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Behrend Reacts: What would you like to see win Best Picture at the Oscars and why?

Published on February 27, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Gather your snacks, pop some corn, and find a comfy seat on the couch for the 86^th Academy Awards on Sunday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Best Picture category looks to be a three-horse race between Gravity, 12 Years a Slave, and American Hustle. Other nominees include: Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

We asked students which movie they thought should win:

Kara Drapcho, sophomore, Nutrition: “I would say American Hustle because it was funny, action-packed, and had a little bit of everything.”

Jim Shaver, freshman, Math Education: “American Hustle because out of all the nominees, that’s the one I’ve heard the most about.”

Charissa Ford, freshman, Finance: “Out of all of the nominees, I’ve heard the most about Gravity, but if I could choose one to watch, I’d probably choose 12 Years a Slave.”

Tina Rexhepi, freshman, Nursing: “I haven’t seen Wolf of Wall Street, but I’ve heard people comment on how good it is.”

Jeffrey Memnon, junior, Finance: “Wolf of Wall Street because it’s based on a true story and based on financial stuff, which is fun and interesting.”

Rebekah Protulipac, freshman, Biology: “Wolf of Wall Street because it depicted Wall Street pretty accurately.”

Rayna Ganabathi, sophomore, Communication: “It’s really tough because I really loved 12 Years a Slave and Wolf of Wall Street. I would be happy with anything but American Hustle. I just was not impressed with it.”

Mina Makar, senior, Mechanical Engineering: “I would say Her because it’s so genuine.”

Tyler Marweg, sophomore, International Business and Economics: “Wolf of Wall Street because it always had me on the edge of my seat, and it provided insight on what Wall Street is really like.”

Austin Martini, sophomore, History: “Wolf of Wall Street because it was the best bro-Bible movie ever.”

Casey Labuda, freshman, Nursing: “Wolf of Wall Street because Leonardo DiCaprio is hot.”

Behrend Reacts is a regular Thursday feature at the Behrend Blog that tries to get the campus pulse on a current topic, whether it’s serious or trivial. If you have a question to suggest for Behrend Reacts, please email Steve Orbanek at sco10@psu.edu.

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Cross country ski trail emerges on Behrend campus

Published on February 26, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year, so it looks like there are a few more weeks of winter left.

But why waste time complaining about it? Dr. Chris Coulston certainly isn’t.

Coulston, associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Penn State Behrend, has always been an avid runner and cyclist but he decided to try his hand at cross country skiing this winter. He had the perfect training grounds: the campus of Penn State Behrend.

Coulston decided to make use of the wooded area and fields that stretch from the Erie parking lot to Logan House. He developed a one-mile, looped ski trail, which he now frequents on snowy afternoons.

I caught up with Coulston to ask him a few questions:

Steve: When did you start skiing?

Chris: The impetus for taking up cross country skiing was being a member of Team Behrend for the Highmark Quad Games. In mid-December, I realized that I’m going to have to ski the Quad, and the original date was the second week of January. I thought, “I have to pick this up and figure this out.” That was an important consideration for where this loop came from because I needed something flat and easy to practice on. I put the skis on for the first time in the parking lot down by the tennis courts, and I fell over a lot. It was pretty awkward the first couple of times, but you just watch YouTube videos to see what other people are doing.

Steve: How was the Quad Ski?

Chris: It was my first time competing, and I would say that I didn’t embarrass myself. There were some very talented skiers out there who obviously mastered the technique much better than I have, so I still have a long way to go. Aerobically, it was very challenging. There’s a skill level to it that running doesn’t really require.

Steve: Why do you enjoy skiing?

Chris: When I look at training, I see it in two parts: the engine and the drive train. Cross country skiing is very good for my engine training. It’s not going to hurt the drive train portion of my training, but it’s not exercising muscles that I’ll use in running or biking. That’s actually a good thing because I won’t beat them up in the early part of the season. I enjoy skiing as a form of healthy living and as a thing that helps me to embrace the winter months. It’s lemonade out of lemons. It’s nice to take the weather that you have and do something that you can’t do in Texas or Utah.

Steve: How did you come up with this one-mile course?

