The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association (PNA) awarded a first place 2017 Keystone Press Award to Misericordia University student reporter Christa Porasky of The Highlander student newspaper for feature writing. The annual PNA contest recognizes high school and college/university journalism that provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers.

Porasky was recognized for her story, "Working Students Brave Grueling Path to Uncertain Future." Published March 2, 2016, the article explored the personal stories of three students and Misericordia University President Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., who each needed to work at a variety of jobs to supplement their incomes during their collegiate careers. A student in the Department of Mass Communications and Design, Porasky juggled three part-time jobs along with her rigorous academic schedule. As a student journalist, she investigated whether other students faced similar challenges.

Her award-winning article was the culmination of three months of research and writing. The Falls resident earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in December 2016. Within a month of graduation, she was hired as the social media manager for Beauty It Is, an online health and beauty company in Scranton.

Porasky's article can be seen by logging on to http://bit.ly/gruelingpath.

Porasky will attend the Student Keystone Press Awards Luncheon in Hershey in April, along with Melissa Sgroi, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Mass Communications and Design and advisor to the student newspaper, other department faculty members, and students on The Highlander staff. Misericordia University competes in Division II of the Keystone Press Awards, which recognizes four-year colleges and universities with enrollment under 10,000.

The daughter of Cindy and Greg Porasky also was honored in December 2016 as part of a creative marketing team that placed first in the American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania's 2016 "Cropped'' competition. She collaborated with teammates Helen Lavelle of Lavelle Strategy Group and Joey Zarcone of Posture Interactive to write a slogan, design a logo, and create and execute a print advertising campaign for the Employment Opportunity & Training Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Porasky's 2017 award for feature writing is the latest in a number of recent Keystone Press Awards garnered by the staff at The Highlander. Web editor and columnist Jennifer Mathiesen of Stroudsburg won first place in 2016 for her photo story, "Jim Thorpe," that appeared in the Nov. 11, 2015 issue of the biweekly publication. Colleen Garrison of Dallas received a 2016 honorable mention in the Personality Profile category for the story, "The Life of a Student Mom: Exhaustion and Joy," which was published Feb. 25, 2015. Student photographer Mary Bove of Wapwallopen earned a first place award for her sports photo, "Women's Volleyball Victory,'' in 2015.

The Highlander can be accessed online at www.highlandernews.net. For more information about the Misericordia University Department of Mass Communications and Design, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/com.

Caption:

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association recognized The Highlander student newspaper at Misericordia University by presenting a student journalist with a first place Keystone Press Award in feature writing. Award-winning reporter Christa Porasky, Falls, Pa., left, poses with student newspaper advisor Melissa Sgroi, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Mass Communications and Design, after learning about the honor.

Ellen McLaughlin, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., B.C.P., associate professor of occupational therapy at Misericordia University, was appointed to the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA) Roster of Fellows at the annual Awards and Recognitions Ceremony during the spring AOTA Conference & Expo in Philadelphia.

The AOTA Roster of Fellows recognizes members of AOTA who have used their knowledge and expertise to make a significant contribution to the continuing education and professional development of members of the association. The inscription on the award will recognize Dr. McLaughlin for being a "passionate educator, expert consultant and devoted mentor.''

A resident of Dallas Township, Dr. McLaughlin is the director of the doctoral program in occupational therapy. She joined the program in 1990 as an assistant professor. During her career at Misericordia University, she has served as associate division chair of health sciences, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and interim dean of the College of Health Sciences.

She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in occupational therapy from Misericordia University, and a doctorate in learning, cognition and development from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. McLaughlin also received a certificate in interdisciplinary infant studies and is board certified in pediatrics by AOTA.

She served as the chair of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), a 21-member council that accredits OT and OT assistant programs, from 2012-15. She is currently an ACOTE emeriti team mentor, serving as the chair for mentoring new evaluators. A member of AOTA since 1986, Dr. McLaughlin also has served the organization on the accreditation council and on its Commission on Education during her career.

Misericordia University recognized Dr. McLaughlin's dedication to scholarship and service in 2013 when she was presented with the Pauly and Sidney Friedman Excellence in Service Award. The honor is given to a member of the faculty who has been selected by the Faculty Awards Committee in recognition of service to the University and greater community. The award takes into consideration the depth, impact, degree and longevity of the service activities.

Misericordia University and the Interfaith Resource Center of Peace in Wilkes-Barre are collaborating to present the "Waging Peace Project," one of a series of events being held across the country in recognition of the 100^th anniversary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

Misericordia University faculty members will present a program on issues surrounding AFSC's 100-year fight against injustice and discrimination on Monday, April 10 at 5 p.m. in Huntzinger and Alden Trust Rooms 218 and 219 of Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall. The event is free, and open to the public.

Allan Austin, Ph.D., professor of history, will serve as the facilitator. The presenters and their topics include: Sister Mary Ellen Brody, R.S.M., immigration; Maureen Pascal, D.P.T., associate professor of physical therapy, ending discrimination; James Calderone, Ed.D., professor emeritus of social work, prison reform, and Joseph Cipriani, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., professor of occupational therapy, economics. A roundtable discussion will follow the presentations. Light refreshments will be available.

Misericordia also will display a selection of 12 banners from an anniversary exhibit created by AFSC that tells stories of the organization's efforts to fight against injustice. The banners will be on display daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Insalaco Hall's Max and Tillie Rosenn Concourse from April 6-10.

For more information, please contact The Interfaith Resource Center of Peace and Justice at (570) 823-9977, or Christine Somers, D. Min., director of Campus Ministry, Misericordia University, at (570) 674-6314.

Abriel R. McCann of Swoyersville, a speech-language pathology graduate student at Misericordia University, was awarded the 2017 Von Drach Memorial Scholarship by the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) at the 58^th annual Convention in Harrisburg.

Misericordia University SLP students have received nine out of the last 10 Von Drach scholarships awards. The prestigious award is presented annually to an outstanding student from one of the state's 14 SLP schools in honor of Dr. Robert Von Drach. Recipients are students who exhibit strong leadership abilities, outstanding academic performance, exceptional clinical skills, and scholarship within the profession.

