Holy Family University Magazine - Spring 2024

“Give me a T!” Nothing evokes more school spirit, pride and fun quite like sports. At Holy Family, there has never been a better time to be on the sidelines celebrating the quality competition and resulting success of our intercollegiate athletics squads. They excite, they unify, and they cause us to stand and cheer!

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY BY: Holy Family Marketing & Communications

EDITOR

Jan Giel ART DIRECTOR

Sarah Merrill DESIGN

Glenna Stocks, Stocks Creative

CONTRIBUTORS

Zachary Durham, Sarah Merrill, Zachary Nolter, Julie Rempfer ‘10

ADMINISTRATION

Anne Prisco, Ph.D., President

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D., Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Wendy K. Parsons, CFRE, Vice President for University Advancement

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE SENT TO: Editor, Holy Family University Magazine, Marketing & Communications, Marian Hall, 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114 or via email to: magazine@holyfamily.edu

CLASS NOTES AND CHANGES OF ADDRESS MAY BE SENT TO: University Advancement, Holy Family University, Marian Hall, 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114 or via email to: alumni@holyfamily.edu

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Holy Family University is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

INSIGHT

The Vital Role of Intercollegiate Athletics

Fostering Student Growth and Community Spirit

Now in my third year as president, I have been privileged to experience firsthand the transformative power of intercollegiate athletics within our campus community. As this special edition of the alumni magazine demonstrates, beyond the realm of competition, our athletics program serves as an important part of Holy Family’s story, shaping the holistic development of our studentathletes and fostering a vibrant sense of unity among all members of the community.

Intercollegiate athletics are not simply extracurricular activities; they are integral components of a comprehensive educational experience. Through rigorous training, disciplined practice, and competitive events, student-athletes cultivate invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the confines of the playing field. They learn the virtues of teamwork, perseverance, and time management—qualities that are indispensable in both academic and professional realms.

With the expansion of our program, now 330 student-athletes represent the University through their dedicated efforts and are doing so as both scholars and competitors across 18 sports. Holy Family Athletics recently was tied for 21st nationwide among 44 Division II programs to receive the NCAA’s Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. The award is presented annually to member institutions that achieve a four-year Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 90

percent or higher, showcasing the University’s efforts on results in the classroom and the playing fields.

Moreover, intercollegiate athletics catalyze a sense of belonging and pride within the campus community. When our teams take to the field or court, they do not just represent themselves; they embody the collective spirit of our institution. As fans cheer from the sidelines and alumni rally behind their alma mater, a palpable camaraderie permeates the atmosphere, transcending differences and uniting the community for a common purpose.

As noted in the book Baseball As a Road To God - Seeing Beyond The Game, “The sense that one is joined with one’s fellow human beings in the celebration of something great reinforces the sense that what one is celebrating really is great. Moments like this take on greater meaning when they are shared with a community of like-minded folks who are experiencing the same kind of awe.”

At Holy Family University, we are committed to nurturing a culture

of excellence. Our student-athletes are held to the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity, serving as ambassadors of our core values both on and off the field. As NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline aptly stated, “The purpose of college sports is to provide transformative experiences for student-athletes—not just for a few years, but for their entire lives.”

Beyond athletics, this spring brings exciting updates for the University overall. Holy Family will continue to enroll approximately 3,600 students. Our undergraduate enrollment outlook is positive and demand for on-campus housing remains at an all-time high.

Recognizing the critical need for market-driven degrees, we launched a host of new programs in technology, healthcare, education, and business that showcase excellence through innovation.

And like most organizations, we are approaching Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) from all angles –policy, practice, and as an innovative tool for today’s workforce. We know that AI is already an in-demand skill in the workplace, so our focus is on ensuring that our students understand its practical and ethical uses.

On the facilities front, we will begin work this summer on a multimodal project that will create stunning new entryways for our Philadelphia

campus. We will also be constructing an Athletic Fieldhouse, and in the fall, we will break ground for the Holy Family Hall Welcome Center. In addition, we have re-imagined the Campus Student Center to provide greater space for a range of student programs and activities.

Looking ahead, our expansion into Bucks County presents exciting opportunities for growth and innovation. Based on ongoing discussions with industry and government leaders, the vision for the Newtown West Campus is to become an Innovation Center with programs to support Entrepreneurship, Life Sciences, Nursing, and Cybersecurity. As you can see, the University is brimming with activity!

Our Holy Family alumni are at the heart of our success – on the playing fields, in the community, and in leadership roles throughout industry. First and foremost, our athletics programs are informed by the core values that make the Holy Family University experience so powerful for our athletes and for all alumni.

Onward & upward together in faith & family,

Anne Prisco, Ph.D. President

REFERENCES

Hainline, B. (2016). Transformation Through Sports. NCAA. NCAA. (2019). NCAA Graduation Success Rate. Retrieved from ncaa.org/about/resources/research/graduation-success-rate. NCAA. (2022). NCAA Sports Science Institute. Retrieved fromncaa.org/sport-science-institute. Sexton, J. with Oliphant, T. and Schwartz, P. J. (2013), Baseball As a Road To God - Seeing Beyond The Game, Gotham Books.

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As fans cheer from the sidelines and alumni rally behind their alma mater, a palpable camaraderie permeates the atmosphere, transcending differences and uniting the community for a common purpose.”

Five Holy Family University Professors Named Recipients of the 2024 Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards

ABOVE: Dr. Prisco congratulated Taylor Award winners (l to r) Dr. Patrick McElwaine, Dr. Jaclyn Myers, Dr. Stanley Maudlin, Dr. Edward Waddell and Dr. Dian He.

Five Holy University professors have been named as the recipients of the 2024 Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards, competitive grants that support research projects across a range of disciplines at the University.

Dian He, Ph.D., Stanley Mauldin, Ph.D., Edward Waddell, Ph.D., and Jaclyn Myers, Ph.D., professors in the School of Arts & Sciences, jointly will share the award to fund the creation of a Center for Biological Macromolecule Simulation (CBMS) within the University’s Natural Sciences Department, focusing on computational research in biology and biochemistry. The proposed CBMS will allow more student interns to participate in research, engage in diverse experiments, and present their work at various academic conferences. Expanded computational resources also will foster greater collaboration within the Natural Sciences Department, enable more internal research projects and enhance high-level science courses by facilitating multiple simultaneous computer modeling experiments.

Patrick McElwaine ’00, M’04, Psy. D has also been named a Taylor Award recipient and will use the grant funding to create a recovery-focused book entitled The Power of Recovery: Stories of Experience, Strength and Hope. The publication will include personal testimonials from 20-30 individuals in recovery and will be used to promote sobriety, reduce stigma, and provide hope for individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders. The book will serve as a resource for educational settings, the community, and anyone touched by addiction and will include information on evidence-based treatments, recovery support groups, and related resources.

The Taylor Award program was established through an endowment created by Carol Taylor ’75, H’22 a former University faculty member who served from 1979-1987 and 1995-1997 in the School of Nursing & Health Sciences. Taylor and her family created the award to honor her parents: Ray and Mildred Taylor.

Holy Family University Professor of Education

Dr. Maria Agnew Named Recipient of Patricia J. Creegan Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education

Holy Family University Professor of Education

Dr. Maria Agnew ‘90 was the recent recipient of the Patricia J. Creegan Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education from Pennsylvania’s Education for All Coalition (PEAC). PEAC President Linda Carmona-Bell visited Holy Family’s Philadelphia campus in February to make the award presentation.

The award recalls the life and work of its namesake Patricia J. Creegan, MSW, a founding member of PEAC who was a passionate advocate for the true inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.

In earning the distinction, Agnew was praised for her extraordinary leadership and dedication in ensuring access and inclusion for all students to educational programs at Holy Family University.

ABOVE: PEAC President Linda Carmons-Bell and Interim Dean of the School of Education Dr. Alan Arroyo presented Dr. Maria Agnew with the Patricia J. Creegan Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education.

HFU Contingent Spends Spring Break with Habitat for Humanity in Florida

Three Holy Family University faculty members and two staff members worked alongside 18 students over Spring Break in several building sites as part of a community service project with Habitat for Humanity of Broward County, Florida.

“This trip was such a rewarding experience,” said nursing major Eddie Earley ’26. “We really enjoyed helping those in need and being a part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Dr. Patrick McElwaine Brings Training for Substance Use Disorder to the Navajo Nation

Holy Family University faculty member Patrick McElwaine, Psy.D., LPC, made the 2,153-mile trek from Philadelphia to Chinle, AZ for an adventure unlike any other he has ever experienced. Facilitated by the world-renowned Beck Institute where he also serves on the faculty, Dr. McElwaine boarded two flights and then drove four hours to the Navajo Indian Reservation to provide a twoday workshop for therapists, social workers, case managers, psychiatrists and even several medicine men on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders that was culturally responsive for the traditional and mostly reserved Navajo audience. Many of the participants drove hours to attend the training.

CBT is a form of psychotherapy that has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of psychiatric disorders, psychological problems, and medical conditions with psychological components in over 2,000 clinical studies.

“It was an amazing experience,” Dr. McElwaine said. “There is a lot of poverty there, a very high unemployment rate, many homes without running water or electricity, a lot of substance abuse problems and not a lot of treatment options. I was honored and excited to be invited there.”

Campus Library Outfitted with International Flags

There is a new international feel to the Holy Family University Library thanks to the Office of Global Initiatives. The recent, permanent installation, proposed and organized by Executive Director Prince Adnan El Hashemite, serves to unite the diverse populations that comprise Holy Family. Positioned at the center of the building, the flags are visible from both levels of the library as powerful reminders that the University community has much to explore, learn and identify through the various ancestries, cultures, and heritages that make up the University’s population. Students can request a flag for their native country to ensure that all current students are represented in this stunning display.

Ky Nguyen ‘27 was happy to lend hands-on support.

FACULTY NOTES

Maria Agnew ’90, Ph.D., Claire Sullivan, Ed.D., and Roseanna Wright, Ph.D. presented “Attracting, Preparing, and Retaining the Next Generation of Special Educators” at the Pennsylvania Department of Education Conference in Hershey, PA from February 29March 1, 2024.

Luanne Amato, MBA, Ed.D. Associate Professor and Chris Schoettle, Ed.D.

Associate Dean from the School of Business & Technology were awarded a mini-grant in 2023 to fund a research project that examined the effectiveness of education in preventing student ethical violations when using AI tools and resources. This research project led to a course redesign that included best practices and ethical considerations in adapting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to higher education curriculums. Also, in 2023, Dr. Amato and Dr. Schoettle published a chapter “Using Artificial Intelligence Ethically and Responsibly: Best

Practices in Higher Education” in an IGI Global publication: Creative AI Tools and Ethical Implications in Teaching and Learning. They are presenting four interactive workshops for Faculty Development opportunities in regards to using AI tools to help improve the course redesign for faculty.

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Patrick J. Casey, Ph.D., published his “Summary of Steward Goetz’s C.S. Lewis on Higher Education” in the Heterodox Academy Blog. January 30, 2024. His article, “Lived Experience – Defined and Critiqued, appeared in” Critical Horizons 24, No. 3 (2023). He joined colleagues Jukka Savolainen, Justin McBrayer, and Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle in authoring “Positionality and its Problems,” for Perspectives on Psychological Science (2023) and published “Is Religion on the Wrong Side of History?” in Discourse Magazine. February 6, 2023.

Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology

Melinda Parisi

Cummings, Ph.D. was the lead author for an article published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders in August. She joined colleagues Merle Keitel and Jennie Park-Taylor in writing and co-editing an upcoming book An Intersectional Approach to Counseling Individuals with Eating Disorders, to be published by Information Age as the second volume of the book series, An Intersectional Approach to Counseling and Health.

Gerry FitzpatrickDoria, ’85, Ed.D., School of Education, shared her presentation “Coaching Conversations: Fostering Culturally Sustaining Practices with Aspiring Educators” at the National Field Experience Conference at the University of Colorado from March 17-20, 2024.

Pamela Flynn, Coordinator of Fine Arts in the School of Arts & Sciences, had her mixed media works featured in

several professional art exhibits including: the 40th Anniversary Exhibit at the Ceres Gallery in New York City (January 9-27, 2024), the 8th Annual WFA Exhibition 2024 at the Ceres Gallery in New York City (January 30- Februrary 3, 2024), Focus Group Exhibit at Philadelphia City Hall (January 29- April 12, 2024) and NAWA at the Hollis Taggart Gallery in New York City (March 21-April 20, 2024).

Margaret Harkins, DNP, MBE, MSN, GNP-BC, RN-BC, dean of the Holy Family University School of Nursing & Health Sciences, is currently serving on the Corporate Board of Directors for SPIN (Special People in the Northeast). Dean Harkins was recently appointed to the Public and Professional Affairs Committee of PHENSA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Nursing Schools Association) by the Executive Committee. The committee addresses policy, public relations, and professional relationships.

Dr. Harkins and Michelle M. MurphyRozanski, PhD, MSN, RN, CRNP-FNP have been appointed to the Thomas Jefferson Nurse Residency Advisory Board.

Associate English Professor and Writing Coordinator Melissa Rampelli, Ph.D. had her book, Narratives of Women’s Health and Hysteria in the Nineteenth-Century Novel, published by Palgrave’s Studies in Literature, Science and Medicine in October 2023. Her work examines how 19th-century authors used stock literary figures in their novels to scrutinize the medical and sociological discourse surrounding hysteria and to offer new narratives of women’s health.

Assistant Biology Professor Edward Waddell, Ph.D. will be profiled in the upcoming issue of the Drexel University Magazine as a member of the University’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT

The friendships forged.

The life lessons learned. The knowledge gained. The competition and camaraderie of the campus experience. Few things can transform lives the way collegiate sports can. For those fortunate enough to wear the uniform, compete at the highest level, and forever carry the memories of those competitions, the title of student-athlete is the predominant defining characteristic that resonates years after the student has run their last race, scored their last goal, or collected their last trophy. It is often the nexus that forever connects former student-athletes with their alma mater.

Consider the winning combination that collegiate sports provide – the opportunity to compete, and perhaps more importantly, to compete under the impassioned direction of coaches who instill life lessons. Coaches often serve as mentors, providing an additional level of support that enriches the overall experience of the student-athlete.

“Every time I get to see the relationships between my athletes grow tight is a defining moment for me as a coach,” said men’s lacrosse coach Noah Morris, who is guiding the program in its inaugural season. “It is gratifying seeing them all working hard together to reach a common goal.”

How do you quantify the value of the often-intangible skills and attributes that result from involvement in college athletics? The leadership, teamwork, focus, heart, dedication in the face of adversity? The accountability, sportsmanship, the pursuit of a shared objective, the discipline and drive to be a champion, the chemistry and time management?

“I want my student-athletes to take away selflessness, hard work and respect from their time at Holy Family,” head baseball coach Kyle Davis said. “I want them to care about the success of others over their own and to show respect to everyone they encounter.”

A June 24, 2020 article by Jessica Harlan entitled “Lasting Benefits of College Sports for Student Athletes” used data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Gallup to actually quantify the transformational effect of intercollegiate athletics. The research revealed that former NCAA student-athletes who graduated from college between 1975 and 2019 were more likely to be “thriving” in four of the key five areas of wellbeing than nonathletes were. These included the purpose, social, community and physical domains. The two groups were equally likely to be thriving in the fifth element – financial.

The article outlined that Gallup’s measurement of wellbeing is based on years of global and national research and included 10 questions that were asked of former student-

athletes and used to gauge wellbeing in five categories:

Purpose Wellbeing: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals.

Social Wellbeing: Having strong and supportive relationships and love in your life.

Financial Wellbeing: Effectively managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security.

Community Wellbeing: The sense of engagement you have, liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.

Physical Wellbeing: Having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis.

Though the data was collected prior to the COVID pandemic, the Gallup information in one key outcome (wellbeing) confirms that participation in NCAA athletics is related to long-term, positive impacts among former student-athletes, equally among both minority and white participants, and exceeds that of nonathletes.

“Being a collegiate athlete was and is a privilege that taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to,” said Melissa Witner ‘03, a three-time All-CACC selection in soccer and a 2019 HFU Hall of Fame inductee who was a Rhodes Scholar nominee as a summa cum laude graduate in mathematics and is now a mother of three. “Most importantly, athletics taught me how to work together with other people. I learned how to lead by listening to those around me. I learned time management, and I learned to be grateful and

to want to help others have the experiences I had.”

The transformational effect of athletics also applies to the campus at large. In fact, intercollegiate athletics are often seen as “amenities” to university settings, quality additions that attract students from a larger geographic footprint and help to bolster an institution’s image. Student-athletes are typically significant contributors to the vibrancy and diversity of their campuses. Beyond wins and losses, athletics provide a reason to rally, to showcase school spirit, and to stand and cheer and celebrate a sense of belonging. Perhaps, for this reason, collegiate sports should be viewed not as extracurricular, but rather co-curricular. Data also supports that winning athletic programs help to increase donations, applications, academic reputation, and enrollment numbers.

Indeed, sport, at its essence, and collegiate sports, by their nature, have the power to unite, inspire, and ultimately change, yes transform, the world. They are an essential fabric of the undergraduate experience, a source of pride and tradition, and a reason to be forever connected to a youthful confidence that allowed you once to swing for the fences and revel in the emotion of the game-winning shot. For the fortunate student-athlete, that feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment- when you have competed and succeeded - stays with you for life.

HFU ATHLETICS THRIVING s

with Hamill at the Helm

Admittedly,

it is neither the thrill of victory nor the agony of defeat that keeps Tim Hamill ’04, M’08 up at night.

Sure, you would be hard pressed to find someone who is as passionate about sports as much as the former Holy Family University soccer standout turned fitness room supervisor turned assistant coach turned budget manager turned athletic director (since 2016). But now that he is in charge, it’s the wellbeing of everybody under his charge – foremost 330 student-athletes, 12 head coaches, the sports medicine and administrative staff – that makes it hard for him to shut down and put his head on the pillow.

“Being an athletic director is nothing like you would think it would be,” Hamill said. “Sure, it is fun working in sports, but there is a lot of management and oversight, putting out fires, talking to parents and professors, keeping 34 staff members happy and getting them what they need to do their job. It’s stressful for sure, but especially with all of the mental health concerns that came out of the pandemic, it is the wellbeing of everybody that keeps me up. Every time my phone rings after hours, I always answer

it, no matter who is calling. I make it a point to give every student-athlete my cell phone number. But it’s never a good phone call, when it’s a latenight call.”

Thankfully, Hamill has a level-headed, composed nature to capably juggle all the varied duties that keep the Tigers competitive in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). His cool-under-pressure manner also made him excel as an athlete. He played every sport imaginable growing up in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia, including bowling since his father and now HFU bowling coach, Patrick Hamill, conveniently owned a bowling alley (Longshore Lanes). He competed throughout his youth in baseball, basketball and soccer. Through soccer, he starred at HFU as a swift-footed midfielder then at forward on a talent-laden team that made the playoffs every year. Hamill earned the school’s first-ever NCAA Award after leading all of NCAA Division I, II and III men’s soccer in assists-per-game average (1.06), as a senior.

It is that level of competition, and the lifelong camaraderie that results from it, that Hamill hopes to deliver for the current crop of athletes, which has grown from 175 to 330

with the addition of five new sports in an 18-month stretch. He has worked tirelessly, since assuming the leadership role, to upgrade almost every space and facility in the department.

Among his most important jobs, Hamill attests, is hiring coaches who are the right fit for the program.

“I can tell about 10-15 minutes into an interview if the coaching candidate will fit in with the culture and personality of this University,” he said. “Sure, I want people who want to win, but I need people who care about our student-athletes, who will help them be successful academically as well. I have a really amazing staff, full of people who are here to do whatever needs to be done for the department to be successful. They put in a lot of hours, a lot of nights and weekends and time away from their own families. I value, love and trust everybody on my staff for that and for what they do for our student-athletes and this University.”

Hamill himself is married with two kids and two dogs. “My wife, Courtney ’08 (a nursing grad and volleyball player) understands the importance of providing the student athletes with the best experience possible. It would be impossible for me to be as dedicated as I am to the

success of this department and the University without my wife’s support.”

Hamill also expresses deep gratitude for the support that University President Anne Prisco and her administration have shown to athletics and its expansion.

“I know that I am blessed to have a president who sees the value in what we do,” he said. “Dr. Prisco has allowed me to increase our staff, elevate coaches to full-time positions, and create the best possible environment to be competitive and successful, both athletically and academically. Her vision and plan for transforming this University has always included athletics.”

Hamill next will focus on the new athletic fieldhouse, as he supports the success of his teams. He also will to continue to compete himself as a 225-average bowler (who has 29 perfect games to his credit) and a 10-handicap golfer (the sport that he loves the most).

“I try to get to know our student-athletes and their families,” Hamill said. “Outside of watching their success in their sports, I love watching them walk across that stage on graduation day, and I especially love when they come back and tell me what they are doing and how successful they are. That is the best part of my job.”

ESPORT EXPERIENCE THE HFU

TWO TIMES A WEEK, FOR UP TO THREE HOURS AT A TIME, you can walk by the Esports Center in the Holy Family University Campus Center and see teams of students practicing in their personal training space as the University’s newest student-athletes competing in Esports. Now in its second year of existence and third semester of competition, the program currently boasts 15 male and female participants, organized on teams, who compete locally, regionally and nationally in video games including Overwatch, Fortnight, and Call of Duty, among others. Individual gaming participation is limited to two teams.

factors into all competitions. “It brings kids together. It is very competitive, and our athletes are happy to have the opportunity to compete in such a structured, organized format.”

Sibilia also notes that Esports has been a very much student-led addition to campus.

Much like the avid bowler or pool player, who brings their own personalized equipment with them, Esports athletes often cart their own personal headsets, keyboards or controllers to practice and their once weekly competitions, to ensure that they are best prepared for competition.

The Holy Family Tigers compete as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), where they are ranked and paired against teams of similar skill levels in head-to-head matches, round-robin competition and tournaments. Competitive matches with other schools can last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, with tournament winners splitting small amounts of prize money.

“We treat our Esports athletes like all of our other student-athletes in every capacity,” said Collin Sibilia, who oversees the program and also serves as the head women’s volleyball coach. Sibilia is responsible for monitoring, guiding, supporting the Esport varsity athletes in their day-to-day operations. He serves as the gatekeeper of the Esports Room, handling everything from updating the expensive PCs to communicating with students, ensuring that all gaming involves respect for the equipment and that sportsmanship

“The lineups, decisions and tactics, the scheduling and game strategies, all rest with the kids,” Sibilia said. “Because there is no coach, the amount of collaboration and dialogue that is needed to organize themselves is impressive. Like in any sport, everyone’s job is important to the team’s success. The Esports room has definitely provided for another group of like-minded kids to feel comfortable at HFU, which is awesome.”

