March 2008

Doylestown, PA, -- (March 31, 2008) - This past weekend, the Delaware Valley College Aggie Cheerleaders won first place at the Moai Madness Cheer Championships, at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia in the College All Girl Medium Division and the Stunt Group Division.

Members of the team include: seniors Sara Schwartz of Elkins Park, PA, majoring in criminal justice administration and Jennifer DeLucia of Collegeville, PA, and Brandy Wakeman of Candor, NY, both accounting majors; juniors, Jessica Brown of Middlesex, NJ, and Kelly Harding of Denver, PA, both majoring in zoo science and Ashley Vulpi of Howell, NJ, majoring in business; sophomores Ashley Groff of West Chester, PA, majoring in biology, Jocelyn Hollway of Dallastown, PA, majoring in small animal science and Sarah Vrabel of Wrightsville, PA majoring in Secondary Education with a specialization in agriculture and freshmen Shannon Collins of Royersford, PA, majoring in biology,  Kourtney Conti of Lancaster, PA, majoring in small animal science, Elizabeth Farsi of Bound Brook, NJ, Mackenzie Gerlach of Easton, PA, majoring in small animal science; Deanne Larson of Pottstown, PA, majoring in biology, Heather Maurer of Coopersburg, PA, majoring in conservation and wildlife management, Catherine Novak of Duryea, PA, majoring in secondary education with a specialization in mathematics, Nicole Sellers-Hansen of Hampstead, MD, majoring in small animal science and Sarah Winterbottom of Belvidere, NJ.

The team members who competed and won in the stunt division are Schwartz, DeLucia, Groff, Hollway and Vrabel. The team will next compete at Nationals in Ocean City, MD, at the "Reach the Beach" All Star & College International April 4 through April 6.

Doylestown, PA -- (March 31, 2008) -  The Future Environmental Designers of Delaware Valley College will host Landstudies, of Lititz, PA, for a discussion on environmental landscaping and design at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10 in the Smart Room, Mandel Room 114.
 
The event is free and open to the public; community members can learn about ecological restorations, a company specialty. Speaking will be Mark Gutshall, company president and his wife, Kelly, company designer. Landstudies has conducted extensive work in stream restorations, wetland and environmental planning.

For more information about Landstudies, visit www.landstudies.com.

Doylestown, PA, -- (March 25, 2008) - Jennifer Lowry, of New Fairfield, CT, a senior at Delaware Valley College majoring in wildlife management and conservation, received the Frank Feldbaum Scholarship in Wildlife Ecology from the Pennsylvania Wildlife Society during their annual conference held March 22 in State College, PA.  

The $500 scholarship is awarded annually to a student enrolled in a wildlife ecology or related natural resources program in a Pennsylvania college or university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in a program outside Pennsylvania with a GPA of at least 3.2 and an interest and commitment to wildlife through volunteer and work experience and extra curricular activities.

Lowry has volunteered with the USDA on a deer survey in Souderton County, with the US Fish & Wildlife Service conducting piping plover research in North Dakota, with the Department of Environmental Protection conducting breeding woodland raptor surveys and has assisted a master birder with a bird survey for the Connecticut Audubon Center. In addition, she has interned with a master birder at Pace University's Environmental Center and with Green Chimneys Farm/Wildlife Rehabilitation Center working with injured birds of prey. She also participated in DelVal's Tropical Ecology class in Costa Rica designed to increase environmental awareness as a means of improving socio-environmental conditions in the Osa peninsula and other regions of Costa Rica with education, extension and documentation.

"Jennifer's activities showcase her commitment and passion for wildlife management and conservation," said Reg Hoyt, assistant professor, animal biotechnology and conservation at Delaware Valley College. "We are proud to count Jen among our many outstanding students at Delaware Valley College." 

Doylestown, PA -- (March 24, 2008) - Long-time Delaware Valley College Physics Professor Michael N. Tabachnick will discuss his interpretation of the Big Bang Theory versus the Genesis passage in the Bible at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21 in the Student Center at Delaware Valley College. The event is free and open to the public.

"Scientists have always struggled with the apparent conflicts between the beliefs of religion and science. If the scientist is religious, this conflict becomes an internal battle to resolve the differences," said Tabachnick.