McCann's journey into the specialty field of communicative sciences and disorders began during her senior year in high school. She saw the emotional toll bullying and teasing had on her young cousin because he stuttered.

Instead of being angry, though, her family member wanted to educate his peers. The pair embarked on numerous Google searches. They targeted "stuttering,'' "bullying and elementary school kids,'' "stuttering education,'' and "stuttering treatment,'' according to McCann.

Armed with a treasure-trove of information, McCann's cousin began educating his former classmates. "They changed their views about stuttering,'' she recalled. "This experience left an indelible impression in my mind and I decided to pursue a degree in speech-language pathology and conduct research on fluency disorders.''

At Misericordia, the daughter of John and Lynne McCann has been a member of the department's National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association since 2012. She has maintained a 3.83 grade point average while engaging in scientific research, clinical work and community service on top of her academics course load.

In the community, she has served as an academic tutor for school-aged children at Lehman-Jackson Elementary School, mentored undergraduate students and volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen, Ruth's Place Women's Shelter, and Luzerne County Head Start program.

That drive to serve those in need also extends into the unknown as well. As a student assistant, McCann sought to gain a better understanding of fluency disorders by conducting novel research studies with Glen M. Tellis, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P., professor and chair, and Kathleen Scaler Scott, Ph.D., C.C.C., S.L.P., associate professor, both of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Misericordia University

With Dr. Tellis, McCann conducted groundbreaking research with functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure hemoglobin-concentration patterns in the brains of people who stutter, and additional studies in fluency disorders. "In terms of research, Abriel's performance has been stellar,'' said Dr. Tellis. "I doubt many master's or doctoral students in the country can match her performance.''

Under the direction of Dr. Scaler Scott, McCann began to develop her master's thesis about reading fluency testing in children with coexisting communication disorders after working with children who had fluency disorders, such as stuttering and cluttering, and reading fluency disorders. At PSHA's annual convention, she will present her findings in the paper, "Oral Reading Fluency in Children with Communication Disorders: More Sides to the Story.''

"Abbey's passion for her field is the strongest I have seen in my teaching career,'' said Dr. Scaler Scott. "The fact that Abbey constantly volunteers for extra clinical work, research projects, and simply to help in the department whenever and wherever she is needed, speaks volumes to her enthusiasm. It is one thing to volunteer, but it is quite another to excel in all areas.

Since 2014, McCann has presented six scholarly papers at international conferences, made eight presentations at national conventions, and nine at state conventions.

"By the time I graduate, I will have presented 28 papers at local, state, national and international venues,'' she said. "It is extremely fulfilling to share results with other professionals in our discipline, especially my experience presenting at the 8^th World Congress on Fluency Disorders in Lisbon, Portugal.''

In May, McCann will receive her master's degree in speech-language pathology at Misericordia University's 91^st annual commencement ceremony after completing her last fieldwork placement at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

"This career path has allowed me to combine my personal core values with my passion for learning and making advancements in the field of speech-language pathology,'' McCann said. "I could not have been blessed with more diverse, valuable, and enriching opportunities during my time at Misericordia. Following graduation, I am excited to work toward constantly furthering my education and contribution to the field of speech-language pathology.''

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Misericordia University's Promoting Healthy Relationships through Education and Empowerment (PHREE) peer-educator-student organization and Mercy Leaders are holding a fundraiser on Tuesday, April 25 from 8-10 p.m. in the Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library in support of the Victims Resource Center in Wilkes-Barre.

The two-hour program begins with an educational discussion directed by Patrick Rushton, the education manager at Victims Recourse Center, from 8-9 p.m. He will speak about the impact of sexual violence on victims. Rushton also will talk about services available for victims and the work the agency is doing in cooperation with area colleges and universities to prevent sexual violence.

Master Nicholas Acri of the Jae Nam Training Academy of Korean Martial Arts in Kingston will offer a self-defense class from 9-10 p.m. Participants of the Misericordia class will be eligible for one week of free classes at the academy.

The fundraiser is $5 for students and $10 for adults. All proceeds from the programs benefit Victims Resource Center. For more information, please contact Misericordia University student Emily Gurtizen at gurtizee@misericordia.edu.

Caption:

Misericordia University's Promoting Healthy Relationships through Education and Empowerment peer-educator-student organization and Mercy Leaders are holding a self-defense class fundraiser on Tuesday, April 25 from 8-10 p.m. in the Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library in support of the Victims Resource Center in Wilkes-Barre. Students organizing the event, seated from left, are Stephanie Oliverio, Jackson, N.J.; Blyssalyn Bieber, Turbotville, Pa.; Linsey Parks, Pine Beach, N.J.; Nicole Sadler, Florence, N.J.; Taylor Daton, Jackson, N.J., and Shawn Dziepak, Bordentown, N.J.; standing, Beth Pfisterer, Wellsboro, Pa.; Rebecca Zaneski, Edwardsville, Pa.; Emily Gurtizen, West Chester, Pa., and Meghan Pontz, Danville, Pa.

More than 150 members of the Misericordia University campus community participated in the 14^th anniversary of C.A.S.U.A.L. Day (Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) sponsored by the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.

Organized by staff member Emma Mulhern, the Misericordia team includes students, staff, faculty, alumni and President Thomas J. Botzman. They purchased and wore forest green shirts with a blue cancer ribbon logo or a blue ribbon pin to raise money and awareness about the importance of screening and early detection of colon cancer. Colon and rectal cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers in Northeast Pennsylvania, with incidence rates in some areas as high as 16 percent above the national average.

C.A.S.U.A.L. Day was established by the family of Helen Phillips, who fought a courageous battle against colon cancer and died in 2002. There are more than 300 C.A.S.U.A.L. Day teams in NEPA.

Mulhern, a member of the university's facilities staff, became involved with C.A.S.U.A.L. Day after her 39-year old daughter, Terry Genners, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012. Today, Genners is a colon cancer survivor, coming up on her fifth year post-surgery. Mulhern is credited with expanding the Misericordia program from 45 participants in 2013 to 150 in 2017, and raising about $8,700 for the Cancer Institute to support cancer awareness and research.

