Janet Kacskos

Four Students Win Print, Packaging Awards For the past 15 years, Millersville University Graphics and Packaging Technology students have competed in various contests, often yielding successful results. Recently, students Sydney Hargrove, Reagan Steinberg, Kaylena Travitz and Ben Troyano, won awards in two different competitions. “These awards are prestigious in our field because of the competition with other universities and the industry recognition that students receive,” says Dr. Mark Snyder, professor of applied engineering, safety & technology at Millersville University. The University participates regularly and submits the best work from students within the program. Neographics is one of the nation’s largest regional graphic communication contests in which graphic arts, packaging, converting, design, and publishing excellence are selected and showcased. “Neographics is a regional competition for industry (companies compete against each other) but it also has a college division for the competition,” says Snyder. This year, all winning entries will be showcased at the Neographics Awards Ceremony and Exhibition on October 5th in Philadelphia. Hargrove and Steinberg were awarded for their submissions in the Neographics sponsored by the Print and Graphic Communications Association. Hargrove’s screen-printed T-shirt “Posterization” earned a Franklin Award for Excellence in the Student/College category, and Steinberg’s Digital “Variable Data Postcard” earned a Franklin Award for Excellence and the Best of Category in the Student/College category. The two tiers of recognition for students are the Franklin Awards for Excellence, given to pieces selected on their own merits; and the Best of Category, in which Franklin Award winners compete against each other for a unanimous vote by the panel of judges. About receiving her award, Hargrove said, “I am deeply honored and genuinely thankful for the Franklin Honorable Mention Award. It is a motivating factor to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the world of print manufacturing.” Travitz and Troyano’s “Ville Hardware” design was selected by the Association of Independent Corrugated Converter’s Student Packaging Design Competition committee as the second-place winner in the structure category. The team will receive a cash award in the amount of $250 which is divided among team members. In addition to the monetary award, both Travitz and Troyano will each receive an engraved plaque commemorating their win in the competition. “I am beyond excited about receiving second place in the 2023 AICC Student Design Competition along with Ben Troyano,” says Travitz. “One of my goals for my senior year was to place in the 2023 AICC Student Design Competition. An added benefit is that we also beat out Clemson University. Since Dr. Snyder use to teach there, it is even more of an honor to receive this award.” Troyano described the project that he and Travitz entered as follows: “The 2023 AICC Student Design Competition tasked my partner, Kaylena and I to come up with a package design for a “hardware shipper” that contains a hammer, 4 lightbulbs, and a box of nails. Because this unique challenge was my first experience with package design, my partner designed most of the structure, while I made the graphics. Winning 2nd place as two students over much larger schools in the competition like Clemson was a big accomplishment and I hope to compete again next year.” Often, competitions like the one sponsored by AICC will present a technical design problem that student groups from all over the country have to solve in their own way. The timing of contests is often planned so the problems can be built into a course curriculum as a semester-long group project. Snyder stated, “We choose the best results from our program at the end of a semester and submit them to compete with other universities.” “AICC is a significant competition for college students at universities with packaging-related programs,” says Snyder.                 […] “Four Students Win Print, Packaging Awards”

