For immediate release 
Further information: Contact Joseph Giomboni 
Public Relations Office (570) 208-5957 

St. Edward’s University Ballet Folklorico will bring the sights and sounds of Mexico’s traditional folklorico dances and songs to the King’s College campus for a public performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, on the third floor of the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center. Admission is free for students and a $5 minimum donation for the public.

The performance will include the dances of Tamaulipas Polkas, in which dancers perform in costumes reflecting the resilient Mexican tradition of the Vaquero – The Cowboy. During dances of Sinaloa, men dance with strong knee-high steps, dipping and breaking to the side, while women emphasize femininity. Additional dances include traditional Concheros, folk melodies of Veracruz, and the slower mariachi tempos of Puebla.

The Ballet Folklorico, a student organization, was established in 2002 at St. Edward’s University to preserve and show appreciation for the Mexican culture. The group received first place in the Amusement Division of the Battle of the Flowers Parade 2006 and 2007. The group has toured Mexico for the past three years. St. Edward’s University, founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university located in Austin, Texas.

The Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center is located between North Main and Franklin streets. For more information, contact Reyna Logsdon, McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program Coordinator, at (570) 208-8021. 

Ballet-Folklorico.jpg

St. Edward’s University Ballet Folklorico will perform at 7 p.m. on March 17 at King’s College.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Julie Walker, mother of a former King’s student who died of sudden cardiac arrest, recently visited the College to view a cardiac simulator purchased with funds provided by a Foundation established in her daughter’s memory.

The cardiac simulation models are patient simulator that safely allows for the training of clinical skills, cognitive thinking and behavioral communication in an educational setting.  The manikin and accompanying computer, which provide life-like respiratory, cardiac and abdominal sounds, are used in the physical diagnosis labs that are part of the curriculum of King’s physician assistant majors.

Peyton Walker was a physician assistant major when she died unexpectedly in November 2013. Based in Mechanicsburg, the Peyton Walker Foundation has been established to provide routine EKG screenings at no cost for students and student athletes as a means of early detection for heart-related issues.  Funds from the Foundation are also used to fund a scholarship for King’s physician assistant students.

walker_visit.JPG

Pictured in front row, from left, is Diana Easton, director of the King’s Physician Assistant Program; physician assistant major Hilary White; and Father John Ryan, C.S.C., King’s president.

Pictured in back row, from left, are King’s physician assistant majors Nicholas Ciccone, Dane Darnell, and Amylyn Mortimer; and Julie Walker.

For release
Further information: Contact Joseph Giomboni
King’s College Public Relations, (570) 208-5957

Jessica Haczewski, Lauren Leighton, Shawn Loyack, and Jennifer Jean-Jacques have been named admission counselors at King’s College. They will be responsible for the recruitment of prospective students in specific geographic territories and work with high school students and their families throughout the entire admission and enrollment process. 

Haczewski will work with prospective students in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. She will also work with first-year students in several counties in New York, including the Bronx, Erie, Kings, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Queens, and Suffolk. 

A King’s graduate with a degree in English with a concentration in Professional Writing, Haczewski previously worked at King’s in Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Office and as a Young Alumni Coordinator. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Drexel University. She also serves as a Development and Community Relations Assistant with the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre and as Community Relations Coordinator for the Riverfront Parks Committee. 

Leighton will work with prospective students in the Philadelphia-area counties, New Jersey, Texas, and the Virgin Islands. She will manage the Admission Department’s social media initiatives and various “College for a Day” experiences, during which prospective students attend classes, meet professors and tour campus.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Bloomsburg University in 2013, Leighton served as a sales assistant for WBRE/WYOU, arranging daily commercials, organizing in-house events, and creating proposals with account executives for clients. She has completed internships at Walt Disney World College Program, United Way of Columbia County, Vintage Tub and Bath, and the Wilkes-Barre City Special Events Office. 