Caption:

More than 150 members of the Misericordia University campus community, including Team Captain Emma Mulhern and University President Thomas J. Botzman, participated in the 14^th anniversary of C.A.S.U.A.L. Day to raise awareness about colon and rectal cancers. Participants included, first row from left, Marianne Puhalla, Barbara Loftus, Fred Croop, Emma Mulhern, team captain; Thomas J. Botzman, president; Jennifer Drouse, Jim Roberts, Kit Foley and Sister Jean Messaros, R.S.M.; second row, Meghan Pontz, Matt Hornak, Rachel Urbanowitz, Al Yanovish, Jeff Orpin, Emilee Krasson, Joe Krasson, Alle Stefanides, Nancy Allan and Cathy Silveri; third row, Tom Kane, Sharon Hudak, Dave Johndrow, Christine Slacktish, Dana Chalupa, Michael Diakun, Briana Scorey, Jackie Nat, George Young, Sylvia Maas and Paul Nardone; fourth row, Phillip Swank, Katherine Pohlidal, Loretta Martin, Carl Beecham, Patrick Hamilton, Brenda Nowalis, Corina Slaff, Joseph Redington, Helen Bogdon, Jeanne Van Duzer and Dale Pehrsson; fifth row, Jeff Demko, Kelly Phillips, Lisa M. Miller, Morgan Sadowski, Karen Cefalo, Leane Pace, Jaime Elston, Kim Caffrey, Betty Ann Duffy, Sean Farry and Rachel Miroslaw; sixth row, Molly Lorenzen, Kathy Zawatski, Desiree Voitek, Trish Burgess, Lisa Malcolm, Tara Leary, Sandra Federo, Keera Tabor, Marcella Pedersen, Holly Ference and David Pasquini; seventh row, Barbara Krupsha, David Potichko, Val Apanovich, Elizabeth Pedro, Johnna Evans, Mark DiPippa, Michele Zabriski, Doreen Fronzoni, Michael Orleski, Leah Ostrum and Kim Spencer.

Misericordia University medical imaging students placed in the annual Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists' (PSRT) Technibowl competition during the annual PSRT spring conference and business meeting in State College.

The competition is open to hospital systems, and colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. The team of Emily Donovan, Whitesboro, N.Y., and Alyssa Machey, McAdoo, Pa., earned first place. Placing second was the team of Donya Forst, Hopatcong, N.J., and Alison Machey, McAdoo, Pa.

Misericordia University has the only Bachelor of Science-level medical imaging program in northeastern Pennsylvania is one of only two in the state. Nationally, there are 33 programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The program features six full-time faculty members who have more than 90 years of combined professional and academic experience in multiple disciplines.

The medical imaging program also has strong relationships with 29 clinical sites in the region, some of which have been with the program since its inception in 1973. These relationships afford Misericordia students valuable clinical internships at prestigious facilities that provide real-world experience.

Medical imaging students at Misericordia concentrate on radiography until their senior. During their senior year, students have an internship that affords them clinical education experience in advanced imaging modalities. A career in medical imaging offers numerous opportunities due to the myriad of specialty fields. Medical imaging majors, for example, can specialize in radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography and computer tomography to name a few. There also are opportunities in education, management and sales in the imaging sciences.

For more information about the medical imaging program at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/mi.

Caption:

Misericordia University medical imaging students placed first and second in the annual Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists' Technibowl competition in State College, Pa. Posing after the competition, from left, are Donya Forst, Hopatcong, N.J., Alison Machey, McAdoo, Pa., Alyssa Machey, McAdoo, Pa., Emily Donovan, Whitesboro, N.Y., and Lorie Zelna, M.S., R.T.(R)(MR), associate professor and chair of the Department of Medical Imaging at Misericordia University.

The Misericordia University Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society is hosting the fourth annual poetry benefit auction, "The Wonder of Words,'' on Thursday, April 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library. The free event also honoring the memory of the late Okla Elliott, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Misericordia University, who died suddenly in March.

All proceeds from the National Poetry Month event will be used to purchase computer tablets for the Reading Support classrooms in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.

Proceeds from the first two years of the program were used to purchase 1,200 dictionaries for the district through the Dictionary Project (dictionaryproject.org). Funds raised from the third year of the poetry auction went toward a scholastic book fund that enabled students in the district to purchase books at book fairs.

To participate in the auction, poets are asked to donate 5 cents per word in their poem. Audience members who are moved by the composition during the reading are asked to match the cost of the donated poem. Poets are asked to maintain a theme of the love of literature, the power of words, and the importance of literacy in the compositions that are selected for the reading.

Dr. Elliott was a well-respected professor, author and poet who joined the Misericordia University faculty in 2015. His work has appeared in a variety of national and international literary magazines, journals and newspapers, including the Cincinnati Review, Harvard Review, The Literary Review, New York Quarterly and Prairie Schooner. In addition, he is the author of several works of fiction and nonfiction, including "From the Crooked Timber," "The Cartographer's Ink," "The Doors You Mark Are Your Own," "New Poetry from the Midwest," "Blackbirds in September," "Bernie Sanders: The Essential Guide," and "Pope Francis: The Essential Guide." A co-founder and editor of New American Press and MAYDAY Magazine, he created the platforms to encourage and cultivate the talent of new and established writers.

For more information about being a participant or attending the poetry auction, please contact Amanda Caleb, Ph.D., associate professor of English at Misericordia University, at acaleb@misericordia.edu or at (570) 674-8113.

For more information about the Department of English at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/English.

Caption:

The Misericordia University Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society is hosting the fourth annual poetry benefit auction, "The Wonder of Words,'' on Thursday, April 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library. Students and faculty involved in the program, from left, are Kimberly Kowalski, Scranton, Pa.; Amanda Caleb, Ph.D., associate professor of English; Noah Ostrowsky, Tunkhannock, Pa.; Mary Pat Blaskiewicz, West Pittston, Pa.; Briana Scorey, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Kaitlin Hall, Tunkhannock, Pa.

Misericordia University is holding the second annual Mother's Day Champagne Brunch to benefit the Endowed Scholarship Fund for the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program on Sunday, May 14 in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall. The Bourger Women with Children Advisory Board is hosting the event. It will help provide tuition support for student mothers in the program.

