Community News

The University of Scranton’s Office of Community Relations is supporting two community events this week in the City of Scranton to celebrate the federal holiday of Juneteenth and the global commemoration of World Refugee Day.

Juneteenth Jubilee with the Black Scranton Project

On Thursday, June 19, the country celebrates the federal holiday of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day (June 19, 1865) that the Emancipation Proclamation’s news of freedom from slavery finally reached Black Americans in Texas.

The University is proud to serve as a sponsor of community partner Black Scranton’s Juneteenth Jubilee Block Party which takes place from 2-8 p.m. on Thursday at their Center for Arts and Culture on 1902 North Main Avenue in North Scranton. The event is a celebration of Black freedom, history, resilience and culture in NEPA and includes free roller-skating, lively games, soulful music, cultural performances, local vendors and more.

Scranton’s World Refugee Day

On Sunday, June 22, Scranton’s celebration of World Refugee Day takes place in Nay Aug Park from 2-5 p.m. This global commemoration marked officially on June 20 each year honors the strength and resilience of refugees and displaced persons who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence. It is also a moment to reaffirm our shared responsibility to support and welcome displaced individuals seeking safety and a new beginning.

The University is proud to serve as a co-host of this annual local event together with Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton and many other community agencies.  (The event will be held near the Mulberry Street entrance, across from GCMC and the Everhart Museum).

The free, family-friendly event is open to all and offers a number of festivities, including a mix of cultural music, dance performances, international food, refreshments, games, giveaways, and engaging activities for children.

For more information about either event or to get involved as a volunteer, contact Daysi Carreto in the Office of Community Relations at daysi.carreto@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton this summer will host a three-day Cyber-AI Investigation Camp, engaging participants in games, interactive lectures and hands-on exercises that explore and educate on the topic of cybersecurity.

Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to attend the camp at the University’s O’Hara Hall. Sessions will be held July 8, 9 and 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost to attend the camp is $399. Additional services, including on-campus dormitories and meals, are available for an additional fee.

The need for trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges with the skills to understand and investigate cybercrime is higher than ever due to the rise in online data breaches, fraud and malicious software. Camp instructors will promote safe online behavior, teach cybersecurity essentials and will end the third day with a team investigation competition at the University’s Cyber-Forensics and Cybersecurity Lab. The topics of cybersecurity, robotic investigation and artificial intelligence (AI) will be discussed.

This is the fifth year in which the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology is offering this summer program. The University offers undergraduate programs in criminal justice and cybercrime and homeland security, as well as a graduate program in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity.

To register and for more information, please visit the registration page.

Students in grades five to 12 participated in The University of Scranton Earth Day Essay Contest this year. Awards were announced at the University’s Evening of Environmental Science Event on campus in April.

This year’s essay theme was “Students for a Sustainable World.”

The first-place winner of the fifth-grade essay contest was Elizabeth Cabets, from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School. Lila Tschampel, from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School received second place. Sadie Neary and Ava Genevich from St. Claires/St. Paul’s Elementary School won third place medals.

All of the sixth-grade student winners were from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School. Divya Timsina took first place. The students who tied for second place were Rosalie Edelstein and Adelaide Volchoff. Finally, Dante DeVitto, placed third.

The first-place winner of the seventh-grade essay contest was Ian Ferriera from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School. The second-place winner was Sean Kiernan from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School. The third-place winner was Chris DeNaples from St. Claires/St. Paul’s Elementary School. 

The eight-grade first-place winners were Sage Michel and Kelly Heffron, both from St. Claires/St. Paul’s Elementary School. In second place was Annabel Joyce from St. Claires/St. Paul’s Elementary School. The third-place winner was Benny Hynds, from Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School.

The ninth-10th grade essay contest winner was Veronica Herrera Acosta from West Scranton High School.

The 11th-12th grade essay contest first place winners were Simone Madore and Avianna Natale from Holy Cross High School. Gabrielle Hieber from Wallenpaupack Area High school and Madeleine Reynolds from Holy Cross High School tied for second place. In third place, Mandie Martin and Kevin Vincent tied.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

University of Scranton students who work in the Jesuit school’s Office of Sustainability reviewed the essays submitted, in addition to organizing the award ceremony. University students participating were: Alexa Cutter, a media production and journalism major from Massapequa, New York; Amelia Farry, a criminal justice major from South Abington Township; Samantha Kosmar, an environmental science major from Old Tappan, New Jersey; Ian Mahalek, an environmental science major from Fairfax, Virginia; and Rebekah Thompson, an occupational therapy major from Bedminster, New Jersey. Mark Murphy, director of the Office of Sustainability at the University, has organized the Earth Day Essay Contest for a decade. It was one of nearly a dozen Earth Day events held on campus.

Information about next year’s essay contest will be posted to the University’s Sustainability webpage in January 2026.

The University of Success provides high school students with a four-year plan, mapped out with tools, opportunities and the eventual reward of gaining acceptance to college.

The Class of 2025, like its predecessors dating back nearly 25 years, successfully followed through and completed its journey.

Seventeen high school students graduated this spring from the University of Success. This University of Scranton-sponsored program is designed to help high school students develop skills through mentorship and developmental enrichment courses in study skills, public speaking, math, science, art, cultural activities and SAT prep. Wellness and financial aid seminars are also offered over the course of their time in the program.

Fifteen of the graduates will attend colleges and universities, including five headed to The University of Scranton, and two will enlist in the military.

Created in 1996 and with its first full graduating class in 2001, the University of Success is offered free of charge and funded almost entirely by corporate and foundation grants. Donors to the program include AT&T, Dime Bank, Fidelity Bank, Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, Carl and JoAnne Kuehner, Overlook Estate Foundation, Peoples Security Bank and Trust, PPL Foundation, Lisa A. Thomas, M.D., and WM (Waste Management).

The following lists the 2025 University of Success graduates:

Christian Alers, Scranton Prep, University of New England;

Brandon Amorim, West Scranton High School, Johnson College;

Amiya Brown, Dunmore High School, Lincoln University;

Christopher Cordero, Scranton High School, University of Scranton;

Christina Denney, Mountain View High School, University of Pittsburgh;

Nathan Fuller, West Scranton High School, University of Scranton;

Alisha Jackson, Scranton High School, University of Scranton;

Dawson Reed Machado, Valley View High School, Penn State Scranton;

Louisa Martinez, Lower Merion High School, LaSalle University;

Luisa Martinez, Dover High School, County College of Morris;

Pujan Nepal, West Scranton High School, University of Scranton;

Christian Quintana, West Scranton High School, U.S. Navy;

Jo Ann Regan, Riverside High School, University of Scranton;

Jorge Rodriguez, Scranton High School, U.S. Air Force;

Mikayla Sansky, Mountain View High School, Marywood University;

Sulekha Sharma, Riverside High School, Temple University;

Amber Wine, West Scranton High School, King’s College.

