REGISTRATION BEGINS MAY 1, 2010!

CHALLENGE COURSES FOR 2010

 

 

 

CP10  i Challenge: Dive into the Apple revolution and begin sharing your creativity and imagination with Apple's iLife software.  Students will explore web design, music creation, photo enhancement, and more. Fred Findley is a 2005 graduate of SVC's Communication Department and a current adjunct faculty member.  He has a Masters of Science in Multimedia Technology and currently owns a Multimedia business in Greensburg, PA.

 

Maximum No. of Students - 15

 

CP11  Music, Math, and the Octaves:  Discover how the music you listen to has math running through it and find out how math makes music work!!!  Students will be highly interactive as they create music which is dependent on the ideas and actions of their peers.  They will also work together to invent mathematical patterns that form beats and rhythm of music.  Tom Octave is currently an assistant professor at Saint Vincent.  Mr. Octave has performed extensively as an opera and oratorio soloist throughout the USA and Europe.  Elizabeth Octave currently teaches Math at Butler Junior HIgh and holds a Masters in Math Education from Slippery Rock University.

 

Maximum No. of Students - 20

 

CP12  Hot off the Press:  Students will be introduced to the fast paced world of the media in this course.  They will dive into the field of journalism and will create their own comprehensive production team including journalists, managers, editors, and creative layout designers.  The students will also explore and apply the most current and contemporary trends in news production.  By the end of this course, a newspaper and/or magazine will be printed to showcase.  Nick Manning is a 2010 graduate from SVC who earned a B.A. in English and secondary teaching certification.  One of his many achievements include being the Editor in Chief of the SVC publication entitled The Review.  Nick has also been a past Challenge Counselor (2 years).

 

Maximum Students - 20

 

 

 

CP13  Pop Art:  Printmaking and Painting: Explore the ideas of visual culture based on the Pop Art Movement of the 1950's and 1960's (example Andy Warhol) in relationship to the individual's background and perspective.  Studio art mediums include drawing, printmaking, and painting with the techniques of layering, blending, and mixing colors to allow students to create his or her pop art prints along with a painting composition to complement their style.  Tiffany Gratchic has earned her Masters in Education at SVC.  She has an undergraduate degree in Art Education with minors in Art Studio and Math from Indiana University of PA.  She is currently employed at Brownsville Area Middle School as a 6th and 7th grade art teacher.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP14  Mock Trial and the Justice System:  Students become judge, jury, attorneys, witnesses, and defendants as the structure of our court system is explored via simluated trials conducted in the classroom.  The course will focus on building, speaking, and writing skills and offers experiences critical decision making and logical analysis.  Mark Sorice, Esquire is an attorney associated with a law firm in the Greensburg/Latrobe area.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 25

 

CP15  Up, Up, and Away:  Learn the behavior of gases on a chemical, biological, and physical level.  Participants will explore the science of gases through various laboratory exercises and activities culminating in the construction of a functional hot air balloon.  On the final day of class, the students will launch their balloons!  John Gregorich is currently the chemistry teacher at Laurel Valley Middle/High Schools.  He is a graduate of SVC and is a past recipient of the Saint Vincent Great Teacher Recognition Award (2009).  He is currently enrolled in the Masters Program for Education in Curriculum and Instruction at SVC.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

 

 

 

CP20  Cha-Cha 101: From Basic to Gold moves, this course on Latin dance Cha-Cha is sure to get students' feet moving.  This energetic dance is extraordinarily popular and is slow making it easy for dancers to inject their own personality into the moves.  No dance experience required.  Michael MacConnell is a 2009 graduate with an Elementary Instruction degree from SVC.  He has been dancing and competing in Ballroom and Latin for over 4 years.  Stephanie Compton is an Education major at SVC and has been dancing swing for about three years.  Both have played influential roles in the SVC Swing Dance Club.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP21  Brainy Explorations:  Discover what your dominant intelligences are to capitalize on your life.  Through the experience of interactive enjoyable activities, and informative games and projects, students will experience the power linked with capitalizing on knowledge for school and for their personal lives.  This is an edu-tainment course...great fun while learning!  Joy Stynchula has studied and instructed many college courses in Multiple Intelligences.  She has also presented numerous seminars on the concepts originated by Howard Gardner.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 10

 

CP22  Video Magic: Students will collectively learn the fundamentals of video editing and be introduced to Apple's Final Cut software.  As students learn basic and advanced video editing techniques, they will complete a video project that features styles used in modern advertising.  Fred Findley is a 2005 graduate of SVC's Communication Department and is a current adjunct faculty member.  He has a Masters of Science in Multimedia Technology and currently owns a Multimedia business in Greensburg, PA.  

