THE
8H ONORING OUR PAST IN SONG Freedom Singer Rutha Harris visits campus
20 A SK THE EXPERTS Faculty, students and staff share their skills
Thicker than water
12
Alums thrive in family businesses
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE WINTER 2019
ANDRE FRUEH ’22
OU TSIDE LOOK
Students from Messiah’s Ski and Ride Club braved the winter temperatures during J-term at nearby Roundtop Mountain Resort in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. Taking a break from their studies for a little skiing and snowboarding, they fit in some fun and fitness before the start of spring semester.
W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 , VO L . 1 1 0 , N O . 3
MESSIAH COLLEGE A LU M N I M AG A Z I N E
THE
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Office of Marketing and Communications One College Avenue, Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717.691.6027 | www.messiah.edu PRESIDENT
Kim S. Phipps V I C E P R E S I D E N T F O R A DVA N C E M E N T
Barry Goodling ’79 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Carla E. Gross EDITOR
Anna Seip C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
Nancy Soulliard SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Cindy Agoncillo ’09 GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Kristy Tunnell DIRECTOR OF A L U M N I & PA R E N T R E L AT I O N S
Jay McClymont ’92 CONTRIBUTORS
Mattew Fenton ’13, MA ’16, Rachel Hungerford ’22, Jake Miaczynski ’20, Robyn Passante
12
The Bridge (ISSN-0279-3938) is published quarterly by the Messiah College Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni and friends of the College, free of charge. Periodicals postage (USPS #342000) paid at Mechanicsburg PA 17055 and additional mailing offices. Please contact us at thebridge@messiah.edu or 717-691-6027. Items for the alumni news section should be identified by class year and sent to the Messiah College Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, One College Avenue Suite 3023, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. You may email them to alumni@messiah.edu or fax them to 717-796-5371.
F E AT U R E S
12
As its name suggests, The Bridge connects alumni, parents and donors with Messiah College. It also serves to build the College’s image with these audiences. It does this by publishing accurate news about the College and about alumni and by offering interesting feature articles that are issue- or College-related for readers’ continued education. Messiah College accepts news submissions from alumni and the broader community but reserves the right to edit or decline to print materials at its discretion.
THICKER THAN WATER
Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.
Do you have what it takes to work with your dad all day? Find out in our family business feature.
Messiah College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, disability and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other Collegeadministered programs. © 2019 Messiah College
COVE R:
The Bridge is printed on recyclable paper: 50/25 PCW EFC
Brothers Neil ’02, Kevin ’06 and Lucas Messick ’10 work at their family’s heavy equipment company. MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
2 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
20
ASK THE EXPERTS From training for a marathon to parallel parking, Messiah’s faculty, students and staff offer up their expertise.
F R O M T H E E D I TO R WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY FATHER WORKED FOR EASTERN AIRLINES AT THE ATLANTA AIRPORT. THE BEST PERK OF THE JOB? HE — AND I — COULD FLY ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. FOR FREE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE. SO, WE TOOK A LOT OF IMPROMPTU TRIPS TOGETHER. BUT, HE HAD ONE TRAVEL RULE: YOU MUST CARRY YOUR OWN SUITCASE. I QUICKLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO PACK THE LIGHTEST BAG POSSIBLE.
7
8
D E PAR TM E NT S
ONLINE EXTRAS
4 FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE
5 ON CAMPUS 5
Faces and Places
6
Heard Around Campus
7
Brain Waves
8
Campus News
Watch the demo reel of Valerie Bell ’18, a news reporter Contribute to the endowed scholarship honoring Ethan Van Bochoven Watch the AROMA video
10 Athletics
Find the answers to our Sudoku puzzle on p. 24
26
OUR ALUMNI
Watch the Powerhouse video
26
Alumni Profiles
30
Class Notes
32
From the Archives
Here’s what I learned: Cowboy boots take up too much room in a suitcase, so wear them on the plane. (Our extended family lives in Texas, so leaving boots at home is never an option.) In a pinch, lipstick can double as blush. Why pack slippers for bedtime when a pair of socks (thinner, flatter, more versatile) will do? A comb takes up less space than a brush. Never pack a hair dryer or an iron. They’re heavy, and you can probably borrow them once you reach your destination. Need a souvenir? Go to an antiques store and buy an old license plate. It’s unbreakable, and nothing fits in a suitcase better. Although my dad is retired now, I always think of him when I’m packing for a trip. After decades of traveling this way, I’m an expert in packing lightly— but not beautifully. If you want an Instagram-worthy suitcase, turn to our “Ask the Experts” feature on p. 20. There, you’ll find how to travel abroad, how to train for a marathon and even how to get a jump on spring by growing your tomato plants. Want to read about experts in interpersonal relationships? Check out our family business feature on p. 12. You’ll learn how passing the torch from one generation to the next takes patience, skill and heart. We hope you enjoy the winter issue of The Bridge.