Loyack will work with prospective students in the Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. She will serve as a guide at Open Houses and other on-campus events for prospective students. She will also help coordinate Campus Plunge, an over-night visit campus program. 

Prior to coming to King’s, Loyack served as a lead teacher at Hildebrandt Learning Center, where she wrote lesson plans, observed children’s progress, fostered relationships with parents, and designed classroom experiences. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art education at Marywood University. She was a Dean’s List student and recipient of the Art Talen Award scholarship. She was a student teacher at Valley View Middle/High School and Rice Elementary School. She is the historian and public relations representative for the Pennsylvania Art Education Association.

Jean-Jacques will work with prospective students in the New England territories: Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and upstate New York. She will also assist with Campus Overnight events.

Originally from the Harrisburg area, Jean-Jacques graduated from King’s last May with a double major in international business and French. While at King’s, she was very involved in many campus clubs and organizations, and completed a short-term summer study abroad to Uganda. She is also a Resident Counselor and provides assistance to residents in Esseff Hall residence. She also has various work experiences including being a Human Resources manager at Target and a Contact Center Specialist at AAA Central Penn.

Haczewski.JPG

Jessica Haczewski

Leighton.JPG

Lauren Leighton

Loyack.JPG

Shawn Loyack

Jean-Jacques.JPG

Jennifer Jean-Jacques

For release 
Further information: Contact Joseph Giomboni 
Public Relations Office (570) 208-5957 

Three King's College faculty members were recently granted tenure by the College’s Board of Directors. Dr. Bernard Prusak, currently associate professor of philosophy, was granted tenure. Granted tenure and promoted to associate professor were David Reynolds, theatre; and Dr. Tammy Tintjer, biology. 

Prusak serves as the director of the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at King’s, which brings renowned speakers to campus to lecture on ethical and social justice issues.  His book “Parental Obligations and Bioethics: The Duties of a Creator” was published by Routledge Press in 2013; his book "Catholic Moral Philosophy in Practice and Theory: An Introduction” is forthcoming from Paulist Press this spring. He earned a doctorate at Boston University and bachelor’s degree at Williams College. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from King’s in 2000, Reynolds earned a master’s of fine arts with a concentration in theatre design and production at Temple University. He serves as director, production manager, technical director and/or scenic and lighting designer on the College’s theatre productions. In addition, he is the College’s Arts CART coordinator and member of the Board of Directors of the Gaslight Theatre Company in Wilkes-Barre.

Tintjer has taught biology, ecology and botany courses at King’s since in 2010. She served as co-program director for a faculty-led study abroad program, titled “Tropical Ecosystems,” to the Los Amigos Biological Station in the lowland Amazon forest in Peru in 2014. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and doctorate degree at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., she served as an assistant professor of biology at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. 

Prusak.jpg

Dr. Bernard Prusak

Reynolds.jpg

David Reynolds

Tintjer.JPG

Dr. Tammy Tintjer

For Immediate Release
Further information: Contact John M. McAndrew or Sarah Holland
Public Relations Office: (570) 208-5958

King’s students Daniel Cabarcas, Camille Sandoval, and Steven Tlatenchi were selected to receive the 2015 McGowan Hispanic Scholarship.

The McGowan Hispanic Scholarship was initiated in 2008 with the generous support from the McGowan Charitable Fund. Recipients will receive full tuition and room and board expenses for their four years at King’s College. They are expected to maintain a 3.2 grade point average and to contribute five hours of community service each week.

A resident of Tobyhanna, Daniel Cabarcas is a freshman in the physician’s assistant program at King’s.

He is the son of Jose Cabarcas and Mariana Estrada of Patterson, N.J.

Camille Sandova, Stroudsburg, is a freshman majoring in biology and pre-med at King’s. She is a member of the Neuroscience Club.

She is the daughter of Dolores Sandoval and Bolivar Sandoval of Stroudsburg.

Steven Tlatenchi, Wilkes-Barre, is a sophomore in the physician’s assistant program at King’s. He was awarded the scholarship after being nominated for his academic success during his freshman year.

