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Community Service

WQED Writing Contest Evaluations

Each year,WQED holds the PBS KIDS Writers Contest to help engage students in the creative writing process and encourage young authors to express their ideas into a compelling story. This year, WQED asked Pitt-Greensburg Education Students for help in judging the first round of submitted stories. This included entries from kindergarten through third grade students. We have also been asked to help in April 2016.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Danielle Futules

  • Brittany Cardella

  • Brittany Smither

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Haley Lengel

April 8, 2015

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Pamela Feliciani

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Jaymee Humbert

Outreach to Teach 2015

“Outreach to Teach” is a school transformation project that is conducted as a part of the SPSEA Conference. Pitt-Greensburg students were asked to arrive at Camp Curtin Academy in Harrisburg a day early to begin prepping the school for the upcoming event. We put up paint-tape and a base-coat of paint in the gym, sketched murals, and began re-organizing the library.

The next day at the actual event, Pitt-Greensburg students mainly split into two areas: the gymnasium and the library. The group repainted the entire gymnasium focusing on the school’s mascot, Larry the Leopard, and the school’s newly adopted colors (black & gold). The group of students in the library sorted, organized, and shelved more than 10,000 books and beautified the wall spaces with murals.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

April 10, 2015

  • Witney Larko

  • Jessica Williams

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Michelle Etling

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Gabrielle Maldonato

  • Brianna Cramer

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Billy Meyers

  • Jack Hunter

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Zachary Simms

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Brianna McKeag

  • David Postlethwait

  • Chris Shtur

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Courtney Tuite

 

  • Ashleigh Peck

  • Danielle Gordon

  • Tory Popovich

  • Zac Stevens

  • Zacheri Mozingo

  • Joseph Ortman

  • Justin Himler

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Sam Nagel

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Frank Laspin

Box Top Donations

2015/2016 Academic Year

Located on bulletin boards in both and Cassell Hall and Powers Hall are envelopes that encourage students and faculty to donate their box tops. The envelopes remain on the bulletin boards throughout the year. The box tops that are collected are donated to a local, high poverty elementary school at the end of each semester.

Pop Tab Donations

2015/2016 Academic Year

Located on bulletin boards in both and Cassell Hall and Powers Hall are envelopes that encourage students to donate pop tabs. The envelopes remain on the bulletin boards throughout the year. The pop tabs that are collected are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities at the end of each semester.

Pitt Pals

Early Childhood and Secondary students at Pitt-Greensburg are able to get hands-on experience in the classroom through our Pitt Pals program.  Pitt Pals participants have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from elementary teachers in the Greenburg Salem school district. Students are matched with teachers in the early fall and continue to volunteer in their assigned teacher’s classroom each week throughout the academic year.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members who participate:

  • Courtney Tuite

  • Zachary Simms

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Brea Bolden

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Becca Muha

  • Francesco DeCarlo

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Witney Larko

  • Mindy Olive

  • Jessica Williams

2015/2016 Academic Year

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Amanda Stein

  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Peyton Clark

  • Carolina Escalante

  • Rachel Obeldobel

  • Brittani Malik

  • Dan Spanner

  • Brian Worst

  • Lucinda Wracher

 

Jeannette Jays

Throughout the 2015-2016 academic year, secondary education SPSEA members at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg mentor and tutor students during this after school program at Jeannette Middle School. Throughout the program, SPSEA members have the opportunity to bond with students, create and participate in enrichment activities, and read with the students individually or in groups.  

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members who participate:

2015/2016 Academic Year

  • Michelle Etling

  • Christian Hyland

  • Elias Imbrogno

  • Frank Laspin

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Samantha Cook

  • Zacheri Mozingo

  • Samantha Nagel

  • Tyler Reese

  • Amanda Sepp

Read for LIFElong Learning

Every fall and spring since 1998, Pitt-Greensburg students participate in the Read for LIFElong Learning Program.  This program allows college students to design and conduct lesson plans that help the students of both Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School and Dr. Robert F. Nicely Elementary School to improve their literacy skills, while the college students get their first taste of the teaching profession.