The menu includes scrambled eggs, potatoes, French toast, bacon, sausage, a waffle station, granola, yogurt, fruit, Danish pastries, muffins, salads, ham and turkey carving stations, brown sugar glazed salmon, sautéed green beans and tortellini Alfredo Florentine. Coffee, tea and soft drinks will be served along with Champagne, and mimosa and Bloody Mary cocktails. A special children's buffet will feature macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, French fries, corn, hot dogs and an ice cream sundae bar with cookies. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and brunch begins at 11 a.m.

There will be a silent auction and a "Parade of Baskets" raffle with some baskets offering more than $500 worth of prizes. A pre-sale on tickets for the "Parade of Baskets" is Friday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Max and Tillie Rosenn Concourse of Insalaco Hall.

"The Bourger Women with Children Advisory Board hopes to increase awareness of the program and help our student mothers lower their tuition debt load," said Katherine Pohlidal, director of the Bourger Women with Children Program. "The brunch is a very special way to support our student mothers by honoring all mothers. It is great to see so many families come together for a worthy cause. We had more than 150 people attend last year. It is a beautiful event and a very worthwhile way to spend that very special day."

Tickets are $50 per adult and $20 for children 12-18 years of age. Children under 12 are free. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. To register online, please visit cougarconnect.misericordia.edu/wwcbrunch17. For event information or to register by telephone, please call Kim Caffrey, Office of Mission Integration, at (570) 674-1877.

Established in 2000, the Bourger Women with Children Program provides housing and support for academically qualified, single mothers at the poverty level and their children at three houses owned by Misericordia University. The program, one of only eight of its kind in the country, has seen baccalaureate degree graduates continuing in careers in nursing, education, communications, occupational therapy, social work, medical imaging, psychology, business administration and speech-language pathology.

The program currently has the capacity for 16 families: 16 single mothers with up to two children each. Although priority is given to women from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, students from as far away as Utah have participated.

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology and the Hazleton Area School District's Early Intervention Department are co-sponsoring the 2017 Distinguished Speaker Series at Misericordia University with award-winning Professor Robert E. Owens, Jr., Ph.D., CCC-SLP, on Friday, May 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall.

Dr. Owens is a professor of communication sciences and disorders at The College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. He is a recipient of the Honors of the Association from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which is the highest honor awarded by ASHA. It recognizes members for distinguished contributions to their specialty field.

During the workshop, "What is Functional Language Intervention and How Do I Do It?," participants will explore functional, innovative means to assess the communication disorders of children with language disorders. Instruction will emphasize the creation of useful intervention techniques and assessment results, with a specific focus on functional, curriculum-focused techniques. In addition, the workshop will explore communicative and conversational assessment techniques and methods of manipulating the context to elicit and change a child's communication behaviors.

Dr. Owens has written nine editions of the textbook, "Language Development: An Introduction,'' which is the most widely used language development text in the world. It has been translated into Spanish, Korean and Arabic. He has also co-authored five editions of "Introduction to Communication Disorders: A Life Span Perspective.'' Dr. Owens published numerous book chapters and professional articles, while also presenting more than 200 professional papers at workshops around the world.

He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in history from the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, and a doctorate in speech pathology from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

The annual workshop is for speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, general education teachers, occupational therapists, social workers, students and parents. The program offers CEUs and Act 48 credits.

For more information, please call the Center for Adult and Continuing Education at Misericordia University at (570) 674-1225. To register and pay for the workshop online, please log on to www.misericordia.edu/dss.

The Misericordia University Department of Mass Communications and Design invites high school students to Media Immersion Day on Thursday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The interactive free program is designed for students interested in learning about and gaining hands-on experience in graphic design, video production and editing, photojournalism, and newspaper writing and reporting.

In addition to participating in workshops in those areas, the students will work with and hear from alumni of Misericordia University who are seasoned communications and media relations professionals in northeastern Pennsylvania, along with department professors. Participants also will work in the Misericordia University television studio, and meet with staff members of The Highlander student newspaper, and MCN87, Cougar Radio and Service By Design, the student-run television and radio stations, and marketing and design firm on campus.

The Department of Mass Communications and Design at Misericordia University prepares students for careers in areas such as advertising, public relations, journalism (print, broadcast, and electronic), video and audio production, social media management, and writing for print and electronic media. Faculty place an emphasis on developing good writing and speaking skills, acquiring professional-level experience across several media platforms, and nurturing aesthetic awareness and creativity. The department recently added a Sport Communication specialization to its Bachelor of Arts degree program.

Due to hands-on instruction, registration for Media Immersion Day is limited. Please email communications@misericordia.edu to register. For more information about the Misericordia University Department of Mass Communications and Design, please contact Melissa Sgroi, Ed.D., assistant professor and department chair, at msgroi@misericordia.edu or (570) 674-6744, or log on to www.misericordia.edu/communications.

Caption:

Misericordia University students, staff and faculty, first row from left, Hope Ferrebee, Harleysville, Pa.; Dan Kimbrough, M.S., assistant professor, and Rachel Urbanowitz, assistant professor, Department of Mass Communications and Design; Annette Ritzko, Coaldale, Pa., and Michael Gombita, Equinunk, Pa.; second row, Rich Baldovin, media manager, Department of Mass Communications and Design; Elizabeth Radnor, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Connor Swagler, Nichols, N.Y., and Melissa Sgroi, Ed.D., chair, Department of Mass Communications and Design, will host Media Immersion Day, a free workshop for high school students, on Thursday, May 25.

Misericordia University recently served as one of seven host sites for the 8^th annual Collaborative Care Summit that featured more than 850 students and 148 faculty facilitators from 12 colleges and universities in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by the Northeastern/Central Pennsylvania Interprofessional Education Coalition (NECPA-IPEC), the conference promotes interprofessional approaches to health care. The coalition is comprised of Johnson College, King's College, Lackawanna College, Lock Haven University, Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), Marywood University, Misericordia University, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Penn State-Hazleton, The University of Scranton, and Wilkes University. The mission of NECPA-IPEC is to provide vision and leadership to foster and support interprofessional education in health care.

