DECEMBER 202 3
Overhauling an Icon Also inside:
Christmas is a special time on campus and a significant one for the Grove City College community. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them … For unto us a child is born, unto us a savior is given.” Isiah 9:2, 6
M ESSAGE Grove City College
F ROM
THE
PRES ID EN T
THE POWER OF A VISION
“T
he power of a vision.” That’s an ideal caption for football coach Andrew DiDonato’s post-game speech to his championship winning team on Oct. 28, 2023. With hundreds of thousands of views, the video of this historic moment has gone viral – scan the QR code below to watch it. In it, Coach DiDonato ’10 implores the players to think about how the team’s vision has impacted the program since his appointment as head coach in 2016. This vision, which has been steadfastly embraced by his past teams regardless of their won-lost record, is to glorify God in the pursuit of earning a degree, building lasting relationships, and competing for conference championships. He reminds them that “a vision keeps you focused; a vision keeps you fueled; and a vision helps you finish.” Indeed, this bold vision, skillfully articulated by a passionate young coach, has been at the heart of a eight-year transformation from 0-10 to 10-0. Grove City College has always understood the importance of bold vision. Our founder Isaac Ketler was another young untested leader who, along with Joseph Newton Pew and the help of Andrew Carnegie, envisioned an academically-excellent Christian college with a beautiful campus on the other side of Wolf Creek (what we now call upper campus). Their two sons, Weir and J. Howard, teamed up with names such as Harbison, Crawford, and Babcock, to bring this vision to reality in the form of collegiate-gothic buildings surrounding a central “quad.” And think about the vision of Albert Hopeman and Charles MacKenzie a half century later as they stood their ground against the unwarranted demands of the federal government. Grove City College’s muchadmired independence is the fruit of their courageous vision. As we approach the College’s 150th anniversary, vision remains critically important. There is much work to be done, and we must do it in faithfulness to the principles we have always championed. If glorifying God in competing for championships is an obvious outlier in the world of sports, imagine the distinctiveness in higher education of a vision “grounded in permanent ideas and conservative values.” In addition to being highly distinctive, it has also proven to be a successful identity worthy of our unwavering commitment. Sustaining the College’s vision for another 150 years will require the faithful and generous support of thousands of alumni, friends, and kindred spirits. The success of the Impact 150 campaign is essential because it seeks to fund the priorities and projects most needed at this point in the school’s extraordinary history. Lord willing, Grove City College’s tremendous vision to “develop leaders of the highest proficiency, purpose, and principles ready to advance the common good” will motivate all of us to achieve historic success. Finally, we should note that not all visions are equal. Many visions are misguided, and some are even diabolical. The King James Version of Proverbs 29:18 reads in part, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Though some have sought to hijack this wisdom for political purposes, Solomon is referring to prophetic wisdom. We are being reminded that the best visions are those anchored in the unfailing hope only found in the revelation of God. From the earliest days of Ketler and Pew to the recent years of David Rathburn ’79 and Ed Breen ’78, Grove City College’s vision has embraced this redemptive calling. This is the true power of our vision that will guide us in the years to come. In this Advent season, Brenda and I pray that your vision will be one of hope and joy, inspired by the peace embodied in the manger.
EDITORIAL BOARD Jeffrey Prokovich ’89 Vice President for Advancement Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Jacki Muller Senior Director of Marketing and Communications EDITOR Nick Hildebrand Senior Editor, Marketing and Communications ASSOCIATE EDITOR Joanie Baumgartner Director of Advancement Communications DESIGN Justin Harbaugh Art Director/Graphic Designer CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman Advancement Communications Coordinator Amy Evans Associate Director of Advancement Communications Brad Isles Website Manager/Content Coordinator OFFICE OF ALUMNI & COLLEGE RELATIONS Tricia Corey Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw Mandy Sposato ’00 Michelle (Jeffries ’19) Vogt COLLEGE ARCHIVES AND GALLERIES Hilary (Lewis ’09) Walczak OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT Brian Powell ’03 Doug Angle ’20 Jason Burtt ’00 Elizabeth (Smith ’81) Hanley Zach Jew ’11 Randall LaBrie ’20
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION James Dudt ’07 President Steve DeCaspers ’97 Vice President Interior photography by Jason Jones, Justin Harbaugh, Nick Hildebrand, Brad Isles, Kiley (Hajek ’19) Miranda, Gracie Turnbaugh ’23, Grace David ’24, Mia Campagna ’25, Will Hearn ’26, Tiffany Wolfe, Maggie (Williams ’22) Miller
Paul J. McNulty ’80 President Grove City College 100 Campus Drive
Scan this QR code to view the inspiration message from Coach Andrew DiDonato Or visit twitter.com/GCC_FB
Grove City, PA 16127 724.458.2300 888.GCC.GRAD alumni.gcc.edu
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December 2023
’mid the pages
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WOLVERINE WINNERS Grove City College student-athletes racked up a remarkable four Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships this fall. Read about the Wolverine football team’s record-breaking season and the women’s tennis, cross country, and soccer teams capturing top PAC honors.
I NS I D E
34 | Overhauling an icon Hall of science renewed, renamed 38 | 150 for 150 An ongoing series begins 44 | Grover connections Startup powered by GCC 46 | Class Notes Find out what fellow alumni are doing 53 | In Memory Friends we’ve lost and remember 56 | Li’l Wolverines Introducing our newest Grovers 58 | Faith & Learning An anniversary Q&A with President McNulty
Connect with us: The GēDUNK, an award-winning magazine published for alumni and friends of Grove City College, highlights College news and alumni achievements. Named after the on-campus gathering place / snack bar for students since the early 1950s, the word “Gedunk” made its way into the Grove City College vernacular when Navy veterans returned to campus and brought the term with them. For decades, the Grove City College Gedunk has been the place to come together to share news and ideas, live and learn, and this magazine strives to connect our family in similar style. College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals (CUPRAP) has recognized the GēDUNK with awards for excellence in design and writing for five consecutive years.
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Since the launch of Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College in May 2023, alumni and friends have caught the vision for this historic effort to build on our solid foundation and our present strengths in order to carry Grove City College’s mission forward for another 150 years and beyond. Merely six months into this comprehensive campaign that impacts infrastructure, programs, financial aid, and so much more, we are pleased to share our progress toward the most ambitious fundraising goals in our history.
PHASE 1 (2023-2026) PRIORITIES – $90M OF $185M CAMPAIGN TOTAL
ROCKWELL RENOVATION
LOWER CAMPUS FIELDHOUSE
FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS
$36,340,502.39
$4,216,732.37
$16,099,524.85
Amount raised, to-date | Goal - $48M
Amount raised, to-date | Goal - $26M
Amount raised, to-date | Goal - $16M
ANNUAL FUND
CAMPAIGN UNRESTRICTED
TOTAL CAMPAIGN AMOUNT
$4,332,622.54
$1,757,124.12
$69,915,897.68
Amount raised, to-date
Amount raised, to-date
Amount raised, to-date
STORIES OF
impact
Grove City College changes lives. There is no simpler way to put it. These stories of impact are shared by individuals who have had remarkable experiences at this special place, and who know that now is the perfect time to inspire others as we work together to ensure that our transformational education will continue to impact students for the next 150 years and beyond.
TOM ’77 AND LILA (THOMAS ’79) RILEY Alumni and Scholarship Donors
A ROCK-SOLID FOUNDATION Tom ’77 and Lila (Thomas ’79) Riley are as involved in the life of the College today as they were as students. Having recently reestablished themselves as residents of western Pennsylvania, they have jumped at the chance to become a regular part of the Grove City College community again. Tom: “The reason we attend events on campus is, first and foremost, there are high-quality events. We make it a habit to come to Wednesday Chapel service, and we’ve never been disappointed in that worship experience. Every year, the Institute for Faith & Freedom has their conference. I don’t think we’ve ever missed one of those. And we’ll come for sporting events. My wife has gotten to know one of the basketball players on the women’s team, and we’ve enjoyed coming and watching her play. We enjoy coming to campus, even if it means going into the student union, having lunch, and just absorbing the atmosphere of being at the College. We really, really enjoy it.”
Tom’s sentiments about being involved on campus are matched only by their enthusiasm for giving back. Lila: “I was really honored to be asked to help start the Gamma Chi [Alumnae Association] Scholarship, and this was something that we could ask all the [sorority] alumni to help with and support, so that it encouraged the girls who were active at that time. I think since the scholarship started, I’ve gotten to meet every scholarship recipient. Every year I want to say, ‘Why don’t you come over to our house this afternoon?’ We’ll just hang out and talk some more because I feel like we have so much in common, even though there are generations between us now.” It’s no surprise that connecting with new generations of Grovers comes easily to this GCC power couple. Two of their own sons are also alumni, making the Rileys a “Legacy Family.” But the connections don’t stop there. Lila has helped to lead a discipleship group
[Grove City College] produces citizens in this world who are truly special, ones very well-equipped to make a difference in the world.
of young women through the Chapel Ministries department, and both Rileys are very active with the Young Life organization on campus. Being annual donors for the last 23 years, they are motivated by the incredible students whom they’ve been able to know here. Tom: “[Grove City College] produces citizens in this world who are truly special, ones very well-equipped to make a difference in the world. Everything at the College is taught from a Christian worldview, so that foundation is rock-solid. The students who come here and learn on that foundation … well, they leave here very, very well-equipped to be highperforming citizens in our country.” The Rileys are part of that rocksolid foundation that students are receiving here, serving as examples of engaged and generous alumni who clearly understand that the College’s mission transforms lives. Our students themselves are the return on their investment, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
NICK GUIDAS ’24 Student
A CULTURE OF CARING As a Wolverine baseball player, senior Nick Guidas ’24 has experienced his share of amazing athletic performances, including the one during the fall 2022 season where he pitched an elusive “perfect” game. “We played a game in Florida against Illinois College. It was a beautiful day, and I went out and threw a perfect game. It’s a really rare thing in baseball, and I’m blessed to have the ability to do that. My dad passed away last year, and on that mound, I felt his presence. It was something I’d never experienced before. After I threw the perfect game, the support my coaches and my team showed me, hugging me … it was an emotional time. All my professors, all the alumni in my fraternity … they reached out to me
and emailed me and texted me. It was a really, really great experience.” Guidas found the campus community ready to celebrate his success on the ballfield, and equally ready to stand with him during his time of personal loss. Professors sent cards to his family when his father passed away and the care expressed by the community really strengthened his faith. Another special group, his Pan Sophic brothers, helped walk with him through this difficult time in a special way. They partnered to help Guidas feel his father’s presence with him during every game. A beautiful tree facing the baseball fields is now adorned with a memorial plaque in memory of his dad, Mike Guidas. The Pans have made a lasting impact on him.
They’re just there and they support us, in everything that we do. “We have yearly events, and the fact that they show up, those alumni, and they’re so supportive of us. They’re just there and they support us, in everything that we do. They put on events for us, they donate. It’s an amazing culture that’s built there. And I’m really thankful for the connection we have with our alumni. I’m definitely going to give back when I’m an alumnus, because of the fact that they give back. It’s just so amazing.”
Memorial plaque in memory of Mike Guidas.
DR. JOE AUGSPURGER Chair and Professor of Chemistry
A TIMELY INVESTMENT A fixture in the chemistry department for 28 years, Dr. Joe Augspurger, department chair and professor, has been through quite a few periods of growth and change at the College. “Rockwell underwent a renovation of the chemistry labs in the summer of 1997. It was a very great makeover. But that renovation didn’t change the fact that it was a 65-year-old building, that the ventilation was not what it needed to be. Since we’ve now moved into STEM, and we’ve been there for 10 years, it has really made Rockwell look dated by comparison. This [current] renovation of Rockwell is really important, not just the renovation, but the additional space that will be formed. We’re actually connecting the two buildings [Rockwell Hall and STEM Hall] together, and this will be a big step forward for the science program.”
Dr. Augspurger has taught a lot of students during his three decades here, and he knows that science has never been more relevant to our lives than it is now. His aim is to help train the next generation of problem-solvers who can tackle modern issues like the environment and energy, and health concerns like COVID. The investments being made to modernize our research, laboratory, and collaboration facilities
will surely attract even more students who will someday impact industry, infrastructure, medicine, and more. “I’m always amazed by the caliber of students the College attracts. That’s part of what makes it so special for students, that they can really be challenged by their fellow students. That draws out the best in them. Of course, the most distinctive thing is that we’re doing this all to the glory of Christ.”
This [current] renovation of Rockwell is really important, not just the renovation, but the additional space that will be formed.
WENDY (SABADOS ’88) MASCIO Trustee and Alumni Council
A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN Grove City College Trustee and Alumni Council member Wendy (Sabados ’88) Mascio is a business owner who has found that hiring graduates of Grove City College is a smart business decision.
two will definitely make Grove City College a great place for a person who’s interested in the sciences or engineering, nursing, or any of those types of majors. I think that’s really impactful. There’s something to be said,
No gift is too small. Large gifts are great, but let’s not ignore the small gifts and how much we can accomplish together if we all try. “They have a great work ethic. They’re honest. They’re committed. They’re loyal. They know how to find answers, and they have a bigger purpose behind what they do. It’s not all about them. It’s not, “What’s in it for me?” They try to do good, and they try to do the right things in situations, and that’s hard to find nowadays in a lot of employees. So, I’m always happy if I can hire a Grove City graduate if they come my way.” As a Trustee, Mascio has had the opportunity to hear about the Impact 150 campaign from the planning stages and to understand how greatly it will impact both current students and the generations to come. She knows that investments made now will help to prepare even greater numbers of students to become the alumni she and others want to hire. Alumni who will change the world. “Rockwell Hall and the STEM building and the integration of the
too, for the fact that we’ve become this destination for varsity sports. Sports are a great training ground for individuals. Teaching them discipline, teaching them how to handle multiple things at the same time. Employers want to see students that are not only good academically but also have outside interests. Being able to attract topnotch athletes by having the correct facilities there as well, such as the [new lower campus] fieldhouse, is very important. The nice thing about this campaign is that it’s not just a capital campaign with buildings. It’s an inclusive impact campaign in which we want to raise money for these buildings, but we also want to raise money for financial aid, for scholarships, to help the general student populace, and to further Grove City College’s mission.” This comprehensive campaign comes at a perfect time. We will soon celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2026, a milestone for any institution. As we look back, we understand that
we are at a crossroads, an intersection of the success we’ve had in the past with the potential for our future. At a time when other private colleges are closing their doors, Mascio believes it’s the perfect time to think about the role we all play in carrying the mission of Grove City College forward. “It’s important to realize that in a campaign, every dollar counts. It’s great if you can give millions of dollars to the College. However, together we can achieve a lot. If it’s your individual amount or you have a group that you’re affiliated with of alums, sororities, fraternities, sports organizations … if we can all pull together and pull whatever funds we have available to contribute, it will make a difference. It will impact. No gift is too small. Large gifts are great, but let’s not ignore the small gifts and how much we can accomplish together if we all try.”
Join Wendy in making an impact on our students, our faculty, and the founding mission that has inspired the College to move forward with faithful determination. Every gift counts!
GCC.EDU/IMPACT150
On Friday, November 3, 2023, Grove City College formally launched the Impact 150 campaign with the help of event hosts Gecko Robotics, and over 250 alumni and friends ready to move the College into its next chapter of excellence.