Head Coordinators:

  • Jaymee Humbert

  •  Alyssa Kucsmas

2015/2016 Academic Year

Assistant Coordinators:

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Zachary Simms

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Phillip Mihm

Read Leaders:

  • Gabrielle Revenis

  • Alyson Keough

  • Rebecca Urban

  •  Jessica Williams

  • MacKenzie Janda

  •  Melinda Olive

  •  Lucinda Wracher

  • Shelby Povlick

  • Madison Rinker

  • Courtney Tuite

  • Brittany Curry

  • Witney Larko

  • Hannah Cerk

  • Tori Ventrosco

Lunch Buddies

The Lunch Buddies Program occurs in conjunction with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization of the Laurel Region. Local elementary students are chosen to participate based on “at-risk” status. All students from Pitt-Greensburg have the opportunity become “Bigs” and have lunch with their “Littles” one time per week throughout the entire school year. The “Bigs” mentor the “Littles,” enjoying lunch, games, and conversation all the while acting as role models. While SPSEA members organize and coordinate the program with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lunch Buddies is open to any major on campus.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members who participate:

2015/2016 Academic Year

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Samantha Cook

  • Samantha Clayton

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Megan Lint

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Tori Phillips

  • Brittany Curry

  • Hannah Cerk

  • Madison Rinker

  • Mindy Olive

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Bree DeMoss

September 12, 2015

Hempfield Community Days

We received a phone call requesting assistance from our SPSEA members to assist in the Hempfield Community Days; of course we helped!  The 17th Annual Hempfield Community Days focused on bringing residents and businesses together for an enjoyable weekend.  Our members interacted with and entertained children on the Kids’ Stage, handed out flyers, and interacted with the parents, too.

School Supply Drive

During the month of September, SPSEA member David Postlethwait directed a school supply drive throughout the Pitt-Greensburg campus.  This drive collected various school supplies, including (but not limited to) backpacks, notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, and paper. The boxes of supplies were delivered to the Brownsville School District, one of the poorest districts in Western Pennsyvlania, by David and freshman student Francesca DeCarlo.

September 14-25, 2015

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Bryan McFeeley

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Brea Bolden

  • Shannon Lieu

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk for a Cure is an annual event held on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. This community-sponsored event brought hundreds of people to campus for the purpose of raising funds to support the JDRF. The total amount raised for the foundation was $355,722.96. During this event, SPSEA members worked closely with the DJ to entertain the children that were present at the event.

September 26, 2015

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Tori Phillips

  • Zacheri Mozingo

Blue and Gold Weekend

During the celebration of Blue and Gold Weekend, Pitt-Greensburg’s Homecoming, our chapter of SPSEA raised money to donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by co-sponsoring a dunk tank. We also sold raffle tickets and “old-fashioned sodas” in support of Pi Lambda Theta, our Education Honors Society at Pitt-Greensburg.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Kaylee Bachorski

  • Laura Whelan

  • Gabby Maldanato

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Brittani Malik

October 3-4, 2015

  • Michelle Etling

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Peyton Clark

  • Francesca DeCarlo  

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Shannon Lieu

 

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Brea Bolden

  • Witney Larko

  • Zacheri Mozingo

  • Zach Simms

  • Zachary Stevens

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Brianna Cramer

College Day

Students from our SPSEA chapter participated in our annual College Day. This is a day when students from Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children get the opportunity to have a day of “college life” and form special bonds with Pitt-Greensburg students. This year’s theme was super heroes, and included activities focused on creating comic books, acting like famous super heroes, and locating super heroes using geography.​

October 14, 2015

  • James Gabonay

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Christopher Shtur

  • Zakary Carson

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Alexander Guie

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Jack Hunter

  • Brian McFeeley

Hallow-Boo

October 23, 2015

The Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA hosted our annual Hallow-boo event.  At this event, elementary students in grades 1-4 from three local schools were invited to our campus for a night of spooky and fun Halloween activities, such as face-painting and getting their picture taken with Elsa or the Minions!  Over 90 students and their parents came and nearly 40 SPSEA members helped with the event. 

