18 minute read
The Spirit of Giving
Alumni and Friends Helping Students Thrive
Changing lives one student at a time—that’s how your gifts empower current and future generations of Lebanon Valley College undergraduates and graduates. Students like Destiny Daley ’22, who wants to be a teacher, and Marly Aziz ’22, who wants to be a doctor. Recent alumna like Elizabeth “Liz” Lyter ’21, who wants to be an optometrist, and Anna Weaver ’21, a Ph.D. student in chemistry at the University of Delaware. All these dreams and goals have the chance to be realized due to your generosity.
Recent philanthropy to LVC will enable a nationally recognized program aimed at suicide prevention, create enhanced athletic facilities for our numerous student-athletes, and support the liberal arts. These gifts acknowledge the influence of faculty in business administration, chemistry, and religion and the longest-serving men’s basketball coach in history.
Here are just a few stories of the many gifts received by LVC in the most recent fiscal year, including a historic gift from an alumna to endow a pair of named faculty positions in the Physics Department.
Dr. Elizabeth Miller Bains ’64
Shattering the Glass Ceiling
Dr. Elizabeth Miller Bains ’64 Provides Largest Academic Gift in LVC History
Whether as the second woman to earn an LVC physics degree in the College’s history or her groundbreaking career at the National Aeronautics & SpaceAdministration (NASA), Dr. Elizabeth Miller Bains ’64was never afraid to effect change. This fearlessness carries over to her legacy. She died in 2016, leaving her alma mater as a primary beneficiary of her and her husband’s, James, estate after his death in2020. The most significant single gift to an academic department in Valley history will benefit the PhysicsDepartment, including the endowment of two named professorships.
After graduation, Dr. Bains served as a physicist at the U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory for one year before earning her master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee. She then became an assistant professor of physics at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, teaching for three years before becoming a senior engineer at Lockheed Engineering Management& Services. In 1988, Dr. Bains joined NASA at theJohnson Space Center in Houston as an aerospace engineer and, in 1990, was appointed deputy branch chief, simulation systems, from which she retired in2013. There, she worked with numerous astronauts, including Sally Ride.
At NASA, Dr. Bains helped create software for the computer simulators used to train America’s astronauts.She was also in charge of analyzing how to assemble the International Space Station. In 2003, her primary focus was to develop procedures to repair damaged shuttle tiles while in space to prevent another shuttle from exploding on re-entry.
In addition to receiving several NASA Team Awards, Dr. Bains was a multiple recipient of NASA’s National Exceptional Achievement Medal (1995, 1996, 2005). She was awarded the 2005 medal for leading the effort to upgrade robotic simulations and analyze plans to use the Orbiter and Space Station arms in new ways for the Shuttle Return to Flight.
Her extraordinary work was also recognized by the astronauts with whom she worked. In 1990, she received the Silver Snoopy Award, which best symbolizes the intent and spirit of Space Flight Awareness. An astronaut always presents the Silver Snoopy because it is the astronauts’ award for outstanding performance, contributing to flight safety, and mission success. Fewer than one percent of the aerospace program workforce receives it annually.
Dr. Bains valued LVC’s liberal arts-based education and credited The Valley for the excellent education in physics, language, and writing. She remained a loyal alumna, returning as a guest lecturer and contributing financially to numerous programs, including The Rhodes and O’Donnell Endowed Physics Research Fund in honor of her former faculty mentors. Her generosity was recognized when she became a Lifetime Vickroy Associate, the prestigious group of donors who have demonstrated their lasting commitment to support LVC by giving $100,000 or more to the College during their lifetime, in addition to being active figures in their communities.
In 1995, Dr. Bains received an LVC Alumni Citation, followed by a Professional Achievement Award in 2005. In 2015, she received the College’s most prestigious alumni award, the Distinguished Alumna Award. In 2014, in preparation for LVC’s 150th Anniversary, Dr. Bains participated in the oral history project, and her interview can be read on lvc.edu.
Dr. Bains maintained lifelong friendships with LVC faculty and families, including Dr. Agnes O’Donnell, professor emerita of English; Bob O’Donnell, professor emeritus of physics; Dr. Jake Rhodes, professor emeritus of physics; Dr. Art Ford, professor emeritus of English; and Mary Ellen Ford, former co-director of Kreiderheim.
