Friday, April 8, 2005
What is your snow storm horror story?
"I just stayed in my
house all day."
Tonya Bonner,
PSHBS 02
Plastics Professor Pursues Further Education
By Leah Frame
contributing writer
Martin J. Dropik, lecturer in
Engineering, is currently
enrolled as a full time student at
University Park in order to com
plete his master's degree in
engineering.
"Marty Dropik is one of the
nicest guys you'll ever meet,"
said Bill Zore PLET 08.
Since his 1998 teaching debut
at Behrend, Dropik has made a
great impact on the lives and
careers on his students through
his compassionate attitude and
hands on teaching technique.
"He has been a great mentor
to us all," said Marc Barrett,
PLET 08. "I think I speak for
everybody in the department
when I say that I wish Mr.
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Dropik the best of luck in all he
pursues in the future."
Dropik worked for Fisher
Price from 1979-1998, as the
Senior CAE Staff Engineer in
Product Development
Engineering, where he was
responsible for many important
plastics tasks. He then moved
on to work for Behrend's own
Plastic Outreach Center from
1998 2000, until he was
offered a full time teaching posi
tion. He also is the president
and creator of his own company,
Dropik Design services.
Even with all of his success,
Dropik considers being offered
a teaching position his greatest
accomplishment. His philoso
phy in the classroom is to work
hard, have fun, and leave the
room with kindness.
"Marty Dropik has really
helped sharpen my engineering
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"It took 45 mintues
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skills," said Chris Lange PLET
08.
Dropik's offer to teach here
was a result of his hard work
and extensive experience in the
plastics field. But along with
many people the academic envi
ronment, he was pressured to
take steps to complete his mas
ters. It just so happened that this
engineer enjoys a challenge.
"I believe that academic
growth leads to personal
growth," said Dropik.
With significant support
among colleagues and the right
timing, Mr. Dropik chose to fin
ish his master's degree as a full
time student at Penn State.
"It's a lot different," Dropik
said. "It's harder to take in this
kind of information now than
when I was younger."
On the other hand, there are
also benefits of being an older
•
"It didn't bother me •
much."
Andres Quinones,
SE BD 05
student. "I have more maturity
and wisdom, and have experi
enced a lot first hand," said
Dropik
Of course, behind every great
man there is a great woman. Mr.
Dropik is no exception, as he
regards his wife as his greatest
inspiration.
"I also have three other
sources of inspiration," said
Dropik. "First are my col
leagues and fellow professors.
Second, are older students who
serve as great role models, like
Bob Farrell who went to school
for his doctorate and then
retired. Finally, there's Mary
Anne Geary who obtained a
degree at 61."
Mr. Dropik plans to graduate
this December, and to the
delight of his students and staff,
will return to his plastics posi
tion here at Behrend.
Graduation questions unanswered
Seniors have been looking forward to graduation all year, some are still unsure of what they need to
Insufficient information is being sent to seniors regarding what needs to be done and when it needs
to be done.
"I wasn't aware that I had to declare that I was graduating because I never got the e-mail," said Dan
Lucey, EE 08.
According to Lucey, the Bursar's Office was more than helpful straightening things out after he
made the effort to call and demand assistance.
Seniors that did not receive the e-mail had no idea that graduation had to be declared. Had it not
been through word of mouth, over half the seniors would needlessly be here for a extra semester.
Gary Bonanno, HIST 08, has not received a single graduation notification at all. Although he will
graduate after his ninth semester, he should have received e-mails regarding the ceremony.
"I haven't gotten a thing," said Bonanno. "I'm not sure if they're supposed to send me anything. I
would think they are. But then again, this school might n0t..."
The lack of organization is also discouraging to students other than seniors. It does not give a pos
itive outlook to future grads.
"If this is how things are going to be run next year, I'm not so sure I want to graduate," said Steve
Troglio, POLSC 06.
Though nothing is sorted out right now, seniors are fairly confident that a decent ceremony will be
thrown together by May.
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Creative writers on campus
By Amanda Allen
staff writer
Poet Tim Seibles will visit
Behrend on April 14 as part of
the Creative Writer's Speaker
Seibles is an acclaimed poet,
winning such awards as the
Cleveland State University
Poetry Manuscript Award for his
collection of poetry, titled
"Hurdy-Gurdy", which was
published in 1992.
Other works include two
books of poetry, "Body Moves"
and "Kerosene", as well as
poems that have appeared in
"Ploughshares", "New England
Review", "The Artful Dodge",
and an anthology called "In
Search of Color Everywhere".
His most recent work,
Hammerlock, was published in
1999.
Seibles currently teaches in
By Christina Hakel
contributing writer
The Behrend Beacon I
"The driving condi
tions were horrible. -
Jertt Campbell,
CENBD 06
the MFA program at Old
Dominion University.
Seibles will speak at 6 p.m in
the Smith Chapel. A reception
will be held beforehand at 4
p.m. in the living room of the
Chapel. The event is free of
charge and open to the public.
Fiction writer Jaimy Gordon
reading from her works in the
Smith Chapel Thursday night.
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