EBC Takes Third in Mushball Tournament

An EBC-sponsored team took third place in the Second Annual Mushball
Tournament, held in late July at Klick’s Fields in Lowville. The tournament
benefits the Hunt Of A Lifetime Foundation, which provides hunting and
fishing trips for children with life-threatening illnesses. This year, eight
teams participated, including EBC's team, led by admissions support
specialist Kelly Bender. After facing rain delays and two Saturday games,
EBC's team played three grueling Sunday games, only to be beaten out in the
semifinals. The team brought home the third-place trophy, now on display in
Founders Hall.

EBC Team Members Lace Up To Support Epilepsy Foundation

An EBC-sponsored team took part in the local Epilepsy Foundation Run-Walk
held in mid-August, raising more than $550 with the help of matching funds
from EBC. Although clouds were ominous-looking that day, team members
completed the run-walk with only light rain falling on them as they enjoyed
a tailgate party. EBC team members were Ann DiMarco, Michelle DiMarco, Jeff
DiMarco, Virginia Keramidas, Maria Keramidas, Shelby Menc, Katharine Mentz,
Carol Moore, Sara Trott and Alyssa Ursoy.

EBC Event Planners Serve Up Fun Summer Picnic

Students in the Day section of the Events Planning course planned a great summertime picnic recently for EBC students and their families as well as faculty and staff. The picnickers enjoyed a menu of delicious food, including barbequed chicken, hamburgers, and pasta and fruit salads. Children and adults alike joined in games such as a water balloon toss, egg toss, sack race and hula hoop contest, with toys and gift cards awarded as prizes. Thanks to EBC's very own event planners, not to mention a "perfect Lake Erie sunset," it was a summertime gathering to remember!

EBC Students Get "8 Great Evenings of Experience"

This summer, EBC partnered with the Northwestern Pennsylvania Port Authority to provide a unique learning experience for students in the evening section of the Events Planning course. The students were given the opportunity to operate an information booth at the annual “Eight Great Tuesdays” events at Liberty Park. Through the experience, they learned what it takes to set up and maintain VIP and sponsor hospitality tents. Their duties included working one-on-one with radio station sponsors and helping to meet the needs of the performing musicians—all while answering visitors’ questions about the waterfront and nearby activities.

Meet Our Newest Nurse Aide Grads

Fifteen students of EBC’s nurse aide program received their nurse aide pins and certificates of completion in an August 18th graduation and pinning ceremony at the school. Attending the ceremony were Tim Feltmeyer, medical department head; Rose Mello, academic administrator; Gloria Shover, instructor, and Donna Perino, director of the Erie campus. Pictured are Shaun Grippe, Larry Barcus, Allison Duda, Hope Ellsworth, Joseph Malinowski, Jacquelyn Terry, Jennifer Lazar, Gloria Mondragon, Jennifer Barrett, Cynthia Stuntz, Dorothy Zielonis, Megan Deluca and Amanda DeBoe. Graduates David Lockett and Kyle Lockett are not pictured. Way to go, graduates!

Six Student Nurse Aides Pinned in June Ceremony

Six students of EBC's nurse aide program received their nurse aide pins and certificates of completion in the June 23 graduation and pinning ceremony at the school. Tim Feltmeyer, medical department head; Rose Mello, academic administrator, and Donna Perino, director of the Erie Campus of EBC, attended the ceremony. Pictured are (front, from left): Jackie Reddecliff, Suzie Littrell, instructor Gloria Shover and Judy Oligeri; (rear, from left) Gary Page, Jill Misinec, Heidi Ochman and instructor Lucia Bonaminio. Congratulations, graduates!

Congratulations, EBC Grads

More than 50 Erie Business Center students received associate in specialized business (ASB) degrees or diplomas at EBC's spring commencement activities. The event was held Thursday, April 27, at the Erie Maennerchor Club, with a 6 p.m. ceremony followed by a reception for graduates, family, friends, faculty and administration of EBC. Commencement speaker was Andrew Glass, director of the Erie County Department of Health. Valedictorian Dona Doutt, an Accounting major, also addressed those in attendance. Receiving Outstanding Student Awards were: Karen Altimus (Marketing and Management), Jennifer Bible (Medical Assistant), Carrie Burkhart (Office Careers), Dona Doutt, Kayti Hannah (Paralegal), Duane Higley, Jr. (Computer Information Specialist), Katarzyna Otulakowska (Travel and Tourism) and Jody Wygant (Computer Science).

EBC Travel & Tourism Students Discover The Riviera Maya!

In late April, a group of students in EBC Travel and Tourism program and their instructor enjoyed a week of sightseeing, entertainment and relaxation in the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The trip represented the culmination of months of research and planning by the students beginning in October 2005. While in Mexico, the travelers learned about ancient Mayan culture by visiting Coba, one of the oldest Mayan settlements, deep in the jungle of the Yucatan. Here, they viewed the ruins and climbed Nohuch Mul, which is the tallest pyramid on the peninsula at 138 feet. The students continued on to a Mayan village, where they were served authentic native cuisine, toured homes and properties, and had the opportunity to interact with Mayan children. Other highlights of their trip included swimming with dolphins in the marina near the all-inclusive resort where the group was staying, kayaking, snorkeling, horseback riding on the beach, riding ATVs through the jungle, and swimming in sink holes in the jungle known as cenotes. The trip allowed students to not only participate in destination research and planning but to actually experience for themselves the sights, sounds, and tastes of Mexico.