The program also was hosted at King's College, Marywood University, The Pennsylvania College of Technology, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and the University of Scranton. Facilitators, working in small, interprofessional groups of students discussed the importance of working in cooperation with health care providers and others who contribute to or support the delivery of health care services. They also compared and contrasted the roles and responsibilities of other health care providers and how interprofessional teams work together to provide safe and effective patient care.

Participants recognized the importance of patient-centered care and reflected upon individual interpersonal communication skills, such as active listening, encouraging ideas, and opinions of team members as well as respecting others.

The conference brought together students studying health and medical sciences at participating institutions. At Misericordia University, students majoring in diagnostic medical sonography, exercise science, medical imaging, medical physician, nursing, occupational therapy, paramedic, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, social work, and speech-language pathology learned from each other with a collaborative approach to patient care.

NECPA-IPEC was founded in 2008 as a collaborative effort between local colleges and universities that offer health care programs. The organization is leading the way in the development of innovative collaborative approaches in health care professional education that focus on impacting the delivery of health care and improving patient outcomes. The joint effort is one of the first in the country to introduce the concept of interprofessional education using a regional approach from independent institutions of higher education. For more information about NECPA-IPEC, please log on to www.necpaipec.com.

Caption:

Misericordia University served as one of seven host sites for the 8^th annual Collaborative Care Summit that featured more than 850 students and 148 faculty facilitators from 12 colleges and universities in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. Facilitators participating in the program, first row from left, are Laurie Brogan, Misericordia University; Julie Cleary, LCCC; Dana Cacioppo, LCCC; Bethany Francis, Misericordia University; Pam MacNeely, King's College; Susan Barker, Misericordia University; Jack Goble, Jr., Misericordia University;Christine Shatto, PSU-Hazleton; Randy Shatto, PSU-Hazleton, and Gina Capitano, Misericordia University; second row, Darlene Donnelly, Misericordia University; Tianna Bolmsky, PSU-Hazleton; Maureen Savner, LCCC; Nicole Evanosky, Misericordia University; Noreen Brzozowski, LCCC; Michelle Schmude, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and Vicky Shah, Wilkes University; third row, Rita Cross, King's College; Lynn Blazaskie, Misericordia University; Lorraine Novinger, King's College; John Conrad, LCCC; Matthew Toniatti, King's College, and Kathleen Gelso, Misericordia University; fourth row, Dawn Evans, Misericordia University;Jean Denion, King's College; Lori Charney, Misericordia University; Jennifer Dessoye, Misericordia University; Rita Carey, Misericordia University, and David Hage, Misericordia University.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) recently awarded one of four National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Endowed Scholarships to Misericordia University student Allison Hausman of Lancaster at the 2017 American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference & Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia.

To be eligible, Hausman had to complete an essay that addressed how she envisions occupational therapy influencing health care in the future and how to advance the knowledge base in the profession. She also had to secure two letters of reference from professors. Hausman and students from Eastern Michigan, Pacific and Nova Southeastern universities received the competitive scholarships.

"Policy changes have created an insurance-driven health care system with a push for social justice and equality,'' Hausman, a graduate student in the entry-level Master of Science program in occupational therapy, wrote in her essay. "Although some of these changes place stressors on our growing profession, they have also provided great opportunities for OTs to promote concepts such as occupational justice within our society.''

The daughter of David and Janice Hausman of Lancaster believes the influence of occupational therapy will continue to grow and evolve. She also added that those who are fighting for social justice are looking to diminish group differences. "The concept of occupational justice acknowledges individual differences and uses them to ensure equally meaningful opportunities exist,'' she wrote. "OT can continue to expand its impact beyond its roots in mental health and past working with those with physical disabilities.

"OT can further delve into preventative interventions and consultation to enhance wellness and quality of life that comes from the opportunity to engage in purposeful activity,'' Hausman added.

At Misericordia, Hausman has gained valuable leadership skills and experiential knowledge by participating in student organizations, engaging in scholarly research, working as a teaching assistant and tutor, and being part of several service-learning trips abroad and across the country.

"Allison's heart for service has been recognized during award ceremonies at her university as she was the recipient of two service and leadership awards last year,'' Professor Grace Fisher, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., wrote in a reference letter. "In addition to a promising future of serving others, Allison shows promise for continued research after graduation.''

Hausman was a student researcher in the multi-year study, "An Agricultural and Horticultural Transition Vocational Program for Adolescents with Special Needs.'' She made a poster presentation about the collaborative research with Jennifer Dessoye, O.T.D., O.T.R./L., assistant professor, and fellow students at the 2017 AOTA conference in Philadelphia.

"I plan to engage in research regarding not only interventions used within our country, but also the impact of being a global practitioner,'' Hausman wrote in response to the second essay question. "Having international experience throughout my education, I have seen firsthand the way these experiences can shape the worldview, and thus the practice of a therapist for the better.

"... It is my goal – and dream for the future – to help bridge the gap, nationally as well as internationally, so all of the world's citizens have access and the ability to engage in meaningful occupation,'' she concluded.

For more information about the occupational therapy program at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/ot.

Caption:

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation awarded the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Endowed Scholarship to Misericordia University student Allison Hausman of Lancaster, Pa., at the 2017 American Occupational Therapy Association Conference & Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia, Pa. Hausman, center, poses with faculty mentors Joseph Cipriani, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., professor, left, and Jennifer Dessoye, O.T.D., O.T.R./L., assistant professor, at the conference.

Francis Martin Campbell, M.A., the vice chancellor of St. Mary's University, Twickenham, England, and a former British diplomat and Ambassador to the Holy See for Her Majesty, will be the keynote speaker when Misericordia University holds its 91^st annual undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m.

Joseph Cornelius Donnelly, the permanent delegate to the United Nations for the international Catholic organization, Caritas Internationalis, is a humanitarian, peacebuilder and diplomat. He will be the guest speaker for the graduate commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. A member of its senior management team, Caritas works in more than 200 countries and territories, serving all communities "based on need not creed.''

The commencement ceremonies are in the Anderson Sports and Health Center on campus. During the graduate ceremony, the Misericordia University Alumni Association will present Louis Maganzin, Ph.D., who was a professor of history at Misericordia for 32 years, with the Honorary Alumnus Award in recognition of his service and dedication to the institution. Commencement activities also include a baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 19 at 4 p.m. in Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall.

