Congratulations, December 2018 graduates!

Edinboro University will celebrate the academic success of more than 300 students in the Class of 2018 during undergraduate and graduate ceremonies Saturday.

Undergraduate Commencement begins at 10 a.m. at McComb Fieldhouse. Rachel Shirey, a Portersville, Pa., native, will provide the student address during the undergraduate ceremony. Shirey will graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. Additional speakers include Kyle A. Hurysz, who serves as the student trustee on the Edinboro University Council of Trustees, and Scott Irlbacher, president of the Edinboro University Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Graduate Commencement will follow at 2 p.m. in Louis C. Cole Auditorium - Memorial Hall. Rosmari Graham, of Waterford, Pa., who is receiving a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, will deliver the student address. Anthony J. Pirrello will provide a greeting on behalf of the Council of Trustees.

Leading the academic procession and representing her faculty colleagues by carrying the Ceremonial Mace at the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be Dr. Lenore Barbian of Edinboro University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, and Forensic Studies. Dr. Penelope Orr, director of the art therapy track in Edinboro University’s Master of Arts – Counseling program, will be the Mace Bearer for the Graduate Commencement ceremony.

The distinction of mace bearer emphasizes the importance of faculty in Edinboro’s academic environment and the central role that faculty play in the academic and personal development of Edinboro students.

Cierra Kirkland, a senior Individualized Studies student, will deliver the national anthem at each ceremony. Music for both ceremonies will be provided by the Edinboro University Pipes and Drums.

Information for graduates is available on the University website. Both commencement ceremonies will be filmed and streamed via Edinboro Now’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/edinborotv.

Students and their families are encouraged to share their best commencement photos and shout out their best wishes on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #boroUgrad. The University will do its best to share the happy messages that come our way using the hashtag.

Edinboro University winter break hours

The University's administrative offices will be closed Saturday, Dec. 22, through Tuesday, Jan. 1. Normal hours will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Residence Halls
Residence halls close Friday at 8 p.m. for winter break and will open at noon on Sunday, Jan. 13, for returning students.

Ghering Health and Wellness Center
Monday, Dec. 17: Closed
Tuesday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 20: Noon until 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 21 through Tuesday, Jan. 1: Closed
Wednesday, Jan. 2, and Thursday, Jan. 3: Noon until 4 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 4, through Sunday, Jan. 6: Closed
Monday, Jan. 7, through Thursday, Jan. 10: Noon until 4 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 11, and Saturday, Jan. 12: Closed
Sunday, Jan. 13: Resume normal hours (3-10 p.m.)

Don't forget to E-Reg for the spring semester

Jackson-Bonus explores impact of hurricanes on airfare

With a passion for economics and strong analytical skills developed during his first two years studying at Edinboro University, Avryn Jackson-Bonus is taking a deep dive into the Business and Economics program. And he’s already made a name for himself as an undergraduate researcher.

It all started when he took a Quantitative Analysis class in fall 2017 taught by Dr. Jingze Jiang, an associate professor of Economics who specializes in quantitative research methods, energy and environmental economics.

Jackson-Bonus, who is pursuing dual degrees in economics and accounting, wanted to analyze the impact of Hurricane Harvey on airfare in Texas. He found that little to no research had been done and was eager to use the knowledge he had learned in class to help Texas measure the economic losses.

“Avryn had an outstanding performance in class,” said Dr. Jiang. “I was so glad he was willing to spend extra time working on a creative project.”

He developed a statistical model that can predict airfare during hurricane season in Texas. He was awarded second place at Edinboro University’s 2018 Celebration of Scholarship and received the Friends of the Baron-Forness Library Research Grant. Using the grant money, he will present his model at a regional economic conference in 2019.

“Getting involved in a research project gives students a unique experience to strengthen their critical thinking ability and problem-solving skills,” Dr. Jiang said. “I highly encourage all students to get some research experience before graduating.”

Jackson-Bonus is an economics intern at Community Resilience Action Network of Erie working with the Erie County Department of Planning, the Northwest Pennsylvania Green Economy Task Force and Green Building Alliance to help develop an economic database to better understand Erie’s Climate Resilience.

Dr. Jingze Jiang is passionate about advising undergraduates in economics. If you have a research idea, need help applying to graduate school or are interested in a career as an economic analyst, contact Dr. Jiang.

“The best reward for me is to see my students using the skills they learned in class to try to solve real-world problems,” Dr. Jiang said.

May graduation application deadline is Feb. 1

Planning to graduate in May 2019? If you will finish your degree during the spring semester, you must submit a graduation application via your SCOTS account by Friday, Feb. 1. After this date, a late fee of $100 will be applied to your student billing account.

Contact Alyssa Baer in the Office of Records & Registration with any questions.

