Upheaval over the proposed integration of the Rutgers-Camden campus and Rowan University is now behind the University, but its ramifications still linger.

The attempt to merge the universities as part of the New Jersey Medical and Health Science Education Restructuring Act was deterred by protests from students, faculty, alumni and the surrounding community.

While Rutgers-Camden remains a part of the University because of revised legislation, the campus has been dramatically impacted, said Rodney Morrison, associate chancellor for Enrollment Management.

Morrison said the enrollment of the overall student body was affected but most significantly for the Rutgers School of Law-Camden.

Last years enrollment for the law schools first-year class was about 265, said John Oberdiek, vice dean and law professor. This year, enrollment has decreased by more than 50 percent.

People stopped applying to our law school, fearing that wed cease to exist, Oberdiek said.

Though the enrollment in law schools nationwide has decreased 15 percent in correlation with the economic downturn, the Rutgers School of Law-Camden faced a much greater enrollment loss as a result of the uncertainty around its future, Oberdiek said.

Conversely, despite the decrease in applicants to the law school, the relative LSAT scores of the admitted students do not appear to have changed significantly, he said.

Though the short-term consequences of the merger talk were mostly negative, there were some unanticipated positive externalities, Oberdiek said.

The experience of our first-year students is excellent because of the small class sizes, he said. In a perverse way, it has been a good thing.

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Merger talks continue to affect Camden

The Carthage Independent School District Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2012 inductees into the school districts Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

This years inductees are: Kay Lynn Vincent Brumbaugh, class of 1985; JoAnn Hooper Parker, class of 1964; and John Randall Randy Taylor, class of 1971.

The honorees and their families will enjoy a day of festivities at homecoming on October 12. CHS juniors and seniors will be inspired by the lives and accomplishments of these graduates at a school assembly. A reception and program will follow at 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, and everyone is invited. The honorees will be introduced and presented keys to the city during the Carthage Homecoming ceremonies at Bulldog Stadium.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the reception, the ballgame, and the homecoming activities.

JoAnn Hooper Parker is a dedicated businesswoman, community leader, and compassionate philanthropist. She graduated from Carthage High School in 1964 and has spent almost fifty years giving back to others.

The daughter of Carlene Carswell and Pierce Berdett Hooper and sister to Larry and Terry, JoAnn grew up in Deadwood. After graduation and marriage to Thomas Ronald Parker, she began her business career as an executive secretary in the Housing Supply Office for the U. S. Air Force in Sembach, Germany. Upon her return to the United States, she started the American Realty Mart of New Iberia, Louisiana, which she sold in 1977.

In 1981, JoAnn left the real estate field and started Pro-Log, Inc., an oilfield manufacturing, sales, and rental service company providing blast resistant portable buildings and specialized equipment to the oil industry. During her thirty years as company president, Pro-Log has grown and expanded with offices in several states.

Parker, with her daughter Heidi Parker Martin, opened Acacia Design and Desktop Publishing to handle design and marketing for her companies and a number of non-profit agencies. She also established and maintains Solimar EE, LLC, which provides specialty drilling mud products and services to the oil industry in the southern Rocky Mountains, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana.

In 2009, Hole Pluggers, LLC was founded with JoAnn as a partner and a member of the board of directors. This company worked with the LSU AgCenter to develop and patent the process of turning recycled plastic and cellulosic fibers into Tiger Bullets which can be used for lost circulation control in drilling oil and gas wells. This product was nominated for the prestigious Acadiana Innovation of the Year award in 2010 and has been in use internationally since 2011.

JoAnn returned to her early roots and, with her husband, established East of Eden Ranch in southwest Panola County where she has reintroduced native flora and fauna in cooperation with the Texas Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Exotic and endangered species of animals are protected and established on the 1,000 plus acres.

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Parker honored as distinguished alumni at CISD

A full week of school spirit activities will lead up to the 2012 Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District Homecoming celebration on Friday, Oct. 12.

Students and faculty members are encouraged to show their Trojan pride by dressing in different theme-inspired clothing throughout the week, culminating in a pep rally for grades K-8 at 1:45 p.m., and a pep rally for high school students at 3 p.m. on game day in the COHS gym.

Before the game on Friday, tailgating activities will heat up at 4 p.m. in the Coldspring-Oakhurst High School parking lot. Kick-off for the traditional Homecoming football game is at 7:30 p.m.,when the COHS Trojans face-off against the Splendora Wildcats. At halftime, the COHS Homecoming Court will be introduced and a king and queen will be crowned.

