GeDUNK Winter 2012

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GROVE CITY COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Health and

Fitness Meet alumni who coach and inspire others through their own commitment to living life well

WINTER 2012


MOM ENT

F ROM

THE

PR ES ID EN T EDITORIAL BOARD Jeffrey Prokovich ’89 Vice President for Advancement

Dear Grove City College Community,

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s winter draws to a close, I know each of you look forward with me to the warmer, dryer days of spring and summer ahead. Always a telltale sign of spring for me is when I look out my office window and see students on the quad tossing around a

Frisbee™, studying or playing a guitar. Like many of us, our students are eager to shed coats and boots and embrace the beauty of spring before the stress of finals and end-of-the-semester projects set in.

Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Melinda Miller Senior Director of Marketing and Communications EDITORIAL STAFF Randy Cole ’04 Managing Editor Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman

While this issue of the GēDUNK focuses on health and wellness, you could say my job is to head up the health and wellness of this great institution. This means nurturing the academic, alumni, friends, fiscal, faculty, staff, student and campus well-being. On each front I am

Associate Editor, Class Notes, In Memory, Babies Michael Baker ’09 Associate Editor, Upfront

pleased to report we are in excellent shape. We have moved past the halfway mark of our $90 million Grove City Matters: A Campaign

ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Tricia Corey

to Advance Grove City College with ongoing support from alumni, friends, businesses and

Matthew Muetzel ’09

foundations. Rathburn Hall, our new Christian activities building, is under roof and on

Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw

schedule for completion this fall. The final structural beam for the new science, engineering

Jami Darlington

and mathematics building went up in early January. On the alumni front, more alumni than

SPORTS INFORMATION

ever contribute to Full Circle, the Annual Fund for Grove City College, providing dollars for

Ryan Briggs ’01

scholarships, student travel and other enriching activities not covered under our operating budget.

DESIGN Justin Harbaugh

This institution truly thrives and grows thanks to the continued support of our global community, the leadership of our faculty and employees, and the inspiration provided each day by the young people sitting in our classrooms.

Designer ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Allyson (Baird ’88) Sveda, President Gerald Bullock ’92, Vice President Cover: Dr. Randy Wilber ’76 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Cover photograph by Bryan Cole

Richard G. Jewell ’67 President

Features photos: Dr. Randy Wilber ’76/Bryan Cole Dr. Jonathan Forbes ’02/Kacky Fell Kristen Carter ’09/personal photos Seana (McCallister ’89) Smith /personal photos Geoff Gehring ’03/Tiffany Wolfe The Hon. Clarence Thomas/Tiffany Wolfe

Grove City College 100 Campus Drive Grove City, PA 16127 724.458.2300 888.GCC.GRAD www.gcc.edu alumni@gcc.edu


Winter 2012

contents FEATURES

Homes

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helping athletes achieve their Olympic dreams

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sports world understand how to better protect

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for nearly two decades. He talks to Grove City

young athletes from injuries sustained during

trials after running her first-ever marathon.

College about his experiences and how sports

helmeted collisions.

She opens up about how running helped her

A feat of Olympic proportions. Dr. Randy Wilber ’76 has been

Making sports safer to play. The research of Dr. Jonathan Forbes ’02 is helping the

make the world a better place.

Running her own life and

helping others take charge of theirs.

Kristen Carter ’09 qualified for the Olympic

reclaim her own life, and now she’s taking that message to others.

DEPARTMENTS 6

| Grove City Matters Learn about the College’s capital campaign

10 |

Upfront Everything Grove City College

24 |

Features Find out more about your fellow alumni

check us out on: Facebook facebook.com/GroveCityCollege

38 | Class Notes See what’s new with classmates 46 | In Memory Remember special friends 49 | Alumni Babies Say hello to future Grovers

Twitter @GroveCtyCollege

The GeDUNK, a magazine published three times a year for alumni and friends of Grove City College, highlights campus news, student features 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 Korean War Navy veterans returned to campus, bringing the term with them. The name stuck. For decades, the Grove City College Gedunk has been the place to come together to share news and ideas, and this magazine strives to do the same. t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 3


contributors

Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf “Writing is an exhilarating act of creation. It's how I collect my thoughts in a few quiet moments away from the wonderful busyness of parenting.”

Bryan Cole

“I love photographing people because it gives me the opportunity to hear fascinating stories from people all over the world and to capture a part of who they are in a portrait.”

Califf writes from Kirtland Air Force Base in

Bryan Cole is a photographer based in Colorado

Albuquerque, N.M.

Springs, Colo.

page 34

page 26

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Kacky Fell and Phil Hatcher

“We love what we do because every day is different, and we get to meet so many great people!” Based in Nashville, Tenn., they own Hatcher & Fell Photography. page 30


M ESSAGE

F ROM

TH E

D IR EC TO R

O F

A LU MN I

R ELATIO N S

Winter 2012

Dear Alumni and Friends,

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t’s a new year and we’ve decided that while much of the world is thinking about health and fitness, we’d spend some time highlighting our alumni and students who have made health and fitness an important part of their lives.

As I say so often, our alumni amaze me. Take our cover story, Dr. Randy Wilber ’76. He’ll

be joining the Olympic teams in London this summer in his role as senior sports physiologist for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Athlete Performance Lab. You bet I’ll be telling my friends and family about that Grover! Our other stories are inspiring, too – alumni who have risen to a challenge, inspiring others to live healthy and well. These alumni have the same start here at Grove City College. The faculty and staff in our Department of Physical Education and Athletics and in Student Life and Learning support, encourage and create opportunities for our students to be healthy, to exercise, to enjoy recreational sports and to train to be all they have been called to be – and not only in the classroom. As you begin to plan your travels for 2012, I hope that you might make western Pennsylvania and your alma mater a stop along the way. This campus is something to see, and our construction progress is remarkable. We’d love to show you around, and we even promise some exercise with a walk around the quad. Be on the lookout for a new look for our alumni website. We are working hard to bring Grove City College to you, with more news, features and easier navigation. More on that in the coming months, so stay tuned. Now, grab that cup of coffee, put up your feet and enjoy this issue of the GēDUNK!

Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations

P.S. Mark your calendar for September 21-23 – Homecoming 2012!

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Grove City College

Alumni, friends and parents are invited to join us for one of these upcoming events in your hometown. Thursday, May 10, 2012

Monday, March 5, 2012

Washington, D.c.

La Playa Beach Club | Naples, Fla.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Home of James Howe ’68 | Daufuskie Island, S.C.

Philadelphia Country Club | Philadelphia, PA.

For more infomation: www.gcc.edu/events

Progress

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e are on target with Rathburn Hall construction with the most recent progress being the second floor slab poured and the metal stairs installation complete. Stone for the façade arrived, enabling

some of the veneer to be constructed before winter weather. Roof shingle installation commenced in December. The Science, Engineering and Mathematics building saw the last structural steel installed. Construction is also well underway on the 63,000 square-foot science and engineering facility. Eventually, all disciplines within the Albert A. Hopeman Jr. School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics will be integrated in one building, maximizing the use of classroom and laboratory space. Since our last update, the cast-in-place footings and walls are nearly complete and the underground utilities are in place. Structural detailing and metal decking are ongoing, and temporary heat is in use. We are also pleased to report that we have raised more than 52% of our campaign goal of $30 million in scholarship funds.

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Ou r Ca mpaign Objectiv es Science, Engineering and Mathematics Building Scholarships The Center for Vision & Values The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Rathburn Hall for Christian Activities Unrestricted Funds


C A M PA I G N

R E P O R T

scholarships goal: $30,000,000

Facilities $40,000,000

52% of original goal

Facilities goal: $40,000,000

Unrestricted Giving $10,000,000

Science & Engineering Building

goal: $35,000,000

Vision & Values $5,000,000

35% of original goal

Entrepreneurship and Innovation $5,000,000

Christian activities building

goal: $5,000,000

Scholarships $30,000,000

100% of original goal

Progress As of Dec. 31, 2011, Grove City Matters has raised 55.39 percent

Unrestricted gifts goal: $10,000,000

of our $90 million goal. That means because of the generosity 100% of original goal

of alumni and friends like you, we are $49,847,109 closer to ensuring the future and continued growth of

Vision & Values goal: $5,000,000 31% of original goal

Grove City College. If you have any questions or would like to know more about Grove City Matters: A Campaign to Advance

Grove City College, please visit www.grovecitymatters.com or contact the College’s development office at 866-FUNDGCC

Entrepreneurship & Innovation goal: $5,000,000

(866-386-3422) or by email at giving@gcc.edu.

21% of original goal

Figures reported 12/31/2011.

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Grove City College

RATHBURN HALL; CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES BUILDING

Total Project Cost $6,800,000

Pledges and Gifts Received $6,618,284 Original Campaign Goal $5,000,000

construction schedule kEY DATES COMPLETEd First floor slab Basement slab Second floor slab Lower level wall framing Masonry concrete block work Metal stairs Structural steel Upper level wall framing Building enclosed (with windows)

2/2/2012

Ongoing Stone veneer November 15 - march 15, 2012 Roof (Weather Permitting) February - March 2012 Sprinkler, elevator, drywall, doors March 2012 Stormwater management, asphalt March - July 2012 Millwork, casework, painting, floors May 2012 Finish stone veneer June - July 2012 Finish utilities July - August 2012 Landscape, furnish & move-in

12/1/2011

12/1/2011


SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS BUILDING

Winter 2012

Campaign Goal $35,000,000

construction schedule kEY DATES

Pledges and Gifts Received $12,160,542

Nearly Complete  Cast-in-place concrete footings and walls 10 - January 13, 2011  October Underground utilities november 1, 2011  Started structural steel 28, 2011  December Top out structural steel

2/2/2012

 2, 2012  February Complete structural detailing and metal deck

January 26, 2012 Place concrete slab on lower level start floor slabs

9, 2012  February Place concrete at 1st floor slab on deck 9 - March 9, 2012  February Backfill foundation walls; release tiebacks & remove lagging 23, 2012  February Place concrete at 2nd floor slab on deck March 8, 2012 Place concrete at 3rd floor slab on deck March 12 - October 15, 2012 Metal studs, sheath, vapor barrier, brick, stone, windows

12/19/2011

12/1/2011

March 17 - September 9, 2012 Roof: EPDM roof, clay tile roof, skylights Mid 2012 - Mid 2013 Interior walls, glass, MEP, flooring, finishes May - August 2013 Grade, pave, hardscape, landscape, furnish, move-in t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 9


Grove City College

upfront

Snapshots of alumni, students, campus, faculty and sports news

Active Grovers promote fitness, keep hearts beating strong Healthy living has always been a staple for Grove City College alumni, faculty and students – whether a graduate who conquered the FitWell program, a faculty member shooting hoops or even a bare-footed distance runner from the Class of ’84. Check out how your Grove City College friends push their bodies to the brink for wellness and competition.

What’s new in this issue. alumni | 11 New website Admissions success FitWell program Hall of Fame Greek news The Hon. Clarence Thomas Alumni events

students | 18 Exercise Science Students honored

campus | 19 Photographer presentation Heroes honored BEST Robotics competition

faculty | 20 Professor basketball Arnold conducts bands Faculty earn recognition

sports | 22 Eric Vouga ’84 finishes strong at the 33rd Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Vouga is a barefoot runner. See story on page 23.

Winter sports teams Fall recap Barefooted marathoner


Winter 2012

alumni Save the date: Alumni and friends travel Tuscany, Italy, May 29 – June 6, 2013

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oin Grove City College alumni and friends to experience Tuscany. This special travel program combines guided sightseeing excursions with free time to experience native life and culture. Home base will be Corona, with its bustling main square of quaint shops and cafés. Visitors will discover the art, architecture and cuisine of this picturesque region of Italy. To learn more, contact the Alumni Office at alumni@gcc.edu.

Show your Grove City College Spirit

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he official Grove City College class rings are now available for purchase. The rings, offered in two unique designs, come in a variety of precious and non-precious metals. Alumni who have an old ring may turn it in to receive a new class ring for only $60. Call the College Bookstore at (724) 452-2135 or call Jostens at (800) 854-7464 to purchase a new class ring.

New Alumni and Friends website in the works

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his spring, the Alumni and Friends website will be getting a new look. The site will allow users to more seamlessly register for events, connect with other alums and stay up-to-date on all alumni happenings. Event pages will also be revamped to become more intuitive and user friendly. The first major events to feature the new registration module will be Grove City College Day at Kennywood, July 27, and Homecoming, Sept. 21-23. Alumni registering for Homecoming will be automatically directed to class or reunion-specific information once the alum’s class year is entered. Additionally, the site will provide alumni and friends more opportunities to be involved in campus life through career and mentorship options. The site also will assist alumni in residence as they transition to full members of the Grove City College Alumni Association. Be sure to visit www.gcc.edu/alumni for future details.

Grover pride on the go

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ttention all Marylanders: Want to show your College pride wherever you travel? Drive in style with an official Grove City College Maryland license plate! To learn more, contact the Alumni Office at alumni@gcc.edu.

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Grove City College

Because alums CARE

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Alumnus invests in College’s future

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lumnus Bob Arnold ’82 (pictured above with his church’s youth group) supports what he believes in. Since 1984, he has served as a volunteer youth worker helping junior and senior high students build a spiritual foundation rooted in Christ, as well as recommended more than 15 graduates for admittance into Grove City College. “You’re paying [a college or university] money to teach you something, but also to shape your worldview,” Arnold said. “Why would you pay money to have a school tear down everything you believe?” Arnold endorses Grove City College as an institution that upholds Christian principles and suggests it may be the perfect fit not only for students he mentors at Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North, but also for many high schoolers across the country.

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“In four years at Grove City, I don’t ever remember a bad minute at the College. The worst day I had was when I graduated,” said Arnold, a business and economics double major, member of the Phi Tau Alpha fraternity and former student government president. A self-described average student, Arnold credits professors like Dr. James Bibza, professor of biblical and religious studies and philosophy, for his development and for the maturation of many of the Grovers he’s known over the years who have since become pastors, lawyers and engineers. “I want them to benefit from the College, but I also want the College to benefit from them.” To recommend a prospective student, contact the Admissions Office at (724) 458-2100 or by email at admissions@gcc.edu.

he Admissions and Alumni Relations offices have teamed up to formalize an effort by alumni across the country to actively recruit high-caliber students to apply and enroll at Grove City College. As the reputation of Grove City College continues to gain national attention, the Community of Alumni Recruiters and Educators, the CARE program, plays a unique part in growing the campus community. By assisting at college fairs, talking to prospective students and following up with accepted students, alumni can make a meaningful and important contribution to their alma mater. Two young alums in the CARE program who are expanding the reach of Grove City College are Adam ’09 and Charlotte (Nichols ’10) Aljets. Recruiting students in the Seattle area, Adam and Charlotte are excited to see more future Grovers from the Pacific Northwest on campus. “At the college fair here in Seattle, students not only connected with Adam and me through our liberal arts and engineering backgrounds, but also were encouraged to consider Grove City College as they heard why my husband, a native to the Northwest, specifically chose it over more local schools,” Charlotte said. Visit www.gcc.edu/admissions for more Grove City College news to share with students in your area.