Elyse E. Rogers, Esq., ’76
Honoring a Mentor and the Liberal Arts
Like many scholarship founders, Elyse E. Rogers,Esq., ’76 supports her alma mater because of the faculty she learned from as an undergraduate religion major. Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees since 2018, she also gives back due to her love of the humanities. She created two scholarships—The ElyseE. Rogers ’76 Endowed Scholarship Fund and The ElyseE. Rogers ’76 Annual Scholarship Fund.
“I received a very high quality, life-changing education at Lebanon Valley College,” said Rogers. “The College’s new mission statement starts with ‘LebanonValley College educates students for lifelong success through exceptional undergraduate liberal arts programs.’As my appreciation and understanding of that foundational principle has grown over the years, the desire—even the need—to give back has grown.”
Rogers’ support of scholarships comes from a personal place: She was the first in her family to attend college.
“It is embarrassing, but I wasn’t thinking beyond college, or if I was, it was only in the vaguest sense. I was very young, coming to LVC after my junior year in high school. No one in my immediate family had gone to college, and neither of my parents were high school graduates. My goal was to graduate from college, and then things would fall into place. Initially a psychology major, maybe a vague notion of a counseling profession? I still remember the feeling that worlds were opening up to me, new perspectives and understanding, as I studied with the late Dr. Donald Byrne, professor emeritus of religion. What a gift that was! I want to support humanities studies because it educates students for lifelong success personally and professionally.
“Education, and especially higher education, is critical to understanding the world and our place in it. A great education opens doors, presents numerous personal and professional prospects, and enables graduates to fulfill careers that are essential to our society and way of life.
“I’ve been privileged to serve as a trustee since 2003, and as chair since 2018. The simple truth is that money is essential to fulfilling our mission. LVC is an excellent steward of its financial resources, and we accomplish much with relatively limited resources. Take the work of our Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Graduate Success staff. They integrate career preparation into the academic program starting during a student’s first semester on campus. The staff connect life skills to the high-quality work of our faculty and administration to prepare our graduates for rewarding careers. This innovative work is worth our financial support.
“No matter your life path, studying the liberal arts will help provide the skills that lead to numerous career choices. Colleges like LVC need to prepare graduates for their first job and for all those that they choose to pursue. The study of humanities helps develop flexibility and determination, or grit, and the ability to get on with whatever life throws at you.”
Kayleigh Johnson ’22
Kayleigh Johnson ’22, a double major in English and digital communications, receives a Rogers scholarship.
“Receiving this and other scholarships enables me to focus on my studies rather than worrying about making ends meet. Scholarships provide peace of mind,” said Johnson, editor-in-chief of La Vie Collegienne.
“It means a lot to receive a scholarship from an alumna who has been in my shoes. It’s great to see that people believe so much in what LVC does and wants to support students after they graduate,” addedJohnson. “I’m extremely honored to be recognized for my work in and passion for the humanities. Her scholarship takes some weight off my shoulders and has allowed me to enjoy my education and LVC experience to a greater extent.”
Dr. Roberta Gable Reed ’67
A Shared Learning Experience
Among the diverse ways to support LVC, Dr. Roberta Gable Reed ’67 was inspired by a personal undergraduate experience to establish The Roberta Gable Reed Student Research Fund in 2017. This endowed research fund supports students engaged in faculty-guided physiological or biological science research.
“As an undergraduate, I had a wonderful chance to work during summers in a research lab at University Hospital in my hometown of Baltimore,” said Reed. She went on to earn her master’s and Ph.D. at Wesleyan University, then a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Triangle Institute. She was also the first clinical chemist to be offered a fellowship to the American Heart Association Seminar on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.
“The University Hospital program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, allowed me to work with professionals and get a good feel for what being a scientist meant and how scientists work together to solve problems—the kind of experience you cannot get in a classroom setting. I established this research fund so LVC students could have that same experience—to work on a problem with others—not in a structured class program but in a real-world setting where results are unknown, and you are challenged to bring your critical thinking skills to solve problems.”
Reed took the skills learned by conducting undergraduate research into a successful career as a research biochemist and administrator for two healthcare systems, including 30 years with Bassett Healthcare. She served as a research biochemist and laboratory director. Her research focused on blood proteins and their effect on transporting drugs and nutrients throughout the body. This early research occurred when the American Heart Association was interested in the impact low-fat diets had on cholesterol. Reed’s work centered on lipids and lipoproteins and various diet interactions with blood proteins.
“When I entered LVC, I expected to become a chemist in a commercial or industrial setting,” said Reed. However, as I continued my undergraduate and graduate studies, I migrated back to a hospital setting to work on challenges in medical biochemistry.