Campbell has been a member of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service since 1997. During that time, his postings included the European Union, United Nations Security Council in New York, Italy, and at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, England. He also served on the staff of Great Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair, first as policy adviser in the No. 10 Policy Unit and then as a private secretary for foreign affairs from 1999 to 2003.

In addition, he was on secondment to Amnesty International as the senior director of policy. In Karachi, Pakistan, Campbell was the deputy high commission from 2011-13. His most recent appointment was as head of the policy unit in the FCO and director of innovation at UK Trade & Investment. Since 2014, he has served as vice chancellor at St. Mary's University, located about 10 miles southwest of the center of London. Misericordia has had a study abroad program with St. Mary's since 2014.

Donnelly has three decades of extensive experiences with communities in need and crises in the Middle East, Central America, Central and East Africa, as well as Asia, Europe, North America and the Pacific region. He has been a member of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Working Group on the United Nations Security Council for more than a decade, serving as elected chair since 2014. As a leading advocate for making a civil society the driving force at the United Nations and in the European Union, Donnelly was instrumental in creating the Israel Palestine Working Group, the Asia/Sri Lanka Working Group, the Northern Uganda Working Group, and the Central Africa Policy Forum and the Food & Hunger NGO Working Group.

Additionally, he has campaigned for years on the right to food as a dimension to achieve food security for all communities, which became a feature of the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development paper. Underscoring the dignity of every person, Donnelly has worked to eradicate poverty by collaborating with ecumenical and inter-religious groups and the World Council of Churches and World Bank. In peacebuilding, conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts, he helped to develop the Living Stones Pilgrimages to insure that Christian visitors to Israel and Palestine – where he lived for nearly half his life – fully experienced the Jewish, Christin and Muslim communities in the Holy Land.

Donnelly's involvement in protecting and rescuing child soldiers and preventing human trafficking began with his service to the Faith & Ethics Network of the International Criminal Court. The organization has confronted these actions and their deadly impact on refugees, migrants, displaced and vulnerable people from Mexico to Syria, Iraq to South Sudan, and Cambodia to Brazil.

During the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies, Misericordia University will present the guest speakers with honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees in recognition of their service to higher education and humankind.

The Department of Business at Misericordia University is collaborating with the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, the Office of State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, and Snyder & Clemente, Accountants & Consultants to present two programs outlining the importance of developing basic internal accounting controls for all-volunteer organizations in the community.

The Hazleton Integration Project, 225 E. 4^th St., Hazleton will host the program on Wednesday, May 3 from 6-8 p.m. The program will be available again on Wednesday, May 10 from 6-8 p.m. on the campus of Misericordia University in Dudrick and Muth rooms 216-217 of Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall. A question-and-answer session will follow both programs, which are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.

Under the direction of Professor Fred Croop, Ed.D., M.B.A., the Department of Business at Misericordia University developed the Internal Controls and Federal Tax Exemption Basics for All-Volunteer Organizations Resource Manual in 2015. The manual is available via a free download online for all-volunteer organizations, such as volunteer fire departments, youth recreation leagues, parent teacher organizations, and more. The complete manual is available at www.Misericordia.edu/nonprofitcontrols.

"The occurrence of financial irregularities in volunteer organizations is unfortunate in many ways,'' Dr. Croop acknowledged. "An honest accounting mistake hits the nonprofit in the pocketbook, but embezzlement or fraud hurts the entity financially and in the eyes of the community. Either way, the organization and the people it serves suffer.''

The presentations will focus on nonprofit organizations that do not have employees, where it is more difficult to develop and implement standard internal controls to safeguard finances and assets.

Dr. Croop and representatives of the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) have been working to develop a Financial Management Guide for Volunteer Emergency Service Organizations. Soon, all-volunteer organizations will be required to follow the guide in order to be eligible for grant funding from DCED. Dr. Croop will review the status of the guide and answer questions.

An advocate for all-volunteer organizations, Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie J. Salavantis will discuss the need for more effective financial management of nonprofits and the impact mismanagement has on the organizations and the people they serve.

John M. Nonnemacher, CPA, a principal with Snyder & Clemente, Accountants & Consultants, will show attendees how to enact effective internal controls for small volunteer nonprofit organizations. He will also review the annual federal and state filing requirements for such organizations to obtain and maintain their tax-exempt status.

All presenters will include real-world examples of how fraud has occurred in nonprofit organizations and how effective internal controls would have prevented such frauds. "The financial cost of not creating and enforcing internal controls when humans are entrusted with cash and other assets can mean the end of a much-needed service in the community,'' added Dr. Croop. "People are human and prone to unforeseen mistakes and temptation.''

For more information about the programs, please contact Dr. Croop at (570) 674-6327 or at fcroop@misericordia.edu.

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In a collaborative project that is part research, part service learning, a class of students at Misericordia University is helping the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) celebrate its 100^th anniversary by creating an online public history exhibit of the Quaker organization's century of peace initiatives around the world.

The "Ambassadors of Goodwill: The American Friends Service Committee Abroad" program highlighting AFSC's anniversary and introducing the digital exhibit will be held Monday, May 1 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Dudrick Room 216 of Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall. The free event will include a reception with light refreshments from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the presentation of the students' research and introduction of the digital exhibit.

Founded in 1917, the Philadelphia-based AFSC shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 with the Friends Service Council in London, England, in recognition of their work to end injustice worldwide and promote compassion for others.

The Soyka Fund for the Humanities at Misericordia University provided funding for students and faculty to travel to Philadelphia to meet with AFSC archivist Don Davis and to conduct research in the organization's archives. The students also presented their research to the AFSC community in Philadelphia.

Misericordia students involved in the project are Justin Faust, Nazareth; Tim Ford, Harveys Lake; Marcus Grudzinski, West Pittston, and Briana Scorey, Wilkes-Barre. They are in the history class, "History 440: Faith and Activism," co-taught by Jennifer Black, Ph.D., assistant professor of history and government, and Allan W. Austin, Ph.D., professor of history. Dr. Black is a specialist in public history and archiving, while Dr. Austin published the book, "Quaker Brotherhood: Interracial Activism and the American Friends Service Committee, 1917-1950," in 2012.