Winter 2012

FitWell: It’s worth the extra rep

Pop Quiz!

In what year did the Grove City College nickname “Wolverines” first appear for varsity athletics?

Those who respond with the correct answer will have a chance to win a prize! Contact the Marketing and Communications Office at news@gcc.edu or on Twitter @GroveCtyCollege #PopQuiz.

Fall issue Pop Quiz winners!

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rovers sure know their Grove City College landmarks! Congratulations to Steve Ammerman ’11, Dr. David Dayton ’60, Patricia (Connell ’75) Ferrey, Cindy (Adamson ’81) Philson and Bob Smith ’59, who earned a Grove City College water bottle for their correct answers of “Cunningham Hall, built in 1854” for last issue’s pop quiz question. With numerous responses through email and on Twitter, we would like to thank everyone who participated.

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or many alumni, recalling their freshman year at Grove City College invokes memories of move-in day, Orientation Board events and meeting new friends in residence halls. Still, others recollect persevering through the College’s challenging, often rigorous, required physical education course, Fitness and Wellness, affectionately known as FitWell. The program, implemented in fall 1996 by Dr. Donald Lyle, chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletic Director, was designed to provide students with lifestyle fitness habits and healthy living guidelines. In fall 2010, Dr. Jim Chinn, assistant professor of physical education, in his dissertation, sought to determine if FitWell produced any impact in developing lifelong fitness habits for students. Chinn sampled 617 students and charted the results. The study revealed that students had positive attitudes toward FitWell and toward physical activity. The study also reported a high exercise history post-program and concluded that FitWell positively altered the fitness habits of Grove City College students. “It’s like running gassers [sprints] after practice,” Chinn said, conveying that Grovers may not particularly enjoy the Fitness and Wellness program in the moment, but they acknowledge the benefit of the course and physical fitness in their lives. “FitWell is having an effect on their attitudes and exercise history, which is what we look for and what we want,” Chinn said, encouraged by the results and optimistic about the program’s future at the College. “The kids are getting it: the more fit I am, the healthier I am.”

Sports Hall of Fame inducts 2012 class

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he sixth class was admitted to the Grove City College Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, in conjunction with the Grove City College’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference basketball doubleheader against Westminster College at the Grove City College Arena. This year’s inductees were Ruth (Bogert ’63) Wible, R.J. Bowers, Bob Casalandra ’62, Mike Donahoe ’79, Tammy (Leonard ’88) Hardy, James Livermore ’65, Ron Plano ’60, Amy (Scott ’96) Campbell, Donald Shockey ’63 and Monica (Yustak ’87) Zajicek. Grove City College established an Athletic Hall Fame in 2006 to honor those who have excelled in athletics or coaching at Grove City College or who have Front row, L to R: Ruth (Bogert ’63) Wible, Tammy (Leonard ’88) Hardy, made a significant impact on the athletic program. Dr. Don Shockey ’63, Monica (Yustak ’87) Zajicek and Amy (Scott ’96) Athletes who are nominated for induction must have last attended the College Campbell. Back row: Dr. Don Lyle, R.J. Bowers, Ron Plano ’60, James at least 10 years prior to induction. Nominated athletes must also have earned at Livermore ’65, Bob Casalandra ’62, Dr. Mike Donahoe ’79 and College least two varsity letters at Grove City while competing in a varsity sport during President Richard G. Jewell ’67. their time of competition. Four Athletic Heritage Awards were also given this year. The recipients were William Allen ’50, Odis V. Boone ’14, William Clees ’25 and Vaughn Irwin ’53. The Athletic Heritage Award honors individuals who have contributed to the inception and/or growth of the College’s athletic program.

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Grove City College

Capturing the memories

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Adelphikos 100th anniversary

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n 2013, the Adelphikos fraternity will celebrate 100 years of brotherhood, making it one of the oldest fraternities in Pennsylvania. Plans for the Adel’s centennial celebration are already underway. If you’re an Adelphikos alumnus looking to be involved in the event planning or want to find out more about the celebration, contact the Alumni Office at alumni@gcc.edu. Adelphikos 100th anniversary events will take place during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 4-6, 2013. Mark your calendars today and look for details in the coming year.

Fraternities compete in athletics

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or more than 50 years, Grove City College fraternities have faced off in athletic competition through interfraternity (IF) sports. Vying for bragging rights and the IF All Sport Trophy, fraternities compete throughout the year in 10 separate sports. Today, softball, touch football, basketball and hockey are designated as major sports while golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, bowling, handball and racquetball are minor sports. In major sports competition, fraternities play one another, the winner being the fraternity with the best win-loss record. The winner of the 2010-11 AllSport Trophy was the Omicron Xi fraternity. The 201112 All-Sport winner will be announced during Parents’ Weekend, May 4-6.

he College’s Greek Life history is on permanent display in the new “Greek Hall” at the Carnegie Alumni Center. Two organizations have already been represented. Active and alumni brothers of Epsilon Pi gathered memorabilia from the past century for the exhibit, highlighting the fraternity’s service, activities and traditions. Included are items and personal effects donated from across the generations, such as newsletters, jackets and rings. The Theta Alpha Pi sorority, which just celebrated its 90th year at 2011 Homecoming, is the second display and will reflect how the sorority has evolved since its 1921 founding. The College plans to represent all fraternities and sororities in the hall. Any Greek alumni member who wishes to contribute items for display may do so by sending items with descriptions to the Alumni Relations Office as a permanent donation to the College. For more information about mailing details, contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@gcc.edu.

Wallof named first annual PSAA scholarship recipient

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n conjunction with the 100th Anniversary celebration, the Pan Sophic Alumni Association awarded the first PSAA Scholarship to Pan Sophic President Aaron Wallof ’12. Wallof, a marketing management major from Scarborough, Maine, reflected on the reunion and receiving the scholarship. “It was an honor to have been a part of this historical anniversary. It is a privilege to call myself a Pan.” With the hopes of awarding the scholarship annually, the PSAA asks for your continued support. The scholarship will be awarded to a Pan brother who is engaged in campus life, maintains a strong academic record and exhibits leadership within the fraternity. To make a donation, send your check, payable to Grove City College, to the Advancement Office, 100 Campus Dr., Grove City, PA 16127, with PSAA Scholarship noted in the memo line.


Winter 2012

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and College Trustee The Hon. Alice Batchelder speak at College

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rove City College hosted a conversation with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Trustee The Hon. Alice Batchelder, chief judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, at the 2011-12 J. Howard Pew Memorial Lecture on campus. The event, held in a standingroom-only Crawford Auditorium, was open to the campus community. Prior to the lecture, Thomas spoke with students in a Constitutional history class, Founders’ Constitution class and informally at the Breen Student Union. While visiting, Thomas also met with College faculty and toured campus. Nominated by President George H. W. Bush as an associate justice, Thomas took his seat in October 1991 as the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Prior to being appointed, Thomas served as a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and as chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. During the presidencies of Bush and Ronald Reagan, Thomas was the assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education. Batchelder was appointed by President Bush to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in December 1991 and began her term in January 1992. She became chief judge of the Sixth Circuit in 2009. Thank you, Justice Clarence Thomas and The Hon. Alice Batchelder for a memorable visit to Grove City College. To watch or listen to the lecture, visit www.gcc.edu under the News and Media online lectures.

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Grove City College

Stephen Horst ’13 and Laura Tschirgi ’12 take the stage during the Fall 2011 College musical, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”

B.E. Taylor and company put on a fantastic show Dec. 5 as part of the Showcase Series at Grove City College.

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Tinkerbell sparkled during curtain call for the Showcase Series’ offering of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Peter Pan,” Oct 29.


Winter 2012

alumni events

2012 Upcoming Alumni and Friends Events See page 6 for Grove City Matters campaign events. March 24 Showcase Series Pittsburgh Opera’s “Tosca” Benedum Center Pittsburgh, Pa. April 5 Pirates Home Opener PNC Park Pittsburgh, Pa. April 19 PMEA Conference Alumni Reception Lancaster Convention Center Lancaster, Pa.

Orlando area alumni gathered at Ariel’s in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Oct. 22, joined by President and Mrs. Jewell.

April 21 Alumni Family Breakfast and Children’s Theater Performance Hicks Dining Hall & Ketler Auditorium Grove City College April 21 Scholarship Luncheon Carnegie Alumni Center Grove City College

Enjoying some festive tapas and fun are (l to r) Leah McLaughlin ’08, Amy (McGhee ’08) Cox and Jordan Ritchie ’08 at the Christmas Mixer, Dec. 13, at Bossa Nova in Pittsburgh.

May 5 Legacy Luncheon Carnegie Alumni Center Grove City College July 27 Grove City College Day Kennywood Park Pittsburgh, Pa. September 21-23 Homecoming Grove City College October 27 Night Football Game Grove City College

The College's Showcase Series presented “An Evening with Groucho” on Feb. 1.

Carnegie Alumni Center hosted the annual Christmas Concert Series, Dec. 5-9.

Don’t forget to bookmark www.gcc.edu/alumnievents for more dates and info on registering.

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Grove City College

students Grovers receive high marks on CPA Exam

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ccounting students earned Grove City College a No. 3 ranking in Pennsylvania in the 2010 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. Students competed against approximately 65 colleges and universities throughout the state, receiving an overall pass rate roughly 20 percentage points above the national average.

Junior earns scholarship to Rome

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Exercise science students taking the next step

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his spring, Grove City College will graduate its first class of exercise science majors. Two seniors in the program, Zack Patterson and Amanda Brush (pictured), are already eager to employ their knowledge of fitness in their careers. “Once graduated, I hope to get into coaching and strength and conditioning,” Patterson said, who worked last summer as an intern for Robert Morris University and made a significant dent in his 300 required internship hours for the major. “The classes have been very engaging, emphasizing the importance of fitness in a healthy lifestyle and how to avoid wellness issues later in life.” Designed by Dr. Donald Lyle, chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletic Director, and Dr. Allison Williams, associate chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics, the exercise science major prepares students for careers in commercial- or community-based health, fitness, coaching or athletics. Involving more than just classroom lectures and written exams, the major keeps students moving. They create and implement fitness programs for each other as well as test oxygen max and body composition. “I definitely enjoy more activity in my classes and [the program] has been very hands-on,” said Brush, president of the new exercise science club on campus. “It makes me excited to attend class everyday and do well.” For Brush and Patterson, standout Wolverines in water polo and football, respectively, they believe their professors have also been instrumental in their development in the program. “Most of the professors coach a sports team or have at some point, so they understand and can relate to student athletes,” Patterson said. “I feel like I’ve gotten to know the exercise science professors well,” Brush added. “I have gathered contacts and am even beginning to network.” To learn more about the exercise science major at Grove City College, email Williams at mawilliams@gcc.edu.

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unior Nicole Powell was awarded the Michele Iavagnilio Charitable Service Scholarship from Athena Study Abroad to study in Rome, Italy, in spring 2012. Powell received the award for her charitable service, such as working with the Special Olympics, building homes for families in need and spearheading fundraising projects, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Students shine at programming contest

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wo Grove City College teams of students earned No. 14 and No. 23 overall rankings in the International Collegiate Programming Contest in late October. The 36th annual IBMsponsored contest challenged students from 60 colleges and universities to use programming skills to solve demanding, real-world programming problems.

Stellar Elevator Pitch Competition

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he Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation hosted its Fifth Annual Elevator Pitch Competition, Oct. 13, featuring 76 students from 17 majors participating on 79 teams. Four prizes of $250 each were awarded in both social and commercial enterprise categories. The competition serves as a platform to highlight many of the remarkably innovative students of Grove City College.


Winter 2012

campus Renowned photojournalist presents at College

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he Communication Studies Department hosted a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for National Geographic Jay Dickman in early November. Dickman, who was invited to campus by a College Trustee, has won several awards in the World Press International Competition, with work featured in publications such as LIFE, Conde Nast Traveler, Time, Fortune, Forbes and Sports Illustrated. His work also has appeared in 15 episodes of the high profile “A Day in the Life” series. Dickman has worked in the photojournalism field for more than 40 years, covering events such as the war in El Salvador, the Olympics, national political conventions, the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and six Super Bowls. His assignments have taken him around the world. To watch or listen to the lecture, visit www.gcc.edu under the News and Media online lectures.

College sponsors BEST Robotics competition

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obots invaded Grove City College during the annual Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Robotics competition for local middle and high school students in October. Competitors worked with volunteer engineers from the community to construct functioning robots. On “Game Day,” students had several opportunities to compete in the simulation, with prizes awarded for the students’ engineering notebooks, oral presentations, displays and team spirit. Winners of the six-week competition advanced to Auburn University to compete against other regional winners. The Wolverine Hub is a local chapter of BEST headed by Dr. Mike Bright, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of computer science and electrical engineering.

Heroes honored at 236th Marine Corps Birthday Lunch

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he College honored American heroes at the 236th United States Marine Corps Birthday Lunch in the Colonnade of the Carnegie Alumni Center in mid November. The free celebration featured a meal for attendees, birthday keepsakes and a presentation by Pennsylvania businessman and politician Jim Roddey, who formerly served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps and the first chief executive of Allegheny County, Pa., from 2000-04. The ball was coordinated by alumnus Pfc. (Ret.) Matt Jensen ’00.

Graduate publishes book on beauty

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rove City College alumna Elizabeth (Prismon ’10) Elmers recently authored Beauty Unframed, published by BorderStone Press LLC. The text is a collection of analytical essays on commonplace beauty. The book encourages readers to perceive the world with appreciative eyes and to discover that everything is a source of wonder. Elmers created a portion of the text in an independent study course in the arts with Dr. Joshua Drake, associate professor of music and humanities, while a student at the College. She signed her publishing contract during her senior year; Drake authored the book’s introduction.

Veder and Christie earn Campus-Community Awards

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ongratulations to Nancy Veder and Homer Christie, winners of the 2011 Grove City College Florence E. MacKenzie CampusCommunity Awards. The pair was chosen by a selection committee for their dedication in cultivating the relationship between the College and the Grove City Borough community. The two winners were honored at a ceremony on campus Nov. 8. Nominations for the 2012 award can be submitted to alumni@gcc.edu.