When the Esports Center is not in use for practices or competition, identified HFU students, who have expressed an interest in recreational use of the gaming facility, are invited to do so.

The Holy Family program currently competes in the Varsity Plus division of NACE, but increased interest and numbers could move the Tigers to the higher division of Varsity Premiere. There is even talk that the Esport athletes may be hitting the weight room with Strength and Conditioning head coach Dylan Ferron to work on eye exercises, participate in workouts designed to improve hand and wrist strength and even some cardiovascular work to address the sustained heart rates that are often observed among Esport competitors.

A livestreaming component to the sport also allows those interested in watching the competitions to be a part of the action.

“Over 90 percent of our participants have provided positive feedback on the program,” Sibilia said. “We know that it is not healthy for kids to be playing video games for eight hours a day, but organized practice and competition several times a week is very healthy for all the reasons that sports in general are. We are happy to include this program as part of our intercollegiate athletics program.”

AN EVER-GROWING

ARSENAL OF ATTRIBUTES

IMAGINE WHAT TYPE OF PERSON YOU COULD CREATE if you morphed the physical and mental attributes of David Robinson, Jr. ’24’s three favorite athletes - The smooth and defensive-minded, two-way play of L.A. Clippers forward Paul George, the energy and free spirit of Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, and the calm, cool and collected, clutch-under-pressure play of former Seattle Mariners’ third baseman Kyle Seager. Actually, many of those characteristics are already in the Holy Family University men’s basketball senior center and co-captain’s arsenal.

True, he is not the son of THE David Robinson, the former San Antonio center and NBA Hall of Famer, though every day that he has been playing the game, someone invariably asks him if he is related to “The Admiral”. (Admittedly, sometimes he plays along). He is, however, the proud and only son of David Robinson, Sr. and Char lette Robinson, and the younger (by 10 years) brother to sister Shakia Robinson, herself a standout center at the University of Massachu setts and then New Jersey Institute of Technology. He credits his parents for balancing structure and discipline with nurturing, and his father and sister for developing both his skills and love of the game.

“My father was my first coach, and I owe everything to him for in stilling so much in me,” the 6’7” Robinson, Jr. said. “He taught me the game, how to read defenses and even how to lead and carry myself. He was the first person to give me, and teach me to accept, construc tive criticism. He preached, ‘If you can handle me yelling at you, you can handle anyone.’ That is true to this day. Growing up, I wanted to be just like my sister. I saw how hard she worked.”

“A coaching friend of mine put David on my radar, and I knew from the moment I met him that he was raised the right way. He shook your hand. He looked you in the eye,” head coach Ryan Haigh ‘05 said. “We were just building the program, and he was a good fit and checked all the boxes. Since then, he has done anything we have asked him to do. He does all the lit tle things. You can yell at him until you are blue in the face, and he is going to give you a thumbs up, an ‘I got you’ and move on to the next play. He is so coachable and has great communication skills as our quarter back on defense. He is like our coach on the floor.”

“My time at Holy Family under Coach Haigh has been eventful and fruitful,” said Robinson, Jr., who will graduate in May with a degree in criminal justice with the hopes of becoming a criminal lawyer. “ I wouldn’t choose anything else. Despite what the record might say and the adversity that I have gone through, I wouldn’t change anything. I don’t want it to be easy. At the end of the day, I understand that this prepares me for life. Through sports, I’ve learned to trust myself. I have full faith in my own words and actions. I predicate myself on drawing out emotions in people, because I know sometimes life gets hard. I think that is why I am drawn to law and to being that person who is able to argue

RISING THROUGH THE RANKS

AND ROUNDING THE BASES

CALL IT INTUITION, INSTINCT, AN INNER VOICE. Great athletes have it. A natural feel for the game that brings with it a calm and quiet confidence, intangible qualities that make them great competitors. Admittedly, Ryan Simon ’11 learned early, when he couldn’t connect with a curveball as a high schooler at Father Judge, that he didn’t necessarily have the fundamentals in his athletic arsenal to fulfill a childhood dream of being a baseball player. But there was no denying that Simon had that instinctive inner voice and was sure of his destiny to make a living in profes-

sional sports. So, when a Philadelphia Phantoms’ representative appeared in his class in junior year, Simon had an aha moment.

Ironically, the career path of Ryan Simon, now manager of ticket services for the Philadelphia Phillies, can be likened to that of a minor league player gunning for the Big Leagues. Following his family to Holy Family University - his mother and three older siblings are all proud alums –(“We joke that we ARE the Holy Family.”) was also instinctive, especially since the school offered a sports management degree. Simon capitalized on the small class

size and embarked on the “long and winding road to a full-time job in professional sports.” Following a work-study position in the HFU athletic office, he used a Holy Family internship to gain entry to the Well Fargo Center for a five-month marketing stint. From there he moved to Comcast-Spectacor as the iconic Spectrum was closing its doors. Then it was onto the Phillies for a nine-month turn as a premium services host, then a season and group sales representative, then a merchandising representative. Following a brief stint away from the organization for two years, Simon returned full-time as the gameday staff supervisor, spent three years as the coordinator of ticket services and assumed his current role in February 2019.

Simon used his own farm system to make connections and network. He took on every duty that was assigned to him as he moved through the ranks, interesting tasks like operating a forklift to cold-calling to managing in-game promotions. He has come full circle and now oversees the internship program that first gave him entry into his dream job.

“There are thousands of college graduates every year who want to work in sports,” Simon said. “I am living proof that you can do anything you want with a Holy Family degree, you can live your dream, if you are

passionate and willing to put in the work. You need to be professionally persistent and resilient. You need to have an understanding that there is a lot of loss involved in sports. I tell students to identify people in the industry and area that you are interested in, and message them. Get out of your comfort zone and go to a career fair and just listen. Treat your job search as an educational experience, because you are going to learn something. Every experience is something that you can add to your resume until you are not only qualified but are doing the job that Holy Family prepared you so well to do.”

If, as baseball enthusiasts are quick to point out, you are a Hall of Famer if you succeed 30 percent of the time, Ryan Simon’s stats certainly qualify him as, at very least, an all-star. Along with his trophy family – his wife, Carolyn, and their beautiful four-year-old identical twins, Allison and Madison – Simon has been the recipient of “unreal” routine paychecks embossed with the Phillies’ logo and a priceless 2022 National League Championship ring. Quite a reward for a boy who lived his young life on Frankford Avenue, dreamed of a job with his hometown team, kept his eye on the prize, and carried his Holy Family community in his heart as he rounded the bases.

Alumni Benefits Program

Did you know that the Holy Family University Alumni Association sponsors an Alumni Benefits ProgramSM as a service to our alumni? The program offers a variety of attractively-priced products, most of which are available to alumni, students, faculty, and staff, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and siblings.

For more information visit HFU.MeyerAndAssoc.com or contact Meyer and Associates, the Program Administrator, at 800-635-7801.

Proceeds from the program support Holy Family University’s Alumni Association.

RUNNING IN CIRCLES, SUCCEEDING IN LIFE

THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF TRACK AND FIELD - the exhilarating and occasionally exasperating draw to a sport that showcases the purity of a footrace, a subculture of stopwatches and splits, enviable strength, unequaled stamina, and unrestrained athleticism. For former All-American (a proud Academic All-American and current medical school student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine), Taurai Augustin ’18, the ability to run and run fast was as innate as the natural breathtaking beauty of his native St. Lucia. For his Holy Family teammate and walk-on

Matt Weed ’18, now an audit supervisor for the Top 300 Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm, Maillie LLP, the sport was far more challenging, yet equally as fulfilling.

Weed, a Levittown native who was a standout midfielder in soccer at Harry S. Truman High School, was a latecomer to the sport, finally joining on with the Tigers in his junior year. Augustin was recruited to Holy Family following a successful season at Union County College in New Jersey where he excelled in the 400, 4x400 relay, the 1500 and mile, but especially in the 800-meters.

“The first day I walked on at Holy Family, they had me practice with the girls,” Weed remembered. “I thought, ‘Wow! This is the real deal. These track athletes are really something different.’ If I had practiced with the guys, I would have quit on the first day. I learned that track fitness is completely different from soccer fitness. I also learned that the team dynamic in track is amazing. I was absolutely shocked. I thought it was an individual sport, but it is 100-percent a team sport that has individual events. The people in the track and field program here were the most supportive teammates that I have ever had. I stuck with it and worked my way up from the middle of the pack to a bronze medal at the indoor championships in the 4x400. I would have set a then-school record in the 500 at indoors if my buddy, Taurai, didn’t run the event right before me and smash the record!”

Maybe it’s because the competition in track is an internal battle between the athlete and the clock, or maybe it is because only track athletes - who have stumbled off the blocks or been passed on the straightaway - know the effort that goes into shaving one second off a personal best, of clearing the hurdle, of launching the shot put.

“Running track at the colle giate level was always a priority for me,” said Augustin, who played soccer and cricket on the Caribbean island be fore following his grand mother to America in pursuit of his dream. (He earned his dual citizenship in 2020). “The more I trained, the more and more track became a part of me. I saw my abilities to succeed in

it. Our team had a very competitive mindset, and we challenged, pushed and supported each other.”

Augustin, who turned in one of the most memorable track careers in the program’s history, believes he excelled because of the “phenomenal” coaching that he received from Coach Dwight Brandon and his staff but also because the school provided a pathway for his academic success.

“Because I was a biology/pre-med major (with minors in chemistry, psychology and forensic science), my class schedule would often prevent me from making the main practice, but I would train later with one of the coaches. Having that dedicated staff definitely provided me a pathway to my dream of becoming a physician and helped me athletically. I grew up in a family with big expectations, and I didn’t have to lower my expectations because of athletics. My proudest moment was becoming an Academic All-American, something that was never done before by a male track athlete at Holy Family. Here is this athlete from this small university, also from a small island, who has this big accolade. I was elated from that experience. I am very thankful for the people I have met, the opportunities I have had, the places that track has taken me all over the country, and for the volunteer opportunities to give back to the sport and the University.”

Through a named track scholarship (that also bears that name of their teammate Vontae Hillard ‘18), created upon graduation, Weed and Augustin (now members of the HFU Alumni Board) are staying connected to each other, their alma mater and the sport that has bonded them for life and handing off the baton to next team of Tiger track stars.

“Holy Family has always been so good to me,” Weed said. “The accounting program has a push of real-life application, and a focus on the computer side of the field as well, that made me really like the program. I definitely still have an edge, to this day, within my company because of my experiences at HFU. I had a short life in track, because of injuries, and I definitely wish I would have joined the team sooner. But I had great camaraderie and made friends that will last a lifetime.”

“Holy Family gave me a life-changing opportunity,” Augustin said. “I had a great experience, and I want to improve things, provide resources for the next generation of student-athletes. Being able to be a mentor and providing a scholarship is a very full-circle thing.”

CRYING OUT LOUD

for the Love of the Game

Head Coach Bernadette Laukaitis: s

Blood. Sweat. Tears.

