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During the celebration of Blue and Gold Weekend, Pitt-Greensburg’s Homecoming, our chapter of SPSEA hosted an SPSEA Alum luncheon, allowing old SPSEA members to mingle with new ones. We also ran a booth for the Student Government Association’s “fair” and sold Pitt-themed bracelets in support of Pi Lambda Theta, our Education Honors Society at Pitt-Greensburg.

Homecoming Weekend

Blue & Gold Weekend

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SPSEA Puzzle piece for UPG
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Pitt-Greensburg students and faculty take pride in collecting box tops to support our local schools. Students and faculty collect box tops throughout the year to assist lower socioeconomic schools that are in need of the most help. This year we collected over 500 box tops to support West Hempfield Elementary School.

October 2016

Box Top Collections

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School Supply
Prepackaged School Supply Kits
Members in Attendance

Every year, our SPSEA chapters hosts a "College Day". Students from Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children come to our campus and experience a day in the life of a college student. Each year we get to create special bonds with these students, and it is always great when they return the following year. The theme for this year was an Adventure theme that included activities focusing on things you find in the jungle.

A College Experience for students with dissibilites

College Day

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Tree Frog
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  • Jenna Aleski

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Michelle Etling

  • Frank Laspin

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Mina Waldren

  • Jessica Williams

  • Tiffany DeMartino

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Allison Popelas

  • Brittani Malik

  • Kaylee White

In light of the devastating flood this year, SPSEA decided to donate cleaning supplies would could to families in need; this is what the coordinating flood-relief organization said was most needed. Over the course of three days, we were able to raise money, collect books, backpacks, and house supplies for the families who suffered great losses. We raised over $500 in donations of money and supplies.

Money and supplies raised for Connellsville Area Flood

Donations for Connellsville

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Connellsville Donations
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Connellsville Donations - Kasey

Our annual Hallow-Boo event was held on October 21, 2016, where we had about 100 students from grades 1-4 join us for a fun-filled evening of games and candy. Students from the three Greensburg Salem elementary schools were invited to our campus for a night full of activities, such as face-painting, Halloween-style bingo, creating “goo” with a mad scientist, and various crafts. They had the opportunity to get their photo taken with a bunch of their favorite Disney characters, including a variety of princesses.

October 2016

Hallow-Boo Halloween Carnival

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  • Jenna Aleski

  • Kayla Anderson

  • Kate Andrews

  • Miranda Anker

  • Hannah Cerk

  • Peyton Clark

  • Samantha Cook

  • Taylor Coyner

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Summer Lash

  • Frank Laspin

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Kelley McNally

  • Becca Nannin

  • Mindy Olive

  • Jeffrey Pacuch

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Brittany Peddicord

  • Allison Popelas

  • Samantha Pritts

  • Sarah Raptosh

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Alaina Earley

  • Jenny Espinosa

  • Michelle Etling

  • Luke Falbo

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Eric Gosney

  • Megan Schmucker

  • Angela Schwartz

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Dan Spanner

  • Haley Stonebaker

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Danielle Vetanze

  • Mina Waldron

  • Kaylee White

  • Jessica Williams

  • Lucinda Wracher

Members in Attendance

As a different way to serve the community this year, Pitt-Greensburg’s SPSEA teamed up with the Residence Life coordinators on campus to host the Jeannette Head Start Christmas Party. The preschool students who attend Head Start are, by definition, lower socio-economic students. They came to the university for lunch and gifts. Based on “letters to Santa” written earlier, each child got a gift that they desired and a piece of clothing in their size (both donated by university staff, faculty, or students). These gifts were presented by Santa (SPSEA Member Frank Laspin). When Santa entered the room, the kids all started cheering and jumping up and down. It was really magical!

December 2016

Head Start Christmas Party

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  • Jenna Aleski

  • Kate Andrews

  • Peyton Clark

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • DeMartino

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Kerigan Fabery

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Brittany Peddicord

  • Shirley Petropoulos

  • Sarah Raptosh

  • Christie Ricco

  • Nick Rosneck

  • Megan Schmucker

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Dan Spanner

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Danielle Vetanze

  • Mina Waldron

  • Kaylee White

  • Eric Gosney

  • Hannah Hostetler

  • Christian Hyland

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Frank Laspin

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Jeffrey Pacuch

Members in Attendance

Members in Attendance

The Jeannette JAYS after-school program provides tutoring, enrichment, and mentoring for middle school-aged children. Because this district is lower socioeconomically, the program also provides an after-school snack and dinner for each participating student. The SPSEA members who participate as mentors lead activities like book clubs, science activities, math enrichment, writing and performing plays, and learning to play the drums.  

