NRCI: Board of Ambassadors Honor Baum at Spirit of Hope The Board of Ambassadors will honor John “Slick” Baum as the 2025 Tribute to Courage Honoree at their upcoming Spirit of Hope Celebration set for Friday, November 14, 2025, at Mohegan Pennsylvania. John “Slick” Baum is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and leading business strategist. John enlisted in the USAF at 17 serving as an avionics maintenance technician. He then attended Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University graduating with a BS in Aeronautical Science in 1999 and a Masters of Aeronautical Science in 2008. Col. Baum attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and graduated F-16 training as the Distinguished Graduate. He then attended USAF Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and returned as an instructor. John was then requested by the Commander of Air Combat Command to fly as a Demonstration Pilot for the 2009-2010 Thunderbird team. Following the Thunderbirds, he was selected as a Secretary of the Air Force Strategic Communications Fellow earning a Masters in Strategic Communication from George Mason University. John was also co-founder of Draken International providing contract air support to the US and NATO military forces with the world’s largest fleet of privately owned fighter aircraft. Slick provided high G flight training for the Crew of Inspiration4, the first all civilian space program in partnership with SpaceX, and then served as the Philanthropy Director for the Polaris Program endeavoring to further understand the requirements for long duration human space flight. For his successful fundraising and awareness efforts, he was honored as the 2025 Extraordinary Performance Award recipient from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Penn State Scranton To Host Fall Open House Penn State Scranton will welcome prospective students and their families to campus for its Fall Open House on Saturday, November 15, at 9:30 a.m. This event offers prospective students and their families an opportunity to explore the campus, meet faculty, staff and current students, and learn more about the more than 275 majors available through Penn State. Visitors will have the chance to connect with faculty, academic advisors and athletic coaches, learn about admissions requirements, and review important financial aid information. The day will also include guided campus tours led by current students, offering an inside look at academic and student life. As an added benefit, students who attend the open house can apply to Penn State Scranton for free! Pre-registration is required. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Penn State encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in the event. Any individual requiring special accommodation needs should contact snadmissions@psu.edu or by calling 570-963-2500. Upon registration, attendees will receive follow-up information, including directions, a campus map, and additional event details. For more information or to register, visit scranton.psu.edu.
Penn State Scranton Student Wins National Contest Fourth-year corporate communication student Zamarra Vrabel has made campus history with her recent podcast project, which earned two first-place awards, including the campus’ first-ever national award, which she received from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. Her project also garnered a first place award in the Pennsylvania Press Club’s annual contest. Penn State Scranton Corporate Communication major Zamarra Vrabel, center, poses for a photo with her first place award from National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest. At left is Corporate Communication Program Coordinator Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca, with Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication Stephanie Longo, at right. Vrabel’s winning podcast, titled “Culture — Little Pieces of You: A Strong Foundation and a Constant Journey,” was created as a midterm assignment for her CAS 471: Intercultural Communication course, taught by Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication Stephanie Longo. The podcast explores the role of culture in shaping identity, featuring an interview with Luz Cabrales, a local filmmaker and editor who shared insights into her Mexican American heritage. Vrabel recorded the interview via Zoom and edited the audio to enhance clarity and cohesion. She structured the podcast to highlight how culture influences various aspects of life, including family, work and community. “I structured my podcast in a way that showed how culture affects all areas of our lives, such as family, work and our place in the community,” Vrabel said. “I wanted to stress that each person defines culture based on how they allow it to shape them into who they are.” The podcast was first submitted to the Pennsylvania Press Club’s annual contest, where it won first place at the state level. That victory qualified Vrabel for the national competition hosted by the NFPW, where she again took top honors. The NFPW’s 2025 Professional Communications Contest drew nearly 2,000 entries from across the United States and even internationally, including submissions from 47 states, the District of Columbia and Spain. Winners were announced in September during the organization’s national conference in Golden, Colorado. “Finding out that my podcast gained national recognition, along with an award, made me feel very happy and accomplished,” Vrabel said. “I couldn’t have done it without Dr. Longo’s guidance and support, and Luz Cabrales (my guest on the podcast) sharing her amazing story with me and my family and friends who encouraged me to work hard on the podcast and to enter the competition.” Longo, who submitted the podcast on Vrabel’s behalf, said the assignment was designed to give students hands-on experience with emerging communication tools. “Working on this podcast taught me that listening and asking questions are two of the most important skills in becoming an effective communicator,” she said. “I will continue to remember this and practice these skills as I continue in my Corporate Communication journey.” Longo said Vrabel’s success reflects the program’s commitment to innovation and student development. Corporate Communication Program Coordinator Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca praised Vrabel’s achievement as a milestone for Penn State Scranton’s Corporate Communication department. “Winning first place at the National Federation of Press Women’s competition, which is our first national award, is a testament to her extraordinary talent, hard work and dedication,” she said. “Zamarra is not only a gifted communicator, but she is an inspiration to those around her.” “Seeing our students recognized on the state and now national level is a thrill for our Corporate Communication department,” Longo said. “Both Professor Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca and I are dedicated to providing our students with real-world, cutting-edge opportunities in the field of communication. We know that if students don’t learn up-and-coming techniques in our classes, they will be behind their peers.” She added that the department invests considerable time in researching and integrating the latest technologies to ensure students are prepared for the evolving job market.