Chris: I do a lot of training, which I define as exercise with a goal in mind. Right now, I’m training for a 50-mile run in June, so I exercise every day, and I need to make it convenient. I need low overhead, and that means a location that’s easy to get to. For cross country skiing, it’s nice to have wide-open, flat spaces to learn, and our playing field fit the bill perfectly. I have a GPS watch to measure performance, including distance, and I used that to measure the course.

Steve: How many loops do you usually do?

Chris: As an athlete, I typically measure workouts in terms of time and intensity more than distance. It usually takes me fifteen minutes for a loop, and I typically do an hour. That’s at a moderate effort level. Twelve minutes is fast while twenty minutes is pretty casual.

Steve: Has the course caught on at all around campus?

Chris: I met a staff member down there from the School of Science, and we did the loop together. I’ve advertised it on Facebook, and I’ve seen other local athletes going out there and using the trails. The nice thing with cross country skiing is that the course gets better after frequent use. I say the more people that join the party, the better.

Steve: Why would you encourage students and staff to take advantage of this opportunity?

Chris: It’s pretty unique. People typically ski on golf courses or go to Wilderness Lodge. But you have this really nice resource right here, and it’s just cool to get outside because we’re stuck inside all day. It’s an interesting terrain. You get to see the lake at one point, you get to see trees, fields, and it’s quiet. It’s a quick, smallish loop, and I’m pretty pleased with it.

Thinking of cross country skiing? Here are some videos that can help you get started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_HihVl7QKw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRjFcZRNR1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnJvNatohdM

“Hip-hop violinist” Damien Escobar impresses audience at Behrend

Published on February 25, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend Blog1 Comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

The pairing of a violin and hip-hop music may seem unconventional, but not for Damien Escobar. After all, it’s all he knows.

“As a kid, I was married to (Johann Sebastian) Bach and Dr. Dre,” Escobar said with a smile.

Escobar, who is appropriately known as the “hip-hop violinist,” put his talents on display Wednesday, February 19, as he played a lunchtime concert at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, as part of the college’s Rhythms of Life series. The series, which began in September 2002 and is sponsored by the college’s Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, promotes cultural awareness on campus.

“I have always felt that the series is very important for the college, not only in regard to promoting diversity, but it enhances the atmosphere and livens up things,” said Andy Herrera, director of the Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs.

Escobar certainly did his part to help liven up things Wednesday. Spectators quickly took notice of the austere sounds of a bow on strings combined with the booming volume of hip-hop beats.

One female student turned to her friend and said, “I really like this,” and they both then proceeded to take a seat at Bruno’s Café, where the concert was being held. Other students and staff members quickly followed suit.

According to Escobar, this ability to draw listeners in is not by accident. Escobar, who was the youngest student at The Juilliard School in New York City when he was accepted at age 9, said he’s always been able to create great music.

Even as a young child, the Jamaica Queens, NY, native could seamlessly merge musical styles in a way that was enjoyable to the ears.

“This is just what would come out,” said Escobar. “I just have a deep understanding of how to put the two genres together in a way that makes sense.”

Escobar is not the only one in his family with musical talent. His brother, Tourie, also specializes in combining the sounds of the violin and hip-hop.

The two blended the styles together from 2004 to 2012 as the musical duo Nuttin’ But Strings. Since then, Escobar has decided to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, “I Am Me,” is scheduled to be released sometime in 2014.

Escobar promises to have an album ranked in the Top 40 within the next year. He said he knows his sound is unique compared to everything else that’s currently popular, but he believes that’s what makes it so strong.

His sound is different by design, and that’s also the advice that he gives to anyone else who might be interested in getting into the music industry.

“I can’t give people advice on how I did it, but I can say that they should identify what’s trending and do the exact opposite. It’s going to take a lot longer, but you’ll find your niche,” Escobar said.

He’s confident that he’s found his.

“There are a million rappers out there, but there’s only one Jay-Z,” Escobar said. “There are a million violinists out there, but there’s only one Damien Escobar.”

Behrend Reacts: What’s your idea of a perfect romance?

Published on February 13, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

It’s that time of year again. As the old saying goes, “Love is in the air.”

Valentine’s Day is this Friday, which means that plenty of flowers will be delivered, chocolates will be purchased, and five-star restaurants will be frequented. All of this is done for one thing: romance.

We asked Behrend students to explain their idea of a perfect romance. Here are the responses that we received:

Erica Nowak, sophomore, Communications: “Just spending time with another person you love.”

