Marywood Alumna Makes Million Dollar Contribution to Support the Liberal Arts Center

Barbara Sowinski, a Northeastern Pennsylvania native and a Marywood graduate, has made a substantial leadership gift to Marywood University to support and enhance the Liberal Arts Center. The million dollar contribution, which will establish the Barbara Sowinski Welcome Center, located in the Admissions area of the Rotunda in the Liberal Arts Center, will support needed physical renovations and enhancements to the nearly 100-year old campus facility.

Sowinski is pictured at right with Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Marywood President, at the University’s recent Presidential Society Dinner.

Barbara Sowinski, a Northeastern Pennsylvania native, a longtime resident of the Towanda area, and a Marywood graduate, has made a substantial leadership gift to Marywood University to support and enhance the Liberal Arts Center. The million dollar contribution, which will establish the Barbara Sowinski Welcome Center, located in the Admissions area of the Rotunda in the Liberal Arts Center, will support needed physical renovations and enhancements to the nearly 100-year old campus facility.

Built from 1922-1923 and dedicated in 1924, the Liberal Arts Center is one of Marywood’s most iconic structures, featuring a Rotunda that is 72 feet in diameter, just eight feet smaller in size than its nearest domed competitor, the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. In the 1930s, the interior walls and dome of the Rotunda were formally decorated with murals painted by commissioned artist Gonippo Raggi. This magnificent space, with its aesthetic and historical significance, was a driving force behind Sowinski’s gift, appealing to her deep desire to leave a beautiful family legacy in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

As an honor student at Scott High School, Montdale, Sowinski wanted to be a concert pianist. Not having the funds to study at Marywood at that time in her life, she instead worked in a series of jobs in various cities before joining United Air Lines in Chicago and travelling the world. After studying drama at Northwestern University, she pursued an acting career in Manhattan, where she studied under some of the best professionals of the time. Following her recovery from a serious illness, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hunter College. Sowinski then worked as a sales representative to banks in a six-state Midwest territory, as a sales representative to hospitals in a New York State territory and also in a California/Nevada territory. During these years, she continued classes at colleges along the way and traveled abroad, always viewing learning as a lifelong experience.

Following her retirement from business, Sowinski was ready to capture the creative spirit that had lurked within her all those years, diving into the art scene with enthusiasm, in addition to buying a 65-acre farm in Bradford County to begin “phase two” of her life.

She attended art schools, exhibited regionally and nationally, painted on location globally, was a museum docent, workshop instructor, and juror. Sowinski’s passion for art accelerated at Marywood, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Art in 2000. She noted, “Art has been such a satisfying part of my life, and it’s been a wonderful life.”

Sowinski’s love for beauty and art, combined with her desire to remember her roots and celebrate her lifelong journey is reflected in her substantial leadership gift to Marywood University. She has fond memories of her early Dickson City days with the Witko/Sowinski families, her student days at Marywood after retirement, and, most of all, her satisfaction of witnessing the progress Marywood has made during her lifetime. Sowinski’s gift will have a lasting impact, benefitting Marywood University now and for future generations.

Marywood University Presenting Holiday Concert Series

Christmas traditions at Marywood University continue this year, with protocols in place to ensure safe, in-person experiences, including cultural events. As part of its “Making Spirits Bright” Christmas event series, Marywood is offering three holiday concerts, which are free and open to the public. Masking protocols must be followed at in-person events.

Concerts include:

● Chamber Singers Holiday Concert, Sunday, December 5, 4 p.m., at the Marian Chapel. This performance will include the famous “Alleluia” by Randall Thompson, the popular setting of “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, and Carol Barnett’s spectacular “Hodie,” as well as carol settings and other sacred and secular music by American composers.

● Guitar Ensemble: Holiday Concert for a Global Community, Wednesday, December 8, 7 p.m., at the Marian Chapel. This concert is being produced in partnership with Marywood’s Center for Global Engagement. During the concert, hear a musical holiday message that Marywood President Sister Mary Persico IHM wrote especially for the event, spoken by the student musicians in several different languages.

