WHAT ’ S NEWS IN MARS AREA
BRAS FOR THE CAUSE AT PARTY LANE
On Saturday , Oct . 15 , from 6:30 to 8:30 p . m ., Party Lane hosted Bras for the Cause , a fundraising event to support the Susan G . Komen Pittsburgh organization . The event was $ 40 per person and $ 10 of each ticket was donated directly to the charity . Attendees were asked to bring a bra to decorate , and Party Lane supplied snacks , glue guns and various items to adorn the bras with bling , string , feathers , fur and more . The event was spearheaded by resident artist and breast cancer survivor Mary Grace Nichol .
For more information about Bras for the Cause or upcoming events , visit partylanepa . com or call 412.446.8126 .
MARS FIFTH-GRADER DELIVERS FREE LUNCH TO THANK LOCAL POLICE
One local Mars boy took time out of his summer vacation this August to thank the officers who protect and serve his community .
Ten-year-old Evan Szafranski , a fifth grader in the Mars School District , spearheaded an effort to thank the Adams Township Police Department for their service . Evan and his
father , Gary Szafranski , delivered a free lunch to the department as a way to offset some of the negative attention that police departments nationwide have received in recent months . Szafranski ’ s grandfather was a Scott Township police officer for 35 years , so Evan says he wanted to “ do something nice ” for the police .
In addition to contributing their own money , the family also typed up a flier and distributed it throughout their neighborhood , asking for donations .
They ordered the lunch through Posti ’ s Pizza in Mars , which contributed extra food items at no charge . Evan and Gary also included an ice cream gift card with their delivery . “ The lunch was part donations , part our own contribution and part Posti ’ s throwing in some freebies as well ,” explains Gary . Upon delivery , there was enough food to serve the police officers and the administrative staff , as well as members of the Public Works Department .
To thank him for his efforts , the department ordered an Adams Township Police Department shirt for Evan , embroidered with his name . Officers delivered the shirt in person to his house .
“ It was a great learning experience for him , and gave him a tremendous sense of responsibility ,” says Gary Szafranski . “ It was a proud-father moment for me , for sure .”
- By Jennifer Brozak
BC3 RESPONDS TO STUDENT NEEDS WITH FALL FAST TRACK COURSES
Four weeks into the fall semester , students at Butler County Community College can still start a course on time , maintain their fulltime status to remain eligible for financial aid and pursue their education off campus while addressing other responsibilities .
None of these were available to Bruce Russell and Bill Miller when they were freshmen . Now , as BC3 administrators , they are among those behind an innovative approach to the fall semester that follows a successful summer pilot program and reflects BC3 ’ s response to the dynamic needs of its student body .
For the first time , BC3 is offering fall Fast Track selections – three five-week , online-only sessions held consecutively within the semester .
BC3 now schedules four different course options within a semester : Session 1 spanning 14 weeks ; Session 2 for 12 weeks ; Session 3 for 10 weeks ; and the five-week Fast Tracks .
“ I would think it is the way of the future ,” says Miller , Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences . “ Students are looking for convenience , and costs all the time . They are also thinking how can they manage a schedule with all the other things they have to do .” Miller estimates that 75 percent of BC3 ’ s 5,300 credit students have a full- or part-time job .
“ So many of these students are working 10 to however many hours a week ,” Miller says . “ They are juggling family responsibilities , and possibly going to school with 15 credits . Time is valuable for them .”
“ The whole approach of society now is that things are on demand and when you need it ,” continues Russell , BC3 ’ s Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs .
As a freshman at Slippery Rock State College , Russell worked two 20-hour parttime jobs while maintaining a full-time course load . Courses usually began the first Monday in September , and students who dropped a class in the weeks afterward had little chance to recoup those credits until the next semester , he says . If those students also fell below full-time status , they risked losing financial aid .
“ Education has changed since his first semester in 1968 ,” says Russell . “ We had a need to adapt some of our models so we would be more receptive and open to current students ’ lifestyles .”
“ Traditional education required the student to work around a college ' s schedule ,” adds Bob Morris , Dean of BC3 Admissions . “ These new options change that to some degree , as BC3 can now work more around a student ' s schedule ,” Morris continues .
Fast Track students will find the five-week workload to be concentrated and that the course may have the same requirements and expectations as those lasting 14 weeks .
“ The quality of the course is still there , but if students can manage their time – that is the key – and make deadlines , it can work to their advantage ,” Miller says . “ We find those online courses have become popular . They are not easier . ( Students ) can take two to three faceto-face courses and an online course or two . Instead of coming to campus five days a week , they might come only two , and use those other days for work .”
Enrollment is currently open for Fast Track 3 , to be held from Nov . 7 to Dec . 9 . Fast Track 1 , which began Aug . 29 , concluded Sept . 30 ; Fast Track 2 goes until Nov . 4 .
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