Glorious Sounds of the Season Scholars Twenty students in the Millersville University Tell School of Music recently received scholarships to help alleviate academic costs. The scholarship is funded through the Glorious Sounds of the Season annual concert, where students and members of the campus community perform a holiday show. Jeffrey Gemmell, assistant professor of Choral Studies and the founder of the Glorious Sounds of the Season concert at MU, explains why he believes this program is important, “I’m thrilled that the project has been such a success for so many years as this is our 18th annual concert. I am proud of our faculty’s effort to bring this concert to the public every year and thrilled that we have such tremendous support from the community that consistently supports this scholarship fundraiser annually.” Students who receive the scholarship emphasize how much it means to them and their educational journey. Abigail Wieder, a junior from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania majoring in music education and vocal performance, says “To me, this scholarship means the security to continue pursuing endeavors in the field I love. It means that I am able to continue to study and grow my education in not only teaching but in music.” Jovanne Cortez, a sophomore from Allentown, Pennsylvania majoring in music education and vocal performance explains how the scholarship will benefit him. “This scholarship will provide crucial financial support, alleviating the burden of educational expenses and associated costs. It will enable me to focus on my studies and pursue academic and personal growth with reduced financial stress.” Gemmell acknowledges that the community members who support the concert make this scholarship possible for MU students. “We thank the community members that attend every year. It is a pleasure for the Tell School of Music faculty to present this annual holiday gift to the community, and we’re so pleased that, ultimately, it’s the students who benefit the most from our efforts.” The faculty members who coordinate the concert every year love hearing and seeing the support the students receive and hope to continue providing joy to both the students and the community. “The faculty of the Tell School of Music are delighted to offer our time and talent to make this concert a success every year,” Gemmell says. The scholarship provides students who are selected by the Tell School of Music faculty and meet the criteria of the program with $500 to assist with educational costs, including textbooks, tuition, and other academic expenses. The criteria include: Commendation for active and enthusiastic participation in last year’s Glorious Sounds of the Season concert Recognition for excellent work, musically and academically, throughout the year Acknowledgement of participation in other Tell School endeavors that exceed expectations Appreciation for strong contributions of time, talent and work ethic that facilitates the health, well-being, and success of the Tell School of Music Larger scholarships are also awarded to incoming freshmen based on academic success and musical talent. The students who received the scholarship include: Michael Basile: Junior music industry major with a concentration in music Production from Lancaster, Pa. Christopher Beehler: Junior Music Industry major from Schwenksville, Pa. Patrick Boyer: Sophomore music industry major from Elizabethtown, Pa. Kylie Calogero: Junior music education and vocal performance major from Hanover, Pa. Jovanne Cortez: Sophomore music education and vocal performance major from Allentown, Pa. Kira Denlinger: Senior music major from Denver, Pa. Shane Geisel: Sophomore music education major from Milford, Pa. Luke George: Junior music education major from Bethlehem, Pa. Jonathan Jedrzejek: Senior music industry major with a concentration in music production and a saxophone performance major from Mechanicsburg, Pa. Nanga Lin: Senior music major from Lititz, Pa. Seth Lynn: Senior music education major from Danville, Pa. Cesar Rangel-Munoz: Sophomore modern band applications and music technology in music education major from Newport, Pa. Sydney Rauchut: Sophomore music education and music industry major with a concentration in management from Lebanon, Pa Ana Santiago: Junior music industry major with a concentration in production from Elizabethtown, Pa. Briana Shyver: Senior music education major from Mountville, Pa. Collin Staub: Junior music education major from New Oxford, Pa. Tucker Uebersax: Senior music major from Bel Air, Md. Tehya Walters: Junior music education and music performance major from Annville, Pa. Claire Webber: Senior music industry major from Newark, De. Abigail Wieder: Junior music education and vocal performance major from Bethlehem, Pa. The 2023 Glorious Sounds of the Season will be held on Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Want to purchase tickets? https […] “Glorious Sounds of the Season Scholars”