Prior to college, he participated in the McGowan Hispanic Outreach High School Mentoring and Summer Residential Enrichment programs at King’s. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Campus Ministry Advisory Council at King’s.

He is the son of Margarito Tlatenchi and Maria Tlatenchi of Wilkes-Barre.

2015McGowanHispanicScholarship.JPG

Cabarcas, Sandoval, and Tlatenchi

For immediate release
Further information: contact Joseph Giomboni
Public Relations office, (570) 208-5957

Philosopher Dr. Derrick Darby will discuss the persistence of racism in the American education system, including student tracking and school discipline practices, during a free public lecture titled “Old Poison in New Bottles: How Racism Thrives in Integrated Schools and Why This Is a Problem of Justice,” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, in the Burke Auditorium at King’s College. A reception with Dr. Darby will follow the lecture.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at King’s and the Peace and Justice Center of Wilkes-Barre. The lecture also serves as this year’s Peace and Justice Center’s Barbara Sabol Memorial Lecture.

Dr. Darby’s lecture follows a King’s College panel discussion held during the fall semester concerning questions of race, policing, and social justice in the wake of the events in Ferguson, Missouri. Dr. Darby’s lecture will encourage reflection on the questions: How is the racist ideology of the past (that blacks are inferior to whites in intelligence and character) sustained by systemic practices within our schools today, and why is this unjust? 

Dr. Darby is a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan and Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Chicago School of Law and writes about rights, inequality, and race. He is the author of “Rights, Race, and Recognition,” and co-editor of “Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason.” His forthcoming co-authored book is on the origins of the racial achievement gap in education.

The Barbara Sabol Memorial Lecture Series is designed to promote awareness of peace and social issues by bringing recognized personalities to speak to the local community. The lecture is named for a founding member of the Peace and Justice Center who died in 1997. The Peace and Justice Center is NEPA’s interfaith resource center for issues of peace and justice.

The Burke Auditorium is located in the William G. McGowan School of Business on North River Street. Parking will be available in on-campus lots. For more information, please contact Dr. Bernard Prusak, director, McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, at (570) 208-5900, ext. 5689.

Darby.jpg

Philosopher Dr. Derrick Darby will deliver a free public lecture, titled  “Old Poison in New Bottles: How Racism Thrives in Integrated Schools and Why This Is a Problem of Justice,” at 7 p.m. on April 5 in the Burke Auditorium at King’s College.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Deirdre Cooney, a senior biology and neuroscience double major, is the recipient of the Faculty Scholarship for the current academic year.

Funds for the faculty scholarship, a partial one-year tuition award which is presented annually, come from an endowment started by the King's College faculty to reward and recognize a student's academic achievements and pursuits both inside and outside the classroom.

Students entering their senior year and having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 are eligible to submit an application to the Faculty Scholarship Committee, whose members are elected each year from each of the academic divisions of the college--Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business. 

Cooney is captain of the women’s cross-country team, the student coordinator for the college’s Encounter Christ retreat, and vice president of Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national scholastic honor society for students, faculty, and alumni of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition.  She is involved with Campus Ministry, the Honors Program Advisory Council, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, the Aquinas Society, and Sigma Xi, the scientific research society.

Cooney.JPG

Deirdre Cooney

King’s College is offering an opportunity for struggling elementary school learners to interact in small group and one-on-one literacy interventions during a Reading Clinic to be held the week of June 20-24.

Twenty four students who are entering second through fifth grade in the fall will be accepted for the study on a first-come, first served basis.  Students for the study should have, but are not required, to have been diagnosed as reading at least two grade levels below the class they are entering.

The students will meet with graduate students from the Reading Specialist graduate degree class on the King’s campus Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.  Daily sessions will include a whole group motivational activity, small group and individually guided writing, vocabulary development, and diagnostic data collection related to reading fluency and comprehension. 

