Group collects gifts

for 140 children

Alyssa Lasure Black of Hollidaysburg, a member of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s (GCSOM) Pediatric Outreach Group for Students (POGS), helped lead an effort to make sure children in Head Start programs and foster care will have gifts to open this holiday season.

The students sponsored a Holiday Giving Tree that collected donations for Dunmore Head Start and Lacka-wanna Family Care for Children and Youth.

More than 140 children will receive gifts thanks to the effort.

IUP scholar named Student of the Year

INDIANA, Pa. — Alexsae Wyandt, a senior Respiratory Care major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been selected by the program faculty as the IUP “2019 Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care Outstanding Student of the Year.”

She was recognized at the Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care Western Regional Conference, held earlier this fall.

Wyandt, of Roaring Spring, is the daughter of Gregory Wyandt and Erin Wyandt. She is a 2016 graduate of Central High School.

She is president of the IUP Respiratory Care Club student organization. She volunteered to teach cadets in training at the IUP Police Academy on assessing vital signs and taught second-grade students from Williamsburg Elementary School on the topic of healthy lungs. She also is a Ronald McDonald House volunteer. A dean’s list student, she is completing an internship this fall.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care recognizes students who have demonstrated both academic and clinical excellence, and who will likely contribute greatly to the profession of respiratory care, both now and in the future.

All respiratory therapy schools in the state of Pennsylvania that are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care are eligible to present this award once each calendar year.

Award winners received a one- year membership renewal in the American Association for Respira-tory Care, free registration to next year’s conference and a certificate signed by the society president.

Candidates must exhibit academic excellence, commitment and dedication to the profession; excellence in clinical rotations and patient care; professionalism and be judged as most likely to contribute to the PSRC mission.

Slippery Rock students perform original dances

SLIPPERY ROCK — Select dance majors and minors at Slippery Rock University took the stage to perform original dances at the Dec. 7 Fall Dance Concert in Swope Music Hall.

The performance was under the artistic direction of Ursula Payne, professor of dance and chair of SRU’s Department of Dance. Jennifer Keller, professor of dance, was the production coordinator.

Student choreographers and performers from the area included:

n Anna DeRubeis, a sophomore dual major in early childhood and special education and dance from Altoona.

n Faythe Lewis, a sophomore dual major in recreational therapy and dance from Tipton.