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Sarah SeNay

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Sam Clayton

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Becca McHugh

  • Brea Bolden

  • Mindy Olive

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Chris Shter

  • Ashley Muscurella

  • Zach Simms

  • Michelle Etling

  • David Postlethwait

  • Conor Cortagzo

  • Gabby Maldonato

  • Alexander Guie

  • Jack Hunter

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Heather Paullet    

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Rebecca Muha

  • Kierstin Brown

  • Peyton Clark

  • Carolina Escalant

  • Kerigan Fabery

  • Kayla Anderson

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Courtney Tuite

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Madison Rinker

  • Alyssa Fry

  • Amanda Sepp

November 6, 2015

NHS Dance

The NHS Schools are private schools that support students with cognitive and emotional disabilities. For the NHS dance, students with autism from NHS schools were invited to our campus. The dance was hosted by Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA.  This year’s theme for the dance was Disney. The night was filled with food, karaoke, crafts, and lots of dancing!

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Gabby Maldonato

  • Chris Shtur

  • Zac Carson

  • Alex Guie

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Brea Bolden

  • James Gabonay

  • Brianna Crammer

  • Brian Edwards

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Zachary Simms

  • Courtney Tuite

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Witney Larko

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Mindy Olive

  • David Postlethwait

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Brian McFeeley

  • Francesca DeCarlo

Fall into the Streets

November 25, 2015

Into the Streets is a campus-wide initiative to encourage all students and faculty to participate in community service work.  Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members participated in various projects throughout the community such as making meals, delivering meals, and playing bingo with the elderly.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Zach Simms

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Sammi Cook

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Ashley Muscarella

  • Zachary Stevens

Book Drive

December 2015

During the month of December SPSEA teamed up with Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honor society) to hold a campus wide book drive. Boxes were placed in Powers Hall, the Faculty Office Building, Cassell Hall, and the Library to collect new or used children's, chapter, or adolescent books.  About eleven boxes filled with over 500 books were donated to the Brownsville School District, one of the poorest districts in Western Pennsylvania.

Jingle Jam

December 5, 2015

 

At our annual Jingle Jam celebration, second and third grade students from three local elementary schools gathered on our campus to celebrate the holidays that occur during the winter months. The students participated in various activities led by the Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members, that all had a Frozen theme. They enjoyed a pizza lunch with the SPSEA members and performed the songs with motions that they had learned for their parents at the end of the activity.

 

 

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Zachary Simms

  • David Postlethwait

  • Michelle Etling

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Christopher Shtur

  • Thomas Trapp

  • Courtney Tuite

  • Laura Krunszyinsky

  • Mindy Olive

  • Morgan Anderson

  • Sammi Cook

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Jessica Williams

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Zakary Carson

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Alex Guie

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Brittany Curry

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Gabby Maldonato

  • Ashley Lewandowski

  • Brea Bolden

The Fifth Annual SOPA Hoops

January 16, 2016

Our chapter of SPSEA organized and hosted the fifth annual SOPA Hoops basketball game in partnership with the Pitt-Greensburg Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.  Special Olympic athletes were invited to watch the Pitt-Greensburg basketball teams play and participate in a basketball game that took place during an extended halftime of the women’s basketball game. After the conclusion of the game, SPSEA members and the athletes enjoyed a pizza party to celebrate their success of the court. Throughout the event, money was also raised to benefit Special Olympics - Pennsylvania of Westmoreland County. Through a 50/50, raffles, and a concession stand, monies raised from the event totalled $861.

 

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Brea Bolden

  • Brittany Curry

  • Witney Larko

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Francesca Decarlo

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Jessica Williams

  • Madison Rinker

  • Alex Guie

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Shannon Lieu

The Fifth Annual SOPA Hoops

January 16, 2016

Our chapter of SPSEA organized and hosted the fifth annual SOPA Hoops basketball game in partnership with the Pitt-Greensburg Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.  Special Olympic athletes were invited to watch the Pitt-Greensburg basketball teams play and participate in a basketball game that took place during an extended halftime of the women’s basketball game. After the conclusion of the game, SPSEA members and the athletes enjoyed a pizza party to celebrate their success of the court. Throughout the event, money was also raised to benefit Special Olympics - Pennsylvania of Westmoreland County. Through a 50/50, raffles, and a concession stand, monies raised from the event totalled $861.