In the case of Holy Family University Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Bernadette Laukaitis ’00, the emphasis is most definitely on the latter. Laukaitis has shed many a tear because of basketball. Tears of handling a tough loss and dealing with adversity, for sure, but mostly it is the tears of joy and elation, of pride in her players and her program, and the sheer mention of Holy Family University that will cause her to well up.

“Bern’s biggest strength, by far, is that she really cares about her kids on and off the court,” University of Pennsylvania Head Women’s Basketball Coach Mike McLauhglin ’91 said. “She is a player’s coach. She has true relationships with people.”

McLaughlin should know. He coached both Bernadette and her older sister, Tricia Nichols ’98 M’11, at Holy Family, brought her on to his coaching staff when she graduated and took her to the Palestra and the Ivy League for 10 years when he moved to the Division 1 level at Penn, where he is still coaching. She is the sixth head coach in program history.

“Bern and I, literally, have traveled the world together and have recruited across the country,” he said. ”We have an unbelievably close and unique connection, as do our families. Who Bern is now is just an older version of who she was a player. She is constantly trying to achieve the next level in terms of preparation, care, and effort. It is super gratifying to watch my former athlete and assistant coach, now a head coach and a mom, succeed because she has earned it, and she deserves it.”

“I just lost it when Mike invited me to join his coaching

QUICK FACTS

Years at HFU: Fifth Year | 2019-Present

Career Record at HFU (Four Seasons): 73-43 (.629)

Career CACC Record: 46-24 (.657)

Career Overall Record (Five Seasons): 96-48 (.667)

CACC Tournament

Appearances:

3 (2020, 2023 and 2024)

CACC Tournament Record: 4-3 (.571)

NCAA Tournament

Appearances:

1 (2009 at Cabrini)

NCAA Tournament Record: 0-1 (2009 at Cabrini)

All-CACC Selections: 6

CACC Rookie of the Year:

2 (Moe Moore (2019-20) and Skyler Searfoss (2022-23)

staff,” Laukaitis said. “He has challenged me throughout my career. Getting to coach alongside him at Holy Family, then going to the Big Five and The Palestra (where she was a part of four Ivy League Championships), is everything that every little girl loving basketball and growing up in Philadelphia dreams of. “

But truly, Holy Family has always been Laukaitis’ home. After a one-year head coaching stint at Division III Cabrini University in 2008-09, a door opened at Holy Family.

“I said to my husband, Joe, ‘I really think this is it. That’s my job. No one is getting it from me.’ I prayed for a sign from God, because I was seriously thinking of getting out of coaching. I was so torn with missing my family, and with my kids (son, Joey, now 16 and daughter, Kasey, almost 13) getting more involved in sports and activities themselves, I was missing so much, and my poor husband was running around doing everything. I was crying every night. It became a worklife balance thing that really opened my eyes in so many ways.”

And then God opened the door most familiar to her, and Laukaitis came home to Holy Family. The impact was immediate. In her first season, the Tigers appeared in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship game. Last season, HFU advanced to

the CACC Tournament Semifinals for the second time in three years, finishing with a 2010 record. This year, the Tigers were stopped in the semifinals and ended 21-9.

“Coming back to Holy Family has allowed me to continue to do something I love in a place that I love with the people I love, while still giving me time with my own family,” she said. “I have so much love for all of my coaches (including former assistants Carolyne Heston ‘14, Sheala Belte ’10, Jacqui Thompson and Christine Verrelle) who helped me, along with many alumni, build the foundation of this program. I feel so blessed to be able to give back to this place that has given me so much. I have learned that I have a lot more to give than I thought. I get a chance, almost 25 years later, to say, ‘I’m doing this. I am living my passion’.”

Witnessing that Laukaitis passion in action, in front of a bleacher full of devoted family and friends, is truly a privilege. She has instilled a “we over me” mentality in her squads, a true sense of pride for the jersey that they wear, a standard of conduct, and an expectation of success. Beyond the x’s and o’s, she invests in her student-athletes’ personal development off the court and forges relationships and connections and lasting friendships based on mutual respect and a love of the game that brought them together.

“I have been blessed with great girls who have bought in wholeheartedly to doing things the right way, who check their attitudes at the door, who don’t make excuses, who put in the work and are resilient and do everything we ask them to do. They bring out the best in me and our coaching staff which is why I want them to be satisfied with their playing career and their academics. We want the best for them in every aspect of their lives, because it’s not four years that will connect them to Holy Family, but 40 years on a professional path that began here. As much as we want to win a championship and experience the elation that comes with it, it is still amazing to say, yes- you did it the right way; yes- you are graduating; yes - you are going to be an amazing alumnae of this incredible University. I live for those days.”

Like the blood and sweat that got her there, Laukaitis yearns for the day when she, along with current assistant coaches (brother-in-law Mike Nichols ’98, Lindsay Alexander and Anjelai Hayes ’21, M’23), can hoist her first championship trophy at her alma mater and watch Holy Family’s name appear on the NCAA bracket for postseason play. Crying? Absolutely!

If that full-circle moment doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, nothing will.

THE CARING COACH

Faculty-Athletics Representative Sister Mary Joan Jacobs ’

Deepinside,down

Sister Mary Joan Jacobs CFSN, ’84 knows that God doesn’t pick sides. Still, when the potentially game-winning shot goes up, she instinctively and admittedly clutches the cross that is a constant around her neck and says a silent prayer.

“I can’t help it,” she laughs. “I just want them to win.”

As Holy Family University’s Faculty-Athletics Representative for the past four years, Sister Mary Joan has become the student-athletes’ and coaches’ biggest cheerleader, staunchest supporter, and yes, most fervent supplicant. A professor of English, writing and literature at her alma mater for the past six years, Sister Mary Joan was hand-picked by the student-athletes to become their liaison with the faculty when the position opened up.

“I was actually taken aback when (athletic director) Tim Hamill told me that the students requested me, and it’s probably a little ironic that I am the faculty-athletics rep,” she said. “I said, ‘Tim, I’m not athletic. I am a big klutz. I trip over my own feet.’ And he said, ‘No, the kids said you always support them. You always tell them what a good job they did.’ I was kind of honored and amazed that they would even notice that.”

In her capacity, Sister Mary Joan monitors the student-athletes’ academic progress, addresses concerns from her faculty

colleagues when a student may be under-performing, and interacts with both the athletes and coaches to ensure that they are competing in the classroom as well as in their respective sports. She is a fixture at games – all games.

“I find the athletics department to be very cohesive,” she said. “ I find the student-athletes to be very respectful, and I try to get them to see both sides. Your teacher shouldn’t have to come after you for an assignment you missed. You’re an adult and a student-athlete, and the student always comes first. I think we are pretty open with each other. I think they know that if they are messing around, I am going to go to their coaches. I won’t let them mess up their academics because of a practice or a game.”

Her no-nonsense approach is delivered in the most tender-hearted way. Because, above all, Sister Mary Joan cares. In fact, she cares so much that when she traveled to a volleyball tournament and questioned a call by an official, she went home and researched the rules. When she didn’t know the ins and outs of lacrosse, she called up YouTube videos to educate herself on the sport. She credits the student-athletes for teaching her perseverance and determination and not giving up when facing injuries and obstacles.

“I remember working a women’s lacrosse game in the cold windy rain at night early in the season last year,” Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Haigh said. “All of the parents at the game had either left or

were watching from the car because the weather got that bad. Nonetheless, there is Sister standing in the corner of the field cheering the team on until the final horn sounded. Her support is unmatched.”

“In one hundred years,” this is never the life that Sister Mary Joan would have imagined for herself. Growing up in the Frankford section of Philadelphia as the second oldest of five children in a close-knit family, she entered the convent right after St. Hubert’s High School, choosing the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth because Holy Family offered her the opportunity to pursue what she hoped would be a career as a medical technician. She went on to earn a master’s in English at Villanova and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from St. Joseph’s.

She credits one fateful moment with determining the path of her life’s work. While a novice in the convent, two of the sisters were injured in a serious car accident, and Sister Mary Joan was pressed into action as a firstgrade teacher.

“I said, “No! What are you, nuts? I am studying chemistry. I can’t teach first grade,” she laughed, “By recess that day, I knew I was going to be a teacher. Later, I can remember this little boy being able to put words together to form a sentence, ‘The cat is big.’ It was such a wonderful moment. We stopped class and partied all afternoon because he could read a sentence. That was a really defining moment for me

as a teacher. I knew I could get something across.”

Much to then-Dean Sister Immaculata Kraemer’s, CSFN ‘58 chagrin, Sister Mary Joan changed her major and never looked back. Her teaching vocation took her to Miami, upstate Pennsylvania, Norristown and back to her neighborhood for 32 years at Nazareth Academy High School, the last 13 as principal.

From Sister Mary Joan Jacobs, the students lucky enough to be in her classes and the hundreds of Tiger student-athletes who find her in their corner - clutching her cross and silently praying for their success - have learned the core values and the true mission, the teneor votis, of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

“It is our mission to reach out to those who are right in front of us,” she said. “These kids are mostly middle-class kids who want something better, who need our support, and God Knows they get it. I want them to know that I care about them. Yes, I care about their work, their activities, their sports, but mostly I care about them as people. Do I want them to do well? Of course, I do, but I want them to know that God loves them, even if they fall apart or fail a test or miss a shot. So, pick yourself up and help the guy standing next to you. I think helping each other out is our biggest vocation. I don’t think God is going to ask us how much money we made or how many A’s we got. I think he is going to ask us what we were able to do for other people. I think that should define who we are.”

Reimagining and Expanding Holy Family’s Signature Building Holy Family Hall Welcome Center

Located in the heart of campus, Holy Family Hall, the University’s signature and oldest building, is preparing for a dramatic renovation that will be the largest on-campus construction project since the opening of the Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN Education and Technology Center in 2005.

Plans call for a 10,000 square-foot addition to the front of Holy Family Hall, transforming its exterior public facing facade and providing valuable new spaces to meet the needs of our expanding university. This addition will include an attractive new glass atrium that will stretch from Holy Family Hall to the Nurse Education Building and will significantly enhance the public face of the University.

Holy Family Hall Welcome Center will add valuable new program space to elevate our students’ experience and provide public space to welcome and host gatherings for our greater Holy Family community.

It will connect the student services offices of Holy Family Hall and create a hub for students to access the Registrar, Student Accounts, Student Advising and Financial Aid. The Welcome Center will also include 5800 square feet of community space including a conference center for larger campus receptions and public gatherings.

Leave Your Mark

Inscribe your name on our wall of distinguished donors. This is a wonderful way to commemorate your love for Holy Family or to honor a family member, generation of family members, or a loved one who is a devoted HFU Alum. Some alumni are choosing to make their gifts over 5 years on an annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly basis as illustrated below.

Honored

for third straight year as a recipient of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence, ranking 25th among 44 NCAA Division II Schools named to this elite list.

Holy Family University Athletics ranked 25th among 44 Division II programs receiving the NCAA’s Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. The award has been presented annually for the past 13 years to member institutions who achieve a four-year Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 90-percent or higher. The current recognition is for student-athletes who enrolled in 2016.

During this cohort, Holy Family University earned a four-year ASR of 93-percent across 11 varsity sports and was one of five schools from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference to be recognized with the distinction. It is the third straight year that Tiger Athletics has been recognized for academic excellence.

The Division II ASR includes transfers into a school in the calculation and removes those who transferred out of the school while academically eligible. The ASR also includes over 30,000 non-scholarship student-athletes who were enrolled in the four years covered in the most recent data.

