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Class News & Notes
NOTE: All locations are in Pennsylvania, and all years are 2024 unless otherwise noted.
BIRTHS
’10s
Kym Lebo Wentsler ’10 and Dan Wentsler welcomed Adelynne in February.
Theresa Messenger Albright ’18 and Colin Albright, CPA, ’18 welcomed Pierson on April 14. Theresa is LVC’s Director of Annual Giving, and Colin is the Accounting Manager at Hiltz Propane Systems Inc.
CLASS NOTES
’50s
Five members of the Class of 1954 visited campus in June to celebrate their 70th Reunion. Gail Edgar Ritrievi, Leah Thorpe Page, K. Mae Eschenbach Ertle, Barbara Ranck Taylor, and Betty Criswell Hungerford met with Dr. James MacLaren, LVC President, and Nev Puryear ’24, Senior Class President.
Symphony Orchestra Reunion
All LVC Symphony Orchestra alumni are invited to return for the 30th Anniversary Reunion Concert on Sunday, April 6, 2025, to perform or simply enjoy. The reunion orchestra will rehearse that morning, followed by a 3 p.m. concert. There will be a festive, post-concert reception. Music will be sent to all registrants well in advance to provide plenty of time to practice!
Please contact Dr. Johannes “Hannes” Dietrich, Newton and Adelaide Burgner Endowed Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of the Symphony Orchestra, at dietrich@lvc.edu if you are interested in participating or attending.
’60s
Dr. Hiram “Hi” Fitzgerald ’62 co-edited three new handbooks, including one with a chapter co-written by Dr. Rachel Albert, LVC Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Baby Lab. Hiram is the Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement Emeritus and University Distinguished Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Michigan State University. He received the College’s highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, in 1996.
John C. Vaszily ’66 celebrated his 80th birthday with family in May. His brother, George, arranged for some surprise LVC swag for John.
Laureate Society and Lifetime Vickroy Associates Honored
LVC honored its newest Laureate Society and Lifetime Vickroy Associates at its annual Thomas Rhys Vickroy Society dinner in April. Through their generous contributions to The Valley Fund, scholarships, academics, athletics, and more, this extraordinary group is committed to student support and success through their philanthropy.
This year’s Laureate Society honorees included the late Dr. Elizabeth Miller Bains ’64 and Dr. James A. Bains Jr. and Giovanni Ferrero H’22 and Paola Rossi Ferrero. Lifetime Vickroy honorees were Paul W. Brockie ’80; Joseph E. Buehler ’89 and Jennifer L. Buehler; Wesley T. Dellinger ’75, P’05 and Amy K. Hoopes Dellinger ’78, P’05; Jensen H. Groff Jr. ’70 and Linda H. Groff; Richard S. Miller Sr. ’60 and Janet T. Miller ’63; Gail M. Oberta ’65 and Andrew F. Oberta; Melissa A. Ulrich Poole ’05 and Kevin M. Poole ’05, M’09; Robert H. Sinclair and Jean S. Sinclair; and Brian C. Trust ’83.
’70s
Harold Ulmer ’73 retired in 2018 after two 25-year careers: college advancement and professional pipe organ building. He recently resumed his pipe organ builder/restorer part-time at Brunner and Associates Pipe Organ Builders in Silver Spring.
Robert E. Harbaugh, M.D., ’74, LVC Trustee, was appointed Chief Medical Officer at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in March. He continues in his role as the Senior Vice President for the Academic Practice. Also a Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, he previously served Hershey as the Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and as the Director of the Penn State Institute of the Neurosciences.
’80s
Dr. Gary Whiting ’80, Professor of Practice of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, was named Professor of Practice Emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in May.
Diane McVaugh Beckstead ’84, a Music Education teacher for 39 years, was a speaker and exhibitor at the 2024 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conference in April, where she met several LVC Music Education majors. She also writes and sells children’s musicals for her company, Musicals for Change.
Dr. Dee Benney Stalnecker, LSW, BCBA, ’89, is a Certified School Social Worker for the Derry Township School District. In May, she published “Home Visits in School Social Work Practice: History, Best Practices and Future Considerations” in the Children & Schools journal.
’90s
Michael Dryden, Esq., ’90 , P’18 of the Willig, Williams & Davidson Law Firm was named a 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (Worker’s Compensation) in May.
Alumni Recognized During Homecoming
Seven impressive alumni were honored during LVC’s Homecoming Weekend in October: Bernerd “Bernie” A. Buzgon, Esq., ’59, Bishop Peggy Olver Johnson ’75, P’05, Dr. Malik Momin ’83, Patricia “Patti” J. Shatto-Young ’92, Danielle “Dani” Vernet Eisner ’95, M’19, P’21, P’26, Ryan Collins ’07, and Dr. Andres Vazquez-Lopez ’18.
Visit www.lvc.edu/news to learn more about the honorees and www.lvc.edu/alumni to submit a nomination.
’00s
Brock Kerchner ’01, a Senior Account Executive at iHeart Media, was named to the CEO’s Club in 2023 for the second time. The event was held at their New York City headquarters. He lives in Mechanicsburg with his wife, Kim, and daughters, Gabby and Faith.
Todd Sturniolo ’01 won an audition to join the U.S. Army Field Band while earning his Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He retired in July after 21 years of serving in the Army and attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He and his family moved to Michigan to begin a second career in the electrical distribution industry.
David Warner Jr., Esq., ’02 was sworn in to serve as 52-3-05 Magisterial District Judge at the Lebanon County Courthouse in January. The district includes Palmyra, North and South Londonderry Townships, Cold Spring Township, and East Hanover Township.