Alumnus speaks of life on Navajo Reservation

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lumnus and author Jim Kristofic ’04 shared his experiences and the traditional folktales he learned while living on a Navajo reservation during a presentation on campus in the fall. As a child, Kristofic and his family moved from Pittsburgh to Ganado, Ariz. Kristofic’s memoir, Navajos Wear Nikes, a publication of University of New Mexico Press, explores the complexity of modern life on the reservation and expresses the struggle of readapting to an outside world that no longer feels like home.

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Grove City College

faculty

Faculty fast break: Professors take their skills to the court For more than 40 years, Grove City College professors have pivoted from the chalk board to the backboard on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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tudents outside of the College Arena can often catch faculty members not only competing in a friendly game of hoops, but also savoring the opportunity to share time and laughter together. “We probably play 50 weeks a year,” said Dr. Gary Smith ’72, chair of the department of history and faculty basketball mainstay for 33 years. “It’s a combination of exercise, fellowship and a way for some to demonstrate their skills.” Currently, with more than 25 participants, it is the largest collective squad for the mid-day game in recent history. With ages ranging from mid-20s to mid-60s, however, the contest can occasionally become a balancing act between attaining personal fitness goals and surviving the game in one piece. “My philosophy is, number one, don’t get hurt; number two, get lots of exercise; and everything else is number three,” Smith said. He has

seen numerous bumps and bruises over the years, but tries to keep the competition in perspective. “You must remember – it’s just a game.” One of Smith’s greatest memories on the hardwood was in the mid-80s, when the College professors took the court in their academic robes and tipped-off against the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fundraiser. “They had defensive backs who were very quick,” Smith joked, recalling how the pros effortlessly sprinted up and down the court and skied about the rim. “I believe the final score was 66-64; they kept it close and let us win.” For Smith, one of many active professors on the Grove City College campus, the camaraderie he shares with his peers is enough to keep him suiting up week after week – that and those game-winning threes. “The few good shots keep you coming back.”


Winter 2012

Arnold conducts U.S. Army Field Band

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r. Edwin Arnold, chair of the Department of Music and Fine Arts, director of the Pew Fine Arts Center and professor of music, conducted the U.S. Army Field Band at Butler (Pa.) High School in October during the band’s fall concert tour. The Army Field Band is one of the top instrumental ensembles in the nation, featuring musicians from the military. The band is led by Col. Timothy Holtan, former band director at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Holtan and Arnold have worked together previously as guest conductors, clinicians and in special programs throughout the United States. In April, Arnold will conduct the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association AllState Symphonic Concert Band at the group’s annual spring convention in Lancaster, Pa. Arnold will prepare for three days with the band prior to the performance. The ensemble is made up of the top 200 student band musicians in Pennsylvania.

Lunch series promotes unity, diversity

Hendrickson publishes book on biblical characters

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he Office of Multicultural Recruiting and Retention launched its “Unity in Diversity Brown Bag Lunch Series” this fall, aimed at creating awareness of dialogue and encouraging engagement across differences in both classrooms and community. The October lecture featured a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Scott ’99, chair of the Department of Communication Studies and assistant professor of communication studies. Her lecture, “A Tale of Two Voices: Overcoming communication barriers through the use of dialogue theory,” drew upon the work of Mikhail Bakhtin, Russian scholar of literary theory, ethics and philosophy of language. In November, the series included a lecture by Dr. Steven Jones, associate professor of sociology. His presentation, “The Most Segregated Hour in America,” examined racial segregation in churches. The lunch series continues in the spring semester. For more information about the series, contact Dr. Lorie Johnson-Osho, director of multicultural recruiting and retention and assistant professor of education, at lajohnson-osho@gcc.edu.

r. Mark Hendrickson, an economic and social policy fellow for The Center for Vision & Values, recently authored the book, Famous but Nameless: Lessons and Inspiration from the Bible’s Anonymous Characters. The text focuses on the anonymous supporting cast in biblical stories, highlighting important characters’ strengths expressed in their words and deeds. The book, which provides optional questions for discussion following each story, inspires and guides the reader through more than 45 tales about these often overlooked Old and New Testament characters, including Paul’s jailer, Samson’s mother and Pilate’s wife.

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Grove City College

sports FALL RECAP

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Women’s Cross Country captured its 23rd straight league title and concluded the 2011 season by taking fifth out of 56 teams at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships. Men’s Cross Country earned third place at the conference championships. The squad also took 23rd out of 53 teams at the NCAA Mideast Championships. Women’s Tennis secured its 25th straight conference championship and compiled a 10-4 regular season mark. As conference champion, the Wolverines will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in May. Women’s Soccer recovered from a slow start to finish 10-8-2 overall and 7-2 in the conference. Grove City won seven of its final eight regular season matches and earned an invitation to the ECAC Championship Tournament. Men’s Soccer posted a 12-6-1 overall record in 2011, including a 6-1-1 conference record and a return trip to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Grove City’s 27 wins over the last two years marks the highest two-year win total in program history. Football was afflicted by injuries during the first half of the 2011 season but Grove City rebounded by winning three of its final four games (3-7). Among those wins were a come-from-behind 24-21 win over Washington & Jefferson on Senior Day and the 28th Mercer County Cup game against Thiel. Volleyball finished the season 16-15 overall, recording the program’s best record since the 2007 team went 20-12. Head coach Susan Roberts earned her 600th victory as a collegiate volleyball coach when the Wolverines pulled out a 3-2 win at conference foe Waynesburg.

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Women’s Swimming and Diving

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ith eight returning seniors and a bevy of talented underclassmen, the women’s swimming and diving team is in prime position to maintain its place atop the PAC and further cement its spot among the nation’s elite programs. Grove City returns nearly two dozen letterwinners from a squad that won its third straight league title last winter and finished 11th at the NCAA Division III Championships. Among that group are four NCAA All-Americans who all rank among the most-decorated athletes in school history: senior Jenna Richert and juniors Angela Palumbo, Kaitlin Riesmeyer and Jenny Ryan. Already in the 2011-12 season, Palumbo set new school records in the 50 free and 200 free.

Women’s Basketball

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he women’s team features many newcomers this winter with seven of the team’s 13 players in their first season of college basketball. Second-year head coach Michelle Bruns welcomes back a pair of returning starters in senior guard Megan Gebrosky and junior guard Leah Gibson. Earlier this season, Gebrosky became the fourth player in program history to make 100 or more three-pointers in a career. The Wolverines also return senior forward Jayme Caldwell, junior Alicia Maust and sophomores Hannah Jo Coneby and Annie Wells.


Winter 2012

Pounding the pavement in bare feet

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Men’s Basketball

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youth movement is underway with the Grove City men’s basketball team under 14th-year head coach Steve Lamie ’85. Eight freshmen dot the roster and seven have played extensively during the early portion of the 2011-12 season. Grove City does return a quartet of seniors in Cody Fleeger, Mike Grist, Brett Matson and Kris Verderber, all of whom have started throughout their respective careers at the College. The Wolverines also welcome back a pair of letterwinners in junior forwards Steve Battaglia and Nate Rambacher.

Men’s Swimming and Diving

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he Wolverines are in pursuit of their fifth consecutive PAC title while also looking to return to the NCAA Division III Championships under 10th-year head coach Dave Fritz ’94. Grove City features four seniors who have earned NCAA All-America honors during their career in Clay Beckner, Ben Bowser, Kirk Gagliardo and Nick Hamilton. Bowser holds five school records and is one of the nation’s top returners in the butterfly and individual medley. Bowser also holds the school record in the 200 breaststroke and is the reigning PAC Most Valuable Performer.

ric Vouga ’84 has climbed Mt. Rainier, canoed in Canada and even scaled Devils Tower, but the runners of the 33rd Bank of America Chicago Marathon will remember him for one bizarre accomplishment – he’s the guy who ran barefoot. Vouga, a self-employed personal trainer, chose to discard his Vibram shoes with six miles remaining in the popular marathon and crossed the finish line at 4:50.38 with the soles of his feet pressed firmly against the city asphalt. Inspired by the book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, Vouga took up barefoot running in 2009. “I just fell in love with it,” he said, stressing how barefoot training can improve a runner’s mechanics and ultimately help prevent injury through altering the heel-to-toe motion to allow runners to land on their forefoot. Vouga’s running style also places him in a unique class of marathoners. “Not many opportunities do we have the chance to set ourselves apart from the crowd,” Vouga said. “I like the fact that not many people do it.” The transition from galloping in running shoes to bare feet did not come easy. Months of barefoot preparation on his treadmill and several aching blisters passed before he braved the outdoors at Volo Bog State Natural Area, a 1,200-acre park outside of Chicago. The experience was unforgettable. “My first trail run, I experienced the dirt beneath my feet and felt a close connection with nature,” Vouga said. “It was a new sensation I immediately liked.” “We spend most of our time separated from nature,” Vouga said of training indoors in high-tech, motion-controlled shoes, while listening to an iPod and watching television. “We try to remove any perceived discomfort from our lives.” For Vouga, barefoot running, whether on crowded paved streets or alone on grass trails, is about removing the artificial from life, not only for the benefit of the body, but also for the soul. “This is the way we were designed to run.” t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 2 3


Grove City College

LIVE FIT. The ref’s shrill whistle. Rhythmic, quiet breathing in yoga. Helmets cracking. Senior citizens living independent, healthy lives. Seconds ticking away on a race clock. Fitness and wellness have wideranging implications throughout our lives, whether we are a 20-something marathoner vying for a spot at the Olympic trials or an 80-year old retiree living independently because a commitment to wellness has afforded invaluable freedom.

LIVE WELL. In the features that follow, you’ll meet five alumni who share their own experiences in the world of sports and fitness. The common thread in all these stories is each alum’s commitment to fitness and athletics to help better others’ experience in the world.


Winter 2012

There is no higher ideal for the world than promoting peace through sport. — Pierre de Coubertin father of the modern Olympics

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Grove City College

Greater than Gold As a hot, late-August sun rose over Athens, Greece, Dr. Randy Wilber ’76 sat quietly – thinking – in an ancient empty stadium. It was early morning a few days after the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics, and Wilber, senior sports physiologist at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Athlete Performance Lab, was trying to wrap his head around what the Americans had just accomplished.

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Winter 2012

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t was the highlight of a career for Wilber, who has been a runner and sports enthusiast his entire life. The Franklin, Pa., native, who ran both cross country and track during his career at Grove City College, started his career as a high school history teacher and track coach in Titusville, Fla. After a decade-long teaching career in Florida with a brief hiatus to earn his master’s in history while helping to coach the University of Wisconsin cross country team, Wilber made a decision that would change his life. “I’ve always loved athletics. I was being pulled in the direction of exercise physiology and working with athletes full-time.” Wilber earned his master’s and Ph.D. in exercise physiology at Florida State University, then applied for and won a coveted year-long fellowship in exercise physiology with the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, working in environmental physiology, his specialty as a graduate student. “I helped train athletes to perform in high altitudes, in humid conditions, in pollution, and how to cope with international travel’s effects on the body,” Wilber said. Wilber has been training Olympians like Michael Phelps, Apolo Ohno and others ever since. “It’s hard to describe the feeling of knowing that these athletes come to you and you get to play a part in helping them achieve their goals,” Wilber said, tears gathering in his eyes. He sits in an office adorned by autographed photos, posters, Wheaties® boxes and flags – all thanking Wilber for helping athletes follow their Olympic dreams. “I think my most memorable moment was sitting in the stadium in Athens where the marathon ended,” explained Wilber. “The route was the same ancient path Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens, and we had trained our runners for that heat, humidity and altitude.” As Wilber waited for the first runners to enter Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896, Wilber heard the words, “the Americans.” Not the Kenyans or the Ethiopians. The Americans. That summer, Mebrahtom Keflezighi took the men’s silver medal for the Americans and Deena Kastor took marathon bronze for the women. “Sitting in that stadium, watching them achieve that, I can’t even…” Wilber said, trailing off and choking back emotion. Sports and Peace Wilber’s passion for his work is bound up in much more than sport and individual achievement, and that is one of the main reasons he loves working with Olympic athletes over any other. On the door of his office – a space as equally modest as Wilber himself – hangs a quote from the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin: “There is no higher ideal for the world than promoting peace through sport.” Coubertin’s words ring true with Wilber, who has traveled around the globe, meeting and interacting with foreign athletes, government officials and dignitaries. In the process of preparing athletes for international competition, Wilber recognizes a unique opportunity to build bridges on an interpersonal level.

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Grove City College

“A lot of people have misperceptions about America and Americans,” Wilber observed. “To be able to sit down for a meal with Cuban athletes and interact as athletes and people, not as Cubans and Americans, it bridges a lot of gaps. Even if you can’t speak the language, affording them the respect of knowing even a few words does wonders. And those people might go home and tell others, ‘Hey, those Americans aren’t so bad.’” To be able to compete on a soccer field and not a battlefield is central to the spirit of the Olympic games. In no other spectacle in the world would one have seen Americans and Russians together in the 1980s or Germans and Britons in the decades after World War II. That, for Wilber, is what it’s all about. “It’s seeing individual athletic achievement, which is what I train them for. But that has a huge effect on corporate achievement and achievement as human beings living together in this world,” Wilber said.

A distance runner's oxygen consumption is measured during training. Called VO2 max, increasing oxygen efficiency in high altitudes is one of the ways Wilber trains athletes.

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A Connection with Grove City Achievement is nothing foreign to Wilber or to Grove City College athletics. Across the years, Wilber has maintained close ties with the College community. “John Barr, who was the cross country coach, and Jim Longnecker, who was the track coach, were both a huge influence on me,” Wilber said. And Wilber is paying it forward. Early in his career, he coached a group of elite high school runners and traveled with them as they competed in Europe. One of those high school athletes was Dr. Allison Williams, now associate chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics and associate professor of physical education at the College. Williams, who spearheads the College’s exercise science major, new in 2010, reconnected with Wilber years after the overseas experience. “I was at a professional conference and saw his name listed as a presenter on one of the panels, so I went to that panel, sat in the back of the room, and when I realized it was the same Randy Wilber, I went up after his presentation. I wasn’t


Winter 2012

“A lot of people have misperceptions about America and Americans,” Wilber observed. “To be able to sit down for a meal with Cuban athletes and interact as athletes and people, not as Cubans and Americans, it bridges a lot of gaps. Even if you can’t speak the language, affording them the respect of knowing even a few words does wonders. And those people might go home and tell others, ‘Hey, those Americans aren’t so bad.’” To be able to compete on a soccer field and not a battlefield is central to the spirit of the Olympic games. In no other spectacle in the world would one have seen Americans and Russians together in the 1980s or Germans and Britons in the decades after World War II. That, for Wilber, is what it’s all about. “It’s seeing individual athletic achievement, which is what I train them for. But that has a huge effect on corporate achievement and achievement as human beings living together in this world,” Wilber said. A Connection with Grove City

Achievement is nothing foreign to Wilber or to Grove City College athletics. Across the years, Wilber has maintained close ties with the College community. “John Barr, who was the cross country coach, and Jim Longnecker, who was the track coach, were both a huge influence on me,” Wilber said. And Wilber is paying it forward. Early in his career, he coached a group of elite high school runners and traveled with them as they competed in Europe. One of those high school athletes was Dr. Allison Williams, now associate chair of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics and associate professor of physical education at the College. Williams, who spearheads the College’s exercise science major, new in 2010, reconnected with Wilber years after the overseas experience. “I was at a professional conference and saw his name listed as a presenter on one of the panels, so I went to that panel, sat in the back of the room, and when I realized it was the same Randy Wilber, I went up after his presentation. I wasn’t

Wilber tests an athlete's oxygen levels at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, top. Memorabilia from Olympic athletes decorates Wilber's office.