Even when using the less-inclusive federal graduation rate, student-athletes are outperforming their peers in the general student population by 7%. For Division II student-athletes, the federal rate is 60%, while the general student body federal rate is 53%.

18 Varsity Teams

10 Women’s Teams

7 Men’s Teams

6 Major Conference/ Region Awards

4 Conference/Region Coach of the Year Awards

Holy Family University Athletics was among

44 Division II programs receiving the NCAA’s Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence.

23 Student-Athletes

Inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma

25 All-Region Honorees

THERE ARE SUPERSTITIOUS

PEOPLE. And then there are athletes.

Whether it is to stave off losses or hitless streaks, baseball and softball players are notoriously among the most superstitious heading into competition. Did they put their left cleat on before their right? Did they sleep with their glove or bat under their pillow or wear a certain medal or eat a certain pregame meal? The physical rites and rituals that some athletes take to mentally ready their head space, bolster their mojo, reduce their anxiety, and increase their confidence are as much a part of the game as the mechanics, the physical delivery of the pitch or the swing of the bat.

SUPERSTITIONS AND STRIKING OUT THE SIDE

that, I feel like I am going to throw a ball. When I do this, it distracts me from all the pressure that is on me. I think I do it to mitigate the anxiousness that I feel.”

This mental edge has been a crucial component of Patterson’s game since she first fell in love with the sport.

Watch Holy Family University fifth-year senior right-handed pitcher Makenna Patterson, a native of Sellersville and a graduate of Pennridge High School. The routine is never altered. She receives the ball from the catcher, walks around the circle, puts rosin on her hand, licks her two fingers and wipes them on her pants.

“Then I step up on the mound, and I get the pitch,” Patterson said. “It is the same thing every single time, every pitch. If I don’t do

“I think I thrive as a pitcher because I know that a lot of people are relying on me,” she said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say I do well under pressure, but I want to make everybody happy. I like the calm, cool and collected delivery of (Phillies lefthander) Ranger Suarez. He has swag but is so chill and seems to be having so much fun. That’s who I am trying to be on the mound.”

Patterson decided on Holy Family University because it afforded her the opportunity to pursue a nursing degree and compete at a very high level. She has accepted a job as a pediatric nurse in the emergency unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

“The nursing program has been great,” she said. “The softball has been competitive. I am trying to soak it all in, every single moment with my teammates on the field. I’ll even miss the 6 a.m. lift sessions, when you wake up before the sun does, because everyone is showing up there together with the same energy and supporting each other. I can’t imagine my life without softball. I am really going to miss it. I am trying to be really appreciative of every step, the bad games and the good games, because this time next year, my life is going to look a whole lot different.”

Sure, she will no longer be delivering her two-seam fastball, her “favorite pitch,” (she also has a commanding curve ball, screwball and change-up at her disposal), but Patterson will still be steeped in superstition and following the mantra (that is literally tattooed on her hip in her mother’s handwriting) “everything happens for a reason.”

“I went to Holy Family for a reason,” she said. “I am close to home for a reason. My teammates and coaches have come into my life for a reason.”

Like the number 12 that she wears, she could probably point to a dozen more destiny-defining moments, because everything that Makenna Patterson has been so blessed to experience has been for a reason.

For these memorable innings of her life, that reason has been softball.

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY, like many athletic programs across the country, has made addressing the mental health issues of its student-athletes a top priority. Looking to provide an additional level of support, University Athletics recently partnered with Newtown Sport Performance Psychology who will be providing a series of guest speakers to address topics specifically selected by the student-athletes for discussion.

“We called upon the members of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), as the voice of our student- athletes, to poll their peers and select timely topics that would be of benefit to their emotional well-being and mental health,” Athletic Director Tim Hamill said. “We have an outstanding relationship with our counseling department on campus and are able to

quickly connect our student-athletes to any assistance or resources they may need. But we are happy to be able to give our student-athletes an additional opportunity to dialogue about subjects that are of the most interest to them.”

Newtown Sport offers the services of a team made up of 16 mental health professionals and mental performance coaches, all of whom come from sports backgrounds, some of whom are professional athletes, former student-athletes, current and former coaches, even yoga instructors, dieticians and leadership coaches. Sessions can be hosted in person or virtually with individuals or groups.

“One of the first questions our counselors and coaches ask is, ‘How much of your sport do you think is mental? How much time is dedicated to working on that mental mus-

cle?’,” said Newtown Sport Outreach Coordinator Heather Sabatino. “There has been a shift in thinking - especially since the uptick in mental health crises during the pandemic and the rise in suicides - to give people in general, and student-athletes specifically, the space, skills, and strategies to work on their mental health. Our staff shares the language and love of sports. They recognize the added pressures and commitments that are placed on student-athletes, and they are equipped to help these athletes open up and find takeaways and solutions to address not only depression and anxiety, but other areas of concern.”

This spring, the SAAC welcomed presenters to speak on the following topics: Perform Under Pressure, Positive Self-Talk, Team Culture, Motivation, Nutrition, and Rehab and Return to Sport.

President Sean Touey

Vice President Tori Wolstenholme

Secretary Dom Prestipino

Treasurer

Peyton Pugh SOFTBALL

Alexis Letzia

Gina Olivieri BASEBALL

Dylan Mercedes Jelle Bing

WLAX

Payton Pugh

Tori Wolstenholme

MLAX

Jheramiah Dameus

Maxx Covely

VOLLEYBALL

Ashley Petrasovic

Jayden Bralts

WSOC

Jess Levush

MSOC

Josh Moreland

Jarrett Lalli

Derick Gilmore

MBB

David Robinson

Amir Hurst

Ethan Pires WBB

Jenn Kokolus

Dakota Schultice

Lindsay Tretter

Ava Morrow

Claire Dougherty

Kara Meredith

Jessica Riepe

XC / T&F

Ashley Fisgaer

Amber Fisgaer

Vicente Velez

Brian Dietz

W BOWLING

Marissa Ray

CHEERLEADING

Reva Mindel

Nicole Wiser ‘27 and Brianna Coates

ATHLETES

HELPING ATHLETES

IN DECEMBER 2023, as the Holy Family men’s basketball team prepared for its game against the District of Columbia, honorary captains Simon, Kevin, and Steve were courtside to lend enthusiastic support as part of the University’s new chapter of the Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) club.

Now in its 22nd season, AHA was organized to better the lives of those in the special needs community through athletics and other fun events, with a goal of creating a world of broader acceptance for all. The program connects local athletes with special needs with mainstream student-athletes in a spirit of friendship for their mutual benefit, inspiration and respect.

After participating in the club while a student at Little Flower High School, HFU sophomore and biology/pre-physical therapy major Brianna Coates “fell in love with the organization” and wanted to bring back an organized chapter that had previously existed at Holy Family.

“A lot of the high schools in the Bucks County area and a number of local colleges and universities have AHA chapters,” Coates said. “My goal was to form a chapter at Holy Family because it fits with our core values and what we stand for.”

Coates enlisted the help of classmate Nicole Wiser, a freshman nursing major, and worked throughout the summer to get the

HFU chapter up and running. The program launched in the Fall of 2024.

“It was so special to host our first event, to bring Simon, Kevin and Steve to Holy Family and to have them experience being on campus and helping them to make friends,” she said. “They had a chance to meet the cheerleaders and the members of the team. They were introduced along with the student-athletes and stood with the team during the playing of the national anthem. They sat courtside with Nicole and I during the game. They have so much personality and had so much fun, and we are hoping to duplicate this at another game and are looking to host a fun day on campus with the help of other area schools in the future.”

Of course, the HFU varsity athletes also benefited greatly from the interaction.

“I am hoping that being involved with AHA helps our HFU student-athletes get inspired,” Coates said. “It is a way to not only reach out and be inclusive and provide opportunities to our friends in the special needs community, but it is a way for student-athletes to get to know and interact with student-athletes in sports other than their own – so we can all connect through Athletes Helping Athletes.”

‘26

Leveling the Playing Field

New Athletic Fieldhouse to Enhance Campus Facilities and Sports Experience

Holy Family’s new Athletic Fieldhouse will dramatically upgrade the University’s athletic facilities and enhance the campus experience of student-athletes and fans alike. The Fieldhouse will provide much-needed locker rooms for home and away teams, officials, public restrooms for students, families and fans, community space, game-day concession stands, and an athletic training room. Ideally located between Stevenson Lane and the Campus Center and in proximity to the Athletic Complex, this important addition also will benefit community residents who utilize the campus for learning, physical wellness, and socialization.

ATHLETIC NAMING OPPORTUNITIES*

Turf Field & Scoreboard

$300,000

Fieldhouse

$200,000

ATHLETIC DONOR WALL

Gold $25,000

Silver $10,000

Bronze $5,000

Blue & White $2,500

To make your gift, visit holyfamily.edu/giving, or call Wendy Parsons, Vice President of Advancement at 267-341-5008

“Our new fieldhouse will be an important addition to the Holy Family Athletics landscape. It will be outfitted to serve as a highly utilized hub and will allow us to provide necessary services, space, and access for our student athletes, campus and community.

— TIM HAMILL, Director of Athletics

CALL ME COACH

THEY ARE MASTER MOTIVATORS AND MENTORS. Leaders who see potential and share passion, who committedly build character and challenge athletes to aspire to be champions. Teachers who instill the value of consistency and confidence. Strategists who seek sportsmanship along with success, the willingness to work and the will to win. They are instructors, innovators, tacticians, confidantes and friends. They are coaches. They wouldn’t choose to be anything else.

Why I Coach

I coach because I enjoy giving student-athletes the ability to believe in themselves and the opportunity to strive to be better in all aspects of life. I want to help them be leaders on the field and in the classroom, so they can be confident leaders in society.

Marisa Ongaro, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach

I coach because of a deep love of the game, and because softball can be, equally, both fun and a learning experience that helps my athletes grow in the best direction possible, every day.

Jillian Murray, Head Softball Coach

The fact that my student-athletes trust me means everything. Playing an NCAA sport made me the person I am today, and I think I can be a great support system and guide to help my student-athletes learn about themselves and how to take on life.

Collin Sibilia, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, Esports Director

Why HFU?

I tell anyone who will listen what a great school this is. This is where you will become an adult. I have a special moment here every day.

Dwight Brandon, Head Coach, Men’s & Women’s Cross Country, Track and Field

When I am recruiting, I always try to emphasize how the campus is a closeknit family. I am grateful that I am able to do something that I love at a place that means so much to not only me, but to my family as well.

Ryan Haigh ‘06, Head Men’s Basketball Coach

I tell them that Holy Family is a perfect niche school located in a cultural area that offers a quality, affordable education, top-level athletic programs, and a proven record of helping graduates achieve their professional goals. It is a positive, competitive, caring environment.

Georg Montag, Jr., Head Men’s Soccer Coach

Parting Gifts

I hope that my student-athletes take away the value of selflessness, hard work and respect. I hope that they learn to care about the success of others over their own and that they learn the importance of showing respect to everyone that they encounter.

Kyle Davis, Head Baseball Coach

I hope the players leave with the best student-athlete experience, on and off the court, that they know that the people here cared about their success and that they feel connected to a lifelong family.

Bernadette Laukaitis ‘00, Head Women’s Basketball Coach

I hope they can look back and be proud of what they accomplished. It is special to see the relationships between the guys grow tight and to see them all working hard together to reach a common goal.

