Below are a variety of items about upcoming events and other news notes on the campus of Youngstown State University.

• YSU program in physical therapy re-accredited
• Free arts classes at SMARTS begin in January
• Fraternity’s benefit basketball game set for Jan. 22
• Alumni Association hosts pre-game dinner Jan. 22
• YSU hosts National Ocean Sciences Bowl contest
• Summer Festival of the Arts will be July 9 and 10
• College Tech Prep presents Parents Info Breakfast

Calendar
Tuesday, Jan. 11, noon, “To Live, to Laugh, to Love,” part of the Lunch & Learn at the Library series, will be conducted at the Main Library, 305 Wick Ave. Sponsored by the YSU English Department, the presentation features Azaad Khaira, a certified laughter leader, who will teach laughter exercise, breathing and stretching techniques.

YSU program in physical therapy re-accredited
     The master’s program in physical therapy at Youngstown State University has been granted a 10-year re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
     “This is quite an accomplishment for our program and is the result of much hard work over several months by many people in the department,” said Suzanne Giuffre, interim chair of the physical therapy department.
     Marleen McClelland, associate professor who was department chair during the accreditation process, along with other physical therapy faculty members, spent several months preparing a 100-page document along with supporting documentation as part of the accreditation process. Three reviewers from CAPTE visited the department in April. The commission granted accreditation through 2014.
     YSU's master’s in physical therapy is a three-year program that accepts students during their fourth year of undergraduate work. Currently, the department has six faculty members and 31 students.
     Graduates of the program pass the national licensure exam the first time at a higher percentage than the national and state averages.

Free arts classes at SMARTS begin in January
     Applications for free arts education classes conducted by SMARTS for students residing in Youngstown are being accepted for spring session, which begins in late January.
     Previous classes at SMARTS have included visual arts, dance, writing, costume and set design, playwriting and theater. Classes are created based on student interest and are offered to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
     All classes will be at the SMARTS Center, 258 Federal Plaza West, in downtown Youngstown. SMARTS teaching artists include Youngstown State University faculty, art, music, and education students and community and visiting artists.
     SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts) is an arts education program of YSU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts and the Beeghly College of Education.
     SMARTS will also continue its free SMARTS RHYTHMS Community Drum Circle sessions on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. at the SMARTS Center beginning Jan. 19.
     Reservations are not required and drummers of all ages and abilities are welcomed.
     For an application for the arts session or to get more information about SMARTS programs, call 330-941-ARTS or visit the SMARTS website at www.fpa.ysu.edu.

Fraternity’s benefit basketball game set for Jan. 22
     On Saturday, Jan. 22, prior to Youngstown State University’s men’s basketball game, Phi Kappa Tau fraternity will stage the Game of Hope, benefiting the Children’s Museum of the Valley and actor Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang.
     “This is an excellent way for our fraternity to be involved with both our national philanthropy and a local philanthropy as well,” Game of Hope chairman Tony Spano said. “This will be a fun night as many area notables have agreed to take part.”
     The game will pit current members of Phi Kappa Tau against a team of area All-Stars. Former Penguin head basketball coach Dom Rosselli (the all-time winningest coach in Penguin cage history) and former women’s head hoop mentor Ed DiGregorio (the all-time winningest coach in Lady Penguin cage history) will serve as guest coaches.
     Area notables already committed to play or attend for the All-Stars include Maureen Midgley, general manager of the GM Lordstown Complex; Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at GM Lordstown; State Sen. Marc Dann; radio personalities Jerry Mac and Mark Martin of Clear Channel’s 95.9 KISS-FM and Big 106.1 FM, respectively; Ron Strollo, YSU executive director of intercollegiate athletics; John Reardon, Mahoning County treasurer; and Anthony Vivo, Mahoning County clerk of courts.
     The game will tip-off at 4:30 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.). Cost of the tickets is $6 with a $3 donation made to the Game of Hope philanthropy. For more information, call 330-728-2669, or visit www.thegameofhope.com
     Corporate sponsors include 27 First News and Fox 17/62, YSU Athletics, 95.9 KISS-FM and the Youngstown Fire Department.

Alumni Relations hosts pre-game dinner Jan. 22
     Youngstown State University alumni and their guests are invited to attend an Alumni Pre-Game Dinner at Beeghly Center at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22.
     The YSU men’s basketball team will play Cleveland State University at 7 p.m. Tickets for the picnic-style dinner and the game are $5. Reservations are required and must be made by Jan. 14. Reservations may be made by contacting the YSU Alumni Relations Office at 330-941-1591.

YSU hosts National Ocean Sciences Bowl contest
    High school teams continue to be formed for the 3rd Annual Penguin Bowl at Youngstown State University on Saturday, Feb. 26.
     The Penguin Bowl, a regional competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, is an academic tournament competition for high school students on topics related to the study of the oceans and the Great Lakes.
     High schools, or other groups of high school-grade students, organize teams of five students (four players and one alternate) and a coach. Registration, which must be completed online at www.nosb.org, is limited to 16 teams, and only one team per school can register prior to Jan. 26.
     The NOSB, managed by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, was first conducted in 1998 in honor of the International Year of the Ocean.
     The first-place winners from the Penguin Bowl and 23 other regional competitions will meet April 22 to 25 in Biloxi, Miss., for the national championship. The NOSB pays for round-trip transportation and room and board.
     Every student will receive prizes for competing, with the top four teams winning significant prizes. Past prizes include cruises on research vessels, visits to oceanographic institutions and aquaria, scholarships and scientific equipment and books.
If any slots remain open on Jan. 26, schools may register a second team.
     For more information, contact Ray Beiersdorfer, YSU professor of geological and environmental studies and NOSB Penguin Bowl coordinator, at 330-941-1753 or rebeiersdorfer@ysu.edu.

Summer Festival of the Arts will be July 9 and 10
     The 2005 Summer Festival of the Arts dates have been set by Youngstown State University, the Arts Council of Youngstown and Mahoning County and Wick Neighbors Inc., event presenters.
     The festival, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, on the YSU campus, showcases local, regional and national artists as well as performances, children’s activities and an ethnic festival.
     “The Summer Festival of the Arts continues to be a major summer event highlighting the region's diversity of arts and culture. Announcing the dates early allows for more participation and planning.”
     For more information, contact Lori Factor, event coordinator, at 330-941-2307 or lafactor@ysu.edu.

College Tech Prep presents Parents Info Breakfast
     The deadline is Jan. 19 to make reservations for the College Tech Prep Parents Information Breakfast, which will be 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 in Youngstown State University’s Kilcawley Center.
     Parents who attend will learn about College Tech Prep, a program that combines college prep academic courses and advanced technical training for high school students. Students can earn up to 14 semester hours of free YSU college credit. The program currently offers advanced technical training in business, construction, engineering, health and information technology (computers).
     Reservations are required. Call 330-941-2331 to make reservation or for more information.

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