A great opening to the public phase of our third ever campaign. RICHARD G. JEWELL ’67 Former Grove City College President
EVENT HOST
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News about the College, alumni, students, campus, faculty, and sports
Dr. Kelsey B. Madsen, seated, is flanked in the courtyard outside the Staley Hall of Arts and Letters by student translators, from left, Marcus Henry, Katelyn Livorse, Virginia Williams, and Cara Scott.
Student translators help preserve Holocaust history
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rove City College Modern Language students helped translate a collection of records and first-hand accounts documenting the mass arrest nearly 80 years ago of Jews in the city of Amiens in the Somme region of France. Of the dozens arrested and later taken to Auschwitz, just one person survived, according to Dr. David Rosenberg, a historian and retired archivist committed to highlighting the neglected history of the Jewish population of that region. The 19 documents the students translated are now part of Rosenberg’s traveling exhibit The Fruits of Hate: A French City During the Holocaust and will be added
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to the website Jews of the Somme, which includes hundreds of photo IDs, letters, and other documents of the era. The documents, which were only available in the original French, are all that is left to put “voices” and “faces” to these victims of the Holocaust, Rosenberg said. Official records and correspondence combined with memoirs of descendants and survivors provides a chilling and poignant record of the arrests. By making them accessible in English, he said the students “have made an outstanding contribution to the memory of adults and children victimized by an irrational hate.” Dr. Kelsey B. Madsen, chair of the Department of Modern Languages, enlisted
some of her students to translate and edit the Amiens documents after seeing the exhibit and meeting Rosenberg last spring. While the work provided an opportunity for them to use their French language skills outside of the classroom as a form of service, Madsen said it may have had a more profound impact. “They are actively contributing to the transmission of history and memories between generations and between cultures,” she said. “Today, World War II remains a popular topic for films, novels, and documentaries, but our relationship to it is increasingly abstract. College students are unlikely to have met a Holocaust survivor or to have grown up knowing relatives who fought in World War II – for many, that was their great-grandparents’ generation. Through translating, the students have the opportunity to cultivate a human connection with individuals and events portrayed in the documents,” Madsen said. On Jan. 4, 1944, and the days following, the Gestapo rounded up dozens of Jews in Amiens and the Department of the Somme. Previous mass arrests in the city had targeted foreigners, but this was the first time French citizens were taken. They were transported with more than 1,000 other Jews to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the overwhelming majority of them, including all but one of the Amiens Jews, were gassed on arrival. The occupiers kept records of the roundup, including local officials’ correspondence and first-hand reports documenting the chapter in the history of the city, which was liberated a few months after the roundup. The records were moved to Paris after the war and left undisturbed for decades. Rosenberg, a former University of Pittsburgh archivist, uncovered them in 2014 and later discovered a collection of ID cards, or fiches, which included photos and details that added to the story. The materials inspired he and his daughter Lydia Rosenberg to create the exhibit and the website, which includes an extensive collection of scanned original
December 2023
Grove City College students and members of the public view the display at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, Pa. (Photo by Lydia Rosenberg)
documents, blog style articles about individuals and families, and a growing body of original photographs from the private collection of relatives and descendants. Freshman Marcus Henry, a Biology and French major, said reading and translating the accounts of people who suffered in the roundup was fascinating. “These were intimate, painful scenes in the lives of those who wrote these letters,” he said. “This way of looking at things is an interesting reconnection from the often-emotionless facts we learn about history to the people whose lives it impacted, especially on a smaller scale than the grand generals and politicians who make a larger mark on history.” Cara Scott, a senior Philosophy and French major, said she was eager to get involved in the project when Madsen proposed it, but wasn’t prepared for the effect it would have on her. “When I began working on these translations, I was not immediately impacted by the gravity of the situations described in the accounts. There is a certain degree of removal that comes with reading historical texts, especially when they are written in another language. However, whenever I got to the end of each account where the writer would describe the moment of the arrest, the significance of what I had just worked on would hit me. The depictions of the arrests of children were especially disturbing,” Scott said. Alumna Jaclyn Nichols ’23 and students Katelyn Livorse ’26 and Virginia Williams ’25 contributed to the translations. Rosenberg plans to bring the exhibit to Grove City College in April. For more about his work, visit jewsofthesomme.com.
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Grove City College
Students eating ‘mor chikin’
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Committed to helping pastors thrive
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rove City College will expand its work helping rural ministers thrive with the creation of the Center for Rural Ministry. The Center will continue to foster the partnership of college, church, and community that was the hallmark of the College’s Project on Rural Ministry, a four-year initiative to study and help ministers who serve under-resourced parishes in regional agricultural, Appalachian, and rust belt communities thrive. “The momentum we have built over the past four years, enabling pastors to thrive through numerous initiatives, is worth sustaining and further embedding within the life and witness of Grove City College,” said Dr. Charles Cotherman ’06, who will direct the Center. “We envision that our ability to advocate for pastors will significantly expand.” In January, the Center will officially pick up the Project’s work with pastors, students, faculty, congregational lay-leaders, and others invested in rural ministry. It will cultivate a hospitable presence and dedicated space on campus to harness the unique resources and convening power of a Christian liberal arts college to help pastors meet their unique and shared challenges. Cotherman Its programming and outreach will focus on pastors who serve rural and rust belt congregations impacted by decades of steady outmigration, whose membership rolls have dwindled, and face complex decisions related to viability and their ability to call a full-time minister, according to Cotherman. The Center plans to build relationships with and among the clergy and lay leaders it serves, provide institutional resources, host conferences and workshops, share knowledge and experience, and create space for pastors to contribute to and benefit from national advocacy. All programs are designed with an eye to the unique opportunities that partnership with Grove City College offers, and faculty are key elements of the effort, from leadership to “boots on the ground” for service-learning projects and pastoral support. The Center is being established with the help of a $400,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and will be sustained by dedicated funding from the College. Creation of the CRM fulfills an objective of the College’s strategic plan, which calls for fortifying engagement and support of rural church leaders as part of a larger pursuit of opportunities to serve the common good.
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fter months of anticipation, Chick-fil-A in Breen Student Union opened on Monday, Sept. 18 with Willie the Wolverine first in line. Other Grovers made a beeline to the on-campus fast-food outlet, which has been doing a booming business in the space formerly occupied by the Gedunk grille. The first week sales doubled expectations, according to Anthony R. Ippolito, senior general manager for Parkhurst Dining, which holds the franchise. On opening day, more than 1,200 students, faculty, staff, and others were served and about 850 chicken sandwiches were sold. Students can use up to three meal swipes per week at Chick-fil-A for chicken sandwich or nugget combos. Chick-fil-A is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays in accordance with the faith-aligned corporation’s longstanding policy of observing a day of rest. Seating for the public is available inside Chick-fil-A, but not in the student union atrium. Designated parking for diners is available in the parking lot adjacent to the student union. “They have been great to work with, Grove City College and Chick-fil-A are a perfect fit, and we view this as another and especially significant way to enhance the residential experience of our students and campus community,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. In addition to Chick-fil-A and the College’s two cafeterias, students can get pizza, ice cream and coffee at the Garage at MAP Café and enjoy a coffee, espresso, smoothie, and other snacks at Urban Trail Coffee Co. in Henry Buhl Library.
December 2023
New nursing facility promises simulating experiences
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rove City College nursing students are training in a new facility on the campus of Butler County Community College thanks, in part, to a half-million dollar investment from the College. The Victor K. Phillips Nursing & Allied Health Building, featuring a wing named for Grove City College, opened this fall, just in time for the sophomore Bachelor of Science in Nursing cohort to begin their clinical training. Under an innovative partnership, students from the College’s Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing receive part of their instruction at BC3. “The Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building is a state-of-the-art educational center. This building includes beautiful classrooms, updated laboratories, and simulation rooms where Grove City College nursing students can practice nursing in simulated hospital environments,” said Janey Roach, director of the nursing program. The College contributed $500,000 toward the cost of the Phillips building when the Johnson School of Nursing was established in 2019 due to a generous gift from Jayne Johnson Rathburn. The 25,000-squarefoot facility has a hospital-like interior and simulated medical-surgery, ICU, and patient rooms.
Onward Christian scholars
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rove City College welcomed nine new full-time faculty members this fall. They are, from left, front: Dr. Enzo Campagnolo, visiting professor of Biology; Dr. Virginia C. Rawl, assistant professor of English; Dr. Ryan S. Kelley, assistant professor of Management; Dr. Josiah D. Hall, assistant professor of Biblical and Religious Studies; back: Dr. Peter W. Foster ’13, assistant professor of Chemistry; Dr. Peter D. Hill, assistant professor of Electrical Engineering; Dr. Russell D. Kosits, professor of Psychology; Cedric E. Lewis, assistant professor of Entrepreneurship; and Ethan J. Johnson ’15, assistant professor of Computer Science.
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Grove City College
A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER By Emma Rossi ’25 In the last week of the 2016 football season, then-senior wide receiver Brett Pinson ’17 got ready for practice. The Grove City Wolverines were 0-9. Pinson had gone 0-30 in this collegiate career. Someone asked him, “Why are you going to practice?” He replied, “To compete for a PAC Championship.” Head Coach Andrew DiDonato ’10 and his football team have competed each season for a PAC Championship and this year they’ve won it. The Wolverine football team did the historic, the extraordinary, the incredible: They finished the regular season with an undefeated 10-0 record, secured the PAC championship, and advanced, for the first time in College history, to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Wolverines won a hard fought first round game against Susquehanna, 2120, and made it to the “sweet sixteen” before 18 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK
falling to SUNY Cortland, 25-24. This season has been years in the making, and with each win, the excitement, anticipation, and hope that they could take this all the way grew. The team was ranked fourth in the preseason poll, which many deemed a major underselling. This, paired with a daunting schedule that seemed engineered to trip up the Wolverines, created a narrative that those on the outside would call doubtful. But on campus, there was no doubt. The familiar preseason sentiment that “we’re looking pretty good this year” began to evolve into something much more ambitious: “This could be the year they win it all.” The team’s energy is infectious. It’s present in every pass, every tackle, each play and each drive. From the minute they run out onto the field to the last second on the play clock, their
passion for the game is on display. It spreads from the eleven players on the field, to their teammates on the sideline and up into the bleachers of Robert E. Thorn field. Every home game, students, parents, professors, staff, and people from the community pack into their seats, always overflowing onto the grassy hillside of the stadium and the sidewalk by the press box. The thousands of faithful fans are a testament to what Wolverine football means to this school. “One of our phrases as a program is, ‘Each of us needs all of us’. That phrase is clearly lived out in our home game atmosphere. A home game at Grove City College is second to none when it comes to small college football. The support of the campus and Grove City community has helped us be a very tough team to beat at home,” said DiDonato.
December 2023 From Thorn Field all the way to upper campus, the team feels the support. Senior captain Dominic Magliocco said that the College community encouraged the team. “When you have a community behind you it really helps you strive to not only do your best on the field, but also in the classroom. Also, they help us to build relationships between the team and the community through the support that they show week in and week out,” said Magliocco. This year, week in and week out, the Wolverines kept winning. What began as 1-0, then 2-0, became 3-0 after a hair-raising overtime win against the Case Western Reserve Spartans. On Saturday night, Sept. 23, the Wolverines were set to take on their season’s most formidable opponent, the previously undefeated Carnegie Mellon University Tartans. Last year, the Tartans took the PAC and made it to the second round of the NCAA playoffs, where they eventually fell to the top ranked team in the nation, reigning D III champions North Central Illinois. The Tartans are a good football team, but that night, in front of a night game crowd of 5,000, the Wolverines were better. They held the Tartans scoreless until late in the third quarter and took the win 21-14. Once the final buzzer sounded and all was said and done, students stormed the field to celebrate with their undefeated Wolverines. The feeling was unforgettable, with the assembled Grovers singing the Alma Mater and looking back at the scoreboard, feeling that this really could be the year.
That feeling wasn’t just inspired by the team’s winning record, but deeply embedded in the very foundations of DiDonato’s program. When DiDonato returned to his alma mater in 2016, the football team was coming off of two consecutive 0-10 seasons. Despite the odds stacked against them, DiDonato and his team tore down each obstacle and began rebuilding, brick by brick. The Wolverines went 0-10 in his first year, but the foundation was laid, and string line was set. Wolverine football had a vision: “To glorify God in the pursuit of earning a degree, building lasting relationships, and competing for PAC championships.” “I have seen this team come a long way through the guys before us trusting the vision day in and day out. It has just been an honor to go out there and be able to be a part of this program. Without these guys before us believing in the vision we would be sitting nowhere close to where we are today,” Magliocco said. With a program almost as old as Grove City College itself, the team serves as a reflection of the campus it represents. At their very core, the Wolverines live by a historic tradition of excellence, a clear focus on glorifying God and a firm foundation in unwavering principles that define who they are. Emma Rossi is a Communication Studies major from Bel Air, Md. She is Editor-in-Chief of The Collegian and the newspaper’s former Sports Editor.
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Grove City College
We are the Champions!
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rove City College student-athletes racked up four Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship titles this fall, with Wolverine women leading the way in soccer, cross country, and tennis. The cascade of conference cups coming to the Grove reflects the dedication and hard work of students and their coaches and the realization of the Wolverines Together ethos. The winning started on Oct. 21, when the women’s tennis team captured the PAC title by pulling out a 5-2 victory over top-seeded Allegheny in the conference tournament championship match. As conference champion, Grove City earned an automatic berth in the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. This is the College’s first conference women’s tennis title since the 2018-19 season. The Wolverines concluded the fall portion of the schedule with a 12-3 overall record.
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One week later, on the same day the Wolverine football team clinched the PAC title (see story, page 18), the women’s cross country team captured it’s conference championship by besting runner-up Allegheny with 61 points. It is Grove City’s first league title since 2015 and the 28th in in women’s cross country history. Head coach Laura Rybka also earned the conference’s Coach of the Year award. And on Nov. 4, for the eighth time in its 31-year history, the women’s soccer team won the PAC championship. To clinch the title, the Wolverines erased an early deficit in charging past visiting Franciscan, 4-2, in the tournament title match at Don Lyle Field. It is the College’s first conference crown since 2019. Grove City also won conference titles in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2018 and 2019. The Wolverines previously qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2002, 2003, 2012, 2018 and 2019. The team also secured Grove City’s sixth all-time NCAA Division III Championship Tournament berth.
December 2023
sports
Grove City College Athletic Director Todd Gibson ’02, left, and College President Paul J. McNulty ’80, far right, welcome the 2023 class to the Grove City College Athletic Hall of Fame. Between them, from left, are: Jim Poole ’70, Caleb Courage ’09, Tim Whitbeck ’09, Kristen (Carter ’09) Schafer, and Katrina (Prentice ’01) Kashurba, wife of honoree Mike Kashurba ’02.
