Systematic Observation: Pre-service Teachers Mentoring Cooperating Teachers” — the St. Bonaventure students described their experiences mentoring area teachers during an in-service Regional Physical Education Assessment Workshop for K-12 physical educators from six school districts last fall.

This first-time Eastern District presentation by students in the Department of Physical Education was made possible by a Keenan Grant, “Systematic Observation in Physical Education Teacher Education: Linking Technology with Teaching Practice in the Gymnasium.” This grant provided technology such as digital cameras to collect data that can be downloaded and sent to a central archive or a student account.


In addition to attending various research and education sessions in health and physical education at the convention, the SBU students participated with undergraduates from other universities in competitions sponsored by exhibitors and health promotional organizations. Kristen Crowley and Kaitlin Lipinoga won the Jump Rope for Heart Competition sponsored by the Heart Association. Ali Dykeman, Kaitlin Lipinoga and Kristen Crowley excelled in Speed Stacks and with Anna Gifford in a new mobile “Trekke” motor learning activity.

After returning to campus from the convention, the students talked with Rob DeFazio, director of intramurals and club sports, about ways to possibly incorporate some of the activities they participated in with campus activities.

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Twenty couples return for Valentine's Day

Twenty couples found their way back to campus on Valentine’s Day to celebrate at the place where their hearts were stolen.

The alumni couples were treated to an hors d’oeuvres and cocktail reception at the University Club and tickets to the men’s basketball game vs. Massachusetts, a thrilling come-from-behind win by the Bonnies.

All SBU alumni couples were invited via e-mail earlier in the month by President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., to be her guest Saturday night. Twenty couples accepted the invitation.

“I don’t think we’ve done enough to celebrate all the wonderful unions this place has been responsible for,” Sr. Margaret said in toasting the couples, some who came from Olean, others as far away as Massachusetts, New Jersey and Long Island.

The couples were asked when they registered to briefly recount how they became couples at St. Bonaventure. All of them expressed great appreciation for the invitation.

“Four of our best friends met and married out of Bona’s, and I know countless others who have too,” said Hillary (Moran) Van Norstrand, class of 1984. “Sharing Bona’s with the person you love most in the world has been one of the richest blessings of our lives, and having St. Bonaventure to thank for our union is never far from our minds.”

Couples attending included:

Randy ’84 and Annette (Calenzo) Agness ’87; Dan Barry ’80 and Mary Trinity ’81; Peter ’87 and Maureen (Van Norstrand) Byrne ’89; Tom and Cindy (Englesbe) Comstock ’77; Tom and Sue (Bellso) Dezio ’85; Kevin and Mary (Mooney) Foley ’81; Tom and Kathleen (Maloney) Gilmore ’66; Larry and Sherry (Berner) Hall ’84; Peter ’77 and Kim (Donaldson) Hartnett ’83; Dan and Jackie (Arsenault) Hennessey ’00; Andrew ’94 and Elizabeth (Ormiston) Hoelperl ’96; Bob ’76 and Ann (Flynn) McCarthy ’74; Steve ’69 and Carole (Barkewitz) McNall ’75; Robert ’73 and Susan (Allen) Mantilia ’74; Paul and Kathleen (Walton) Monahan ’83; Bob ’84 and Beth (Sutton) Mulvey ’85; Jonathan ’01 and Penny (Soto) Myler ’02; Mike and Lauren (Reidy) Scheib ’82; Larry ’82 and Sue (Hickock) Sorokes ’84; and Kevin and Hilary (Moran) Van Norstrand ’84.

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Challenge Match extended for Faculty-Staff Campaign

To help the University raise funds for the annual Faculty and Staff Campaign, board of trustee member Timothy Fidgeon,’65, extended his matching gift challenge for the spring semester.

Fidgeon, who wanted to create a way to support faculty and staff while also encouraging their participation in the Bonaventure Fund during the 150th Anniversary, agreed to match, dollar for dollar, new and increased contributions to the Faculty and Staff Campaign. Matching gifts will be placed in an endowment to support faculty and staff development.

The goal of the 2009 Faculty and Staff Campaign is $75,000 with a 35 percent participation rate. The spring campaign will kick off February 19 with a blast e-mail, followed by renewal letters to faculty and staff, and information on the SBU Web site. In March and April, the University will provide weekly updates to faculty and staff on progress to goal. A Faculty and Staff Recognition event will be held May 5. Invitations will be mailed in April.

Please contact Andrea Bidell in the Annual Giving Office at abidell@sbu.edu, or (716) 375-2301 to receive a pledge form, or make a gift online at www.sbu.edu/donate. Please type “Faculty and Staff Campaign” in the section titled other.

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The Extraordinary Classroom Series for Spring 2009

The Extraordinary Classroom Experiences Series is a forum for the presentation and celebration of vitally engaging learning environments at St. Bonaventure University. Through this series, University faculty invite the campus community to attend a particular lecture, class exercise, or presentation that exemplifies a faculty member’s passion and expertise.

Dr. Nancy Casey, associate professor in the school of education, will be the next presenter in the Extraordinary Classroom Experiences program, set for 3 p.m. March 18 in Plassmann 101. The topic is "Why We (Should) Teach the Way We (Should) Teach: How Learning Theory Should Impact the Design of Classroom Experiences.

All events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following each program to encourage continuing dialogue on the subjects. Click here to download a printable .pdf listing of the Extraordinary Classroom Series.

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Newsmakers for Spring 2009

Dr. Dalton R. Hunkins, professor of computer science, is included in the 2009 edition of Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Dr. Leslie M. Sabina, professor of music, served as guest conductor for the Genesee Valley School Music Association's All-County music event on Feb. 7, 2009, in Livonia, N.Y. Sabina conducted the all-star jazz group of high school musicians in a concert that featured four of his original jazz big band charts. Additionally, the Livonia Central School District music department has commissioned Sabina to compose an original jazz big band work for its high school jazz ensemble.

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Friday Forum

All SBU faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to Friday Forums.

Date: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009
Speaker: Dan Barry, '80
Time: 12:20 to 1:30 p.m.
Place: University Club
Topic: On the Importance of Reading
Abstract: Barry, a 1980 graduate of St. Bonaventure with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication, and the 1994 Alumnus of the Year, is the author of “This Land” -- a well-read weekly feature column which appears every Monday on the first page of the Times national section, and takes him to every corner of the United States.

Cost: $3

The Friday Forum is Generously Subsidized by The President’s Office.

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