Moon Township, Pa. -- The Robert Morris University (RMU) Center for Student Success will host a pizza party tonight (Dec. 3) for the First Year Seminar Program mentors and freshman students who raised the most money to benefit Michelle Machusko. The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Center TV Lounge.
Machusko was an RMU student when she was shot seven times on Jan. 22 by her boyfriend, Paul Visnansky, while she was studying at her North Fayette Township apartment with fellow RMU students Michael Tatalovich and Jonathan Gilbert. Tatalovich and Gilbert were killed in the shootings. Visnansky pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for attempted homicide.
Machusko and her mother, Janet, will attend tonight’s gathering, where they will be presented with a check for $3,100. The money was raised through several fundraisers held throughout the year.
Machusko, who was not expected to survive, was in a coma for two weeks following the shooting and suffered permanent brain damage. She is currently re-learning how to walk and talk, with the help of physical and speech therapy. You can learn more about her progress here.
RMU senior Lindsay Schlott initiated the fundraising efforts during the summer. “I saw Michelle at the Mall at Robinson in August, and it brought me to tears,” said Schlott. “After that, I was so inspired by her courage that I just wanted to do something to help.”
Schlott pitched her idea to Tracy Gorrell, assistant director and Act 101 coordinator at the Center for Student Success. “I asked the FYSP mentors if they wanted to help Lindsay in her fundraising efforts, and they unanimously agreed,” said Gorrell.
This spring, the group plans to launch further fundraising efforts with the help of RMU’s School of Education and Social Sciences, where Machusko was a student. “Lindsay has a personal goal to raise $5,000 for Michelle,” said Gorrell, “and with her determination, I believe that we will surpass that goal.”
Anyone who would like to contribute to the fundraising efforts for Machusko may contact Tracy Gorrell at (412) 397-5859.