Grove City inducts 5 into Athletic Hall of Fame
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rove City College inducted five former athletic standouts into the Athletic Hall of Fame in September. This is the first class of Grove City College Hall of Fame inductees since February 2020. Athletic Director Todd Gibson ’02 said he was excited to revive the honor after the schedule was disrupted by the pandemic. Congratulations to the Hall of Fame’s class of 2023: Kristen (Carter ’09) Schafer is one of the most accomplished runners in Grove City College and Presidents’ Athletic Conference history, earning Division III All-America Schafer honors and eight individual conference titles during her career from 2005 to 2009. Carter capped her career by winning the College’s Sportswoman of the Year award. Caleb Courage ’09 highlighted his distinguished swimming career at Grove City College by capturing three NCAA Division III titles in the 100 freestyle and 18 total NCAA Division III AllCourage
America citations, graduating as the most decorated athlete in Grove City College history. Courage capped his career by earning the College’s Sportsman of the Year award for the 2008-09 academic year. Mike Kashurba ’02 excelled on the baseball diamond and the gridiron at Grove City College from 1998 to 2001, helping both the baseball and football programs to PAC titles. He started all four Kashbura seasons at shortstop for the Grove City baseball team and concluded his career as the program’s all-time leader with 108 runs scored and 126 games played. Kashurba also earned All-PAC honors at defensive back for the Grove City football team. Jim Poole ’70, a two sport standout, helped the Grove City College wrestling and football programs reach historic heights during his distinguished career from 1966 to 1970. Poole compiled Poole a 33-11 record in his four years as a starter for the Grove City wrestling squad. A member of Grove City’s undefeated
1966 football team, Poole moved into the starting lineup at linebacker in 1967 and spent three seasons as a stalwart on the Wolverine defense. Tim Whitbeck ’09, a 2007 NCAA Division III champion in the 50 freestyle, concluded his distinguished swimming career at Grove City College as a 14-time NCAA Division III All-American. Whitbeck Whitbeck helped nine Grove City relay squads achieve All-America status and cocaptained the 2009 conference title squad. The PAC recognized Whitbeck as a member of its 60th Anniversary Team in 2015. The men’s swimming and diving program inducted Whitbeck into its Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Grove City College M ESSAGE
F ROM
A LU MN I
A N D
C O LLEG E
R ELATIO N S
Dear Alumni and Friends,
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ow do you connect with people today? I’ve had that conversation with many people. Some days when I go to ask someone a question or reach out to a friend, I’m not sure what phone, what device, or which app I should be using! I can’t figure out if my friend wants to text, receive calls, or take messages on WhatsApp. At work, I switch between messages on Teams to email, and then to Messenger. Sometimes it is truly overwhelming. Do you agree? This makes me think about what connections in my life matter and if I am investing in them in a way that is life-giving to my friends or even my work colleagues. You see, I know that community matters, that it IMPACTS my life. Grove City College taught me this. I’ve also seen that it matters in family relationships and in the friendships I’ve been blessed to form as a young adult and now as a much older adult! No matter how or when I connect, it’s incredibly important. As I raise my own child, I want him to know that true connections that we invest in are worth it! In this issue of GēDUNK, we are exploring connections that have meaning and how those connections often have the common thread that is Grove City College. I bet each of us has a connection story of a relationship that was built through the Grove. On page 33 there is a touching story of Susan Rapp ’78 and Kathy (Baker ’79) Foote who made a connection 46 years after their time at Grove City College! Despite time spent on campus at the same time, their paths didn’t cross. But now, they have developed a friendship that is IMPACTing them in this stage of their lives. The funny thing, for me, is that they met because of an alumni event where I assigned their seats at the table. I assumed, incorrectly, that because they were one year apart in class years, they surely knew each other! I hope you enjoy their story. As you think about the connections that are meaningful, helpful, and IMPACTful to your life and work, I hope that you can recognize a reason to stay connected and give back to the Grove. We really need all of you to support Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College. It’s a great opportunity to share why this place means so much to you. Read inside for more information on what is happening. Check out the pictures from our big celebration event in November on pages 11 to 13. I’d love to hear your GCC connection story. You can feel free to email me at alumni@gcc.edu. From all of us here at the College, I wish you a truly beautiful Christmas spent with those who are important to you. Our hope is that 2024 will be a year of growth and healthy connections for all of us! It’s time … grab that cup of coffee and enjoy this issue of the GēDUNK!
Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations
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December 2023
alumni
New members join Alumni Council
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he Alumni Council gathered for it’s fall meeting on September 29, 2023, at the Carnegie Alumni Center on campus. Joining them were seven new Alumni Council members: Margo (Weller ’22) Fontana, Allison Park, Pa.; Yuliya (Butova ’03) Franklin, Dublin, Ohio; Justine (Simon ’18) Horst, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Pam (Smith ’79) Maxson, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Brian Metzler ’16, Charlotte, N.C.; Trey Miller ’95, Greensboro, N.C.; and Amy (Martin ’06) Simon, Washington, D.C.
Fontana
Franklin
Horst
Maxon
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to these fellow alumni. They will serve on the Council for the next three years and can renew their seats for an additional three-year term. The Council is led by President James Dudt ’07 and Vice President Steve DeCaspers ’97.
Metzler
Miller
Simon
3rd Annual Alumni Action Day
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ave the Date for the 3rd Annual Alumni Action Day – March 6, 2024! More details are coming soon! Alumni Action Day is a chance for you to give back to your alma mater and to share the impact the College has had on you with others! You’ll receive an Action Pack filled with GCC Admissions items to help open the door to sharing your own GCC story. You could be the reason a prospective student hears about Grove City College, or you can help to make their college decision easier. Our Admissions Office is working hard to get the word out, and our alumni play a vital role in the admissions process. Save the date and spread the word!
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Grove City College
College President Paul J. McNulty ’80, left, poses outside Harbison Chapel with 2023 Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award winners David J. Porter ’88, Dr. David M. Hoganson ’98, Laura (Tarkett ’85) Blumberg, Dennis R. Reidenbach ’76, Robert L. Hunter ’63, and Alumni Association President James Dudt ’07.
Five alums honored with Achievement Awards
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rove City College’s Alumni Association honored five of our own with Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Awards this fall. The annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements of select College alumni and were awarded during Homecoming with a ceremony in Harbison Chapel. The recipients were honored guests during the celebration weekend, riding in the parade and being recognized at the football game. The Alumni Achievement Award originated in 1964 with a class of honorees that included the College’s third President Weir C. Ketler, who graduated in 1908, legendary benefactor and Trustee Chair J. Howard Pew (1900), noted scientist George Southworth (1914), pastor and theologian Rev. F. Paul McConkey (1909), and coach and athletic director Robert E. Thorn (1916). The 24 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK
award was renamed in honor and memory of professor and administrator Jack Kennedy ’37, who served the College for 32 years until his retirement in 1980. “Kennedy Award honorees represent the kind of accomplished and impactful individuals who graduate from Grove City College. We are thankful for their contributions to their respective industries and to society,” Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod said. The 2023 Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award honorees are: Laura (Tarkett ’85) Blumberg is the vice president for Civil Space Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions for SAIC, a Fortune 500 technology integrator that provides secure high-end Blumberg
solutions in engineering, digital, artificial intelligence, and mission solutions. In this role, she is responsible for the growth and execution of SAIC’s Civil Space portfolio of NASA and NOAA IT programs including NASA’s Enterprise Applications Service Technologies (EAST) 2 contract, an $800M contract that provides key business- and mission-enabling application and platform services across the agency. After receiving her B.S. in management engineering from Grove City College, she earned a Master of Science in engineering management from George Washington University. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP), and she serves as chairperson of the NASA IT Procurement Office Contractor Steering Council. She also serves as an officer on the board of directors for the Virginia Aerospace Business Association, the Virginia chapter for the
December 2023
Aerospace States Association. Grove City’s Phi Sigma Chi sister lives in Gloucester, Va., with husband Victor and three dogs. Dr. David M. Hoganson ’98 is a faculty pediatric cardiac surgeon and medical engineer at Boston Children’s Hospital, with a clinical focus on neonates and infants with complex congenital heart Hoganson disease. He has co-led the development of workflows for patient-specific 3D modeling and computational flow simulation of complex cardiac disease to improve pre-operative planning and intraoperative guidance. His lab focuses on the development of medical devices to improve the safety and effectiveness of cardiac surgery. His specialties are thoracic surgery and congenital heart surgery. The now-renowned doctor majored in electrical engineering at Grove City College. He first worked in industry as a biomedical engineer, developing cardiovascular medical
devices. His focus then shifted to further education and he attended Temple University School of Medicine, graduating in 2004. Hoganson trained in general surgery and adult cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. While a Grove City student, he was a senior class officer and played varsity golf. He is married to the former Heather Hartwell ’99. They reside in Chestnut Hill, Mass., with their daughter and two sons. Robert L. Hunter ’63 is past president and current chairman of the board of The Hunter Family of Companies and recently celebrated his 50th year in the trucking industry. The Hunter Family Hunter of Companies has 18 locations with 10 full dealerships, five parts and service locations, three leasing facilities, a body shop, over 750 employees, and annual revenues of $600 million. The Pittsburgh Business Times recognized the company as a “Fastest Growing Company” and a “Family Business Award” winner. Bob received the industry’s highest honors when he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Automotive Association in 2021 and named Dealer of the Year in 2006 by the American Truck Dealers. He belongs to and has served on many industry boards. An Army veteran, he served on the steering committee for the College’s Grove City Matters campaign and is an Adelphikos fraternity brother. He and wife Gail (Holmgren ’66) Hunter reside in Butler where they support many community activities. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Hon. David J. Porter ’88 is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. That court hears appeals from federal district courts located within Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Porter Virgin Islands. He was appointed in 2018 by President Donald J. Trump. Prior to his appointment, Porter was a shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney in Pittsburgh, where he practiced commercial and civil litigation. From 1992-94, Porter
clerked for the Honorable D. Brooks Smith on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Porter graduated from Grove City College in 1988 and from the George Mason University School of Law in 1992. He was Notes editor of the George Mason University Law Review. He is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the Board of Judicial Advisors of the Law & Economics Center at the Antonin Scalia Law School. He joined the Grove City College Board of Trustees in 2006 and is now Board Secretary. He and his wife, Valerie (Verner ’89) Porter, have six children, including David E. ’16, Alumni Council member John ’17, Benjamin ’20, Anna ’21, and Daniel ’27, and four grandchildren. Dennis R. Reidenbach ’76 served as the northeast regional director of the National Park Service from September 2007 through retirement in January 2014. He led a workforce of over Reidenbach 3,000 employees and over 80 National Park sites spanning 13 states from Maine to Virginia. The northeast region included natural and cultural sites including Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, the Flight 93 National Memorial, Acadia and Shenandoah national parks, and Civil War sites such as Gettysburg and Appomattox Court House. While at Grove City College, Reidenbach majored in political science and business administration, and was active in the Sigma Alpha Sigma fraternity and the Outing Club. It was at Grove City he met his future wife, the now late Kristine (Knudsen ’77). They have two sons: Erik and Matthew ’06 (with daughter-in-law Rachel (Scardigno ’07) and three grandchildren. Reidenbach is also a “newlywed,” having married Mary Beth this past March. They now reside in Bridgewater, Va, For the past 36 years Reidenbach has been an ordained deacon in the Presbyterian Church of America and a volunteer with Special Olympics, where his son Erik is a dedicated swimmer and volleyball player.
Scan this QR code to view photos and watch the 2023 awards ceremony! Or visit alumni. gcc.edu/awards
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Grove City College
Homecoming 2023
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n what was arguably the most gorgeous fall weeke nd Grove City College has seen in years, over 3,000 alumni and friends gathered for Homecoming 2023 and enjoyed the best parad e in town, an epic football win for the histor y books (the first time attaining a 5-0 record since 1926!), and scores of other great activities, class reunions, and reconnections. Three Greek group s celebrated their histor y and fellowship through the years – the 110th anniversary for the Adelphikos frater nity, the milestone cente nnial anniversary for the brothers of Nu Lambda Phi, and the 65th anniversary for Sigma Alpha Sigma. The annual Homecoming recap video showcased President Paul McNulty ’80’s exper ience of the day. He noted,” it’s not every year that I get a sunburn at Homecomin g!” Alumni and friends who attended agreed with McNulty that,” there’s no place like Homecoming!” Scan this QR code to view the recap video and photo galleries from Homecoming 2023!
Or visit alumni. gcc.edu/homecoming
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December 2023
SAVE THE DATE FOR HOMECOMING 2024
– OCTOBER 11-13!
Reunions for classes ending in 4s and 9s. Greek Anniversaries: Epsilon Pi (105th), Gamma Chi (105th), Gamma Sigma Phi (100th), and Phi Sigm a Chi (100th)
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Grove City College
60th
CLASS
REUNION
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December 2023
ADELPHIKOS – 110TH ANNIVERSARY
NU LAMBDA PHI – 100TH ANNIVERSARY
SIGMA ALPHA SIGMA – 65TH ANNIVERSARY
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Grove City College
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ALUMNI & FRIENDS DATES TO REMEMBER JANUARY 8
Spring 2024 Puzzle Available to Order
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MARCH 6
Alumni Action Day Grove City College
MARCH 8
Showcase Series – Royal Parker Organ Fund Concert Grove City College
MARCH 20
Showcase Series – Pittburgh Symphony Trio Grove City College
December 2023
alumni & friends events
6 1. Alumni & friends enjoyed the spectacular sights of the Southwest parks via train from Oct. 14 to 18. 2 and 3. The annual Night Game drew alumni & friends tailgaters to campus on Sept. 23 to celebrate Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees, cheer on the Wolverines as they bested Carnegie Mellon University, and see a memorable evening capped by fireworks. 4. Alumni Night at PNC Park on August 26 was a hit as we enjoyed a pre-game reception, the Bucs vs. Cubs game, and the Skyblast Fireworks show. 5. The Sonoma Wine Bar and Restaurant in Washington, D.C. was host to an alumni & friends mixer on June 21. 6. The College welcomed 126 alumni recruiters to this year’s Career Fair on Oct. 4. 7. Several alumni and friends enjoyed an epic Alaskan Cruise with our travel partner, AHI Travel, from June 23 to 30.
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APRIL 6
Scholarship Celebration Grove City College
APRIL 13
Children’s Theatre Breakfast and Performance Grove City College
APRIL 26-28
Family Weekend Grove City College
MAY 18
Commencement Grove City College
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Grove City College
An unexpected friendship By Susan Rapp ’78 and Kathy (Baker ’79) Foote
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hough we attended GCC during the same era, we didn’t meet until an Alumni and Friends Reception at Odette’s at The River House in New Hope, Pa., in February 2022. Ed ‘78 and Lynn (Branstner ’78) Breen hosted an event there after the Grove City Touring Choir concert at Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church nearby. We sat together during dinner and exchanged phone numbers. Then we did something rare. We actually called each other! We got together soon after at Panera Bread and spent three hours looking at Grove City 1975-79 yearbooks, reminiscing about our college days, and getting to know each other better. We found that we have a lot in common, including people we knew at Grove City College, our love of music (and cats!), our faith in Christ, the New Jersey shore, and much more. Now we are friends, and it goes to show how valuable alumni events are for making connections! We’ve scanned our memories of how we would possibly have met during college. Kathy was involved in vocal music; Susan was in the orchestra. We never roomed in the same dorm at the same time. We both knew the late Rose (Garson ’78) Carlin who sang at Susan’s wedding, and Susan’s “little sis” Diane Daulton ‘79, who was in Chapel Choir, and a few other people, but we were pretty sure our paths had never crossed. We both auditioned for and obtained a part in Anything Goes, which was performed late the first semester of 197677. Unfortunately, Susan had to decline participating in the chorus for the musical when the performance dates conflicted with a family commitment in New Jersey. We determined that, had Susan been able to actually be in the show, we surely would have met in the fall of 1976. Practically 46 years before we actually did meet! Thanks to GCC’s Alumni Association and that Touring Choir event, we are building our friendship and enjoying opportunities to get together. We live 27 miles apart and have met for breakfast or lunch several times. With Kathy’s vocal music background and
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Kathy (Baker ’79) Foote, left, and Susan Rapp ’78 celebrate Rapp’s retirement at the Breakers Hotel in Spring Lake, N.J., above, and meet up, right, at King George II Inn in Bristol, Pa. The pair struck up a friendship decades after graduating after connecting at an Alumni and Friends Reception.
