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

• Student exhibit features prints from vintage negatives
• New University Scholars class presented this week
• Harris, Yiannaki receive YSU Heritage Award
• Neighborhood reporting topic of forum with Times reporter
• Jambar reporters win SCJ writing awards
• Summer Honors Institute set for June 21 to 25 at YSU
• 'Pay It Forward' grants to be awarded
• Business start–up seminars announced
• WYSU fundraising sets record again

Calendar
Tuesday, May 4, 12:20 p.m. Forty outstanding graduating high school students, including 22 valedictorians, will be honored as the new class of Leslie H. Cochran University Scholars at YSU. The event takes place in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center.

Wednesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated in the DeBartolo Stadium Club at YSU's Stambaugh Stadium. The event will include fun, song and dance. The menu will be coordinated by the YSU Latin Student Organization. For more information call 330–941–2086.

Wednesday, May 5, 4 p.m. The YSU Board of Trustees Executive Committee meets in the President's Conference Room on the second floor of Tod Hall.

Friday, May 7. The 29^th annual Employee Recognition Awards Dinner will be in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center. The Reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. See News Brief below for more information.

Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, 8 p.m. The YSU Ward Beecher Planetarium presents "Two Small Pieces of Glass." The planetarium also presents "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" on Saturday, May 8, 1 and 2:30 p.m. Free.

Student exhibit features prints from vintage negatives

"Making Memories — Prints from Youngstown Photographer John Douglas Megown," an exhibit of prints produced by Youngstown State University photography students, opens Saturday, May 8, at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's Arms Family Museum on Wick Avenue in Youngstown.

A preview of the exhibit will be 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 7 at the museum. To attend the preview, RSVP by May 5 to 330–743–2589 or Irich@mahoninghistory.org.

The 28 prints in the exhibit were printed from glass plate negatives made by Youngstown photographer John Megown between 1908 and 1920, and are a selection from the more than 300 glass plates students printed as part of a special topics course in printing vintage negatives this spring semester.

"The class is an opportunity for students to learn how to work with primary source material, and put a direct face on the history of photography in Youngstown," said Richard Mitchell, professor emeritus. "The work in this class will contribute to our community by making study prints where none exist for researchers, and giving photography students a direct experience with the history of photographic negatives, and the cameras that made them."

The John Douglas Megown Collection of glass plate negatives is owned by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. Megown was a local professional photographer. Entries in the Youngstown City Directories indicate that John D. Megown was a machinist prior to taking up photography. MegownÕs subject matter ranges from commercial to private clients, and his work affords an opportunity to view Youngstown in the first two decades of the 20th century.

For more information on the exhibit, call 330–743–2589.

Since the early 1980's, YSU photography students have worked with MVHS resources. "This has not only forwarded the work of the MVHS, but has also enriched the educational experience of our students with the opportunity to work with primary resource material, print from vintage negatives made by local photographers, and work with historic photographic materials," Mitchell said.

"The goal has been to connect global history to local history as we view it through the impact of photography on society," he said. "It is a good example of YSU's continuing connection to the community and engaging our students in that process."

New University Scholars class presented this week
Forty outstanding graduating high school students, including 22 valedictorians, will be honored Tuesday, May 4 as the new class of Leslie H. Cochran University Scholars at Youngstown State University.

The University Scholars award, now in its 18^th year, is YSU's most prestigious academic scholarship and includes full tuition, room and board, and a $360 book voucher. The scholarship is renewable for four years as long as students maintain annual program requirements of 60 hours of volunteerism, a 3.5 grade point average, active participation in the University Honors Program and completion of extracurricular activities.

Scholar Day, which starts at 9 a.m., consists of an orientation to the Scholars program and

university, advisement and registration. The new class of scholars will be officially presented to YSU Provost Ikram Khawaja at a luncheon at 12:20 p.m. in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center.

For more information, visit www.ysu.edu/honors or call 330–941–2772.

Harris, Yiannaki receive YSU Heritage Award
Two distinguished former employees of Youngstown State University – Professor Emeritus Ann Harris and Administrator Emeritus Harold Yiannaki – will receive the Heritage Award at YSU's Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner on Friday, May 7, in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center on campus.

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.

The Awards Dinner will also honor retirees, Distinguished Service Award recipients and employees who have completed milestone years of service. For a full list of award recipients, visit http://cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/hr/employee–recognition–2010.htm.

The Heritage Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed upon former faculty and administrative staff who have made outstanding contributions to the university. Nominees are screened by a 16–person committee comprised of alumni, faculty, staff and YSU Retiree Association representatives. Award recipients are honored with plaques mounted on the wall of the concourse of Maag Library.