During the event, Tabachnick will ask audience members to consider that the Big Bang Theory is not, in fact, at odds with the Genesis story, but is, rather, the same event depicting the creation of the universe.

"I have resolved for myself that there is absolutely no difference between the description of Genesis in the Bible and scientist's belief of the Big Bang Theory," added Tabachnick. "I believe that Genesis is nothing more than a description of the Big Bang theory in layman's terms."

Tabachnick will share deep space photographs from the Hubble telescope to illustrate his point comparing the photographs to the verses from the Bible.

Tabachnick joined the Delaware Valley College faculty in 1968 and has taught almost all of the mathematics courses offered and all of the physics courses. He has received the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year award, the William Allison Award for Outstanding Service to the Student Body, and is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who Among Scientists and Engineers, and Who's Who Among Teachers. Tabachnick earned his bachelor's degree from Temple University, his master's degree in physics from Columbia University and did Ph.D. work in physics at Rutgers University.
 

Doylestown, PA, -- (March 18, 2008) - Mary A. Boyle of Hatfield, PA, has joined Delaware Valley College as the horticulturist for the Henry Schmieder Arboretum.

As part of the staff, Boyle will manage the landscaping and horticultural activities of the arboretum to ensure its ongoing use as a living laboratory for Delaware Valley students and a resource to the surrounding community.
Boyle has served as a horticulturist for the Old York Road Country Club in Spring House, PA, and the North Hills Country Club in Glenside, PA.

In addition, Boyle has served as a landscape gardener for the Department of Parks and Recreation for Redwood City, CA. She is an expert in landscape management and design, and wildlife and habitat management. She is a certified arborist and a member of the International Society of Arboriculture, and a certified Pennsylvania Horticulturist. Boyle is also a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Boyle earned her bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Temple University's Ambler campus and has completed graduate-level coursework in Environmental Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a certificate or proficiency in ornamental horticulture from the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Erie County, NY.

The Henry Schmieder Arboretum is named in honor of Henry Schmieder, a faculty member of the college from 1921 to 1964. At the time of his death, Henry Schmieder was cataloging the Arboretum collection and had plans for its expansion to make the campus a living resource for students, the community and the horticulture industry. Today's arboretum is a tribute to Schmieder's legacy and teaching at DelVal.

Doylestown, PA, -- (March 12, 2008) - Dr. Karen Schramm, assistant professor in the English Department at Delaware Valley College, has completed a chapter on Promotion Literature for a new scholarly text titled "The Oxford Handbook of Early American Literature," published by Oxford University Press.

Promotion Literature is a literary genre that defines the colonial period. Schramm's chapter examines the production, reception and influence of promotional literature, writings designed to encourage colonization of the new world. Her analysis covers Captain John Smith's "Description of New England" (1616), the anonymous "Mourt's Relation" (1622), Edward Winslow's "Good News From New-England" (1624), William Wood's "New England's Prospect" (1634), George Alsop's "Character of the Province of Maryland" (1666), Daniel Denton's "Brief Description of New York" (1670) and John Josselyn's "New England Rarities Discovered" (1672). Her research also examines how promotional rhetoric manifests itself in other early American literature and concludes with a discussion of Benjamin Franklin's "Information for Those Who Would Remove to America" (1784), which is considered the finest work of promotion literature of the eighteenth century.

"Being selected to write the chapter was a high honor, and Dr. Schramm's work for Oxford University Press represents her 23rd scholarly publication," said Dr. Jack W. Schmidt, chair of the Departments of English and Liberal Arts at Delaware Valley College.

Schramm joined the DelVal faculty in 1996. She serves as advisor to DelVal's literary and artistic publication, "The Gleaner," and is the co-chair/co-author of the college's interim report for Middle States. She is an active researcher and has published numerous articles on American literature, biographies, grammar and the environment. Prior to this most recent publishing success, she authored "No Vacancy in the Built Environment: America as Cultural Construct," in the volume "Constructing Culture: Built Environment and Land."

Schramm earned her bachelor's degree and her master's degree in English from Rutgers University and her Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware. Among her many awards are an IDEA National Ranking for Teaching Effectiveness, a Graduate Fellowship in 19th-century American Literature, membership in the Athenaeum Honor Society and a prize for Best Article in the journal "Teaching for Success."