University Theatre Presents “Macbeth” When choosing its next production, there was no “toil and trouble” for University Theatre this year: the 2023-24 season, inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, kicks off this November with “Macbeth.” Performances will begin the weekend of Nov. 2-4, and will continue the weekend of Nov. 9-11. All showtimes will begin at 7 p.m. Jonathan Strayer, director of dramatics and assistant professor, says he and his students are excited to produce this for Millersville and the larger Lancaster community. Strayer was inspired for this year’s season by the students’ growing interest in Shakespeare. “This production is my own adaptation of Shakespeare’s text. This is my favorite play of Shakespeare’s, so much of what people love and recognize about the play will still be present,” he says. “We’ve reworked a few things to highlight some moments, kept a few sections that are often edited out and streamlined a few things to make for a production that moves along at a good pace,” he continues. There are between 40 to 50 students involved in this production, all from a wide variety of majors, minors and concentrations. “The students have put in a variety of work, from learning lines and building characters to practicing the stage combat choreography for the fights to designing lights, constructing scenery and so much more,” says Strayer. Strayer notes that it takes a lot of time and preparation for a production like this, from everyone involved. “Because this is a tragedy and violence is at the core of the story, then stage violence must be a part of that process,” he says. “We spend a lot of time in the process training in the foundations of the stage combat we are performing, creating and learning the choreography, and rehearsing it safely up to performance speed.” “Our fight director for this production is Jared Kirby, historical fencing master and founder of New York Combat for Stage and Screen, and he has created some adventurous and at times brutal stage combat for our production of this iconic tragedy,” Strayer adds. Even before rehearsals could begin, Strayer wanted to make sure the production started off the right way. “The process of directing every production starts with the script. Since this is my adaptation, I spent weeks researching and pouring over the script using primarily the text from the First Folio and supplementing with contemporary texts where needed.” “I also used numerous scholarly resources that deal with historical context, original performance, and original pronunciation. While this is not a period performance, all that theatrical history is incredibly important and influential when I’m working on adaptations. After that we move into production approach, character sketches and eventually auditions, casting and rehearsals,” he concludes. Tickets are now available for “Macbeth.” Click here for more inform […] “University Theatre Presents “Macbeth””

MU Named "Great College to Work For" Again Millersville University was recently given the distinction of being named a Great College to Work For, one of just 72 higher education institutions in the country to be given the title. The honor comes from the Great Colleges to Work For program, which collects data through an annual survey to determine the best higher ed employers in the United States. The program was designed to both recognize colleges that create positive work environments and to understand further the factors that have the most influence on work culture in higher education. While part of the study includes an institutional profile detailing demographics, policies and practices of the institution, recognition was primarily gauged through feedback given by faculty and staff in the survey. MU is one of 11 colleges in the Mid-East Region, consisting of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, to be given this distinction. Millersville is also the only school in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to be named. This is the second year that MU has been recognized, having previously been named in 2020. Out of the highlighted 2023 recognition categories, the University excelled in Compensation and benefits, Shared Governance; and Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. In a statement submitted by the University’s President, Dr. Daniel Wubah, he says, “The most important asset of any organization is its people. Our people make Millersville University a great place to work. Our students, faculty and staff embody our values of compassion, integrity, inclusion and professionalism. Our people are the key ingredient to seeing progress and meeting our mission. We have the power to ensure that every student who enters our university will thrive, have a transformational experience and leave our campus prepared to change the world.” For more information and a ful […] “MU Named “Great College to Work For” Again”

Celebrating Our Faculty On […] “Celebrating Our Faculty”

Millersville Partners with Amazon Career Choice Amazon announced a new partnership with Millersville University on Oct. 24. Millersville Provost Dr. Gail Gasparich was on hand at the new Amazon distribution center in York for the announcement of the Amazon Career Choice program. Amazon will provide funding for eligible employees to complete their bachelor’s degrees at Millersville. Amazon will pre-pay tuition and reimburse books and fees up to an annual maximum. All undergraduate majors are included in this partnership. Amazon’s Career Choice program is designed to further the education of its employees by advancing their careers at Amazon or elsewhere. “The Amazon Career Choice partnership is an important opportunity to allow students to continue and complete their degrees in a variety of formats conducive to their schedule,” says Rebecca Boyer, director of online programs at Millersville University. “Completing their degrees with Millersville through the Amazon partnership will allow students opportunities to advance their careers and complete their educational goals.” Applicants will need to apply to Millersville University and submit their payment request through the Amazon Career Choice Portal. Check out Amazon Career Choice for more information. The application process consists of four steps, and are as follows: Apply for admission to Millersville University by submitting one of our online applications: On Campus Undergraduate Application Online Undergraduate Application Request all previous transcripts to be sent to Millersville. Follow application instructions on submitting transcripts or other needed admissions documents. Apply for your payment request at Amazon Career Choice. Submit your tuition payment request online through the Amazon Career Choice portal at least one week prior to the start of classes. For more information, contact undergraduate admissions at (717)-871-4625 or online admissions at (717)-871-7200. Additional information can also be found by clicking he […] “Millersville Partners with Amazon Career Choice”