Susan’s new involvement in choral singing with Berkshire Choral International, we’ve discussed attending concerts by a few local choral groups in the near future. We also have plans to attend a Christian Women’s Retreat together soon. Nearly all the stories and photos we see in the GeDUNK are of people who knew each
other during college. So, we thought it might be nice to showcase a great but different kind of connection between alumni. We hope our story encourages our fellow alumni to attend alumni events and participate in the Alumni Association! You never know when you might make a new friend with whom you’ll share a very special connection.
December 2023
Grove City College Alumni Travel Programs 2024 NORMANDY, FRANCE: JUNE 28-JULY 6, 2024
Grove City College Alumni Travel Programs 2024 During the 80th anniversary year of D-Day, pay tribute to the sacrifice and valor of the Allied forces while also discovering Normandy’s traditions, history, and NORMANDY, FRANCE: JUNE 28-JULY 6, 2024 culinary delicacies. During the 80th anniversary year of D-Day, pay tribute to the sacrifice and valor of the Allied forces while also discovering Normandy’s traditions, history, and KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG 5: JULY 10-20, 2024 culinary delicacies. Spot for the "Big 5" during this 11-day journey featuring unparalleled access to Kenya's national parks, reserves, and conservancies. (One 1 spot left!) KENYA SAFARI: THE BIG 5: JULY 10-20, 2024 Spot for the "Big 5" during this 11-day journey featuring unparalleled access to Kenya's national parks, reserves, and conservancies. COTSWOLDS, UK ESCAPE: JULY 25-AUG. 2, 2024 Behold beautiful rural landscapes, idyllic villages, and sumptuous gardens as you explore the historic, golden Cotswolds on thisUK 7-night adventure! COTSWOLDS, ESCAPE: JULY 25-AUG. 2, 2024
Behold beautiful rural landscapes, idyllic villages, and sumptuous gardens as you explore the historic, golden CotswoldsROCKIES on this 7-night adventure! CANADIAN BY RAIL: AUG. 14-20, 2024 On board Rocky Mountaineer's all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled of British Columbia, Alberta, and CANADIAN beauty ROCKIES BY RAIL: AUG. 14-20, 2024 theOn Canadian Rockies. board Rocky Mountaineer's all-dome fleet, travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain to unlock the unparalleled beauty of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Canadian Rockies.
ALUMNI.GCC.EDU/TRAVEL
NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST: SEPT. 18-26, 2024 h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 33 Immerse yourself in the majestic beauty tof the American Southwest, discovering the geological wonders of our
Grove City College
OVERHAUL
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December 2023
LING AN ICON
A $48-million renovation of the College’s oldest academic building will result in new opportunities for students and a new name for campus’ center of science and technology education. By Nick Hildebrand
“It is important to save the edifice of the building while modernizing the interior to create an environment from a technology and science perspective that will allow students to study, to learn, to grow, and to develop, so that when they leave campus, they’re ready to go out and actually be an active part of society going forward.” – William W. Smith Jr. ’69
When the $48 million renovation of Rockwell Hall is complete in 2025, the renewed and restored campus landmark will have new laboratories, instructional areas, collaborative spaces, and workrooms designed to empower students and better prepare them for work in their chosen fields. It will also have a new name. The enhanced and expanded building will be rededicated as Smith Hall of Science and Technology at the completion of the work. It recognizes the contributions of time, talent, and treasure that tech entrepreneur and industry leader William W. Smith Jr. ’69 and his wife Dieva Smith have given the College over many years. The Smiths are lead donors to the renovation project, which is a key priority of Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College. “Their support for this historic project will make it possible to equip countless students in the years to come to serve others
with the highest proficiency and purpose,” said Edward D. Breen ’78, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. It’s not the first time the building has been adapted to meet changing student needs and technical advances – or the first time it has been rechristened. Built in 1931, it was the first academic building on Upper Campus and was known simply as the Hall of Science for its first 35 years. It wasn’t until 1966 that Rockwell was added to the name. Willard F. Rockwell Jr. was a former College Trustee and the CEO of Rockwell International. He contributed $150,000 toward renovating the Hall of Science that year after the engineering programs moved into the newly built Hoyt Hall. Honoring the Smiths follows in that tradition, in which the College, which accepts no federal funds and is dependent on tuition and the generosity of private donors, honors those who support Grove City College and
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Grove City College embody its unique character. The Smiths fit the bill. Bill Smith, who earned a degree in Business Administration, founded Smith Micro Software at the dawning of the modern computer age. His software initially helped people connect via modems and early wireless technology and eventually became a key part of the cellular revolution. He traces his success to the foundation that Grove City College provided and says he and his wife want to help the College continue providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to make an impact on the world. “It is an opportunity to give back, and the College gave me so much,” Smith said. “I didn’t know when I was at Grove City that I was going to be founding a tech company, or become the chairman and CEO, but they gave me the skills and they gave me the moral compass that was required. In this world today, for Grove City College to be a leader and maintain its relevance going forward, a strong science and technology approach is mandatory.” “I was a business major … I didn’t spend a lot of time in Rockwell Hall, but it is at the center of campus. It’s the icon for the College,” Smith said. “It is important to save the edifice of the building while modernizing the interior to create an environment from a technology and science perspective that will allow students to study, to learn, to grow, and to develop, so that when they leave campus, they’re ready to go out and actually be an active part of society going forward.” A CAMPUS ICON The red brick tower has stood sentinel over the Quad for more than 90 years, topping a three-story collegiate gothic style structure built in tandem with Harbison Chapel at the height of the Great Depression. That these were the first two structures built according to the Olmsted Brothers’ plan for campus was a deliberate statement about the College’s commitment to the integration of faith and learning. When it opened, the Hall of Science was a state-of-the-art facility for scientific study, with well-equipped laboratories and classrooms where students and faculty could pursue what Grove City College’s famed benefactor J. Howard Pew called “cosmic questioning.” Dr. George Southworth, a 1914 alumnus and scientist of renown who spoke at its dedication, cited the “dismal cellars and dusty coal bins” that professors converted into lab space in his student days and said the new building provided “facilities comparable with their ability, their effort, and their loyalty.” After nine decades of near-constant use
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and sometimes ad hoc adaptation to constant and exponential scientific, technological, and academic change – and compared to STEM Hall, the lab and classroom building that opened in 2013 – Rockwell was seen as outdated and insufficient to its original purpose. Plans to level it and build “STEM II” on its footprint were floated but ultimately rejected, in large part because of a desire to preserve the flagship building and its iconic tower. The obvious alternative was to renovate – and renew – the building as a critical piece of the College’s STEM infrastructure. The 2021-22 renovation of Henry Buhl Library provided an example of how the College could preserve the classic exterior
of a legacy building while reinventing its interior layout and upgrading critical mechanical systems to serve students in the digital age. Plans for Rockwell’s renovation were developed and approved as a top priority of the first phase of Impact 150. Construction on the project began a few days after Commencement in May 2023 and will take most of two years. When the work is complete, the tower and the stately exterior will be about the only things left unchanged. RENOVATION AND RENEWAL At the heart of the project is an almost top to bottom overhaul of the existing space in Rockwell and the construction of a two-story connector that will join the oldest academic
December 2023
William W. Smith ’69 and Dieva Smith at the Impact 150 Launch Celebration
building on campus with the newest – STEM Hall – to create a hub for collaborative research and discovery that will serve students now and into the future. The Smith Hall of Science and Technology will be bigger and offer students a better environment to learn, conduct research, and prepare for careers of success and service. The renovation and the new construction will increase the size of the facility by 22 percent and create a total of 66,500 square feet of new space for science, technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship geared toward fostering collaboration between students from many disciplines and inspiring creative partnerships between entrepreneurship, science, and technology. A central concept of the design is adaptability, with spaces designed to easily accommodate the changing frontiers of science and engineering education and research, and new degree programs that will prepare students for societal and economic opportunities that cannot be imagined today. Rockwell’s four floors will be reconfigured and updated to accommodate modernized labs, offices, and classrooms for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Exercise Science, and Engineering along with interdisciplinary workspaces and equipment adaptable for student teams and capstone projects, open work and study areas, and maker spaces to support student-faculty-industry partner collaboration and entrepreneurship. The connecting structure’s first floor will feature a pair of project studios dedicated to Exercise Science and a commons area with a garage door entry to accommodate Baja racing cars and other outsized projects. Its second floor will house offices, molecular biology and cell culture labs, and a microscopy darkroom. One feature of the original Hall of Science – the Foucault pendulum – will be moved to the connector. The tower will retain its original charm. The stained-glass windows that overlook campus will be restored, but the bare brick interior walls bearing the marks of thousands of Grovers who made their way to the top will remain. The scrawled signatures, initials, and messages on those walls symbolize a connection that all those impacted in the Hall of Science, or Rockwell Hall, or the future Smith Hall of Science and Technology share. The renovation recognizes and renews Grove City College’s continued commitment to support a scientific education suitable to the opportunities of the times, where students pursue learning grounded in a Christian worldview, critical thinking, and a desire to serve humanity.
What’s next with Impact 150? The most significant new athletic facility in a generation
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$26 million multi-use fieldhouse on the lower campus will be a powerful future home on campus for football, men’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis teams as well as provide dedicated weight training and strength and conditioning for all varsity athletes and a new campus gateway and outdoor plaza overlooking Robert E. Thorn Field. While the College’s athletic programs are built for conference and national championships, the facilities these student-athletes use are aging, outdated, and cramped. They do not match the excellence of the College or the programs and risk falling behind the standards of our competition, creating a major disadvantage in recruiting future players and coaches alike. The current fieldhouse simply cannot accommodate today’s technologies and training methods or the sheer number of student-athletes, and the existing weight room is insufficient for the entire student body. The new fieldhouse will give all varsity athletes access to weight room and training facilities, provide sufficient locker rooms for football, men’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis, coaches offices, conference space, and sports medicine facilities. It will also include an attractive outdoor plaza overlooking Thorn Field designed to welcome fans and Grove City community members on game days. This will be a wonderful gateway to facilitate community for our student body as well as introduce the College to families and other visitors. Construction on the new fieldhouse is slated to begin next year.
Make an impact on our students, our faculty, and the founding mission that has inspired the College to move forward with faithful determination. Every gift counts!
GCC.EDU/IMPACT150
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for THE COLLEGE’S IMPACT IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THOSE WHO EMBODY ITS VISION AND VALUES. Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College is more than a historic fundraising and strategic building campaign to position the College for the future, it is a celebration of the history and legacy of Grove City College as it nears its sesquicentennial in 2026. The College has had a significant impact over the last century and a half – not only on the tens of thousands of students whose lives have been transformed by the lessons learned, relationships formed, and faith fostered on campus – but on a world that has changed dramatically in that time. Over the next few years as we approach our milestone anniversary, we are going to be highlighting 150 for 150, a selection of people who embody 150 years of Grove City College history, and the excellence and faithfulness that are our hallmarks. This isn’t a list of the “greatest Grovers” – we think all Grovers are great – but a sampling of some of the men and women who have made an impact on the College and the world beyond campus over the decades. Some are key figures in Grove City College’s history, while others are accomplished alumni, legendary faculty members, or simply beloved members of our community. They shaped – and were shaped by – the distinctive character of this special place. They are exemplars of Grove City College’s mission, vision, and values. We will roll out 150 for 150 in the pages of the GēDUNK over the next six issues leading up to our anniversary year. To best represent the scope of the College’s impact, each installment will include a cross section of luminaries, presented without regard to any ranking or chronology. As this and future installments of 150 for 150 will demonstrate, the College’s impact has been felt through these individuals – and too many others with College ties to list – across the decades in business, industry, academia, the church, public service, science, medicine, politics, sport, and culture and in communities large and small, from our beautiful campus to the rest of the wide world.
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ISAAC C. KETLER AND JOSEPH NEWTON PEW education at a four-year college or university. Pine Grove Normal Academy was a public venture, with stockholders and local citizens and church leaders overseeing its operation and funding. The first class of 13 students met in a second floor classroom. Ketler believed that education was essential to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world and a future that would demand both knowledge and good character. Under his guidance, the academy grew and expanded its curriculum beyond professional training. It began offering four-year degrees and in 1884 it became Grove City College.
Without these two men, there would be no Grove City College. Ketler, the founder, and Pew, the businessman, built the College from the ground up. The educational and institutional foundation they established in the last quarter of the 19th century remains as rock solid as the faith that guided their work.
While Ketler pursued a career in education, Pew had left teaching to seek his fortune in the burgeoning oil boom in western Pennsylvania. At one point, Pew tried to recruit his former pupil to join him in business, but Ketler declined.
Ketler was the visionary. A native of Northumberland, Pa., and devout Presbyterian, his passion for education was fostered in a one-room schoolhouse in London, Pa., where Pew, born on a farm outside of Mercer, Pa., was the teacher. At age 16, Ketler attended Edinboro Academy, a private training school for teachers that is now part of Penn West University, and taught for a short time after graduation at a school in Scrubgrass Township north of Grove City. He went on to study at National Normal University. In subsequent years, he would earn master’s, doctorate, and divinity degrees from various institutions. In 1876, at the age of 23, Ketler was hired by the town of Pine Grove, Pa., to lead its namesake academy, a preparatory school for students interested in teaching, the professions, or further
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Gas Company. A master businessman, Pew was a faithful Christian and devoted Presbyterian who built a legacy in industry and philanthropy. Ketler reached out to his former teacher to support the College. “Years ago, you asked me to go into business with you. Now I have come to ask you to go into business with me,” Ketler reportedly said. Pew agreed and helped Ketler recruit other regional business leaders to serve on the Board of Trustees and reorganize the College as a nonprofit institution. A new charter that declared Grove City College was “an undenominational but evangelical Christian school” was approved in 1895 and Pew was elected chairman of the board. Pew provided leadership and generous financial support to the College that enabled it to grow as the century turned. Under the guidance of Ketler and Pew, the College grew exponentially. By 1900 enrollment was nearing 700 students and the campus had grown to a cluster of buildings and grounds stretching from Broad Street to Wolf Creek. The stage was set for a century of steady expansion and impact. The Ketler-Pew partnership continued to benefit the College beyond Pew’s death in 1912 and Kelter’s a year later. Their sons, Weir C. Ketler and J. Howard Pew, would take their fathers’ places in the president’s office and on the board, respectively, and continue their families’ service to the College well into the 20th century.
Pew started Keystone Gas Company, which used natural gas to provide heat and light for communities. By 1882, he was delivering gas to Pittsburgh and owned the Haymaker gas well in Murrysville, Pa., then the largest in the world. Pew established the Sun Oil Line Co., which would later become known as Sunoco and developed Peoples Natural
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December 2023 Great Depression and the rise of Nazism. Drafted into the Luftwaffe, he earned the Iron Cross as a fighter pilot before being shot down on a mission over Egypt in 1942. He was held as prisoner of war, eventually in the U.S., where he worked on an Arkansas dairy farm. After the war he returned to Germany and earned his master’s degree at the University of Marburg and his first doctorate from the University of Cologne. He returned to the U.S. to study at New York University under the great Austrian economist Ludwig Von Mises and earned his Ph.D. in 1955. A year later, at the behest of J. Howard Pew, he joined the faculty at Grove City College where he served as professor of Economics and chairman of the Department of Economics for the next 36 years. He was the author of 17 books and booklets, from Divided Europe in 1955 to Reflection and Remembrance in 1997 and published more than 500 essays and articles. Other works include Debts and Deficits, The Politics of Unemployment, and Age of Inflation. After retirement in 1992, he continued writing and working with think tanks and remained an integral part of Grove City College. On his 81st birthday, he delivered the first lecture in Sticht Lecture Hall, which had just opened. Two years later, he gave the closing lecture at the first conference held by The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. Now known as The Institute for Faith & Freedom, the campus think tank is a part of Sennholz’s legacy.
