Starting with Interdependence Day, Penn State Worthington Scranton embraced the civic spirit of the times and the needs of our community. Active participation and great leadership shown by Penn State Worthington Scranton faculty and students helped make Interdependence Day a notable civic event in our Valley.
Our student government made sure that the community, especially our own campus community, heard both candidates for the 10th Pennsylvania Congressional District. Penn State's own Dr. Christopher Carney emerged the victor in that hard fought campaign.
Ken Smith, Advisory Board member and owner of Smith's Restaurant in South Scranton, will now represent our 112 Legislative District in Harrisburg.
On the national scene, the brother of Advisory Board member Margaret Casey McGrath, Robert Casey Jr., defeated incumbent Senator Rick Santorum. We join the entire community and the Commonwealth in wishing Senator-elect Casey Jr. a stellar senatorial career. In years past, he addressed the entire state from this campus and we now add a strong measure of hope to that shared by everyone in this community as he goes forward to represent Pennsylvania in the US Senate.
Also active in our region's political milieu, Advisory Board member Maryla Scranton's husband William Scranton III, opted out of the State's gubernatorial contest. We commend the wonderful civic contributions of the entire Scranton family, and acknowledge the tremendous debt owed them by this campus, named for Worthington Scranton.
Advisory Board member Cathy Hardaway, director of voter education in Lackawanna County had the daunting task of educating voters on the use of the new electronic voting machines. She succeeded, and was able to conduct some of her training right here on our campus.
And so it is at the end of this political season that we wish the victors well. It seems clear that such a robust response to the political questions of our day leave all of us winners.
I want to take this opportunity to thank this campus collectively for the parts played, in some cases in a very public way, and for the enthusiastic interplay and debate which wends us as a people, forward.
Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen
