UPG communication students to present at conference

Elizabeth Rhoades / staff writer

ECA participantsECA participantsThree Pitt-Greensburg students will be presenting at a regional communication conference in Pittsburgh on May 2. Communication majors Maggie Samole, Samantha Konkus and Mary McConnel have all won prizes for papers submitted to the Eastern Communication Association Convention.

Assistant Professor of Communication Anne Czerwinski is the faculty advisor of Lambda Pi Eta, the national commuication honor society. She encouraged Lambda Pi Eta members to enter the competition along every student in her classes.

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Rain or shine, UPG alum Gary Amelio to speak at commencement

Gary Amelio: UPG Alumnus of Distinction slated to speak at the April 26 ceremony.Gary Amelio: UPG Alumnus of Distinction slated to speak at the April 26 ceremony.By Dylan Nice / Editor in chief

Pitt-Greensburg alumnus Gary Amelio is the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony April 26. Amelio attended the campus from 1974 to 1976 and is the president of retirement services for ULLICO Inc, a company that serves unionized workers.

Amelio is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and its law school. He serves on the UPG Advisory Board and was named Legacy Laureate by Pitt in 2007. The award is given to Pitt graduates who have excelled professional and personally and who exemplify the best in leadership skills and commitment to greater good of their careers and communities.

He was also named Alumnus of Distinction by UPG in 2005.

UPG President Sharon Smith said Amelio is dedicated to Pitt-Greensburg and a role model for students. He has received four national awards recognizing his management skills in the employee benefits industry.

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UPG athletes honored at all-sports banquet

By Maggie Samole / Staff writer

In the case of UPG athletics, the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. Each of the eleven varsity sports teams came together Tuesday night to honor special achievements in Bobcat athletics at the second annual all-sports award banquet.

The brainchild of athletic director Dick Hack, the annual banquet brings each sports team together to honor the academic and athletic achievements of all campus athletes. Fall, winter and spring sports previously held their own awards ceremonies, but Hack said having the all-sports banquet brings the athletes together as a community.

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Green careers an option for graduates

By Elizabeth Rhoades / Staff writer

College graduates may soon find themselves not applying for white-collar professions, but instead writing an environmentally-aware resume for a green-collared job and looking for a tie that matches.

Beth Tiedemann, director of career services, said although she hasn't seen an increase in students looking for environmentally-friendly jobs, she has seen companies advertising how environmental they are as a way to draw people to their company.

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Courts have bad reputation, poor spelling

Unveristy Courts: paste 'Unveristy' and run spell check. Its wrong. Unveristy Court: copy and paste 'Unveristy' and spell check it. It's wrong. By Jacob Ploesch / Staff writer

Every residence hall has its own reputation, but the University Court seems to have acquired one decidedly bad.

The Courts are likened to the slums, especially when compared to other apartment-style campus housing such as Westmoreland Hall.

New students and parents sometimes confuse the Courts with off-campus housing.

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Bobcats diamond roundup

By Maggie Samole / Sports editor

Baseball

The UPG baseball team managed a split decision in a doubleheader against Mt. Aloysius Wednesday afternoon, taking the first game 8-4, but dropping the second in extra innings, 17-16.

Third baseman Bill Brady led the Bobcats by batting 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in game one. Catcher Chad Hoffner also helped the UPG offense with a 3-for-4 effort with a double, a home run and two RBIs. First baseman Mike Battocchi was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Former UPGer writes Penguin playoff anthem

Jimmy Truschel: the Pitt graduate and his guitar put Greensburg on the map, sort ofJimmy Truschel: the Pitt graduate and his guitar put Greensburg on the map, sort ofBy Dylan Nice / Editor-in-chief

Former UPG student Jimmy Truschel is now relatively famous after the song he wrote for the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff run has received playing time on the Kiss FM 96.1 Morning Freak Show.

The song’s format has some similarities to the Steelers' "Here We Go," but Truschel's acoustic song develops its own style of praises and quips of the Penguins roster, and ties it together with a melodic chorus.

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Jimmy Truschel's Penguins Playoff song 2008

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Belly dance in the villages

By Kristi Cummins / Staff Writer

Students interested in learning the ancient Egyptian art of belly dancing should stop by Village Hall tonight (April 10) at 9 p.m. for some lessons from one of Pitt-Greensburg’s own students.

Nancy Estrada, advisor of the International Academic Villages, knew that Monica Abdelshahid had Egyptian roots and asked her if she could belly dance. Abdelshahid has in fact been belly dancing since she was 4 years old, and even has roots in ballet, which she studied for 11 years. She participated in — as well as led — belly dances at her high school.

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Mr. Belding gives advice to advice columnist

Mr. Belding at Primanti Brothers: Staff writer Kristi Cummins was inches from the icon's faceMr. Belding at Primanti Brothers: Staff writer Kristi Cummins was inches from the icon's faceBy Kristi Cummins / Staff writer

A week ago I was having a tough relationship dilemma of my own. My boyfriend was on his way to go see a concert with his ex-girlfriend. At that same point in time, I was having dinner with Dennis Haskins, also known as Mr. Belding from “Saved by the Bell.”

He overheard me telling a friend how mad I was, and he asked why. I briefly told him of the situation, and we talked for a few minutes, but I brushed it off, still excited to be in the presence of one of my childhood heroes. But Mr. Belding — I mean, Haskins — had taken an interest in my life and my drama, even if just for a minute. I knew it was going to be a good day.

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