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Grove City College

Risk and Rewards Football is a collision sport – calculated chaos. Impacts among its players produce violent spectacles that can lift a living room, a stadium or even an entire city of fans off its feet in jubilation. It can also leave a player immobile, damaged and dazed, in need of immediate or lifelong medical support. Dr. Jonathan Forbes ’02 knows the game’s risks and rewards all too well.

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amed Grove City College’s 2002 Sportsman of the Year for his punishing play as an outside linebacker, Forbes now sees the other side of such aggression. He is a sixth-year resident in neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a leading researcher of concussions, brain hemorrhages and helmeted collisions. “Parents and the medical establishment have very important questions,” Forbes said of head injuries, which have catapulted to the forefront of national attention in recent years due to findings suggesting

accumulated concussions may result in permanent brain damage and potentially lead to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, or even dementia. Concussions, often misinterpreted as “brain bruises,” occur when a person’s head undergoes abrupt changes in acceleration. Energy that is transferred from the collision results in pathologic changes in the intraand extracellular environment of neurons. Forbes believes concussions too frequently go undetected or undiagnosed, particularly for players at the youth and high school level, until it’s too late.

“Concussions can delay reaction time – resulting in a state of ‘grogginess’ in which ongoing collisions are not anticipated properly and neck muscle tone is reduced. This can result in a vicious cycle in which head acceleration in response to future collisions increases.” He is currently investigating factors that are associated with subdural hemorrhage – a type of brain bleeding – that is occasionally seen following helmeted impacts in football. Forbes and the medical community are working on new methods to prevent the injury – hopefully eliminating it entirely

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Winter 2012

within the next 10 years – and their research has already revealed much about the condition. Forbes’ exploration of cerebral hemorrhages, which are less common but more deadly than concussions, earned him an annual award given by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons for the nation’s best research project in neurotrauma. His research proposes a link between this type of brain bleeding and rotational acceleration, a type of acceleration in which the head “pivots” around an axis of rotation in the cervical spine. The findings signal a considerable step toward future advances in preventing the injury. Schutt® Sports, the world’s leading maker of football helmets and faceguards, is also committed to protecting athletes. With the aid of medical discoveries and advances in technology, the organization has developed helmets that are lighter, stronger, more aesthetically appealing and – most importantly – safer for players. “The helmets Dr. Forbes wore have very little resemblance to today,” said Glenn Beckmann, director of marketing communications for Schutt® Sports. Since the mid-2000s, helmets have enlarged to protect players through more supportive cushioning, including Schutt’s® TPU cushioning, the same material used in the helmets of fighter pilots and paratroopers in the U.S. military.

Football helmets, although crafted with a hard outer shell to deflect impact “like a rock skipping off water,” are not concussion-proof, and Beckmann believes strides must continue to be made for player safety. “It needs to be a concentrated effort to solve this problem,” he said, placing responsibility not only on the helmet and medical industries, but also on families, players, coaches, referees and university trainers. “For the Division III level, we are probably in the top tier for care of our student athletes,” said Kay Mitchell-Emigh, who is in her 26th year as head athletic trainer at Grove City College and who has served on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society from 2001-04. “We are very proactive about concussions. My main concern is the health and well-being of a student athlete.” “When I first got into the field, concussions were often referred to as ‘having your bell rung,’” Mitchell-Emigh said. Today she fits Wolverines with three of the market’s top four helmets and monitors and evaluates injured student athletes after concussions. “The standard of care has changed so much because [the medical community] knows much more about the long-term effects.” Ultimately, Mitchell-Emigh hopes students not only strive to regain their health after suffering head trauma, but also think about their futures beyond their

current athletic endeavors. “I want them to go out and throw the football with their kid as an adult.” As Forbes’ former athletic trainer at the College, Mitchell-Emigh is happy to see his career blossom and is thrilled to learn of the significant advances he has already made in their field. “Jonathan has the intellect, confidence and compassion to be a great doctor.” Looking back on his journey, Forbes appreciates the solid foundation he received at Grove City College. “I could give a laundry list of professors who invested more than their fair share in my education,” Forbes said. “I interacted with incredible people and [the faculty and coaches] did everything in their power to make sure I was prepared for my career.” Coupled with his education and medical training, his time spent as a Wolverine has allowed him to better understand patients who just want to get back to playing the game they love. “You can get so caught up in the medical side that you can forget what the player is feeling.” And Forbes knows how it feels to be sidelined by injuries. In his career in contact sports, he suffered numerous injuries, including concussions. But would he do it all over again? “Yes, I would,” said Forbes, who considers football an excellent prequel for anyone in an industry faced with challenges. “I had a fantastic experience playing for Grove City College. [My teammates] are still some of my very best friends.” But Forbes is also a father. “Now that I have a son, Langston (7 months), it puts things in an entirely different perspective,” Forbes said, acknowledging the gridiron’s dangers cannot be ignored. “Unfortunately, at the present time there is a lot of uncertainty about the long-term effects of concussions. The medical establishment is working toward eliminating this uncertainty. My personal approach? Be realistic about the cost of taking a player out of the game of football. You have to weigh the risks and benefits accordingly.” And Forbes is continually working to minimize those risks for student athletes across the country. 

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Grove City College

Going the Distance When Kristen Carter ’09 was in middle school, soccer was her life. When she didn’t make her high school varsity soccer team, she reluctantly gave running a try. Ten years later, she has qualified for a coveted spot at the Olympic trials after running her first-ever marathon, and she’s finding ways to use running to inspire others to overcome personal marathons.

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fter finishing high school on the west coast, Carter came to Grove City College as a talented runner. “Grove City College was a good match for my running. I felt like I could contribute to the team at that level and be competitive at that level.” And competitive she was. The 2009 Sportswoman of the Year, Carter was also awarded the NCAA Division III National Sportsmanship Award in 2008, was an NCAA All-American in Cross Country in 2007 and a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier. Additionally, she also holds the 1500M track, 5K and 6K records at Grove City College. Carter also ran the fifth fastest 3K in Ohio State University history, where she finished out her NCAA eligibility while completing her master’s degree. “I owe a lot of my running success to the College and to Coach [Sean] Severson,” Carter said. “Without him, I’d be a very different runner and person. I’ve learned more about life through running and my coaches than in any other experience I’ve ever had.”

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Winter 2012

More than personal achievement, Carter sees running as her way of helping others when a seemingly hopeless situation leads to depression. “The half marathon is by far my favorite event because it parallels life. It has highs and lows, and bumps in the road. It requires patience and perseverance, and at some point you get to a place where you feel like you can’t go on.” Carter speaks from experience. Running has helped Carter cope with hard times and focus on what was good in her life. With a renewed sense of how to use her running to help others and its larger purpose in her life, Carter won three half marathons in 2011 with a personal record of 1:18:41. With that time, her coach at Ohio State suggested that she try to qualify for the Olympic trials in the marathon. On Dec. 4, 2011, Carter gathered with other elite runners at the starting line of the California International Marathon in Sacramento – her first-ever marathon – for a shot of running in the Olympic marathon trials. When the gun sounded, Carter had exactly two hours and 46 minutes to cover 26.2 miles. The first few miles, Carter and the other elite runners found their stride behind the man charged with pacing them to run exactly 2:46:00. Then, two miles into the race, Carter lost her shoe when another runner accidentally stepped on her heel. “It was so early in the race that the road was still crowded with runners. It was like a stampede. After I finally located my shoe and put it back on, I had to calm myself down. The next two miles I ran 20 seconds faster than pace to catch up with the group. That’s something you never want to do in a marathon. That’s going to come back on you at some point.” Carter rejoined the group, and the race pounded on. As the marathon entered its

grueling second half, chatter slowly gave way to rhythmic pounding of feet as the women kept stride-for-stride with their pacer when, at mile 22, Carter’s two fast miles early in the race caught up with her.

“The half marathon is by far my favorite event because it parallels life. It has highs and lows, and bumps in the road. It requires patience and perseverance, and at some point you get to a place where you feel like you can’t go on.” “Both calves cramped and would not release. I physically could not move my legs.” She staggered to the sidewalk as the pacer yelled back at her that the group was a minute ahead of pace. Carter, who had never stopped during a race before, started plugging away as soon as her legs would painfully move. “Four miles to go,” Carter said to herself. “If I can just keep moving, I still have a chance.” Mile 23 – alone. Mile 24 – in silence. Mile 25 – no group. Then, at mile 25, Carter saw the pacer come running back toward her. A minute ahead of pace, he had come back to push the final few hopefuls across the line in under 2:46:00. “You have less than a mile to go,” he said.

Carter rounded the bend to see the finish line ahead of her – and the race clock ticking at 2:45:25, 2:45:26, 2:45:27. Roughly 30 seconds stood between Carter and the Olympic trials. Carter saw the clock turn 2:46:00 – and she was on the other side of the line. In shock, a fellow runner grabbed her and gushed, “We qualified!” Carter had incomprehensibly just run her first marathon in 2:45:47 and earned a place in the Olympic marathon trials, a group of 200 elite American women. At the trials, the first three marathon finishers will make the Olympic team. The Olympic marathon trials were held in Houston, Texas, on January 14. Carter, who went into the race ranked 173 of 191, finished in 112th place. “I was pleased with my race,” Carter said. The four-loop course was designed to mimic the Olympic course in London. “The men started 15 minutes before the women, so the highlight of my race was when I was starting my final loop and the top two men (and future Olympians) were finishing. I was literally running next to record holder and past-and-future Olympian Ryan Hall as he crossed the finish line. The crowd was going crazy for him and I had the best seat in the house – 20 feet behind him on the course – as he finished! I will never forget that moment. I’ve never understood why God blessed my running,” Carter said. “God gave me this gift, and as long as I can use that to encourage others to persevere, I’ll be happy. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to do that.” 

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Grove City College

Beyond the Mat Begin to focus on your breath. Where in your body do you feel it? In your chest? In your throat? At the tip of your nostrils? Awareness technique. This is just one element of kripalu yoga that Seana (McCallister ’89) Smith taught cancer survivors at the Cancer Rehabilitation and Wellness Center of Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Notice your energy level. Does it seem to be focused in certain places in your body or dispersed throughout? Do you find fatigue, a lack of energy? Does your mind feel energized but the body tired?

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ind a job. Find a yoga studio. When Smith first moved to Charlotte, N.C., these were her top priorities. Five years ago, Smith realized they were one and the same. Thus began her career as a yoga instructor after 20 years in the banking industry. Smith certified in kripalu yoga in 2007

at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, located in the Berkshires of scenic western Massachusetts. When she returned home to North Carolina, she founded Yogasmiths and was quickly teaching up to 17 classes weekly. Most notably, Smith taught a class specifically for cancer survivors. “In cancer survivors, it is especially valuable to teach them the breath work and the meditation of yoga,” Smith said. “And I’ll be honest: I was excited about the fact

that a western hospital was acknowledging the value of eastern medicine.” Check in with your emotions. What are you feeling right now? Can you identify any emotions and not judge them?

Working with cancer patients can be emotionally draining. “They’re cancer survivors because the minute that they’re diagnosed, they’re surviving,” Smith said. “There are so many treatment options out there, but we still

By Rachel (Leonard ’03) Califf | Photos courtesy of Seana (McCallister ’89) Smith 3 4 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK


Winter 2012

think of it as an immediate death sentence. I didn’t expect I would be so comfortable dealing with something that is potentially so hard. But I fell into it and loved it. I felt super blessed to be there.” Start to notice physical sensations in your body, beginning at the top of your head. Do you feel air moving around your hair? Sensations in your sinuses, behind your eyes, the temperature of the room on your lips?

Many of Smith’s students came in with breast cancer. They had scar tissue and limited range of motion in their arms, shoulders and chest. Others were experiencing incisional pain, loss of feeling, tingling and numbness in their extremities. “You lose your balance because of chemotherapy and what the drugs do to your brain cells,” she said. “These are special considerations that movement, talking and self-reflection can help them to explore.” Smith’s goal was to gently help them through their pain to healing. “Movement is good for you. But if you do too much of it, you can hurt yourself, especially when you’re that vulnerable population. So, we would work through, trying to stretch into recovery, breaking up scar tissue for movement.” When Sheila, a patient with stage IV breast cancer, first joined Smith’s yoga classes, she couldn’t balance on one leg while holding a chair. Now, four years later, she does things she never could have done. “They may be simple things, but she’s a woman who has so progressed in terms of her ability and willingness to try things,” Smith said. What are your thoughts? Can you observe them in your mind as if you are watching someone else’s thoughts? What is your mind thinking about? Or is it clear at this moment?

Yoga originated as a sitting meditative practice that gradually brought in slight

movements reminiscent of nature, culminating in now familiar poses such as downward dog and tree. “Over the last 10 years here in America we’ve taken it to a whole other level,” Smith observed. “We’re going to do it really fast and crank the temperature up to 100 degrees and call it power yoga. Power yoga says ‘No Pain, No Gain.’ That’s what America has done to yoga. That is not yoga.” Yoga in a cancer rehab atmosphere is quite different. “It’s a recuperative thing, not just an exercise program. It’s more likely to have balance in it.” More than increased range of motion and calmness of spirit, many of Smith’s students also developed lasting friendships. “I can’t do that and yoga can’t do that, but coming together as compassionate human beings that were going through similar experiences can do that,” Smith said. Bring your awareness back to the breath. Gradually begin to open your eyes when you are ready…

Though Smith now works as an emergency room nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews, N.C., she’s found that the benefits of yoga extend beyond the mat. “I use awareness practice now if someone is feeling stress,” she said. “Breathing has physiological effects on pain and anxiety levels. Even if I’m doing a blood draw, I’ll ask if they’re holding their breath and tell them to breathe deeply. Suddenly, they feel a little more relaxed. It is so important and we don’t do it. We hold our breath and don’t breathe deeply.” Smith is passionate that yoga has value for everyone, physically and emotionally. “We can hurt ourselves when we have no awareness of what’s going on. It’s the way we live,” Smith said. “I may not have had cancer, but everyone has their scars. They are just in completely different forms, some more obvious than others, and yoga helps heal scars.” 