Patrick Nowak, senior, Accounting: “A nice dinner where you get to spend good, quality time together.”

Kalli Oberlander, junior, Creative Writing: “Finding a partner who complements you.”

Adam Correll, sophomore, Electrical Engineering: “Spending an evening with a loved one at home. Just cuddling means the world to me.”

Ronald Cox, freshman, Physics: “A faith-based relationship with mutual respect.”

Nicole King, sophomore, Mechanical Engineering: “A perfect romance would be someone who is very kind and considerate of others, funny, athletic, easy on the eyes, and creative.”

Danielle Hardy, freshman, Biology: “The person definitely has to be creative.”

Mike Rahe, freshman, Mechanical Engineering: “Getting together with someone you’ve been friends with for a long time.”

Summer Maas, freshman, Science: “Somebody who can make you laugh.”

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Behrend Beatlemania (Faculty and Staff share their favorites from the Fab Four)

Published on February 7, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend Blog1 Comment

By Heather Cass
Publications & Design Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show this Sunday, February 9, we thought it would be fun to ask faculty and staff members to tell us which Beatles tune is their favorite. Seems we’ve got a lot of Fab Four fans on campus. Here are their top choices:

“I’m torn between ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘In My Life.’” — Dr. Gabrielle Dietrich, lecturer in music/director of choral ensembles/artistic director of YPC of Erie (fit all that on a business card!)

“’Blackbird,’ hands-down! Hope springs eternal.” — Kelly Shrout, associate director of student affairs

“I have always loved the Beatles. It is hard to pick just one song as my favorite but if forced to I would have to say ‘All You Need is Love.’ I think the meaning behind the song held true in ’67 and is just as applicable today. It also happens to be the song my husband and I walked down the aisle to for the recessional after we took our vows. I’m also very partial to ‘Blackbird,’ ‘Across the Universe,’ and ‘I am the Walrus.’ — Dr. Heather Lum, research associate in psychology

“In My Life.” — Chris Fox, assistant director, clubs and organizations

“My favorite Beatles song is ‘Eleanor Rigby.’ I have always loved the lyrics line by line. However, if you piece them together the song can be depressing. I also love the intensity of the strings. Fun Fact: The Beatles don’t play any instruments on this song, as it is all strings.” — Mike Rutter, associate professor of statistics

“My favorites are ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Hey Jude.’ — Dr. Bruce Wittmershaus, associate professor of physics

“’Revolution.’ It’s an awesome message overall. Anytime a friends is feeling down, I’ll sing to the line, ‘Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right?’ — Kristen Comstock, assistant director of alumni relations

“’Let it Be.’ It reminds me of good times in high school.” — Dr. Robert Light, senior associate dean for research, and outreach & COO

“‘I Will’ is my favorite. It was our house lullaby for both of my sons.” — Mary Beth McCarthy, director, academic and career planning center.

“My favorite is ‘Let it Be.’ Why? It’s moving and offers timeless wisdom for navigating the complexities of life.” — Dr. Ralph Ford, director school of engineering, professor of electrical and computer engineering and associate dean for industry and external relations

“If I had to choose, it would be between two songs: ‘Let it Be,’ and the combination ‘Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End.’ Both songs resonate with me in their musical quality and their ability to make me introspective. I feel like I’m in a better state after listening to their music.” — Dr. Robert Weissbach, associate professor of engineering

“My favorite is ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flow),’ for no particular reason other than I like the way it sounds.” — Kris Motta Torok, director of student activities and Reed Union Building.

“’Here, There and Everywhere’ gets my vote!” — Dr. Sharon Dale, associate professor of art history

“My favorite Beatles song is ‘Let it Be.’ It reminds me of the value of being a support to those in need so they have less to worry about. Also, it reminds me to be grateful for all my blessings. — Dr. Kathleen Noce, senior lecturer in management information systems

“’Come Together.’ Very strange tune, but it sticks in the head.” — Dr. Al Warner, associate professor of management

“‘All my Lovin’’ and ‘Michelle.’ Why do I love ‘em? Memories of a time gone by!” — Dr. Carl Kallgren, director of CORE and associate professor of psychology

“I’m not a huge Beatles fan, but I’d have to say that my favorite tune of theirs is the ‘Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/TheEnd’ medley.” — Dr. Joseph Beilein, assistant professor of history

“‘Paperback Writer.’ It has one of the best guitar riffs of all-time.” — David Vegh, lecturer in theatre

“I think their songs are so timeless. As for my favorite, it depends on my mood and activity. When I’m feeling nostalgic, ‘In My Life’ and ‘Penny Lane’ are excellent choices. For an impromptu sing-a-long, you can’t get much better than ‘Hey Jude,’ which is why it has been covered so many times. I also really enjoy ‘Across the Universe.’” — Ian McGinnity, assistant director, civic engagement and The Smith Chapel

Your turn …

What’s your favorite Beatles tune? Post a comment below.

