Novak honored
Contact:
Amy Lombard
724-938-4418
Lombard@calu.edu
April 2, 2010
Cal U will honor longtime faculty member George Novak '55
with its 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award during the fourth annual Cal Pride Weekend
festivities.
The weekend will feature events designed to connect alumni with current
and
prospective students.
On Friday, a group of accomplished alumni will discuss their careers
with
classes related to their particular disciplines.
Among the nearly 20 guest speakers returning to campus are David Amati '70,
'72; Bill Booker '74; Nancy '66 and Tom '64 Crumrine; Bob Lippencott '66;
Jim Lokay '02; and Carol Mitchell '72, '75. Deans' receptions will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., and awards will be
given to
distinguished alumni from Cal U's four colleges. Award winners are:
· College of Education and Human Services Dr. Cleveland Steward
Jr.,
'73, superintendent of Gateway School District in Monroeville.
· School of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Saundra Stout '72,
adjunct professor at Washington and Jefferson College.
· College of Liberal Arts Kris Battaglini '72, school psychologist
with
the Delaware Autistic Program.
· Eberly College of Science and Technology Dr. James Serene '71,
assistant professor at Penn State Orthopedics/Sport Medicine. President Angelo Armenti, Jr. will host a dinner for invited guests and
present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Novak, who will speak at 7
p.m. in
the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center.
The talk is free and open to the public; a reception will follow his
address.
One of the most popular and recognizable individuals on campus, Novak
began
teaching in 1959 at what then was known as California State College.
After teaching physics for several years, he moved to the mathematics
department and was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the
mathematics and computer science program. He continues to teach in the
Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems.
In addition to his work at Cal U, Novak has been a guest lecturer and a
teacher of math and computer science to numerous western Pennsylvania
high
school teachers and students through organizations such as the National
Science Foundation and programs funded by the National Defense Education
Act.
A former member of the Alumni Association's board of directors, Novak
serves
on the Faculty Scholarship Committee, is a captain in the State Employee
Combined Appeal giving campaign and was the University's first faculty
athletic representative. He is a past chair of the Cal U Athletic
Council
and current president of the Cal-Ed Federal Credit Union.
He and his wife, Eileen, reside in his hometown of California. They are
the
parents of three grown children George, Christopher and Jean and
have
five grandsons.
Novak is the fourth recipient of the University's Lifetime Achievement
Award. Other are:
· 2009: U.S. Rep. Frank R. Mascara '72.
· 2008: Thomas Crumrine, former Nationwide Insurance executive.
· 2007: Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper.
On Saturday, Cal Pride will feature an alumni panel discussion from 9:15
to
10 a.m. in the Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre. President Armenti will
serve
as moderator. Several panelists include 2009 graduates Marguerite Smith,
Shane Fox, and Julianne Russell.
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., the 'Cal U For Life Meet Our Alumni' event
will be held in the Kara Alumni House¹s Booker Great Room.