This year, for the first time, the Coldspring-Oakhurst Education Foundation will follow the football game with its fall fundraiser kick-off event, Alumni and Friends Meet & Greet, in the COHS cafeteria immediately after the game.

Superintendent Dr. LaTonya Goffney said, We invite all who can to attend the pep rally, to visit Trojan Tailgaters, and to support our education foundations inaugural event. We are also asking all fans to wear Trojan colors red, white and black to the game.

It is going to be a great night. We hope that many alumni return torenew friendships and we hope our community comes out to join us in celebrating the Trojan spirit.

Trojan Tailgate spaces are still available for businesses, civic organizations, and churches. Fundraising is optional.

Parent organizations, student clubs, and families may reserve a spot as well.

Space fees range from $20 to $70. Single spaces are $20 each or two spaces for $30. Commercial spots of four individual parking spaces are also available for $50. Two larger commercial areas of five individual parking spaces are also available for $70.

Spaces may be reserved and paid for in advance in the COHS administrative office. Space fees benefit the COHS Spirit Account. For more information, call Johnny Walker or Fannie Ellisor at 936-653-1140.

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Week of homecoming events planned for COHS

By LESLIE KROWCHENKO Times Correspondent

CHESTER Ten years after naming its first legion of Star Alumni, Delaware County Community College has added a new quintet to the list.

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, the college honored graduates who have achieved success in business, medicine and public safety while affirming the values of their alma mater. More than 110 members of the board of trustees, educational foundation, graduates and staff attended the Sept. 28 event, held at Harrahs Casino and Racetrack.

We are proud of our 45-year history, said President Jerry Parker. The impact of community colleges is seen in our ability to provide an affordable education and transform lives.

With 24 faculty and 307 students, DCCC began in 1967 as an evening program using rented facilities in Ridley High School. The following year, after considering more than 20 possible sites, the 123-acre Gideon Stull property in Marple was chosen as the permanent home and the main campus dedicated in 1974.

DCCC currently serves nearly 28,000 students annually at eight locations in Delaware and Chester counties, including the main campus, Southeast Center in Sharon Hill and newly opened Upper Darby Center in Barclay Square Shopping Center. With the ability to grow in response to workforce demands, the college has become a center of educational opportunity.

The honorees were introduced with videos detailing their lives and accomplishments. The list included Delaware County residents Karen Bogosian, of Newtown Square, President and CEO of Visual Sound Inc.; Bob Boyden, PhD, of Aldan, the owner of Public Safety Concept Group and Carl Needles, of Havertown, the Pennsylvania Market Executive with Beneficial Bank. The group was completed with Paul Adack, Vice President of InvestEdge, and Louise Del Negro DO, an attending physician at Coatesville VA Medical Center.

I went from GED to Ph.D. and the availability of the college afforded me the opportunity to take the first steps towards that accomplishment, said Boyden. It was a major influence in my life.

Rising Star awards were presented to Johnny Archer, news reporter with the ABC affiliate in Louisville, Ky., Esther Castillo and Hiu Sin Cheung, owners of Advanced College Consulting, and Catherine Porter DO, a fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine.

The college also presented the Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award to Joseph Oaster Jr., a senior education analyst with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The honor recognizes alumni for professional accomplishments, support of education and active involvement in service to the community and Oasters contribution literacy and math programs for pre-GED students in the Philadelphia School District and 25 years with the Folcroft Fire Company epitomize the true spirit of the award.

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DCCC celebrates anniversary with new Star Alumni

STEUBENVILLE - Franciscan University of Steubenville alumni back on campus to receive awards said Friday the university was a significant part of their success in life.

The university recognized eight alumni Friday during its 24th annual alumni banquet.

