News Archive
Dual Math and Computer Science Major Presents Research and Earns Top Honors at Behrend Conference
Westminster senior dual computer science and mathematics major Jenna Huston was awarded Best Oral Presentation in the Computer Science and Engineering division at the 23rd annual Penn State Behrend Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference in April.
Westminster's Tropical Ecology Class Culminates in Australia
Seventeen Westminster College students recently finished their biology class on the coral reefs of Australia.
"I just want to tell everyone to take this class," said Katie Schultz, a junior music major from Sharpsville. "It was such a great, once-in-lifetime experience. The 27-hour plane ride took a lot out of you. We got there at 11 p.m., and had to get up early the next morning."
The early rising hours did not deter Schultz's enthusiasm.
"Our routine on Lizard Island included breakfast, snorkel, lunch, lecture, snorkel, and dinner. After our first breakfast there, we never wore shoes," Schultz continued. "You can tell who the tourists are"¦anyone without shoes and wearing '60s apparel lives there"¦the rest are tourists."
Before leaving for Australia, the students spent a semester in a Westminster classroom studying the fish and coral in the area.
"The snorkeling was amazing. We were so close to the coral that we could see all the polyps," Schultz said. "Once a huge turtle floated up out of the sea and swam just beneath us for a while."
Their Australian guides continued the learning experience with daily lectures about the local fish, how they interact, and what happens when man interferes with their habitat.
"A lot of the coral is bleached," Schultz said. "In time the sand and the toxins from people causes the coral to die."
After learning about marine life in Australia, the class went to stay at Mungalli Falls where they hiked twice a day to visit falls and study the natives.
"The Aboriginal experience was my most favorite part of the trip," Schultz continued. "We learned their point of view, their way of life, their meaning of star gazing, their myths, and their dream time stories, which is their way of explaining nature."
Russell Buttler, an Aboriginal elder, talked to the class for two days about their culture.
"The Aborigines acknowledge God and Jesus, but they remain in touch with nature and the way nature interacts with animals, much like American Indians," Schultz said. "They have their sacred sites, but the wealthy put resorts on them and repress them."
Schultz is a music major at Westminster, but she managed to combine her love of music with this biology class.
"I bought a dijeridoo, clap sticks, rain sticks, and claves, which are all percussion instruments because I am a percussionist and they interested me," said Schultz. "I couldn't come home without several boomerangs or the beautiful hand-painted boxes made by the natives."
"I was ready to come home because I missed my family, but I do want to go back someday," Schultz said. "I love going to public places without shoes."
For more information, contact Dr. Ann Throckmorton, chair and associate professor of biology at Westminster College, at (724) 946-7209 or e-mail athrock@westminster.edu.
Westminster College Presents an Evening of Opera April 13
Several Westminster College students and faculty will sing in the "Opera Italiana" Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Orr Auditorium.
"We are featuring scenes from operas by Donizetti, Rossini, Puccini, and Verdi with English introductions," said Dr. Anne Bentz, stage director and assistant professor of music at Westminster. "This is an exciting program with exciting stories full of drama, mystery, and comedy. This evening is truly an entertaining evening of beautiful music."
Several faculty members will join the students in the chorus. They are: Dr. John Bonomo, associate professor of computer science; Dr. Beverly Cushman, assistant professor of religion and Christian education; Dr. Warren Hickman, professor of mathematics; Dr. Frederick Horn, professor of English Emeritus; Dr. Jesse Mann, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college; Dr. Jamie McMinn, assistant professor of psychology; and Glenn Smith, duplicating clerk. The music director/conductor is Mihai Vilcu and the pianist is Marie Libal-Smith.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bentz at (724) 946-6045 or e-mail bentzah@westminster.edu.
Westminster College to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Westminster College has several events on campus to honor the birth of Martin Luther King Jr.
Sunday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. – A Vespers service in Wallace Memorial Chapel will feature the Rev. Angel De La Cruz, a Presbyterian pastor from the Word Centered Fellowship. Under the direction of Cynthia Ragster, the Shenango Valley Praise Team will provide special music at the service. A reception will follow worship.
"Angel became a Presbyterian pastor after his experience at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and has led Word Centered to become the first new church commissioned by the Shenango Prestbytery in 80 years," said the Rev. James Mohr, chaplain of Westminster College. "Word Centered is a multi-ethnic, charismatic church."
"Westminster Titan radio will broadcast the worship service live," said Dr. David Barner, chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Theatre, and Art. "For those who do not receive the 88.9 FM signal, the service can also be heard via computer by going to www.titanradio.net and then clicking on the radio logo to listen.
Following the Vespers broadcast, Titan Radio will feature the "Covenant" show hosted by Brian Campbell, a senior broadcast communications major from Grove City and Pam Marlowe, a sophomore broadcast communications major from Harmony.
"This show, featuring Christian music and talk about the artists, fits in with the Christian ideals of Westminster College," Marlow said. "This show is Brian's senior project idea, so this is its first year to air."
Monday, Jan. 23 at 11:40 a.m. – Chapel service will be led by members of the Westminster College Gospel Choir, under the direction of Manny Henderson. After the service, there will be MLK birthday cake in the McKelvey Campus Center TUB, and the Westminster dining facilities will have an international food celebration, sponsored by Sodexho Marriott.
Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11:40 a.m. – Prayer and reflection time in the Chapel will be dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. He will be highlighted in a special video.
Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. – The Westminster College Gospel Choir will give a concert in the Chapel.
The events are sponsored by the Westminster College Chapel Office and the Office of Diversity Services.
Contact Mohr at (724) 946-7116 or e-mail mohrjr@westminster.edu or Jeannette Hooks, director of Diversity Serivces (724) 946-0236 or e-mail hooksj@westminster.edu for more information.
Westminster College Horn Ensemble to Give Christmas Concert Dec. 2
The Westminster College Horn Ensemble will give a Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.
Westminster College Music Professor Plans An Evening of Song
Sharon R. Rotuna, voice instructor and director of the Women's Choir at Westminster College, will give a concert Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.
Two Westminster Faculty Musical Quintets to Give Concert
Two Westminster College faculty quintets, the Brass Quintet and the Woodwind Quintet, will present an "Evening of Chamber Music" Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel.
Westminster Biology Professor to Discuss Fossil Research
Dr. M. Keen Compher, Jr., professor of biology at Westminster College, will discuss his recent research on fossils at Faculty Forum Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 11:45 a.m. in Patterson Hall room 311.
Compher spent his spring 2001 sabbatical at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History as a research associate in paleontology, and is producing "A Photographic Manual of Selected Interbrate Fossils of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History."
Thirty-six Students Included in Who's Who
Thirty-six Westminster College students are included in the 2007 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Opera Westminster to Present "The Gypsy Baron"
Opera Westminster will present "The Gypsy Baron" by Johann Strauss Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
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