March 1, 2004 The Lion's Eye yeon Campus Page 3 ‘Home’ calls Hettich-Atkins, leaving void in Student Life By ANTEIA CONSORTO Lion’s Eye Editor-in-Chief AAC136@psu.edu Doreen Hettich-Atkins, for the last five years a driving force on the Penn State Delco campus, is saying goodbye. The campus director of Student Life is making a new home for herself at Ithaca College in New York. "Opportunity presented itself, and I'll be much closer to my family (which lives in the Ithaca area)," said Hettich- Atkins. "This is an opportunity to do something a little differ- ent. : “The SGA and Student Life are in a place where I feel com- fortable that the good work we began will continue." Throughout her run as the campus’ director of Student Life, Hettich-Atkins has creat- ed many programs, including the Student Spotlight and Fall Fest. “She did a wonderful job in Student Life,” said campus CEO Ed Tomeszko. “The stu- dents love her and she loves the students.” She also oversaw the refur- bishing of the fitness center, hired a part-time personal counselor and aided in the restructuring of the SGA. “She was a wonderful employer and a wonderful boss,” said Student Life employee Jeff Bauer. “She will be missed.” Hettich-Atkins will be tak- ing the position of coordinator of special programs and serv- ices in the division of student affairs for Ithaca, beginning March 29. In that position she will coordinate Family Weekend, work with all the departments in student affairs in assess- ment, retention and profes- sional development. She will also coordinate the with- drawals and leaves of absence for students. : "It's been great fun working with the students on this cam- pus,” Hettich-Atkins said. “I have met students who will continue to be friends and col leagues. I will miss working with Penn State Delco stu- dents. I'll go out saying what I said when I came in: ‘Get involved in your campus com- munity because you get out of college what you put into it.” Sharmon Bryant, Luanne Simms and Deb Erie will share duties in Student Life after Hettich-Atkins departs. Anyone wishing to contact Hettich-Atkins for professional references or just to say hello should contact the Student Life department. Photo by Anteia Consorto Doreen Hettich-Atkins, Penn State Delco’s director of Student Life, will be leaving for Ithaca College near the end of March. By SARAH GALLATIG Lion’s Eye Associate Editor SLG232@psu.edu interesting students. English." : refused. Bob Farrell is probably one of Penn State’s most He’s a World War II vet who is earning credits toward graduating this spring with an associate degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences. "But I'm not stopping there," Farrell, 78 years young, openly boasted. "I'm going to continue my education in the fall and get my bachelor’s in Farrell originally wanted to enroll in Penn State’s bachelor’s program, but because his high school grades couldn't be located, Penn State "I went to Darby High School and it no longer exists," said Farrell. "Dr. (Elizabeth) Buckmaster and professor (Pat) Hillen persuaded me to get my associate’s first, because then Delco wouldn't be able to keep me out of their bachelor’s program.” Farrell is a student through Penn State’s "Go . mE, 0 » Sixty" program in which students over 60 years of age attend school without the financial burden that many students are now familiar with. "It's a program where you practically go to school for nothing," said Farrell. "All you have to do is pay for your books, and $35 per class." Like any other "great thing," he says this pro- gram does have its drawbacks which can get in the way. "You only have four hours to register during the last day of registration," Farrell said. "If a class that you're interested in taking is full, you have to get permission from the professor before you can get in." : A talented writer and a conscientious student, Photo by Sarah Gallatig Penn State Delco student Bob Farrell is 78, and says he’s set on getting his bachelor’s degree in English. Farrell was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society for non-traditional stu- dents. "I guess I had the grades," he smiled. School wasn't the only thing that was on Farrell's mind when he was looking for something to do. ; "I wanted to join NASA," said Farrell. "Unfortunately they informed me that there was no way in hell they could accommodate a week's sup- ply of Depends." Usual tasks that have become second nature and He’s fought WWII, cancer ... and now us taken for granted.by younger students, older stu- dents need to acquire on their own, he says. "I taught myself how to work that damn com- puter,” Farrell said. "Of course my son Christopher gave me the idea; he was also the one that told me to go to school. 1 guess my days of playing Nintendo were over." . Before becoming a student, Farrell had endured many of life's challenges including battling cancer and losing a son. Of course, like any other parent, Farrell is very excited to talk about this growing " family and its accomplishments. "I .have five grandchildren and two living chil- dren," Farrell said. "I lost a son to skin cancer." He has been married to his wife Florence for almost 52 years and can still recall how they fell in love. : "We have the love story that all the females adore. She was a nurse and I was a patient," said Farrell. "When I was released we started to date, broke up once because I wasn't ready to get mar- ried." His role in the U.S. Army during WWII is an occurrence that Farrell doesn't mind discussing or telling about his experience overseas. "I joined right after Pearl Harbor, at the age of 17," said Farrell. "I spent one year in the States and two overseas." Fortunately he wasn't injured in any of the bat tles. "I was only in two battles in the Pacific," said Farrell. "It was nothing exciting, except people are getting shot at and it makes you grow up fast." Now, 60 years later, he’s here at Penn State Delco, still growing up with the rest of us. i te
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