Jeanette School District- Grades K-8

Jeanette JAYS

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  • Jenna Aleski

  • Kayla Anderson

  • Kate Andrews

  • Miranda Anker

  • Hannah Cerk

  • Peyton Clark

  • Samantha Cook

  • Taylor Coyner

  • Jaymee Humbert

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Summer Lash

  • Frank Laspin

  • Andrew McDonald

  • Kelley McNally

  • Becca Nannin

  • Mindy Olive

  • Jeffrey Pacuch

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Brittany Peddicord

  • Allison Popelas

  • Samantha Pritts

  • Sarah Raptosh

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Alaina Earley

  • Jenny Espinosa

  • Michelle Etling

  • Luke Falbo

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Eric Gosney

  • Megan Schmucker

  • Angela Schwartz

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Dan Spanner

  • Haley Stonebaker

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Tori Ventrosco

  • Danielle Vetanze

  • Mina Waldron

  • Kaylee White

  • Jessica Williams

  • Lucinda Wracher

The Lunch Buddies Program allows college volunteers in all majors to make an impact on a child's life just by taking the time to eat lunch with them. The students who are most “at-risk” are paired with the SPSEA volunteers who want to put a smile on that childs face. Volunteers visit 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.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Westmoreland County

Lunch Buddies

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  • Samantha Cook

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Corrine Silvio

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Larissa Nemchik

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Nicole Cunningham

  • Mindy Olive

  • Gina Wojtowicz

Members in Attendance

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  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Kasey McIntosh

  • Samantha Nagel

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Shirley Petropolos

  • Sarah Raptos

  • Amanda Stein

  • Stonebraker

  • Kaylee White

  • Jessica Williams

Members in Attendance

  • Francesca Decarlo

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Eric Gosney

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Dan Spanner

The NHS Schools are private schools that specialize in and support students with both cognitive and emotional disabilities. The Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA chapter invited these students to our campus for a fun-filled “dance” with Pitt-Greensburg’s SPSEA chapter. In addition to dancing, NHS students played games, performed karaoke, and enjoyed snacks with the SPSEA members.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Westmoreland County

NHS Dance

In April of 2016, nearly 200 people descended on Jeannette K-8 to beautify the school. Of these 200, around 75 were Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA members. Others included SPSEA members from Western Region and Southwestern Region, and non-SPSEA Pitt-Greensburg students. In addition to many murals being painted around the school, a new parent space was created with a computer and printer so that parents could access necessary paperwork and print it off (both school related and child-welfare related). New furniture was placed in the waiting area and in the teacher’s lounge. Curtains were sewn for the front office so that the greeting area was more welcoming. Pitt-Greensburg did this through a $2,000 CREATE grant, an $800 state grant, a GoFundMe drive, and other grants. Additionally, a grant of $13,000 was secured to buy outdoor benches and tables as well as a new playground piece, which allowed Jeannette to revamp the entire playground, improving safety, accessibility, and use.

Regional Outreach to Teach 

Outreach to Teach Preparation: 2017

Sam Nagel, the SPSEA State Secretary, is a Pitt-Greensburg member. She has rounded up various SPSEA members to assist with pre-conference preparation at Cornell K-12 school

Members in Attendance

  • Sam Nagel

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Lindsey Wittropp

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Allison Popelas

  • PJ Dumnich

Jeannette McKee Elementary School: 2016

Cornell School K-12

Pitt Pals is a program designed for education majors to get hands-on experience in the classroom. Elementary teachers in the Greensburg Salem school district act as mentors for our education students throughout the year. Students are matched with teachers and assist them with their daily routines and procedure in the classroom.

Early Childhood Education Majors

Pitt Pals

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  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Eli Imbrogno

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • McIntosh

  • Samantha Nagel

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Shirley Petropolos

  • Sarah Raptos

  • Amanda Stein

  • Stonebraker

  • Kaylee White

  • Jessica Williams

Members in Attendance

  • Francesca Decarlo

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Alyssa Gavron

  • Eric Gosney

  • Gabby Revenis

  • Chloe Seiler

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Dan Spanner

Throughout the year, students and faculty are encouraged to donate pop tabs for a good cause. The pop tabs that are collected are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities at the end of each semester.

