Congratulations, Spring Grads

More than 40 Erie Business Center students received associate in specialized business (ASB) degrees or diplomas at EBC’s spring commencement. The event was held Thursday, April 19, at the Erie Maennerchor Club with a 6 p.m. ceremony followed by a reception for graduates, families, friends, faculty and administration. The commencement speaker was Sharon Yost, a 1983 graduate of Erie Business Center and director of the Erie office of Bayada Nurses. Valedictorian Jennifer Bisbee also addressed those in attendance. Outstanding Student Recognition awards were presented to Eric Woolslayer (Computer), Tiffany Darling (Marketing and Management), Jennifer Bisbee (Accounting), Melinda Arndt (Medical Assistant), Twanisha Franklin (Paralegal) and Kathryn Muhanna (Office Careers). Congratulations, graduates!

May 8, 2007

Ready for Duty

Thirteen students of EBC’s nurse aide program received their certificates of completion and nurse aide pins in an April 20th graduation and pinning ceremony at the school. Attending the ceremony were Tim Feltmeyer, director of medical programs; Lucia Bonaminio, instructor, and Donna Perino, director of the Erie campus. The graduates are: Kathy Cummings, Ginger Deutsch, Carrie Dong, Leatrice Dunn, Jessica Hickey, Jill Hirst, Lillian Martin, Chancy Miller, Felecia Ortez, Thomas Pursell, Alena Simnanva, Christopher Trohoske and Ashlee Wordorski. Congratulations, graduates!

May 8, 2007

Event Planning Students Find a Laughable Way to Help

Students in Amy Kruszewski’s Spring 2007 Event Planning class created an event recently that not only gave them experience in the event planning field, but also provided an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to help out a local organization. On a Friday evening in late March, about 30 participants from Erie Business Center streamed into JR's Last Laugh Comedy Club to enjoy a worry-free night of entertainment by comedian James Johan. Everyone attending left the event with smiles on their faces and sore stomachs from all the laughter. The group also collected about 15 bags of clothing, linens and household items, donated by students, faculty and staff to help those served by Erie Community Shelter Services. Through ticket purchases and other contributions, the group raised nearly $425 to benefit Community Shelter Services as well.

Following the comedy club event, instructor Amy Kruszewski and Event Planning students Amy Trapp, Mark Murphy, Sue Merritt, Julia McCullough and Samantha Villa presented Denise Kolivoski of Community Shelter Services with a check for nearly $425, the amount raised through the spring event.

May 8, 2007

EBC Students Take An Art Appreciation Trip

Students of Lori Ohm’s Composition Skills course enjoyed a recent field trip to the Erie Art Museum and Frame Shop Gallery, gaining a greater awareness of community culture and an opportunity to write about their experiences afterward. Museum Director John Vanco provided two tour guides, Kelly and Abbey, who led the class through the museum and shop. They engaged the students by asking them for their reactions to specific pieces in the “Artists of the Commonwealth” exhibit. The favorite piece of most students was a permanent installation, that of a sculpture of the Avalon, the now-defunct downtown Erie diner. Following the trip, the students wrote illustrative, descriptive papers about the trip and their favorite pieces. After learning of the Children’s Museum while on the trip, one student decided to take her children there, where they enjoyed interactive exhibits, sculpting and pottery making. Another student purchased a membership to the museum and has since enrolled in a painting class.

March 28, 2007

New Nurse Aides Receive Pins in February Ceremony

The latest graduates of EBC's nurse aide program received their nurse aide pins and certificates of completion in a graduation and pinning ceremony on Friday, Feb. 23, at the school. Attending the ceremony were Rose Mello, academic administrator; Tim Feltmeyer, medical department head; Lucia Bonaminio, instructor, and Donna Perino, director of the Erie campus. The new nurse aides are April Gates, Shannon Marchionna and Julie Nixon. Congratulations, graduates!

March 9, 2007

EBC Students & Staff Give During Blood Mobile Visit

Erie Business Center recently hosted the Blood Mobile from the Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, and students and staff supported the visit with donations of much-needed blood products. The school held a contest for the greatest number of participants from any one department, and the Business Administration Department, led by Michael Hlebik, won with four participants: Michael Ewing, Erica Burgos, MiLisa Burgos and Shane Wonner. In all, a dozen members of the EBC family supported the drive. Congratulations to the winning students and department, and thanks to all those who donated.

March 9, 2007