Thursday, October 28, 1993
Multi-Cultural
by John Rossomando
Collegian Staff
This week Behrend's
Multicultural Council sponsored
several events to increase
understanding of the different
cultural heritages represented on
campus.
The Cultural Awareness Week
kicked off with the National
Society of Black Engineers
featuring an exhibit
demonstrating the contribution of
black engineers to American
history.
Then on Tuesday the Asian
Student Organization sponsored a
table at which they sold fortune
cookies, and they also had
various items from the Far East
as well as various Chinese films.
Tuesday evening Women
Today sponsored the first film in
their women's film series titled
"Men".
On Wednesday Women Today
sponsored an informational
meeting on Breast Cancer.
Alumnus recogn
by Hal D. Coffey
News Editor
On Thursday, October 21, Erie
cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Gary
W. Lyons received the 1993
Alumni Fellow Award.
Lyons attended Behrend during
the 1952-53 academic year.
Coming back to the campus
has brought back a lot of good
memories for Lyons.
"I hold a very warm spot in my
heart for Behrend," Lyons said.
"Although there were only about
200 students, we had a great.
sense of camaraderie'
He came to Behrend from a
small farming town and was
happy with the serene
surroundings.
"The beauty of Behrend is that
students get to learn in a peaceful
environment."
Lyons came to Behrend for his
first year to avoid the enormous
size of the University Park
campus.
"I might have gotten lost at the
main campus. Behrend gave me
the opportunity to participate in
more activities."
During his first and only year
at Behrend, he captained the
men's basketball team during
their first . year of play in Erie
Hall.
Lyons considers the Alumni
Fellow Award a great piece of
recognition from his peers.
"I appreciate the award even
more because it was given to me
by fellow alum," Lyons said.
"It's great' for it recognizes one's
lifelong interest in academics."
After leaving Behrend, Lyons
Today ABC is sponsoring an
exhibit on African and Carribean
culture.
Tomorrow evening OLAS is
sponsoring the "Friday Fiesta"
which will showcase Latin
American culture and music and
will be held in the Wintergreeen
Cafe from 8-11 pm.
Gerald Spates the advisor for
the MCC stated that, "It is
important to promote an
appreciation for culture, and the
purpose of Multicultural Week is
part of that appreciation."
Spates also stated that the
entire Behrend community needs
to be involved in cultural
activities, and he encouraged
participation in Multicultural
activities by whites as well as
nonwhites.
He also stated that it is
important that we understand
culture and learn to appreciate it.
He said," I would really like it if
we were eventually able to see
ourselves as Americans , I would
really like that very much."
Craig BrovmlCollegian Photographer
The Lyon Sleeps Tonight..: Erie cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Gary W. Lyons returned to
Behrend after having been a student at the campus 40 years ago to receive the 1993 Alumni
Fellow Award. Lyons, pictured at left, was presented the award by Provost and Dean John Lilley.
went on to the University Park
Campus to complete his
bachelor's degree in chemistry in
1956.
He continued his education at
the - medical school of the
University of Pittsburgh.
While at Pitt, he was chosen
for a prestigious student exchange
to study with the internationally
known vascular surgeon Dr.
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Jeff Zimmerman/Contributing Photographer
Behrend Internationale: Three students, (left to right) Yuri Unno, Hubert Saladino, and Dae
Kang represent the Asian Student Organization during Multi-Cultural Week.
Charles Rob at the University of
London.
Lyons completed an internship
and earned a doctoral degree in
surgery at the University of
Minnesota, where he studied
under Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, a
pioneer of open heart surgery in
the United Stata:
In 1971, he returned to Erie to
found Saint Viicent Health
Week
Center's Division of Thoracic and
Cardiovascular Surgery, which he
directed until earlier this year.
He continued his work at St.
Vincent by becoming president of
the medical staff from 1986'until
1991, as well as other leadership
positions with the Pennsylvania
State Board of Medicine, the
Behrend Council of Fellows, , e
Mellon Bank (North) Boart'cyf
ized
Directors, the Erie Small
Business Investment Company
and the American Heart
Association.
Lyons hopes to continue his
career and gradually wind down
towards day-to-day patient care.
He has been married to his wife
Darlene for 35 years. They have
four children ranging in ages
from 29-33 years old.
Lyons received the Alumni
Fellow medallion from Dr. Joab
Thomas, President of Penn State
University, at a ceremony and
reception in his honor.
The Alumni Fellow Award is
the most prestigious award given
by the Penn State Alumni
Association and is a permanent,
life-long designation.
Trigon, MI, and
other organizations
present...
"
end the
Band Played
Oh"
It'SlFree!
Heed Lecture Hall
November 6
6pm
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