Applications are accepted and new students are admitted each year into the University of Success.

The program begins in the summer between eighth and ninth grade with a two-week residential Summer Academy, which, this year, will be held July 6-18 at the University.

For more information, visit the program’s website.

Neiv Sinha, Whitehall High School, Whitehall Township, won The University of Scranton’s 2025 Math Integration Bee for high school students, which took place on campus in April. Sinha was a finalist in the University’s 2024 Math Integration Bee.

 In addition to Sinha, the four other finalists in the 2025 competition, in alphabetical order, were: John Mastellar, Central Columbia High School, Bloomsburg; Johncarlos Peralta, Hazleton Area High School, Hazle Township; Franklin Ritz, Hazleton Area High School, Hazle Township; and Elijah Serota, Wyoming Valley West High School, Plymouth.

The University’s Mathematics Department hosted the Integration Bee during the spring semester on campus. The competition functions similarly as a spelling bee, but with contestants completing definite and indefinite integral problems, a type of calculus problem, instead of spelling words. The competition can help high school students improve their skills for Advanced Placement mathematics tests. The Bee is offered free of charge, registration is required.

A new program of The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum will feature a unique wine education event, “Vinho and Views: Exploring Portugal’s Wine Heritage,” presented by David Falchek, wine writer and former executive director of the American Wine Society. The event will be held Friday, June 6, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Charles Kratz Scranton Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

This 90-minute event will feature a four-course wine tasting accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, a presentation on Portuguese wines and an interactive discussion.

“When we think about wine from Portugal, we often think only of Port,” said Falchek. However, Portugal is a centuries-old wine producing region that produces all kinds of wines.

“Portugal’s wines have evolved with its people, culture and cuisine, becoming a springboard for the region and what shaped it,” said Falchek.

Participants will enjoy a guided tasting of four iconic wines, including the refreshing Vinho Verde, a still white from the Dão region, a bold red blend and the renowned Tawny Port. They will also learn how Portuguese wines are made from indigenous grape varieties that set the country’s wines apart from those of other wine-producing regions throughout the world.

“When you open a bottle of Portuguese wine, it is completely unique to the region,” said Falchek.

Alongside the tasting, participants will learn about the accidental creation of Port wine during a trade war between England and France and how that influenced not just the wine’s evolution, but also the names of Port wines.

The presentation will also include discussions about Portugal’s significant contributions to the worldwide wine industry as the primary producer of wine corks from the country’s sustainable forests.

Participants don’t need to be wine connoisseurs to appreciate and enjoy this event, said Falchek.

“You’re the master of your own taste. No one can tell you what you do and don’t like,” he said, adding that he hopes participants will come prepared to be more adventurous in drinking something new.

For those unsure about trying a new wine, Falchek says, “Try it … try it and find out what you like.” A wine you enjoy today may not be your favorite tomorrow, as tastes change over time.

“In the end, it’s really a personal journey,” he said.

Falchek has been published in Beverage Media, Vineyard & Winery Management and others, and writes a drinks column for The Scranton Times.

To register for this wine education event, or for more information on the Schemel Forum, call 570-941-4740 or email rose.merritt@scranton.edu. The cost for the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, lecture and discussion is $60 per person and $100 per couple. There is no additional fee for Schemel Forum Members, Angels and Archangels. University of Scranton and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students, staff and faculty must purchase tickets. Attendees must be 21 or older. To pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

The University of Scranton and Widener University Commonwealth Law School signed a new 3+3 dual admissions agreement, providing an expedited and cost-effective route for students to earn both their bachelor’s degree and juris doctor in just six years. This innovative program allows students to bypass the traditional seven-year timeline, cutting down on tuition expenses and speeding up their entry into the legal field.

The agreement will allow Scranton students who meet program requirements to be eligible for admission to the prestigious law school after three years. The accelerated academic program allows highly qualified and motivated students to earn both a bachelor’s degree from Scranton and juris doctor degree from Widener Law Commonwealth.

“The University of Scranton has long been a source of many of our most outstanding students – individuals who go on to lead impactful legal careers,” said andré douglas pond cummings, J.D., dean of Widener Law Commonwealth. “This 3+3 agreement formalizes that bond, allowing motivated Scranton students to begin their legal education in what would traditionally be their senior year of college. It saves time and resources while aligning beautifully with Scranton’s Jesuit mission of service – an ethos that mirrors our own commitment to access to justice and producing attorneys dedicated to serving the public good.”

“This 3+3 with Widener Commonwealth Law builds upon several existing such partnerships to provide our students with yet another excellent option. Our Scranton students can benefit from our strong liberal arts undergraduate education, which we know will serve them well to become ethical critical thinkers who can write and speak effectively. Then they take our transformative education as they study the law at Widener and in turn live out the Catholic, Jesuit mission in the promotion of social justice as an attorney,” said Carolyn McNamara Barry, Ph.D., dean of Scranton’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“The University of Scranton students are always impressive, and their contributions to the law school and the legal profession make a positive impact on their communities,” said Matthew Kerns, associate dean of admissions at Widener Law Commonwealth. “This agreement saves Scranton students valuable time and money when completing their degrees so that they can quickly progress into their professional careers.”

Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Widener Law Commonwealth offers a unique advantage through its proximity to state government agencies, courts and a robust network of legal professionals. A strong focus on mentorship and applied learning prepares students for the rigors of legal practice in a dynamic and supportive environment.

“I was particularly impressed by Widener Law Commonwealth’s noteworthy track record in providing access to a wide range of students to pursue law school, as well as sending so many of their graduates onto successful careers as public servants in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Dean Barry.

To be eligible for the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA while at Scranton and must have completed at least 90 credits overall (a minimum of 63 at Scranton) before enrolling at Widener. The program is open to all Scranton students considering attending law school. Additional information can be found on Scranton’s pre-law webpage.

The agreement is effective beginning with students whose anticipated matriculation date to Widener Commonwealth is August 2026.

