HOMECOMING Emmy nominations include former YSU student Former Dana School of Music student Derek Dixie is no stranger to coming home to Youngstown. You may recall how the LA-based musician curated an ensemble of YSU faculty, students and alumni to provide the orchestration for the singing of America the Beautiful at the Super Bowl earlier this year. Dixie now celebrates another “homecoming” of sorts with the news that he has earned his first-ever Emmy nomination for his Outstanding Music Direction for the film HOMECOMING: A Film by Beyoncé. The movie tells the in-depth story of Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 performance at the Coachella music festival when she became the first African American woman to headline the festival. All told, HOMECOMING earned a whopping six Emmy nominations, including four for Beyoncé. Dixie has worked with Beyoncé for nearly a decade.

1960's        1970's        1980's        1990's        2000's        2010's

’50s

Paul Penzo of Falls Church, Va., 1950, BS, Physics, devoted decades to mission design in the aerospace industry. He worked on many planetary missions, including Voyager at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Cal. During a year he spent at NASA, Penzo served as the lead person for space tether research and technology. After retirement, he worked part-time designing orbits for Earth-to-Mars transportation systems. He has received many NASA awards, including the Apollo Award and the Voyager Exceptional Service Award.

Alum's long lost documentary found A nearly 50-year-old documentary produced by alumnus William L. Gaddis Jr. that had gone missing for decades has been found and preserved. Gaddis produced The Black Composer in 1972 for PBS and still considers it his most important work. The film showcases an all-black concert of symphonic music written by black composers. “Thanks be to God for my having lived long enough to see it again,” said Gaddis. The Boston-based WGBH Educational Foundation found the film uncatalogued in the Library of Congress. Deemed to be a significant creative effort and a historic work, The Black Composer was digitized and preserved. The film will be available to the public at WGBH and the Library of Congress sometime this fall. Gaddis, who grew up on the Sharon line side of Youngstown and graduated from North High School in 1956, describes himself as a filmmaker turned screenwriter. After receiving a BSBA in Management from YSU in 1960, he was commissioned as an Army 2nd Lieutenant and sent to Italy, where he witnessed the making of the movie Cleopatra. He credits the experience with inspiring his career, which includes making 12 documentaries and 40 short films before writing screenplays. All of these experiences allowed him to expand his view of the world. “Documentary filmmakers seldom become rich,” said Gaddis, “but they get to live a lot, see a lot and meet a lot of famous people.” Gaddis also holds a master’s degree in Public Communications from Fordham University.

’60s

William Kincaid of New Vienna, Ohio, 1964, BS, Education, is retired after 50 years as a full-time faculty member at Wilmington College. He and his wife, Penny, will be recognized by the County Commissioners of Clinton County for their contributions to the community.

Brenda Y. Person of Winter Garden, Fla., 1968, BA, Sociology, and Jane K. Fieldings of Marietta, Ga., 1985, AAB, Business Education, and 2011, BGS, have written a book that explores the relationships between African American women and white American women. “Is It Me, Is It My Hair, Is It My Skin Color, Is It My Eyes, or Is It You?” examines history as it pertains to relationships today.

Gary J. Kozarich of Canton, Ohio, 1969, BSBA, Accounting, is author of Who Does God Say You Are? He is also a member of the Gideon’s International and attends Open Bible Christian Center in Massillon, Ohio. Kozarich worked for Timken Company for 35 years.

Frank Whitney of Ravenna, Ohio, 1969, BA, 1971, MA, both in History, has been published by McFarland and Company. Whitney’s study focuses on the life and career of Jean Ternant, a French volunteer who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and who later was the last minister-plenipotentiary to the United States from the court of Louis XVI. Whitney was part of the first group to receive a master’s degree in History from YSU. He retired as director of Portage County’s microfilming and records program and previously taught part-time at YSU.

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Alumnus combines interests in art, environment to educate about pollution For YSU alumnus Ken Yacavone of Cape Coral, Fla., 1975, BFA, creating art is more than just a labor of love—it’s an opportunity to educate and inspire. Yacavone started carving in the late 1980s after noticing duck decoys in the Outer Banks. After years of cleaning up beaches he would visit, he saw an opportunity to combine his artistic abilities with his concerns about the environment. He began hand carving decoys like this one that incorporate plastic pollution recovered from the ocean. Yacavone donated the decoy to Toni Westland, head ranger at Ding Darling National Refuge on Sanibel Island, Fla., to use in programs that educate the public about plastics in the environment. He has donated two additional decoys to refuges in Ohio and Hawaii. Yacavone worked for 38 years in the home furnishing industry as a buyer, sales trainer and interior designer. He was part of the first cohort of five students to graduate with a BFA.

’70s

Steve Gurgovits of Hermitage, 1972, BA, Economics, has retired from the board of FNB Corp. after 58 years with the bank. He began as a teller in 1961 and worked his way up to CEO and chair of the board. During his career, he led FNB’s expansion into Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.