The students chose to focus on three AFSC initiatives for the digital archive: the peace campaigns regarding the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s; the "Vietnam Summer" project protests to end the Vietnam War in 1967, and "Operation Understanding," a cultural exchange and education program developed in the 1940s to educate students travelling onboard transatlantic ships on how to promote peace abroad.

"This was the perfect opportunity to bring together in class my strength in Quaker history and Jennifer's strength in public history, and provide service to an organization that has accomplished a great deal over the past 100 years," said Dr. Austin. "It is a chance to have students become historians."

This is the sixth public history project completed by Dr. Black's students in the past three years. "More than just talking about the process in class, we are able to shepherd our students through an actual archival research project with an international organization," Dr. Black said. "They now have the chance as professional historians to present their research and documentation to a public audience."

The students are grateful for the opportunity. "What attracted me to this class was that I honestly knew nothing about the anti-war activism during the Vietnam War," said Ford, a senior history major. "I knew that movements today took aspects from these big campaigns, but I had no idea how much and that interested me. I really wanted to know how the AFSC accomplished so much."

"AFSC has done a vast amount that is unseen by the public in order to promote peace," said Grudzinski, a senior with a double major in Government, Law and National Security and history. "They have used activism to spread a meaningful message of respecting human life."

"In my research on AFSC's work with 'Operation Understanding,' I have been fascinated by the uniquely Quaker approach to resolving conflict. Rather than simply sending money to countries or participating in the divisive culture of the Cold War, AFSC sought to introduce people of different cultures to each other and promote peace by fostering compassion and a sense of shared experience by working and learning together," explained Scorey, a sophomore English and history double major. "It's an honor to think we are providing a service to AFSC with our research, since they are providing us with such a wonderful opportunity to learn about them and enhance our research skills."

The AFSC exhibit will be available online beginning May 10. Please go to http://mulocalhistoryprojects.org/afsc to view it. For additional details on the Ambassadors of Goodwill event, please contact Dr. Black at jblack2@misericordia.edu, or by calling (570) 674-1491.

Caption:

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Archivist Don Davis, holds an historic poster, as he helps Misericordia University students, from left, Justin Faust, Nazareth, Pa., Briana Scorey, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Marcus Grudzinski, West Pittston, Pa., research the organization's 100-year history during a recent visit to AFSC headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Department of Philosophy and the Living Philosophy Project (LPP) at Misericordia University have launched the inaugural issue of The Journal of Living Philosophy (JLP), an online journal dedicated to promoting philosophical scholarship that critically examines all aspects of human life and experience.

The JLP joins a list of about 15 national journals dedicated to philosophy scholarship that allows submissions by undergraduate students. Developed by the Department of Philosophy at Misericordia University, the journal is hosted by the Scholarly Exchange at the University of Pittsburgh. The journal is available at http://livingphilosophy.misericordia.edu/

JLP's first issue features five articles written by advanced philosophy students who were undergraduates when the articles were submitted. The articles include: "Ancient Egyptian Versus Christian-European Understandings of Magic and their Artistic Expressions" by Marina Painter, Misericordia University; "A Holistic View on Knowledge and Values" by Chanhyu Lee, Emory University, and "Manufactured Goodness" by Sean Huff; "Nietzsche Contra Ataraxia" by William Edward Lee, and "Crafting a Solution: Problems with the Moment of Equal Opportunity" by Sidney Madison Prescott, Georgia State University.

"Our mission with the Journal of Living Philosophy is to support and promote scholarship on a broad array of philosophical topics that have to do with life," said Margot Wielgus, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy at Misericordia University and JLP editor. "It is one way for students to see what philosophy scholarship looks like and closely examine what their peers are doing across the country. Scholars at any stage of their careers are welcome to submit work."

Efforts to create the journal began more than three years ago under the direction of Mark Painter, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Philosophy and founder of the LPP at Misericordia. An editorial board comprised of faculty and students from Misericordia University circulated a call for papers, reviewed submissions, and accepted the works for publication. The final stage was working with the Scholarly Exchange on an online design and presentation. Joining Drs. Painter and Wielgus on the editorial team are Matthew Swanson, Ph.D., chair, Department of Philosophy, and Jennifer Luksa, director, Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, Misericordia University, and Michelle Bradbury, University Library Services, University of Pittsburgh.

"We established the Living Philosophy Project at Misericordia University in 2012 to help students develop both professionally and personally through their own philosophical work, and engage in intellectual discourse about living and academic questions," said Painter. "By creating the Journal of Living Philosophy, we hope to offer our students the chance to get involved in the publication both as article authors and peer reviewers. The ultimate goal is to foster in students a lifelong love of wisdom and a desire to share this love with others."

The Editorial Board welcomes articles that touch upon a wide array of human experiences, including (but not limited to): emotional life, intellectual life, the body, the mind, community, and individuality. It also welcomes works that engage various contexts of human thought and experience, such as culture, art, music, mathematics, science, education, literature, history, commerce, medicine, law, and religion. Authors at any stage of their careers are encouraged to submit strong papers of 6,000 words or less for review. The deadline for submissions to the second issue is June 30.

For more information about the Journal of Living Philosophy and the Department of Philosophy at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or visit www.misericordia.edu/philosophy.

Caption:

The Department of Philosophy and the Living Philosophy Project at Misericordia University have launched The Journal of Living Philosophy, an online journal dedicated to promoting philosophical scholarship. Editorial board members include, from left, Mark Painter, Ph.D., professor; Margot Wielgus, Ph.D., assistant professor; Matthew Swanson, Ph.D., chair, Department of Philosophy, and Jennifer Luksa, director, Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, Misericordia University.

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Misericordia University is hosting a 5K color run/walk and a children's carnival with activities for the whole family as part of Spring Fest Weekend on April 28-30.

The Spring Fest Carnival is Saturday, April 29 from 12-5 p.m. on the lawn of the Banks Student Life Center. Open to youngsters in the community, the event will include children's carnival games with prizes, inflatables and snacks, including cotton candy and sno cones. Admission is $2 and free to Misericordia students with an ID.