HANS SENNHOLZ Hans Sennholz, the renowned economist and legendary professor, impacted thousands of students over five decades, not just as a proponent of the Austrian School but as an inspiring and challenging teacher and mentor. For a large part of the 20th century, Sennholz, his heavy German accent, his writings on economic theory, and his high expectations for his students embodied the rigorous academics and conservative character for which Grove City College is known. His impact was felt far from campus and on a much bigger stage as an influence on the views of economists around the world and the
conservative movement through his work with think tanks and via his many writings. Ronald Reagan was a fan. Sennholz was “one of our nation’s most articulate, intellectual voices for ordered liberty, limited government, and free markets,” former College President Richard G. Jewell ’67 said upon the professor’s passing in 2007. “As a classroom teacher he had few peers. His lucid and clearly reasoned written work inspired and informed the many who relied on his economic guidance.” Born in Germany in 1922, Sennholz experienced the deprivations of the
His wife, Mary, was also a scholar and author. Her four books include Faith and Freedom: A Biographical Sketch of a Great American: J. Howard Pew. Their son, Robert ’75, and grandson, Roland ’08, are alumni.
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NANCY (LEE ’54) PAXTON Paxton is one of Grove City College’s great characters. She left an indelible mark on thousands of Grovers in a succession of roles, including Dean of Women and Vice President for Student Affairs. She served the College for 28 years and a generation after she retired in 2004, we’re reminded of enduring presence whenever someone invokes her famous freshmen orientation catchphrase, a prediction that has inspired countless “ring by spring” quests: “Look to the left, look to the right, your future mate might be in sight.” “With her signature red suit, and her heart of gold, Nancy Paxton was a true Grover. Her children were each of the students she interacted with at the College. She gave so much of her time, energy and spirit to making the campus a memorable place. Mrs. Paxton had a passion for Grove City College that can’t be measured, and she truly made a mark on her alma mater,” Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod said.
Her job, and her passion, was always taking care of students. Known for her humor and compassion, Paxton took a sincere interest in students’ well being and was a source of encouragement. From her etiquette diners to her Faculty Follies antics, she was a supportive and positive influence on all she encountered. In 1994, Paxton was a recipient of a Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award in the field of education. Upon her retirement she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the College, which she considered a tremendous honor. A member of the “Great Class of 1954,” which also included Dean of Chapel Richard Morledge, Paxton was a religious educator before coming to work at Grove City College.
DAVID R. RATHBURN ’79 Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus David R. Rathburn ’79 has the distinction of being the only person to serve as both Chair of the Board and president of the College. Though the latter position was held on an interim basis between the tenures of John H. Moore and Richard G. Jewell ’67, Rathburn’s appointment to it attests to the key leadership role he played over the course of three decades. He joined the College’s Board in 1992 and was elected chair in 2003, a position he held for 17 years. Rathburn helped lead the College during a period of unprecedented growth and change: extricating itself from the federal student loan program; establishing a robust network of financial support; becoming one of the premier Christian colleges in the U.S.; raising half a dozen new structures – including a namesake Christian activities building; restoring numerous buildings and working with four College presidents. He was also a
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key figure in establishing the Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing. With degrees in accounting, business administration, and political science, Rathburn went to work after graduation for Price Waterhouse before joining Grove City College-connected Hopeman Brothers Marine Division. He worked for the company in various capacities before being named president in 1991 at age 33. He served in that position for 22 years before forming marine interior outfitter US Joiner LLC. During his years as a student, Rathburn was vice president of the Student Government Association, a Nu Lambda Phi brother, and the sports director for radio station WSAJ-FM, serving as the voice of the Wolverines announcing home and away football and basketball games. His sons Tyler ’18 and Mark ’08 are alumni.
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JACK BEHRINGER – A 40-year athletic director, department chair, and coach, he expanded campus sports and coached football for 17 years, including the undefeated 1966 season, and the baseball team for 29. ANNA LONG ’44 – A pioneering woman of science, she blazed a trail for others at American Cyanamid and Dupont before transitioning to teaching. BRUCE THIELEMANN – Dean of Chapel from 1974 to 1984, he was an internationally acclaimed preacher and theologian who inspired many students to lead lives of faith. RUTH (BOGART ’63) WIBLE – The first woman to earn a varsity letter at the College, she was a record-setting member of the rifle team from 1959 to 1963.
CHARLIE BERRY – Football and baseball coach in the 1930s who played for the NFL and MLB and was a long time official in both leagues. ANDREW HOFFECKER – The former faculty member was one of the chief architects of the Keystone Curriculum in the 1970s, which later developed into the Humanities core. HILDA KRING – English professor and friend to generations of students, she founded the Children’s Theatre program and was the first winner of the Florence MacKenzie Campus Community Award. ED NAEGELE – Professor and longtime chair of the Department of Chemistry, he influenced generations of science and other majors between 1958 and 1990.
SAMUEL P. HARBISON – A Pittsburgh industrialist, he was a member of the Board of Trustees in the 1890s and namesake of the Chapel built with a family gift.
BETSY (BOAK ’77) CRAIG – A professor of English and Theatre, she is the director of the College’s nationally acclaimed Theatre Program.
PAUL KENGOR – An accomplished professor, author, and in-demand political and cultural commentator, he is a noted Reagan biographer, cold war historian, and leader of the Institute for Faith & Freedom.
HERBERT HARMON – A Physics professor and technological pioneer, he was responsible for one of the first radio broadcasts in the country in 1920.
DALE SMOCK ’42 – On the Engineering faculty for 35 years, he attended U.S. Naval Training School at the College during WWII and was key to development and growth of the College radio station. JOHN H. MOORE – The College’s seventh president, he served from 1996 to 2003, led Grove City College out of the federal student loan program and bolstered academic standards. MARY ETHEL PEW – Philanthropist, College benefactor and former Trustee, she was the namesake of the women’s residence hall built in 1981.
JEAN ALICE WILSON ’50 – Influential professor of Education and the first woman to chair the Department of Education at the College, she taught from 1959-1982. ALEXANDER ORMOND – The second president of the College and a leading academic of the time, he served in interregnum between the terms of Isaac and Wier C. Ketler and died suddenly in office in 1913. BYOUNG-HYE CHANG ’56 – A native of South Korea and daughter of its third prime minister, she earned a Ph.D. from Georgetown University and was a professor at Seton Hall University and a bilingual author.
FRED FETTEROLF ’52 – After earning a degree in Chemistry, he climbed the ranks at ALCOA to become president and COO. He also served on the Board of Trustees. RICHARD LEO – Beloved Physics professor who made the mysteries of the discipline clear to generations of students. The science faculty icon retired in 2004 as professor of the year.
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Team Smeeple includes student intern Lexi Auth ’24, Calvin Holston ’05, Marketing and Management Professor Dr. Scott Powell, Josh Mallalieu ’05, and intern Aaron Phillips ’24.
Grover connections help startup start up By Nick Hildebrand When a DIY project went south, Calvin Holston ’05 scoured the internet for hours for a solution before calling in a plumber, who fixed the leak in minutes with a simple maneuver. If was something Holston could have done himself – if he had just had a little bit of expert advice. That day, Holston got a $250 plumber’s bill and an idea for a website that would connect people via
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videoconference with an array of experts who could provide late night plumbing tips or a host of other services. Holston, a nuclear plant operator with a degree in Marketing and Management, began to work on the idea that – with a little help from his friends in the Grove City College network – became Smeeple. Holston didn’t have to look far for a
partner in the venture. “I realized that it was 50 percent technology and 50 percent marketing and advertising,” Holston said. “For the marketing aspect, I needed someone I could trust and rely on, so I called up Josh and shared my vision.” Josh is Josh Mallalieu ’05, a Marketing and Management major who built a career at a New York advertising firm, where he works
December 2023 with startups and Fortune 500 companies. He is also Holston’s old roommate. After meeting as freshmen in Memorial Hall 20 years ago, they became close friends, stood up for each other at their weddings, and stayed connected. Beyond the personal ties, Mallalieu’s skillset complemented Holston’s extensive operational and management experience and together they founded Smeeple. “Josh and I were going over potential names that capture the true essence of what we are doing, bringing Subject Matter Experts – SMEs –and people together,” Holtson said, “and then it dawned on us: ‘SMEple.’” When they needed advice about the business, they tapped mentors on the faculty and in administration with whom they remained connected over the years. Management and Marketing Professor Dr. Scott Powell and Jeff Prokovich ’89, vice president for Advancement, were early sounding boards and continuing counselors. “Calvin called to tell me about the idea for Smeeple. I really liked the concept and thought it had great potential,” Powell said. “We had a series of ongoing discussion where we talked about differentiation and marketing strategies and bounced ideas off each other.”
Powell said he’s proud of his former students and the admiration is mutual. “Beyond Scott’s extensive marketing experience, it was his wisdom and unwavering faith in the Lord that led us to seek his guidance and mentorship throughout this journey,” said Mallalieu. Powell noted that it isn’t uncommon for his former students to reach out for advice or for some of them, like Mallalieu, to mentor and speak with current students. The partners developed their plans and swiftly assembled a team with diverse skillsets to transform Smeeple into a reality. In another College connection, Prokovich connected
them with alumni-owned Tru Fit Solutions for software development. They began to bring experts on board – some of them from the College and alumni network – and market the website. When they needed some more hands on deck, they turned to Grove City College again. This fall they brought on two student interns, seniors Aaron Phillips and Lexie Auth, who the founders said are playing pivotal roles in the success of Smeeple. Holston and Mallalieu were well aware of the exceptional work ethic, intelligence, and talent that Grove City College nurtures. “It was only logical for us to look within this pool,” Holston said. “It was also an opportunity to give back to the community that meant so much to us, and help shape the minds and careers of future marketers,” Mallalieu noted. “Starting our own company became a perfect platform for us to bring real life experience to students who were interested in pursuing a career in marketing, but might not yet know what field they want to specialize in. It gave them a place to put their education into practice in a real and meaningful way and see how the marketing and start up worlds work.” That is the case for Auth, a Marketing and Communications double major. “I would describe my work as an all-encompassing marketing position. My involvement spans across multiple dimensions of the company, as often required by a startup,” she said. She said she feels a “Grover connection” with her bosses, she said. “While it is evident in their work ethic, I feel the connection most predominantly through the tremendous care
they show to their employees … I am thankful for the Grove City alum base that reaches out to professors to look for skilled and hardworking students.” Going forward, Smeeple’s founders are looking for more ways to involve the GCC network, whether to hire a recent graduate or a fellow alum who wants to help with the growth of the company.
“It was also an opportunity to give back to the community that meant so much to us, and help shape the minds and careers of future marketers.” Smeeple is a case study on how the relationships, skills, and wisdom developed on campus among the alumni network benefits the entire College community, according to Prokovich. “The connections forged at Grove City College between students, faculty, and staff can help alumni and students build something of value together,” he said. “That’s certainly the case for Calvin and Josh as they develop and grow Smeeple.”
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class notes KEEP IN TOUCH!
1962
We want to keep in touch with you electronically! If you have an email address, or have recently changed your
Jessie (Gregory) Donnan and Stuart Ball ’63 were married on Aug. 7, 2023, in Aiken, S.C.
address or work information, make changes through
alumni.gcc.edu/update.
Have exciting news? Submit a class note for the magazine and for viewing online at
alumni.gcc.edu/classnote.
Remember to let the alumni office know that you are having a “Grover Gathering!” We’d love to send you some fun “stuff” for your event. Email alumni@gcc.edu for more information.
1968
Dr. David Hoch published his eighth book, A Lifetime of Memories from EducationBased Athletics. Judge Arthur Schwab was additionally honored by the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law with the renaming of the CLE (continuing legal education) program to The Honorable Arthur J. Schwab Trial Advocacy Program. He was previously honored for his 25 years as a faculty member of the College. Schwab serves on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
1969
Dr. H. Leland Smith was selected by the Tennessee American Legion as lead auditor for the state. He is the chief financial officer for American Legion Post 55 in Martin, Tenn., and was named their Legionaire of the Year. James McKim Jr. was featured in a June New Castle News article for sharing his musical talents with thousands of
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students spanning three generations in the Mohawk (Pa.) Area School District. This includes directing 36 musicals. Now retired, he assists with both the New Castle Playhouse and Scottish Rite Cathedral, serves on the Mohawk Area Board of Education, and runs his family’s 160-acre farm.
1972
Mark Fullerton threw out the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game on June 17. He belongs to the Mesa (AZ) Hohokams, a non-profit raising money for other non-profits in the Mesa area. This organization was the original force behind bringing spring training to the Phoenix area, creating the Cactus League. The Hohokams assist both the Cubs and the Oakland Athletics by handling parking, managing gates, and ushering. Fullerton was the president of the Hohokams and in this role was invited to Chicago for the first pitch.
1973
Chris Robb was named Southern California U.S. Professional Tennis Association Division Pro of the Year at its annual conference. Robb is owner/director of Tennis It’s a Lifestyle – a teaching and tennis camp business based
out of Pacific Palisades, Calif. Robb has been teaching tennis and directing programs for 48 years.
1975
Dr. Arlene Courtney retired from higher education, with her last 33 years at Western Oregon University (WOU) where she attained the rank of full professor. During her time at WOU, she was a longtime chair of the Department of Chemistry and completed six years as chair of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She now holds the title professor emerita at WOU.
1977
Jim Jarrett received the Realtor Active in Politics award from the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors in Harrisburg. The award recognizes significant political involvement to advance PAR’s legislative and homeownership agenda. Jarrett is a real estate professional with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty South Suburban office and is a PAR district vice president. Michael Zellers was ranked in Chambers USA 2023 in product liability and mass torts (USA – nationwide). Individual lawyers are ranked in their practice area(s) based on their legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness, and client service. Zellers is a lawyer with Tucker Ellis LLP.
December 2023
NU LAMB GOLF | Nu Lamb brothers, Class of 1976, continued their 25-year golf outing tradition in Pinehurst, N.C., in March. From left: Pete Morison, Mike Leyland ’78, Tom Tindall, Davy Yockey, Ken Foster, Bill Rogers, Jeff Weaver, and Mark Deese. Photographer: Pete Kraft.
PENTECOST SUNDAY | Alumni observed Pentecost at Graystone EPC in Indiana, Pa. The Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver ’86, stated clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, delivered the May 28 sermon. Among the worshippers, from left, Laura Welch ’23, Garrett Jacobs ’20, Melissa (Marshall ’92) Jacobs, G. Ronald Marshall ’68, Weaver, Emily (Hurley ’12) DeVivo, and Mark Devivo ’12.
NO REASON | Some Chi Delta Epsilon grads and spouses attended a “Reunion for No Reason” at the Grove City home of Dan Biddle ’78 on June 23. Attendees included (L-R): Linda Young, Pat McFeely ’77, Tom Taylor ’77, Gail Wirth, Chuck Montgomery, Ed Young ’78, Tom Juliano ’81, Tim Hayes ’74, Jay Livingston ’77, Mike Phillips ’75, Mark Brosnahan ’76, Rick Alford ’74, Natalie Alford, Jim Cullison ’74, Linda (Keller ’75) Marguglio, Al Kenz ’81, Sally Shortle ’75, Biddle, Joe Liotta ’77, and Melissa Biddle. Attendees not pictured: Al Karns ’75, Joan (Purdy ’77) Karns, Kathie (Gula ’77) Cooper, Rick O’Planick ’74, Anne (Church ’75) O’Planick, Rick Andersen ’76, Dave Henry ’77, and Brad Smith ’79.