On Friday, the graduate students, under the supervision of full-time faculty members of the King’s education department, will schedule 20-minute conferences with parents of the students involved in the class.  The meetings will be held between 9:30 a.m. and noon.

Graduate students working with the students are completing their field experience requirement for their advanced degree. 

The fee for the reading clinic is $50, which includes a daily snack and drink and a t-shirt.  Additional information about the class can be obtained by contacting Jill Yurko, director of graduate programs in reading at King’s, at 208-5900, x. 5685 or at jillyurko@kings.edu.  Deadline for registration is June 1.

Philosopher Dr. Alexander Guerrero of the University of Pennsylvania will deliver a free public lecture titled, “Should we Choose Our Politicians by Lottery, Rather than Election?” as the keynote speaker for the annual Eastern Pennsylvania Philosophy Association (EPPA) meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center at King’s College.

Guerrero will discuss electoral democracies of modern political societies, identify several shortcomings and argue that the current electoral democracy is ill-equipped to respond to urgent contemporary political problems. He will outline an alternative to electoral democracy- a political system that uses lotteries, rather than elections, to select at least a significant portion of American political officials and potential ways to implement the system. His closing remarks will include potential consequences and concerns for the alternative approach to electoral democracy.

Guerrero currently serves as an assistant professor of philosophy in the School of Arts and Sciences and Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Healthy Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

His academic research focuses on political, legal, and moral philosophy, as well as epistemological foundations of each discipline. He has published his academic work in several scholarly journals, including “Philosophical Studies, Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics,” and “Jurisprudence.” His has presented his research most recently at Stanford University, Drexel University, and the University of Louisville.

After earning his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, Guerrero earned his doctorate in philosophy at New York University and Juris Doctorate at New York University School of Law. He is a member scholar of the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.

The EPPA is an affiliation of philosophers that live and teach in Eastern Pennsylvania. Local colleges and universities with philosophy departments take turns hosting its annual conference, at which philosophers from both inside and outside eastern Pennsylvania share papers and ideas. The EPPA is committed to promoting the study of philosophy and clarifying philosophy’s central role in academic study and its importance to the modern world.

The Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center is located between North Main and Franklin streets. Parking will be available in on-campus lots. For more information, please contact Dr. David Kyle Johnson, associate professor of philosophy at King’s College, via email at davidjohnson@kings.edu.

Guerrero.jpg

Dr. Alexander Guerrero will deliver a free public lecture, titled “Should we Choose Our Politicians by Lottery, Rather than Election?” at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, in the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center at King’s College.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

King’s College has signed a 10-year contract with Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services effective July 1. 

A highlight of the contract which will affect the local community is the placement of a Chick-fil-A franchise in the King’s on the Square building on Public Square.  The restaurant, the first Chick-fil-A franchise in Luzerne County, will be located in the space currently occupied by Zime restaurant.

“We are very pleased to enter this long-term arrangement with a quality partner such as Chartwells,” said John R. Loyack, executive vice president for business affairs and administration at King’s.  “We look forward to working with Chartwells to upgrade our facilities and to bring a major franchise to our community, all while keeping students’ food cost for the upcoming academic year at this year’s level.”

Chartwells has also committed to retaining the current 63 food service and conference and events staff currently working at the college for current contractor, Sodexo. 

Site work for the Chick-fil-A will begin prior to July 1, with a target for the restaurant to open this fall.  Chartwells will be making extensive changes to all of the College’s food service locations - Connerton’s and Marketplace located in the Sheehy Farmer Campus Center, the Susquehanna Room located in the Administration Building, and Leo’s on Mane, located in O’Hara Hall at the corner of N. Main and W. North streets.

Kevin Lyden, Chartwells’ regional vice president commented, “We are enthusiastic over the welcome we received from King’s College administration and honored to be chosen to manage dining operations.  We will deliver a high quality food service program for the students, staff and Wilkes-Barre community that provides value, convenience and service they can be proud of.”