Noah Morris, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach

MISSION STATEMENT

The Holy Family University Athletics Hall of Fame serves to honor those who have brought distinction and/or made exceptional contributions to the overall development, success and prestige of the Holy Family University Department of Athletics.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Membership into the Holy Family University Athletics Hall of Fame is determined by an established Selection Committee comprised of individuals of interest to the Department of Athletics.

HFU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Sharon Brown Gavitt ’99

Catherine “Cat” Carr ’11

Kevin Comey ’91

Lance DiRenzi ’92

Fran Dougherty ’99

Donna Elliott Kilpatrick ’00

Matt Gamble ’03

Michael Glitz ’91

Erik Henrysen ’99, M’03

Kelly Killion ’08

Allison Maddock Miller ’01

William “Mickey” McGroarty ’98*

Mike McLaughlin ’91

Sandy Michael M’97

Joe Mikolajewski

Jimmy H. Milligan ’93*

Melissa Murphy Witner ’03

Tracey Petner ’90, M’00

Michelle Rubino-Johnson ’02

Debbie Schopfer ’91

Jim Schultice ’92

Joe Simko ’96

Dan Williams

Melissa Zebley ’04, M’07 2007-08 Women’s Basketball Team

Melissa Brooks ’09

Kelly Killion ’08

Alana Arthurs ’11

Jenna Johnson ’12

Jordan Gercke ’09

Alandra Dickerson ’09

Meghan Gibson Griffin ’11

Catherine “Cat” Carr ’11

Shanea Williams**

Lindsey Tennett ’11

Lauren Boyer Moran ’09

Christine McCollum Woods ’10

Johanna Alexandersson **

Sheala “Shea” Belte-Jackson ’10

Head Coach Mike McLaughlin ’91

Assistant Coach Kim Killion ’08

Assistant Coach

Bernadette Laukaitis ’00

Assistant Coach

Mike “Mooch” Moran ’15

*Deceased

**did not graduate

Four Individuals, One Team Inducted into HFU Athletics Hall of Fame

Holy Family University Department of Athletics celebrated the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on April 12, 2024 at the Buck Hotel in Feasterville, Pa, honoring four individuals – Kevin Comey ’91, Fran Dougherty ’99, Donna (Elliott)

Kilpatrick ’00, and William “Mickey” McGroarty – and one team – 200708 women’s basketball.

”This year’s inductees are some of the most impressive to have ever represented the department,” said Tim Hamill, Director of Athletics. “While athletic and coaching accolades played a large role in their inductions, they more importantly embodied what it meant to be a Tiger through their actions that were rooted in the university’s core values.”

KEVIN COMEY ’91 | Men’s Basketball | 1987-91

Comey is the program’s all-time leader in assists (1,104), free throw percentage (87.8) and games played (134), while ranking second in assists per game (8.2) and 3-point percentage (54.9). He is also sixth with 250 3-pointers and eighth with 1,530 points. His 70.9 3-point percentage in 1988-89 and 346 assists in 199091 are both program records, as he appears in the top-10 of the single-season record book 15 times. Comey was a two-time All-KAC selection and earned NAIA All-District 19 honors in 1989-90.Holy Family went a combined 10529 during his four seasons, including winning a program record 30 games in 1988-89 as the Tigers won NAIA District 19 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. HFU followed that up with a KAC Tournament championship in 1989-90.

Fran Dougherty ‘99

Kevin Comey ‘91

Donna (Elliott) Kilpatrick ‘00 William “Mickey” McGroarty

FRAN DOUGHERTY ’99 | Men’s Soccer | 1995-98

Dougherty is the program’s all-time leader with 42 goals, while ranking second with 104 points and tied for fifth with 20 assists. He earned NAIA Northeast All-Region, All-Northeast Independent, All-Southeast Independent and NE Atlantic All-Conference accolades during his career. Holy Family won at least 11 matches in all four of his seasons, totaling 54 victories as the Tigers advanced to NAIA Region Tournament all four years.

DONNA (ELLIOTT) KILPATRICK ’00 | Women’s Soccer | 1996-99

Kilpatrick is the program’s all-time leader with .81 goals per match. She also ranks second in goals (68) and points per match (1.94), third in points (163), fifth in assists (27) and seventh in assists per match (.32).

Kilpatrick was a member of the first four teams in program history, helping guide HFU to a 62-25 record, including three consecutive NAIA Regionals. The Tigers won their first CACC Tournament title in their first season in the league in her senior season in 1999. She earned All-NAIA Mid-South honors in each of her first three years and then All-CACC accolades in her senior season. She was an All-Region selection in each of her final three years.

WILLIAM “MICKEY” MCGROARTY | Head Softball Coach | 1992-2009

McGroarty is the program’s all-time winningest coach with a 412-296-4 recorHe coached Holy Family for 18 seasons, leading the Tigers to three NAIA Regionals, the 1998 KAC Tournament title and the 2003 NAIA Independent Tournament championship. HFU also qualified for six CACC Tournaments. His 1999 team holds the program record with 36 victories, while his 2001 squad received votes in the final NAIA Top-25 Poll.

2007-08 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

2007-08 women’s basketball becomes the first team inducted into the HFU Athletics Hall of Fame after it completed a perfect regular season and became the first CACC team to advance to the East Region Final (NCAA Tournament Sweet 16). Holy Family was also the first team from the league to earn the No. 1 seed and host the Northeast Regional. The Tigers won the first 32 games of their campaign, which included going 18-0 in conference play and winning the CACC Tournament title.

Holy Family finished with a 32-1 record and was ranked No. 4 in the final poll of the season.

Melissa Brooks

Kelly Killion

Alana Arthurs

Jenna Johnson

Jordan Gercke

Alandra Dickerson

Meghan Gibson

Catherine Carr

Shanea Williams

Lindsey Tennett

Lauren Boyer

Christine McCollum

Johanna Alexandersson

Sheala Belte

Head Coach

Mike McLaughlin

Assistant Coach

Kim Killion

Assistant Coach

Bernadette Laukaitis

Assistant Coach

Mike Moran

2007-08 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM MEMBERS

ABOVE: The men’s track and field team repeated as East Coast Conference champions with eight gold-medal performances.

Men’s Track & Field Repeats as ECC Champions

The Holy Family men’s track & field team repeated as East Coast Conference (ECC) champions at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex February 18, accumulating 155 points to beat second place Roberts Wesleyan by 29.

Nishorn Pierre (Grenada/Jamaica College) swept the jumping events with NCAA provisionals, including clearing a championship record 2.13m in the high jump.

Kouto Anyika (Philadelphia, Pa./Pennwood) won two golds, in the 200m and 400m, breaking both a championship and school record with a time of 21.71 in the former. The sophomore was also part of the 4x400m relay team, along with Kimani Smith

(Smithville, Jamaica/Edwin Allen), Nafis Zollicoffer (Philadelphia, Pa./Parkway West) and J’kwann Hamilton (Smithville, Jamaica/Edwin Allen (New Mexico Highlands University)), that broke both a championship and near 10-year-old indoor school record after combining to finish in 3:20.60. Javon Bowen (Kingston, Jamaica/Jamaica College) won gold with a school record too, as he broke his own in the 60m after crossing in 6.88 seconds.

Winning an eighth gold for the Tigers was Terrence Jones (East Orange, N.J./ William Allen/LCTI), who completed the 60m hurdles in 8.37 seconds.

Holy Family Athletics Hosts Free Clinic in Honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day

The Holy Family Department of Athletics hosted a free National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinic in the Campus Center on February 2024, joining local girls aged 5-12 with HFU student-athletes from the women’s basketball, cheerleading, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball teams for a day of learning and fun.

“We had a great turnout for our first year running the clinic,” said Senior Woman Administrator Jami Hughes. “All the participants had a lot of fun while learning about some of the sports we have here at Holy Family. It was a great way to honor the spirit of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.”

Participants were broken into six groups and spent 15 minutes at each station, one for each sport, which featured dialogue, training and drills.

Bolivar Makes History with Quadruple-Double in Women’s Basketball’s Win Over Wilmington

Holy Family women’s basketball’s Carly Bolivar (Elmont, N.Y./ Sewanhaka (Alliance)) made history with only the second official quadruple-double in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history in the Tigers’ 85-48 win over Wilmington on January 3, 2024, in the Campus Center. The graduate transfer finished with 11 points and career-highs of 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals, the latter two of which led all players, to etch her name in the record books.

LEFT: NGWSD Clinic participants of all ages enjoyed an afternoon of friendship and fun centered around sports.

BASEBALL, BOWLING AND MEN’S LACROSSE PICK UP FIRST WINS IN INAUGURAL SEASONS

Baseball Sweeps Virginia State in Program’s First Two Games

The Holy Family University baseball team got off to a perfect start, winning its first two games as a program, 6-2 and 5-1, as it swept Virginia State on February 24, 2024. Holy Family’s trio of pitchers limited the Trojans to a .167 batting average (7-for-42) on the day.

Jelle Bing (Heerhugowaard, Netherlands/CSG Jan Arentsz (McCrook CC)) earned the Tigers’ first win as he threw the first five innings of game one, scattering five hits while striking out seven against zero walks.

Brian Comer (Charlotte, N.C./Independence (Bucks County CC)) finished the doubleheader 3-for-5 with four stolen bases, three runs and two walks, with his two-RBI double in the second inning of game two proving to be the game-winner.

Stefan Leo (Golden, Colo./Golden Senior (Porterville CC)) recorded HFU’s first-ever hit and RBI, driving in three with a bases-clearing double with one out in the first that turned out to be the game-winner.

Zach Morales (Barrington, N.J./ Triton Regional) finished the opener 2-for-3 with a double, base on balls, run and RBI, while.

Casey Murphy (Merion Station, Pa./Lower Merion (Ursinus College)) earned the complete game win in the rain-shortened nightcap, allowing just the one run on two hits with eight strikeouts.

Denis Szychulski (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge (Bucks County CC)) then came in for the save, retiring all six batters he faced to put a stamp on the historic victory.

Bowling Picks Up Program’s First Two Wins at Griffin Baker Classic

The HFU women’s bowling team picked up the first two victories in program history at the Griffin Baker Classic on February 3, 2024. The Tigers defeated Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) foe Dominican twice, first 731-66 in a baker match on Saturday and then 4-3 in match play on Sunday. Holy Family notably rallied from an 1-3 deficit to defeat the Chargers by winning the final three games 159-143, 157-152 and 146-123. In just seven baker matches on the weekend, the Tigers had their four highest pin totals of the season, including a season-best in a narrow 795-814 defeat to LIU.

STRIKES/SPARES

(listed in order by strike totals)

Tiffany McNally (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) – 31/46

Corin Stewart (Philadelphia, PA/ Franklin Towne Charter) – 26/46

Hannah Bowers

(Philadelphia, PA/ Franklin Towne Charter) – 24/46

Sarah Winder (Burlington, NJ/ Burlington Township) – 22/46

Brigidmarie Ferreira (Philadelphia, PA/ Franklin Towne Charter) – 16/46

ABOVE: The women’s bowling team rolled to the first two victories in the program’s inaugural season at the Griffin Baker Classic.

Men’s Lacrosse Picks Up First Win in Program History with 12-9 Victory at Rosemont

The Holy Family University men’s lacrosse team picked up the first win in program history with a 12-9 victory at Rosemont on February 28, 2024.