“Lebanon Valley was instrumental in my career path—mostly by challenging me to think outside the box, ask questions, and figure out how to answer them.”
Dr. H. Anthony “Tony” Neidig ’43, H’04, P’73, longtime chair and professor of chemistry, was a profound influence on Reed’s life and career path.
“Tony Neidig was the most important mentor I had,” added Reed. “He excelled at challenging us to question and think and encouraged us to have faith in our abilities. He loved to give exams that no one—even the best student in the class—could complete easily. And by doing so brought out the best in all his students. He was a great teacher and mentor.”
Elizabeth “Liz” Lyter ’21, a first-year optometry student at Salus University, was an early recipient of Reed’s scholarship, as was Anna Weaver ’21, a Ph.D. student in chemistry at the University of Delaware.
Kenneth A. Spengler
Supporting On-campus Mental Health Services
Richard S. Miller Sr. ’60 and Janet T. Miller ’63 established The Kenneth A. Spengler Memorial Counseling Center Fund in memory of Janet’s son, Kenneth A. Spengler. He was a third-year honor student at Swarthmore College who died by suicide in 1988.
The fund supports the Lebanon Valley College Counseling Center through programs and services for students who need mental health services. Initial grants were used for suicide prevention and awareness.
“Many more students today need this type of assistance and therapies to navigate the college experience with success,” noted the Millers. “We wanted to provide financial support for the numerous students who find themselves in need of help during their undergraduate years. Our vision is to inspire others to support this significant need when crises surface.
“We are encouraged by Lebanon Valley’s Mission Statement and the wonderful points the new president, Dr. James MacLaren, made during his October 2020 virtual gathering,” added the Millers. “We hope the fund will help students, like Kenneth, in their greatest time of need.”
“I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Millers for their generous gift in the name of Kenneth,” said Jim Felty, LVC director of counseling services. “Kenneth’s life and memory will be honored by providing suicide prevention, awareness, and response programs.
“As monies are generated from the fund, we will increase training in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention,” said Felty. Trained staff will then be qualified to teach QPR on campus and be more prepared to respond to those in distress. As proceeds from the fund grow, we hope to annually purchase a QPR license so that all members of the LVC community receive QPR training.
“I believe that their gift will save lives on our campus and beyond. A well-informed and prepared community is our best line of defense against the tragic circumstances surrounding suicide.”
Destiny Daley ’23
“Scholarships are a lifeline for so many families and students who want to reach their educational and career goals,” said Destiny Daley ’23, an early childhood and special education major.
“I am grateful for the Newsome Family Scholarship [Alan M. Newsome ’07 and Ashton R. Lattimore], especially during a time like the COVID-19 pandemic where many students like myself work on top of classes to help our families financially. On a personal note, I am a returning student after taking a semester off to help my family, so I am very appreciative. Thank you, Alan and Ashton!”
Helping Make LVC Athletics Competitive
The College recently began renovating athletic facilities to benefit the more than 600 LVC students who compete in intercollegiate athletics each year—about one-third of the student body.
Facility highlights include:
• New locker rooms to provide individual lockers for our athletes for the first time in some of these programs’ history. These spaces will feature enhanced technology to allow for game video, strategy discussions, and team collaboration. These fresh and well-ventilated spaces will include private showers and restrooms and allow our teams to display their game photos proudly.
• An attractive and technologically equipped recruiting lounge for prospective student-athletes and their families to build rapport with coaches and current athletes, view game videos, and feel energized by the legacy of Dutchmen Athletics.
• The addition of small and large classrooms, which can be combined for larger team programs, to provide a dedicated space for focused study, gathering, and team meetings.
• The renovation of existing facilities to provide additional locker room capacity in the Louis A. Sorrentino ’54 Gymnasium.
Honoring a Coach and Mentor
J.D. Byers ’05 led an effort to raise funds for a new men’s basketball locker room in the Louis A. Sorrentino ’54 Gymnasium. He was joined by fellow basketball alumni (below), each of whom reached out to teammates to bring awareness and support for the project, which honored the program’s all-time winningest coach, Brad McAlester. The team raised more than $50,000 to have the locker named forCoach McAlester.