Back when he was a graduate student at Boston College, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, took a course, “Great Themes of the Bible,” instructed by Rev. Richard J. Clifford, S.J., and the late Rev. Thomas D. Stegman, S.J.

It was captivating, creative and so inspiring, Father Marina said, that he still has his notebook from the class and occasionally returns to it.

“Instead of studying sections, like wisdom literature and the prophets and the gospels, they looked at particular themes running through,” Father Marina recalled. “We studied, for example, creation through the lens of both testaments. We studied redemption. We studied mercy. It was a great way to become more familiar with the Bible.”

Father Marina, now the president of The University of Scranton, welcomed Father Clifford to campus on April 10. Father Clifford was the guest of honor, receiving the University’s Arrupe Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministry.

But for all the scholarly wisdom and critical thought Father Clifford instilled in Father Marina, the University president says his fondest memory happened outside the classroom.

“One day we were cooking and it was the middle of the afternoon,” Father Marina told the crowd assembled for a luncheon at Leahy Hall. “I said to you, ‘I still haven’t been to Mass yet.’ He said to me, ‘Would you like to celebrate together?’ And it was just the two of us in our house chapel; me on the one side, he on the other.

“Just a beautiful memory … so personal to me.”

Father Clifford was introduced at the Arrupe Award luncheon by Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry at Scranton, who touted him as someone who’s lived a life “with faith, intellectual rigor and genuine kindness toward all.”

Father Clifford presented a lecture, “Jews and Catholics: Building a Peaceful Future,” in which he emphasized the ongoing need for understanding and compassion between the two faiths.

Father Clifford’s prolific career, spanning five decades, includes a 38-year run of teaching biblical studies from 1970 to 2008 at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge. He joined the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry in 2008 and remains there. His past experience also includes serving as general editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly and being the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association.

The University of Scranton established the Arrupe Award in 1995 to recognize individuals who have furthered in a significant way the Ignatian mission. It is named for the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus and sometimes referred to as its “The Second Founder.”

$content.getChild('content').textValue

The University of Scranton will celebrate its Class of 2025 with the awarding of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to nearly 1,300 graduates on Sunday, May 18.

Sunday’s commencement ceremonies conclude a busy, fun-filled weekend of events.

Here is a chronological rundown of key events happening this weekend:

---

 

FRIDAY, MAY 16

4 p.m. Leahy College of Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate Awards Ceremony at the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

5:30 p.m. Kania School of Management Reception on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall.

7:30 p.m. Class Night, recognizing undergraduates for academic achievement, leadership and service, in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

SATURDAY, MAY 17

9 a.m. Pinning Ceremony for nursing graduates in the Byron Recreation Complex.

11:30 a.m. Multicultural Graduation Celebration in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

1 p.m. ROTC Commissioning in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

2:45 p.m. Class of 2025 Legacy Photo at the Loyola Science Center’s atrium.

4 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass in the Byron Recreation Complex.

• There will not be a procession of the graduates. Graduates will sit with and among their family and friends.

8 p.m. President’s Reception for graduates and parents in the Byron Recreation Complex.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

9:45 a.m. Doors open for Undergraduate Commencement at Mohegan Arena.

11 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement begins at Mohegan Arena.

12 p.m.: Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduation Awards Ceremony in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

3:45 p.m.: Doors open for Graduate Commencement at Mohegan Arena.

4:30 p.m.: Graduate Commencement begins at Mohegan Arena.

---

Refer to our campus maps webpage for precise locations of school buildings. Mohegan Arena, the home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins’ top minor league affiliate, is located at 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Visit the arena’s website to review its clear bag policy and security procedures.

The principal speaker at the Undergraduate Commencement is Nicole Young ’00, H’20, a 16-time Emmy Award-winning senior producer for “60 Minutes.”

Several of the weekend’s events will be recorded on video and livestreamed. Links will become available on the University’s website at the date and time of each event.

A photographer from GradImages will be at both commencement ceremonies, capturing photos of each graduate during their moment of recognition. Scroll down to the Photographs and Flowers section of the commencement page for more information on how to pre-register and access your photos.

Join the fun on social media by using #Royals2025 for a chance to be featured on the University’s commencement page.

Richard Kogan, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and artistic director of Weill Cornell Music and Medicine, presented a concert lecture, “Schumann: Music, Mood Swings & Madness,” on April 10 at Geisinger School of Medicine (GSOM).

Dr. Kogan’s appearance in Scranton was a collaboration between the Schemel Forum, which is a community education and cultural enrichment program sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library, and GSOM. The Schemel Forum hosts numerous luncheon seminars, short academic courses and collaborative programs, such as this, during each semester.

Dr. Kogan discussed how creative artists are especially vulnerable to mental illness, highlighting German composer Robert Schumann, who blurred the lines between genius and insanity.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

When Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., was a curious college freshman. 

“I said to my friends, ‘What happens when a pope dies?’” Dr. Cosacchi recently recalled. “I went to the library, took out about 25 books …” 

And the rest was history. 

Dr. Cosacchi, The University of Scranton’s vice president of mission and ministry, has since become a scholar of the papacy and conclave. 

Since the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, Dr. Cosacchi has been in-demand, both on campus and in the public eye. 

Dr. Cosacchi’s work at the University in recent weeks has included a video presentation, open to the University community, about papal transition. 

Dr. Cosacchi also authored a University-wide email — a conclave primer — with numerous sources and links gathered to answer virtually any questions you may have about the conclave. 

Additionally, Dr. Cosacchi is contributing coverage for Spectrum News during the conclave and he was interviewed for the following articles in national media outlets: 

• “A Visual Guide on How the Next Pope Will Be Elected,” The Washington Post 

• “What’s at stake in conclave this week,” USA Today 

A graduate of Fordham University and Boston College, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively, Dr. Cosacchi earned his doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago. Hired by Scranton in 2022, he previously held teaching positions at Marywood University and Fairfield University. 

Dr. Cosacchi is the author of “Great American Prophets: Pope Francis’s Models of Christian Life,” and the co-author of “The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence Between Daniel and Philip Berrigan.” 

The University of Scranton recently hosted its Judaic Studies Institute Lecture, welcoming a guest speaker from Ematai and the Jerusalem Post.

Rabbi Shlomo Brody, Ph.D., presented, “Jewish Ethical Perspectives on Civilian Casualties in War: A Tale of Two Sieges,” on April 24 at the Pearn Auditorium inside Brennan Hall.

