William Paterson to Hold Commencement on May 19

—Ben Jones ’63, internationally renowned artist, to receive President’s Medal
—Carla Temple, former member of University Board of Trustees; Peter Fan, outgoing member of Board of Trustees; and Bonnie Watson Coleman, assemblywoman and majority leader, New Jersey General Assembly, to receive honorary degrees

Ben Jones, a 1963 graduate of William Paterson and an award-winning New Jersey artist, will receive the President’s Medal, and Carla Temple, former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, Pater Fan, outgoing member of the Board of Trustees, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, assemblywoman and majority leader, New Jersey General Assembly, will receive honorary degrees as part of the University’s 186th commencement ceremonies on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

Separate ceremonies will be held for undergraduate and graduate students. The commencement ceremony for undergraduate students will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will be held on Wightman Field; the rain date is May 20. The graduate ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. in the Recreation Center, and will take place rain or shine.

Campus Fulbright Community Gathers for Discussion

Maya Chadda

A group of William Paterson professors and students who are Fulbright Scholars gathered in Hobart Manor recently for a roundtable discussion, “America in the New Century: Power, Prosperity, and Peace.” The event was designed for them to share their expertise with other members of the campus community.

New Brand Marketing Campaign Wins Award

Kiosk mall display featuring the University's new marketing campaign

William Paterson University’s new marketing campaign has won a Silver Award in the 24th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards. The campaign placed second in the Best Total Recruitment Package category.

News Notes

A film by Philip Cioffari, English, Love in the Age of Dion, was screened on March 25 at the Village East Cinemas in New York City as part of the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. (Read more)

Kick Butts Day

Students show support for “Kick Butts Day:” (left to right) Lizbeth Zamudio, Anita Osei, Shirley Capurro, Rose Marte, and Nalani Clisset

Smoking cessation was the topic of the day as William Paterson students participated in national “Kick Butts Day” held on March 24. The event was sponsored by the University’s Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center. The Center’s Peer Health Advocates placed 1,200 pinwheels in Zanfino Plaza to represent the number of people who die each day from smoke-related illnesses.

Sociology Students Win Award at Eastern Sociological Society Meeting

Alex W. Collins and Chris Fiduccia, both seniors majoring in sociology at William Paterson, jointly won an award for the best presentation of their research at the 2009 annual meeting of the Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) in Baltimore in March. They placed first in a field of 40 entries in the conference’s undergraduate poster session.

William Paterson to Host
12th-Annual Pioneer Golf
Classic on June 2

Help support Pioneer Athletics while enjoying a fun day on the links by participating in the 12th-annual William Paterson Pioneer Golf Classic Tuesday, June 2, at Black Bear Golf Course in Franklin, N.J. Registration will begin at 12:00 p.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m.

William Paterson University Foundation Raises More Than $200,000 at 19th Annual Legacy Award Gala

Legacy Award honorees Frederick Gruel (far left), president and chief executive officer of AAA New Jersey Automobile Club and a member of the William Paterson Board of Trustees, and Gerry Cottrell ’78 (second from right), vice president for finance, Coca-Cola Enterprises, who accepted on behalf of Coca-Cola, with President Arnold Speert (far right) and Sandra Deller (second from left), vice president for institutional advancement (second from left)

Faculty Service Award recipient Cho Kin Leung (second from left) with Distinguished alumni Award recipients (left to right) Alfred W. Piaget ’57, Ed.D.; Marilyn Daniels ’79, M.A. ’80, Ph.D.; Carol J. Ossi ’74; Leslie D. Hirsch ’74; and Robert D. VanLangen ’75

The William Paterson University Foundation raised more than $200,000 at the Foundation’s 19th annual Legacy Award Gala and Silent Auction held on April 25 at The Villa at Mountain Lakes. The annual event raises funds to support the University’s mission of promoting student success and academic excellence.

William Paterson University Trustee Michael L. Jackson and Associate Provost Stephen Hahn Named Honorary Members of International Computing Science Honor Society

Michael L. Jackson (far right) was named an honorary member of the Gamma Chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon along with Stephen Hahn (second from left). With them are (from left) John Najarian, professor of computer science and Li Hsiang S. Cheo, professor of computer science

Michael L. Jackson, an information technology executive and secretary of the University's Board of Trustees, and Stephen Hahn, associate provost and professor of English at William Paterson, have been elected honorary members of William Paterson’s Gamma Chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the International Computing Sciences Honor Society.

Midday Artist Series Concert Celebrates Music of Beethoven

Raymond Torres-Santos, dean of the University’s College of the Arts and Communication, conducted the concert

Raymond Torres-Santos, dean of the University’s College of the Arts and Communication, conducted the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra in a concert which celebrated the music of Ludwig van Beethoven last month. The program, attended by more than 700 people, featured pianist Itay Goren ’04 and the Ramapo College Chorale. The concert was part of William Paterson’s Midday Artist Series. View it on Youtube.com

Fourth Annual Red Dress Dinner Honors Women of Vision, Essay Contest Winners

Honored with the Women of Vision Award for their dedication to activities that protect the natural environment were (from left) Karen Hilberg, associate director of recreational services; Connie Mattison, vice president of Kaizen Productions and producer of “Green by Design TV;” Sandra DeYoung, dean of the College of Science and Health; Jessica Pepe, a senior majoring in history and president of the Student Government Association; and Lourdes Cortes, senior vice president of North Jersey Federal Credit Union. With them are Francisco Diaz (left), assistant vice president for campus life; and Librada Sanchez (second from right), director of the University’s Women’s Center

Five women were honored on March 26 during the University’s Fourth Annual Red Dress Dinner, the final event held in celebration of Women’s History Month on campus.

Students Raise Money for Research for St. Jude Children's Hospital

"Up 'til Dawn," a fundraising program, was coordinated by twelve William Paterson students. At the event were (from left) Chelsea Fretterd, Britney Davis, Diane Asmar, Paola Valencia, Sara Wennburg, Jackie Garcia, Ashley Chiesa, Jennifer Bauer, Travis Robinson, Cheryl Bylinski, Chris Weiss, Alexis Malafatapoulos, and visitor Dan Clifford

Will Courter

Baseball Advances to NJAC Tournament Finals, Awaits Make-Up of Postponed Series

Third-seeded William Paterson (24-16, 12-6 NJAC) will play fourth-seeded The College of New Jersey (23-16-1, 11-7 NJAC) to decide the 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament championship. The finals series was scheduled to be played Sunday, May 3, but was postponed due to inclement weather. When the make-up date, time and location are determined, the information will be posted on wpupioneers.com.

Three First-Team Picks Lead Seven Pioneer All-NJAC Selections

NJAC-Champion Softball Team to Open NCAA Tournament Play May 7

Pioneer Softball Team

William Paterson (32-7) has been awarded the second seed in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament’s Ramapo Bracket, and will play seventh-seeded Muhlenberg (19-16) in the first round Thursday, May 7, at 4:00 p.m. at the Ramapo College Softball Field in Mahwah, N.J. The Pioneers received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after they were declared the winners of the 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Softball Tournament, posting a perfect 3-0 record before rain washed out the finals series May 3.

Reilly Named NJAC Player of the Year to Lead Four Honorees

Meghan Reilly