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 35


Grove City College

Lifelong Wellness As Geoff Gehring ’03 walks the halls of Senior Independence of Southwestern Pa., a home- and community-based senior care provider, there is a visible spring in his step. Energetically, he greets residents by name and asks about their day. While a senior care facility may seem like an odd place to find the 2003 Grove City College Sportsman of the Year, Gehring is noticeably comfortable in his surroundings. For Gehring, it is the multidimensional nature of senior wellness that not only presents a unique challenge, but also fuels his passion to serve and succeed.

By Matt Muetzel ’09 | Photo by Tiffany Wolfe 36 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK


Winter 2012

T

he former two-sport varsity captain in basketball and tennis is now the executive director of the organization. Gehring leads a team of staff and caregivers to assist seniors in living healthy, fit and vibrant lives. He explains how senior wellness requires an approach that is as much about physical health and fitness as it is about financial security, social interaction and emotional health. Fundamentally, Gehring believes that the longer seniors can live independently and safely, the healthier and happier they can be. Passionate about “being on the forefront of giving seniors more options to live well,” Gehring excitedly tells how one resident suffering from memory impairment is now able to live independently longer as a result of

innovative technology. The resident’s “smart apartment” is custom designed to address specific challenges resulting from memory loss. If she leaves her room at an inappropriate time, forgets to take medication or leaves the oven on,

Because faith and freedom matter.

High School

“When the people you help, adopt you as their own … that’s really something special.” Gehring will instantly receive an email and text message that alerts him of the situation. While this ensures Gehring is always on the clock, he says it’s worth it. “While it is a sacrifice to be in this type of work, I don’t really see it that

way,” Gehring said. Providing seniors more independence means that they do not have to “jump to a higher, more expensive level of care” that would unnecessarily restrict their options for exercise, socialization and wellness. Though about 40 years younger than most of the residents he oversees, Gehring says that he has enjoyed becoming a part of the community. “When the people you help, adopt you as their own … that’s really something special.” As Gehring talks, it becomes apparent that “Senior Independence” is more than the name of the organization he leads – it is a personal belief that seniors can live healthier, more rewarding lives if they are given the support to live independently. 

Junior Crimson Day

Saturday, April 14, 2012 8:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Discover:

Grove City's Christian Perspective Academic Programs Amazing Value Student Views on Selecting the RIGHT college

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 37

(724) 458.2100 | www.gcc.edu/important_dates.php


Grove City College

class notes 1970 Robin Lubitz has published his first novel, Breaking Free. The book is a thriller and is available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. e

1971 Dr. John Schalles is director

KEEP IN TOUCH!

of Creighton University’s environmental science program.

We want to keep in touch with

He also is co-principal investigator

you electronically! If you have

on a project in which students use

an e-mail address, or have

satellite imagery and on-site habitat surveys to produce mapping

recently changed your address,

products useful to the National

make changes through the

DC Days | Four Sigma Delta Beta sisters on a mini-reunion toured

Oceanographic and Atmospheric

Alumni eCommunity or contact

Washington, D.C., in May, talking and visiting sights that were part of “their era,” they report. From left: Ann (Bowman ’52) McClymonds, Joy (Murphy ’48) Zembower, Doris (Anderson ’50) Reeves and Ruth (Merwin ’50) Moser.

Administration and resource

us at alumni@gcc.edu. e: Alumni eCommunity Class Note. More

1961

info at www.gcc.edu/alumnicommunity.

Bill McCarrier has been elected to serve a four-year term as Butler County (Pa.) county commissioner. He will serve as chairman of the three-member Board of Commissioners. He is retired as the CEO of Interstate Pipe & Supply Co. He and his wife, Irene,

TEXAS TIME | Sugarland, Texas, was the spot for a biannual gathering of ’64 Grovers. Row 1, from left: Camille (Waterhouse) Anthony and Anne (White) Manning. Row 2: Gayle (Patterson) Phillips, Linda (Beeman) Seelhorst and Carolyn (Aeberli) Bell. Highlights were visiting NASA and talking about other trips, including the next trip to Port St. Lucie, Fla.

38 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

live in Butler.

1967 Dr. Jim Deitrick, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, received the Outstanding Accounting Professor Award at Commencement ceremonies in spring 2011. Also, he was named to the MBA Honor Roll for Teaching Excellence in Executive Education.

managers on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The project recently received a five-year grant from the NOAA.

1973 Suellyn Wright Novak was reappointed to the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council by Alaska Governor Sean Parnell. She is retired from the U.S. Air Force and is active in helping Alaska veterans, including serving as president of the Alaska Veterans Museum.

1974 Jeff Killeen is now an Allegheny County (Pa.) assistant district attorney. He retired from the FBI in December after 27 years of service. With the FBI, he completed a second tour in Afghanistan and worked with the International Contract Corruption Task Force.


Winter 2012

Rachel’s Reunion | Several 1968 Sigma Theta Chi sisters held a December mini-reunion at Rachel’s Roadhouse in Mercer, Pa. Row 1, from left: Linda (Zoerb) Rosenbaum, Cathy (Reichert) Bishop, Lennie (Stoner) Ruyan and Sherry (Droz) Newill. Row 2: Libby Lloyd and Ellen (Scholl) Klinginsmith.

LONG ISLAND LADIES | Tri Sig sisters from the Class of ’69 met in June 2011 for a reunion at the home of Beverly (Schuster) Kissam in Northport, Long Island, New York. From left: Linda (Harris) Sittig, Judy (Winkler) Legge, Debbie (Diehl) Young, Nancy (Redshaw) Bosserman, Kissam and Cindy (Rodgers) Zahorchak.

was appointed chief executive

20,000 participants. Greig is chair

officer of FSGBank, N.A., the

of Westminster’s Department of

wholly-owned community-bank

Music.

subsidiary of First Security. These

Jody (Imbrie) Smith was inducted

financial organizations are based in

into the Butler (Pa.) Area School

Chattanooga, Tenn. Most recently,

District’s new Athletic Hall of

Kramer was managing director of

Fame in September. She scored

Ridley Capital Group.

more than 1,000 points playing basketball at the high school.

1981 David Howard was appointed vice

CHI DEL GOLF | Chi Delta Epsilon fraternity brothers held an annual

president, purchasing, for Severstal

reunion Sept. 16-17, 2011. They golfed at Cranberry Highlands in Cranberry, Pa., on Friday and Fort Cherry Golf Course in McDonald, Pa., on Saturday before dinner. Brothers came from as far away as Washington, California and Iowa, and in some cases, reunited for the first time in 37 years.

North America. He is responsible for the overall purchasing function of the steelmaking company based in Dearborn, Mich. Michael Kling received a gubernatorial appointment to

1975

is a newly-appointed member of

Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage

Lona (Pierson) Bowman retired

the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial

Appeals Board. The Board

in September with 35 years of

Discipline. He was appointed

conducts hearings and makes

experience in public education.

in September by Governor Tom

determinations on grievances or

She taught in the Chillicothe City

Corbett to the court that hears

appeals. Kling’s appointment is a

Schools and the Cory-Rawson

allegations of misconduct against

four-year term.

district. She finished her career at

judges. He is one of eight judges

Miami Valley Career Technology

on the discipline panel and each is

1983

Center, where she was a teacher,

asked to serve a four-year term.

Dr. R. Tad Greig and seven

tech prep coordinator and

Westminster College music majors

1980

attended the Mid-West International

Michael Kramer has been named

Band and Orchestra Conference in

1978

chief executive officer and

December in Chicago. The event is

Timothy McCune, a Butler County

director of First Security Group,

the largest instrumental conference

(Pa.) Common Pleas Court judge,

Inc. Earlier in December, he

in the world, drawing close to

academic supervisor. e

HISTORICAL SPOT | Colonial Williamsburg was the gathering spot for a group of alumni from the Class of 1973. Meeting in September 2011 were, from left: Brian Cox, Dawn (Campbell) Stokes, Helen (Kim) Fitzkee, Toby Fitzkee, Sue (Knappenberger) Appleton, Dorothy Silence (Williams) Weeks and Deb (Stevenson) McConahy.

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 39


Grove City College 1986 Daniel Goncz was named a vice president for Gannett Fleming. He is based in the Mercer and Pittsburgh offices, and is responsible for planning, design, bidding and construction of water, sewage and stormwater projects. Philip Salansky accepted a position

HOLIDAY MUSIC | Music alums performed as members of the Williamsport (Pa.) Symphony Orchestra in the December 2011 holiday concert. From left: Gretchen (Phares ’84) Carpenter and Rebecca (Dodson ’87) Dodson-Webster.

at Wheaton College as instructional systems engineer. e Doug Smith was selected as a 2011 Pittsburgh Five Star Wealth Manager. The Five Star Professional research methodology allows no more than 7 percent of wealth managers in the Pittsburgh area to be honored. He heads Douglas J.

1985

Smith Financial Services.

Amy Dinning is now the manager of

1989

leadership and talent development

Jennifer Fine-Schmidt graduated

for Saint-Gobain North America, in

from Clarion University with a

Valley Forge, Pa.

Master of Science in Nursing with

Heather (King) Mallard was

a concentration as Family Nurse

appointed vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Acorn Energy, an energy technology holding company based in Montchanin, Del. She

Practitioner. She has a temporary position teaching clinicals to senior nursing students while she studies for the FNP certification exam. She is married to Scott Schmidt ’87 and

is an experienced corporate and

they have three children.

business lawyer.

Laura (Preede) McAlister and

Sally McKelvey, member of

friend S. Michael published a book

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS | Class of 1983 (and 1982) Phi Sigs, with one Sig Thet, celebrated 50th birthdays together in December in Pittsburgh. Row 1, from left: Adrienne (Lackey ’83) Settlemire and Lisa (Legge ’83) Koeneman. Row 2: Sandy (Christie ’83) Leininger, Renee (Paule ’83) Chase, Mary Ellen (Richard ’82) McHugh, Kim (Phillips) Morton, Lisa (Costanza ’83) Pignatelli and Melissa (Deese ’83) Beachy.

requests for diagnosis and

1990

troubleshooting in the telecom

Dr. Joe Buckley was promoted to

industry. He had worked as a

executive director of elementary

programmer, support specialist and

and middle school education for

Internet and networking expert for

Cecil County (Md.) Public Schools

21 years at Genesistems, Inc. He

on July 1, 2011.

and his wife continue to reside in Walworth, N.Y.

1991

Kirk Rickansrud completed his

Dr. Edward Alan Moore joined the

doctoral studies and graduated

staff of Pittsburgh’s East Liberty

from Wilmington University with an

Presbyterian Church in February

Ed.D. in educational leadership and

2011 as organist and music director.

innovation. As principal of John A.

He moved to Pittsburgh after 10

study is designed for groups and

Carusi Middle School, his school

years in Washington, D.C., where he

growth initiatives for the company

individuals to study the history,

was recognized as a National

held church positions in D.C. and

headquartered in Indianapolis.

theology and agenda of Islam,

School of Character in 2011. He

McLean, Va., and was a member

Dr. Deanne Wilson-Costello was

while being able to respond with

spoke at the state and national

of the organ faculty at The Catholic

gentleness and Biblical truth. It

conference last year on how to

University of America Benjamin T.

for the new Howland Achievement

is available through Amazon and

build a culture of character in a

Rome School of Music. e

Hall of Fame. The Howland (Ohio)

calloflove.org.

public school environment. He was

Alumni Council was appointed vice president, strategy, for

in 2011 called Dare to Explore: A 12-Week Trip Through Islam

The Finish Line, Inc., a retailer

with Turn-by-Turn Directions for

of athletic shoes, apparel and

Reaching Muslims. The Bible

accessories. She will lead strategic

among the first class of inductees

1992

Schools recognized her medical

Mark Harrison

asked to be a full-time professional

career. She currently serves as

was named a

speaker in the Transformational

Gerald Bullock

a staff neonatologist at Rainbow

voice repair

Leadership Network for the State

and Tammy

Babies and Children’s Hospital

specialist at

of New Jersey. He also was

Stowe were

in Cleveland; Geauga Regional in

his new job at

appointed to the Cherry Hill Little

married Oct.

Chardon, Southwest General in

Finger Lakes

League Board of Trustees after

1, 2011, in

Strongsville and Lake Hospital in

Technologies Group, Inc. He

serving as league coordinator,

Painesville.

will respond to customer service

safety trainer and head coach.

4 0 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

Blackstone, Va. The Rev. Dr. Richard Morledge ’54


Winter 2012 officiated at the ceremony. Bullock

husband, Ryan, are the parents of

is currently vice president of the

daughter Nora Rose, born Oct. 10,

Grove City College Alumni Council

2011. e

and a former Alumnus Trustee of the College.

1997

Craig Creaturo received a CFO

Kathleen (Long) Comstock and

of the Year award in November

her husband, Matthew, welcomed

from the Pittsburgh Business

daughter Esther Claire on Aug. 23,

Times. The awards honor the

2011.

best of the region’s chief financial

Jamey Groetz is the chairman of the

officers. Creaturo works with II-VI

social studies department and is

Corporation in Saxonburg, Pa. Douglas Kush and his wife, Tara,

in his 15th year as an eighth grade

welcomed son Jaxson on April 7,

COLLEGE DAY | Fort Couch Middle School in Upper St. Clair, Pa., has

2011. He joins brothers Nathan, 15,

a long history of hiring Grove City College graduates for the teaching staff. Celebrating College Day at school were teachers, from left, Abbey (Nicholson ’07) Toohey, Connie (Farren ’71) Montgomery, Andy Lucas ’05, Katie Rummel ’09, Erin (Stehle ’99) Peterson and Sarah Elizabeth Smith ’07.

Michael, 13, and sister Kayleigh, 11, at home in Mount Holly, N.C.

1993

social studies teacher at Lehman Middle School in Canton, Ohio. He also teaches a master’s course for the Communicate Institute through Walsh University. He and his wife have a son and two daughters.

Nina (Pasini) Deibler and her

Jenifer (Komon) McMurray earned

2010, and his brother Jacen, 5.

Sarah (Otto) and Ronald ’96 Lang

husband, Jayme, announce the

her National Board Certification for

Matt Kramer and his wife, Melissa,

announce the birth of son Jedidiah

birth of son Wesley Benjamin on

teaching. She reports that there are

announce the adoption of son Gabe

Reed on Oct. 10, 2011. e

Nov. 12, 2011. e

only 904 National Board certified

Zi Qian from Nanjing City, China, on

Craig Oaks and his wife, Jaime,

Hyune (Chung) Hand was appointed

teachers in Pennsylvania.