Behrend students hone interview skills at Business Blitz event

Published on February 6, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Jen Powell remembers the stress that goes hand-in-hand with the job interview process. The sweaty palms, the increased heart rate, the inability to concentrate—these symptoms are par for the course when preparing for a job interview.

“You never know what to expect in a job interview. Preparing for an interview can be very challenging,” said Powell, a 2008 Penn State Erie, The Behrend College graduate who now works as a financial analyst at FMC Technologies.

Powell hoped to help students better prepare for job interviews by volunteering her time Feb. 5 at Business Blitz, a speed networking event at Penn State Behrend.

The event, which was co-sponsored by Behrend’s Financial Management Association (FMA) and the Society of Undergraduate Economists (SUE), was held in McGarvey Commons and used a combination of Behrend students and alumni to simulate the job interview process. More than twenty alumni and sixty-five students registered for the event.

A Behrend alumnus sat at every table in the room, and students rotated from table to table every eight minutes. For the first ninety seconds of each session, the student would offer his or her elevator speech to the alumnus. The alumnus then offered feedback during the remaining time.

The event’s goal was to help students become more acclimated to the interview process and professional interaction.

“It’s important for students to know how to talk to professionals,” said FMA treasurer and junior finance major Brooke Landram. “Communication is so important.”

Artur Szastak has had difficulty in his job search, so he decided to participate in the Business Blitz to hone his interviewing skills.

“I feel you either make it or lose it in the first 60 seconds of talking to someone, and this can be good practice for that,” the senior finance major said. “When you come into an interview, it’s almost as if you’re being judged, and it takes you out of your comfort zone. That initial shock starts to wear away with the more experience you get.”

The trial interviews were just one part of the Business Blitz event.

Following the speed networking sessions, students stayed to network with the alumni in attendance. Alumni were also given a book that included the résumés of every student who participated in the event.

“You can make some great connections here in Erie,” said SUE president and senior business, economics, and marketing major Brittany Martinelli. “Hopefully this event continues for a long time.”

For more information on the Business Blitz event, please email Professor of Finance Dr. Greg Filbeck at mgf11@psu.edu.

Bill Nye the Science Guy draws large crowd at Penn State Behrend

Published on January 31, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Vee Butler was in search of a draw. She needed to find a speaker capable of filling the house.

“I just saw (Bill Nye’s) name and I thought, ‘What do ’90s kids like more than bonding with other ’90s kids about ’90s things?’ It seemed perfect,” said Butler, a junior arts administration major and executive director of the Lion Entertainment Board at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

A jam-packed, standing-room only crowd of almost 2,000 squeezed into Junker Center at Penn State Behrend Wednesday evening to watch Nye as part of the college’s Speaker Series. Nye hoped to inspire students to change the world, but it’s clear he’s already done his fair share of inspiring.

It’s been 15 years since a new episode of the PBS television show “Bill Nye the Science Guy” has been produced, but the effects of the show are still evident today.

Sophomore chemistry major Joshua Wilkins said Nye’s show actually inspired him to pursue a science degree. He was more than a little excited when he heard that Nye would be visiting Behrend.

“Ever since I found out he was coming, it’s been in the back of my mind,” Wilkins said. “It’s been a highlight of my year.”

Wilkins said “Bill Nye the Science Guy” is one of his most cherished memories from the sixth grade. He recalled struggling to get through science class, but things always became bearable once the teacher popped a “Bill Nye the Science Guy” tape in the VCR.

“He made science funny. We could all feel his enthusiasm, and he was always the guy we wanted to see because he took us away from the traditional classroom setting,” Wilkins said.

Junior project and supply chain management major Chad Muscarella agreed.

“From his television show to the experiments to the ride at Walt Disney World, I remember it all,” Muscarella said. “He was always making education fun.”