Rabbi Brody is the executive director of Ematai, where he leads a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people navigate ethical dilemmas relating to end-of-life care, and a columnist at the Jerusalem Post, the oldest and largest English language daily newspaper in Israel. He was previously the founding director of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute, a senior instructor at Yeshivat Hakotel rabbinic seminary and a research fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.

The author of two books — A Guide to the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic Debates (which received a National Jewish Book Award) and Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality — Shlomo Brody is a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University. He received rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, a master’s degree in Jewish philosophy at the Hebrew University and a Ph.D. from Bar Ilan University Law School.

Additionally, Patrick Clark, Ph.D., professor of theology and religious studies at The University of Scranton, presented a Christian perspective at the event. Dr. Clark, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, master’s degree from Boston College and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame, has been at Scranton since 2010.

Founded in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community, the Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute fosters appreciation and understanding of Judaism, Israel and their histories. It supports scholarly endeavors, as well as outside visits from Jewish scholars and writers, among other items. The Institute’s work was further enhanced in 1990 by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

The University of Scranton’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) recently interviewed Scranton City Council candidates, furthering its mission of developing knowledgeable, responsible and engaged community members.

JoyAnna Hopper, Ph.D., director of CEEPS and political science professor, and Brian Snee, Ph.D., communication and media professor, conducted the interviews. Questions focused on candidate plans and priorities, housing, infrastructure, zoning, changes in federal support and the rising cost of utilities.

Democrats Tom Schuster, Todd Pousley, Patrick Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Frankie Malacaria participated in the interviews, as did Republican Marc Pane. Each video interview can be accessed by clicking the links attached to each candidate’s name.

Earlier this month, CEEPS also held mayoral candidate debates for the Democratic and Republican parties.

CEEPS encourages the public to register to vote and to learn about candidates’ positions prior to the upcoming municipal primary elections on Tuesday, May 20.

The interviews, which were recorded by Electric City Television, will be aired in the coming days on ECTV.

On Sunday, April 27 at the 11 a.m. Mass at Madonna della Strada Chapel, five University of Scranton students in the Order of Christian of Initiation of Adults, or OCIA, process completed their initiation into the sacramental life of the Catholic church. OCIA is the process through which adults become Catholic or complete their Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church. At this Mass, Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton was the principal celebrant and homilist, and Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton served as concelebrant. Bishop Bambera conferred the Sacraments of Initiation on the following students:

Cristiana M. Basile ‘27, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

Sophia Carranza ‘28, Confirmation

Jackson Conti ’27, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist

Riley Nicole Struble ’28, Confirmation and Eucharist

Sara Tully ’27, Confirmation and Eucharist

 

 

University of Scranton students, faculty and staff participated in annual Christmas gift-giving programs organized by the Center for Service and Social Justice. Toys donated through the Giving Tree from students, staff and faculty, as well as Scranton Baseball, the Psychology Club and Performance Music’s Empty Stocking Concert, were collected and sorted by the Center for Service and Social Justice. The toys will be donated to the Gifts for Kids giveaway, a program with the Catherine McAuley Center, Friends of the Poor, the Salvation Army and Catholic Social Services. The event will be hosted at the University’s Byron Recreation Complex on Dec. 15 and 16.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

Less than a week after its beloved Noel Night, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will continue in the holiday spirit at its 23rd Annual Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, this year featuring the Scranton Brass Orchestra, on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

This year’s concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue.

The event is open to the public, with attendees asked to bring either a new unwrapped toy, new piece of child’s clothing, new toiletry items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, comb/brush, etc.), or a cash donation. All donated items will directly benefit local families in need this holiday season.

Founded by Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga and University Professor Emeritus Hal Baillie, Ph.D., and now in its 12^th season, Scranton Brass Orchestra is a fully professional 28-member ensemble comprised of brass and percussion players/teachers from across the region. Since its founding in June 2011, the group’s performances have been free and open to the public, and have featured nationally and internationally acclaimed guests, among them some of the most acclaimed brass players of our time. Some of the goals of the group include to provide high-level, large brass ensemble performance and listening opportunities, serve as an aural and visual model to aid in the tonal and technical development of student brass players and as a professional development resource for brass performers and teachers in the region, and give participating regional brass musicians and teachers opportunities to work with and observe masters of the art of brass playing.

The Empty Stocking Fund concert traces its origins back to 1999, when Boga’s friend, Alan Drake, the former chairman of the music department at Georgia’s Augusta University, told her about a benefit Christmas concert held there. Boga was intrigued, and Drake gave his blessing for her to bring the concept back to Scranton for the following year.

For the inaugural year, she and Drake waged a friendly competition to see which concert could raise the most money. Scranton won, and an annual tradition was born.

The concert’s charitable mission makes it particularly special, and Decker and Boga and their students are always moved when they see the donated items out on display the night of the show. Meanwhile, the performance itself never fails to produce an abundance of yuletide cheer – by the end of it, “you can really see people starting to feel the Christmas spirit,” Decker said. Audience members are encouraged to wear their Santa hats, reindeer antlers and other accessories of the season.

For those who are unable to attend the concert but would still like to drop off a toy or other donation, they will be accepted at the Houlihan McLean Center from now up to and including the day of the concert from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (before the day of the concert, please use the Jefferson Ave. entrance. For additional daytime hours, please call first: 570-941–7624.

For more information on the Empty Stocking Fund Benefit Concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.

Continuing a beloved holiday season tradition, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present its 57^th Annual Noel Night concert on Saturday, Dec. 7.  The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with a prelude beginning at 7:05 p.m. Admission is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Considered the University’s Christmas gift to the community, Noel Night has been a must-attend event for many Scranton-area residents since its founding almost 60 years ago by the Rev. Edward Gannon, S.J.

Noel Night features The University of Scranton Singers, with preludes this year performed by the String Orchestra and organ. Outdoor instrumental caroling by members of the University Bands will greet audience members as they arrive.

According to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga, the program will include a variety of sacred selections interspersed with readings of Nativity texts. Included in the program are musical works by John Leavitt, Felix Mendelssohn, Vaclav Nelhybel, Camille Saint-Saëns, Mark Sirett and others. Pianist for the evening is Ron Stabinsky, and Christopher Johnson is organist.