For The Ronald McDonald House

Pop Tab Collection

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WQED, the Public Television Station of Western Pennsylvania, runs a creative writing contest for students each year. Since 2014, WQED has asked Pitt-Greensburg’s SPSEA to collaborate with them in providing a writing-based event on campus. Starting in 2015, the WQED Writing Contest became enmeshed with Read Across America Day. We now celebrate the two together! For the 2017 event, 188 students in grades 2 and 3 from two Mt. Pleasant Elementary Schools arrived at the Pitt-Greensburg campus for either a morning or after session. During these 2-hour sessions, students created characters, settings, and plots, drew illustrations, and tied everything together with a story board. When these activities were completed, students were split into groups to have SPSEA members read a variety of Dr. Seuss books, including Cat in the Hat, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can you? and Oh, The places you’ll go!

WQED Writing Contest Kick-off

Read Across America Day

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Members in Attendance

  • Randall Duke

  • Kerigan Fabery

  • Jeffrey Pacuch

  • Christie Ricco

  • Shirley Petropoulos

  • Amanda Stein

  • Courtney Gaffey

  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Abby Cox

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Nicholas Sheck

  • Frank Laspin

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Brittany Peddicord

  • Kaylee White

  • Jenna Leski

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Francesa DeCarlo

  • Lucinda Wracher

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Megan Schmucker

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Mckenzie Brooks

  • Sarah Raptosh

  • Tiffany DeMartino

  • Allison Popelas

  • Megan Berg-Swope

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Latosha Maurer

  • Peyton Clark

  • Conor Cortazzo

Each fall and spring since 1998, Pitt-Greensburg Early Childhood 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.

Early Childhood Education Majors

Read for LIFElong Learning  

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  • Randall Duke

  • Kerigan Fabery

  • Jeffrey Pacuch

  • Christie Ricco

  • Shirley Petropoulos

  • Amanda Stein

  • Courtney Gaffey

  • Kendra Hudachek

  • Abby Cox

  • Daniella Pagano

  • Nicholas Sheck

  • Frank Laspin

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Brittany Peddicord

  • Kaylee White

  • Jenna Leski

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Francesa DeCarlo

  • Lucinda Wracher

Members in Attendance

  • Amanda Sepp

  • Megan Schmucker

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Mckenzie Brooks

  • Sarah Raptosh

  • Tiffany DeMartino

  • Allison Popelas

  • Megan Berg-Swope

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Latosha Maurer

  • Peyton Clark

  • Conor Cortazzo

In this new campus-wide initiative, families and  friends of cancer-victims and survivors -- and the survivors themselves -- raise money for cancer research, share stories of survival and support, and race in teams. The role of Pitt-Greensburg’s SPSEA is to provide a table for children and appropriate activities. In addition to coloring, SPSEA played a relay game with fly-swatters, play with a  rainbow-colored parachute, and offered games of Jenga.

Relay for Life

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  • Logan Salicce

  • Kate Andrews

  • Francesca DeCrlo

  • Jenna Aleski
     

  • Allison Popelas

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Brittani Malik

  • Latoshia Maurer

  • Shirley Petropoulos

Members in Attendance

Pitt-Greensburg--First Annual Relay for Life

Stockings for Troops
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One of our SPSEA students suggested that SPSEA remember the troops during the winter holiday season. Based on suggestions from members previously in the military, we bought decorate-it-yourself stockings (with sticky letters) and all types of stuff to fill them, including baby wipes, cookies, candy, socks, beef jerky, playing cards, rubrics cubes, and other items. Based on donations as well as Pitt-Greensburg SPSEA funds, we filled 75 stockings, which were mailed overseas by a military-support group.

For our Troops

Stockings for the Military

Stockings for Troops

For our Troops

Stockings for the Military

Our SPSEA Chapter hosted our 6th Annual SOPA Hoops basketball game again this year. We worked closely with the Athletic Department here on campus. At this event, Special Olympic Athletes were invited to the stands to watch teams play, and to participate in an extended halftime game! In addition to supporting the SOPA players, SPSEA presented each player with his own Pitt-Greensburg basketball shirt. This event also raised money to benefit the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania of Westmoreland County. First, four SPSEA members sold 50-50 raffle tickets to spectators. Second, clubs (including SPSEA) donated baskets for a silent auction. Last, money earned from ticket sales to the games was donated to SOPA.

A Special Olympic Athletic Program

SOPA Hoops

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  • Kaylee White

  • Taylor Coyner

  • Larissa Nemchik

  • Latosha Maurer

  • Lindsey Wittcopp

  • Terry Madarish

  • Cameran Collins

  • Courtney Shomo

  • Matti Tyskewicz

  • Francesca DeCarlo

  • Amanda Stein

  • Daniella Pagano

  • PJ Dumnich

  • Luke Falbo

  • Mioni Robb

  • Frank Laspin

  • Megan Kirkpatrick

  • Mackenzie Janda

  • Logan Salicce

Members in Attendance

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