In its five-plus year run on PBS, “Bill Nye the Science Guy” won 18 Emmy Awards and continues to be used in classrooms for educational purposes. An attraction at Walt Disney World’s Future World at Epcot, Universe of Energy, is based on the program. Nye also has written five books under “The Science Guy” moniker.

Zany phrases, wacky experiments and quirky music were par for the course on “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” which is one reason Nye believes it continues to be successful.

“This is an extraordinary claim, and I do not have extraordinary proof of this, but there’s a lot of entertainment there,” Nye said. “The show was information-packed and fun to watch.”

However, even Nye is at a loss for words when he hears of how the show has inspired lives.

“I say all the time that I don’t think I get it,” Nye said. “People come to me and say, ‘You’re the reason I became an engineer. You’re the reason I’m a scientist,’ and I’m like, ‘What?’ It amazes me.”

Behrend student offers disaster relief in Philippines over winter break

Published on January 23, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

So how’d you spend your winter break?

Relaxing?

Traveling?

Catching up on some z’s?

Penn State Behrend senior nursing major Andres Morales opted to spend his break in a less conventional way.

Morales, along with his wife Katie, father-in-law, and another member of the Federated Church of East Springfield, made a trip to the Philippines this December to offer disaster relief to victims of Typhoon Haiyan and the earthquake that hit the island of Bohol.

Morales, a native of Costa Rica, had been searching for a way to help the relief efforts for some time, and he found his answer after he searched Google and discovered the nonprofit organization, All Hands Volunteers. Like the name implies, All Hands Volunteers is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization offers hands-on assistance to communities around the world.

Through All Hands Volunteers, Morales and his church group set up a relief trip to the island of Leyte in the Philippines. To make the trip, Morales had to give up part of his winter break, but it was an easy sacrifice.

“If they can’t have a nice holiday, then why should I?” Morales said.

The group arrived at Leyte on December 10. A total of 65 volunteers from all over the world joined Morales’ group, and they spent the majority of their time doing deconstruction work. They took down unsafe homes and also cleared out rubble and trees with chain saws.

Morales said the experience was humbling, and that was especially true after his group took a ride on top of a jeepney.

The jeepney, which is the most popular form of public transportation in the Philippines, took Morales to the area that had been most affected by the typhoon.

“Entire blocks were just flattened. You couldn’t recognize anything. You would go miles before seeing actual homes,” Morales said. “A lot of us just went speechless. It’s just hard to grasp because you think of the things back home, and then you see these people who lost everything.”

While the natives may have had next to nothing in the way of material possessions, Morales said they never hesitated to express their gratitude toward Morales and the other volunteers.

“Strangers would buy food for us during work time, and they didn’t have much,” Morales said. “All they could afford was a loaf of bread and a Coca-Cola. You didn’t want to accept it, but it meant everything to them.”

On December 20, Morales and his group then took two ferries to Bohol where they began to focus their relief efforts toward the 7.2 moment magnitude earthquake that had struck the island on October 15.

Once again, the group began to deconstruct homes and salvage materials.

On Christmas Day, Morales and his church group returned to the United States. Morales said the trip had a profound effect on him.

“On Sunday, I didn’t want to go out for an easy run,” said Morales, who is a member of Behrend’s track and field team. “But if the people from the Philippines can get back up from nothing, then why can’t I go on a three-mile run?”

Most importantly, Morales’ trip to the Philippines may have provided him with a sneak peek at his future. He will graduate in May, and he hopes to use his nursing degree to benefit the less fortunate.

“The only reason I want to get a job in critical care and pediatrics is to utilize that experience in another country where there’s not as much access to healthcare,” Morales said. “Our mission was two-fold. Yes, we went there to help, but it also allowed us to get our feet wet as to what the future may hold. Disasters are going to keep happening, and someone needs to be there.”

Behrend alumnus’ company grows following Shark Tank appearance

Published on January 8, 2014March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Steve Orbanek
Marketing Communications Specialist, Penn State Behrend

Sometimes our biggest victories can come in defeat. Just ask David Artuso.

In March 2013, the 2011 Penn State Behrend alumnus attempted to impress investors, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, on ABC’s Shark Tank by pitching cellhelmet, a cell-phone case company he started in 2011 with two friends. The company was founded with the goal of offering cell-phone users a new, sleek case that comes with a guarantee: if the phone breaks in the case, the company will replace everything for $50.