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no music major at the University, and all enrolled University of Scranton students are eligible for membership in the bands, choirs, and string ensembles, with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership. Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year.

For additional information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music.

High school students from Carbondale Area, Mid Valley, Scranton Prep and Valley View participated in The University of Scranton’s inaugural Data Science Day Competition. Supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to University mathematics professor Joseph Klobusicky, Ph.D., the interactive competition included a tutorial introduction to data science and the computer software that would be used during the competition. The day also included a luncheon keynote address by Melinda Kleczynski, Ph.D., a post-doctoral scholar at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and remarks from Carolyn Barry, Ph.D., dean of Scranton’s College of Arts and Sciences. University students majoring in mathematics and other fields assisted with the competition.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

University students majoring in mathematics and other fields assisted with the competition.

The high school students competed in an individual and a doubles division.

 In the individual division, Scranton Prep seniors Ethan Fenner from Forty Fort came in first place; Vincent You from Jessup placed second and Ryan Flaim from Wilkes-Barre placed third.

In the doubles division, sophomores from Mid Valley Secondary Center Giada Vagni, Olyphant, and Zackary Buza, Throop, came in first place. Seniors from Scranton Prep Logan Dixon, Factoryville, and Sam DeNaples, Moscow, placed second.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

Data Science is a growing, much-in-demand field. A knowledge of probability and statistics is crucial, as they are considered the “mathematical back bone” of data analysis, according to Dr. Klobusicky.

For graduates of Scranton’s class of 2023, those majoring in data analysis had one of the highest salaries reported ($70,800) in its post-graduate survey.

Additional information about undergraduate programs in mathematics at The University of Scranton can be found on the department’s webpage.

Pictured below, from left, are the winners of the doubles division of The University of Scranton’s Data Science Day Competition: placing second, from Scranton Preparatory School, seniors Logan Dixon and Sam DeNaples; and placing first from Mid Valley Secondary Center, sophomores Giada Vagni and Zackary Buza; and Dr. Klobusicky.

University of Scranton students volunteered to pack and deliver 150 food baskets to area families in need as part of its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive organized by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. The food baskets included turkeys as well as other food items needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

University students gathered at the Friends of the Poor warehouse in South Scranton on Nov. 24 to prepare the food baskets, which they later delivered to families at Hilltop Manor and Valley View Terrace in Scranton.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

Future entrepreneurs Maria Bonacci, Waverly; Geneen Brown, Scranton; Brigid Lawrence, Jermyn; Nesha Parker, Kunkletown; Cheyanne Peaten-Holder, Jessup; Claudette Polidoro, Clarks Summit; Megan Poremba, Dunmore; Melanie Van Ommeren, Cresco; and Jill White, Jefferson Township, completed The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Women’s Entrepreneurship Center StartUP Fall Program sponsored by Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Business Finance Corporation.

Facilitated by experienced business consultants from The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), this six-week certificate series is designed for women with lower incomes, women experiencing a life transition or women trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. The StartUP program offers women support and guidance in determining if entrepreneurship is an option for them. The program also encompasses teaching business startup basics, legal and insurance considerations, marketing and social media essentials, business plan development, accounting and budget skills, financing options and goal setting.

The fall StartUP series was sponsored by Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Business Finance Corporation. Representatives from NEPA Alliance and University student interns of the SBDC’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center also played a role in the program, sharing information and resources with participants.

Housed in the Kania School of Management, The University of Scranton Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) is a program of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). WEC student interns and SBDC staff offer business startup information, guidance and encouragement. For more information, visit www.scrantonsbdc.com.

Scranton’s SBDC serves eight counties in Northeastern and Northern Tier Pennsylvania.

Election Day is approaching quickly, Royals! With just a few days to go, the Royals Vote coalition would like to ensure the University community is prepared to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5. On the evening before Election Day, Monday Nov. 4, you are also invited to join for campus prayer and reflection at 4 p.m. in the Dionne Green Amphitheater.

Information To Help You Plan for Election Day

Events: Start off Election Day with a cup of coffee and donuts in Hyland Hall as the Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) is hosting “Democracy and Donuts” from 9 a.m. - noon. The event will take place in the courtyard outside of Hyland Hall (weather permitting) or in the lobby of Hyland Hall. If you have any voting or election questions, stop by to speak with a member of the CEEPS team.

On Election Day, be sure to check out the Royals Vote Celebration on DeNaples first floor (across from the University’s bookstore) and/or outside DeNaples on the patio, weather permitting. A Royals Vote backdrop will be displayed throughout the day, so stop by to take photos and get your own “I Voted!” Royals Vote sticker.

Election Day Transportation: The Royals Vote Coalition will be providing transportation to Scranton High School (63 Mike Munchak Way). The Iggy Shuttle will be making rounds every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 to Scranton High School. If you are registered to vote at Scranton High School, please meet at the Linden Circle by the flagpoles.

It is encouraged that voters double check their voter registration status and confirm their polling place prior to Election Day to avoid any delays or issues. Pennsylvania voters can confirm their voter registration status and locate their polling place.  

Identification is required for first-time voters in an Election District in Pennsylvania. Approved forms of photo ID in Pennsylvania include a Pennsylvania Driver’s license or ID card issued by PennDot, Student ID (such as your Royal ID), and a U.S. passport. Approved forms of non-photo ID include a voter’s identification card issued by the voter registration commission. Returning voters do not need to show identification (unless otherwise noted). For more information, please visit PA.Gov   

Mail-in Ballots: If you have requested a mail-in ballot, be sure to complete the ballot according to the instructions. In Pennsylvania, completed mail ballots must be received by (mail or by dropping to a designated drop box) at your county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarked by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 is not sufficient. For other states, be sure to check out your state’s deadlines and requirements by scrolling to links for individual states, which are found at the bottom of the page at this link.

The campus-wide non-partisan Royals Vote initiative is here to help ensure that everyone on campus is ready to vote. Email community@scranton.edu  or call 570-941-4419 with any questions.

Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy, professor of history at Northampton Community College, will present “Black Jews in America: Diversity and Identity” at The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the PNC Auditorium of the Loyola Science Center. The lecture, co-sponsored by the University’s Black Studies Concentration, is presented free of charge and open to the public.

Rabbi Levy serves as president of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, Inc., an organization of black rabbis representing congregations throughout the United States, Caribbean, and Africa. He is Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of the Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation, Saint Albans, New York.