Bryce Thomas (Lancaster, PA/ Lampeter Strasburg) made a season-high in saves, stopping 17 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the victory

Julian Definis (Glendora, NJ/Triton Regional) recorded his second hat trick of the season andx added an assist

Adam Camille (Providence, RI/ La Salle Academy) also had four points, including the first twogoal performance of his career

Brent McColligan (Bellmawr, NJ/ Triton Regional)

and Jhay Dameus (Willingboro, N.J./Holy Cross Preparatory Academy) both scored twice as well, with McColligan adding an assist

Ben Blair (Rochester, NY/Penfield) topped the Tigers with four ground balls, as he won 9-of-15 faceoffs, while Dameus and Ethan Oase (Coon Rapids, MN/Coon Rapids) were second with three apiece.

ABOVE: HFU Men’s Lacrosse came together for a photo following the program’s historic first win.

Take the Next Step in Your Career

A Holy Family University graduate degree can help take your skills to the next level. It’s why so many Holy Family undergraduate alumni return for a second degree!

Explore Our Graduate Programs

From Graduate Education and Certificate programs, to Business, Counseling Psychology and more –we have what you need to level-up your knowledge for today’s job market in a format that fits your schedule.

Browse our programs to see which is right for you:

Exclusive Offer for Holy Family Alumni

Plus, we’ll waive enrollment fees for Holy Family alums –a savings of between $200 and $500, depending on your program!

Interested in Learning More? Our admissions counselors would be happy to discuss the best program for your needs. Contact Graduate Admissions at 267-341-3327 or gradstudy@holyfamily.edu  today.

Overseeing Quality of Life with a Catholic Conscience

The view from Bridget Collins-Greenwald’s seventh-floor office in Philadelphia’s City Hall – a stunning one that overlooks Dilworth Plaza and provides a clear sightline down the beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the iconic Art Museum - is drastically different from the vantage point of the Marsden Street apartment and Ditman Street rowhouse in Tacony that she once called home. As the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, Quality of Life Division, newly appointed by Mayor Cherelle Parker, CollinsGreenwald is grateful, not only for the incredible vista, but also for the vote of confidence and the vibrancy of her new post. Appropriately, she has been tasked with improving the views of citizens in neighborhoods across the city.

The former Commissioner of Public Property, Collins-Greenwald’s new role has been streamlined through the Mayor’s decision to split the massive L&I department, a department that was part of Philadelphia’s original charter, into two separate departments with specific focuses. Basil Merenda will head up the department’s new Inspections, Safety and Compliance Division, concentrating on building safety and permitting. Collins-Greenwald will work on educating businesses on how to become compliant and enforcing that compliance, will oversee the clean and seal teams to address the neglect of vacant and abandoned properties, and will partner with the Clean and Green team, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) and other city agencies to identify and improve corridors that are in dire need of a cleanup.

Collins-Greenwald feels up to the task - not only because of her long-standing relationship with so

many of the blue-collar union workers and a strong and committed executive team who make up the department - but also because she feels supported in this new challenge by the Mayor, the City Council members and the workers themselves. Most especially, she feels prepared because of the empathy she learned through her Catholic upbringing, at St. Leo’s grade school, at St. Hubert’s High School where she serves as the Secretary of the Board, and at Holy Family University, from where she received her master’s in Human Resource Management in 2008.

“You get such a good sense of what people are really going through when you are out walking in the neighborhoods,” she said. “It helps you to identify their pain points. I think I learned to listen and be empathetic to different people’s situations through my Catholic education. I think that was instilled in me to have a moral obligation to do good and to fight the good fight. That Catholic foundation went through all of my classes, at every level. It taught me to respect others, to allow them to be seen and heard, and to try to understand where others are coming from. I also learned safety and trust from my Catholic education, and the importance of creating an environment that is built on those things.”

“I learned to listen and be empathetic to different people’s situations through my Catholic education. That was instilled in me to have a moral obligation to do good and to fight the good fight.

Bridget Collins-Greenwald M’08

1950s

Rosesylvia HimesMcDonald ’59 has been teaching Prep classes for her parish, St. Hilary’s, for 5 years. She is a proud grandparent of 19 grandchildren and great-grandparent of 10 great grandchildren.

1960s

Martha (Morris) Naas ’68 and her husband, Mike, have owned Alta Vista Dental Lab in Bethesda, MD for nearly 45 years.

They have three children and five

grandchildren. Their oldest grandson, Patrick, is in his second year of a Ph.D. program at George Washington University in Chemistry. Their second oldest grandson, Matthew, is graduating from Embry-Riddle University in May and is engaged to be married in May 2025. They also have two grandkids in high school and a third grandkid in third grade.

Donna (Tocci) Meyers ’69 spent 12 glorious days in Italy this past spring. An adventure from a suitcase!

1970s

Carol (DeMarzo) D’Orazio ‘73, M’02, one of the first graduates from Holy Family’s nursing program (pictured above with the first 5 nursing alumni, 1st from the left), is an adjunct nursing instructor with Eastern University. She also taught at HFU for 7 years in the nursing programs.

Alethia (Meares) Crook-Mikell ’72 graduated from the Barbara King School of Ministry and received her second Ordination as Minister. She lives in Charlestown, South Carolina.

Paula (McKenna) Myers ’76 is a retired Kindergarten teacher.

Jennifer Mullin ’09 and John Corcoran ’23 (4th and 2nd from the left) were sworn in as officers within the Bensalem Township Police Department in September 2023.

Paula (Franklin)

Staudt ’76 worked at five different hospitals throughout her nursing career prior to her retirement in October 2018. She is enjoying spending time with her family, especially her five grandchildren.

Patricia (Loviglio)

Quinn ’78 has been appointed as the Principal of Nazareth Academy High School 1980s

Mary (Meyers)

Lesenko ’82 has spent the majority of her 41-year career in ICU nursing with a little bit of Med Surg, ER, and teaching thrown in. She now does minimally invasive procedures in Interventional Radiology at Chestnut Hill Hospital. She and her husband, Joseph Lesenko ’90, live in Doylestown. They have 4 wonderful daughters.

Loretta (Ziegler) Newsom ’83 is a Substitute School Nurse for the Indian River School District in Selbyville, DE. She also works as a Community Outreach Nurse at Beebe Healthcare.

Peg Knight ’84, M’93, has made nursing – a lifelong dream – her profession for the last 40 years. Among her many accolades, including serving as a Past President of the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, she is Board Emeritus of the Burlington County Military Affairs Committee where she serves as the Honorary Commander of the 621st CRSS Squadron at Joint Base.

Marya Walsh ’84 has retired from Accolade, Inc, where she worked as a Certified RN Case Manager and a RN Clinical Nurse Manager.

Bernice (Lisicki)

Purcell ’85, DBA, Director of University Assessment at Holy Family, has been elected President of the Board of Directors of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society in Business.

Tanya (Grady) O’Neill ’87, PsyD is the Director of Organizational Development within Temple University Health System.

1990s

Maria (Fahrer) Agnew ’90, P’21, Professor of Education at Holy Family, was the recent recipient of the Patricia J. Creegan Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education from Pennsylvania’s Education for All Coalition (PEAC).

PEAC President Linda Carmona-Bell visited Holy Family’s Northeast Philadelphia campus on February 9 to make the award presentation.

Kathleen (Denk) Pontoni-Postiglione ’95, BSN, MBA CHC is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chief Operating Officer Program. She is the COO & Senior VP of Business Development at Gulfside Healthcare Services in Florida.

2000s

Chris Klos ’03, owner of Marinucci’s Deli, generously provided hoagies to current Holy Family students who were not able to go home for Thanksgiving 2023.

Rachel (McClain)

Riley ’04 is the AVP of Communications & Visitor Experience at the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. She was named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” in 2021.

Jacquelyn (McAleese) Wetzel ’04 has joined Holy Family as an Administrative Enrollment Coordinator on the Enrollment Management team.

Stacy Crandell M’07 was appointed as Souderton’s fourthever borough manager in October 2023. She is the first woman to hold the position.

Andrea (Sucic) Hamburg ’07, DNP’23 obtained her DNP from Holy Family University in December. She works as Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with Margiotti and Kroll Pediatrics as well as a Clinical Instructor in Holy Family University’s School of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Bridget CollinsGreenwald M’08 has been appointed as the first-ever Commissioner of Quality of Life within Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Ryan Lancaster ’08 has started a new position as Vice President, Regional Investment Consultant at T. Rowe Price in New York City.

Thomas Geisler ’09, M’13 was promoted to the Assistant Chief Financial Officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

2010s

Ryan Simon ’11 is the Manager of Ticket Services with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is also serving as the Sport MarketingManagement Industry Mentor for Holy Family University’s School of Business & Technology.

Mike Ulrich ’11, M’16 and Nicole (Keller) Ulrich ’12, M’15 welcomed their second child, Charlotte, in May 2023. Mike serves on the Advisory Board for Holy Family’s School of Business and Technology.

Justina (Laspee)

Garofalo ’12, M’18 was recently appointed as the new Supervisor of Special Education for Bristol Township School District.

Mattias Van’t Hoenderdaal M’12, is the Principal of Quakertown Community High School in Quakertown, PA.

Arthur Barrett M’13 has been appointed the President of Programs with Hanover Insurance Group.

Heather (Kennedy)

Polidori ’13 is Visiting Professor at Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing.

Casey Borish ’15 works as the director of group sales and community events for the Trenton Thunder, a former member of Major League Baseball’s Double-A Eastern League and now a collegiate MLB Draft League squad.

Thomas Alne M’16 has earned his Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of South Alabama. Tom works as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner for Pennsylvania Hospital.

Dominic McAllister ’17, M’22 and Lauren Apice McAllister ’17 welcomed a son, Lucas, in March 2023.

William Taylor ’17

ACNP-BC recently earned his MSN with a focus on Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Jefferson University. He is working as a critical care nurse practitioner with Virtua Medical Group.

Meagan (Postaski)

Melendez ’18 is a nurse in the float pool at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas, a level one trauma center in NJ. She will be graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University with her MSN FNP in May.

Kat Salinel ’18 works as a nurse in the endoscopy unit of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Meghan Rakus ’19, M’22 was named one of five nationwide winners of the 2nd annual FACTS Teacher Innovation Awards for an Egg Hatching project with her 1st graders at St. Mary Interparochial School.

2020s

Dana Dockery ’20 married Jalen Thompson ’20 in October 2023. Dana, who was named CACC Woman of the Year in 2020, and Jalen both played basketball while students. The couple lives in Baltimore, MD.

Sean Gaffney ’20 is an Academic Advisor for business and biology students at Holy Family University. Sean is the son of John Gaffney ’92 and Lorraine (Lisicki) Gaffney ’94.

Cameron Clegg ’22 works at Jefferson Abington Hospital as a Registered Nurse in a medical surgical unit.

Dan Grimes ’22 was honored with a DAISY Award in January 2024. Dan works as a Registered Nurse at Lankenau Medical Center on a telemetry/ oncology stroke unit.

Abbe Alavi ’23 was the recipient of the Clinical Excellence Award at the December 2023 Nursing Pinning Ceremony. She is now working in the Cardiac Department at Temple University Hospital.

Devyn Dydak ’23 is a Floor Nurse on the Step-Down Unit at Jefferson Health.

