2 weeks Ago By Peg DeGrassa
CHESTER — Widener University honored eight faculty members for their high distinction in areas of civic engagement, institutional leadership, research, as well as innovative and distinguished teaching. Various faculty were awarded at the ceremony on Oct. 30 on Chester.
The awards included: • The Distinguished University Professor Award honors faculty members of high distinction at the university who also demonstrate the institution is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout faculty members’ careers. This year’s recipients were School of Nursing Professor Donna Callaghan, a resident of Williamstown, N.J.
; College of Arts and Sciences Professor Katherine Goodrich of Lansdowne; and School of Business Administration Professor Brian Larson, a resident of Rose Valley. Larson is also interim associate dean for graduate business programs. • The Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award went to College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor Michael Cocchiarale of Parkside.
The award is given to a faculty member who has exemplified a history of teaching at the highest level of distinction. It is endowed by the Christian R. and Mary F.
Lindback Foundation, a Philadelphia-based foundation that provides grants to institutions of higher education for the promotion of excellence in teaching. • The Faculty Award for Civic Engagement serves to recognize the outstanding contributions that faculty members have made in accordance with Widener’s civic engagement mission, as well as solidifying Widener students’ understanding of their social responsibilities, and the impact of their disciplinary learning. This year’s recipient was Karen May, associate professor in the School of Nursing.
May is a resident of Lewes, Delaware. • The Outstanding Researcher Award was presented to Paul T. Baker, assistant professor of physics.
This award gives recognition to a faculty member who has participated in research and scholarship nationally or internationally, and made a significant contribution through research, while advancing their profession or discipline as well as the university’s mission and vision. Baker is a resident of Wilmington, Delaware. ′′ The Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award highlights an individual who has designed, implemented, and assessed an innovative or experimental teaching and learning project.
This award was presented to School of Engineering Associate Teaching Professor Ria Mazumder, a resident of Glen Mills. Her innovative approach integrates collaborative project-based service-learning, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in sustainable engineering, bioinstrumentation, and community engagement, thereby addressing both educational and societal challenges. • The Faculty Institutional Leadership Award recognizes a record of leading initiatives that further the university’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
This year’s award recipient was Lori Simons, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Simons is a resident of Newtown Square. For more information about Widener University: http://widener.
edu. Williamson president speaks to Chester Charter Academy students Williamson College of the Trades President Michael Rounds recently spoke at Neumann University in Aston to nearly 300 students from Chester Charter Scholars Academy about his career journey and potential careers in the trades. He shared his experience attending the United State Military Academy at West Point, N.
Y., and being in the military, as well as talked about the school’s core values — faith, integrity, diligence, excellence and service — while emphasizing the need for people in the trades. Rounds then had a smaller question-and-answer with just students participating in the Philadelphia Union Foundation’s iAM Project.
Educating students about the different career paths that are available is a key component of the iAM Project, a career-readiness program that supports aspirational high school students from low-income backgrounds in Chester. Previous speakers at the Inspirational Speaker Series events include NBA great ML Carr, model/drill sergeant Renieal Campbell, national award-winning youth/veteran advocate Jimmy White IV and Rich Kleiman, the longtime manager of Kevin Durant. In addition to the Inspirational Speaker Series, students who are part of the iAM Project get to experience Learn & Explore workshops, where they connect with some of the largest companies in the region, including Boeing, BIMBO Bakeries, Lincoln Financial Group and WSFS Bank.
The iAM Project focuses on three core pillars: inspiration, aspiration and mentorship. The Inspirational Speaker Series feeds a growth mindset to students in grades 7-12. The speakers encourage students to look beyond their immediate environment, to open their eyes, to consider unthought-of opportunities, and to broaden their horizons.
Students hear stories from people who have walked in their shoes, who understand the challenges they face and who overcame difficulties and beat the odds. For more information about the Philadelphia Union Foundation and the iAM Project: www.philadelphiaunion.
com. Delco Justinian Society joins Societa daVinci to host benefit The Delaware County Justinian Society and Societa daVinci invite the community to join in a celebration of Italian American heritage and culture to benefit their scholarship program. The event is Monday, Nov.
25, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Ballroom at the Phoenix 1661 Mill Road in Upper Chichester Township.
Cost is $45 per person, which will include wine, soft drinks and water, Porchetta and other Italian specialty foods. Sonny Silicato will provide entertainment. Proceeds will fund the Delaware County Justinian Society Scholarship Fund and the Italian Cultural Center at the Lazzaretto in Tinicum.
To be assured of a reservation, send name, address, phone number and email and the number of tickets desired with a check payable to “Societa Da Vinci” to Albert M. Greto, Esq., 715 N.
Tatnall St., Wilmington, DE 19801. Members of the Justinian Society are engaged in activities directed toward maintaining the honor and dignity of the legal profession and administering justice by promoting the study of law and the advancement of qualified persons of Italian American heritage in pursuit of public office and the legal profession.
Societa daVinci is dedicated to promoting the positive aspects of Italian American heritage while helping families in need, providing educational grants, and supporting cultural events and institutions in the community. For more information, call 302-472-9900 or email [email protected].
Chadds Ford residents among Barron Prize honorees for innovation Rohan Kapoor and Jack Reichert, both 18 of Chadds Ford, have been named finalists of the 2024 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Each year, the Barron Prize celebrates 25 inspiring young leaders — 15 top winners and 10 finalists — who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. This year’s Barron Prize finalists are an outstanding group of young heroes chosen from nearly 500 applicants across the U.
S. and Canada, according to a press release. Rohan and Jack, both graduates of Unionville High School, developed the Go Green filter, a novel solution to reduce vehicles’ carbon emissions through a filter clamped inside the exhaust pipe.
Their system uses microalgae to turn emissions into oxygen instead of harmful carbon dioxide. The filter costs just $50 and in repeated testing, reduces emissions by more than 74%. The young men estimate that if all cars utilized their system, it would reduce the world’s carbon emissions by over 16%.
Inspired by the work of an MIT professor, Rohan and Jack acquired algae from a local botanist and 3D printed a filter to fit an exhaust pipe. They worked for nearly a year through multiple challenges to refine their design. Numerous car manufacturers have approved their most recent iteration and the boys have begun distributing their filters in developing countries.
They are also in discussions with the United State Environmental Protection Agency. The two inventors hope that in the future, manufacturers will be required to include their filter in every car made. “We’ve learned that when people see passion and a relentless attitude, they’re willing to help others through unforeseen obstacles,” Rohan and Jack said through a released statement.
“Through it all, you only survive by being able to adapt and by having a strong conviction that what you’re producing will work.” Jack is now a freshman at Dartmouth College and Rohan is now a freshman at University of Pennsylvania. The Barron Prize was founded in 2001 by author T.
A. Barron and named for his mother, Gloria Barron. Since then, the prize has honored 600 young people who reflect the great diversity of America.
All of them demonstrate heroic qualities like courage, compassion, and perseverance as they work to help their communities or protect the planet. “Nothing is more inspiring than stories about heroic people who have truly made a difference to the world,” says T. A.
Barron. “And we need our heroes today more than ever. Not celebrities, but heroes, people whose character can inspire us all.
That is the purpose of the Barron Prize: to shine the spotlight on these amazing young people so that their stories will inspire others.” For more information, visit www.barronprize.
org. St. Stephen’s to hold gift card bingo at Milmont firehouse St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Norwood, will hold gift card bingo at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
16 at Milmont Fire Company Hall, 714 Belmont Ave., Folsom. Doors will open at 6 p.
m. The bingo will feature 10 rounds, plus 50/50s, door prizes and many raffles. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door, if available.
To make payment, use Venmo @StStephensNorwood. For information, or to arrange cash payment in person, email sstephen02@gmail or call 610-461-0490. Readers can send typed community news press releases and related photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.
com..