Dissecting Cultural & Social Constructs at the Conrad Nelson Lecture Want to learn about an artist who dissects cultural and social constructs by pulling inspiration from 17th and 18th-century European portraiture, comic books, sketch comedy and folkloric dance? Make sure to attend the Conrad Nelson Endowed Visiting Artist Fellow Lecture to hear Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz speak on Tuesday, Oct. 24th at 7 p.m. in Biemesderfer Hall, Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center. Raimundi-Ortiz, an interdisciplinary visual artist, will speak at the Conrad Nelson lecture. Her work has been shown in galleries like the Momentary, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Museum of Arts and Design and many more. In addition, numerous media outlets have covered her work including Art in America, ArtNews, PBS, NPR, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Raimundi-Ortiz is also an associate professor of art at George Mason University School of Art and she currently serves as a board member for the College Art Association. During her presentation, attendees will learn about Raimundi-Ortiz, including how and why she makes art and the themes of personal and cultural identity she explores. Heidi Leitzke, associate professor of art and director of the Eckert Art Gallery at MU, explains the importance of this event. “The Conrad Nelson Artist’s Lecture is organized by the Department of Art & Design at Millersville University. The annual fellowship is endowed by Millersville alumni Conrad Nelson and Luceille B. Hagarman. This is an important opportunity to invite a respected artist to campus to meet our students, providing our students with the opportunity to make a meaningful connection with this artist and learn from the artist’s experiences.” In addition to the lecture, the Eckert Art Gallery is displaying Raimundi-Ortiz’s exhibition “Sanctuary, My Place in the World” until Oct. 26. The exhibition explores “exquisite and revelatory, richly layered and deeply personal large-scale drawings” by Raimundi-Ortiz. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from no […] “Dissecting Cultural & Social Constructs at the Conrad Nelson Lecture”

A Degree in Math? What […] “A Degree in Math?”

ODK Induction On […] “ODK Induction”

Rankings for the ‘Ville Mi […] “Rankings for the ‘Ville”

Visit the MU Costume Shop this Halloween Whether you’re looking for a Barbie or Ken costume or maybe a M3gan jumper or even a ghost or goblin outfit, Millersville University’s Costume Shop has a Halloween costume for you. The costume shop is open, just in time for your Halloween needs, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Located on campus in Jefferson Hall, the stop is home to a wide variety of over 25,000 costumes. The University acquired a collection of over 10,000 costumes from Jean Loeb, a veteran costumer who often helped with theater productions. In 1982, Loeb donated her collection to the University, which has been renting costumes to productions both local and national ever since. In addition to renting some pieces for on-campus productions to the community, the shop has had some further outreach as well. Over the summer, they outfitted The People’s Shakespeare Project for the Italian Festival in Lititz, PA. They’ve also rented some costumes for opera productions, including Penn Square Opera and an opera production at the University of Connecticut. The shop is run by director Priscilla Kaufhold, who finds enjoyment in helping her customers take their time looking through the large selection and finding which pieces work best for their specific needs. Each item in the shop can be customized to suit the costumers’ needs, including any necessary alterations. “It’s fun because people come in with a problem, like something’s not quite the right color, size, or they’re not quite sure what they’re looking for,” Kaufhold says. “Then you get to fix it, and in the end, you’ve created something new. The costumers are so appreciative.” Kaufhold encourages those who are interested in renting a costume to visit the shop to try things on and really browse the pieces available. She notes that the personal attention each customer gets adds to the fun experience of putting together the ideal costume. “It brings out things in people, it brings them outside of their norm when they can look through and try things on,” says Kaufhold. “They can play, and they can be creative where they might not get to be otherwise.” There are plenty of period-accurate costumes from the Renaissance, Colonial and Victorian Eras, vintage pieces from different decades, animal costumes and much more. And for those who are looking to recreate a ‘Barbie’ look this Halloween, the costume shop has plenty of pink! Those interested in learning more or renting a costume can visit the shop during those hours or reach out for more information by calling (717) 871-5653 or emailing costumeshop@millersville.edu. Volunteers Wanted The Costume Shop is currently looking for volunteers, including interested Millersville University students. If interested, please email costumeshop@millersville.ed […] “Visit the MU Costume Shop this Halloween”