ADOPT-A-BLOCK | GCC grads and students served in Baltimore in July with Compassion Commission. Adopt-a-Block, a ministry of Rock City Church (where Jim Kilmartin ’98 and Tyler Burnworth ’09 both work) gave away its 21st house in east Baltimore. From left: Jessica (Virgilio ’00) Kilmartin, Kris Sekera ’24, Kilmartin, Burnworth, and Lexi Kilmartin ’24.
POSSUM PICNIC | Phi Omega Sigma (“Possum”) housing group members and their families met in Pittsburgh, Pa., in mid-June. They have assembled every summer since 2017. Row 1 adults, from left: Adam Speicher ’16, Rachel (Reitz ’17) Leheny, and Adam Leheny ’16. Row 2: Sara Speicher, Paul Sundman ’16, Cameron Ebersole ’16, Nolan Leck ’16, Samantha (Van Slyke ’16) Leck, Eleanor (Gray ’16) Graham, Josh Graham ’16, Juliana Mee, Tracy Mee ’16, Bryan Bosse ’16, and Amanda (Tennies ’18) Bosse.
HAPPY 4TH | Kappa Alpha Phi members Adam Byrne ’08 and Austin Schafer ’08 with Phi Sigma Chi wives Kate (Bonaquist ’09) Byrne and Andrea (Langer ’07) Schafer celebrated with their children at a Fourth of July event in Haddon Township, N.J.
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Grove City College 1980 Dr. Michael Charles is executive medical director for the new Sentara Community Care Program to provide health and wellness access and resources to populations of need and those experiencing health disparities. Two Sentara Community Care Centers are offering services in Norfolk, Va., while the third is helping the Hampton Roads region via the Sentara Mobile Care Bus. Sentara Community Care plans to expand across Virginia and Dr. Charles will have clinical oversight of all these clinics. He has practiced family medicine in Virginia Beach for 30 years.
Kim (Snow ’80) Gibson, left, and Marty (Kennedy ’79) Knable helped victims of Hurricane Ian this spring, six months after the fall hurricane hit Florida. They and other members of Pittsburgh’s Ingomar United Methodist Church Early Response Team helped people in the North Fort Myers area still needing assistance. Gregory Spalding is commissioner of the Big Parkway East Basketball League in Churchill, Pa. Last season, many Grove City alumni played in the league, including former basketball players and other alumni. The league also has former players from other colleges. For interested alumni, the league’s website is BigParkwayEast. com. Spalding featured many of the players and teams of the league in his recently
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published book, Your Life is Like a Basketball.
1981 Cynthia (Swanson) Suarez was promoted to executive vice president at First Financial Bank, Texas. She is the chief information security officer (CISO) and has been with the bank for 5-1/2 years.
1983 Craig Dye retired after teaching music with Manassas (Va.) City Public Schools for 34 years. Spending the majority of his years teaching instrumental music with an emphasis on band, he says the real enjoyment came from teaching elementary general music to K-4 students for the last several years. He plans to maintain his performing, conducting, and recording schedule while spending time with family and friends. Charles “Chad” Wieland, an attorney with Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP, was named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He was recognized for excellence in patent litigation, intellectual property litigation, and patent law.
1984 Laureen Cauley authored a children’s book, Where is God? Colored by Me, Myself. Her sons, Derek and Christian, drew the pictures and printed the text, respectively, when they were younger. The Rev. Dr. Chris Looker will travel to Antarctica in February 2024 with a team of 24 other certified drysuit
scuba divers and instructors. As a PADI master scuba diver training instructor and drysuit scuba diving instructor himself, Dr. Looker looks forward to witnessing first-hand the unique marine life and observing the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ice and glaciers. He also plans to bring back pictures and videos of his experience to the First Presbyterian Church of Annandale, Va., where he is the senior pastor.
1985
John Derr joined The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association/MANSI Media as director of sales and strategic partnerships. In this dual capacity, he works to increase revenue and discover new sources of income for member news organizations. From 2018 until 2023, he was publisher of the Chestnut Hill Local in Philadelphia.
1986
Mike Sinclair spent 30 years as a television producer working in broadcast, cable, and streaming television for networks including Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, MSNBC, TLC, OWN, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, and PBS. He has transitioned to the classroom, joining Regent University as an assistant professor of cinema and television and was recently promoted chair of the Media and Visual Arts department. Douglas Smith captured the national title (gold medal) in the Men’s age 55-59 100M Hurdles and a bronze medal in the 400M Hurdles in the USA Track and Field Masters Outdoor Championships held in late July at North Carolina
A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
1988 Laura (Baird) Althouse is working as the church secretary and administrative assistant at Speedwell Presbyterian Church in Reidsville, N.C. The Rev. Lea Guiney, after serving as an ordained elder in the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for 32 years, retired from the UM ministry. She then withdrew from the UMC and was received as an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. She continues to serve the same congregation as they left the UMC and became a GMC congregation (First Global Methodist Church of Union City).
1992 Craig Creaturo is one of the Top 25 CFOs in Manufacturing for 2023, according to Finance & Investing. He was CFO and executive vice president of Unifi Manufacturing and has 18 years in similar executive financial positions. He is now the CFO at Syntive Group in Greensboro, N.C. The Rev. Mary Elaine (Ihnat) Selden was ordained with the Wesleyan church in September. She is a licensed minister – a children’s pastor – serving in the Ohio District with her husband, Rev. Ray Selden ’93.
1993 Christopher Parker accepted a position with Keuka College as an adjunct faculty member. He began work in fall 2023 as a student teacher supervisor.
December 2023
EP GOLF | The Epsilon Pi Alumni Association hosted its annual Golf Outing at Grove City Country Club on July 22. Over 80 actives and alumni from across the country gathered to enjoy an afternoon of golf followed by dinner. Participants included EP brothers from 1962 to today. The winning group posted an impressive 14 under par. SCOTTISH STROKES | Four lads took Grove City to Scotland in July while enjoying some golf at St Andrews. From left, Mark Lowrey ’79, David Rathburn ’79, Chris Hogan ’80, and Mark Mustio ’79.
BACK TO THE BEACH | Three families returned to the Corolla, N.C., beach in June, now with mostly grown kids. Row 1, from left: Todd Snitchler ’92, Melanie (Krahe ’92) Snitchler, Megan Snitchler ’19, and Dianne (Reichard ’91) Campo. Row 2: Nathan Snitchler ’17, Emma Kirk ’21, Nathan Young ’27, and Jim Campo ’92. Row 3: Kitty (Henneman ’92) Young, Brian Young ’92, and Christian Reimann ’92.
CHURCH GAMES | Carol Church ’72 competed in badminton in July’s National Senior Games held in Pittsburgh, Pa. On July 12, a group of Sigma Delta Phi alumni gathered to cheer her to victory. Church represented Pennsylvania while playing both women’s singles and doubles events in her age group. From left: Karen (Mitchell ’74) Christy, Robin Riglian ’75, Annie (Church ’75) O’Planick, Church, Sally Haller ’74, and Toni Sulkowski ’75.
TIKI BOAT | Sigma Theta Chi sisters from the 1970s gathered late
KAP GOLF | Seventy brothers from Classes of 1967 to 2026 attended the Kappa Alpha Phi Golf Outing on July 15 at Green Meadows Golf Course in Mercer, Pa. At this 40th annual event, the KAPs recognized T. Mark Mustio ’79 for starting the outing in 1983 and Curt Newill ’67 for formally starting their Alumni Association in 2010.
summer in Ocean City, N.J., and enjoyed a tiki boat ride. These alumnae meet about once a year.
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Grove City College Keuka College is located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. Rick Sems assumed the presidency of Equity Bank, based in Wichita, Kan., in May. He oversees the sales and service teams and is a member of the Equity Bank Board of Directors.
1995
Rev. Dr. Amy Davis Abdallah authored a book published in the fall titled Meaning in the Moment: How Rituals Help Us Move Through Joy, Pain, and Everything in Between.
1999
Kristen (Lockitski) Tiber published a new women’s Bible study in June 2023. A Heart for Journey: Developing Purpose, Faith, and a Biblical Mindset for the Road of Life examines what it means to have a “heart set on pilgrimage” from Psalm 84 and how to thrive in our spiritual walk.
2001
Nathaniel Garver-Daniels is a full member of NANOGrav, an international collaboration of astrophysicists whose major breakthrough of a new kind of gravitational wave made international news.
2002
Emily (Guthrie) Riley was promoted to chief administrative officer of Arrow Child and Family Ministries, a Christian-based foster care headquartered in Spring, Texas. Arrow offers social services for troubled/disadvantaged youth.
2004
Carolyn (Blake) Brakey graduated from the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership
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Institute, a program for women aspiring to be leaders in public and community service. Brakey is principal of Brakey Law LLC, which she founded in 2020, and president of the Geauga County Board of Health.
2005
Dr. Caleb Bupp, a medical geneticist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and collaborating physician Dr. Andre Bachmann, received a prestigious National Institutes of Health grant in June for their study of a rare genetic disease. The disorder, related to polyamines, is now called Bachmann-Bupp syndrome, and the two physicians joined a third researcher to found the International Center for Polyamine Disorders, a joint venture by Michigan State University and Corewell Health. Jenny (Cindric) and Felix Scott Mason welcomed son Felix Silas on April 3, 2023. Amanda (Parker) Mosley and husband Nathan welcomed daughter Riley Hope on May 21, 2023. She joins siblings Chase, 11, Emily, 9, Hailey, 7, Jordyn, 5, and Carter, 3. Lindsay Smith joined the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office as deputy solicitor general. This follows nearly six years at the Raleigh law firm Tharrington Smith LLP, where she represented public school districts across the state.
2006
Dr. Joel Boerckel earned tenure at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he is an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery. Elisa (Pedersen) Stodghill and husband Shawn welcomed
daughter Carly Janae on April 1, 2023.
2007 Kate (O’Brien) Baxter and husband Ryan welcomed son Thomas Raleigh on Jan. 7, 2023. Alexandra (Johnson) Myroniuk and husband Robert welcomed son Robert Grady on Feb. 19, 2023. Sgt. Gary Peters graduated from Cumberland University with a master’s in public service management and will soon be an adjunct instructor of criminology at the school. He is a member of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and resides in the area with wife Kelly (Beahm) Peters and their daughters. Jana Volante Walshak was named to The Legal Intelligencer’s 2023 list of Lawyers on the Fast Track. She is a partner with Fox Rothschild LLP in Pittsburgh, Pa., and co-chairs the firm’s Health Care Industry group.
2008 Jennifer (Plyler) and Jonathan Coyne welcomed daughter Willow Ruth on Oct. 4, 2022. Joy (Gardiner) Robb and husband Jackson welcomed son Aiden Gardiner on April 5, 2021. Cassandra (Cisek) Doggrell and husband Keith are the parents of daughter Willow Rose, born Aug. 3, 2021.
2009 Andrew J. Miller co-authored Glorifying and Enjoying God: 52 Devotions through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, published this fall by Reformation Heritage Books. He accepted a new role as regional home missionary for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in central Pennsylvania. He also began
Ph.D. studies at Highlands Theological College. Darin Miller and wife Caitlin welcomed daughter Eleanor Rose on Aug. 12, 2023. Bethany (Lowe) Rupert and husband Mike welcomed daughter Joelle Shai on May 14, 2023.
2010 Caleb Courage and wife Susanna are the parents of son Benjamin Warfield, born Jan. 22, 2023, and his siblings Anastasia Mae, 4, and Zoya Jean, 2. Erik Jarvi and wife Molly announce the birth of son Daniel Erikson on Sept. 8, 2023. Christopher Recio and Karoline Stache were married June 10, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. The couple resides in Maryville, Tenn.
2011 Heidi (Lohr) Rudy and husband Stephen welcomed sons Michael Lawrence on April 27, 2021, and Abel John on Jan. 11, 2023.
2012 Natalia (Danielson) Harris and husband Ross welcomed daughter Kiara on Jan. 28, 2023, who joins siblings Richard “Rico”, 6, Esther, 4, Maureen, 3, and John, 2. Rachel (Weeber) Jones and husband Michael welcomed son Levi Augustine on Aug. 10, 2022. Megan (Haux) Snyder and husband Tim welcomed their third daughter, Rosalie, on Sept. 7, 2023
2013 Mary Kate (Breese) Alt and husband Daniel announce the birth of daughter Ella “Ellie” Kathryn on May 24, 2023. Kyle Hay and wife Cara welcomed identical triplet
December 2023
VOLLEYBALL SET | These ’83 – ’84 Wolverine athletes celebrated their second annual Grove City Volleyball Reunion this fall in Murrysville, Pa. From left: Holly (Over ’84) Kann, Jill (Nixon ’84) Cooper (dinner host), June (Hart ’83) Brody, Nancy (Ferguson ’83) Notaro, and Caren (Flick ’84) Lewis.
NORTH SHORE | Friends, from left: Karl McFadden ’92, Joe Paparone ’91, Warner Zingg ’91, and Rick McKenzie ’91 met at McFadden’s house in October after a trip to Pittsburgh’s Strip District area.
GROVER GATHERING: BOYDS, MD | Evan ’89 and Pam (Cranford ’89) Homan hosted a Grover Gathering in Boyds, Md., in August They celebrated the start of a new semester with local GCC students, five new Class of 2027 freshmen, and several local alumni. A few new freshmen were joined by alumni parents – the GCC legacy is strong!
VIRGINIA VENTURE | Girlfriends from the Class of 1979 reunited in Williamsburg, Va., on their sixth annual trip. Row 1, from left: Nancy (Hayes) Bevington and Leslie (Edwards) Feather. Row 2: Janet (Hobe) Micklos, Dot (Boyer) DeAngelis, Carol (Schopps) Walton, Paula Meyer Haven, and Cindy (Smalley) Monroe. Row 3: Linda (Millard) Tsagdis, Robin (Lancellotti) McCourt and Lois (Morton) Kuttesch.
JAVA PALOOZA | Nu Lambs from the ’80s at Java Palooza hosted by Dave Weaver ’85 and his neighbors on Java Avenue in Hershey, Pa. The previous night, Ed ’86 and Susan Felty hosted a welcome at their Allen Theatre & Backstage Café in Annville.
GROVER GATHERING: LITITZ, PA. | Lititz, Pa., area alumni, incoming freshmen and a current student enjoyed August fellowship with ice cream at the home of Amy (Clingensmith ’96) Mongiovi.
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Grove City College boys, Glen, Lawrence, and Walter, born Nov. 23, 2022. Kate (Nagatani) and Mark ’15 Mariani welcomed son Peter Joseph on May 12, 2023. Amanda Naylor graduated from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in May 2023 with Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degree (MDMPH). She returned to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, in June to begin training in the anesthesiology residency program at the Cleveland Clinic.
2014 Stephanie (Swaney) and Paulson Domasky welcomed daughter Ruby Willa on June 2, 2022. Collin Gingrich and wife Rebekah welcomed son Drew Richard on Aug. 25, 2022. Jillian (Oppenheim) and Raul Zamora are the parents of daughters Lily Grace, born June 11, 2021, and Olivia Hope, born June 8, 2022.
