AIM students explore Mt. Kilimanjaro Eight students and staf members from the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) kicked of 2017 with a 12-day trek through Africa that included both an adventure hike in the shadows of the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and a Tanzanian wildlife safari. Their trip continues the “Raise the Roof for Autism” initiative begun by AIM Director Brad McGarry. He said the trips provide unforgettable experiences for the students, but also increase awareness of the capabilities of students on the autism spectrum and of their need for meaningful employment opportunities. He said his slogan for this trip was “Learning about the world, while the world learns about us.”
Community enjoys Hurst Day Hurst Day 2.0 was as much fun as the frst annual event. Just two days after his inauguration, President Michael Victor canceled all classes for a day and invited students, faculty and staf to enjoy games, food and lots of fun. Bagpipers alerted students early in the morning and festivities kicked of with a scavenger hunt testing students’ Mercyhurst knowledge. The campus was flled with infatable games and even a zipline, and outdoor food stations featured everything from burgers to barbeque.
Frozen in time The viral hit known as the #mannequinchallenge made its way to Mercyhurst in November, when the whole campus community was invited to pack the Athletic Center for a special challenge set against the backdrop of a men’s vs. women’s basketball scrimmage. When the word went out, everyone from President Victor to players to cheerleaders to referees to spectators froze in unison. Then they tried not to wobble, blink, sneeze, laugh or otherwise move as a camera wove through the scene frozen in time. You can watch the results at mercyhurst.edu/mannequin-challenge . 23
AIM hosts landmark conference on autism It was the frst time ever that three of the world’s most prominent speakers on the subject of autism—Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore and Steve Silberman—were on the same program, and it was a Mercyhurst conference that brought them together. AIM (the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst) hosted its inaugural Conference on Autism in Higher Education Nov. 1-2, 2016, at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center. Attendees came from all over the country to learn about college programs for students on the spectrum and initiatives to increase employment opportunities for those students after graduation. President Michael T. Victor is pictured with speakers, from left, Dr. Robert Naseef, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Temple Grandin and Steve Silberman.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online