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP23  The Birth of Music: Eras that Make You Feel Good: Learn about the origins of the Blues, Jazz, Motown, and the Protest Song (i.e. We Shall Overcome and Don Mclean's American Pie) by studying sound and music in film and visual media.  This will be a highly interactive course!  Mike Medved is a 2009 graduate of SVC.  He holds a B.A. Degree in History and a minor in Education .  Mr. Medved is presently attending Leeds Metropolitan University in England to earn his Masters Degree in Sports Business Management and is playing professional basketball for Leeds.  Mike is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has performed in and around the Pittsburgh area for the past 4 years.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

 

 

CP24  Through the Lens:  Students will learn how to look at landscapes, sunsets, and nature's beauty to gain the perfect photographic shot.  They will be engaged in the field as they take their photographs and will consult a video produced from the class on the Challenge website for visual evidence.  David Safin has a Masters Degree from California University of PA in Multimedia Technology.  He is the Director of Multimedia and Marketing and teaches media-related college courses at SVC.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP25  Beauty is Only Skin Deep: The Art of Theatrical Makeup: Students will let their imaginations run wild as they explore fantasy makeup, special effects makeup, and prosthetic hair appliances.  They will study facial anatomy and will learn how to apply stage makeup in order to create specific looks of characters ***Students with allergies to latex should not participate in this class.  John Gregorich is currently the chemistry teacher at Laurel Valley Middle/High Schools in New Florence, PA.  He is a graduate of SVC and is a past recipient of the Saint Vincent Great Teacher Recognition Award (2009).  He is currently enrolled in the Masters Program for Education in Curriculum and Instruction at SVC.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP26 2-D or 3 D?  That is the Question?: Students will work in this sculpture class to create 2-D and 3-D works of art.  Wax, wire, ceramics, and cardboard are just some of the mediums that will be used.  A course for those who like to work with their hands!  Allison Cooney is a graduate student at SVC working towards a teaching certificate in Art Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  She has worked as an assistant art teacher for the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in their annual Art Camp for students.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP27  Brainy Explorations:  Discover what your dominant intelligences are to capitalize on your life!  Through the experience of interactive enjoyable activities and informative games and projects, students will experience the power linked with capitalizing on knowledge for school and for their personal lives.  This is an edu-tainment course...great fun while learning!  Joy Stynchula has studied and instructed many college courses in Multiple Intelligences.  She has also presented numerous seminars on the concepts originated by Howard Gardner.

 

Maximum No. of students: 10

 

 

 

 

CP30  Intro to Latin Dancing:  Students will learn the basics of salsa, cha-cha, jive/swing, meringue, and samba.  Emphasis will be on the development of partnering skills, lead and follow, the basic principles of timing, as well as basic footwork.  No dance experience needed.  Michael MacConnell is a 2009 graduate with an Elementary Instruction degree from SVC.  He has been dancing and competing in Ballroom and Latin for over 4 years.  Stephanie Compton is an Education major at SVC andd has been dancing swing for about three years.  Both have played influential roles in the SVC Swing Dance Club.

 

Maximum No. Of Students: 10

 

CP31  Let's Play Math:  Students will be engaged in various mathematical games that will focus on skills related to geometry, theorems involving triangles, and probability.  They will also learn how to analyze tables of data in relation to set theory.  The game "Set", a challenging game of visual perception, will be introduced and played. Amanda Cobetto is a graduate student at SVC who is earning a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as a teaching certification in Secondary Math.  She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown which earned her a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Mathematics and a Minor in Computer Science.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP32  Artistic Escapades:  Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice different drawing methods that will help them to use their talents and apply them to painting.  They will gain experience using different mediums such as charcoal, acrylic, and watercolor.  While completing portraits of other pariticipants, students will study facial proportions, symmetry, texture, and tone.  Allison Cooney is a graduate student at SVC working towards a teaching certificate in Art Education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  She has worked as an assistant art teacher for the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in their annual Art Camp for students.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP33  The Chemistry of Cooking:  Students will learn to recognize and distinguish between physical and chemical changes.  They will study the chemical features of different foods and will complete experiments to discover changes they undergo as they are heated, reacted, and consumed!  Jason Vohs has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia.  He is presently a professor of various chemistry related courses at SVC.  Jason is also the faculty advisor of the Chemistry Club at the college.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

 

 

CP34  A Senior Star on the Stage: Students will participate in the thrilling dynamics of a play that will be performed at the end of the week for Challenge staff, students, family and community members.  All course students will contribute cooperatively to prepare, create, and experience all dimensions required for the total success of a play performance.  Joy Stynchula has produced and directed theatrical productions throughout her past thirty-four years of teaching in greater Latrobe School District.  She has been a Drama Theater Course Instructor for SVC for 7 years and is the Performing Arts Coordinator for the McFeely Rogers Foundation.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 20

 

CP35 Electro-Lab:  Students will learn the basics of electronics and how they are incorporated into our everyday lives.  Once students understand how basic devices such as the iPod and computer work, they will study robotics and will build an assortment of electronic project kits to be taken home. Jeremy Sawyer is currently earning a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.  He has completed his Bachelor Degree of Mathematics with a minor in Physics at SVC in the sprin, 2009.  Jeremy has been a past Challenge camper (6 years) and a Challenge Counselor (3 years).

 

Maximum No. of Students: 15

 

CP36  Intro to Latin Dancing:  Students will learn the basics of salsa, cha-cha, jive/swing, meringue, and samba.  Emphasis will be on the development of partnering skills, lead and follow, the basic principles of timing, as well as basic footwork.  No dance experience needed.  Michael MacConnell is a 2009 graduate with an Elementary Instruction degree from SVC.  He has been dancing and competing in Ballroom and Latin for over 4 years.  Stephanie Compton is an Education major at SVC and has been dancing swing for about three years.  Both have played influential roles in the SVC Swing Dance Club.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 10

 

CP37  The Chemistry of Cooking:  Students will learn to recognize and distinguish between physical and chemical changes.  They will study the chemical features of different foods and will complete experiments to discover changes they undergo as they are heated, reacted, and consumed!  Jason Vohs has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia.  He is presently a professor of various chemistry related courses at SVC.  Jason is also the faculty advisor of the Chemistry Club at the college.

 

Maximum No. of Students: 10