A N N A S E I P, E D I T O R
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
How to make a difference in the lives of college students An important skill we all should cultivate
8 ways to make a difference in students’ lives • Listen to and learn from them. One of the greatest gifts we can give is to lay down our devices and listen to students with our full attention. In the process, we often learn and are changed. From students, I’ve gained knowledge about many aspects of life, including various cultures and cuisines. International students and I have bonded over cooking as they have generously taught me how to prepare their favorite meals. • Share your pet—seriously! Since my husband, Kelly, and I adopted our daughter Brooke’s rescue dog, Larry, he has become somewhat of a campus celebrity. I’ve realized how important pets are to the students’ wellness and happiness. Students who stop by the Engle Center for Counseling and Health Services can visit with one of the dogs that is available during business hours. • Cheer them on and offer support. We learn to understand students by showing up and supporting them in the pursuits that energize them— athletic, artistic, theatrical, musical, service or researchoriented. • Feed them pizza. Or offer them a white mocha frappuccino with a shot of espresso (which Starbucks reports is college students’ favorite drink on campuses in the Northeast). During casual Pizza with the Prez evenings in residence halls and dinners at Orchard Hill, students share with me what’s on their minds and what’s happening in their lives. At your church or in your community, you can look for opportunities to extend hospitality to college students. 4 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
• Invest in them. Each year, your generous gifts through the Messiah Fund make every facet of students’ education possible. I’m also encouraged by alumni who have established endowed scholarships that will continue to support college students for generations to come. • Laugh with them. When we share the gifts of authentic laughter and conversation with college students, our brains not only release endorphins—or “feel-good hormones”—but also laughter helps us all to keep our life and work or studies in perspective. • Seek understanding. You can learn about the challenges and opportunities facing this generation by reading books such as “Generation Z goes to College” by Corey Seemiller and Meghan Grace, or “Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation” by Barna Group. • Pray for them. College students face many pressures during this time of life. You can support the college students in your life by praying often for them—whether they are just starting their college career or returning to college after a gap year or a time in the workforce. Pray that they experience God’s guidance and peace as they rigorously pursue their academic studies. I’m grateful that Messiah College intentionally nurtures students’ holistic success. We are currently designing a plan to better integrate the resources we provide for students’ intellectual, spiritual, physical and emotional development. Our students are the rising generation of servants, leaders and reconcilers in church and society. Let’s seek to become “experts” in making a lasting difference in their lives.
K I M S . PH I PPS, PRESIDENT
PHOTO: RYAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
As I thought about this magazine’s “experts” feature, I considered what it would mean for us as educators, parents, friends and benefactors to become experts in understanding and supporting college students in their educational journey. While I wouldn’t claim to be an expert, I have discovered throughout my tenure as an educator and college administrator that there are many ways to make a difference in the lives of college students.
OUR
FAC E S A N D P L AC E S
What’s it like to have a job at Fox News? At Fox News in Washington D.C., journalism major Valerie Bell ’18 spent fall semester interning as a college associate with the show “The Ingraham Angle.” Her duties included booking guests—one Republican and one Democrat, to show both sides of issues—and researching current politics to help the show’s conversation stay up-to-date. She found the paid internship on the Fox News website last summer while job searching. After a few phone calls and interviews, she landed the job. If her experience sounds too good to be true, well, Bell is no stranger to a newsroom. As a freshman, she anchored for MC 77, Messiah’s student broadcast. “Val showed great interest in becoming a TV reporter from the start of her time here at Messiah,” said Ed Arke, professor of communication at Messiah. “She did the necessary extras outside of classes in order to improve her skills and develop her potential ... to land beneficial internships as she worked toward her degree.” After MC 77, Bell also interned at WDVN (formerly WHAG), a news station in Maryland, the summer after her freshman year. Another opportunity opened up during her junior year, when she met ABC 27 broadcaster Gregg
COURTESY OF VALERIE BELL ’18
ASK A STUDENT
After a summer of interning at Fox News, Valerie Bell ’18 landed a job as a news reporter at WDVM in Maryland.
Mace at a Messiah job fair. Her professors helped her apply for and land an internship there. All of these experiences gave Bell familiarity with reporting, camera work and interviewing. “It is a lot more than just getting in front of the camera and
“IT’S A LOT MORE THAN JUST GETTING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND TALKING. YOU WRITE EVERYTHING YOU READ.” — Valerie Bell ’18
talking. You write everything you read,” said Bell. “It’s no different than writing a story, except instead of the news coming out in the newspaper, you talk about it on live television.” These experiences also helped her create a demo reel—footage of a journalist’s past work, like a resumé in video form. “[A demo reel] allows you to showcase to employers all your talents and abilities to deliver the news,” she explained. “You can’t get a job as a reporter without one.” Her internship at Fox wrapped in December, just in time for her
graduation. What’s she’s doing now? Bell went back to the beginning, working at WDVM as a news reporter. “I signed my contract there and started right after graduation,” she said. “I’ve been doing stories every day for the news.” What advice does she have to future journalism students? “If you are dedicated, have a lot of experience and can show what you can bring to the network, you are likely to succeed,” she said. — Rachel Hungerford ’22 WANT TO WATCH BELL’S DEMO REEL? VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/DEMOREEL
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 5
OUR
HEARD AROUND CAMPUS
WHAT’S ONE AREA OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU’RE AN EXPERT—AND WHY?