● String Project Holiday Gala Concert, Thursday, December 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. This concert features the children and student teachers from Marywood’s String Project. They will be playing music from around the world and some holiday music to welcome in the season.

For information on Marywood’s Christmas events, event registration links, and related resources, visit marywood.edu/makingspiritsbright.

Marywood Architecture Students Design Exciting New Bus Shelters

On November 12, Marywood School of Architecture students presented designs for new bus shelters to representatives from COLTS, Lackawanna County’s transit system. Above, students share their experiences riding the county’s bus lines with new COLTS Director Tim McGrath.
Student Rachel Knuuti’s design for a busy intersection in Minooka includes a safer pickup point and a lane for food trucks.
Chris Salisbury’s urban forest would be centrally located on Mulberry Street at the University of Scranton.
Miranda Smith presents her innovative use of rail ties to create a much safer bus shelter in front of the Radisson Lackawanna Station hotel.
Many of the designs included electrical vehicle charging stations to increase utility and attract new ridership. Matthew Davis’s design included a peaceful waterfall at a proposed new stop at Green Ridge Senior Apartments.
Nicholas Biser’s circus tent-inspired bus shelter at Gerrity’s on Keyser Ave included a park and play area.

Marywood Jazz Ambassadors Set Fall Concert for November 19

The Jazz Ambassadors of Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department will present their fall concert on November 19. The performance will take place at 7 p.m. in the Marian Chapel, Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, on Marywood’s campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

The concert will be directed by Vincent LoRusso, and the program will feature “Happy Blues,” “Morning Dream,” and “Big Swing Face” by Bill Potts; “Up Jumped Spring” by Freddie Hubbard; “Recorda Me (Remember Me)” by Joe Henderson, and “Swing, Swing, Swing” (from the movie, 1941) by John Williams.

For additional information on this and other concerts, please visit marywood.edu/mtd/events or call Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department at (570) 348-6268.

Marywood University’s Concert Choir and Orchestra to Join Forces for Major Fall Performance

Pictured in the collage from the top, left to right, are: Rick Hoffenberg, DMA, Director of Choral Activities; Evan Harger, ABD, Director of Orchestral Activities; the Marywood Concert Choir and Orchestra.

For the first time in five years, the Marywood University Concert Choir and Orchestra, along with four vocal soloists, are joining forces to present a major fall performance on Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 4 p.m., in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. The concert is free, open to the public, and in person. Masking protocols must be followed inside all Marywood University facilities.

The two ensembles will present a monumental piece of music by Michael Tippett, A Child of Our Time. The concert also will feature Three Spirituals for Orchestra by Adolphus Hailstork. According to the directors, this is the largest-scale concert that Marywood’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance has presented to the public since 2016. The Concert Choir is directed by Rick Hoffenberg, DMA. The Orchestra is directed by Evan Harger. Concert soloists include: Jennifer Cowgill, soprano; Ellen Rutkowski, mezzo-soprano; Wes Poole, tenor; and M. Moses Andradé, bass.

Tippett’s A Child of Our Time was composed during World War II in response to the horrors of Kristallnacht, and the piece wrestles with issues such as racial tensions and persecution that are as relevant now as they were 80 years ago. The composer, an ardent pacifist, used African-American spirituals to represent the voices of the oppressed, in this case the Jews who were murdered by the Nazis.

For additional information about the Concert Choir and Orchestra Concert and other performances at Marywood University, please visit marywood.edu/mtd/events or call (570) 348-6268.

Marywood University Receives the Robert H. Spitz Foundation 2021 Grant

Marywood University received a 2021 Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant. The $12,000 grant was awarded to the S.T.A.R.S. (Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success) program, an after-school mentoring program. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation has made a positive impact on Scranton’s Latinx population through its grant support of the University’s S.T.A.R.S. program.

Pictured from left to right are: Frank Caputo, Grants and Communications Coordinator, Scranton Area Foundation; Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants and Scholarship Manager, Scranton Area Foundation; Patricia Rosetti, Leadership Annual Giving Officer, Marywood University, and Jenny Gonzalez, S.T.A.R.S. Program Director, Marywood University.

