Pennsylvania Western University

PennWest Edinboro senior Gavin Mitsdarfer is earning national recognition for their leadership, advocacy, and passion for education. Mitsdarfer, a secondary education major with dual concentrations in English and special education and a minor in literature and culture, appeared on the Fall 2025 cover of NEA Today for Aspiring Educators in the feature story, "Why We Teach."

A lockdown-era spark became a calling. Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, native Lauren Sims started tinkering with computers around age 15 and then enrolled at PennWest California as a criminal justice major. Conversations with faculty - and a course that covered cybersecurity and cyber forensics - showed her how to merge that passion with justice. She added concentrations in cyber forensics and forensic investigation, plus a computer information systems minor to "get the best of both sides."

Neonatal speech-language pathology is a big goal, but Camryn Humes started building toward it before day one of college. "I started Dual Enrollment in the spring of 2025, and I took Intro to Psychology," she said.

When PennWest Edinboro senior Hayden Stippich stepped onto the lanes in Chicago for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Trials, he wasn't just competing for pins - he was chasing a lifelong dream. With a commanding total pinfall of 10,917 (+1,317), the 24-year-old McKean, Pa., native captured the tournament title, earning full-time entry on the 2025 PBA Tour and eligibility for the PBA Elite League draft.

PennWest California's University Players will roll for initiative as they present "She Kills Monsters," a drama-comedy play written by Qui Nguyen that uses the famous tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons to explore concepts of loss and sexuality. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Feb. 24, all at Steele Hall's Blaney Theatre.

The theatre department at PennWest California will present Eupipides' Greek Tragedy Tragedy 7 p.m. April 20-22 and 2 p.m. April 22 on the main stage of Steele Hall. The play focuses on the darker aspects of humanity, including moments of death, destruction, and unspeakable acts of inhumanity. Show director Dr. John Paul "JP" Staszel has warned that viewer discretion should be advised for the show. "The unfortunate realization is that after 2500 years, a story such as this still mirrors the reality of modern day warfare; death, destruction and human carnage," he said. "Euripides highlights that war has no preference. It will consume men, women, and children without thought or care." A portion of the proceeds of the production will be donated to the endowed scholarship for the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honors Fraternity. For more information and to order tickets, please contact the Cal U Box office, 724-938-5943, or visit https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/71171.