Allegany College of Maryland open house is April 18

Allegany College of Maryland invites prospective students, families, and community members to attend its spring open house at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at its Cumberland, Md., campus.

Check-in will be at the Thomas Welcome Center between 8:30 and 9:40 a.m.

The event will provide an opportunity for those interested to explore academic programs, tour campus facilities and connect with faculty, staff and current students.

The event also includes tours of ACM’s student apartments and a chance to connect with student services which benefit those seeking guidance in financial aid, admissions and advising. Staff will also assist with class registration.

For more information or to register for the open house, visit the college’s website or reach out to Gracie McLeod at 301-784-5126 or mmcleod14238@allegany.edu, or Connie Milligan at 301-784-5217 or cmilligan15535@allegany.edu.

Student attends seminar

for stadium managers

Senior sport management major Aaron Chaplin from Altoona was one of two Slippery Rock University students earning fully funded internships to attend the 2026 Stadium Managers Association Seminar in New Orleans, Feb. 7-12.

SMA is a professional organization that works to foster and strengthen networking connections among venue managers, league officials, leading industry suppliers and other key resources across the sport management field.

Chaplin assisted with the coordination and operations of the seminar, which welcomed more than 400 attendees.

Chaplin pointed to his hands-on experience in professional and collegiate athletics as a key factor in his selection, working with the Altoona Curve and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball clubs, in addition to holding roles within SRU’s Athletic Department and Campus Recreation.

He is also a recipient of the Ron Labinski SMA Foundation Sports Scholarship, an honor awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to careers in stadium and facility management.

“Being able to assist with the operations for a conference with over 400 attendees gave me hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of what it takes to manage large-scale sports/entertainment venues,” Chaplin said. “This experience pushed me to thoroughly think about different scenarios in the industry. It also showed me how much leadership, strategy, long-term planning and adaptability go into stadium management. Learning from experienced professionals and building connections gave me a clearer vision for my future.”

Students design AI solution for independent living

A single fall can turn independent living into a medical emergency, especially for older adults living alone. To help address this growing safety challenge, a Cedarville University senior design team developed an autonomous, voice-controlled assistive robot designed to help older adults remain safe and independent in their homes.

The robot, called Alfred, was created in response to a rapidly aging population and a widening global care gap.

This aging-in-place technology addresses caregiver shortages. Alfred is designed to assist users through natural spoken interaction, offering help with routine daily tasks while monitoring safety risks inside the home.

The senior design team includes David Pascual of Hollidaysburg and three other seniors majoring in computer engineering.

Once completed, Alfred will be able to locate and identify common household objects, provide voice-based reminders for important tasks such as taking medications, detect falls and notify caregivers and emergency responders in the event of a fall.

The team is continuing to test and refine the system to improve accuracy and reliability. Although Alfred remains a prototype, the project highlights how Cedarville students are applying their advanced engineering skills to real-world challenges with global relevance.

By combining technical expertise with a human-centered design approach, the team is gaining experience that prepares them to contribute to the future of assistive technology, health care innovation and aging-in-place solutions.

Philipsburg native part

of musical at SRU Theatre

Audiences had five chances to experience the students’ artistry and talents as the Slippery Rock University Theatre Department’s presented “Ride the Cyclone,” March 6-11.

Michael Rodriguez, a sophomore acting major from Philipsburg, portrayed the role of Virgil.

Juniata Model UN honored

at Midwest Conference

Juniata College’s Model United Nations delegation earned multiple honors at a recent Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, marking a successful return to competition following the program’s recent revitalization.

The Juniata team was led and advised by Zia Haque, director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies and assistant professor of peace and conflict studies.

The Juniata delegation, including Manali Misra ’26, Tamanna Chhabra ’26, Elizabeth Hanna ’28, Ursa VanZetten ’28 and Brooks Richardson ’26, competed against students from public and private universities across the Midwestern United States. The team represented Somalia, Guyana and Austria in the General Assembly and UNCTAD (UN Trade and Development) committees.

The Midwest Model United Nations Conference brings together student delegations from across the region to debate international issues, practice diplomatic negotiation and develop leadership and public speaking skills in a simulated United Nations environment.

“There is nothing quite like being in a room of people dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing issues,” Misra said. “This experience was the perfect spark for my motivation, reinforcing my commitment to my future goals and my path as a global citizen.”

Chhabra received two awards, Best Position Paper and Honorable Mention in the Joint Crisis Committee, for her work in the Security Council.

“I participated in conferences like this in high school, so it was really fun to be part of it again at the college level,” Chhabra said. “I’m especially grateful to the Baker Institute for giving us the opportunity to attend. It was a great experience, and I was able to make meaningful connections while growing more confident in myself.”

Participation in the conference was generously supported by the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, which sponsors and promotes global engagement opportunities for Juniata students.

Wilson student-athlete named an academic leader

Wilson College announced that Eric Arbogast of Duncansville is one of 57 student-athletes named a United East Scholar Athlete by the Division III United East Conference for the Fall 2025 season. This marks the fourth time in the past five years that the Wilson Phoenix have had at least 57 conference scholar athletes, which was a new record the first time it happened in 2022.

In order to be selected, a student-athlete competing in a fall conference-sponsored sport must achieve a grade point average of 3.2 or higher for the fall semester and must have been in good standing on his or her team.