Top Cancer Researcher to Deliver Science Lecture Interested in the world of STEM? Come learn about the new innovative cancer research methods led by a top researcher in the field. The 38th Annual Brossman Foundation and Ronald E. Frisbie Sr. Science Lectureship Program will return on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Biemesderfer Concert Hall, Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center. Dr. Sophia Lunt, professor in the College of Natural Sciences at Michigan State University will be the keynote speaker. Lunt is a top cancer researcher in the field, discovering breakthroughs in personalized therapies, metastasis prevention and cutting-edge imaging technologies. A local to central PA, Lunt graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 2002, then completed her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Lebanon Valley College, her Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton University and her postdoctoral training in cancer biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Department of Defense Visionary Postdoctoral Fellow. Throughout her career, Lunt has achieved many major accomplishments including having work published in top-tier publications, large grants and invited speaking events. In addition, and is one of four recipients of the inaugural American Association of Cancer Research-Incyte NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research. She was also chosen by (then) Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to introduce the Vice President at the AACR Annual Meeting, announcing inaugural grant recipients to 20,000 attendees. She was recently awarded a National Institute of Health R01 grant for over two million dollars to support her continued work in cancer research. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious grants in biomedical research. Marc Harris, dean of the College of Science and Technology, explains the importance of Lunt’s presentation. “Dr. Lunt is a transformative force in science and has already established herself as a leader and pioneer, accelerating the limits of discovery and understanding to combat a human crisis.” “Above all this, she is a dedicated teacher and mentor, and she insists on maintaining a regular teaching load and she has received numerous awards and accolades from her students and colleagues for her commitment and excellence in science education,” says Harris. During her presentation, Lunt will help attendees gain a better understanding of the metabolic mechanisms involved in cancer proliferation, the innovative methods that researchers are employing to understand these mechanisms and better methods of disease detection and therapeutic interventions. Attendees will also learn about how fundamental and applied research can lead to discoveries that benefit society. Harris emphasizes the importance of the event and hopes the students attending feel inspired after the presentation. “This event was started by the Brossman Foundation to spotlight Millersville University’s educational programs in STEM fields by bringing a renowned speaker and accomplished scientist. This event not only highlights the educational programs offered through the nine departments within the College of Science and Technology but also serves to educate and motivate students pursuing degrees in STEM fields. It also serves to educate the public in an area of science and technology that is critical for the region, nature and broader society.” The lecture is free and open […] “Top Cancer Researcher to Deliver Science Lecture”

Faculty/Staff Activities […] “Faculty/Staff Activities”