Chartwells is a recognized leader in contract foodservice management, hospitality and award-winning guest service within 270 college and university dining environments throughout academic institutions across the U.S.  The company is a division of Charlotte, NC-based Compass Group.

For immediate release
Further information: contact Joseph Giomboni
Public Relations office, (570) 208-5957

The King’s College Theatre Department will present Mary Zimmerman's dark fairy tale "The Secret in the Wings" on April 14-16 and 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and April 23 at 2 p.m. in the George P. Maffei II Theatre.

Weaving elements from Italian folklore with the dark tales by the Brothers Grimm, Mary Zimmerman's "The Secret in the Wings,” is a dream-like exploration of the darker sides of human impulses. 

The framing story concerns a child and the frightening babysitter with whom her parents leave her. As the babysitter reads from a book, the characters in each of the tales materialize, with each tale breaking off just at its bleakest moment as it transitions into the next tale. A captivating voyage into our collective childhood subconscious, "The Secret in the Wings" uses costumes, props, sets, and lighting to brilliant effect, creating images and conjuring up feelings that render the fairy tales in all their elemental and enduring power. 

Punctuating the tales’ haunting truths with breathtaking visual moments and poignant sections of song, Zimmerman’s latest endeavor challenges the belief that fairy tales are only for children.

"The Secret in the Wings" will feature actors A.J. Bonk, Wilkes-Barre (Ensemble); Amanda Kotch, Dallas (Ensemble); Katie Brunwasser, West Point, N.Y. (Ensemble); A.J. Krier, Maple Shade, N.J. (Ensemble); Dylan Koch, Hardyston, N.J. (Ensemble); Andrew Martinez, Philadelphia (Ensemble); Betty Montgomery, Philadelphia (Ensemble); and Rachel Vecellio, Carlstadt, N.J. (Ensemble).

"The Secret in the Wings" is not recommended for children under the age of 13. The George P. Maffei II Theatre is located in the Administration Building on North River Street. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $7 for senior citizens, and $5 for King’s alumni and non-King’s students. 

For more information on upcoming performances or to reserve tickets, call the box office at (570) 208-5825 or e-mail boxoffice@kings.edu. 

Kings-SecretWings.jpg

King’s College Theatre Department’s production of Mary Zimmerman's dark tales leap off the pages in “The Secret in the Wings."

For Release
Further Information: Contact Joseph Giomboni
King’s College Public Relations Office: (570) 208-5957

King’s College Clinical Professor of Athletic Training Gregory Janik and Athletic Training majors Shanley Harlacker and Nate Romiski created a 30-second public service announcement promoting the profession that was broadcasted during high school championship events in March on Pennsylvania Cable Network.

The contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society (PATS), required submissions to describe the athletic training profession, focusing on the athletic trainers serving as experts in the evaluation and management of concussions and how the PATS organization is on the forefront of concussion education for athletes, parents, coaches and physicians. The advertisements were broadcast as part of National Athletic Trainers’ Month, which was themed “A Safer Approach to Work, Life and Sport."

The three top commercials were broadcast on PCN during the High School Wrestling, Boys/Girls Basketball, and/or Boys/Girls Diving Championships in March. All contest participants commercials are available on PATS YouTube channel. King’s placed first, while California University of Pennsylvania placed second, and Central York High School was chosen third.

PATS is a progressive organization of licensed health care professionals who work under the direction of a licensed physician. The society continues to increase public awareness and education regarding Athletic Trainers and the Athletic Training profession while serving as the premier source of information for public safety, injury and illness prevention, early intervention, patient care, and healthcare delivery for the physically active in the Commonwealth.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Thirteen King’s College students have been accepted by the University of Notre Dame as the first class to participate in the cooperative 3-2 dual degree program in engineering.

The students will complete their third year of studies at King’s in May.  They will attend Notre Dame the next two academic years.  Upon successful completion of the program, the students will earn a bachelor’s degree in one of four academic disciplines from King’s and a bachelor’s degree in one of seven engineering disciplines from Notre Dame.

