UPB Welcomes Alumni, Families Oct. 1-3

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold its annual Alumni and Family Weekend Oct. 1-3 with several events open to the general public.

Those include a career networking luncheon, nursing seminar and annual block party and vendor fair.

The weekend gets underway Friday, Oct. 1, with a nursing seminar presented by Tamra Minnier ’81, chief quality officer for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. For more information on the seminar, which will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater, contact the Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development at (814)362-5078 or e-mail reach@pitt.edu.

Also on Friday, a career networking luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room in the Frame-Westerberg Commons, where a panel of professionals who are Pitt-Bradford alumni will share insights and advice on successful careers.

Panel members are Lorenzo Newsome ’84, president and chief investment officer for Xavier Capital Management LLC; Shannon Lugaila ’08, a senior research specialist in the health and physical activity department at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Pittsburgh; and Dr. Thad Urban ’00, principal of Iroquois Elementary School. The panel will be moderated by Chris Luke ’94, senior vice president and director of marketing for PNC investments.

The luncheon is sponsored by County National Bank, the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association and the Alumni Relations Office and the Career Services Office. Reservations are requested. There is a cost for non-college students.

The Friends of the Hanley Library annual used book sale begins at 11 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m. in the lobby of Hanley Library.

A block party and vendor fair will run from noon to 4 p.m. in the Campus Drive loop in front of the Campus Police station featuring dozens of local and student vendors. In the event of rain, the block party will be held in the field house of the Sport and Fitness Center.

The Pitt-Bradford women’s tennis team will face off against Fredonia State University at 1 p.m. at the Kessel Athletic Complex.

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the public can tour the new Harriett B. Wick Chapel.

Those who don’t want to miss Pitt play Florida International can watch the game on the big screen in Swarts Hall 162. Kick-off time is 3:30 p.m. The game will not be televised, but can be seen here.

At 2 p.m., those who enjoy walking the Richard E. McDowell Community Trail will enjoy it even more with the commentary of Pitt-Bradford’s master gardener, Bob Harris. Harris will conduct a nature walk beginning at the George’s Crossing bridge behind Blaisdell Hall. He will identify plants and trees and share stories, including the real story of Johnny Appleseed.

Also at 2 p.m., current members of the Panther baseball team will take on former players in the annual alumni baseball game at the Kessel Athletic Complex.

Saturday evening, the Bradford Family YMCA will sponsor a Kids’ Night Out from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Sport and Fitness Center that will include inflatables, games and activities.

From 7 to 8 p.m., children age 4 to 10 can learn how to play Quick Start Tennis with members of the Pitt-Bradford men’s and women’s tennis team.

QST is a new play format for learning tennis designed to bring kids into the game by using special equipment, smaller courts and modified scoring, explained Susan Schenfield, head tennis coach. “QST is designed for children to start playing points immediately.”

The QST program is free.

Finally, Saturday will end with a bang with fireworks around 9:30 p.m. visible from the Commons patio.

Pictured, Mark Burns, assistant director of campus police and safety, with a rescued basset hound. Burns and his wife, Diane, have a ‘booth’ each year at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Alumni and Family Weekend block party to raise awareness about the rescue animals. In addition to vendors, the block party has family-friendly entertainment and activities for all.
Photo courtesy of Pitt-Bradford