Alumni receiving awards included:

ALUMNI AWARD Franciscan University of Steubenville held is 24th annual alumni awards banquet Friday on campus. Seated from left, Deacon Larry Meagher, accepting on behalf of his son, the Rev. Joseph Meagher; award winners Mary Lundrum, Christi and Bobby Aborn and Dr. Adam Berman. Back from left, award winner Nathaniel Pollock and the Rev. Terence Henry, T.O.R., university president; Chris Wright, alumni board president; and Tim Delaney, alumni relations director. John Henricks and Michael Kehoe also received awards. -- Mark Law

- The Rev. Joseph Meagher, class of 1984, the Bishop John King Mussio Award, for his service to the Archdiocese of Newark, his involvement in the Pro-Life movement, and his ministry to young adults and diocesan seminarians;

- Mary Grace (Kniola) Landrum of Houston, class of 1972, the Dr. John J. Carrigg Award, for her work with youth of Texas as a teacher and special education specialist, and for launching her own consulting company to train educational leaders;

- John Henricks of Alexandria, Va., class of 1991, the Alumni Citizenship Award, for his work in the public square as past Director of Government Relations for the Family Research Council, and currently in the same position for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops;

- Bobby Aborn, class of 2012, and Christi Aborn, class of 2009, both of Steubenville, the Rose M. DeFede Faithful Franciscan Award, for their service to Franciscan University students by acting as household coordinators, mission trip coordinators, marriage preparation assistants, athletic coaches, and hosts of the Dinner for Twelve Strangers;

- Dr. Adam Berman of Evans, Ga., class of 1994, the Father Dan Egan Award, for his work as an expert cardiologist, specializing in complex arrhythmia ablation, and for medical research he is conducting in conjunction with two leading medical centers;

- Michael Kehoe of Dublin, class of 1968, the Professor Edward J. Kelly Award, for his work in the telecommunications industry, rising to executive levels with AT&T, as well as his involvement with numerous civic, educational, and charitable boards, such as the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College; and the

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University honors alumni

California State University trustees have appointed a highly accomplished leader at a time that the system is dealing with major budget challenges. Timothy P. White will be the chancellor of the CSU system, the nation's largest four-year university system.

White is chancellor at UC Riverside, among the most diverse campuses in the state. He raised $100 million for a new medical school at Riverside, a skill he will need as he takes charge of the 23-campus CSU system. White is a serious academic, but showed an every-man side by appearing in disguise last year on "Undercover Boss."

Budget cuts have forced the CSU system to raise tuition, limit enrollment and reduce class offerings. Parents and students rightly are concerned about access to CSU campuses, as well as getting the classes they need to graduate in four years. Trustees have already instituted a 5% tuition increase for next year if Proposition 30 on the Nov. 6 ballot fails.

The medical school at UC Riverside showed White's visionary thinking and ability to get things done. The San Joaquin Valley was fighting for a medical school at the same time as Riverside, yet our region is still trying to get that task accomplished.

White earned a bachelor's degree from Fresno State, a master's degree from Cal State Hayward and a doctorate from UC Berkeley. He played water polo and was on the swim team at Fresno State. In 1994, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Fresno State's School of Health and Human Services and three years later was named a distinguished alumnus.

White was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his parents immigrated to Canada and then to California when he was young. White was the first member of his family to go to college. With that background, White understands the plight of many of the students at the 23 CSU campuses. Education gave him opportunities, just as it has given opportunities to others in our state.

Investing in education is an investment in our state. CSU and UC graduates generally stay in California and contribute to the economy and our quality of life.

We believe that White brings the necessary background and skill to meet the challenges of a university system that must reshape itself to compete in the current economic environment.

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EDITORIAL: CSU's new leader brings a diverse background to job

The Carthage Independent School District Alumni Association announced the 2012 inductees that will be honored in the districts Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

This years inductees are: Kay Lynn Vincent Brumbaugh, class of 1985; JoAnn Hooper Parker, class of 1964; and John Randall Randy Taylor, class of 1971.

The honorees and their families will enjoy a day of festivities at homecoming on October 12. CHS juniors and seniors will be inspired by the lives and accomplishments of these graduates at a school assembly. A reception and program will follow at 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, and everyone is invited. The honorees will be introduced and presented keys to the city during the Carthage Homecoming ceremonies at Bulldog Stadium.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the reception, the ballgame, and the homecoming activities.

Randy Taylor graduated from Carthage High School in 1971. He attended Panola College before entering the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in December 1974. While in college, Randy worked as an intern for the U. S Treasury Department as a national bank examiner. After graduation, Taylor started his career in Houston with the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche as a certified public accountant. He later was vice president of Gulf States Oil & Refining and the executive vice president for Thompson Development.

In December 1981, he founded Taylor Service Company in Carthage. For the next 15 years, the company grew to include six operating locations and was one of the largest privately held saltwater disposal operators in Texas. Randy sold Taylor Service Company in 1996 to Dawson Production Services, now part of Key Energy Services.