Penn State Scranton’s Alan Peslak Honored Penn State Scranton Professor of Information Sciences and Technology Alan Peslak has been named the 2025 Computer Educator of the Year by the International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS). The award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization, was presented earlier this month during the IACIS annual conference in Pensacola, Florida. The Computer Educator of the Year award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional research and teaching achievements, and who have made significant contributions to the fields of information systems (IS), information technology (IT) and computer science. Recipients are selected for their national and international impact on information science education and scholarship. Peslak, who also serves as professor in charge of Penn State’s information technology degree program and as information sciences and technology discipline coordinator for the University’s 14 Commonwealth Campuses, has played a key role in advancing IT education across Penn State. He recently co-chaired a University-wide committee to design the new IT degree focusing on broad-based technology skills for entry-level professionals, particularly in small and medium-sized organizations. “I am very proud to be a part of advancing the field of Information technology in our society,” Peslak said. “Our discipline is leading the way in improving the lives of everyone by using technological resources to improve health, manufacturing, businesses, the environment and nearly every aspect of society. And the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate improvements in everyday life is nothing short of revolutionary. I am privileged to be a part of Penn State and help prepare our students to use technology to further our progress and address the major challenges we face in the world.” Peslak joined Penn State more than two decades ago after a 25-year career in the private sector, where he served as vice president of finance for Akzo Nobel. His research explores the societal and ethical implications of information technology, social media and artificial intelligence. He has authored 131 peer-reviewed publications, including 87 journal articles, with more than 2,200 citations and an i10-index of 50. His work has earned numerous honors, including the 2020 Ben Bauman Award for Excellence from IACIS and the 2012-13 Information Sciences and Technology Statewide Faculty Member of the Year award at Penn State, as well as being named a fellow by the International Educators Association: Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals, a non-profit organization for academics in information systems and computing. In addition to his research and teaching, Peslak has also been a leader in global collaboration through the Experiential Digital Global Exchange (EDGE) program, partnering with institutions such as the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Seifullin Agrotech University in Kazakhstan to connect students globally via technology-driven learning. Peslak also contributes to the broader academic community through service on multiple editorial boards and as a reviewer for leading journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Computer Information Systems and Communications of the ACM.
