Latest news with #IndianaUniversityofPennsylvania
CBS News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races
Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races Runners take to the streets for 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday races It was race weekend here in the Steel City as hundreds of thousands flooded downtown for the Pittsburgh Marathon. From Downtown to the West End to Homewood and everywhere in between, 23,000 people laced up their sneakers to participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon. Thousands of people lined downtown to cheer on the 23,000 runners who participated in Sunday's marathon, relay, or half marathon. Crossing the finish line first for the half was Dominic Ondoro, who came back to compete in Pittsburgh. "I am so happy to win this race. I'm feeling so awesome," Ondoro said. The women's half-marathon winner says it was at the 10-mile mark when she knew she had won. "I think today was the right time for me. I just want to do well. The goal was to do well, but in the back of my mind, I wanted to win," said winner Everlyn Kemboi. The full marathon elite runners completed the hilly 26.2-mile course in just a few hours, bringing in some cash prizes. "Yes, I was working towards winning. It was in my mind the whole time," said Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa, winner of the men's race. "It means a lot because last year I came here and won, but I was having a tough time, so I'm happy today because I felt in control," said Jane Bareickis, winner of the women's race. Among the thousands of runners was a group racing for a purpose. Just weeks ago, Don Slusser, a legendary runner, Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate, and one of only eight men to run every Pittsburgh Marathon since it began in 1985, died before another marathon he was supposed to run. Friends and family honored his memory by carrying his bib number 1226 across the course he loved so much for one last time. "He never missed a marathon, he never missed a Great Race," said Roger McGuire, a friend of Slusser's. "They decided to honor him by having a relay team, and I was honored to be the anchor." If you're feeling up to it, registration for next year's Pittsburgh Marathon will be open by Monday.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rural health summit brings medical professionals together to brainstorm solutions
INDIANA, Pa. – Prior to a break Wednesday at the first Western Pennsylvania Regional Rural Health Summit, Primary Health Network CEO Dr. George Garrow addressed the crowd about the elegance of collaboration in the medical field. "Everyone in this room is creating beautiful music in health care," he said. "Imagine what we could create in working together." He highlighted the point by having two solo guitarists play individually, then together out of sync and finally harmoniously. "I think the only way to get out of this quagmire of poor health outcomes is to work creatively and collaboratively," Garrow said. Networking and building partnerships were the highlights of the event hosted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, organizers said. "Today's summit will hopefully serve as a launching point to identifying actionable solutions to the health challenges facing our rural communities," said Dr. Miko Rose, founding dean of IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine. She added that gatherings such as Wednesday's will help shape curriculum, program offerings and related fields when the medical school is operational. The proposed college is in the multiyear accreditation process and is expected to accept the first class of students in 2027. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said the summit is the first of several events geared toward "catalyzing an ongoing regional approach" to addressing rural health needs in the commonwealth. She told the crowd strong health care systems are the foundation of any community and those providers are essential to economic growth and stability in rural communities. That and the dire situation regarding health care in rural regions is why Gov. Josh Shapiro has earmarked tens of millions of dollars of funding in his proposed budget to lift up those institutions, Arkoosh said. According to the United Health Foundation, Pennsylvania has a patient to primary care physician ratio of 1,367 to 1. In rural areas, such as Cambria and Indiana counties, there's a shortage of one primary care physician for every 522 residents, according to state information. Steve Wolfe, IRMC president and CEO, said it is as tough as it's ever been for hospitals, and that a lot of facilities "walk a high wire act" to get through each day. He also noted many rural hospitals have limited options for private payer reimbursements and receive more than 50% of annual revenue through medical assistance avenues. To help address these issues, IUP pursued a proposed college of osteopathic medicine, specifically because doctors of osteopathic medicine more often practice in rural areas than doctors of medicine and to open up the osteopathic training field in the state. "We have our challenges," IUP President Michael Driscoll said. "Others have it worse, and we need to help all of them." He added that the university is "all in on the problem and finding a solution." The summit also served as an opportunity for Driscoll to share news that the university had received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor for the proposed college of medicine. The IUP president said the donation was from a first-generation university graduate and native of Indiana County. That funding pushed the total the university has received in private and governmental