Jimmy Curran ’07
Brett Gilbert ’18
Evan Harlor ’04
Joe Meehan ’12
Ross Young ’99, M’14
Coach Brad McAlester
An Investment in LVC Student-Athletes
J.D. Byers ’05, an assistant men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I’s Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), was motivated to give by a fellow Dutchman who also is his boss—Mike Rhoades ’95, VCU’s head coach. Rhoades joined with Jason Zitter ’96, a teammate on the LVC 1994 NCAA Division III National Championship squad, to pledge $100,000 toward locker room and other revitalizations in Louis A. Sorrentino ’54 Gymnasium in 2021. The goal was easily met with the help of Byers and a dedicated group of basketball alumni (see box), and the project began this past fall.
“Mike and Jason’s generous commitment to the project inspired me to look for ways to make the new state-of-the-art locker room a reality,” said Byers. “It also created the desire to honor Coach Brad McAlester, who recruited me to The Valley and mentored me during my four years. Through conversations with Rick Beard ’90, M’92, director of athletics, and Jordan Evangelista, director of individual giving, I quickly realized the importance of involving other hoop alumni.
“We want LVC basketball players to have the same experiences we had and help the program remain competitive and successful for future generations. Playing collegiate athletics prepared me for a career as a college basketball coach and life in general. It taught me how to handle success and failure, time management, and further develop a strong work ethic.
“Besides Coach McAlester, I was fortunate to have two professors, Dr. Leon Markowicz [late professor emeritus of business administration] and Professor Robert Leonard [professor of business administration] who pushed me academically. They had extremely high expectations for their students and forced you to think critically. I am forever grateful to these mentors.”
Coach McAlester, already with more than 400 wins during his 28-year career, also had a tremendous influence on Byers’ life.
“Since coach began recruiting me, he has been someone I could always count on and who I knew always had my best interest at heart. He was hard on me as a player, exactly what I needed. To this day, I call Coach McAlester for professional and personal advice. He has impacted so many lives at LVC and has earned the right to have this locker room named in his honor.”
Abner and Beluah Spangler
A Father’s Legacy
Earl J. Spangler ’48 established The Abner Cleveland Spangler Scholarship (est. 1999) in memory of his father, Abner, with his wife, Trudy. After Earl’s passing, Trudy updated the scholarship, which is awarded to a student from the Derry Township School District, to honor her husband. To date, The Abner C. and Earl J. Spangler ’48 Scholarship has received more than 50 gifts in tribute to Earl’s impact on the world.
Regarding why their mother renamed the scholarship also to honor their father, Susan Spangler, LCSW, and Stephanie Spangler, M.D., said, “Mother added dad’s name to the scholarship in tribute to our father’s deep and abiding gratitude for the opportunities he received and his unflagging generosity of spirit. She knew nothing made dad happier than helping young people have a strong and auspicious start to their adult lives.”
Earl ’48 and Trudy Spangler
Earl served during WWII in the U.S. Navy’s amphibious force in the South Pacific after earning his bachelor’s in business administration from The Valley. He received three battle stars and shared a commendation award with three shipmates for rescuing 21 sailors and Marines swept overboard in a tumultuous sea.
After his naval service, Earl returned to the U.S., joining the Hershey Chocolate Company in an entry-level position. He worked his way up in the company, eventually becoming president and board director of Hershey Chocolate Company and board director of the Hershey Foods Corporation.
Earl attributed his academic, military, and career success to his LVC education and the inspiring influence of his father, Abner. According to his granddaughters, Abner was raised by a local farming family and spent his life dedicated to serving his community through teaching and civil service.
“Dad was eternally grateful to his mother, Beulah, and father for enabling him to attend LVC and, drawing from his experiences there, go on to enjoy a fulfilling, rewarding career with the Hershey Chocolate Company. He created the scholarship at LVC to honor his father and pay forward what he had been given in the hopes that other young people might experience the life-long gifts that a quality education can make possible.”
Marly Aziz ’22, a biology major and Spanish minor in the College’s pre-medicine track, is the current recipient of the Spangler scholarship. She also benefits from The William and Beverlee Lehr Scholarship, created by William Lehr Jr., Esq., H’19, former chair of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Beverlee, in 2001. To date, more than 30 students have received Lehr scholarships.
“My family, friends, and the LVC community made it possible for me to go further than I ever thought possible,” said Aziz. “Fortunately, I can pursue whatever I imagine at LVC, including a medical career, thanks to scholarship creators such as the Lehrs and Spanglers.
“Through these donors’ gracious gifts, I participated in student-faculty research in the sciences. I can stay focused on my ultimate career goals, which include helping create equity in healthcare and becoming a physician who communicates with care and kindness.”
Marly Aziz ’22