Jocelyne Kollay Linsalata of Gates Mills, Ohio, 1974, BA, Foreign Languages, 1980, MBA, was named the 2019 Friend of the University, an award bestowed on an individual for leadership and contributions to YSU and the community. Kollay Linsalata is co-chair of the “We See Tomorrow” $100 million YSU capital campaign and a member and past chair of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees. Kollay Linsalata’s community engagement in the Cleveland area includes vice-president of the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Foundation and various Case Western Reserve University committees. She was previously director of international sales for Childers Products and a Spanish and French teacher at Canfield High School.

Michael J Muszynski of Longwood, Fla., 1974, BS, Biology, is retiring as dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine, Orlando campus. He has experience as a practicing physician and an academic pediatric infectious diseases specialist. His original research involved cystic fibrosis lung infection, and he was co-developer of a culture medium now used worldwide by clinical microbiology laboratories. He was also academic chair of the Department of Pediatrics of Orlando Regional Healthcare from 1995 to 2004.

Mark Buccilli (also known as Bambo Kino), of Boardman, 1976, BA, Speech Communication, has released “The Apostle of Hip,” his fourth CD. Buccilli has agreements with iHeartRadio, Pandora, Microsoft, iTunes and Apple to carry his music. He is retired from the Mahoning County Engineer's Office.

Thomas Brucoli of Warren, 1978, BM, 1983, MM, both in Music Education, has been inducted into the Ohio Band Director’s Conference Hall of Fame. He retired as director of bands after 35 years with the Champion Local Schools, has assisted with Poland Middle School Band and is in his second year at Lakeview Schools. He has served as a student teacher supervisor for YSU.

David DeChristofaro of Niles, 1978, BE, Civil Engineering, 1983, MBA, owns a private practice in engineering, surveying and real estate development consulting. He received his license as a professional engineer in 1982 and as a professional surveyor in 1993. DeChristofaro previously retired from both the Cafaro Co. in 2008 and Niles City Engineer and Trumbull County Engineer in 2011.

Patricia McGovern Sweeney of Poland, 1979, AAS, 1992, BSN, both in Nursing, received the Boardman High School Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award. Sweeney is the health commissioner for Mahoning County Public Health and has led more than 30 organizations to help improve community health.

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’80s

Ira Bryan Campbell of Arlington, Texas, 1980, BM, Music, has published Mein Gustav, a World War I historical fiction book, based on 50 years of research and correspondence with WWI aviation experts. Campbell is also a working trumpeter.

Jim Connor of Youngstown, 1985, ALS, Business Education, has recorded his second CD called “Paradise & Time.” Connor is also the owner of the J. J. Connor Company, which has provided steel erection for recent YSU construction projects including Barnes & Noble and Don Constantini Multi-Media Center, as well as the new Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater.

Joseph M. Olexa of Fishers, Indiana, 1986, BSBA, Management, has been named to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Prestigious Master’s Club, an elite group of the firm’s top advisors. Olexa is a senior vice president and financial advisor in the company’s Wealth Management office.

Rick Magni of Hilliard, Ohio, 1987, MS Biology received the CIO Leadership Award from the State of Ohio. Magni is chief information officer for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The award was presented at the 2019 Ohio Public Sector CIO Academy for demonstrating outstanding leadership throughout the year. Magni has been with the EPA for 31 years.

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’90s

Vincent Colaluca of Austintown, 1992, BA, Physical Education, has retired as superintendent of the Austintown Schools. During his 10 years as superintendent, Austintown schools earned “Excellent with Distinction” on the local report card and the “Momentum Award” from the Ohio Department of Education. Colaluca has received the YSU Distinguished Alumni Educator Award.

Wesley Gillespie of Twinsburg, Ohio, 1992, BA, Speech Communication, has been named regional president for Northeast Ohio by ErieBank in Cleveland. Gillespie will lead the firm’s expansion in the region, which is expected to include a loan production office, branch acquisitions and additional staff.

John Picuri of Cortland, 1997, BE, Civil Engineering, was recently appointed deputy director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 12 (Cleveland). He is responsible for overseeing an annual construction program of more than $800 million and an annual operating budget of $50 million in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga Counties.

Rebecca S. Nieminen of Kinsman, Ohio, 1998, BA Professional Writing and Editing, 2010, MA, English, was the featured artist earlier this year at the Trumbull Art Gallery. She currently is compiling a book of photographs and poetry, and is working on a historical novel.

Wendy L. Samford of Tampa, Fla., 1998, Education Administration, is the author of Out of The Dark: A Direction for Change in Education, co-editor of Creating a Culture of Support for Teacher Leaders: A Vision for Change and Hope and the co-author of Bloom Where Planted.

Tracy Niemla of Salem, Ohio, 1999, BA, Telecommunications, was recently promoted to Senior Oral Care Consultant at Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. She has been a Circle of Achievement Winner four times in the past five years and has ranked in the top 10 percent in sales.

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’00s

Jamie Marich of Warren, 2000, BA, History & American Studies, recently released her seventh book, Process Not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery. Marich, a therapist, educator and researcher, runs the Institute for Creative Mindfulness in Warren.

Tiffany Lewis of Youngstown, 2002, BSE, Early Childhood Education, has been named 2020 Teacher of the Year for Ohio Board of Education District 8. Lewis teaches first grade at Volney Rogers Elementary. A panel of education and community stakeholders will select the 2020 Ohio Teacher of the Year this school year.