Notre Dame accepted all 13 students who applied for that portion of the program, according to Paul Lamore, associate professor of management and director of the engineering program.  Students either achieved the minimum 3.3 grade point average necessary to continue the program or had a grade point average between 3.0 and 3.3 and strong faculty recommendations.

“The fact that Notre Dame accepted all 100 percent of the King’s students is a testament to the effectiveness of our faculty members and also the dedication of these students,” said Father John Ryan, C.S.C., King’s president.  “King’s feels that this opportunity to partner with our fellow Holy Cross Congregation educational institution is a very attractive opportunity for current and future students.”

The students have spent three years at King’s taking mathematics, science, pre-engineering and liberal arts courses, and will complete engineering courses in their chosen field at Notre Dame. Upon successful completion of the five-year program, students will receive both a bachelor of science from King’s (in physics, chemistry, computer science, or environmental science) and a bachelor of science in engineering from Notre Dame (in aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, or environmental engineering). 

Nine of the 13 students were among the first class of 20 students who entered the program in its first year in the 2013-14 academic year.  The other four students entered King’s as science majors and transferred to the engineering program the following academic year.

Subsequent to the announcement of the engineering dual degree program, three additional opportunities for King’s students to participate in one-year master’s degree programs in the Mendoza School of Business at Notre Dame were established.  King’s students can participate in a master’s of science in management, master’s of science in accountancy, or master degree program in entrepreneurship.

notre-dame-engineering.jpg

Pictured seated, from left, is Wayne Flood, Anthony Anonia, Jason Spevak, Matthew Sipsky, Dylan Pegg, and Hunter Ragantesi.

Pictured standing, from left, is Paul Lamore, associate professor of management and director of the engineering program; students Ryan Tracy, William Gaynord, Connor Mitchell, Aidan Joyce, James Thomas, Nicholas Bennie, and John Docalovich.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

The Saudi Club at King’s College and the College’s Career Planning Department organized a professional development workshop attended by more than 200 Saudi students from six local colleges and universities.

Students from Bloomsburg, Marywood, Misericordia, Scranton, and Wilkes universities, as well as students from King’s participated in the workshop, which consisted of sessions on resume and cover letter development, first impressions, and professional dress.

saudi-club.JPG

Pictured in front row, from left, is Dr. Jarman Algahtani, University of Scranton; and Saudi Club at King’s College members and event organizers  Fatimah Al-Saeed, Maryam Almarhoon, Dana Almeshqab, and Hidayh Al Saihati.

Pictured in second row, from left, are Saudi Club at King’s College members and event organizers Amer Albishi, Mortadha Alhasemalseed, Mohammed Albagame, Khalid Albarbi, Mazeh Alhajri, and Saud Alqahtani.

Pictured standing are members of King’s international student and career planning offices.  Shown, from left, is De Martin, director of international student recruitment; Patricia Sprague, Korie Munley, Kelly Lettieri and Theresa Kinney of the King’s Career Planning office; and Larissa Pekol, international student admissions data assistant at King’s.

For Immediate Release
Further information: Contact Joseph Giomboni 
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Michael Langan of Wilkes-Barre has been named the Outstanding Adult Learner at King’s College. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education in December 2015. 

A married father of five, Langan served as a store manager for 16 years at Blockbuster Video before losing his job when the retail chain closed. He applied to a re-training program and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA with an associate’s degree in Science, Education-Secondary at Luzerne County Community College. 

“The main obstacle that I had to overcome academically was retraining myself to be a student again after such a long absence from being in a college setting,” Langan said. “When I consider the constraints on my time with the quality of the work I was able to produce, I can’t explain how I did it except to say I was driven and wanted to be an example for my older children of hard work and commitment.” 

Langan began taking courses at King’s in fall of 2013. He completed his student teaching assignment at GAR during the fall 2015 semester. He gained his field experience tutoring children at Dan Flood Elementary School. 

