Philadelphia University’s basketball and academic standout Malcolm Ingram ’10 was named one of two 2009-10 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Ingram, who graduated with an international business degree, is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship.

Ingram, from Philadelphia, will study in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from March to December 2011. His research will focus on the current problem of pirated pharmaceuticals in the Argentinean pharmaceutical market.

He was a three-year member of the CACC All-Academic team and a two-time Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Star. Ingram, who was named the CACC Student-Athlete of the Month in March, helped lead the Rams to two CACC Championships in his three years as a starter and was a three-time All-CACC first team selection, including this past season.

Ingram helped Philadelphia University advance to the NCAA Division II East Region Championship game, which was the team’s fourth straight appearance in the tournament. The Rams became the first CACC men’s team to advance to the regional final.

Among his many accomplishments at Philadelphia University, Ingram was named to Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball East All-Region Second Teams his senior and junior years, CACC 2009 Winter “All-Academic Team,” DII Bulletin All-American, and the Sporting News “Preseason All-Americans” all prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, to name a few.

Along with Ingram, Caldwell College softball star Kyrie Timbrook was named CACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The striking crimson designs of PhilaU students Bianca De Pietro, Cecily Salinas and Nikki Enterline were the top winners in the 2010 Red Dress Competition sponsored by the American Heart Association.

De Pietro won first place for her hand-beaded and crocheted gown of silk, satin and organza and came from her “most creative” award-winning collection at the PhilaU Fashion Show.  Salinas won second place and the People’s Choice award for her saucy and feminine flamenco dancing-inspired dress. Enterline, with her ‘50s-inspired cocktail dress with a modern silhouette, received third place.

The three top-winning designs were prominently displayed in Macy’s Center City window and modeled at the annual Go Red for Women luncheon event, which took place June 11 at Philadelphia’s Marriott Hotel.

The Philadelphia Go Red for Women luncheon and the red dress competition are designed to raise awareness of heart disease in women and raise funds for research and prevention.

Philadelphia University has received an additional $1.29 million from the U.S. Department of Defense, for a total of $9 million over six years to research, develop and test chemically protective clothing for military personnel through its Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection (LEHP).

“The Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection is making important contributions to society through studies that result in the development of advanced textile structures in protective apparel worn by the military,” said David Brookstein, Sc.D., dean of the School of Engineering and Textiles, who will assume the new position of executive dean for university research July 1. “This latest grant will contribute in a significant way to those efforts and to building on the University’s extensive expertise in these critical engineering and scientific fields.”

Working with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center, researchers at LEHP are creating garments to protect American servicemen and women against battlefield hazards and which are also sufficiently comfortable to wear for the periods of time required by their missions.

This is a significant challenge because increasing the protective features against chemical warfare adds to the weight of the garment and also the extent to which it must encapsulate the body. LEHP’s highly specialized designs must offer both protection from chemical toxins and also prevent the wearer from becoming overheated during the stress of battle.

“Philadelphia University is a worldwide leader in cutting-edge textiles research,” said President Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D. “Furthering the research conducted at the Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection will advance the development of the best possible protective apparel and garments for U.S. soldiers. It also will help to intensify our Strategic Plan initiative to advance applied research across the University and further our impact globally.”

In May, Philadelphia University received $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce to support innovative research in biomedical textile devices at the University’s Biomedical Textile Structures Laboratory (BTSL). The laboratory, which was established in October 2009, was initially funded with $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Researchers at the BTSL, working with medical researchers from the College of Medicine at Drexel University, are focusing on the development, testing and support of basic research in biomedical textile devices using a variety of nanofiber platforms and applications. Initially, researchers are working to develop a cardiac patch that would be used with stem cells to regenerate heart tissue.

Incoming freshmen and transfer students and their families will participate in PhilaU’s summer orientation program, START. The program is designed to help ensure students and their families make a seamless transition into the PhilaU community.

The START sessions for first year students will be offered on the following dates:

1. Tues., June 15 to Wed., June 16
2. Tues., June 22 to Wed., June 23
3. Tues., June 29 to Wed., June 30
4. Wed., July 7 to Thurs., July 8
5. Tues., July 13 to Wed., July 14
6. Tues., Aug. 17 to Wed., Aug. 18 (*)

The START sessions for transfer students will be offered on the following dates:

1. Thurs., June 24
2. Thurs., July 15
3. Tues., Aug. 17 (*)

(*) Please Note: The August sessions are intended for students traveling from more than 250 miles away who are unable to make two trips to campus over the summer.

During START, students will be introduced to the campus, receive schedules, meet other incoming students and participate in numerous activities to get acclimated to the University and surrounding community. Click here for the schedule of events.

START Leaders will lead the sessions and are actively involved in assisting all new students with their transition. “The success of the summer START program is due in large part to the contributions of some of our best students as START Leaders,” said Aurelio Valente, assistant dean for student development. “They serve as wonderful role models to incoming students and reassuring ambassadors to their parents and families.”

Space in the summer orientation program is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students should complete the reservation process as soon as possible to help ensure the most convenient session.

Incoming students and their families can also arrive the day before the scheduled START session and participate in “Finding Philadelphia” excursions to the city. A $60 fee includes a Duck or Trolley Tour of Philadelphia; a walking tour of the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, including a stop at Rita’s for water ice; a selected new release movie, dinner and breakfast; and an additional night in Ronson Hall.  Students who would like to participate in this opportunity should plan to arrive on campus at approximately 3:30 p.m. the afternoon before the scheduled START session.

Summer Reading
At the closing resource fair during each START session, students will receive the 2010 First Year Experience Summer Reading Program book, The Complete Persepolis, along with a reading guide. Students are expected to read the book before returning to campus on August 19.

The Complete Persepolis is a graphic novel rich in detailed, crisp black-and-white imagery offering readers a distinctive perspective and understanding of Iran’s political subjugation, the dynamics of a family in turmoil, and one woman’s story of being an outsider both at home and abroad.

This book will be used in many of the courses taken in the first semester including Writing Seminar I and American Transitions, and faculty will expect students to have a knowledge and understanding of the work.

Students can qualify for a weekly $50 drawing by responding to posts about the 2010 summer reading on the blog available at www.PhilaU.edu/SummerReading.
Post by July 16: Critique the text as a Political Reportage
Post by July 23: Critique the text as a Portrait of Culture
Post by July 30: Critique the text as a Memoir
Post by August 6: Critique the text as a Coming of Age Story
Post by August 17: Critique the text as a Graphic Novel

For questions regarding the Freshman START and Family Orientation Program, please call the Office of Student Development Programs at 215-951-2634.

Fifteen Philadelphia University student-athletes recently received the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) All-Academic honors for the spring 2010 athletic season.

Honorees include baseball players Tyler Mentzer, Jared Farbman and Matthew Minakowski; softball players Kristyn Loughery, Devyn O’Neill, Kelly Rauco, Kate Desmond, Randi Wozniak and Allison Glaser; and lacrosse players Ania Crawford, Kelly Dallas, Jennifer Sica, Kalin Hodel, Taylor Peltzer and Kelly Staerk.

“We are proud of these accomplished student-athletes,” said Tom Shirley, director of athletics and women’s basketball head coach. “They are a shining representation of Philadelphia University athletics and have a bright future athletically and in their professions.”

In order to be named to the CACC All-Academic team, recipients must have participated in a CACC Championship sport this past fall. Students must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically; have been a student-athlete at their current school for at least two semesters; and achieve a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.50 or higher through the spring semester.