Rabbi Levy has participated on academic panels at Chapel Hill University, Harvard Divinity School, DuDable Museum of African American History, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the annual conference of the American Academy of Religion. Articles about him and his work have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Root, and Jewish Forward. He has been referenced in numerous books and collections at the Jewish Museum of New York and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian. Many of his sermons and lectures can be found on YouTube.

Earlier in his career, Rabbi Levy worked at Harvard University in the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute of the Department of Afro-American Studies as an associate editor of African American Lives (2004) and the African American National Biography, a ten-volume reference work. He published over thirty biographical entries for these books including the entries for Rabbi W.A. Matthew, Rabbi Arnold J. Ford, Father Divine, Maya Angelou, Louis Farrakhan, Tiger Woods and Amy E.J. Garvey. Rabbi Levy served as the editor and was a frequent contributor to the Hakol newsletter and was editor of the website www.blackjews.org.

Prior to joining the faculty of Northampton Community College in 2005, Rabbi Levy taught college courses on various aspects of American and African American history at LaGuardia Community College, at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University, Medgar Evers College, and Middlebury College.

Rabbi Levy has received many awards and citations. Most significantly, he has received proclamations from the New York City Council (2002) and the New York State Senate (2019) honoring him for his humanitarian work, commitment to social justice, and for promoting peace and brotherhood among all people.

Rabbi Levy earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, a master’s degree in African-American Studies from Yale University, and a master’s degree in American history from Columbia University. He graduated from the Israelite Rabbinical Academy in 1985 and was ordained a rabbi. Part of his rabbinic and secular studies were completed at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The Weinberg Judaic Studies Institute was created in 1979 through an endowment funded by the local Jewish community. The Institute fosters a better understanding and appreciation of Judaism, Israel, and their histories. It supports visits to the University by Jewish scholars and writers and supports library acquisitions, publications, faculty research, travel and other scholarly endeavors. The work of the Institute was further enhanced by a $1 million gift from Harry Weinberg in 1990.

For further information, contact Marc Shapiro, Ph.D., professor of theology/religious studies and the Weinberg Chair of Judaic Studies at The University of Scranton, at 570-941-7956 or marc.shapiro@scranton.edu.

The Princeton Review listed The University of Scranton among just 511 colleges in the world “selected for their exceptional programs, policies and practices related to sustainability and the environment” for inclusion in its 2025 edition of its “Guide to Green Colleges,” which was published online in October. This is the sixth year that Scranton has made this listing.

The Princeton Review analyzed more than 25 data points to choose the colleges for this year’s guide based on its 2023–2024 survey of administrators about their institutions’ sustainability-related policies, practices and programs, as well as surveys of students attending those colleges about their “green” campus experiences.

“We are seeing substantive interest among college applicants in attending green colleges,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. According to the Princeton Review, 61 percent of the high school students participating in their 2024 “College Hopes and Worries Survey” indicated that “having information about a college’s commitment to the environment would affect their decision to apply to or attend the school.”

The Princeton Review also noted that, as a group, “the schools in the 2025 Edition of the Guide to Green Colleges have impressive sustainability-related statistics: 28 percent of their energy comes from clean and renewable sources; 46 percent of their waste is diverted from incinerators or solid-waste landfills; 98 percent offer a sustainability focused undergraduate major or degree; and 100 percent have a sustainability officer.”

Scranton’s long-established sustainability efforts include academics, facilities and community education and outreach. Scranton has infused issues of sustainability in courses across the curriculum, ranging from theology, to business, to the natural sciences, to education, as well as other disciplines. Scranton uses numerous “green” procedures in building maintenance practices, as well as in building design and construction. Scranton currently has three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings: Leahy Hall, the Loyola Science Center and the DeNaples Center, which became the city’s first LEED certified structure in 2008. Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, currently under construction, is design intended to meet silver LEED certification requirements.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

In addition, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical titled “On Care for Our Common Home,” the University is participating in a seven-year initiative to be recognized by the Vatican as a Laudato Si’ University.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

To be designated as a Laudato Si University, colleges must evaluate comprehensively current environmental and sustainability programs, then improve and develop further initiatives to address seven goals outlined by the Pope. The goals to be addressed are: to respond to the cries of the Earth; to respond to the call of the poor; to apply ecological economics; to adopt sustainable lifestyles; to implement ecological education programs; to develop ecological spirituality efforts; and to develop of programs to address community resilience and empowerment.

In addition to its “Guide to Green Colleges,” The Princeton Review has listed Scranton in its “Best Colleges” guidebooks for 23 consecutive years, also ranking Scranton among the nation’s “Best Science Lab Facilities” (No. 17) for the eighth year.

Award-winning author Stephanie Saldaña discussed her book “What We Remember Will Be Saved” at The University of Scranton’s 2024 Ignatian Values in Action Lecture, which took place on campus on Oct. 10.

Saldaña’s book, “What We Remember Will Be Saved: A Story of Refugees and the Things They Carry,” was selected for the University’s “Royal Reads” program for the incoming class of 2028.

The Royal Reads program encourages all incoming students to read a designated book during the summer and to attend the lecture in order to create a shared experience among the students and expose them to the Ignatian values at the core of the University’s mission. Throughout their first-year students will encounter themes of the “Royals Read” selection repeated in classes, extracurricular opportunities and other special events.

A recording of the 2024 Ignatian Values in Action Lecture can be seen here.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

The University of Scranton Jazz Band will take the stage Saturday, Oct. 26, with acclaimed drummer Alvin Atkinson joining them as the evening’s guest soloist. Presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Atkinson will also offer a free drumset masterclass for set drummers ranging from students (ages 16 and older) to professionals on Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. in the Houlihan McLean Center. Drummers wishing to attend should email music@scranton.edu or call 570-941-7624 for more information. (Younger drummers may attend accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.)

At the concert, the University’s student jazz ensemble will perform a variety of works that prominently feature Atkinson on drums. According to Performance Music Conductor and Co-Director Janelle Decker, “the program will feature music representing the work of numerous jazz giants in a variety of styles, all selected to showcase the versatility of our guest artist and maximize the musical and educational experience of our student musicians.”

Performance Music Conductor and Director, Cheryl Y. Boga first met Atkinson through his association with Wycliffe Gordon H ’06. She explains that “not only is Alvin’s mastery of musically and rhythmically ‘driving’ a jazz band always evident, but he is also a committed teacher who is experienced at conveying complex concepts in a straightforward yet enthusiastic manner.”