Oct. 10, 2011. Gabe is 3 and joins

announce the birth of daughter

siblings Tyler, 6, Brooke, 4, and

Reagan Elise on Aug. 11, 2011. e

an executive vice president and general manager with Wolters

1995

Aiden, 3.

Michael Spanjer and his wife,

Kluwer Corporate Legal Services,

Christopher Boorman and his

Erin (Arnold) and Dr. Joe ’94 Pisano

Brenda, welcomed son Benjamin

based in New York City. She will

band, Red Embers, released their

Richard on March 13, 2011.

lead a team delivering compliance

welcomed son John Matthew on

debut self-titled album, featuring

and governance services to small-

Sept. 2, 2011. John joins brothers

10 original songs, including one

and mid-sized corporate customers.

Joseph and Ethan at home in Grove

("Road Trip") written and sung by

Tracey (Polliard) McGurk and her

City.

Boorman. The album is available at

husband, John, welcomed son Ryan Francis on March 3, 2011. He joins sister Amanda, 7, and brother Jonathan, 5. Julie (Clinefelter) Moeller and her husband, Valerian, welcomed son

1998 Matt Dean and Jaclyn Malecki

iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and other

1996

were married

online music retailers. e

Heather (Kinkade) and Douglas

July 16, 2011, in

Kristin (Seigworth) Cooney and her

’00 Dunsmoor welcomed new son

Harbison Chapel.

husband, Damien, are the parents

Braeden.

of Joshua Nathaniel, born Aug. 17,

Jean (Jocoy) Sullivan and her

Matt and Jaclyn are both employed by UPMC; Matt

Efraim Tobias on Oct. 19, 2011. Big sister is Elsea. Heather (Gulnac) Swift was named regional vice president of RiseSmart, a provider of outpatient solutions based in San Jose, Calif.

1994 Valerie (Park) and Adam ’95 Doyle welcomed son Seth Patton on

THETA ANNIVERSARY | The sisters of Theta Alpha Pi celebrated the sorority’s 90th anniversary in September.

July 25, 2010. The Doyles live in

Alumnae and current members commemorated the event at the Grove City Country Club during Homecoming Weekend.

Pittsburgh.

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 41


Grove City College is team lead of Compensation

Michelle (Lesney) Zang and her

and Jaclyn is an IT research and

husband, Jason, are the parents

communication specialist. They live

of son Wyatt Liam, born Oct. 28,

in Pittsburgh.

2010.

Sharon (Davis) and Robert Hancock welcomed daughter Kayla Anne on

2001

May 18, 2011.

Cathleen (Good) DiCello and her

Amanda (Zibners) Naprawa and

husband, Jeff, welcomed son

her husband, James, welcomed

Joseph Jack on Oct. 17, 2011. They

daughter Annalise “Annie” on

live in Annville, Pa.

May 27, 2011. The couple, along

Eric Flug and his wife, Katie,

with big sister Olivia, resides in Columbus, Ohio. Robert Price was commissioned as a chaplain with the U.S. Navy in May 2011. He completed Officer

AKRON GRADS | These friends and alums are connected through the

announce the birth of son Caleb

University of Akron School of Law. Celebrating at the school’s May 2011 graduation were, from left, Jonathan Trout ’04, Julie (Pullin ’04) Trout, Kathryn (Grafinger ’03) Vuchak, Kyle Vuchak ’03, Melody (Briand ’04) Runkle and Adam Runkle ’08.

Ian on Sept. 6, 2011. e

Development School in September

Jennifer (Franks) and Joe Franzke welcomed daughter Abigail on Sept. 8, 2011. Sister, Hannah is 2. Jacob Huebert accepted a position

followed by Chaplain School

celebrated by siblings David,

day social media in the College’s

Basic Course in November. He is

Zack, Abby and Gabe. The

Community Lecture Series.

stationed at Naval Subase New

Brumbaughs live in Evansville,

Dr. Jason Tomsic is the 2012

London as a base chaplain. e

Wis., where Josh is the senior

president of the Washington

Joshua Ricketts and his wife, Karen,

pastor at Oak Grove Church.

County (Pa.) Medical Society.

announce the birth of son John

Lisa (Ellis) Cline and her

Tomsic, a general surgeon,

Bramwell on Aug. 28, 2011. Josh

husband, Todd, welcomed

practices at Pareso and Brown

is pastor to students at Charter Oak

daughter Ella Gracyn on Dec. 25,

Surgical, Ltd, in Washington.

Church in Greensburg, Pa. e

2010.

Charlene (Wick) Webb and her

Robert Stanley began duties in

Erin (Duryea) Gilsbach was

husband, Bradley, welcomed twin

October as pastor/head of staff at

elected to the board of directors

sons, Connor and Micah, on Oct.

Mansfield (Ohio) First Presbyterian

of the Pennsylvania School Board

13, 2011.

Church.

Solicitors Association. In addition

Rachel (Beardmore ’98) and

to being a practicing education

2000

Michael ’97 VanGrouw welcomed

law attorney, she now serves

Lacey (Williams) and Matthew ’01

son Jack Samuel on Dec. 21, 2010.

as the director of continuing

Eckert announce the birth of son

He has one older sister and three

professional education and policy

Caleb John on Aug. 7, 2011. e

older brothers.

development in the state’s largest

Tyler Fugate and his wife,

Jack Matthew on Sept. 26, 2011.

Amy (McHenry) Vile and her

education law firm, King Spry

Angelique, welcomed daughter

Chris Osborne and his wife, Maria,

husband, Kevin, welcomed son

Herman Freund & Faul.

Claire Marie on Feb. 20, 2010.

announce the birth of daughter Lily

Adam Justin on Jan. 19, 2011. Big

C.J. Keffer and his wife, Jennifer,

She joins sister Audrey.

Angela on Nov. 11, 2011.

brother is Jacob.

welcomed daughter Abigail on

Laura (Hogue) Fusz and her

June 28, 2010.

husband, Bill, welcomed daughter

2002

1999

Jennifer (Cowan) and David

Catherine Elizabeth “Cate” on

Mary (Mattie) and Ben Anderson

Amy (Powell) and Simeon ’98

Paterline are the parents of twins

Nov. 21, 2011. Big brother is

announce the birth of daughter

Ashworth are the parents of son

Kate Margaret and David William,

Liam. Laura is music director at

Clare Faustina on Aug. 24, 2011. e

Lowe Simeon, born July 1, 2011.

born July 23, 2011. They joined

Holy Family Catholic Community

Carrie (Hilzinger) Bell and her

Sister Ava is 2.

sisters Sidney, 7, and Abigail, 4.

in Fort Irwin, Calif.

husband, Ed, welcomed son Ewan

Kerrie (Wallace) Bocci and her

Dr. Wayne Riggs is an assistant

Katie (Britton) Koehler and her

Matthew on Aug. 25, 2011. He

husband, Lt. James Bocci, are the

professor of humanities and

husband, Mark, announce the

joins sister Cecily and brother

parents of daughter Francesca

coordinator of the history program

birth of daughter Shannon Ilene

Jamin.

Avalon, born Oct. 27, 2011.

at Flagler College in St. Augustine,

on July 20, 2011.

Erica (Jones) and Rob Burgess

Ali (Broberg) and Josh Brumbaugh

Fla. He and a student recently

John Mackie and his wife, Shana,

announce the birth of son Graham

welcomed son Jesse Hosea on

examined the intersection

welcomed son Logan Davis on

Robert on Oct. 5, 2011. Big sister

Aug. 20, 2011. His arrival was

between World War I and modern-

Sept. 28, 2011.

is Ava.

42 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

as an attorney at the Liberty Justice Center in Chicago, a new public-interest law firm. He and Allison Harnack were married Aug. 13, 2011, in Chicago, where they reside. e Bonnie Keller and Scott Broberg were married Nov. 11, 2011, in Lititz, Pa. The couple lives in San Diego, Calif. Leah (Edwards) Leach and her husband, Brad, welcomed daughter Claire Salena on March 11, 2011. Older sister Gabriella is 2. Nadine (McKinney) Michalak and her husband, John, welcomed son


Winter 2012 Christian Corral is now the social

daughter Emmelyn Grace on June

2003

son Joseph Jonathan on Aug. 25,

media manager at The Social Vista

13, 2011. e

Cara (Scarpitti) Buis and her

2011. The family resides in Bethel

marketing agency in Hattiesburg,

Rebecca (Gallion) and Joel Klamer

husband, Peter, announce the birth

Park, Pa.

Miss.

announce the birth of son Quinn

of son Troy James on April 15,

Sheila (Mattes) and Christopher

Korie (Sell) Counts is attending

Elliot on Nov. 28, 2011. He joins

2011. e

Carlberg are the parents of son

Xavier University in Cincinnati

Ethan and Wesley. e

Joshua Christy received a master's

William Blaise, born Aug. 30,

and will graduate in 2014 with

Lauren Neuhart

degree in social-organizational

2010.

a master’s in health services

and Kevin

psychology from Columbia

Jenny (Klopsic) Cavalieri and her

administration. She continues to

Norman were

University in May 2011. He

husband, Matthew, welcomed son

work as a technology manager

married Oct. 1,

graduated from the Eisenhower

Luciano “Luca” Matthew, born

at Cincinnati Children's Hospital

2011, in Allison

Leadership Development Program,

May 10, 2010. Jenny has a new job

Medical Center. e

Park, Pa. The

a joint program with the U.S.

and is now a vice principal in the

Military Academy at West Point.

Mantua Township School District in

He now serves as a company

Sewell, N.J.

tactical officer responsible for the

Shelley (Wood) Fontanella and her

leadership development of cadets

husband, John, announce the birth

at West Point. Josh and Katharine

of daughter Charlotte on Feb. 20,

(Smith ’04) welcomed son

2011.

Cameron David on Nov. 5, 2011. e

Melinda Haring joined Eurasia

Christy (Faller) Donaghy and her

Foundation in October 2011

husband, Richard, are the parents

as the communications officer.

of son Tristan Case, born Jan. 6,

She manages a Russia civil

2011.

society program and oversees all

Sarah (Feucht) and Andrew

communications and outreach

Flanagan welcomed daughter

efforts. In January 2012, Haring

Elizabeth Abigail on July 3, 2011. e

observed the Kazakh parliamentary

Ben Hardt was featured in a

elections as a short-term election

November story for popcitymedia.com.

observer with the Organization

The Pittsburgh-based musician

for Security and Cooperation in

recently launched a three-album

Europe/Office for Democratic

set. He is part of the band New

Institutions and Human Rights.

Victorians.

Kelly (Cole) Hollis received an M.S.

Jon Jenkins and his wife, Kristin,

Ed. in secondary education (social

announce the birth of daughter

studies) from Duquesne University

Kathryn Alice on June 18, 2011.

in May 2011. She also earned a

They live in Mooresville, N.C.

Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the

Jennifer (Coles) and Aaron Leitch

Duquesne University School of Law

welcomed daughter Morgan Ann

in 2007. e

on Sept. 30, 2011.

Abigail (Smith) Marino graduated

Craig Riggall and his wife, Molly

magna cum laude in March 2011

Marie, welcomed daughter Saralyn

from Drexel’s ACE program,

Marie on July 9, 2011. She joins

receiving her B.S. in nursing, and

two older siblings: Emma, 3, and

now works in a Philadelphia ER.

Micah, 2.

Abigail and Frederick Marino met

Jeremy Riggall and his wife, Mary,

in the program and were married

welcomed son Ryder James on

in Loveladies, N.J., on June 11,

Sept. 4, 2011.

2011. e

Jake Dailey and his wife, Tracy,

couple resides in Baldwin Boro,

welcomed son Jaxx on Sept. 9,

Pittsburgh.

2011. He joins sisters Emma, 6,

Paula (Krautter) and Ivan ’00

and Hanna, 3.

Palkovic welcomed son Seth

Stephen Fix and his wife, Rachel,

James on Sept. 19, 2011.

are the parents of daughter Louisa

Mark Pyle and his wife, Angela,

Theo, born March 19, 2011.

are the parents of daughter

Stephen is pursuing his Ph.D.

Hannah Faith, born Nov. 1, 2011.

in Ancient Near East at Catholic

Emily (Guthrie) and Jeff Riley

University of America’s Department

announce the birth of daughter

of Semitic and Egyptian Languages

Adalynn Kay on Dec. 19, 2011.

and Literatures. He continues

She joins brother Deacon.

as assistant pastor at Reformed

Melissa (Snowden) and John ’01

Presbyterian Church of Bowie, Md.,

Sabella welcomed son Benjamin

(PCA) during his studies.

Russell on Dec. 8, 2011. Benjamin

LeAnn (Neuman) and Matthew ’00

joins siblings Grace, 9, Lilly, 8,

Gausman welcomed a son, Evan

Sarah, 6, Timmy, 4, and

Matthew, on Aug. 29, 2011. He

George, 2.

joins big sister Emeri.

Becky (Young) Scobbie and her

Shannon (Stansbury) Geary and

husband, Ron, welcomed daughter

her husband, Richard, welcomed

Falon Kristine on Jan. 11, 2011.

GIRLS DAY | Girlfriends from the Class of 2004 held their yearly gettogether, this time at the Apple Castle in New Wilmington, Pa. Pictured are Betsy (Hollo) Mezey, Erica (Eggers) Ringler, Courtney (Curtis) Zimmerman, Leisel (Yehnert) Johnston, Sally (Lewis) Lester and Jess (Irvin) Kissel.

Lindsay (Gentile) and Seth ’05

2004

Murray welcomed daughter

Elizabeth (Rollick) Buck and her

Marlowe Emerson on July 1, 2011.

husband, John, welcomed first

She has an older brother, Owen.

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 4 3


Grove City College RJ Owen will present at the SXSW technology conference in March 2012 in Austin, Texas. He works with EffectiveUI design and development agency in Denver and will discuss the research behind the new Power Glove. Abby (Shaffer) and Andrew Perrin announce the birth of daughter Leah May on April 8, 2011. Julie Trout was named an associate with Kastner Westman & Wilkins

NEW ADDITIONS | Ben

LLC labor and employment

’00 and Laura (Hampton ’01) Lathrop finalized the adoption of four siblings in September 2011. The new children – Ronin, 10, Spencer, 9, Fulton, 7, and Cora, 4, – join the Lathrops biological sons James, 5, and Elijah, 2. The new family is pictured here with the judge on the day of finalization.

law firm in Akron, Ohio. She is

BOSTON BASEBALL | In August, Epsilon Pi brothers gathered in Boston for a Red Sox/Yankees game. From left, with friends: Kim (McDonald ’10) Pierrot, Bryan Pierrot ’08, Dave Eicher ’04 and Lauren Doupona. Photographer: Howie Riley ’07.