Harris joined YSU's Department of Geology as an adjunct instructor in 1961 and advanced through the ranks over the years to a full professorship. Since retiring in 2000, she has continued as professor emeritus. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1956 from Kent State University and two years later a Master of Science in Geology from Miami University, Ohio. Since 1977, she has served as a professional consultant to many engineering firms as well as to local, state, and federal officials in the areas of abandoned deep coal mine stabilization in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. In 1978, Harris received a YSU Distinguished Professorship, and she received the Women of the Year Award for Public Service from the YWCA of Youngstown. In 1981, she was awarded the Jefferson Award by the American Institute of Public Service. She is an expert on the geology of national parks as evidenced in her book "Geology National Parks," which has been used as a text for courses at many colleges and is sold in many of the national parks.

Yiannaki served YSU in various capacities from 1969 until he retired in 2002, including an Administration Specialist, Admissions Counselor, Assistant Director of the Admissions Office, Director of Admissions, Registrar, Director of Enrollment Services, Executive Director of Campus 2000, part–time instructor, and the Executive Director of External Relations. His degrees include Ed.D. (1984) and M.A. Ed. (1972) from the University of Akron. After his retirement in 2002, the YSU Board of Trustees conferred upon him the title Administrator Emeritus.

Neighborhood reporting topic of forum with Times reporter
An open forum on neighborhood reporting with New York Times reporter David Gonzalez and local journalists is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 10 in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Gonzalez, whose work has documented the lives and challenges of people living in some of New York's most diverse neighborhoods, is also the keynote speaker at YSU's annual Press Day May 10 in Kilcawley Center.

Press Day, sponsored by the YSU journalism program with support from the English Department, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, The New York Times, The Vindicator and The Tribune Chronicle, is an annual event for area high school students interested in journalism or journalism–related disciplines. About 500 students come to campus for workshops related to journalism, reporting and story–telling.

For more information about Press Day, visit www.ysu.edu/journalism/pressday.

Gonzalez came to the New York Times from Newsweek magazine in 1990. At the Times, he has been the Bronx Bureau Chief, "About New York" columnist and the Central America/Caribbean Bureau Chief. Most recently, he wrote the biweekly "Citywide" feature column, as well as having published a year–long look at the life of an undocumented family in New York.

Gonzalez received a 2008 Distinguished Writing Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors for "House Afire," a three–part series on the life of a struggling Pentecostal storefront church. He also was awarded Columbia University¹s Mike Berger Award in May 1992, for his coverage of New York and its neighborhoods.

The Monday evening forum is sponsored by the YSU Center for Working–Class Studies, the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, The New York Times, The Raymond John Wean Foundation and YSU's journalism program.

For more information, contact Alyssa Lenhoff at ajlenhoff@ysu.edu or call 330–402–1016

Jambar reporters win SCJ writing awards
Youngstown State University student Josh Stipanovich of Austintown, who will be the editor–in–chief of YSU's student newspaper, The Jambar, next academic year, won a first place reporting prize in the Society of Collegiate Journalist's 2010 Biennial Convention.

Stipanovich took top honors in the in the Newspaper Sports News category for his story headlined "Club with a New Coach" published in September 2009.

He was among members of the YSU chapter of the Society of Collegiate Journalists who traveled to North Carolina State University in Raleigh for the convention.

Judges included representatives from the Associated Press, The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, and Yahoo Sports.

Stipanovich, elected vice president of YSU''s chapter of SCJ, also placed second in the Spot or Hard News category for "A New Era," his spot coverage of the inauguration of President Obama.

Other Jambar winners included:

• News Stories: Honorable Mention: Senior Chelsea Pflugh of Pittsburgh, "Textbook Cover–up."
• Editorials: 3rd Place: "Freedom of Speech" 2/5/09.
• Graphic Illustration: Honorable Mention: Senior Adam Rogers of Brookfield, 11/3/09.
• Front Page Layout: Honorable Mention: Adam Rogers of Brookfield, 2/26/09.

The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation's oldest organization designed solely to serve college journalists. In 1998, Dale Harrison chartered YSU's original SCJ, but the chapter went defunct a few years later. Reactivating in 2006 with nine new members, the chapter currently serves 19 active members.

Summer Honors Institute set for June 21 to 25 at YSU

The Summer Honors Institute, a program designed to provide gifted and talented high school students hands–on learning experiences with university faculty, will be June 21 to 25 on the Youngstown State University campus.

The program, previously funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Education, will be funded entirely by YSU with the cooperation and support of YSU Provost Ikram Khawaja, Vice President of Student Affairs Cynthia Anderson, deans and the director of the University Scholars & Honors Program.  

"Again this year, the Institute would not be possible without the enthusiasm of the Summer Honors faculty and staff," said Amy Cossentino, director of the YSU Institute. "They have demonstrated their commitment to offer an Institute within the parameters of a greatly reduced budget."

Students attend classes taught by YSU faculty on a variety of topics, including Entrepreneurship, Rapid Prototyping, Crime Scene Analysis, Potato Cannon, Healthcare, Robotics, Astronomy and Documentary Filmmaking.  New courses this year include International Business, Geocaching, Model United Nations, Visual Art, Creative Writing and Rowling with the Bagshot, for all of those Harry Potter fans.

