Penn State Worthington Scranton celebrated the achievements of several faculty and staff members during the campus' annual Honors Awards Dinner on May 12.
Eileen Giovagnoli, learning center coordinator, received the David and Joyce Mack Tressler Award For Professional Development. Penn State alumni, David and Joyce Mack Tressler, established this fund to enrich the campus by providing funds for professional development initiatives and opportunities for faculty, staff, administration, and technical service employees.
With this award, Ms. Giovagnoli will attend training programs on English as a second language, which will enable her to better serve those students at our campus who speak a foreign language as their primary language and may have specialized needs. This training will also further develop her skills as coordinator of the Learning Center, allowing her to serve an even larger student population.
Jeff Mallas, assistant director of athletics, was awarded the K. Bruce Sherbine Penn State Proud Award, which recognizes a campus employee who has positively influenced students and employees, contributing to the prestige and well-being of Penn State Worthington Scranton.
Mr. Mallas was chosen as this year's award recipient for his continued support of all things Penn State. As a long-time member, and current vice president of the Greater Scranton Penn State Chapter, he plays a key role in organizing and promoting this group's events, as well as donating countless hours of volunteer service to the group and our campus.
His enthusiasm, knowledge, and willingness to help, which he shares with everyone he comes into contact with, were some of the attributes listed by those nominating Mr. Mallas for this award.
Allison Burns, campus registrar, was given the Award for Excellence in Administrative Service, which honors a member of the campus administration for innovative and creative program development.
In her role as registrar, Ms. Burns displays an impressive knowledge of degree program requirements, general student needs, and long-term course sequencing. Recently, she spearheaded efforts to develop semester and summer schedules at our campus that are both student friendly and economically sound.
She is also actively involved in other campus activities and groups, and has led an advising workshop for faculty, and serves as a member of the Faculty Senate Advising Committee, where she played a leading role in developing the different advising series on campus.
Angela Schuback, external relations assistant for University Relations, received the Award for Excellence in Support Services, which recognizes staff assistants and/or technical services employees for their contributions to the teaching-learning climate of the campus.
In her current role, Ms. Schuback oversees and organizes a multitude of campus events and initiatives. Over the past year, she has taken on numerous additional responsibilities and has shown a genuine desire to do an excellent job. In addition to her administrative duties, she has assumed duties as the Stewardship Coordinator for our campus, where she works very closely with the campus financial aid coordinator; the finance officer, scholarship committee and various offices at University Park.
She has also assumed the responsibilities of program coordinator for the UNICO Italian Heritage Series, and works closely with private endowments made to the campus and the accompanying stewardship of donors who contribute to those endowments and other campus funds.
Michael Evans, MSN, RN, CNS, CMSRN, instructor in nursing, was awarded the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Service Award, which honors a campus faculty or staff member whose contributions have benefited students' day-to-day activities.
In the past year, Mr. Evans helped organize and chaired the second annual Free Children's Health Fair, which was sponsored by a grant from the Moffatt Family Foundation that he wrote. He also organizes and attends elderly health fairs and screenings, and involves nursing students in those activities.
As the student nurse advisor, he assists students with their fundraising projects and nursing events, but also goes above and beyond those duties, to get these students to lead and attend community events such as the Diabetes Walk, Heart Health Screening and Clothing and holiday drives.
In addition, Mr. Evans is a student tutor for nursing and science courses; serves as the ATI coordinator for student standardized testing; advises academically and personally; is a faculty educator for the Simulation equipment; and served as the liaison for a dying nursing student's family - mobilizing support, fundraising, and a scholarship in her name.
Dr. Matthew Mutchler, assistant professor in human development and family studies, received the Dr. Richard J and Sally Matthews Award for scholarly activity, which is awarded to a deserving member of our faculty in recognition of their scholarly and research activities.
Dr. Mutchler has demonstrated sincere dedication to the betterment of Penn State as an adviser for the Community Service Club, as an instructor, and as an all-around inspirational force on campus. His contributions to fundraising, activity programming, and raising student awareness of numerous philanthropic endeavors have greatly encouraged campus engagement, while providing enlightening and, in many instances, entertaining events.
In addition, those who work closely with him say that Dr. Mutchler diligently commits himself to the improvement of Penn State Worthington Scranton and does so in a multi-faceted, "gregarious" manner which exemplifies outstanding service.
Sharon Toman, senior instructor of music, received the Advisory Board Award for Teaching, which was created in 1988 by Worthington Scranton's Advisory Board to recognize a faculty member who has demonstrated innovative and dedicated teaching techniques in his/her academic endeavors.
Since Fall of 2000, Ms. Toman has taught music and integrative art courses with consistently high evaluations and reviews. Demonstrating a dedication and commitment to student learning, Ms. Toman engages students in the classroom and continually works to improve the quality of the courses that she teaches. Her Campus Band Chorale courses result in several annual student performances on campus each year, including the holiday concert, spring concert and at commencement, as well as past performances at the local Yankees Stadium and Scranton Jaycees parade.
Ms. Toman demonstrates an incredible dedication to her students that is inspiring and her students noted her excitement and love for what she does and what she teaches in her nomination. Said one student, "She is an excellent teacher as well as a great person. You can really tell that she loves her job and loves music and is more than willing to help you in any that she can. The dedication that she has to her students is inspiring, which is why I have nominated her for this award."