4 4 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

involved in all aspects of the firm’s practice, including traditional labor, employment litigation and workers’ compensation.

2005

a WEDDING REUNION | Becky Kraft ’10 and Jonathan Durfee ’10 were married June 24, 2011, at Vizcarra Vinyards in Gasport, N.Y. The groom’s alumni parents added a reunion to the fun, inviting many classmates who would not make it to Homecoming. The friends later visited Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Back row, from left: Anne (Gilmore ’82) Clarke, Lorrie (Maser ’81) Paul, Patti (Ensslen ’81) Vogl, mother of the groom Susan (Peshek ’81) Durfee, Kim (Casmon ’81) Sudman and Robin Mann ’81. Not pictured but in attendance: father of the groom Peter Durfee ’80, Rick Worst ’80, Jill (Rand ’81) Drake and Phil Abel ’81. The bride and groom now live in Mars, Pa.

Alissa (McFerren) and BJ Arnold welcomed son Logan James on Dec. 6, 2010.

2006

John Straub was

Jeffrey Fowler was selected as

Kristin Blotzer and Stephen Kozar

promoted to the

the chief medicine resident at the

were married Oct. 29, 2011, in

rank of captain

Cleveland Clinic for the 2012-13

Latrobe, Pa., and now live in Derry,

in the U.S.

year. e

Pa. e

Marine Corps

Clifford Greenfield and Jayna

Joni (Swartzentruber) and Ben ’05

in a December

McIntire were married Aug. 26,

Fuller welcomed daughter Linea

ceremony in Guatemala City. He is

2011, in Indiana, Pa., where they

Pauline on March 14, 2011.

currently serving as a communications

reside. e

Jaron Horst and his wife, Crystal,

officer in the Marine Corps Security

Sonja (Berglund) and Mark Ingram

are the parents of Zoe, born May

Cooperation Group in Virginia Beach,

welcomed son Asher Mark, born

2, 2011. e

Va.

Nov. 4, 2011. Asher joins sister

Jennifer Laurin and Joshua Fuoco

Natalie (Thiesen) Swartzentruber and

Adelaide.

were married Sept. 24, 2011, in

her husband, Greg, welcomed son

Elizabeth (Thompson) and Jeff

Moon Township, Pa., and now

Gabriel on July 7, 2011.

Jones welcomed son Judah David

reside in Imperial, Pa. e

on Sept. 3, 2011.

Josh Rosswog and his wife, Kelli,

2007

Daniel Moch and Angela Childers

announce the birth of son Levi

Nicki (Ruggiero) Savinda and her

were married Oct. 8, 2011, in

Duncan on Sept. 13, 2011.

husband, Matt, are the parents of

Oviedo, Fla. They now reside in

Kyle Schmitt and Hannah Carlton

daughter Mia Grace, born April 1,

Winter Springs, Fla. e

were married May 28, 2011. Kyle

2011. Brother Domenic is 2.

Dustin Niehenke and his wife,

finished his Ph.D. in physics from

Ashley (Badger) Sealand and her

Michelle, are the parents of son

the University of Tennessee in

husband, Jesse, welcomed son

Hayden James, born July 24, 2011.

December and has taken a post-

Jackson August on April 30, 2011.

Katherine (Muse) and Jason ’04

doctoral position at Oak Ridge

Jessica (Condon) and Hunter ’08

O’Grady announce the birth of son

National Lab. The couple lives in

Stewart announce the birth of daughter

Jason Scott Jr. on Oct. 5, 2011. e

Knoxville, Tenn.

Abigail Jane on Sept. 3, 2011.

Rebecca (Bopp) Sinnott and her

Daniella (Cosentino) Smith and her

David Suetterlein and his wife, Ashley,

husband, Joseph, welcomed son

husband, Joshua, welcomed son

welcomed son Dylan Robert on June

Michael Joseph on Nov. 30, 2011.

Dean on Sept. 19, 2011.

7, 2011.


Winter 2012 2008

and staff accompanist in the Wright

2010

Stephen Wong joined the Philip

Brittany (Thomas) Bowen and her

State Department of Music, and

Julia Anderson is the new manager

Merrill Center for Strategic Studies

husband, Blake, announce the

is the choral accompanist at Dixie

of Olde Town Grove City. Her

at the Johns Hopkins School of

birth of son Sebastian Richard on

High School and Middle School in

duties include promoting the

Advanced International Studies. As

Oct. 24, 2011.

New Lebanon, Ohio. e

downtown through public relations,

program assistant, he supports the

community events and fundraising.

Hertog Leadership Project and the

Richard DeVore and his wife, Joy, welcomed son Stephen Richard on

2009

Jamie Betteridge

Center’s academic and outreach

Sept. 8, 2011.

Kelly Anderson

and Bryan Zirkle

initiatives. The Merrill Center

Emily (Garver) and James ’07 Dudt

and Tucker

’11 were married

is directed by Eliot Cohen and

welcomed son Philip James on

Gregg ’10

June 11, 2011,

Thomas Keaney.

Oct. 31, 2011.

were married

in Rochester,

July 30, 2011,

N.Y. The couple

Brittany (Steele) and Kory ’09 Kaye are the parents of son Elijah Shire, born Aug. 26, 2011. Sister Khloe is 1. Kory is an interim manager with Chick-fil-A and the Kayes live in Greensburg, Pa. Nick Lassor joined Morey’s Piers marketing department as

in Harbison

where Jamie is pursuing her

master’s degree in museum

master’s degree in music.

studies at Duquesne University.

Elizabeth (Prismon) Elmers

for BNY Mellon. They reside in Emsworth, Pa. Ryan Biese and

the digital marketing and public

Ann Howard

relations manager. Morey’s Piers

were married

is a seaside amusement park in

May 14, 2011.

Wildwood, N.J.

They now make

Courtney (Winther) and Todd Messer announce the birth of daughter Carly Ellen on Sept.

their home in Jackson, Miss. Katie Griffiths

12, 2011. The Messers reside in

and Oliver

Pequannock, N.J. Todd is working

Pfeffer were

as a supervisor at Target in Jersey

married Dec. 3,

City, N.J., while Courtney finished

2011, and now

three years of teaching at Trinity Christian School in Montville, N.J. She is now a stay-at-home mother. Jennifer

reside in Glen Mills, Pa. Photo courtesy of Shaun Yasaki ’09. Natalie Liberati

Montgomery and

and Tony Clark

Albert Cheung

’10 were married

were married

Aug. 27, 2011,

May 21, 2011.

in Pittsburgh.

They are living

They are living

in Hershey, Pa., and are medical

in Cleveland, where Tony is an

students at the Penn State College

electrical engineer for Karpinski

of Medicine. They will graduate in

Engineering and Natalie is a

May 2012.

substitute elementary school

Kylie (Mackaness) Schappeler

teacher.

and her husband, Tom, welcomed

Amie Oehlbeck and Alex Ellerhorst

daughter Kate Elizabeth on Sept.

were married Oct. 15, 2011.

26, 2011.

Chelsea (Sturdivant) and Tim

Joseph Severyn received a Master

Luckritz are the parents of two

of Humanities in Music from Wright

boys: Erik Dane, born Feb. 8,

State University in November 2011.

2010, and Marcus Frederick, born

He now serves as adjunct faculty

Oct. 31, 2011.

Emily Cramer

currently lives in Houghton, N.Y.,

Chapel. Kelly completed her

Tucker is a project manager

2011 and Michael Acquavita were married Aug. 13, 2011,

authored a book, Beauty Unframed, published by BorderStone Press LLC. It is a collection of essays on commonplace beauty. She created a portion of the text in an independent study course in the arts with Dr. Joshua Drake, associate professor of music and humanities. Spencer Folmar’s independent film “Guilt & Sentence” won twice at the Los Angeles Movie Awards this fall with the Award of Excellence and Best Screenplay. The awards celebrate independent motion picture and literary arts. The Award of Excellence is granted only to the top five films in the festival, while Best Screenplay is granted only to feature length films. Folmar, founder of SpenceTF Productions LLC, directed and co-wrote the film. Lara Stewart and Brian Sandell ’09 were married July 30, 2011,

in Gibsonia, Pa. They are currently living in Charlotte, N.C. Brittany (Hayward) Hoffman, as part of her job with Regent University and Students in Free Enterprise, taught a seminar in Colombia, South America, on entrepreneurship from a Christian worldview. She was there in November and created the curriculum for the course. Rebekah Pierce is completing a yearlong volunteer job with KNOM in Nome, Alaska. The radio station is part of AmeriCorps and is the only station in northern Alaska. Pierce is working in both music director and inspiration director positions and will spend a few hours per week on air. Hannah Schlaudt and Kevin Schellhase ’10 were married Jan. 22, 2011, in Richmond, Va. They currently reside in Gaithersburg, Md. e

in Gibsonia, Pa. Lara is teaching in the Shaler Area School District as an AmeriCorps member. Brian is attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and will graduate in June 2012. They currently live on the seminary campus.

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 45


Grove City College

in memory Margaret (Quinio) Canterna ’38 died Dec. 28, 2011. She owned and directed Kittaninng (Pa.) Beauty School for 23 years. Later in the Pittsburgh area, she taught cosmetology, led a hospital auxiliary and served as a church lector. Her eight children include three sets of twins. Also surviving are grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and a sister.

The Grove City College Alumni Association places a book in Henry Buhl Library in memory of each alumnus for whom the Alumni Office 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.

R. Heath Larry ’34 died Dec. 18, 2011. He practiced law before joining U.S. Steel, where he worked for nearly 40 years, retiring as vice chairman of the board. In 1946, Larry joined the Grove City College Board of Trustees, a position he held for more than 65 years. He was named a Trustee Emeritus in 1997. The College recognized him with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1964 and an Alumni Achievement Award in 1968 in the Field of Industry. He was the College’s Commencement speaker in 1979. He and his wife, Eleanor (below), were very involved in civic and philanthropic activities in the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania area. Eleanor (Ketler) Larry ’37 died Nov. 20, 2011. She is the granddaughter of College founder Isaac Ketler, and the daughter of Dr. Weir Ketler ’08, president of the College for 40 years (191656) and his wife, Ellen. She was the 1937 May Queen. The Larrys lived in Delray Beach, Fla. Their survivors include three sons, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and many Grove City College family members.

4 6 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

Helen (Gamble) Frey ’40 died Dec. 12, 2011. She was a homemaker who raised five children, including triplets. She played bridge, was an accomplished needle worker and lived in Jenkintown, Pa. Surviving are her husband, Howard, five children and 11 grandchildren. Mary Jo (Fuhrer) Horchler ’41 died Sept. 30, 2011. A registered nurse, she taught and worked in several hospitals. She was an accomplished china painter, substitute teacher and antiques store proprietor who lived in Morganville, N.J. Survivors include a son and daughter and a granddaughter. Ethel (Barlett) Bacher ’42 died Oct. 25, 2011. She lived in Meadville, Pa., and was a school teacher and secretary in Knox, Pa. She enjoyed golf, playing cards and playing her organ with friends. She devoted her life to raising her two daughters and enjoying her two grandsons and three great-grandsons. Edward C. Book ’42 died Feb. 8, 2011. He resided in Charlotte, N.C. Dorothy (Dusch) Clancy ’42 died June 2, 2011. She lived in Venice, Fla., then Morehead City,

N.C. Surviving are a daughter, a sister, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Florence (Dodds) Perrine ’42 died Dec. 1, 2011. She was an accomplished seamstress and musician, playing the church organ and accompanying the Toledo Opera Chorus. She lived in Fremont, Ohio, and was a pet shelter volunteer. Survivors include three daughters, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Esther (Harrison) Borland ’43 died Jan. 2, 2011. A resident of Springdale, Pa., she is survived by three daughters, including Charlene Borland ’72; grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, a brother and several Grove City College relatives. H. Jean (Arnold) Hider ’44 died Nov. 3, 2011. She made her home in Rochester, N.Y., and is survived by two sons, two grandchildren and a sister. Joel D. McKinney ’45 died Oct. 13, 2010. He had been living in Manassas, Va. Martha (Vogan) Murphy ’45 died Sept. 7, 2011. The Mercer, Pa., resident was an English teacher at Mercer High School for 20 years. She was busy with church, Eastern Star and the Shakespeare Club. Survivors include daughter Nancy (Johnston ’69) Filer, son William Johnston ’72, three siblings, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Margaret (Beighley) Gilliland ’46 died Dec. 21, 2011. A former school teacher, she raised a family while working for community causes near


Winter 2012 Plum, Pa. She aided her church, Eastern Star and the Presbyterian Home Association. Surviving are a son, two daughters and grandchildren.

in choirs and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Survivors include his wife, Harriet, five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Alice (Young) Lauby ’46 died June 1, 2011. She made her home in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and is survived by two daughters, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Edwin Merritt Jr. ’48 died Oct. 2, 2011. A resident of Lakewood, Wash., he retired from the Weyerhaeuser Company in Tacoma. He served in WWII as an Air Force navigator, and later in the Reserves as a liaison officer for the Air Force Academy. Surviving are his wife, Carmen, three sons, a sister, two stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rita (Vollmer) Roque ’46 died Oct. 18, 2011. She was a resident of Freeport, N.Y. Robert A. James ’47 died Sept. 29, 2011. The Army Air Corps veteran of World War II spent 40 years in management for PPG Industries. He was an active community leader and a tennis player. Most recently, he lived in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Survivors include a daughter; three sons; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three siblings, including Dr. Margaret James ’35 and Howell James ’42. Marjorie (Burns) Jones ’47 died Nov. 13, 2011. She was an active volunteer, helping charities and the USO, and loved to travel. After relocating to Savannah, Ga., she became a proprietor of The Tea Room. Surviving are three children, four granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. Irene (Lucas) Kasbee ’47 died Nov. 27, 2011. Before living in Palm Beach Shores, Fla., she resided in Naperville, Ill., where she worked with Metropolitan Life Insurance for 15 years. Survivors include her husband, Charles, four children, a sister, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Telford H. Dindinger ’48 died Dec. 19, 2011. An Army Air Corps veteran, he first worked as boys director at two YMCAs. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1960 and served several churches in eastern Iowa. He mentored youth, sang

Florence (Shawley) Jones ’49 died Jan. 30, 2011.The former Alumni Council member lived in Westfield, N.Y. Survivors include daughter Juliana Jones ’79. John M. Warren ’49 died Oct. 6, 2011. The Decatur, Ill., resident was a World War II Army veteran and retired Cligan Steel salesman. Survivors include his wife, Ellen, three sons, a son-inlaw and grandchildren. Robert E. Knepshield ’50 died Sept. 2, 2011. He was a retired engineer living in Fort McCoy, Fla. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Surviving are cousins. Madeline M. Armbrust ’51 died Dec. 6, 2011. After college, she served in Lebanon as a Presbyterian missionary. Later in Chicago, she was executive director of a nonprofit agency for the aging. In retirement, she lived in Scranton, Pa. Survivors include a sister, nephews and a niece. Jack E. Schlossnagel ’51 died Nov. 30, 2011. He began teaching at Grove City College in 1958 and retired in 1995 as chairman of the Department of Mathematics. An Army veteran, he served on the Grove City

school board and borough council, Boy Scouts, and with other community activities. He enjoyed golf and the outdoors. Survivors include wife Jean; sons Chris Schlossnagel ’83 and Marty Schlossnagel ’88; and sister Vivian (Schlossnagel ’55) Sprinkle.

was Man of the Year in 1991. He was an outdoorsman who aided the rebuilding of the Corning (N.Y.) Country Club. Survivors include his wife, Carol, three children and five grandchildren.