Celebrate the 90th Annual MU Homecoming The MU community and alumni will come together once again to celebrate the 90th annual Homecoming this October. Students and community members can look forward to events like the annual parade, block party and much more. Celebrations and activities will begin on Friday, Oct. 13th and continue through Sunday, Oct. 15th. Bright and early on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m., spectators will line George Street to watch the annual parade themed “Travel the World.” The parade, a joint venture of Millersville University and the community, will feature floats, bands and mascots. After the parade, spectators can attend the annual block party for family fun located in the Lombardo-Brooks/Boyer Lot and Field. Attendees will enjoy 12 different food trucks, music from a DJ and a 360 “spinz” selfie booth. Kids can also join in on the fun with pumpkin and face painting, balloon animals and yard games. Athletics will also be in full swing during Homecoming weekend. Students and community members can attend the homecoming football game against Shepherd University at 2 p.m. and women’s soccer vs. Bloomsburg at 1 p.m. In preparation for the weekend, and after fall break, students can look forward to Spirit Week. From Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Saturday, Oct. 14 students can participate in daily activities and themed days. The events for Spirit Week include: Wednesday- anything but a backpack/ pajama day Thursday- jersey day Friday- Culture Day with food Saturday- MU bleed black and gold Nicole Parise, the graduate assistant for Campus Life, explains the importance of Spirit Week at MU. “It is a great opportunity for students to come together and support the school in numerous ways. Participating in Spirit Week shows that you are demonstrating school spirit and being involved and engaged with the school.” Join Millersville University for the 10th annual PrideFest on Friday, Oct. 13, from 4 – 7 p.m. Following Pridefest, a drag show will take place starring Deja Skye and Luxx Noir London from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosted by Nevaeha Le’Vixenn in the Student Memorial Center Multipurpose Room 114. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and are $5 with a valid MU ID, $10 with a non-MU college ID, $15 for MU faculty and staff and $30 for community members and alumni. MU students can get their tickets at the SMC ticket office. Others can buy their tickets online. Kristin Schab, director of alumni engagement, says Homecoming is an essential part of MU culture. “Since it was first held in 1933, Homecoming has always been a highly anticipated and extravagant event celebrating the culture and accomplishments of Millersville University students, alumni, community and athletes.” Looking for more info? https://www.millersville.edu/alumni/events-reunions/homecoming.php Register here! https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bkkagx/event/hwa1c/ Athletic Schedule: https://millersvilleathle […] “Celebrate the 90th Annual MU Homecoming”

Scholarships for Student Firefighters Interested in going to college and serving as a volunteer firefighter? Thanks to a $296,000.00 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Millersville University students who volunteer for Blue Rock Fire Rescue may receive $2,500 a semester. Millersville University’s Dr. Duane Hagelgans, professor of emergency management, was awarded this grant by FEMA to aid the Blue Rock Fire District. $200,000 of the grant will go toward recruitment and retention. When a Millersville University student applies to volunteer at Blue Rock Fire Rescue, they become eligible for the scholarship money.  The scholarship money is $2,500 a semester.  The goal of the grant is to recruit 12 new student volunteers per year for the fire company. “This is a win-win situation,” says Hagelgans. “The student-volunteers are awarded with scholarship funding to help them with their education. The local community benefits through the volunteer service of these student volunteers. Overall, the community wins by having more volunteers, the student-volunteers win because they get some financial help, plus they benefit by doing service to the community they call home while at the University.” “I think another important point, in addition to the scholarship money, is the ‘give back’ by these student volunteers,” says Hagelgans. “We try to teach in our program that in life, it is not about what you take, but what you give back. These student-volunteers are fulfilling this mission at a young age, and hopefully, this mentality of caring about your community and giving back will remain with them throughout their lives, no matter where life takes them.” The process Hagelgans went through to receive the grant was very competitive. “The most difficult part of the process was the request,” says Hagelgans. “You need to spell out in great detail what you are asking for financially, how this will benefit the community, what success looks like, and why your agency should be chosen for these funds. It is a challenging process in that you need to balance the funding request against the return on investment.” “While applying for a grant like this, you are in competition with emergency service agencies from all over the nation,” says Hagelgans. “Pennsylvania alone has over 3,000 fire agencies.” In the 12 years of Blue Rock’s existence, Hagelgans has received several grants, but this is the first time Hagelgans has been awarded scholarship money. The grants will start to be offered for the spring semester. Student volunteers who are now with or who join Blue Rock will be eligible. For more information, contact Hagelgans at duane.hagelgans@millersville.edu.   […] “Scholarships for Student Firefighters”