2015 Anna (Mittelman) and Zach Bentley welcomed daughter Summer on Oct. 24, 2022. She joins brother Judah. Ben Crelin and wife Hope welcomed son James Andrew on Sept. 8, 2023. Sarah (Cecil) Coleman and husband Christian announce the birth of son Oliver Harry on March 16, 2023. Jenne Mante and Tyler Smith were married Sept. 18, 2022. The couple lives in Center Valley, Pa. Megan (Johnson) Peachey and husband Brandon welcomed daughter Eloise Mae on June 23, 2021. Zachary Stahl and wife Abigail announce the birth of son Ezra Zachary on April 22, 2023.
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2016 Aimee (Lynch) Carrión and husband Mark welcomed son Bowen Isaiah on Oct. 8, 2022. Rebecca (McLaughlin) and Ryan ’11 Dickey are the parents of daughter Ailish Loretta, born April 4, 2023. Stephanie (Huston) and Thomas Kocur are the parents of twins, son Henry David and daughter Adeline Jane, born June 29, 2023. Ashley (Henderson) and David ’17 Laylock are the parents of daughter Isabelle Marie, born June 1, 2022. Rachael (Zdaniewicz) and Ben Weaver announce the birth of daughter Anna Lane on July 7, 2023.
2017 Allison (Hafner) and Joel Bodine welcomed son Simon Thomas on July 23, 2021. Melanie (Duffy) and Tyler ’16 Engel announce the birth of son Carson Michael on June 2, 2023. Brian Finnegan and wife Andra welcomed daughter Josephine Mae on Oct. 5, 2023. Meghann (Healey) Glueckstein and husband Michael announce the birth of daughter Caitlin Mary on Feb. 15, 2023. Emily Horn graduated from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine with her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in May 2023. She continued to a residency in family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health. Rachel (Reitz) and Adam ‘16 Leheny welcomed son Lawson Paul on Feb. 16, 2023. Suzanne (Holcombe) Meyers and husband Ryan welcomed daughter Madeleine Elizabeth on Feb. 16, 2023.
Emily (Owen) and Joshua ’18 Tracey are the parents of daughter Gemma Katarina, born April 27, 2021.
York, Pa. Jennifer works as a Spanish teacher and Nathaniel as a CPA/tax manager for Ernst & Young.
2018
2021
Tiffany Bicek and Dylan Rice were married on Oct. 1, 2023, in Beaver, Pa.
William Cliff and wife Christine welcomed daughter Magnolia Ruth on May 5, 2022. Alina (Santiago) Gauthier and husband Chris are the parents of daughter Evelyn Willa Renee, born May 10, 2022. Anna (Reed) Jaynes and husband Matthew announce the birth of son Eli Alexander on Nov. 18, 2022. Emily (Bach) and Steven Maker welcomed son James Theo on June 7, 2023. Lindsay (Hutton) Morales and husband Brayan welcomed son Christian Manuel on July 23, 2023. Kellie (O’Hearn) Sears and husband Taylor are the parents of Davis Ruth, born May 2, 2023.
2019
Mary Buchanan and Joel Padilla were married Nov. 19, 2022, in Morgantown, W.Va. The couple resides in Jacksonville, N.C. Sam Henson and wife Christin are the parents of daughter Sophia Grace, born Sept. 2, 2022. Stephanie (Walker) and Timothy “TJ” Mullen welcomed daughter Eliza Josephine on April 1, 2023.
2020
Jennifer Elder and Nathaniel Miranda were married June 17, 2023. The couple resides in
Maria Lauria was promoted to senior accountant with Lumsden McCormick CPAs in Western N.Y.
2022
James Kopmeyer and wife Sela announce the birth of daughter Mary Kathryn Lily on March 29, 2023.
December 2023
in memory The Grove City College Alumni Association places a book in Henry Buhl Library in memory of each alumnus for whom the Office of Alumni and College Relations receives written notification of death, including a copy of the obituary. This pays tribute to the lives of deceased alumni while benefitting current and future students.
To notify the Office of Alumni and College Relations of the passing of a loved one, please send an obituary to alumni@gcc.edu.
Ruth (Rucker) Mansfield ’43, Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 12, 2023. She was part of the first Women’s Marine Corps in WWII, and later taught at North Hills High School.
Norman H. Jacobs ’50, Natrona Heights, Pa., May 17, 2023. The Navy veteran practiced law into his early 90s in the firm Hazlett, Gannon & Jacobs.
Elizabeth (Summerville) Mayo ’43, Hamden, Conn., Sept. 2, 2023. She lived in Rochester, N.Y., for many years, plus a few in London.
Mary (Cole) Gonet ’51, Herndon, Va., Sept. 13, 2023. She held financial positions including vice president of Summitt Enterprises.
Helen G. Butler ’47, Louisville, Ky., Sept. 19, 2023. She worked for 33 years with U.S. Steel, including as secretary to the president.
William L. Lombardo ’51, Hermitage, Pa., Oct. 12, 2023. The Army veteran both taught and supervised in the Sharon and Farrell, Pa., schools.
Jean (Davison) Carlisle ’48, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 7, 2023.
John R. Meister ’51, Sewickley, Pa., April 24, 2023. The Air Force veteran was an executive with Georgia-Pacific.
Phyllis (Double) Barclay-Paolo ’49, New Kensington, Pa., July 30, 2023. Survivors include children Karen (Barclay ’74) Oplinger and Robert Barclay ’75. Robert F. Lehner ’49, Kittanning, Pa., June 5, 2023. The WWII Army veteran was a licensed CPA for 30 years. Survivors include daughter Elizabeth (Lehner ’77) Ward. George C. Patterson ’49, Richboro, Pa., Aug. 13, 2023. The Army veteran worked for many years with Whitman Chocolates. Dorothy (Csencsics) Jepson ’50, Erie, Pa., Oct. 10, 2023. After working with law firms, she worked in accounting at Edinboro University. Joanne (Brill) Gray ’50, South Daytona, Fla., July 5, 2023.
Doris Stewart ’51, Syracuse, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2023. She served the North Syracuse Central School District as a librarian. Carl L. Barber ’52, Roanoke, Va., June 18, 2023. The PA National Guard veteran was a pastor in Brethren churches, and later a math teacher. Dr. James M. Barnes ’52, North Port, Fla., Jan. 18, 2023. After Army service, he joined the family medical practice. Jane (Warfel) Berson ’52, Tucson, Ariz., May 17, 2023. After teaching school for 14 years, she owned a health food store for 20 years and was an Arizona tour guide. C. Joanne (Young) Polowy ’52, New Bloomfield, Mo., March 11, 2022. She worked to
better the lives of children and seniors. James Cooper Jr. ’53, Eden Prairie, Minn., Aug. 16, 2023. The Army veteran worked for Honeywell. Kenneth R. Cypher ’53, Butler, Pa., July 3, 2023. The Navy veteran supervised buildings and grounds for the Butler Area School District and operated Cypher’s Christmas tree farm. Survivors include children Randy ’78, Ron ’80, Lori (Cypher ’82) Wilson, Larry ’86, and Lee ’88. Kathleen (Johnson) Dandoy ’53, Erie, Pa., June 23, 2023. She enjoyed several jobs and assisted in her husband’s pastorates. Kathryn Kay (MacFarlane) Matter ’53, Nashville, Tenn., July 13, 2023. She worked in human resources and was a painter. M. Jean (Patton) Bridgers ’54, South Hills, Pa., July 10, 2023. She founded Waynesboro Daycare and Adult Interest Center and two small businesses. Ruth (Hiack) Carey ’54, Johnstown, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2023. She taught English before joining her husband in his pastoral work. Janet (Mullett) Slaughter ’54, Naples, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023. She was a homemaker. Thomasine (Kunkle) Sirofchuck ’55, Mesa, Ariz., May 6, 2023. She taught both piano and organ. t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 5 3
Grove City College Dr. John C. Frich ’56, Morgantown, W.Va., April 26, 2023. He had a long career in radiation oncology. Dolores (Dukate) Headlee ’56, Centreville, Va., Sept. 22, 2023. She taught high school business education and adult education. The Rev. Dr. Norman E. “Chips” Koehler III ’56, Verona, Pa., July 21, 2023. The Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award winner had a lengthy Navy career, followed by work as a research scientist, university development officer, and professor. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2006 and was an author. Survivors include wife Virginia “Jan” (Schadt ’56) Koehler. Regis H. McClaine ’56, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, May 11, 2023. The Navy veteran was retired from Columbia Gas of Ohio. Raymond G. Wile ’56, Williamsburg, Va., April 30, 2023. He worked for National Chemsearch before forming a chemical specialties company. Dr. William J. “Jim” Clees ’57, Charleston, S.C., April 27, 2023. An Army National Guard veteran, he was a high school teacher and assistant principal, then taught at The Citadel. Survivors include wife Elsie (Wolfrum ’55) Clees. Nancy (Wilson) Critchfield ’57, Winter Park, Fla., June 19, 2023. The former First Lady of Rollins College, she led world tours. Robert G. Ferringer Sr. ’57, Butler, Pa., May 27, 2023. He taught math for 40 years in Wattsburg and was mayor of Union City. Survivors include daughter Susan (Ferringer ’81) Burdick. Richard E. Lundahl ’57, Meadville, Pa., Sept. 8, 2023.
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An Air Force veteran, the industrial engineer worked for American Viscose/FMC before opening an Isaly’s store. Survivors include wife Jean (Nystrom ’59) Lundahl William E. Burdick ’58, Pittsburgh Pa., April 30, 2023. He was a Methodist pastor. Paul E. Ermlich ’58, Camp Hill and Sewickley, Pa., April 3, 2023. Survivors include daughter Anne (Ermlich ’85) Lawton. Dr. Keith M. Dovenspike ’59, Hawthorn, Pa., Oct. 20, 2023. He was Methodist Church elder for 41 years. Rev. Richard C. Howard ’59, New Braunfels, Texas, June 18, 2023. A well-known preacher, for 30 years he led Peninsula Christian Center in Redwood City, Calif., founded two schools, and taught in colleges throughout the world. Abe G. “Buzz” Ruben ’59, Tyler, Texas, May 31, 2022. A Korean War veteran, he taught at Grove City High School before joining the Cooper Industries labor relations staff. Judith (Young) Hallman ’60, Freeport, Pa., Sept. 10, 2023. She taught business education at Freeport High School and coached cheerleading. Survivors include husband Robert Hallman ’60. Larry W. Stallsmith ’60, Corpus Christi, Texas, June 27, 2023. He was a mechanical engineer with Energy Industries and Chicago Pneumatic Tool. Survivors include brother Neil Stallsmith ’68. Janice “Sib” (Weiskircher) Hamilton ’61, Marietta, Ga., Oct. 5, 2023. She had careers in teaching and landscaping. Survivors include daughter Jane Hamilton ’87.
Dr. Nicholas K. Long ’61, Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 1, 2023. He was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine for 28 years and honored several times as Professor of the Year. Survivors include son David Long ’95. Thomas A. Brice ’62, Plumville, Pa., June 30, 2023. He managed Douds furniture store and was an active horse owner. Survivors include sons Todd Brice ’84 and Bart Brice ’87. Dr. Alexander J. “Skip” Graham ’62, Murrysville, Pa., Sept. 6, 2023. An optometrist, he served in the Army and in his own practice for nearly 60 years. Survivors include wife Carolyn (Hayes ’62) Graham and daughter Lynelle Graham ’91. Linda (Fithian) Johnston ’62, New Wilmington, Pa., Oct. 22, 2023. She was a secretary with Mellon Bank, then Westminster College. Survivors include husband Allen Johnston ’64.
Joetta (Bidzila) Bernhard ’63, Rome, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2023. She retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after serving in New York, Thailand, and California. Dorothy (Glass) Boone ’63, New Albany, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2023. She was a planner for agencies on aging. Kay (Holland) Carlson ’63, Grove City, Pa., June 24, 2023. She taught school in both Pennsylvania and California and was a homemaker. Survivors include husband Dr. Ralph Carlson ’62. Marlene (Engle) Foster ’63, Aurora, Colo., Aug. 31, 2023. She was a teacher, first in Germany, then in Colorado. R. Kathleen (Gemmill) Rosenberry ’63, Altoona, Pa., Oct. 9, 2023. She worked for Mercy Hospital/Bon Secours.
A. Duff Lewis Jr. ’62, Webster, N.Y., April 19, 2023. He had a 26-year career in finance with Kodak.
Norma (Pearson) McLean ’66, Grove City, Pa., May 15, 2023. She was a retired Grove City elementary teacher. Survivors include daughter Heather (McLean ’93) Greer.
Ramsey W. Llewellyn ’62, Clarendon, Pa., Aug. 19, 2023. He worked with GTE Sylvania.
Joseph T. Scaringi Jr. ’66, Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 25, 2023. He won awards selling furniture.
Grant E. McLaughlin ’62, Sewickley, Pa., Sept. 12, 2023. The Army veteran worked for Ernst and Ernst, then founded McLaughlin & Courson, CPAs. Survivors include wife Joyce (Reed ’62) McLaughlin.
Stephen W. Sweely ’67, New Carlisle, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2023. An Army veteran, he worked for IBM, including time in New Zealand.
Sally (Maybury) Miller ’62, Wexford, Pa., Sept. 17, 2023. She spent 25 years at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute. Richard M. Sherry ’62, Indiana, Pa., April 24, 2023. He had a long-time radio career, forming RMS Media Management. He was a local fire chief as well.
Suzanne (Aston) Guice ’68, Felton, Del., April 21, 2023. She was an LPN. Doris (Heinlein) Persing ’68, Moon Township, Pa., April 16, 2023. She taught and retired from Moon Area School District. Survivors include brother Edward Heinlein ’69. Daniel L. Rennard ’68, New Castle, Pa., Aug. 21, 2023. The Army veteran was a
December 2023 highway inspector with S.A.I. Consulting. Survivors include son Michael Rennard ’98 and brother William Rennard ’67. Ronald E. Stocker ’68, North Canton, Ohio, July 12, 2023. A former Alumni Council member and an Army vet, he led the civil division of the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office and shared a private practice with his brothers.
East Carolina University. Frank J. Sardina ’73, Perry, N.Y., July 7, 2023. He was an insurance agent and social worker. Priscilla (Kammer) Valko ’73, Princeton, W.Va., April 23, 2023. A reading specialist, she taught in elementary schools, receiving many recognitions.
Nancy (Campbell) Boyd ’69, Bethel Park, Pa., Aug. 13, 2022. She taught second and fourth grade in the Carlynton District for 34 years. Survivors include brother Donald Campbell ’64.
Walter G. Lucas Jr. ’74, Jacksonville, Fla., March 11, 2023. The U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. was a navigator, later joining the security police. He retired as a finance trainer in the motor industry.
Lawrence L. Hay Jr., ’69, Grove City, Pa., May 6, 2023. He practiced accounting for 50 years, both with Carbis Walker; McGill, Power, Bell; and on his own. Survivors include his wife Esther.
Thomas E. McWhertor ’74, Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 17, 2023. He worked with many non-profits, including World Renew. Survivors include wife Janice (Diehl ’74) McWhertor.
