Husband and Wife Honored for Service to Marywood University

Posted on November 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

Marywood honors Sweeneys

At its recent Presidential Society Dinner, the late Regina P. Tirpak ’59 was inducted into the Saint Alphonsus Society, which honors benefactors whose lifetime commitments to Marywood have reached or exceeded $500,000. Her generous estate gift, exceeding $3 million, is one of the largest gifts to Marywood University to date.

Regina Tirpak was a graduate of Marywood College, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in home economics, a discipline that she taught at Wyoming Valley West for 30 years.

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president of Marywood University, said, “We are truly grateful to Regina for her generosity and vision, which made possible the establishment of the Tirpak Family Memorial Scholarship, benefitting female students studying Nutrition and Dietetics at Marywood.”

John P. Sweeney Sr.

Additionally, John P., Sr. and Jean Blackledge Sweeney were honored at the Presidential Society Dinner with the Presidential Mission Medal, for their service and commitment to Marywood’s core values of Catholic identity, respect, empowerment, and excellence.

The Sweeneys exemplify philanthropy in action, and the cause of education is at the top of their agenda. They are faithful benefactors of several regional educational institutions, including Marywood University. Together, they established several scholarships to provide educational access and a world of opportunities to generations of grateful students.

Mr. Sweeney served as the President of Specialty Defense Systems in Dunmore prior to his retirement. A graduate of the University of Scranton, Mr. Sweeney was president at the company’s inception and served in this capacity until 2000. He was a Marywood University Trustee from 2009-2018.

Mrs. Sweeney graduated from the Scranton State Hospital School of Nursing and attended Marywood. She had her own successful career as an occupational health nurse at the former Haddon Craftsman in Scranton.

Presidential Mission Medal recipients inspire others to serve and advance the University’s commitment to excellence and empowerment through education. Sister Mary Persico said, “Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney’s enduring commitment to the mission of Marywood University, through the generous gifts of their time, energy, talents, and personal resources, will continue to benefit and transform the lives of our students, now and for future generations.”

Marywood Awarded Robert Noyce Scholarship

Posted on August 7, 2019 by The Dunmorean

Marywood University will receive the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Robert Noyce Scholarship. The grant, which totals $1,195,022, will be awarded to assist Marywood students in meeting the significant teacher shortage and addressing the need for those teachers in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Through the Marywood Advancing STEM Teaching (MAST) program, the University will recruit and support 20 biology and math secondary education majors as Noyce Scholars. These MAST scholars will earn bachelor’s degrees in biology or math, and they will be eligible for a Pennsylvania secondary teaching certification in each field.

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., president of Marywood University said, “This will help us do one of the things that Marywood does best – develop strong teachers who will empower young women and men to become leaders in our neighboring communities. It’s a wonderful opportunity for all involved.”

The NSF is a federal agency created to support research, innovation, and discovery in mathematics, computer sciences, and other fields. It funds nearly a quarter of all federally-supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities.

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, in response to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), provides funding to institutions of higher education to provide scholarships, stipends, and programmatic support. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is working with the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to identify and disseminate information about effective practices and strategies for attracting, selecting, and preparing new K-12 STEM teachers and retaining them in the STEM teacher workforce.

Through its long history of educating STEM teachers, Marywood University’s Mathematics/Secondary Education and Biology/Secondary Education programs were established in 1959 and 1967, respectively. With support from NSF Noyce funding, Marywood will provide a framework for educational excellence that enables MAST scholars to develop fully as persons and to master professional leadership skills in STEM teaching.

Marywood will partner with three diverse, high-need school districts: Scranton, Carbondale, and Forest City. Additionally, program print materials will be distributed to high schools (including partner high schools) in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Susquehanna counties, and will be made available for use at admissions fairs. MAST Program team members will be available at Marywood University Open House events to meet with potential STEM students and parents, and Marywood University’s Office of Admissions will hold specific STEM Day events for interested students.

For additional information about Marywood University’s School of Education, please visit www.marywood.edu/education/about.html, or call (570) 348-6289. For additional information about the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship, please visit www.nsfnoyce.org/.

Marywood and East Stroudsburg Master’s Programs Agreement

Posted on February 7, 2018 by The Dunmorean

Marywood University and East Stroudsburg University recently signed an articulation agreement for master’s programs in public administration and management and leadership.

Students enrolled in the master of science in public administration programs at East Stroudsburg University can take approved master of public administration (MPA) courses at Marywood University and apply them toward their degree. At the same time, students enrolled in Marywood University’s MPA program can take approved courses at East Stroudsburg University and apply them toward their MPA degree.

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D. president of Marywood University and Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of East Stroudsburg University, recently signed the articulation agreement that fosters greater cooperation and enhances the academic relationship between the two universities and serves as a model for growth, shared expertise and resources, and mutual benefits.

The master of public administration program at Marywood University is an exclusive online 30-credit hour degree that follows the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation guidelines. Students are prepared for challenging emergence in public administration as effective and innovative administrators equipped with practical and real-world experiences, and they are trained with the needed skills to tackle the complex environment of public affairs, including: careers in public and nonprofit organizations as well as administrative positions in the public sector.

For additional information about articulation agreements between Marywood University and other colleges and universities, please visit www.marywood.edu/registrar/prior-learning-and-testing/college.html, or contact Lori Orr, coordinator of prior learning assessment at Marywood University, at (570) 348-6266, or email loriorr@marywood.edu.