Treasurer Garrity Honors Veterans with Military Decoration Returns Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that 57 military decorations have been returned to Veterans and their families so far in 2025. Returns this year include two Purple Hearts, Treasury’s first-ever Gold Star Widows and Pilgrimage Medal and Civil War buttons and epaulettes. “As state treasurer, I’m tasked with safeguarding more than $180 billion in state assets, but one of my favorite parts of this job isn’t about the money at all, it’s honoring my fellow Veterans by returning the military decorations that find their way to Treasury’s vault in Harrisburg,” Treasurer Garrity said. Treasury has a dedicated database to help reunite military decorations with Veterans or their families. There are nearly 500 decorations, including medals, dog tags, pins, buttons and more remaining in Treasury’s care. They represent every branch of military service and nearly every major conflict. Anyone can review the available decorations online at patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/medals. “I urge the public to search our military decoration database to see if they have information to help us reunite the priceless decorations in our vault with the Veterans who earned them or their families,” Treasurer Garrity said. Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned 533 military decorations, including 13 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars and one Gold Star Medal. “This year included incredibly moving in-person returns, including the return of two Purple Hearts, and the Gold Star Medal,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Meeting the families of the Veterans is impactful because they add so many details about the bravery, determination and good character of the Veteran who stood in the defense of our great nation.” In April, Treasurer Garrity returned a Gold Star Widows and Pilgrimage Medal to Christine Morrison, the great-niece of Private First-Class Joseph William Morrison. PFC Morrison was in the 554th Army Ambulance Service during World War I. He was killed in action on November 1, 1918, ten days before the end of the war. His bravery was also recognized by the French government, which awarded him the Croix de Guerre. The Gold Star Treasury returned had been presented to PFC Morrison’s mother, Agnes Morrison, when she visited the grave of her son in France in 1933. The full return ceremony can be seen here. On Purple Heart Day, Aug. 7, Treasurer Garrity returned a Purple Heart to James Morgan, the son of the late Ray Alvin Morgan, an Army Veteran who was wounded in the Vietnam War. Private First-Class Morgan served in Company A, 4th Supply and Support Battalion, 4th Infantry. He was presented with the Purple Heart at Valley Forge Hospital during his recovery. The Purple Heart return ceremony, which took place at Fort Indiantown Gap, can be seen here. “Each medal, pin or button that comes to Treasury is a piece of someone’s story and returning them is a way to honor a Veteran’s service and show our gratitude for their sacrifices. I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation on this Veterans Day to all Veterans and their families for all they have done for every Pennsylvanian and every American.” Tangible unclaimed property, like military decorations, finds its way to Treasury most often as the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes. State law requires unclaimed property to be reported to Treasury after three years of dormancy. There is also more than $5 billion in unclaimed property, including old bank accounts, checks, rebates, insurance policies and more available to claim. More than one in ten Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property, and the average value of a claim is more than $1,000. To search for unclaimed property, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property. Images of military decorations can be found here.
Treasurer Garrity & Special Olympics PA Announce Expanded Partnership Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced an expanded partnership today between Pennsylvania Treasury’s PA Achieving a Better Life Experience Savings Program (PA ABLE) and Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) at Villanova University during SOPA’s Fall Festival. “With this new partnership, we are able to provide additional resource availability and better awareness of the real financial opportunities available for Pennsylvanians living with disabilities through PA ABLE,” Treasurer Garrity said. “We want to reach as many Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families as possible, so they know about PA ABLE and have access to the tools and opportunities necessary to achieve success and independence.” SOPA provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 1,700 athletes, coaches, and Unified Partners will compete in events like powerlifting, bocce, soccer, volleyball, flag football, and long-distance running/walking. “We believe in partnerships that go beyond the playing field. Our collaboration with PA ABLE reflects a shared commitment to empowering athletes and their families to build brighter, more secure futures,” said Matt Aaron, President & CEO of SOPA. “Together, we’re helping our community not only compete and achieve in sports but thrive in life.” Through this expanded partnership, Treasury and SOPA will work together on outreach and education efforts, ensuring more individuals and families across Pennsylvania learn about the benefits of a PA ABLE account. This partnership will grant Treasury access to SOPA events across the state and allow for PA ABLE branding at SOPA events. PA ABLE accounts allow Pennsylvanians with disabilities to save tax-free for expenses like housing, education, assistive technology, everyday needs and more – without impacting important benefits. Currently, to be eligible to save with an ABLE program, a person’s disability must be onset prior to their 26th birthday. Starting in Jan. 2026, ABLE eligibility will expand to include those whose disability is onset prior to age 46, which would include millions more Americans, including one million Veterans. “I encourage anyone with a disability or who has a family member or friend with a disability to learn more about what PA ABLE can do for them,” said Treasurer Garrity. Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has reduced PA ABLE account fees six times for PA ABLE account owners. PA ABLE is the fifth largest ABLE program in the country. To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov, email info@paable.gov or call 855-529-2253.
Misericordia Players To Present Play, Boeing Boeing Misericordia University’s Misericordia Players will present Boeing Boeing, a play written by Marc Camoletti, in the Lemmond Theater on the Misericordia University campus in Dallas, PA. This production is part of the university’s fall theater season and is open to the community. Tickets are available at the door, and seating is general admission. Showtimes:• Thursday, November 20 – 7:30 PM• Friday, November 21 – 7:30 PM• Saturday, November 22 – 7:30 PM• Sunday, November 23 – 2:00 PM Click here for more details about the production or additional arts events.