Norman R. Wolcott III ’69, Lockport, N.Y., Sept. 5, 2023. He filled many roles in his career with Harrison Radiator/ Delphi. William J. Scaife ’71, Dayton, Pa., April 20, 2023. The Army veteran was an electrical engineer for Corning, El Paso Natural Gas, and Huffington, including work abroad. Cheryl (Beebe) Bauer ’73, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., June 27, 2023. She was an elementary school teacher for 28 years in Florida. Survivors include sister Linda (Beebe ’69) Pontier. Michael L. Peters ’73, Hampton Township, Pa., Sept. 3, 2023. He was a project manager/ estimator with Pittsburgh engineering companies building steel mills. R. Bruce Peterson ’73, Greenville, N.C., June 13, 2023. He worked in the ferrite industry, starting his own consulting and manufacturing companies, later retiring from
Roofing. Survivors include sister Jean Myers ’84. Kevin E. Trenski ’80, Altamonte Springs, Fla., July 20, 2023. An engineer, he last worked with Eckel and Associates. Scott W. Bremner ’81, Erie, Pa., May 8, 2023. He was a reporter and anchor at Erie TV stations for 40 years. Todd S. MacDonald ’81, Coconut Creek, Fla., July 19, 2023. He worked in safety and loss control, most recently with AmTrust Financial. Marjorie (Anthony) Messer ’83, Wadsworth, Ohio, Sept. 18, 2023. She worked in accounting for Western Reserve Hospice. Survivors include son Todd Messer ’08.
Kerry D. Ewing ’75, Linesville, Pa., June 23, 2023. He was an inspector in the property insurance industry.
Karen (Marr) Philp ’84, Mechanicsburg, Pa., June 24, 2023. She taught preschool and piano, accompanying many groups with the latter. Survivors include husband Scott Philp ’85.
Ellen (Mauriello) Stanton ’76, East Petersburg, Pa., June 17, 2023. She was a lifelong children’s educator.
Eric J. Carothers ’85, Grove City, Pa., July 21, 2023. Survivors include wife Heather (Fithian ’88) Carothers.
David T. “Tom” McGinnis ’77, Knox, Pa., Oct. 13, 2023. The Navy veteran traveled extensively with his sales career, later working in real estate.
Deborah (Paszek) Weber ’86, Pittsburgh, Pa., July 21, 2023. Survivors include husband James Weber ’85 and daughter Chelsea Weber ’16.
Susan (Campbell) Elias ’78, Brisbane, Australia, June 30, 2023. Survivors include sister Carolyn (Campbell ’75) Goodrow. Kathy (Wood ’79) Kopnisky, Johns Island, S.C., Sept. 14, 2023. She taught high school English before raising her family, later working in home design. Survivors include husband Jack Kopnisky ’78. John W. “Skip” Myers ’80, New Castle, Pa., April 26, 2023. He owned and operated Myers
Moira (Tapa) Elliott ’88, Kingsland, Ga., Dec. 16, 2022. She owned and operated two businesses in Florida. Amy Boswell ’92, Akron, Ohio, Jan. 2, 2023. Tamara M. Tobitsch ’98, New Providence, N.J., Sept. 29, 2023. She had worked for Weichert Realtors, Renaissance Church, and REI, and was an accomplished cellist. Survivors include brother Tim Tobitsch ’03. Elisa (Peffer) Walker ’11, Zelienople, Pa., Aug. 24, 2023. She worked with Fidelity Investments in Cranberry.
Friends The Rev. M. Dudley Rose, college pastor and assistant professor of religion in the early 1970s, died Oct. 27, 2023. He was pastor emeritus at McDonough (Ga.) Presbyterian Church.
William G. Juergens ’87, New Wilmington, Pa., May 29, 2023. He owned Momentum Builders. Survivors include wife Mara (Conway ’90) Juergens, and children Zachary ’14, Bethany (Juergens ’21) Hehn, and Emma ’25. Donald A. McCall ’88, Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 3, 2023. James C. Noble ’88, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 6, 2023. He worked in commercial claims and sold real estate. Survivors include wife Christine (Biletsky ’88) Noble. t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 55
Grove City College
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CONGRATULATIONS NEW PARENTS! Grove City College welcomes your new bundle of joy. We want to send your newborn a Grove City College T-shirt. So between the feedings and late-night lullabies, be sure to send the Office of Alumni and College Relations your child’s name and date of birth. Shirts are available only in infant size. Due to the popularity of the Alumni Babies feature, photos will be limited to babies under the age of 5 in Grove City College shirts only. Digital photos must be high resolution, 300 dpi. Please do not embed photos in the body of an email message, but rather attach a high-resolution image.
Teresa Isabel and Santiago Humberto Alarcon Born 10-14-20 and 2-21-18 Araceli and William ’90 Alarcon
Ella Kathryn “Ellie” Alt Born 5-24-23 Mary Kate (Breese ’13) and Daniel Alt
Hannah and Matthew Becker Born 12-29-20 and 11-22-22 Angela (Buckler ’08) and Jim Becker
Summer and Judah Bentley Born 10-24-22 and 9-25-20 Anna (Mittelman ’15) and Zach ’15 Bentley
Magnolia Ruth Cliff Born 5-5-22 Christine (Miserendino ’18) and William ’18 Cliff
Oliver Harry Coleman Born 3-16-23 Sarah (Cecil ’15) and Christian Coleman
Fenix Trace and Sibyl Nausicaa Cook Born 11-9-18 and 6-17-22 Rachel (Hillbery ’08) and Timothy Cook
Ailish Loretta Dickey Born 4-4-23 Rebecca (McLaughlin ’16) and Ryan ’11 Dickey
Joseph Thomas Ebersole Born 12-3-22 Jen (Piscsalko ’14) and Will Ebersole
Grayson John Ford Born 2-18-23 Allison (Eastham ’12) and Matthew Ford
Drew Richard Gingrich Born 8-25-22 Rebekah and Collin ’14 Gingrich
Henry Halverson Born 9-8-22 Meghan (Lund ’16) and Michael Halverson
To request a baby shirt, visit alumni.gcc.edu/babyshirt. Send pictures to alumni@gcc.edu.
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December 2023
SAVE THE DATE Elsie June and Annabelle Ruth Hooper Born 1-25-21 and 11-13-22 Lauren (Baker ’12) and Jonathan Hooper
Eli Alexander Jaynes Born 11-18-22 Anna (Reed ’18) and Matthew Jaynes
Sylvia Joy Kelly Born 4-10-22 Megan (Daugherty ’16) and Bryan ’16 Kelly
Henry David (left) and Adeline Jane Kocur Twins born 6-29-23 Stephanie (Huston ’16) and Thomas ’16 Kocur
Jayce Laughner Born 10-7-21 Chelsea (Master ’15) and Jesse Laughner
Peter Joseph Mariani Born 5-12-23 Kate (Nagatani ’13) and Mark ’15 Mariani
April 26 - 28, 2024 Experience and enjoy your students’ home away from home!
Sandra Priscilla Mortland Born 7-19-22 Tressa (Johnson ’17) and Jim ’03 Mortland
Caroline Sylvia Nan Born 12-5-22 Kelly (Scriven ’15) and Christopher ’16 Nan
Caleb Nilsen Born 3-25-21 Laryssa (Joseph ’09) and Josiah ’08 Nilsen
Join us for various musical concerts, Spring Orchesis, Greek/Housing Group Lunches & Brunches, Legacy Breakfast, Family Dinner, &
ALL COLLEGE SING
Nora Porter Born 7-6-21 Ellen (Glenn ’15) and David ’16 Porter
Andrew and Samuel Sandell Born 8-21-19 and 10-24-22 Laura (Frei ’09) and Kevin ’09 Sandell
Ezra Stahl Born 4-22 23 Abbey and Zac ’15 Stahl
In the new year, view the schedule and register at gcc.edu/familyweekend. Carly Janae Stodghill Born 4-1-23 Elisa (Pedersen ’06) and Shawn Stodghill
Anna Lane Weaver Born 7-7-23 Rachael (Zdaniewicz ’16) and Ben ’16 Weaver
Milo Walter, born 7-3-20 Gilbert Barnabas “Gus,” born 4-22-23 Freya Poppy, born 7-24-18 Jodi (Gilbert ’99) and Trevor Young
Registration opens in March 2024.
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Grove City College
faith & learning
10 YEARS 10 QUESTIONS for President McNulty
To mark his 10th year as Grove City College’s president, we asked Paul J. McNulty ’80 10 questions about the job, his leadership, the institution’s challenges and triumphs, the integration of faith and learning, and where the College is headed.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COLLEGE’S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS?
Q: WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE JOB COMING IN AND WHAT HAS IT TURNED OUT TO BE LIKE?
Q: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THE COLLEGE HAS FACED DURING YOUR PRESIDENCY?
A: Having served on the Board of Trustees, I was familiar with most of the key issues and challenges when I stepped into this role. What I didn’t appreciate is how diverse my responsibilities would be on any given day. A GCC president must be an administrator, ambassador, thought-leader, pastor, and more. My favorite experience involves connecting with the students, and I didn’t appreciate how fulfilling that would be. The daily engagement with them is an enormous blessing, and it’s an extraordinary privilege to play a meaningful role in equipping them for their lives. Brenda and I enjoy watching them use their gifts and encouraging the life of this special community. It’s a hectic calling but remarkably rewarding.
A: It’s hard to describe the difficulty of the experience in March 2020 of closing the College in the middle of a semester and sending home our heart-broken students. It was also enormously challenging to bring them back that fall safely and manage heavy pressure from those who insisted on more Covid protection and those who thought our prevention policies were unnecessary. We were one of the first schools in the nation to announce we would be reopening in the fall. Leadership often requires courage to stick with your best judgment.
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A: We have advanced many significant initiatives in the pursuit of excellence. Our most noteworthy accomplishments have been in the areas of Christian formation, academic programs, student life, and athletics. Examples include restructuring chapel and moving it to the middle of the week, new master’s degree programs, a nursing school, a new school of business, renovating the library, a new dining service, Chick-fil-A, and the promulgation and promotion of our five core values. Our initiatives in athletics have been especially impactful. We’ve made dozens of changes including many new coaches and trainers, our Under Armour deal and branding, and an emphasis on strength and conditioning. Our coaches are doing a fantastic job of building exemplary team cultures. You would be hard-pressed to find a school with a stronger commitment to glorifying God in sports, which also achieves the high level of success with which we have been blessed. Change can be unsettling for some, but for GCC to be one of the most admired Christian colleges in America, we must push ourselves continuously by asking in relation to everything, “how can we do this better?” Q: WHAT ISSUE DEMANDS YOUR ATTENTION THE MOST? A: No issue has demanded more of my time than maintaining our strong enrollment. This is THE challenge in our era for higher education. And no office has worked harder than Admissions, which must battle powerful recruiting headwinds of steep tuition discounting by competitors, declining demographics, social polarization, and online alternatives. I’m optimistic about our
December 2023 continuing ability to sell the high value of a GCC education. It’s truly distinctive in the marketplace. Q: YOU HAVE OFTEN SAID YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT HERE WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL. HAS SERVING AS PRESIDENT BEEN SIMILARLY TRANSFORMATIONAL? A: This job has taught me a lot about being others-oriented. As a lawyer on Capitol Hill, at the Justice Department, or at Baker McKenzie, my work was generally adversarial as I advanced the interests of my client whether that was the House Republicans, the government, or a client. The best part of my work now is caring for students, which is more pastoral in nature. I’m also thankful for the opportunity to lead others in the advancing of exciting initiatives. I love that I can be explicit about how faith impacts what we do. In my previous responsibilities, spiritual growth was frequently tied to adversity. Here, I have primarily grown through the life of the mind and time in God’s word. I graduated from law school 40 years ago, and these last 10 have been the most fulfilling. Q: WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR FAITH AND LEARNING? A: The Apostle Paul teaches us in Colossians that through Christ all things were made and in him all things hold together. Understanding the creator is essential for a deeper understanding of creation. And this is countercultural. Harvard’s old motto was “For Christ and Truth,” but now it’s just “Truth.” This reminds me of C.S. Lewis’ essay “The Abolition of Man.” He writes, “In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.” By affirming absolute truth and permanent ideas, GCC develops students of authentic character. Q: GCC’S HUMANITIES CORE ENSURES EVERY STUDENT HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIBERAL ARTS AND THEIR VALUE. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN STUDENTS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE ABANDONING THEM IN FAVOR OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL DISCIPLINES?
A: Our HUMA core and commitment to the liberal arts are enormously important for producing the high-quality-students employers hope to find. More importantly, they’re important for understanding what it means to be human and having a deep concern for the common good. I think of Isaac Ketler’s great vision for building a college that produces remarkable citizens. Our mission states that GCC equips students for their unique callings, and to be properly equipped, graduates must understand the big picture – who God is, who they are, and what is their purpose. We strive to equip engineers, accountants, teachers, healthcare professionals, and every other student to be far more than technically proficient. We want them to possess the full range of soft skills, to be highly ethical, empathetic, creative, and collaborative. Someone once said that a liberal arts education teaches us to die well. That’s a shocking way to put it, but it’s very true. Q: GROVE CITY COLLEGE V. BELL TURNS 40 IN 2024. HOW DOES THE COLLEGE’S PRINCIPLED STANCE ON FEDERAL FUNDING IMPACT THE COLLEGE WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT COSTS, ENROLLMENT, AND INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH?
will be a strong demand for what we offer young adults. We truly equip them to make a good living and live a good life. Lord willing, with the renovation of Rockwell Hall, soon to be Smith Hall, and the accomplishment of the other campaign projects, we will have top-notch STEM facilities, expanded and exceptional athletics facilities, and much improved residence halls. We will also have a larger endowment to help students afford a GCC education. Bottom line – Impact 150 will strengthen the College for decades to come. Q: WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF GROVE CITY COLLEGE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE COMES TO THEIR MINDS? A: I hope GCC is appreciated for being an authentically Christian institution, unafraid of its conservative convictions, and dedicated to producing winsome graduates of high moral character. I think of us as being firmly grounded in truth and relentless in our pursuit of excellence in everything we do. Higher education is loaded with selfpromoting platitudes, but GCC is the real deal, and those who know us recognize that. There’s a certain amount of humility in our DNA, and I think that serves us well.
A: There are unquestionable benefits stemming from our independence, as well as sacrifices. Certainly, we save money by not having to pay for costly compliance requirements. But the main reason we continue to turn down federal financial assistance is to protect our mission. Rather than affirming religious freedom, the government is increasingly hostile to it. Our independence is a strong draw for prospective students and their families. I also think that turning down federal financial assistance has made us better stewards of our resources, which is one of our core values. We’ve had to pay closer attention to our tuition costs and expenditures knowing that we don’t expect taxpayers to bail us out. The success of Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College is a critical opportunity to strengthen this commitment. Q: WHERE DO YOU SEE THE COLLEGE 10 YEARS FROM NOW? A: I think GCC is on a clear trajectory to be one of the most distinctive and respected colleges in America, and certainly among Christian colleges. If we remain faithful to our mission, and I have no doubt we will, there
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Grove City College Alumni Magazine Grove City College 100 Campus Drive Grove City, PA 16127 www.gcc.edu
one day. lasting impact.
THANK YOU! alumni.gcc.edu/wolverinechallenge
Together we raised a record $2,802,090 to support the Annual Fund, scholarships, athletics, and other programs and priorities. The impact our alumni, parents, friends, and employees have made on our students during the 2023 Wolverine Challenge is historic and profound. The power of a group of people, each contributing what they feel led to give, is unfathomable. Grove City College is blessed to have this incredible support from our faithful community.
Greek Challenge winners: • Kappa Alpha Phi – most raised ($187,917) • Sigma Theta Chi – highest participation (22%)
Special thanks to matching donors: The Paul G. Benedum, Jr. Foundation and College President Paul ‘80 and Brenda (Millican ‘80) McNulty.