Pietrocarlo earns All-American honors at Nationals

Hope Pietrocarlo, a redshirt sophomore from Bemus Point, N.Y., became Edinboro's first All-American in women's cross country since 2015 with a 27th place finish among 264 runners at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Dec. 1. Pietrocarlo, who took third at the Atlantic Regional, crossed the finish line with a time of 23:18.5.

The women’s team finished 23rd overall in difficult, rainy conditions at the Bob O'Connor Golf Course 6K layout at Schenley Park, outside of Pittsburgh.

Abbey Lang, one of the few veterans on first-year coach Clayton Foster's squad, capped an outstanding senior season, coming in 122nd overall and 104th in team scoring with a time of 24:36.2. Read more.

Invest in your Fighting Scots

Perseverance. Determination. Grit. Edinboro University student-athletes are champions on the court and in the classroom. They are future teachers, scientists, accountants, journalists, health professionals and so much more. They are strivers.

At Edinboro, student-athletes thrive and are afforded many opportunities that would have otherwise not been possible without generous donations. You can make a difference in their lives by making a contribution – big or small – to Edinboro Athletics. One hundred percent of your gift will support the sport of your choice or the Fighting Scots Fund for student-athlete scholarships.

We invite you to make a heartfelt commitment to our students, and we encourage you to come out and support our student-athletes at a game or match!

Get ahead with EU Winter Session courses

Expand your horizons with a summer trip abroad

In today’s society, a global education is more important than ever. Seize the opportunity to build cross-cultural connections and become an active citizen of the world through a university-sponsored study abroad program.

EU will sponsor spring break trips to the Dominican Republic and Edinburgh and London, as well as summer trips to Spain, Italy and France; China; Ireland; Japan; Belize and Thailand.

To learn more about travel study opportunities at Edinboro University, contact the Global Education Office.

EU students learn from psychological expert witness

Students from Dr. Kevin Courtright’s CRIM 272 – Criminology and CRIM 380 – Juvenile Justice classes were recently afforded a unique opportunity to chat remotely with noted author James Garbarino. In partial fulfillment of course objectives, students from both classes read books from Garbarino and wrote reaction papers.

"Listening to Killers" offers an inside look at 20 years of murder files from Dr. Garbarino, a leading expert psychological witness. Garbarino interviews killers and testifies in court based on the interactions.

"Miller’s Children" provides a comprehensive look at the human consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Miller v. Alabama (2012), which outlawed mandatory life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences for juvenile murderers. Subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that applied the Miller case retroactively have provided some degree of hope to those convicted of murder and incarcerated as teenagers. These inmates are known as “Miller’s Children.”

Garbarino holds the Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology and is a senior faculty fellow with the Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University Chicago. In addition to numerous awards, titles and previous teaching and research positions at Cornell University, he has served as an adviser to the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, the National Institute for Mental Health, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect and the FBI.

Help those in need by donating gently used items

Edinboro University has launched a friendly competition to help those in need this holiday season. The Everyone Upcycles campaign runs today through Friday and resumes Jan. 13-18. Teams of up to five individuals are encouraged to collect gently used items and drop them off at either Frank G. Pogue Student Center or Ghering Health and Wellness Center. The team with the most points at the end of the competition will receive a free luncheon.

Medical Equipment and Unexpired Diabetic Supplies – 20 points
Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and other medical equipment are distributed by Chosen International Medical Assistance at no cost.

Blankets – 5 points
The Warming Center at the Mental Health Association is open from 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. for men, women and families who are homeless or otherwise unable to have shelter through the night when temperatures are 20 degrees or below.

Eyeglasses – 5 points
The Lions Eye Bank distributes eyeglasses to individuals who cannot afford to purchase their own.

Hearing Aids – 20 points
The Lions Eye Bank distributes hearing aids to individuals who cannot afford to purchase their own.

Coats – 10 points
The Erie City Mission collects gently used, clean winter coats to warm the bodies and hearts of those in need this winter season.

Hats and Gloves – 5 points
The Erie City Mission collects gently used, clean hats and gloves to warm the bodies and hearts of those in need this winter season.

New or Gently Used Shoes – 5 points
Ramps of Hope utilizes shoes to raise funds to support outreach services for those affected by homelessness and disability.

Non-perishable Food Items – 1 point
Edinboro University’s campus food pantry collects and distributes desirable food items for college students such as granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, soup and crackers. Expired food cannot be accepted.

Cell Phones – 10 points
Cell phones are provided to local domestic violence organizations and law enforcement agencies for use with their domestic violence clients by HopeLine from Verizon.

Sandwich Bag of Pull Tabs – 5 points
Pull tabs are the little aluminum tabs from all kinds of cans. They are recycled in exchange for funds to support families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

For more information, contact Darla Elder at (814) 732-2743.

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