dollars to above $32 million for the proposed college. "I'm thankful for this latest gift, and it's because of you and other donors that we're going to do this," Driscoll said. Following introductions and comments from IUP leaders and guests, visitors took part in a variety of workshops. Those ranged from Expanding Access to Women's Health and Maternity Care, and Strengthening Rural Health Care Partnerships to The Business of Health Care and Rural Economic Development, Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population and Strengthening Regional Mental and Behavioral Health Response. Each group was then asked to present key takeaways and proposed next steps for addressing the material discussed within. Additionally, a panel consisting of Driscoll; Wolfe; state Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana; state Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana; and Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian discussed the state of rural health in Pennsylvania. Rose moderated the conversation. Kelly Meyer, an IRMC resident physician, said she was proud to see IUP host the gathering and the university's pursuit of a medical school. "I think we need all of us together, physicians, non-physicians, administrators, state people ... to bring more people back to rural PA," she said. Meyer is in her second year of residency at IRMC and lives in Indiana. She said her goal in attending Wednesday's event was to network with other professionals and get more information about access for foreign medical students to complete rotations in Pennsylvania. Meyer attended St. George's University in the West Indies for her medical degree and, despite being a Pennsylvania resident, she was required to do her rotations in New Jersey and New York. In addition to Arkoosh, summit guests heard from Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, who spoke about health trends in Armstrong, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson counties; IUP Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans; Center for Rural Pennsylvania Assistant Director Dr. Laura Dimino; and Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health Director Lisa Davis. Arkoosh said the state has three more rural health summits scheduled at this time, but the group wanted to start in Indiana County because officials have viewed a lot of success in the area. "We see a region that already collaborates really well and we want to learn," she said.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Making the Team: How a couple minutes changed Chris Villarrial's life
LORETTO (WTAJ) — For the last 15 years, Chris Villarrial has led St. Francis Football. Like many coaches, this is a second chapter for him after playing 11 years in the NFL. But how he got to the league is quite the story. In 1996 he was a college senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a small Division II program. He was a special education major whose main concern was finding a teaching job after graduation. But one day Chris received an invitation that inevitably changed his life. Chris was one of the 300 college football players invited that year to the NFL Combine. 'I remember receiving that letter, and I remember showing it to my parents, and I think the whole family was in shock at that time, I really do,' Villarial laughed. Saint Francis announces 2025 football schedule The NFL Combine has been around since the 1970s. It's a tryout of sorts where players entering that season's draft workout and interview with teams. Today the event is held in Lucas Oil Stadium, but in 1996 it was inside the RCA Dome. 'Being in that room with all these guys that you read about, you know, the Nebraska players, the Notre Dame players, and, you just in awe because you start to pinch yourself, like, do I really belong here?' he said. When Chris arrived in Indianapolis, he wasn't exactly the prized draft pick like some of his counterparts, but rather a diamond waiting in the rough. That year, six Hall of Famers would be selected, guys like Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden, an offensive lineman out of UCLA who was the Baltimore Ravens' first-ever draft pick. 'Jonathan Ogden was talked about this premier, you know, first rounder,' Villarial remembers. Running through drills with the other offensive linemen Chris watched Ogden, the fourth overall pick, do the bench press drill and complete 30-reps. 'I never did the 225 lbs test. 'When we were at IUP, we did one-rep maxes,' Villarial said, referencing the bench press workout. 'I remember just getting on the bench and saying, let's just do this.' Jonathan Ogden would eventually make it to the Hall of Fame, his 30-reps were good, but Chris's 36 set a new combine record. 'It was dead quiet in the room,' he recalled. 'I started walking out of the room, and there was Jimmy Johnson, and Dave Wannstedt sitting there, and I'll never forget it, that as I'm walking out, they both looked at me and they said, 'Hey, great job.'' Those few minutes at the bench press changed everything for Villarrial who's stock jumped instantaneously. 'Everything changed for me at that point,' Villarial said. 'You went from just being a regular college student, thinking about just where am I going to get a teaching job at, to all of a sudden, you know, you're getting teams flying, you here are flying and you there.' That spring the Chicago Bears selected him 152nd overall in the fifth round. The small-school kid from Hummelstown, PA was heading to the NFL. During ESPN's coverage, legendary draft analyst Mel Kiper was very high on the pick. 'This kid did a great job at IUP, a dominant drive blocker at center or guard,' he said on the ESPN broadcast. 