Marywood University is the recent recipient of a 2021 Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant. The $12,000 grant was awarded to the S.T.A.R.S. (Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success) program, an after-school mentoring program. The Robert H. Spitz Foundation has made a positive impact on Scranton’s Latinx population through its grant support of the University’s S.T.A.R.S. program.

Established in 2018, S.T.A.R.S. has provided weekly academic tutoring and mentoring to 20-25 middle and high school Latinx students. Marywood students serve as tutors and mentors to the youth. In addition to academic assistance, the students participate in career exploration activities and workshops related to secondary and post-secondary academic options. Monthly workshops, in English and Spanish, provide families with similar information about potential opportunities for their children.

Additionally, Marywood University academic departments host students on campus 4-5 times a year, providing information and experiential activities that are focused on various majors. This includes small-group and individual mentorship for students using a career and college readiness curriculum, as well as individual tutoring sessions via zoom or in-person with a Marywood student. Student and family workshops are also provided.

Marywood University to Host Wind Symphony Concert

Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department recently announced that the University’s Wind Symphony will present the world premiere of the John Burns’ work, Fairest Morning on Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 4 p.m., in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts. The concert is free and open to the public.

Patrick J. Burns will direct the band for the premiere. Mr. Burns is an adjunct professor of music at Montclair State University, New Jersey, where he teaches courses in music theory, orchestration, and composition. As a clarinetist, Mr. Burns has performed with many professional ensembles in the New York metro area including: The Metropolitan Opera Summer Ballet Orchestra, the pit orchestra for the Broadway revival production of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, and with the New Jersey Chamber Music Society in broadcasts for National Public Radio and New Jersey Network Television.

Also, on the program for that evening will be Omar Thomas’ Of Our New Day Begun. The Marywood Wind Symphony was part of a commissioning body that led to the creation of this powerful work. Of Our New Day Begun was written to honor nine beautiful souls who lost their lives to a callous act of hatred and domestic terrorism on the evening of June 17, 2015 while worshipping in their beloved sanctuary, the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (affectionately referred to as “Mother Emanuel”) in Charleston, South Carolina.

This special performance was a collaborative effort among various groups across the Marywood campus including the Honors English classes who wrote program notes, created posters, and interviewed guest artists and participants. It will be a day of reflection, remembrance and celebration.

For additional information about the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony Concert at Marywood University, please email dromines@marywood.edu, or call the music, theatre, and dance department at Marywood University, at (570) 348-6268.

Marywood University to Offer Transfer Tuesday Opportunities

Marywood University will hold three on-campus Transfer Day programs on Tuesdays, November 30, and December 14, 2021 and January 10, 2022 for college students or former college students considering transferring to Marywood University. Marywood welcomes transfer students at all stages of their college careers.

Interested students will have the opportunity to visit Marywood to discuss financial aid and scholarship options, transfer credits, take a tour of campus, and complete an application for admission.

Transfer Day will be held at the Office of University Admissions in the Liberal Arts Center, on Marywood University’s campus. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 10, 2022.

For additional information, or to register for Transfer Day, please call Marywood University’s Office of University Admissions, at (570) 348-6234, or visit http://www.marywood.edu/admissions.

Marywood University to Hold Undergraduate Open Houses

Marywood University will hold undergraduate open houses for high school students and their parents on Saturday, October 30, 2021, and Saturday, November 13, 2021. There will be two programs on both days, the first session beginning with registration at 9 a.m., and the second session beginning with registration at 10:30 a.m. in the Fireplace Lounge at the Nazareth Student Center on the University’s campus.

The event will include an informative tour of the campus, complimentary continental breakfast and lunch for all guests, and the opportunity to meet with current Marywood students, faculty, and athletic coaches. Information sessions with admissions and financial aid counselors will also be available.

For additional information, please call Marywood University’s undergraduate admissions office at (570) 348-6234 or visit www.marywood.edu/admissions/.