Marsha Curry-Nixon ’04, Founder and Executive Director of Amiracle4sure Inc., was the keynote speaker for LVC’s Kente/Intercultural Graduation Ceremony in April. Curry-Nixon, who established the Amiracle4sure Educational Scholarship at The Valley to assist individuals whose lives have been impacted by incarceration, is also a National Speaker for Women Issues: Criminal Justice Reform and Domestic Violence. She is an Executive Board Member representing Pennsylvania for the Council of State Government Justice Center.
Dr. Scott Marek ’04, D’06 was inducted into the Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame in May. A three-sport high school athlete, Scott was the LVC Football Program’s first player to be named a consensus First Team All-American as a tight end. He was inducted into LVC’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
John MacDonald M’05 was named Vice President of Marketing by the Giant Co. in May. A 30-year veteran of the retail and healthcare industries, he joined Giant as Director of Marketing in 2012.
Six Inducted into the LVC Athletic Hall of Fame
Six former student-athletes were inducted into the LVC Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend. The inductees represent seven sports: Dr. Cynthia Adams Harnish ’14, D’16 (Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field), Justin Hutchinson ’10 (Men’s Soccer), Ryan Ogurcak ’05 (Men’s Golf), Dr. Erik Vargo ’07 (Men’s Tennis), Joe Meehan ’12 (Men’s Basketball) and Dr. Meghan Donoghue Schoenberger ’11, D’13 (Softball). LVC also honored the 2008-09 Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams and the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Softball teams.
Dr. Mara Thompson ’05, M’11 successfully defended her dissertation for the Doctor of Education at Kutztown University in March. Dr. Renee Lapp Norris, LVC Professor of Music, was one of her invited review committee members.
Rachel Hadrick, Esq., ’06 was the keynote speaker for Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s annual Commonwealth Scholars Reception in March.
Timothy Garrett Jr. ’08 is the Senior Manager, External Quality & Food Safety at Godiva Chocolatier.
’10s
Andrea Hoover Castilow ’11 was inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in June. A 2021 LVC Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee, she is just one of the only Women’s Basketball players to have their jersey retired after guiding the team to the NCAA Elite 8. Andrea is among the most decorated players in program history, earning Second Team and Honorable Mention All-American honors, All Mid-Atlantic Region, and two-time MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year. She was named to the WBCA/State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team as a senior and holds program records for career assists and assists per game.
Dr. Walter “Wally” Choplick ’12 earned his Doctor of Education from Concordia University-Wisconsin this past spring. He is LVC’s Assistant Director of the Breen Center for Career and Professional Development.
Kelsea Lamphere Gonzalez ’12, former LVC Associate Registrar, and her family relocated to Tampa Bay, Fla., where she became Registrar at Saint Leo University.
Christa Levko, Esq., ’12, an Investigator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, was the keynote speaker for LVC’s Lavender Graduation Celebration in May. She started her new job in March. Previously, she was in private litigation, representing clients in various employment matters like discrimination complaints, unemployment compensation, and wage theft.
Alex Loy ’12 graduated from Messiah University with a Master’s in Conducting in May.
Chris Taggart ’13 is a member of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Information Technology team in Philadelphia.
Andrew Dennison ’14 is the Senior Manager, Email Marketing, for USA Lacrosse. In May, he hired Anna Lougee ’24 as USA Lacrosse’s Coordinator, Email Marketing.
Melodie Hoff M’14 was named Director of the Franklin County Grants Management Department in May.
Dr. Suzette Jayne Madanat ’15 is a Clinical Psychologist at the Meadville Medical Center. She earned her Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree at Immaculata University in 2023.
Michael Mango-Puglisi ’17 was named Head Coach of the Central Regional High School Baseball Team, where he is also a Social Studies Teacher in the district.
Dr. Viktoria Van Nederveen ’17 successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation in March as a student in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Emerging Infectious Disease Program. She credits her unique LVC experiences, including conducting research in Dr. Wally Patton’s (Associate Professor of Chemistry) lab as part of Research First. She has presented at the American Society of Microbiology Microbe Conference and won second and third place at the university-wide 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition.
Alex “Buddy” Buckinham ’18 was named West Point’s Hockey Equipment Manager in May. He gained extensive ice hockey experience assisting LVC’s men’s program as an LVC undergraduate, leading Head Coach Don Parsons to note, “He helped design apparel and our updated locker rooms and always went above and beyond his role as Equipment Manager.”
’20s
Lauren Seibert, GFI, CES, CNC, ’23 is a Wellness Specialist at Landis Homes, a senior living community in Lititz.
Megan Finlan ’21, Assistant Director of Alumni & Student Engagement at Franklin & Marshall College, published an op-ed, Succeeding as a Gen Z Leader in Higher Ed, on Inside Higher Ed in February.
Shingirai Guchu ’21 was promoted from Actuarial Analyst to Actuarial Associate at WTW in Philadelphia in April.
Shelby Guinard ’23, a four-year goalie on the LVC Women’s Ice Hockey team, was a member of the USA Ball Hockey Team that won the ISBHF Women’s Ball Hockey World Championships in Switzerland in June. Guinard teaches Chemistry in Massachusetts.
Zach Reed ’23, M’24 was named a Constituent Affairs Specialist in the office of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. His sister, Abbie Reed ’27 , competed with Zach on the LVC Track & Field team this past year.
Alex Wang ’23 is an Inventory Control Manager at Cainiao Network, a global leader in e-commerce logistics.
Hope Leathers ’24 completed WellSpan York’s Medical Laboratory Science Program and was awarded a scholarship for professionalism and dedication to the profession. She passed her certification exam and works in the Core Lab at WellSpan York Hospital.