In Memoriam

Kathleen “Kay” Dorwart ‘60

Janet (Burns) Scheetz ‘60

Monica (Chiego) Ryan ‘61

Sister M. Dorothea Jurkowski, CSFN, ‘62

Marsha Hughes ’66

Maria (Reiss) Bock ‘68

Madeline Henfey ‘68

Sister M. Bernard Wiecezak, CSFN, ‘68

Julianne (Bruggeman) Zeigler ‘69

Susan (Acquaro) Miller ‘71

Susan (Hahn) Masino ‘72

Nancy (Meranshian) Derderian ‘73

Patricia Quinter ‘74

Donna Satkowski ‘76

Maureen (MacNew) Rebstock ‘77

Marika Riediger ‘77

Elizabeth Sigel ‘79

Mary Herron ‘81

Marilyn Della Pia ‘85

Debbie (McVeigh) Gottlieb ’87

Rita (Harley) Casey ‘88

Sandy (Spirito) Bonazza ‘91 (Former Faculty)

Kathi (Wagner) Leinenbach ‘92

Lieutenant Rosemary McGuire ‘92

Michael “Mickey” Black M’94

Rev. Paul Quinter H’94

Joseph Siaplay ‘94

Christina (Iacona) Contino ‘96

Joanne Bradley-Daly ‘97

Victoria Kucowski-Zengolewicz ‘02, M’07

Richard Reinhold, Jr., ‘02

Courtney Barta ‘03

Norine (Eisler) Cross ‘04

Theresa Fox ‘09

Connie (Huff) Jann ‘14, M’17

Susan Detwiler M’18

John Corrigan (Former Staff)

D. Barry MacGibeny, Ed.D. (Former Faculty)

Sister M. Catherine O’Malley, CSFN (Former Trustee)

ABOVE: Nursing alumni panelists joined President Prisco, Dean Harkins, and Vice Deans Jinsy Mathew and Michelle Murphy Rozanski for a discussion on current trends and the future of nursing. The event opened the University’s year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the School of Nursing.

HOLY FAMILY NURSING ALUMNI ENCOURAGE CURRENT NURSING STUDENTS

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY NURSING ALUMNI SHARED THEIR COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE, ADVICE AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT to an audience of current nursing students during a panel discussion hosted on October 20 at the University’s Northeast Philadelphia campus. The event was organized as part of a year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Holy Family University School of Nursing.

Holy Family University President Anne Prisco, Dr. Lorina Marshall Blake, president of IBX Foundation, and senior Francesca Valenti, president of the Student Nurses Association at Holy Family (SNAHF) and a recipient of an IBX Foundation scholarship, were featured speakers as part of the event.

Facilitated by Vice Deans Dr. Jinsy Mathew, DNP’20, MSN, RN and Dr. Michelle Murphy-Rozanski, Ph. D., MSN, RN, CRNP, the discussion for current staff and nursing students focused on the current trends in the field, as well as the future of nursing. “We are so happy to be marking the 50th Anniversary of our School of Nursing, and we are just getting started,” President Prisco said in opening the event. “This milestone is possible only through the excellence of our faculty, the applied talents on our alumni and the hard work of students who aspire to a career in nursing, which truly is the linchpin of quality healthcare.”

The panelists shared common stories of the challenges of the profession and nursing burnout, that were amplified during COVID, and fielded questions related to nursing shortages, changing technology and telenursing. They left the audience with sound advice, personal anecdotes and reassurance that their decisions to be nurses will prove impactful and rewarding.

Many of the panelists touched on the importance of mental health and self-care to thrive in the field and praised the resiliency of nurses as a shared badge of honor. Ultimately, nursing comes down to communication, compassion, and connection.

THE DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF NURSING GRADUATES INCLUDED:

Karyn Book M’08, DNP, RN-BC Vice President of Patient Care Services/ Chief Nursing Officer at Penn Medicine Princeton Health

Chaudron CarterShort ’00, PhD, EdD, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Executive at Temple University Health System and Temple University Hospital Inc.

Janice Gibson ’10, M’14, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, PCCN-K Nurse Educator/ Coordinator of the Nurse Residency Program at Jefferson Health Northeast

Tricia Nichols ’98, M’11, RN, NEA-BC, CPXP Director of Patient Experience at Jefferson Health - North Region

Margaret “Peg” O’Grady ’84, RN, MSN, OCN Administrative Director of the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion at Sidney Kimmel Cancer CenterJefferson Health System

Allen Zelno ’16, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner, TriValley Primary Care, PC - Quakertown, PA

PRISCO JOINED DEAN MARGARET HARKINS DNP, MBE, MSN, GNP-BC, RN-BC, School of Nursing & Health Sciences faculty, sponsors and patrons, and members of the University community in a celebration of 50 years of nursing excellence during a gala on March 20 hosted at The Switch House in Philadelphia. Some 250 guests enjoyed festivities and fellowship that commemorated the success of Holy Family nurses past and present and shared the vision for the growth of the program that will shape future HFU nurses.

Lead sponsors for the evening included Penn Medicine, The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Nazareth Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center, and Jefferson Health.

“The legacy of Holy Family Nursing includes more than 6,000 nursing graduates who are changing the world one patient at a time,” Dean Harkins said. “The positive impact that Holy Family has had on the healthcare industry in the Philadelphia region is immeasurable.”

The evening included recognition of three Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing who were in attendance. They included Dr. Elizabeth Forbes (Founder of the HFU Nursing Program), Dr. Cynthia Russell Tait (Former Dean of the School of Nursing) and Dr. Beth Ann Swan ’80 (Former Trustee and current associate dean of the Emory University School of Nursing).

“I am so blessed and honored to be leading this celebration of Holy Family’s proud 50 years of nursing,” Dr. Prisco said. “I extend my gratitude to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, to our faculty, alumni, patrons and friends who have brought us to this evening and will move us into the next 50 years.”

SUCCESSFUL READY. SET. ROAR! CAMPAIGN YIELDS NEARLY $73K IN DONATIONS

IN CELEBRATION OF THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY, the campus and community responded to the Advancement Office’s inaugural Ready. Set. Roar! campaign in February with a record-breaking 1,954 minutes of impact.

In total, 223 donors raised $72,873, the largest

32-hour fund-raising day in HFU history, with gifts that supported academics, athletic teams, student experiences, and most importantly, student scholarships. We are grateful to our alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends for participating and leading by example through their investment in Holy Family students.

$15,000

$5,000

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. ANNE

ABOVE: Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie M ‘00 presented Dr. Anne Prisco with a citation celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Holy Family’s School of Nursing.

THE PANELISTS IN THE DISCUSSION

INCLUDED:

Dr. George W. Croner, Senior Fellow, National Security Program

Dr. Claire Finkelstein, Algernon Biddle

Professor of Law & Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Patricia Griffin, Associate Professor of the HFU School of Arts & Sciences

Dr. J.J. Klaver, Former FBI Special Agent, T-Mobile Mid-Atlantic

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY HOSTS BUCKS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY’S FIRST ANNUAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY RECENTLY HOSTED

TOP: Trends in the Bucks County business community and strategies for growing productivity and profitability highlighted the BCIDA discussion hosted at Newtown East.

BOTTOM: Karen Fox ’94, M ’08 was among headliners in a series of workshops organized by members of the Center for Internships and Career Services during Professional Week.

THE 1ST ANNUAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK sponsored by the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA) in January on Holy Family’s Newtown East Campus. The event, organized by BCIDA Executive Director TJ Lonergan, included a keynote address by Timothy Chubb, Chief Investment Officer at Girard, who reviewed recent history and projections for U.S growth, the labor market and inflation. Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco then joined BCIDA Chairman Steve Marzullo, Regional President at C&N Bank Blair Rush, local entrepreneur Tom Krol and Director of Research at CBRE Joe Gibson in a panel discussion on trends in the Bucks County business community and strategies to attract, educate/train and retain the workforce to grow both productivity and profitability.

“Holy Family is honored to be hosting this event in Bucks County,” Dr. Prisco said in welcoming a room full of local business leaders.

“Over the last two-and-one-half years since I joined Holy Family, it has become quite evident that we, as a university, have a larger and larger footprint here in Bucks County. A third of our students and our faculty and staff, in fact, have Bucks County addresses. As we expand in the region and continue to develop new programs – in healthcare, cybersecurity, biomanufacturing, life sciences and technology –we are also giving thought to how we structure these courses, including - certificate programs and how we train both traditional students and adult learners to meet workforce needs.”

KAREN FOX ’94, M’08 RETURNS TO CAMPUS WITH TIPS FOR STUDENTS ON BUILDING THEIR PROFESSIONAL BRAND

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY ALUMNA KAREN

FOX ’94, M’08 visited her alma mater in March to share strategies with current students on building their professional brands. Her presentation was part of the Center for Internships and Career Services’ (CICS) Professional Week, a series of workshops offering tips on crafting first-rate resumes and shining during an interview as well as advice for effective networking. The week was designed to assist students in becoming the best professional version of themselves.

Fox has over 20 years of experience in leadership and people development, including 10 years teaching “professional development strategies” at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Among other information, she offered advice to job seekers on improving their LinkedIn profiles by adding multimedia, including school, work and volunteer experiences, and joining relevant groups.

HOLY FAMILY HOSTS DISCUSSION ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT

HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY HOSTED U.S.

CONGRESSMAN BRIAN FITZPATRICK (PA-1/U.S. House of Representatives) and expert leaders in the fields of national security for a panel discussion on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the reauthorization of Section 702. The discussion, hosted at the Holy Family Newtown East campus, centered around the importance of continuing Section 702 and the United States’ ability to identify overseas national security threats while giving consideration to American’s privacy rights guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment.

“We shouldn’t need another terrorist attack to keep these systems in place,” Congressman Fitzpatrick said of the importance of Section 702. “This is a classic privacy versus

safety conversation and the need to codify compliance, open reporting, improve training and enhance transparency.”

‘Holy Family University was pleased to host this open dialogue on the need for collaboration between our intelligence community and law enforcement and the legal ramifications of national security versus privacy issues,” Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco said. “We know that threats to our society continue to grow. As we work to advance our own curriculum through our Center of Excellence on Cybersecurity on our Newtown West campus, discussions like these help us to prepare our students for in-demand jobs, advance this important program, and meet the demands of the workforce.”

ABOVE: Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick led a timely discussion with expert leaders in the fields of national security on the Newtown East campus.

ORIGAMI -Holy Family Style!

Get creative and share your result for a chance at a stuffed Blue!

Send a photo along with your Tiger origami to magazine@holyfamily.edu. Be sure to include your name, class year, and home address. The first 10 photo submissions will receive our cuddly new 8-inch “Blue” created exclusively in honor of Holy Family’s 70th anniversary.

First 10 Receive a Commemorative “Blue”

1. Fold in half.

2. Fold to meet in the center.

3. Fold triangles upward with points sticking over the edge.

4. Fold corners in. 5. Fold down.

6. Turn over!

7. Fold upward.

8. Fold downward.

9. Decorate. (Be creative!)

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024

Members of the Golden Alumni Society (Classes of 1958–1973) and the Class of 1974 are invited to gather with classmates and friends to celebrate Reunion 2024!

For more information and to register, visit holyfamily.edu/reunion or scan the QR code.

To register offline, contact Mary Kay McGettigan, Executive Director, Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at mmcgettigan@holyfamily.edu or 267-341-5017.

OCTOBER 18-19, 2024

ALUMNI AND FAMILY HOMECOMING