A member of Wycliffe Gordon’s International All-Stars, Atkinson is a six-time U.S. Jazz Ambassador and has traveled the globe performing America’s classical music. His own group, Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants, has appeared in South America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Russia. Known for his dynamic playing style and versatility across various genres, he has recorded and performed with jazz legends Wycliffe Gordon, Vanessa Ruben, Paquito D’Rivera, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Cecil Bridgewater, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Reggie Workman, Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut, Gerri Allen, Eddie Henderson, ELEW, Maceo Parker, Shirley Scott and many others.

As an educator, Atkinson has conducted classes, clinics and workshops worldwide through the U.S. State Department, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Midori and Friends and many others. He is also an artist-teacher at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy and is assistant director of Arts at Harlem Children Zone Promise Academies.

The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 25-member ensemble of big band style instrumentation, made up of University of Scranton student musicians from majors spanning the curriculum. They perform five or more times per year, and the majority of their performances are open to the public, free of admission charge, and often feature a nationally or internationally renowned guest soloist.

For further information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more info on Atkinson, visit alvinatkinson.com.

The Pennsylvania Library Association presented The University of Scranton’s Weinberg Memorial Library with the 2024 Library of the Year Award at a virtual ceremony on Oct. 15.

The annual award recognizes an individual library in Pennsylvania that has, in the previous 18-month period, exhibited excellence in: service to public or academic community; advancing staff development; innovation in a special project, partnership, or solution to a challenge; and leadership in and support of the PA Library Association activities.

“It’s an incredible honor for us to be selected for this award, especially considering the many outstanding libraries across Pennsylvania, from colleges and universities to public libraries in large cities and small communities,” said George Aulisio, Ph.D., dean of the University’s Weinberg Memorial Library. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our library’s staff and faculty. We’re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment while meeting the needs of our entire community—students, faculty, staff, and area residents who utilize our library’s public resources.”

In presenting the award, the Pennsylvania Library Association noted the vision of the University’s Weinberg Memorial Library to promote “an accessible, inclusive, supportive, and welcoming environment where everyone can learn and grow creatively, intellectually, and spiritually.” The association said that the Weinberg Library’s “staff embodies this vision in their day-to-day operations, and prides themselves on service to the community, professional development and service to the Pennsylvania Library Association.”

$content.getChild('content').textValue

Dean Aulisio said that the Weinberg Library’s success “is rooted in the University’s Jesuit identity and its longstanding investment in its library.”

“We are guided by the principle of magis—striving to do more and be greater. This drives our commitment to the professional development of our staff and faculty, ensuring that our team remains at the forefront of best practices in librarianship. We are also deeply committed to advancing social justice by ensuring our library meets the needs of all who come through our doors, adapting to the unique learning styles and needs of each member of our community. This award reflects our dedication to inclusivity and excellence,” said Dean Aulisio.

The PA Library Association noted the Weinberg Library’s DEI efforts and the collaborative programming offered with campus groups that included host a series of films to celebrate Black History, Arab American Heritage, and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander months for both students and the Scranton community at large. The association also noted the new research guides for gender and sexuality and accessibility developed by Weinberg Library staff, and a an Accessibility/Sensory Map to highlight the spaces and features with general accessibility, types of lighting, and noise level of the University’s library.

“Service is also a cornerstone of a Jesuit education, and we lead by example. Many of our staff and faculty volunteer in the community, on campus, and with professional organizations such as the Pennsylvania Library Association,” said Dean Aulisio. “This allows us to support the library profession and  continue learning about successful innovations in library practices.”

Multiple members of the Weinberg Memorial Library staff and faculty have been actively involved with the PA Library Association. Sylvia Orner, assistant professor and the University’s collections and resource management librarian, served as the conference chair in 2020 and is currently president. Kate Cummings, assistant professor and the University’s research and instruction librarian for business, was previously treasurer on the statewide board of directors and is now serving as chair of its Intellectual Freedom Committee. Rebecca Dzikowski, cataloging assistant at the University, is the current chair of the Mentorship Subcommittee. Ian O’Hara, associate professor and the University’s research and instruction librarian for health sciences, serves as the College and Research Division grant funds manager and is on the EDI Committee. Sheli Pratt-McHugh, associate professor, department chair, learning commons coordinator and research and instruction librarian for technology and outreach at the University, was third vice-president, Membership Committee chair, and is currently on the Conference Committee and EDI Committee. Marleen Cloutier, associate professor and the University’s cataloging and metadata librarian, was the 2023 Conference chair for technical arrangements and is now the vice-chair elect for the Technical Services Round Table.  Melisa Gallo, the University’s interlibrary loan and collections assistant, is the treasurer for the Northeast Chapter.

The Pennsylvania Library Association is the state’s oldest professional library organization, representing more than 1,200 personal, institutional and commercial members affiliated with public, academic, special and school libraries throughout the Commonwealth.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded a $1,321,980 grant to The University of Scranton to support its Technology-Driven Transformation in Workforce Development and Innovation project. The grant leverages opportunities for outreach and collaboration, including with area small businesses, that will be created by the August 2025 opening of the nearly 90,000-square-foot Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall now under construction.

ARC announced awards of $68.2 million for 65 projects through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative. POWER directs federal resources to economic diversification and revitalization projects in Appalachian communities affected by the downturn of the coal industry. The awards, announced on Oct. 16, amount to ARC’s largest POWER investment since the initiative was launched in 2015. The projects funded impact 188 counties in 10 Appalachian states: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Scranton is one of just 20 projects in Pennsylvania selected to receive ARC awards. Scranton received the seventh largest award in the Commonwealth.

The ARC grant funding leverages the workforce development, applied research and community outreach opportunities that will be created in the four-story Weiss Hall, including the expanded and dedicated space for the University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The new space furthers the development of SBDC programming and encourage new collaborations with academic departments housed in the new building.

The ARC grant will support the development of the Small Business Ready program that builds on the success of the existing Small Business Development Center’s Internship Program. 

Small Business Ready involves the development of a specialized training program tailored to the unique needs of small business for student interns. The training program will address the development of soft skills, such as interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, leadership and written and oral communication, which were identified by employers as often lacking in new hires. The program will also seek to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and nurture creativity and innovation among University students and provide practical training on business planning, management fundamentals, cybersecurity basics, marketing and social media strategies, accounting, and finance principles. SBDC consultants will develop the training program in collaboration with local small business owners, and the University’s career development staff and faculty. The program will leverage specialized equipment and technology that will be available in a 10,000-square-foot innovation hub on the first floor of Weiss Hall, which includes a virtual reality/augmented reality training laboratory.

