Page 4 FINALIST: The Marcos Lopez is by Glee Jesteadt Collegian Staff Because of his diverse journalism career, Dr. Mike Simmons is the Faculty Profile of the Week. From Warren, Pennsylvania, Simmons moved to Erie in 1969 when he began teaching for Penn State-Behrend. He is now going into his 20 plus years and still enjoys his busy schedule. Simmons graduated from high school wanting to make a living doing something he really liked to do and was interested in. He is presently writing for the local Erie Times and The Sports Extra. He is also a free-lancer for magazines. Simmons is married, and has two daughters, one obtaining her Doctorate at USC and one is graduating from Penn State University this year. His hobbies consist of what he writes. "I do not have any spare time: said Simmons. "In my so called 'spare time' I am doing field research." Simmons was also the Collegian advisor for two and a half years. "The students were very professional," he said. Coarautor only student to apply from Behrend, a finalist for the Truman Scholarship. Faculty Profile "They made me very proud." Communications 201 and Communications 401 W is where most students can find Simmons, but last semester he went on sabbatical. During his time away from teaching, he spent a lot of time writing two books. One is a text that follows the way he teaches his Commu 201 classes. The other that is almost finished, is on outdoor experience. The rest of his time he spent traveling to get ideas for future stories. Now he is back interacting with the students, "I enjoy feedback," said Simmons, "I would rather lecture two way." Every person in any kind of atmosphere• is inspired in some manner. What inspires a journalist to write? "The things that inspire me the most are being interested in a subject, the desire to communicate to other people, and I guess money has a lot to do with it," said Simmons. "My advice to any student going into media is not to be so focused on communication," said Simmons, "The more they know about the broader information, the more help it will be in writing." Marcos M. Lopez, a sixth semester international politics major, was announced a finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Lopez said, "I got the letter (from the Truman Scholarship Foundation) Jan. 17 that informed me I was a finalist, and then I was scheduled for an interview on May 9 in Washington, D.C." Each year Behrend nominates three students for the scholarship. The nomination deadline is October 31. Students must formally apply for the scholarship by December 2. If the student receives the scholarship, he or she will be rewarded $30,000 for his or her senior year and twzr) years of of the Week Finalist named By Paid M. Marini Collegian Staff graduate work. Lopez was the only Behrend student who applied for the scholarship. According to Truman Scholarship Foundation Chairman Elmer B. Swats, 435 schools across the country nominated 825 juniors for the scholarship. Only about 214 students from 149 colleges were chosen to be interviewed Behrend's representative for the Truman Scholarship is Mari Trenkle, who is also the Academic Support Programs Coordinator. She said, "Primarily what we are looking for in a candidate is someone who is planning on a career in public service. The candidate must plan on attending graduate school and must be able to focus on a specific problem or issue they want to address." Jon Colvin/Cabeion Photo Caninetor Journalist, Dr. Mike Simmons, is a writer and teacher. Thursday, January 27, 1994 "I'm excited," said Lopez,"but at the time I'm nervous about the whole interview process." Lopez will be interviewed by an 18-member committee made up of various officials. Lopez said that for the interview, "You have to be knowledgeable about different public policies regarding government." Trenkle said, "Anyone interested in the Truman Scholarship or other national competitions such as the Fulbright, Mellon, Goldwater, Rhodes, among many others, should contact my office. We have set up two information sessions on these scholarships on Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. and also Feb. 18 at 12 noon. Both will meet in the Reed Conference Room." Trenkle's office is located in the Glenhill Farmhouse (x 6160).
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers