Dr. Jake Trexel (A&S, 1970)

Without the chance that Point Park gave me, I would never have become a university professor.  Back in 1967, I graduated from Richland High School in Johnstown Pa. My grades were very poor from high school, due to being sick three out of nine months of school.   But Point Park allowed me to take a semester of remedial work (algebra, English and so on).  If I passed these courses they would allow me in as a full time student.  I made it, and enrolled in mechanical engineering technology.

I was very lucky to have two very special professors there.  My calculus professor tutored me on the side because I was missing so much class time, due to sickness. Another professor, who taught me strength of materials, told me that I should continue my studies after earning my associate’s degree from Point Park. I did go on to two universities and became not only a mechanical engineer, but also a professor.  Even though I had a rough time with calculus at Point Park, I ended up a few courses shy of a second Ph.D. in mathematics.  During the years that I worked, I received many awards for my research and teaching. Life shot me down in 1992: I became disabled and home bound.  I was born with a very rare disease, the one that caused me so much sickness, and it ended my career. 

I am now writing a graduate/post graduate textbook on the mathematics of a neuron.  I never thought that back in 1967 I would be the one in front of the classroom, nor someone with enough education to write a textbook.   If it was not for Point Park and some very special people there, I would never have the title of professor, nor would I be writing a textbook.

Those years at Point Park are some of the very best times in my life.

Thank you, Dr. Jake Trexel (A&S, 1970)

Jim Caskowski (COM 1980)

When I was attending Point Park,1975-80, I was the Business-Advertising Manager of what started a two-page student newspaper, the Point Park Pioneer. Our editor was the J&C Department head, Dr. Vincent LaBarbra After four years, we grew to 12-15 pages and went from being totally funded, to paying our own way through revenue from advertising. After college I went on to work for Ruben H. Donnelley the national yellow pages publisher. My question is, do you still publish the Pioneer? I would love to see what happened to it.

Thank You, Jim Caskowski (COM 1980)