“Michael is a true role model for all of the adult learners in the community and is a testament that with determination and hard work, it is never too late to pursue a dream of completing a college education,” said Michael’s student teaching supervisor Brother Stephen LaMendola, C.S.C. 

In addition to coursework, Langan was a full-time employee at Lowe’s Distribution Center in Pittston, working 12-hour shifts from Friday through Sunday. He also coached three youth soccer teams during the fall season. He is vice president of the South Wilkes-Barre Skyhawks Youth Soccer Association.

Langan.JPG

Brother Stephen LaMendola, C.S.C., Education Department student teacher supervisor; Michael Langan, 2016 Outstanding Adult Learner at King’s College; and Dr. Thomas Mackaman, assistant professor of history. 

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Robert J. Ciaruffoli, a 1975 graduate of King’s College and a retired member of the Office of the CEO at Baker Tilley Virchow Krause LLC, one of the nation’s largest accounting and advisory firms, will provide the address at King’s 67^th Annual Commencement exercises to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Mohegan Sun Arena. Approximately 500 students will receive either a bachelor’s or master’s degree at the ceremony. In addition to addressing the graduates, Ciaruffoli will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree from King’s.

A Swoyersville native and the oldest of 10 children, Ciaruffoli moved with his family to Forty Fort when he was a teenager. After graduating from Kingston’s Central Catholic High School in 1969, he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving in Cuba, Panama, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain. Following his military service, Ciaruffoli returned to the Wyoming Valley to earn an accounting degree at King’s College.

In 1979, Ciaruffoli joined Parente Randolph LLC, an accounting firm, eventually becoming chief operating officer and managing partner. When Parente Randolph merged to form ParenteBeard LLC, he became the new, Philadelphia-based company’s CEO and board chairman. With Ciaruffoli at the helm, ParenteBeard merged with Baker Tilley. Today, Baker Tilley is the 12th largest CPA firm in the country, with 2,500 employees nationwide and revenues of $475 million. Ciaruffoli retired at the end of 2015.

An active and involved parishioner in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Ciaruffoli was approached by Archbishop Charles Chaput to preside over the World Meeting of Families, to be hosted in Philadelphia in 2015. He accepted without hesitation and, with the blessing of his employer, volunteered a year and a half of his time to develop that import event, managing more than 70 fulltime employees and subcontractors.

Ciaruffoli’s leadership role with that organization led to what he has called the opportunity of a lifetime: bringing Pope Francis to Philadelphia. He traveled to Rome a number of times to meet with Pope Francis to arrange for his attendance at the World Meeting of Families. During that historic visit, Ciaruffoli was never far from the pontiff’s side.

In addition to his leadership role at Baker Tilley, Ciaruffoli has been an active member of both state and national accounting industry professional organizations. A former member of the King’s College Board of Directors (1994-97), Robert Ciaruffoli, in his successful professional career and personal life, exemplifies the King’s ethos through his commitment to community and service to others.

ciaruffoli.jpg

Robert J. Ciaruffoli

For Release
Further Information: Contact Joseph Giomboni
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Dr. Gregory Bassham, professor of philosophy at King’s College, recently published an article titled "How Not to Argue for Originalism: A Review of McGinnis and Rappaport's ‘Originalism’ and the ‘Good Constitution’” in the “Journal of College and University Law.” 

In addition, Dr. Bassham has given three conference presentations: "A Critique of C. S. Lewis's Argument from Desire" at the Society of Christian Philosophers; "C. S. Lewis's ‘Abolition of Man’: The Philosophical Background" at the International Conference on Arts and Humanities; and "Harry Potter and the Meaning of Life" at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. 

Bassham's ninth book, “The Philosophy Book: From the Rigveda to the New Atheists, 250 Milestones in the History of Philosophy,” will be published this summer by Sterling Publishing.