C. Donald Gates Jr. ’54 died Sept. 4, 2011. The Gibsonia, Pa., resident was an accomplished attorney in his own practice. He served the community as a member of many religious, civic, fraternal and local government agencies and boards. Surviving are his wife, Marsha, and a daughter.

William O. Hund ’54 died Oct. 13, 2011. The Manistee, Mich., resident worked for 28 years with Martin Marietta as a process engineer and laboratory manager. For 10 years he was the county’s emergency management coordinator. An Army veteran, he was an avid singer, church board member and ham radio fan. Survivors include a son.

John W. “Jack” Lind ’54 died Sept. 5, 2011. An Army veteran, he retired as director of transportation and distribution with Corning Inc. after 31 years of service. He was past president of the National Industrial Transportation League and

Robert J. Shoffstall ’57 died Dec. 14, 2011. He was a Navy veteran and engineer who lived in Fairview, Texas. He enjoyed target shooting and golf. Survivors include his wife, Ann; son David Stoffstall ’85; a daughter; two grandchildren and a sister.

Former College Trustee C. Fred Fetterolf ’52 died Feb. 5, 2012. Fetterolf was the retired president and chief operating officer for the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). A member of Grove City College’s Board of Trustees for 21 years, he served as chair of the development committee and member of the board’s executive committee. He spearheaded the College’s first capital campaign, the $60 million Change & Commitment Campaign that began in 2000. With his leadership, the campaign raised more than $68 million. He received the College’s Jack Kennedy Alumni Achievement Award in the field of Industry in 1978 and the Distinguished Service Award presented by the Alumni Association in 2011. He was honored in February 2011 with the College’s Athletic Heritage Award. As a student, he competed in football, basketball and golf, playing as the No. 1 man for the golf team and serving as president of the Varsity G Club. He was a member of the Epsilon Pi fraternity. A Navy veteran, he has been involved in numerous community and ministry initiatives in the Pittsburgh area and beyond. He lived in Sewickley, Pa., with his wife, Fran (Spang ’52) Fetterolf, who survives. They have two grown children and several grandchildren.

t h e G ēD UNK w w w. g c c.e d u | 47


Grove City College

William L. Taylor ’57 died Oct. 19, 2011. He worked in sales with Pittsburgh Steel in both Pittsburgh and Houston. In Houston, Taylor founded Vantage Tubular Inc., which he ran until 1997 then transferred to his son. He was a Mason, played tennis and was a fisherman and bird hunter. Surviving are his wife, Marilyn, a daughter and son, two sisters and a grandson. Joan (Timney) Verigood ’57 died Dec. 16, 2011. She worked as a teacher in various school districts before opening her shop, Market Alley Zoo, in Lancaster, Pa. She enjoyed planning parties and playing the flute. Survivors include husband Robert Verigood ’58; sons John Verigood ’82 and Robert Verigood ’82; two daughters; six grandchildren, including Brett Verigood ’12; and two siblings. John Patton ’58 died Oct. 31, 2011. A physical therapist, he worked for Northwestern University in Chicago, the Department of Health and many state agencies. The Army veteran lived in Northumberland, Pa., was very active in church, and volunteered at Geisinger Children’s Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Dolores, three children, two stepchildren, grandchildren and three siblings. Louise (Riedmaier) Henstock ’61 died Nov. 6, 2011. For 20 years, she taught Spanish in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and Kansas. Residing in Topeka, Kan., she showed her Samoyeds with the Kennel Club. She sang in choirs for 50 years and published a book, Kansas Post Rock Country. Surviving are her husband, Thomas, a daughter and a brother. Sheryl (Patterson) McLaughlin ’61 died Nov. 23, 2011. She directed church preschools

4 8 | w w w. g c c.e d u t h e G ēD UNK

in Punxsutawney, Pa., before moving to Tuscaloosa, Ala., in 1999. There, she was active in church programs, loved golf and crafts. Survivors include her husband, Richard McLaughlin ’60, two children and grandchildren. William L. Nicholson ’61 died Sept. 1, 2011. A Navy veteran, he lived in Duluth, Ga., and had worked for Greenbriar Treatment Center. Survivors include his wife, Desi; four children; brother Milton Nicholson ’53; sister Lynne (Nicholson ’61) Jamison and seven grandchildren. Jan M. MacHen ’62 died Aug. 25, 2011. He worked in accounting and merchandising, and was a volunteer EMT, church deacon and Mason. He lived in Arlington, Texas. Survivors include two sons, two grandchildren and his twin brother. Charles F. Mehrmann Jr. ’62 died May 30, 2011, in Andorra. He owned an industrial glass company and his windows are used in many of Melbourne, Australia’s major buildings. He did missions work to help drug addicts in Australia and third world nations. He also competed in some of the world’s most famous offshore yacht races. Surviving are his wife, Karen; two sons, including Charles Mehrmann III ’89; and several other Grove City College relatives. James M. Beatty Jr. ’63 died Jan. 3, 2012. The retired U.S. Air Force major was a 14-year fighter pilot with two tours in Vietnam and several service medals. He also worked with J.M. Beatty Automotive and McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft, the latter as an instructor. He lived in Panama City, Fla. Survivors include his wife, Mary; two daughters; two stepchildren;

siblings Gail (Beatty ’70) Farrington and Dean Beatty ’78; grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Patti (Caulfield) Mills ’64 died Dec. 15, 2011. A resident of Sandy Lake, Pa., she taught in New Jersey and Pittsburgh before teaching in the local elementary school. She enjoyed gardening and hummingbirds. Survivors include a son, a granddaughter and brother Glenn Caulfield ’59. Nancy (Rickabaugh) Schneider ’65 died Sept. 27, 2011. She lived in Strongsville, Ohio, and was retired from 30 years of teaching. She was a church organist for 50 years. Survivors include husband Jack Schneider ’64, two children, six grandchildren, her mother and a sister. Lt. Col. Robert G. Downs Sr. ’67 (retired) died Dec. 10, 2011. He was a fighter pilot with the Air Force for 23 years and received many awards of valor and service, including three Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts. He lived in Wetumpka, Ala. Survivors include his wife, Kathi, seven children, five grandchildren and four siblings. David L. Jackson ’69 died Dec. 10, 2011. An Erie, Pa., resident, he retired as a supervisor after 28 years with National Fuel. Survivors include his wife, Ann; two sons, including David Jackson ’96; two siblings and two grandchildren. Robert T. Wormald ’69 died Dec. 24, 2011. A resident of Kensington, Conn., he was a software development consultant at Aetna. He was church treasurer, enjoyed sailing and the outdoors. Survivors include his wife, Isabel, a son and daughter.

Lynn (Krause) Taylor ’78 died Aug. 13, 2011. She was a middle school science teacher and active volunteer working with autistic children and children at risk. She lived in Marietta, Ga. Surviving are husband Mark Taylor ’86 and two daughters. Lynn and Mark met at a College alumni event in Atlanta. Nevin A. Brick ’80 died April 7, 2011. He lived in LeRoy, N.Y., and was a mechanical engineer with the Firth Rixson Monroe Ltd. Co. at its Rochester branch. He was a past master of the Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Cathy, a stepson and two brothers. Bruce R. Testa ’82 died Oct. 5, 2011. He lived in Syracuse, N.Y., and worked in restaurants in the Wilmington, Del., area, most recently at Ristorante Attilio. Survivors include his mother, three brothers and two sisters. Steven E. Atwell ’87 died Sept. 10, 2011. He lived in Carlton, Pa., and was employed with Starlite Group in Meadville as a bookkeeper. He had been treasurer of his church and enjoyed high school football. Surviving are his parents, two siblings, a niece and nephews. Gary R. Smolnik Jr. ’98 died Sept. 3, 2011. He enjoyed traveling, running, cycling and reading. Surviving are his wife, Wendy, his parents, his grandparents and four siblings. Michael T. Abel ’08 and his wife of one week, Nicole, died in a sightseeing helicopter crash in Hawaii on Nov. 10, 2011. Both Michael and Nicole were engineers working for Westinghouse in Cranberry Township, Pa. Michael is survived by his parents, brother Matthew Abel ’06, grandmothers and extended family.


Winter 2012

alumni babies CONGRATULATIONS NEW PARENTS! Grove City College welcomes your new

Lowe Simeon Ashworth

Emma Grace Beirne

Jamin Edward Bell

Julia Lynn Brindle

Jonathan Cole Calzada

William Blaise Carlberg

Luciano “Luca” Matthew Cavalieri

Nadia Lyn Cheng

Claire Dening

Vincent Boston DeRienzo

Levi Nathan Dietrich

Born 7-1-11 Simeon ’98 and Amy (Powell ’99) Ashworth

Born 10-1-10 Brian ’02 and Megan (Wittenwyler ’02) Beirne

Born 4-15-10 Carrie (Hilzinger ’02) and Ed Bell

Born 6-18-10 Brian ’04 and Melody Brindle

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 Alumni Relations Office 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 3 in Grove City College shirts only. Digital photos must

Born 1-7-10 Susan (Sems ’98) and JC Calzada

Born 8-30-10 Chris ’04 and Sheila (Mattes ’04) Carlberg

Born 5-10-10 Jenny (Klopsic ’04) and Matthew Cavalieri

Born 5-24-11 Sara (Everitt ’99) and Maverick Cheng

be high resolution, 300 dpi. Please do not embed photos in the body of an email message, but rather attach a high-resolution image. Send to Alumni Relations Office, Alumni Babies, 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, Pa., 16127 or alumni@gcc.edu.

Ella Gracyn Cline

Born 12-25-10 Lisa (Ellis ’99) and Todd Cline

Born 4-16-11 Kristen (Rizzuti ’02) and Christopher Dening

Born 12-5-10 Jenna (Marry ’05) and David DeRienzo

Born 12-24-10 Nathan ’05 and Emily (Drawbaugh ’04) Dietrich

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Grove City College

Seth Patton Doyle

Born 7-25-10 Adam ’95 and Valerie (Park ’94) Doyle

Linea Pauline Fuller Born 3-14-11 Ben ’05 and Joni (Swartzentruber ’06) Fuller

Elijah Shire and Khloe Elizabeth Kaye

Anna Katherine Key

Samuel Jonathan Mezey

Anne Marie Murchie

Sarina Ruth Rivera

Grant Edwin Robeson

Born 8-26-11 and 3-29-10 Kory ’09 and Brittany (Steele ’08) Kaye

Born 11-18-10 Brian ’03 and Betsy (Hollo ’04) Mezey

Born 6-25-10 Heather (Judy ’02) and Daniel Rivera

Born 7-8-10 Katherine (Graham ’03) and Daryl Key

Born 10-27-10 Mark ’07 and Ashley (Metcalfe ’07) Murchie

Born 10-20-10 Serene (Patton ’01) and Scott Robeson

Isabella Gavie

Born 12-14-09 Katrina (Townley ’99) Gavie

Jaxson Kush

Born 4-7-11 Doug ’92 and Tara Kush

Cooper James Murray

Born 6-5-10 Allison (Mastroianni ’01) and Jim Murray

Liam Clifford Salesky

Born 7-29-10 Beth (McMorran ’02) and Eric Salesky

Gwenyth Brynn Ghiglieri

Zoe Alika Horst

Tyler Ikeyama Latham

Anna Katherine Litwak

Ian Joseph Maloney

Marlowe Emerson Murray

Julian James Parker

Kyrie Tirzah Ranjan

Mia Grace Savinda

Isaac Nathaniel Schultz

Hannah Rowen Smith

Born 7-23-10 Amy (Arblaster ’04) and Drew Ghiglieri

Born 11-26-09 Lance ’99 and Akiko Latham

Born 7-1-11 Seth ’05 and Lindsay (Gentile ’04) Murray

Born 4-1-11 Nicki (Ruggiero ’07) and Matt Savinda

Born 5-2-11 Jaron ’06 and Crystal Horst

Born 5-9-10 Jesse ’98 and Amy (Russell ’97) Litwak

Born 6-1-09 Brenda (Booher ’94) and Jason Parker

Born 12-10-10 Michelle (Cuneo ’00) and Josh Schultz

McKenna Jamison Jones

Born 2-28-10 Patrick ’90 and Megan Jones

Born 9-24-10 Angela (Cetti ’02) and Tim ’02 Maloney

Born 6-15-11 Jagan ’00 and Cheralyn (Boruvka ’02) Ranjan

Born 10-15-09 Lisa (Potts ’01) and Eric Smith


Winter 2012

Madison Elisabeth Sobolak

Benjamin Richard Spanjer

Adam Justin Vile

Demi Concetta and Sophia Bella Vinroe

Born 1-13-10 Lisa (Pascal ’98) and Dave Sobolak

Born 1-19-11 Amy (McHenry ’98) and Kevin Vile

Born 3-13-11 Michael ’97 and Brenda Spanjer

Megan Noelle Steele Oct. 27, 2009 Greg ’04 and Amber (Steele ’04) Steele

Born 7-22-11 and 7-20-09 Michelle (Russo ’06) and Jordan Vinroe

Benjamin Steltzer

Connor Dale Stutzman

Jacob Crosby Wood

Ava and Aiden Zanella

Born 4-28-10 Scott ’99 and Anna (Soderquist ’97) Steltzer

Born 2-14-11 Jennifer (Fleming ’99) and Steve Wood

Born 9-26-10 Natalie (Gallagher ’00) and Lynn Stutzman

Matthew James Vatter Born 5-30-11 Lindsey (DiGia ’07) and Michael Vatter

Born 11-17-08 Bridgette (Andersen ’97) and Bob Zanella

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Grove City College Alumni Magazine Grove City College 100 Campus Drive Grove City, PA 16127

LEAVE YOUR MARK

The last structural beam of the new Science, Engineering and Mathematics Building, painted white and signed by College alumni, students and employees, has now been put into place!

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 869 Erie, PA


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