Students spend Monday through Thursday immersed in two classes, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. On Friday, students will participate in learning activities in the morning, have a catered lunch, which will then be followed by presentations demonstrating what they learned in their courses.

To be eligible, a student must be an Ohio resident and formally identified as gifted and talented.  Students who have completed 10th and 11th grade in June 2010 are eligible to apply. There is a $25 (nonrefundable) application/processing fee. The Institute is non–residential.  Parking is available in university lots at a cost of $5 per day for students. Students may bring or buy their lunches Monday through Thursday. Lunch will be provided to the participants on Friday. Application packets and course descriptions are available at www.ysu.edu/honors/summer.

Application deadline is May 6.

Donations can be made to help fund future Summer Honors Institutes by contacting the Youngstown State University Development Office at 330–941–3119. For more information, contact Cossentino at alcossentino@ysu.edu or Program Assistant Sharyn Fees at sefees@ysu.edu.

'Pay It Forward' grants to be awarded
The Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Youngstown State University, housed in the Williamson College of Business Administration, received $15,500 in grant funding from the Ohio Campus Compact to participate in the "Pay It Forward: Strengthening Communities through Student–Led Philanthropy Initiative."

Students in three courses – Basic Public Relations, Nonprofit Leadership, and Nonprofit Community Service – each had $4,500 to award to regional nonprofit organizations, for a combined total of $13,500.

Students will be awarding the grants at an Award Ceremony 4 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center at YSU. Nonprofit organizations receiving awards are:

• Inspiring Minds of Warren ($4,500)
• Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County ($2,250)
• Etruscan Press of Youngstown ($2,250)
• McDonald Local Schools, Roosevelt Elementary second grade ($,4500)

The students focused funding decisions on programs and projects that fit into one of seven categories: Addiction, Domestic Violence, Education, Employment, Hunger, Marketing/PR, and Youth Development.

The "Pay It Forward" grant for student philanthropy helps students learn how to be engaged citizens and to understand the important role philanthropy plays in the health of local communities.

The program is made possible through the effort of Ohio Campus Compact, in partnership with Kentucky Campus Compact and Michigan Campus Compact. Funding for "Pay It Forward" is made possible through the Corporation for National and Community Service (Learn and Serve America Higher Education) and Ohio Campus Compact.

This project continues to engage YSU business majors and nonprofit leadership students in professional development opportunities with the nonprofit community. The Center for Nonprofit Leadership offers a certificate and a minor in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, which can be combined with any major on campus.

For more information on the "Pay it Forward" grant funding or the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, contact Laura McCaskey at 330–941–1870 or LJMcCaskey@ysu.edu.

Business start–up seminars announced
The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University presents "Business Start–Up Basics" seminars through August at the YSU Metro College in Southwoods Commons in Boardman.

The seminars are for anyone interested in entrepreneurship who has never owned a business. The seminar is a prerequisite for those requiring initial and ongoing business counseling support and assistance from the Ohio SBDC at YSU. Major topics include licensing, organizational structure, business planning, funding sources, qualifying for financing and discussions of business management issues.

The fee is $10. The schedule is subject to change. To register, call 330–941–2140 or e–mail rsulik@ysu.edu.

All seminars are at the YSU Metro College located in Southwoods Commons in Boardman.                               

• Monday, May 3, 9 a.m. to noon, Room 238.
• Monday, May 17, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Room 237.
• Monday, June 7, 9 a.m. to noon, Room 238.
• Monday, June 21, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Room 238.
• Monday, July 19, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Room 238.
• Monday, Aug. 16, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Room 238. 

WYSU fundraising sets record again

WYSU–FM raised a record $106,907 during its recently completed 40th Anniversary Spring Pledge Drive. More than 1,140 contributed, including 161 new members.

"I know fund drive week is a challenge for everyone, staff and listeners both, but we do our best to make it light, fun and interesting...and successful," WYSU Director Gary Sexton said. "Thanks to everyone who contributed in any way: members, volunteers, corporate donors, students, and staff."

Ed Goist, WYSU development officer, added: "We continue to be thankful for, and inspired by the exceptional generosity of our listeners, volunteers and sponsors. They always seem to come through for us."

The week–long fund drive featured giveaways and other incentives and challenges, including daily prize packages, a new member prize basket, and a Pennsylvania member prize package. All of the prize packages included new HD radios.?? Listener Kim Jenkins of Hubbard, won the grand prize, a trip for two to Ireland.? ?Corporate and foundation support for the drive was provided by Go Ahead Tours, Internet Data Management Inc., Park Vista Retirement Community, The Youngstown Foundation, The Dr. Vikram and Urmi Raval Charitable Gift Fund, The Pamily H. Proctor Charitable Foundation, and from The Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation, all of which provided matches during pledge periods.??

For more information, contact Goist at 330–941–3364 or at development@wysu.org