After moving to Austin in 2001, Randy remained in the oil & gas industry as an independent investor and disposal well operator. Since 2003, he has been the president and chief executive officer of Pinnergy which has grown to over 750 employees with operating locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, covering some of the most active oil and gas regions in the country. Taylor is also involved in numerous other business activities.

Randy is married to Kathy Pierce Taylor, a 1972 Carthage graduate. They have been married 39 years and have three children, all of whom graduated from CHS. Their daughter, Kelly Taylor Simmons, lives in Houston with her husband, Mike Simmons and their son, Pierce Randall Simmons. Randy & Kathys twin sons, Brandon Taylor and Justin Taylor both live in Austin. Justin is married to Jessica Jaynes.

When in Carthage, Randy was an active member of First United Methodist Church, serving as finance chair and together with Kathy, led fundraising efforts for the churchs Capital Building Campaign. Randys community involvement while in Carthage consisted of serving on the Panola General Hospital Board, Panola County Chamber of Commerce Board, president of the Panola County Industrial Foundation Board, and president of the Carthage Noon Lions Club. He supported youth athletics by sponsoring teams as well as serving as coach for soccer and Dixie League baseball. He also served on the board of the Azleway Ranch for Boys outside of Tyler. He continues to be involved in the Carthage community as a member of the Carthage Education Foundations Board of Directors.

Taylor is presently serving on the Capital One Bank Advisory Board for Texas and has served on the committee for the Texas Railroad Commission Regulatory Reform. He and Kathy are members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin, recently serving as chairs of the Stewardship Campaign for the church. Randy is a past member of the Endowment Fund and Finance Committee. He and Kathy are major contributors to Dell Childrens Medical Center, St. Davids Foundation Scholarship Program, the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Helping Hand Home for Children, Hospice Austin, and the University of Texas.

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Taylor honored as Distinguished Alumni at CISD

Four faculty members who themselves were first-generation college students gathered in Boylston Hall Thursday to offer advice to current Harvard students. The event, sponsored by the Freshman Deans Office, covered topics including adjusting to freshman year and the stigma that first-generation college students face.

Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds introduced the panelists and the moderator, Anya Bernstein Bassett, the social studies director of undergraduate studies.

This may be the first of many conversations we can have about this, Hammonds said.

Tommie Shelby, a professor of philosophy and African and African American studies, said that getting into college was a pretty big shock.

There was a language that I did not speak and they all spoke, said Alexandra Shields, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. There were these little cultural references that everyone seemed to know and I had no idea what they were saying.

Sue Brown, the resident dean of Elm Yard, echoed her colleagues sense of alienation.

I was missing the map that a lot of my classmates had, she said.

The panelists also offered advice to first-generation students.

Put yourself out there, said Matthew K. Nock, a psychology professor.

Shields encouraged students to look for role models.

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Faculty Discuss Experiences as First-Generation Students

William Kromer, a longtime English and Spanish teacher at Downsville Central School, died Tuesday from injuries suffered Aug. 23, when he struck a deer with his motorcycle on Route 97 in Hancock.

Kromer, 66, of Hancock, had been in a coma at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City since the accident.

Family and former students recalled him as brilliant and loving man.

Its very, very heartbreaking to see such a sad ending for such a wonderful person, said Stacie Haynes, a former student of Kromer and former president of the Downsville Central School Alumni Association. He was so kind and caring, and he still had so much to offer to us. He really was a rock for those students, his daughter, Rosetta Kromer said. He really supported them with a very optimistic and positive (outlook). For the most part, thats who he was. Thats definitely who he was.

Kromer began teaching in Downsville in 1974 and retired in 2004, his widow, Blanca, said. He began teaching Spanish at the Family Foundation School in Hancock shortly thereafter, she added.

Blanca Kromer said she met her future husband at Grand Central Terminal in New York City shortly after she arrived from Lima, Peru, to study at Columbia University.

He approached me half in Spanish asking me where was I from, she said. And I thought, This is going to be tough, because I hardly spoke English.

After I met him in Grand Central station, we exchanged addresses, and I said, OK, maybe I will write to him, and a few weeks later I got a letter from him, half in Spanish That started our relationship.

And then he said to me he wanted to go out on his motorcycle. The only wheels he had was the motorcycle. He was an avid motorcycle rider, very cautious. Thats whats killing me.

Kromer was riding a 900cc 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan at the time of the accident, police reports and family said.

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Beloved ex-Downsville teacher dies from injuries