Bassham has penned articles and edited volumes for the critically acclaimed pop culture and philosophy series, and is also the author of “Original Intent and the Constitution,” and several articles and reviews in law journals.

A member of King’s faculty since 1992, Bassham earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame.

Bassham.jpg

Dr. Gregory Bassham

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

King's College students taking a "Principles of Management" class had the opportunity this semester to participate in the third annual Target Case Competition. 

The College received a $1,500 grant from the retail giant to use as prize money for a competition involving teams of students who are given a case study from Target and have to design a solution and present their findings to a panel of judges.

A total of 15 teams entered the competition. Eight of those teams were selected to present to members of the McGowan School of Business Advisory Council before the top five teams, comprised of 21 students, were chosen. 

Representatives of Target judged for the final round of competition.

target-case.JPG

Pictured with Target representatives Nicholas Durham, far left, and Brett Bochicchio, far right, are members of the winning team, from left, Ian Hogan, Ryan Lobb, Juliette Mortimer, Alyssa Sebold, and Dana Trentalange.  The winning team members received $300 each in prize money.

For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958

Staff members of WRKC, 88.5 FM, the student-run radio station of King's College, received three national broadcasting awards recently, including first place in the country for a collaborative newscast.

At the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards (IBS) held in New York City, the WRKC staff placed first for "Most Creative Programming" for the "Halloween Spooktacular" broadcast. The show was collaboration between radio station members and Sue Henry's Radio and Audio Broadcasting class. WRKC was chosen as first place winner over finalists from Western Illinois University, Cerritos University, University of Redlands, DePaul University, SUNY Fredonia, and Hope College.

Station Manager Kristina Atienza was a finalist in the "Best Campus News" category for her piece, "Lessons from the Dead," about the opening of the Gross Anatomy Lab at King's on the Square. 

Atienza was also named a finalist in The Society for Professional Journalists "Mark of Excellence" Contest, Region One, in the category of feature story for her piece, "Rolling with the Radicals," a profile of Wilkes-Barre's female roller derby team.

The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is a not for profit education corporation founded in 1940 serves not for profit education affiliated high school radio, college radio, and community stations and streaming/ webcasters.  The organization has more than 1,000 IBS Member radio, television, and webcasting station members.

wrkc-awards.JPG

Pictured seated, from left, is Brielle Warren, news reporter, and Kristina Atienza, station manager.

Pictured in second row, from left, is Nicholas Rotondo, news director, Therese Roughsedge, music director, and Sue Henry, station manager.

Pictured in back row is Dan Stokes, news reporter.

Forty one King’s College students were recently inducted to the College’s chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma, the national honor society of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition.

The national organization was founded in 1939 and the King’s chapter was established in 1964.  Candidates for membership must have a record of “outstanding” academic accomplishment and have completed at least 50 percent of their course work for a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.6.

delta-epsilon-sigma.JPG

Pictured seated, from left, is Sarah Gyle, Brittany Czerniakowski, Aubrey Gryskiewicz, Caroline Jones, Elen O’Donnell, Sarah Busse, and Eleanor Cabrera.

Pictured in second row, from left, is Spoorthy Challa, Charles Wanamaker, Amy Barge, Brandon Hampton, Thomas Hagenbuch, Alexandra Marie Kijek, Megan Marie Ryder, Tara Zdancewicz, Anna Kachmarski, Kelsey Rynkiewicz, Jessica Lange, Marissa Ann Durako, and Alexa Lambert.

Pictured in back row, from left, is Cody Lancellotti, Daniel Rutecki, Sean Krutsick, Matthew Kropp, Justin Barnett, Anthony Anonia, Jason Spevak, and Gredi Gracari.

Absent from photo was Jian Chi, Sarah DeMace, Alexandra Evangelista, Brianna Heldt, Morgan Kneier, Amy Kowalczyk, Lauren Martinez, Brianna Prince, Sarah Richards, Tyler Tuck, Brianna Zawacki, Victoria Zawacki, and Jenna Wilson.