 

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Brea Bolden

  • Brittany Curry

  • Witney Larko

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Francesca Decarlo

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Jessica Williams

  • Madison Rinker

  • Alex Guie

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Shannon Lieu

Nicely Science Night

January 27, 2016

Several Early Childhood Education major SPSEA members assisted with a local elementary school’s science fair night.  Our members were asked to create engaging science activities that students could participate in after viewing the science fair projects in the hallway. A number of activities were conducted that included the following topics: making slime, the moon phases, circuits, chromatography, and sound.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Brea Bolden

  • Rebecca McHugh

  • Rebecca Nannini

  • Witney Larko

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Zach Simms

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Allisha Ziegler

  • Brianna Cramer

  • Alyssa Kucsmas

 

Valentine's Day SPSEA Meeting

February 12, 2016

This Valentine’s Day season, our members came together to create valentines for the faculty and staff of the Pitt-Greensburg campus.  Each valentine included an Expo dry-erase marker with a special message made with UPG SPSEA love!

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Zach Simms

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Michelle Etling

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Brittani Malik

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Kelley McNally

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Samantha Pritts

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Witney Larko

  • Rachel Obeldobel

  • Amanda Stein

  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Alexi Lindo

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Eric Gosney

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Sammi Cook

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Sam Nagel

  • Brittany Curry

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Madison Rinker

  • Jessica Williams

  • Frank Laspin

WQED Pittsburgh’s PBS Kids
Writer’s Kick-off/Dr. Seuss Day

March 2, 2016

The Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA partnered with WQED Pittsburgh to host the kick-off for the PBS Kids’ Writers Contest.  Over 120 students in kindergarten through third grade from Norvelt Elementary School participated. In multi-age groups, the students participated in stations to practice their writing and literary skills. The students began by creating their own unique characters. Then, they continued to develop a story as they moved throughout the stations to create a setting, problem, and solution.

Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members in attendance:

  • Chyna Cunningham

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Brandon Harclerode

  • MacKenzie Janda

  • Shannon Lieu

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Brittani Malik

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Kate Andrews

  • Peyton Clark

  • Kelsey Campbell

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Frank Laspin

  • Christian Hyland

  • Brittany Curry

  • Alexi Lindo

  • Rachel Obeldobel

  • Kendra Hundachek

  • Amanda Stein

  • Alyssa Fry

  • Madison Rinker

  • Mindy Olive

  • Witney Larko

  • Sonia Siddiqui

  • Alyson Keough

  • Rebecca Urban

  • Brianna Crammer

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Amanda Sepp

Jeannette Outreach to Teach Grant

Spring 2016

Bryan Edwards, our southwest region president, received an $800 PSEA grant to help fund a future Outreach to Teach Project at Jeannette Mckee Elementary. The Outreach to Teach Project is scheduled for April 16, 2016, and will be a multi-regional event. Linked below is a copy of the PSEA proposal.

Bryan also applied for the National Education Association (NEA) Innovative CREATE Grant. The grant is worth $2000 and helps fund projects to better schools in need. The video shown below was created for the CREATE Grant but to also educate our members of the upcoming  project!

Downtown Daily Bread Donations

March 2016

During the month of March, Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA collected donations for Downtown Daily Bread. Boxes were placed in Powers Hall and Cassell Hall to collect items such as canned goods, culinary items, and toiletries. The items collected will be delivered on March 31, 2016, during the Annual SPSEA Conference. The picture shown to the right, is the donation our chapter made to Downtown Daily Bread last year.

Our faculty advisor and Bryan worked together to receive a $16,000 grant from Westmoreland Revitalization Foundation. UPG SPSEA has also received donations from the following:

  • Jeannette PTO: $200

  • Jack L. Bonus Insurance: $200 plus donunts

  • Kiwanis Club of Greensburg: $200

  • Jeannette Kiwanis: $100

  • Lulu A. Pool: $800

  • Giant Eagle: $30

  • Latrobe Lowes: Donating Supplies

  • Greensburg Home Depot: Two $25 off Coupons

  • Go Fund Me Page (Various donations from members of the community): $480

     

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