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'California University of Pennsylvania' (commonly referred to as 'Cal U') is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 7,000.
The main campus consists of 38 buildings situated on 90 acres (364,000 m²). An additional 98 acre (397,000 m²) recreation complex, George H. Roadman University Park, is located one mile from campus and includes a football stadium, various sports facilities, and picnic facilities.
Cal U has satellite campuses in Canonsburg and in the Regional Enterprise Tower (Alcoa Building) in Pittsburgh.

Contents

History

Athletics

Facilities

Notable alumni

Trivia

Valedictorians

External links

History

Cal U. traces its roots back to 1852, when the fledgling community of California spent tax dollars and donations to create an Academy for kindergarten through college-level courses. In 1864 it purchased 10 acres and moved to what is now the center of its present location, and a year later the school received a charter to be a normal school. In 1874, the institution was renamed SouthWestern Normal School and in 1914 Pennsylvania bought the school, renaming it the California State Normal School and converted it into a 2-year institute for training of elementary school teachers.
In 1928 the school moved back to a 4-year curriculum and was renamed the California State Teachers College. The programs offered were expanded over time, and by 1959 the school's name was condensed to California State College. In 1962 the school added a graduate program. The school became a part of State System of Higher Education on July 1, 1983, becoming California University of Pennsylvania.

Athletics

Cal U's nickname is the Vulcans, and its athletic
teams compete at the NCAA Division II in the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference. The school has been one of the more successful in
the PSAC conference.
The university has won a total of three national championships. In 2004, sophomore
guard Megan Storck knocked down a deep three-pointer in the final minute of
play, breaking open a tie ballgame to give Cal U its first women's national
basketball title. Cal's softball program won back to back championships
in 1997 and 1998, including a 50-1 campaign during its first championship
run.
The Vulcans have also had strong success in women's volleyball, men's
soccer, men's basketball, women's tennis and baseball, each advancing to the
NCAA Tournament this decade. The men's baskeball team has had a pair of
runs to the NCAA Division II Final Four (1992 and 1996). The volleyball
program went to the Final Four in 2000 and the Sweet 16 twice (2004 and
2006). The women's tennis team advanced to the Division II Elite Eight in
2006.

The Cal U football team is also a recent success story, winning consecutive
PSAC championships for the first time in team history in 2005 and 2006.
During the last two years, Vulcan teams have won five PSAC titles, finished
second five other times, and have had dozens of student-athletes earn a
variety of regional and national athletic and academic awards.
Vulcan athletes are also showing their superiority in the classroom. More
than half of Cal's 18 varsity athletic teams posted grade point averages
above 3.00 during the 2006-07 academic year, and 74% of the nearly 400
student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll
(3.00 GPA or better), including 36 with perfect 4.00 GPAs during at least
one semester.
The University also boasts some of the best facilities in the region. Hamer
Hall is the home of Cal's indoor teams, including volleyball, basketball and
swimming, as well as excellent athletic training and weight-training
facilities, locker rooms, athletic offices and classrooms. The football and
track & field teams call Hepner-Bailey Field at Adamson Stadium, located a mile south of the main
campus, home. The cross country, softball, soccer and tennis teams compete
in the adjacent Roadman Park complex. CONSOL Energy Park in Washington,
Pa., hosts Cal's home baseball games annually. The golf teams, added to the
lineup of varsity sports in 2005, play at nearby Cedarbrook Golf Course.

Facilities

California University has recently received massive state and private grants to rebuild the campus. Since 2000, five new residence halls have been completed, each with private bathrooms, and a sixth is set to open for the 2007-08 school year. Off campus, Cal U has apartment-like housing at the Jefferson @ California complex all which have been made possible through the generosity and dedication of the Student Association, Inc. to the Students of California.
The Eberly Science and Technology Center opened in 1999, while the new Duda Hall (which replaced the original Duda World Cultures Building) opened in 2007. Steele Auditorium is currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion project and is slated to open Fall 2007.
On Sept. 1, "Booming Out: Mohawk Ironworkers Build New York," an exhibit created by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, will come to California University of Pennsylvania, in efforts to provide a unique educational and cultural experience for students and residents.
Tim Buchanan, executive director of special initiatives for Cal U helped the university become a member of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) program, a part of the Smithsonian that allows exhibits to travel to various locations across the United States. Cal U is the only school in the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education to welcome a SITES exhibit to campus.
Thorugh outreach programs this provides unique educational experiences and opportunities for personal enrichment and professional development for area students and residents of all ages.

Notable alumni

★ Nicholas Addlery(b. 1981) Major League Soccer player, D.C. United

★ Del Beshore (b. 1956), NBA player (1978-1980)

★ Tomas Boltnar, Premier Development League Soccer, Des Moine Menace

★ Allen Foster Cooper (1838-1918), Republican U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1903-1911)

★ Bruce Dal Canton (b. 1942), MLB pitcher (1967-1977)

★ Grant Furlong (1866-1973), Democratic U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1943-1945)

★ Dale Hamer (b. 1938), former NFL referee

★ Robert Igoe (b. 1968), Winchester Star reporter

★ Justin Woodrow, MLB St. Louis Cardinals (2000-2004)

★ Rick Krivda (b. 1970) , MLB pitcher (1995-1998)

★ Jim Lokay (b. 1980), KDKA-TV news reporter

★ Frank Mascara (b. 1930), Democratic U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1995-2003)

★ Alan Natali (b. 1952), author of "Woody's Boys" and "Brown's Town"

★ Terry O'Shea (b. 1966), NFL tight end (1989-1990)

★ Brian G. Sayre (b. 1962) former national treasurer of Delta Chi Fraternity

★ Bruce Foster Sterling (1870-1946), Republican U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania (1917-1919)

★ Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper (b. 1938), retired officer of the United States Marine Corps

Trivia

★ Students lovingly refer to California University as "Harvard on the Mon," referring to the location of the main campus on the banks of the Monongahela River.

★ Cal U's living alumni base is over 43,000, with over 30,000 living in Pennsylvania[1].

★ With its founding in 1852, Cal U. is America's oldest college or university bearing the name California. However, it did not contain "California" until 1914. By that time, San Jose State (1862), St. Mary's (1863), UC Berkeley (1868), USC (1880), UCLA (1882), Chico State (1887), Dominican University (1890), Cal Poly (1901), UC Riverside (1907), and California College of the Arts (1907) were among the schools already using the word California.

★ From 1957-1960, the Pittsburgh Steelers held training camp at the college.

Valedictorians

In order to be recognized as a valedictorian, a student must complete his or her college career with a 4.0 GPA and QPA. The following students have earned the title of valedictorians:

★ December 2005 - Adrianne Wills

★ May 2006 - Colby Perotta, Eric Miller

External links

★ California University of Pennsylvania Website

★ The Student Association Website