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

Calendar
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. YSU marks the swearing–in of President Barack Obama with an Inaugural Celebration in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center .

Wednesday, Jan. 21, noon. Guitarist Francois Fowler performs a free Music at Noon concert in the Butler Institute of American Art. Free.

Thursday, Jan. 22, 8 a.m. The annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Breakfast will be in the Chestnut Room of YSU’s Kilcawley Center. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr., one of the nation’s most influential religious leaders. For more information, call 330–941–2086.

Thursday, Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m. News conference at the Radisson Hotel in West Middlesex, Pa., to announce YSU's Western Pennsylvania Advantage, a tuition reduction plan making YSU more accessible and affordable to residents of Western Pennsylvania. For more information, call 330–941–3285.

Thursday, Jan. 22 to Sunday, Jan. 25. University Theater’s Blackbox Productions stages the comedy, Almost, Maine in Bliss Hall’s Spotlight Arena Theater on the campus of YSU. See News Brief below.

Friday, Jan. 23, 9 p.m. ESPNU’s Friday Night College Basketball Game of the Week comes to YSU Friday, Jan. 23 as the Penguins take on in–state rival Cleveland State. See News Brief below.

Saturday, Jan. 24, 4 p.m. The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and Accent Media present the 5th Annual Game of Hope Charity Classic in YSU’s Beeghly Center. For more information, visit www.thegameofhope.com. 

Beeghly hosts first–ever ESPN national broadcast
ESPNU’s Friday Night College Basketball Game of the Week comes to Youngstown State University Friday, Jan. 23 as the Penguins take on in–state rival Cleveland State.

The game, which tips off at 9 p.m., marks the first–ever live ESPN broadcast from YSU’s Beeghly Center.

“It is an honor for our basketball team to play before a worldwide audience on ESPNU against our in–state rival,” Penguins head coach Jerry Slocum said. “We hope our fans, students, alumni, faculty and staff come out to support this great opportunity for our campus and our student athletes.” 

The first 2,500 fans at the game will receive a YSU pom–pom courtesy of Wendy’s and MyValleySports.com. The first 750 YSU students will receive a Penguin ‘White Out’ t–shirt. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.

Also, the university is offering special $2 general admission tickets to all YSU faculty and staff. Tickets must be purchased before 5 p.m. on game day.

“We need you in attendance at Beeghly Center,” Slocum said. “Please take advantage of the special ticket price and ‘White Out’ our arena.”

The athletic ticket office in Stambaugh Stadium is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about tickets and the game, call 330–941–1YSU.

Gates open at 8 p.m. at Beeghly Center.

The game marks the 70^th meeting all–time between YSU and Cleveland State. In a series that dates back to the 1930–31 season, YSU leads 35–34.

University Theater presents comedy Almost, Maine

University Theater’s Blackbox Productions will stage John Cariani’s comedy, Almost, Maine Jan. 22 to 25 in Bliss Hall’s Spotlight Arena Theater on the campus of YSU.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee performance is at 3 p.m. All seats in Spotlight Arena Theater are general admission, and patrons are encouraged to make reservations early.

Almost, Maine is set on a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter where all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star–filled sky above, Almost''s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. ﾠHearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend — almost — in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. 

The production is directed by Joel Stigliano, senior theater major from Youngstown, with cast members including Nathan Beagle of Howland, Roxanne Hauldren of Weirton, W.V., Shawna Jones of Beloit, and Patrick McGuire of Erie, Pa.

A Portion of the Proceeds from the Sunday matinee performance will go to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Alpha Psi Omega team for the Relay for Life.

Tickets may be reserved by calling the University Theater Box Office at 330–941–3105. Ticket price for the general public is $5 with $3 discount tickets available for all students (including YSU), senior citizens, and Penguin Club members. Season Ticket coupons will be honored. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue parking deck Thursday through Saturday for a nominal fee, and on Sunday parking will be available at no charge in the parking lot next to the former Wick Pollock Inn.

YSU SBDC announces seminars for first quarter
Ohio Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University announces the following training sessions:

January
Monday, Jan. 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., “Business Start–Up Basics” ($10 Fee) (Location: YSU Metro College).

February
Monday, Feb. 2, 9 a.m. to noon, “Business Start–Up Basics” ($10 Fee) (Location: YSU Metro College).

Monday, Feb. 16, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., “Business Start–Up Basics” ($10 Fee) (Location: YSU Metro College).

March
Monday, March 2, 9 a.m. to noon, “Business Start–Up Basics” ($10 Fee) (Location: YSU Metro College).

Monday, March 16, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., “Business Start–Up Basics” ($10 Fee) (Location: YSU Metro College).

To register, call 330–941–2140 or e–mail rsulik@ysu.edu.

The YSU Metro College is located at Southwoods Commons, 100 DeBartolo Place, Youngstown, OH 44512.

YSU notes Financial Aid Awareness Week
In observance of Financial Aid Awareness Week, members of the Youngstown State University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will distribute forms and answer questions about grants, scholarships and loans for students interested in filing for financial aid during the 2009–10 academic year. 

Staff members will be available Jan. 26 to 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first floor of Kilcawley Center, across from Home Savings and Loan.

The priority deadline date to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web and the Institutional Aid Application is Feb.15, 2009. Students may apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov to receive financial aid award offers.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is located in Room 203, Meshel Hall. For more information, visit the financial aid Web site at www.ysu.edu/finaid or call 330–941–3505 or 330–941–3506.

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