MU and Church World Service Collaborate Church World Service Lancaster and Millersville University have long collaborated in support of refugees and immigrants. This partnership has included ways for students and staff to get involved in direct services, community development and fundraising. Over the past 35 years, CWS Lancaster has welcomed more than 7,000 new refugee neighbors to peace and safety in Lancaster County. Through partnerships with faith groups, organizations and individuals, CWS’ holistic programs empower clients toward long-term success and belonging through up to five years of services and support from initial welcome and resettlement through long-term integration and success. The Millersville University Geography Department is currently working on a mapping project with CWS, which examines the housing capacity of boroughs in Lancaster County for refugee resettlement. CWS requested that the department first evaluate Millersville, Lititz and Elizabethtown. An online, interactive GIS map was created that included layers of data that are pertinent in determining refugee resettlement capacity. Once data was collected on rental availability, it became clear that affordable housing availability in Lancaster County was in very short supply. Given the confirmation of a lack of affordable housing, and the need for a satellite office in a new location to help expand its reach, MU was asked to pivot and focus its attention on the Harrisburg region. CWS asked MU to develop a new online map with all the pertinent layers so they could use the data to determine the best location for a new satellite office.  At the request of CWS, MU also expanded the data collection to include the West Shore area and Carlisle. In addition to intern support for mapping refugee and immigrant service expansion, Millersville has worked with CWS Lancaster on internship opportunities within their Lancaster City office. Within the past three years, CWS Lancaster has worked with a total of 10 BASW and MSW students interning through the Millersville School of Social Work. The interns have operated within several program areas across the agency, offering support in cultural orientation, resettlement, employment, community organizing, and immigration services, as well as the development of an ECAR (Every Campus a Refuge) chapter in partnership with the Millersville Social Work department and student organization, RIDGE, Refugees and Immigrants Devoted to Growth and Excellence. As a student organization dedicated to supporting refugee and immigrant neighbors, the RIDGE program has provided foundational support for the ECAR program. Under the ECAR program, each refugee family is temporarily housed on campus until they are able to obtain permanent housing in Lancaster County. They are provided with rental support, utilities, Wi-Fi, use of college facilities and resources, as well as a large community of support in the form of the college campus and its friends. In addition to direct support, Millersville University and CWS Lancaster have collaborated on raising funds to support new Ukrainian neighbors who have been forced to flee. MU’s Festiville 2022 proceeds went to support CWS Lancaster programming that serves Ukrainians who have arrived in the U.S. on Humanitarian Parole. The festival featured several local performers and bands, including ska band Big Fat Meanies, rock band Eternal Frequency, African fusion artist Emmanuel Nsingani, country-rock singer Gillian Smith, multi-genre duo Dandy, bluegrass band Big Sky Quartet and the Music Business Technology Showcase Band. FestiVille typically serves as a concert that teaches students the organization and development of music events, as well as a way to bring the community together. However, Festiville 2022 sought to continue this tradition while supporting new Ukrainian neighbors. Millersville University’s Ware Center and CWS have worked together to celebrate the cultures of our immigrant neighbors through “We the People: Acts of Welcome” first Friday performances. This year’s performances included Ukrainian actress, singer and producer Anna Koziar who sang, recited verse from a Ukrainian author, and provided a presentation about a fund she has created called the “Ukrainian Performing Arts Fund.” Additional performers included a Nepali youth dance troupe under the direction of Dilli Chapagain, singer and Columbian immigrant Ramiro Velasco, and Semukondo Olivier from the People’s Republic of Congo who performed two Afro-inspired songs. For more information about CWS Lancaster, visit C […] “MU and Church World Service Collaborate”