Cuban and the other investors on Shark Tank decided against investing in cellhelmet as they felt competitors would be able to undercut the company’s pricing, but the entire experience can hardly be considered a loss for Artuso and his partners.

“It’s a really good leveraging point when you talk to people,” says Artuso, who is cellhelmet’s CMO, co-founder and master technician. “You can have a sales guy call a person and ask, ‘Have you ever seen ABC’s Shark Tank?’ They’ll respond, ‘Yeah, I saw that,’ so it’s a nice entry point that helps us get in front of people. It established a lot of legitimacy that we didn’t have before.”

After the show was filmed, cellhelmet reached a deal with Eldridge Communications, a Pittsburgh-based Verizon Wireless retailer, to place cases in their stores. The agreement was a win-win for all parties, but it also had a significant impact on how cellhelmet would later reevaluate its business strategy.

Repairs have always been part of what cellhelmet does, but it had never been the focus. However, that changed thanks to the partnership with Eldridge Communications.

cellhelmet began to fix phones for Eldridge Communications, which would then sell them as refurbished phones. Since then, cellhelmet has focused its efforts on repairs, and the results have been very positive.

“It’s actually growing faster than the cases,” Artuso says. “We still sell a decent amount of them, but our main focus is repairs.”

cellhelmet repairs phones and tablets for a handful of companies and offers public repairs via mail order on its website. Customers can also visit the company’s headquarters in Wexford, Pa., for a walk-in discount.

“We use certified repair technicians, the highest-quality grade parts and offer a lifetime guarantee on our repairs,” Artuso says. “We basically built our entire business model on quality. We like you, but we don’t want to see you again because you probably don’t want to get your phone fixed again. When we’re done fixing a phone, you basically have a brand new device.”

cellhelmet has big plans for the future. Artuso says the company would like to open a few retail locations in the next year that will focus on repairs, and the ultimate goal is to franchise the business model.

“We have our hands in the right area now,” Artuso says. “It’s just a really good platform for us to grow.”

cellhelmet will continue to sell its small, compact cases for which the company is named, but the focus has definitely changed. Artuso says there are no plans to manufacture new cases in the near future because of the high costs involved.

The company recently doubled in size to eight employees in November, and there are plans to hire more as well.

No, Artuso may not have been a “winner” ten months ago when he appeared on Shark Tank, but it’s clear he’s winning now.

So, would he go back and do it all again?

“Oh, yeah. Drop of a hat,” Artuso says.

Link to the Shark Tank episode featuring Artuso

Story behind the Hanging of the Greens (the college’s oldest tradition)

Published on December 5, 2013March 20, 2014 by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Robb Frederick
Public Information Coordinator, Penn State Behrend

In December 1948 – just two months after the dedication of what was then called the Behrend Center – T. Reed Ferguson, the administrator of the new campus, placed a wreath on the doors of a small chapel in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

That was a favor to Mary Behrend, who had donated her family’s Erie farm property to Penn State. She had moved to Connecticut and was unable to visit the chapel, as she had in years past. She asked Ferguson to hang the wreath in honor of her husband and son, who were interred inside.

Every year since, a small group of students, faculty members, staff and alumni has returned to the chapel. Holding candles, they sing Christmas carols and give thanks to the family that made Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, possible.

This year’s program will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Shuttle service will be offered from the Reed Union Building.

“It’s a very different feeling, when you gather in there,” said Ken Miller, senior director for campus planning and student affairs. “You’re singing Christmas carols. Everybody’s holding a candle. It’s special.”

The program honors Ernst and Mary Behrend, whose 400-acre farm property is now a four-year college with 4,350 students. It also pays tribute to their son Warren, who died on Dec. 19, 1929, while driving to South Carolina for a family holiday. He had swerved to avoid a school bus, which a 16-year-old student was driving.

No one on the bus was hurt.

Warren’s death devastated the Behrends. “They say Ernst never got over it,” Miller said.

Mary Behrend spent less time at the farm, choosing instead to live at the family’s home in Connecticut. In the spring of 1948, while returning from a cross-country trip, she stopped at the property. From a window, she noticed two men walking. She went out to talk and learned they were scouting land for a new Penn State campus. Within six months, they would have it.

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