On Sunday, April 30, SGA will host the third annual David A. Evans, Jr. Memorial Color Run/Walk on campus. Registration for the event is at the Anderson Sports and Health Center beginning at 9 a.m. The race begins at 10 a.m. The cost is $20 for pre-registration, and $25 the day of the race. Participants can pre-register at http://www.misericordia.edu/page.cfm?p=2169.

The registration fee includes a T-shirt, available on a first-come, first-served basis, and a color packet, as participants are splashed with colored powder throughout the race. Proceeds of the race benefit the David Evans Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Holy Redeemer High School. The scholarship is dedicated to students at the high school who plan to continue their education at Misericordia University. The fund was established in honor of David A. Evans by his parents, Dave and Dr. Dawn Evans. Dr. Evans is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Misericordia University.

The community also is welcome to come and watch a knockerball tournament for students at Misericordia University on Friday, April 28 at 8 p.m. in Mangelsdorf Field. The new sports craze places the competitor in an inflated donut-shaped ball allowing them to defy gravity, roll and bounce while they compete in a soccer game.

For additional information on the carnival or to register for the David A. Evans, Jr. Memorial Color Run, please call the SGA office at (570) 674-6220 or at sgovern@misericordia.edu.

Caption:

The Student Government Association at Misericordia University is hosting a 5K Color Run/Walk and a children's carnival with activities for the whole family as part of Spring Fest Weekend on April 28-30. The third annual David A. Evans, Jr., Memorial Color Run/Walk on campus is Sunday, April 30. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m.

The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) Chapter at Misericordia University is holding the "Wheels for Juliann" benefit concert on Saturday, May 6 at 3 p.m. in Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. The concert features Beyond Harmony, the university's female a capella group, which will perform various hit songs by popular artists, and the student Dance Ensemble that will offer a variety of creative dance routines.

Proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing a Rifton adaptive tricycle for Juliann Tompkins, a Drums resident with special needs. Any proceeds raised beyond the cost of the tricycle will benefit Brighter Journeys, a Luzerne County-based nonprofit organization founded by Lisa Platko Urbanski and Bernice Simonds Sando that is dedicated to helping families that have children with special needs. Brighter Journeys provides programming and helps families secure necessary items that are not covered by insurance or are out of financial reach for parents.

Tickets are available May 1-5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Banks Student Life Center lobby at Misericordia University, as well as at the door on the day of the event. From May 1-5, tickets will be $3 for Misericordia students, faculty, children, and seniors and $5 for adults. At the door, all tickets will be $5. NSSLHA members also will be accepting donations at the door. People who wish to contribute to the cause, but are unable to attend, are invited to mail checks to: Misericordia University Speech-Language Hearing Center, Attn: Wheels for Juliann, John J. Passan Hall, 100 Lake St., Dallas, PA 18612.

For additional information, please contact NSSLHA Chapter President Elizabeth Heinmiller at heinmile@misericordia.edu. For more information about the speech-language pathology program at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-TALK or log on to www.misericordia.edu/slp.

Caption:

The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association Chapter at Misericordia University is holding the 'Wheels for Juliann' benefit concert on Saturday, May 6 at 3 p.m. in Lemmond Theater in Walsh Hall. NSSLHA officers who organized the benefit, from left, are Elizabeth Heinmiller, Downingtown, Pa., president; Jessica Hanly, Coram, N.Y., vice president, and Taylor Header, Ashland, Pa., treasurer. Absent from photo is Paige Greenley, Tunkhannock, Pa., secretary.

A team of Misericordia University occupational therapy students recently captured first place in the American Occupational Therapy Association/EBS Healthcare Knowledge Bowl held during the 2017 American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia.

Misericordia University entry-level occupational therapy students Alyssa Auer, Scranton; Victoria Freda, Hazlet, N.J.; Kerrie Hall, Lynbrook, N.Y.; Allison Hausman, Lancaster, and Deirdre Stevens, Schenectady, N.Y., defeated nine other collegiate teams. Members of the winning team receive their master's degree at spring commencement and are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) licensure examination in the summer.

Participating institutions included Salus University, Elkins Park; Adventist University of Health Sciences, Orlando, Fla.; Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.; Pacific University, Stockton, Calif.; Duquesne University, Pittsburgh; University of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Fla.; Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.; Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., and the University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.

The Knowledge Bowl prepares competing students to take the NBCOT exam through a fun game show format that also allows participants and audience members to display their school spirit. Teams simultaneously answered seven rounds of questions, featuring five questions per round during the two-hour competition.

The questions test student knowledge of key information related to occupational therapy practice, including medical conditions, patient/client safety, occupational therapy evaluation, and occupational therapy intervention services. Misericordia scored 26.54 points, edging out Duquesne, 26.51, and Indiana University, 26.25.

Misericordia University Department of Occupational Therapy's new graduates also earned a 100-percent pass rate on the NBCOT for the testing period of Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016. Fifty new graduates passed the NBCOT exam during the period. Since 2011, the five-year, entry-level Master of Science degree program in occupational therapy has achieved an average pass rate of 98 percent over the six testing periods.

Misericordia University offers a five-year, entry-level master's degree program in occupational therapy for students who are embarking on their collegiate careers and would like to become occupational therapists. The university also has a weekend program for people who already are certified occupational therapy assistants or who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than occupational therapy and would like to become qualified OTs. A post-professional pediatric certificate program for practicing OTs, as well as a post-professional master's degree and doctoral program in occupational therapy also are available.

The Department of Occupational Therapy provides a quality education through rigorous academics, an emphasis on understanding the human occupation, and an emphasis on evidence-based practice. Overall, the program offers outstanding professional preparation through specialty tracks, and choices of undergraduate majors and minors that are related directly to this segment in the health care field.

For more information about the occupational therapy program at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/ot.

Caption:

Misericordia University occupational therapy students captured first place in the American Occupational Therapy Association/EBS Healthcare Knowledge Bowl at the 2017 American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia. Members of the winning team, from left, are faculty advisor Grace Fisher, Ed.D. O.T.R./L., and students Kerrie Hall, Lynbrook, N.Y.; Victoria Freda, Hazlet, N.J.; Deirdre Stevens, Schenectady, N.Y.; Allison Hausman, Lancaster, Pa., and Alyssa Auer, Scranton, Pa.