The ARC grant will also establish a networking program to facilitate more meaningful connections between students and small business owners and representatives. University students will take the lead in organizing and coordinating events and activities related to this initiative. In addition, the grant supports the development of initiatives for two of the University’s academic programs housed in Weiss Hall: the Psychology Department Experiential Learning and Outreach; and the Cybersecurity, Crime Analysis, Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Education, Training and Outreach.

The University anticipates 159 students, 10 businesses and 137 participants will be impacted through the ARC grant.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. Since 2015, ARC has invested $484.7 million in 564 projects impacting 365 coal-impacted counties. Collectively, these investments are projected to support nearly 54,000 jobs and prepare nearly 170,000 workers and students for new opportunities in growing industries.

Jonathan Conyers, author of “I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here,” spoke at the Oct. 8 University of Scranton Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Seminar.

Founder of Conyers Media, host of The Professional Winner Podcast, and co-founder of the Brooklyn Debate League, Conyers discussed “The Power of Storytelling” at the luncheon.

Born to two parents addicted to crack cocaine, Conyers’ childhood was defined by both tragedy and triumph.

“Writing has taught me so much about my life and journey,” Conyers said. “Things that happen to you don’t define you. You always have a chance to rewrite your story, and you can decide which chapter it will start with.”

The luncheon series features distinguished speakers that include authors, scholars and artists discussing a variety of timely topics. The luncheon series is sponsored by Munley Law. The seminars take place on campus. Admission is free for University of Scranton and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students, faculty, staff and Schemel Forum members. For non-members, the seminars are $30 in-person (buffet lunch included) and $15 for remote access.

To register for the seminars, call 570-941-4740 or email schemelforum@scranton.edu. Or, to pay online, visit: www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

Additional Schemel Forum events can be found on the Schemel Forum’s webpage.

$content.getChild('content').textValue

On Friday, Oct. 18, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will host Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks in an exciting mid-season concert as part of its fall 2024 schedule. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue. Admission is free. The concert is open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

“We are deeply honored that Mr. Giordano and the Nighthawks will be performing in our concert hall,” according to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga, whose son, Joseph, is a trumpeter with the group. “Mr. Giordano and his band have for decades enthralled legions of fans throughout the nation - many of them here in our region - who normally must travel to NYC to hear them perform live.”

For over 50 years, Grammy-winner, New York native, and multi-instrumentalist Vince Giordano has almost single-handedly kept alive a wonderful genre of American music that continues to spread the joy and pathos of an era that shaped our nation. Giordano’s passion, commitment to authenticity, and knowledge led him to create a sensational band of like-minded players, the Nighthawks. Each member of the ensemble is a virtuosic player on their instrument and an expert historical performer.

Giordano and his band have performed in top New York nightclubs and concert halls including Birdland, The Town Hall, Jazz At Lincoln Center, Newport Jazz Festival, 92nd Street Y, and many others for the past five decades. They have recorded soundtracks for numerous filmmakers, including Martin Scorcese, Robert DeNiro, Tamara Jenkins and Woody Allen, and have performed and/or recorded with singers from a wide variety of genres, such as Elvis Costello, Michael Feinstein, Patti Smith, Leon Redbone, Liza Minelli and too many more to list. Their extensive filmography includes “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Cotton Club,” “The Aviator,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Café Society,” “The Joker,” “The Irishman,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and a long list of others.

A Hudson West Productions feature documentary, “Vince Giordano – There’s a Future in the Past,” opened in theaters in 2017. Giordano’s passion for music from the 1920s and 30s and the people that made it led him to amass an amazing collection of over 64,000 band arrangements and sheet music, 1920s and 30s films, 78 rpm recordings, and jazz-age memorabilia. In addition to their extensive recording discography, several tunes recorded by Giordano and the Nighthawks are used in video games: BioShock, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4.

Also on Oct. 18, Giordano will present a lecture entitled “There’s A Future In The Past” as part of the Schemel Forum’s World Affairs Luncheon Seminars at the University. For more information on that event, visit www.scranton.edu/schemelforum.

For additional information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For more on Giordano and his Nighthawks, visit vincegiordano.com. 

Vince Giordano speak about Scranton Sirens and other musical legacies with WVIA’s Erika Funke.

Brandy Schillace, Ph.D., author, historian and medical humanities scholar, will be presented with the 2024 Royden B. Davis, S.J., Distinguished Author Award by The University of Scranton’s Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library on Saturday, Nov. 16. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund, which supports special gifts for the Weinberg Memorial Library collections and services.

Dr. Schillace’s work has been widely recognized for its interdisciplinary approach, blending science, history and storytelling to explore the human experience of medicine and mortality. Her recent novel, “The Framed Women of Ardemore House” (Hanover Square Press), has gained critical acclaim. She is the author of several other acclaimed non-fiction books, including “Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher” (Simon & Schuster), “Death’s Summer Coat” (Pegasus Books) and “Clockwork Futures” (Pegasus Books).

As a medical historian, Dr. Schillace has made significant contributions to the field, shedding light on the social, cultural and political aspects of medicine throughout history. Her work has been supported by grants from prestigious institutions such as the Arthur P. Sloan Foundation for Science Communication and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Distinguished Author Award event will take place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on the University’s campus beginning at 5 p.m. and includes a cocktail reception, dinner, award presentation and Distinguished Author keynote. University of Scranton alumnus Christopher Banks ’86, president and chief executive officer of the Autism Society of America, will serve as Toastmaster for the event.

Tickets for the Distinguished Author event are $100 per person. Special pricing is available for Friends of the Library, Schemel Forum members and students. Schemel Forum Archangels may attend for free.

In addition to the award event, there will be a book signing open to the public from 4 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16 in the DeNaples Center second floor lobby.

Named in honor of the late Rev. Royden B. Davis, S.J., who served in many roles at the University and as rector of the Jesuit Community, the Distinguished Author Award was established in 1997 as a way to honor notable fiction and non-fiction authors, and to give them the opportunity to share their literary pursuits and impressions with Northeastern Pennsylvanians.

For additional information or registration information, visit the Distinguished Author webpage or contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816 or kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.