YSU band pregame show

YSU band pregame show

YOUNGSTOWN — Ohio State’s marching band has its “Skull Session”; now the Youngstown State University Marching Pride has the “Ice Breaker.”

“Ice Breaker” will feature a performance by YSU’s marching band in Beeghly Center 90 minutes before every Penguins home football game this year.

Chris Heidenreich, marching band director, is starting what is hoped will become a tradition after experiencing OSU’s “Skull Session” earlier this month. The “Session” is a performance of the OSU marching band in St. John Arena before every Buckeye home football game.

“It seemed to me that Beeghly was so close to Stambaugh Stadium that YSU could have the same type of event,” Heidenreich said. “It’s a chance for the band to warm up, entertain the audience and get ready for the game. My hope is to get the team to come by and get them pumped up as well.”

YSU’s remaining home games are today at 4 p.m., next Saturday at 6 p.m., Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. and Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.

Seeking Choffin alumni

YOUNGSTOWN — Choffin Career and Technical Center’s adult and high school programs are looking for past graduates willing to share their success stories. The center wants to know what programs they were in and what they are doing now. To share your story, contact Renee English at (330) 744-8719 or by e-mail at youn_rce@access-k12.org.

Gifts at all-time high

AKRON — Financial gifts to the University of Akron are at an all-time high. The university recorded total giving of $32,395,043 for fiscal year 2006-07, surpassing the previous record of $27.4 million for 2000-01. The 2006-07 level is an increase of 28 percent from the total of $25,220,009 for the previous fiscal year.

“This is an exceptional show of support for all of the outstanding people and programs here at the University of Akron,” said President Luis M. Proenza.

The university serves 24,700 students in 300 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at sites in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Holmes counties.

Lecture on climate change

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — “Impacts of Global Climate Change — More Than Just a Mere Inconvenience” will be the topic of Dr. Shahroukh Mistry, assistant professor of biology, who will deliver the Henderson Lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Witherspoon Maple Room of the McKelvey Campus Center at Westminster College.

Mistry’s presentation highlights the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, species distributions and agricultural, socioeconomic and human health issues.

His research focuses on predicting the distributional shifts of one particular species, the vampire bat, as a response to climate change, and suggests that significant range expansions are likely to occur, with resulting possible impact on the livestock industry, human health and on overall bat conservation efforts. Though the effects of climate change are already visible, the major impacts will be felt in the next few decades, according to Mistry.

JA Hispanic initiative

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) has received a three-year $614,000 grant from New York Life Foundation to support a Hispanic initiative designed to prepare Hispanic students to navigate the “business of life.”

The program will cover practical work-readiness, entrepreneurship and personal finance skills through Junior Achievement’s after-school programs. 

The initiative also seeks to provide Hispanic youth with positive role models from the local Hispanic community who will deliver JA’s after-school programs.

“As members of the largest minority population in the United States, Hispanic youth can benefit greatly from Junior Achievement programs. We want to help all youth, and particularly those from underserved populations, realize the ‘American Dream,’” said Gerald M. Czarnecki, president and chief executive officer, JA Worldwide.

“This generous support from the New York Life Foundation will help over 6,800 Hispanic youth connect with positive role models who understand the challenges they face and can help them succeed in business and in life.”

Duquesne administrator

PITTSBURGH — Rebecca Jamrozik of Lowellville has been named director of Greek life, honor societies and professional organizations at Duquesne University. She most recently served as assistant director of student activities and a Greek adviser at John Carroll University.

Jamrozik was a Greek life graduate adviser and a house director at the University of South Florida, a student life coordinator for Florida Southern College and worked as a collegiate leadership consultant for the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, of which she is a member.

Jamrozik has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Ohio State University and a master’s in college student affairs from the University of South Florida.