'I think at this point in the draft, you're getting a small college kid with a lot of desire and a lot of raw strength.' 'I grew up right behind a creek, Swatara Creek,' Villarrial said. 'We were walking down to go fishing and my mom started screaming, hey, there's someone on the phone!' After making the active roster in 1996, the Bears told Villarrial that he was a project piece, but by midseason he was in the starting lineup, making his first start in a week five matchup against the then-Oakland Raiders. 'I just remember closing my eyes,' he recalled. 'I remember coming off the ball as hard as I could and when I looked down, I had pancaked Chester McGlockton, and we had gained five yards. And I just remember all my teammates picked me up, and [said] 'There you go, rook. Good job.'' Villarrial spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Bears, and Buffalo Bills. He was named All-Pro twice. He retired in 2006. After the NFL he went into coaching. He'd serve as an assistant at Central Cambria High School, before joining Saint Francis's staff in 2009. The following year Villarrial was named head coach and has been with the Red Flash since. It's an incredible story arc, and it all started with a few good minutes at the NFL Combine. 'I think it's very fair,' he said when asked if the bench press changed his life. 'And I hope my story can inspire others, that if you have that opportunity, take full advantage of it. Because you never know what can happen. I didn't know what was going to happen. I never even thought I'd get invited to the combine, let alone go out there and and do something that. [It] changed my life forever.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
New Kensington man arrested for terroristic threats while packing gun during IUPatty's
Mar. 23—Indiana Borough police arrested a New Kensington man accused of assault and making terroristic threats while displaying a gun Saturday evening during the IUPatty's student celebration held annually in the community. Police said Adisun Lee Jackson, 22, who is not a student at local Indiana University of Pennsylvania, refused to leave a residence in the 200 block of Indiana's South Seventh Street and displayed a firearm in his waistband during an argument on the rear porch of the apartment. Jackson, who has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon, made hand gestures imitating a shooting, police said. No one was injured in the incident reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. Police seized Jackson's handgun and charged him with terroristic threats, simple assault and criminal trespass. He was placed in the Indiana County Jail pending arraignment. IUPatty's is a student-organized weekend event not sanctioned by the university. It triggers increased vigilance by local first responders. State police at the Indiana County barracks said they planned to boost traffic and DUI enforcement and roving patrols. Between 7 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday, borough police arrested two IUP students for violating a noise ordinance for loud gatherings. They arrested five non-students for various violations, including a female suspect charged with kicking and spitting on officers during an arrest for public drunkenness and underage drinking. IUPatty's has been a sore spot among many in the community. In 2023, 12 people were hurt when a second-story floor of an apartment collapsed during an IUPatty's party in White Township, near but not on the university campus. Five people were treated at the scene and seven others were taken by ambulance for hospital treatment. Other past incidents have included: —IUPatty's 2017: A man died and a woman was in critical condition following two shootings that police said were unrelated. Police arrested two suspects in the shootings, which occurred near the IUP campus. —IUPatty's 2014: Hundreds of college-age partiers fueled by alcohol — estimated to be more than 400 — packed South Seventh Street, where revelers taunted police and got into brawls that were videotaped and later posted online. Officials said many of those who caused problems were not university students. Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IUP awarded funding to accelerate special education certifications
INDIANA, Pa. – Indiana University of Pennsylvania is one of 14 post-secondary institutions receiving funding to boost special education teaching certifications, the state Department of Education announced Friday. IUP was awarded $99,330 as part of a $1 million aid package from Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration. "Pennsylvania's educator workforce shortage will take flexibility, innovation and creativity to solve," acting state Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe said in a release, "and initiatives like the Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program demonstrate how thinking outside the box can produce critical and much-needed results for the commonwealth." The accelerated offering makes grants available to college and universities with approved pre-K through 12th grade special education certification programs to partner with one school district, at least, career and technical centers, private school, charter and cyber charter schools, as well as intermediate units. Those partnerships are then used to provide students with summer field experiences, coaching and mentoring during the school year, and deliver a post-baccalaureate program for pre-K through 12th grade special education teacher certification within 18 months. There are 142 news special educators set to enter classrooms across the state, according to PDE, and hundreds more who will take advantage of this opportunity. For more information, visit