Dennis Dlugosz of Avon, Ohio, 2003, BSBA, Accounting, is a partner at Corrigan Krause CPAs, an accounting firm with three locations in Northeast Ohio. He specializes in the construction industry and provides a wide range of services for clients.

Aimee Tenzek of Lisbon, 2003, BA, Journalism, has been named managing editor of the Farm and Dairy. Tenzek, who has been with the publication for 13 years as a copy editor and paginate, will be responsible for day-to-day newsroom functions.

Ryan Furlong of Youngstown, 2006, BA, Integrated Social Studies Education, was ordained as a deacon by the Most Reverend George V. Murry, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. Furlong currently studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati.

Michael Centorame of Canfield, 2007, BE, 2011, MSE, both in Civil Engineering, is an engineer with the Ohio Department of Transportation. He received his professional engineer’s and surveyor’s license in 2012.

Katie Fallo of Niles, MSEd, 2007, EdD, 2019, is the new director of student services for the Boardman Local Schools. Fallo served as supervisor of special education at Warren City Schools for seven years. She also has been an intervention specialist in Warren City Schools and the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.

Wayne Magee of Onset, Mass., 2007, BA, Music, is on a mission to empower others through his new book, T.O.U.G.H Blows: A Lifelong Journey of Defying the Odds. Magee spent his life overcoming obstacles related to a rare genetic disorder. Intending to convince others that he could lead a purposeful, fulfilled life, Magee wrote about his years at YSU and the Dana School of Music faculty who helped him overcome challenges along the way. Magee is now director of bands, honor guard and drill team at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Justin Edwards 2009, BGS, 2011, MSEd, Counseling, and Ashley Edwards, both of Poland, were recently inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Mr. Edwards, director of the YSU Office of Career and Academic Advising, was inducted as a staff member. He is pursuing his EdD. Mrs. Edwards was inducted as a student and is expected to graduate this fall with a Bachelor of General Studies focused on Psychology and Food/Nutrition.

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’10s

Kyle Muir of Zelienople, Pa., 2010, BS, Biology, has opened 330 Chiropractic in Boardman. The Mineral Ridge native earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2014 from Sherman College of Chiropractic in South Carolina. After several years as an associate chiropractor at a Pennsylvania practice, Muir returned to the Mahoning Valley to open his own office.

Kristin Frank of Hoboken, N.J., 2011 BS, Chemistry, is now a pharmacy manager. She received a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Lake Erie College of Medicine School of Pharmacy in 2015.

Cory Muraco of State College, Pa., 2011, BS, 2013, MS, both in Chemistry, has been promoted to global franchise manager, Liquid Chromatography Technology, at MilliporeSigma, the life science business of Merck KGaA. Muraco will be responsible for designing and implementing global R&D and marketing strategies for new technologies for biomacromolecule purification and analysis.

Brian Petrus of New Castle, Pa., 2012, MBA, is an assistant professor of Business Administration at Westminster College and has been named a “Top 5 Under 40” award recipient by the Young Professionals of Lawrence County.

Paul Sujka of Hoboken, N.J., 2013, BE, Civil Engineering, is a senior level professional engineer for engineering firm Simpson, Gumpertz and Heger. Sujka specializes in building enclosure consulting in New York City.

Allison Bottorff of Youngstown, 2014, BSN, Nursing, is now providing primary care services as a nurse practitioner at Lloyd McCoy Health Center in Warren. She also has a master’s degree in Nursing from Chamberlain University.

Matt Madgar of Akron, AA, Criminal Justice, BA, Business Administration, both in 2015, has been sworn in as a commissioned state wildlife officer. Madgar has statewide jurisdiction to enforce wildlife regulations, investigate allegations of waterway pollution, protect state property and make arrests. He will also conduct educational programs, perform fish and wildlife management duties and advise landowners on wildlife-related issues.

Abbie Frank of Cleveland, 2016, BA, Psychology and Interpersonal Communication, is an associate producer and public information officer for the Ohio Lottery’s Game Show Bureau working on the Cash Explosion Show. Frank assists in producing the weekly television game show and broadcasting for special events and promotions throughout the state, as well as on social media.

Robert Marsch of Houston, Texas, 2017, BE, Chemical Engineering, recently graduated from the University of Houston with two master’s degrees and currently works for a contractor on site at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Noah O’Brien of Cincinnati, 2017, MS, Engineering, has been elected to the board of directors for The Lloyd Library and Museum, a 150-year-old, scientific-research institution in Cincinnati. The organization's endowment provides annual research grants for multiple academic disciplines, including natural history, medicinal botany, chemistry, horticulture, and plant-inspired art. O’Brien is a reliability engineer for Emery Oleochemicals and serves as vice president of the West End Community Council.

Lexi Rager of Boardman, 2019, BS, Mathematics, and BA, Psychology, has been awarded a national Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship for graduate studies. Rager is pursuing a master’s degree in Professional Communication at YSU. She was recently hired as coordinator of student recruitment for the Honors College.

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