Doylestown, PA, -- (March 4, 2008) - The final Visiting Artist Series concert for the spring semester at Delaware Valley College will be presented at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, in the college's Student Center Auditorium with a concert titled "Middle Eastern Cultures in Perfect Harmony."

Presented by Intercultural Journeys, the concert will feature Philadelphia Orchestra cellist and Israeli native, Udi Bar-David, Arab-Israeli violinist Hanna Khoury, Margot Leverett on klezmer clarinet; Syrian-born Kareem Roustom, on ‘ūd (a guitar-like Arab instrument) and percussionist Rolando Morales Matos on hand drums. The musicians have risen above the conflict in their homelands to create music together and were featured together in the documentary, 'Music from the Inside Out,' during the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2007 season. Inspired by visits to Arab, Jewish and Buddhist villages, Intercultural Journeys explores and celebrates the commonalities and unique elements of each heritage, which, in turn, creates an opportunity for dialogue.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students and senior citizens. A special admission rate of $25 is available for families. For more information, contact Dr. Jack W. Schmidt at 215-489-2233.

The Visiting Artist Series at Delaware Valley College is dedicated to presenting high quality, entertaining and educational programs that are suitable for the entire family.

 
Doylestown, PA, -- (March 3, 2008) - Delaware Valley College has been invited to represent the United States at the Intercollegiate International World Equestrian Cup in Holland in May; four students have been named to the team.

The students will earn points for their team based on their performance in show jumping, dressage and a written horse knowledge examination. The students were selected following tryouts on February 21 sponsored by DelVal's Equine Studies Program. Riders where evaluated by a panel of faculty members on their dressage, show jumping and equine knowledge.

Students selected include senior Kaitlyn McLaughlin of Seaville, NJ, who majors in animal science with a specialization in equine training and sophomores Sara Gumbiner of Somerset, NJ, Devan McNamera of Setauket, NY, and Chantal Plank of New Holland, PA, all of whom major in animal science with a specialization in equibusiness.

Doylestown, PA -- (March 3, 2008) - Delaware Valley College students, led by faculty members in the Department of  Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design, earned "Best in Show: Academic/Educational" honors at the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show for their display titled "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans," based on the Louis Armstrong song of the same name.

Complimenting the show's overall theme of "Jazz it Up," the display celebrated the birthplace of jazz by focusing on what New Orleans was before Katrina hit. The DelVal display featured Southern Magnolias glistening in the sunlight as you entered Chez Celese, a city park and bistro in New Orleans. Former New Orleans restaurateur, Charles Gray, who owned the famous Corinne Dunbar's for 33 years, visited the display and discussed his own memories of New Orleans as he distributed recipes from his famous restaurant.

Howard Eyre, assistant professor in DelVal's Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design and consultant who has worked in New Orleans on issues following the flooding along with Eve Minson, assistant professor in the department, directed the students in the exhibit. Students prepared the entry as part of DelVal's Flower Show Practicum course using more than 150 plants with focus on the Southern Magnolia, a tree often seen in southern gardens and one that the city of New Orleans is well known for, but misses currently, in the landscape.

All students taking the course are ornamental horticulture majors and include: seniors David Bodine of Ringoes, NJ, Kenneth Dilts of Robbinsville, NJ, Jarod Eaton of Columbia, MD, Kristen Fowler of Montgomeryville, PA, Gregory Lorang of Marlton, NJ, Shaun Mortimer of Spring City, PA; juniors Lee Armillei of Coatesville, PA, Adam Kahora of New Tripoli, PA, and Devin Kozicki of Easton, PA.

Nathan Lanning of Elizabethtown, PA, Rachel Neuhauser of Freeville, NY, Daniel Tompkins of Southington, CN, and Kevin Weber of Telford, PA, and sophomores Joseph Peluso of Maplewood, NJ, and Kyle Steele of Mattituck, NY.

"What an exciting and proud honor for our students," said Dr. Barbara Muse, chair of the Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design and professor of plant science. "They work so diligently and with such passion, but to have their efforts honored with a 'Best of Show,' makes it that much more significant as they get ready to pursue careers in ornamental horticulture."

Delaware Valley College participates in the Philadelphia Flower Show annually, offering students a unique and complex hands-on learning experience, particularly in the preparation of out-of-season plant materials for the show. The Philadelphia Flower Show is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society and is the largest indoor flower show in the world.