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<p>Marcia Skeeba Balester, coordinator of the First-Year Foundations program at Wilkes University, was recognized for outstanding commitment and service to veterans and community at the Seventh Annual Hero&#8217;s Brunch at Wilkes. The award was presented by Jerry Guinari, past commander of Greater Pittston AMVETS Post 189, and Bernie McDonald, current commander.</p><p>Balester, a resident of McAdoo, teaches a first-year foundations course, &#8220;Be the Change&#8221; where students interview veterans about their war-time experiences as part of an oral history project. The veterans interviewed in fall 2018 represented military personnel who have served in conflicts from World War II to the Gulf War.</p><p>Her project reflects Wilkes&#8217; commitment to community and civic engagement. Since the oral history project began in 2012, over 500 oral histories have been recorded by Wilkes students. Balester&#8217;s class is one of many first-year foundations courses offered. They are required classes taken by all first-year students at Wilkes to support their transition to the University.</p><p>This year, the 30-minute audio or video recordings were shared with the Library of Congress to be included in the library&#8217;s Veteran&#8217;s History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.</p><p>The brunch was hosted by 62 Wilkes University freshmen in Balester&#8217;s first-year foundations course. The event was attended by over 200 veterans and their spouses and guests.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Marcia Skeeba Balester, center, coordinator of the First-Year Foundations program at Wilkes University, is presented an award at the Seventh Annual Hero&#8217;s Brunch at Wilkes. Jerry Guinari, right, past commander of Greater Pittston AMVETS Post 189, and Bernie McDonald, left, current commander, presented the award. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_WilkesBrunch.jpg</photo0><caption0>Marcia Skeeba Balester, center, coordinator of the First-Year Foundations program at Wilkes University, is presented an award at the Seventh Annual Hero&#8217;s Brunch at Wilkes. Jerry Guinari, right, past commander of Greater Pittston AMVETS Post 189, and Bernie McDonald, left, current commander, presented the award. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>

Wilkes professor Marcia Balester recognized for commitment to veterans