Wilkes University

Rose Dietrich, of Catasauqua, is participating in Wilkes University’s marching band, the Marching Colonels. Dietrich is part of the color guard. Wilkes has the region’s only collegiate marching band. It marches in drum corps style, complete with wind and percussion instruments and guard. The Wilkes University marching band is one of the most visible groups on campus, performing at home football games and other on- and off-campus events.

Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large, research university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small, liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. In addition to 43 undergraduate majors, Wilkes offers the doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education and doctor of pharmacy degrees and more than a dozen master’s degree programs, including the master of business administration and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at wilkes.edu

Central Penn College

Austin Appel, of Whitehall, has been named to Central Penn College’s dean’s list for the spring 2017 term. Appel is currently majoring in information technology. To qualify for the designation, a student must carry six or more credits and earn a GPA of 3.5 or better for the term.

Central Penn College has been helping students turn potential into career success since 1881, now offering holistic associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of fields. Degree programs are available in accounting, business administration, communications, criminal justice, health care, homeland security, information technology, legal studies and organizational leadership.

LCCC

Lehigh Carbon Community College President Ann D. Bieber announced the August 2017 graduates.

Bath: Jason Mills, cum laude

Catasauqua: Tori Lawton, magna cum laude; Suaha Sharif; Maria Villalta

Coplay: Brooklynne Bennett; Molly Flynn, cum laude; Desiree Fontanez; Morgan Haberstroh, magna cum laude; Shannon Keppel, magna cum laude; Stephanie Trevezo; David VanHorn

Danielsville: Fabian Njuguna

Whitehall: Jeffrey Charles; Shelbey Delserro; Stephanie Heffelfinger; Devon Kane; magna cum laude; Sarah O’Brian; Krystal Perdick, magna cum laude; Sarah Salim

Misericordia University

An academic research poster submitted by a Misericordia University faculty-student research team for consideration at the 2017 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in Los Angeles, Cali., has been designated as a Meritorious Poster Submission. The poster, “Does Video Conversation Differ from Audio-Only Conversation in Regard to Measurable Aspects of Communication?” will be presented at the convention in November. It was done in collaboration with Jessica Kisenwether, Ph.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P., assistant professor of speech-language pathology, Denis Anson, M.S., O.T.R./L., director of research and development for the Assistive Technology Research Institute and students Murphy Lynch, of Northampton; Shea Williams, of Milton; Sarah Jennings, of Bridgewater, N.J.; and Jenna Mills, of Sewell, N.J.

People using cellphones tend to speak louder than they do either face-to-face or using a landline phone. This phenomenon is so common that it is known by the term, “cell yell.’’ It is caused by the lack of the audio feedback provided for by landlines. Without this feedback - known to telephone engineers as “side tone’’ - it is difficult for a person to modulate their voice. Continued elevated speaking levels, in addition to annoying those around the speaker, can lead to vocal strain and long-term damage.

Misericordia’s research examined the possibility that visual feedback, via video conferencing, might provide what is needed to moderate the speaking volume. The results indicated that, while video did not help moderate volume, it did reduce the number of conversational collisions, where both people begin speaking at the same time.

A Meritorious Poster Award is reserved for proposals judged by the convention program committee to show “extraordinary, exceptional and innovative work,’’ according to ASHA. Each topic committee has the option of recommending one or two top-rated posters for the special distinction. ASHA received 1,895 poster submissions for the 2017 convention, and only 55 were selected for meritorious recognition.

The Misericordia University research team will receive recognition in the convention program book by having a special blue ribbon icon next to its listing, and it will be identified in the poster hall with a ribbon displayed on the poster board sign.

The ASHA Convention is the strongest educational program for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, speech and hearing scientists, and related professionals, according to ASHA.

For more information about the speech-language pathology program at Misericordia University, call 570-674-6400 or visit misericordia.edu/slp. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 45 academic programs on the graduate and undergraduate levels in full- and part-time formats. Misericordia University ranks in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities-North category of U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 edition of Best Colleges. The Princeton Review recognizes MU as a 2018 Best Northeastern College, and MONEY Magazine includes Misericordia in its 2017-18 Best Colleges list.