“ Baking. I have a good “ Volleyball. I’ve been sense of taste.” — Rachel Gaugler ’20
“ Chinese. I know the language really well, since I’m from China.” — Will Wang ’21
“ Driving— 17 hours from Messiah to home in Minnesota.” — Annamarie Lively ’19
“ I’m good at chess, because I’ve played it since I was a kid.” — Leah Shellenhamer ’19 6 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
playing it for years and years, and I’ve had lots of good coaching.”
— Amanda Dahlman ’21
“ Programming, because I’ve done it for five years.” — Nathan Chan ’20
“ I’m good at playing clarinet. I practice a lot.” — Allen Swanson ’22
“ I am good at listening to other people, because I invest a lot of time in caring about what they have to say.” — Amy Depretis ’21
COURTESY OF HOSANA KAWASHIMA ’19
B R A I N WAV E S
Returning to her home country of Japan last summer, Hosana Kawashima ’19 interned at the Japan Association for Refugees in Tokyo. In her role, she assembled food packages, greeted people at the front desk and organized donations.
Serving Tokyo as an intern STUDENT FLIES HOME FOR REFUGEE WORK Hosana Kawashima ’19 spent last summer in her home country of Japan, but it was far from a family vacation. She interned at Tokyo’s Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), satisfying her Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) requirement for graduation. “Working in the front line of refugee work ... opened my eyes to many things that I would not have learned in the classroom,” said Kawashima, “such as local
persecutions and conflicts in parts of the world, historical events that produced many refugees and problems with detention centers.” JAR provides holistic support to refugees in Tokyo through legal, social and integration support services, as well as engaging in advocacy, community engagement and public relations. A peace and conflict studies major, Kawashima worked in the organization’s largest unit: protection and assistance. She greeted people at the front desk, assembled food packages and organized donations. Kawashima’s hospitality stems from her faith in Christ. “They
are created in the image of God,” she said of the refugees. “They do not deserve any of the bad things that happen to them. We cannot do anything about what happened in the past, but we can change the way we welcome them in the future.” As an international student, Kawashima commends the hospitality she received when she arrived at Messiah College. “In the same way Messiah was hospitable toward me, I want to help others feel safe and secure wherever they find themselves,” she said. Despite the joy of serving others, she says the realities of refugee work weighed heavily on her heart. She says more than 19,000 people representing 82 countries applied for refugee status in Japan in 2017. Only 20 applicants were accepted. Kawashima faced the harsh reality that, at the end of the day, the doors of the facility closed, and she went home to her safe, comfortable apartment. “I felt helpless,” she said. “I prayed continually for the people around me.” Out of the 93 days spent in Japan, Kawashima saw her family for eight of those days. In the fall, she returned to Grantham and began her on-campus job as a resident assistant—another role requiring hospitality. “My job on campus is to welcome, provide a safe environment and reveal to them who they are in Christ,” she said. After commencement in May, Kawashima says she plans to continue refugee work in the U.S. or go to grad school in Japan to study trauma and grief care. “I can wholeheartedly say that Messiah’s program has equipped me with a joy to be a good listener to my neighbors, see Christ in them and share God’s love for them,” she said.
“IN THE SAME WAY MESSIAH WAS HOSPITABLE TOWARD ME, I WANT TO HELP OTHERS FEEL SAFE AND SECURE WHEREVER THEY FIND THEMSELVES.” – Hosana Kawashima ’19
J
A
P
A
N TOK YO
— Jake Miaczynski ’20 MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 7
OUR
CAMPUS NEWS
To honor the life and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., Messiah College invited Rutha Mae Harris, one of the original Freedom Singers, to campus. During her visit, Harris served as chapel speaker, spoke to a J-term classroom and performed with the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia and United Voices of Praise. The Freedom Singers formed as a quartet at Albany State College in Albany, Georgia, in 1962. Their congregational style of singing protest songs in a capella served as an essential part of the Civil Rights Movement as they toured throughout the U.S. “It’s one thing to read about, it’s another thing to listen to, but to be in her presence—that’s something completely different,” said Todd Allen, professor of communication and special assistant to the president and provost for
diversity affairs. “The best lecture I could give could never top what she did in 20 minutes at chapel.” While in chapel, she taught students songs she sang at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C., in 1963. “If you’re marching and you see fire hoses and dogs, you might get scared. But then you start to sing a song, and it gives you courage,” Harris said. She also met with Allen’s students from his J-term course, “The Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement.” Ashley Matthew ’21, a student in the class, said, “Ms. Harris explained to us the importance of continuing to teach these songs. Future generations must be reminded of how far we have come and how much more work needs to be done.” Allen said that inviting Harris to his classroom inspired and humbled the students.
SARAH HENRY ’19
Freedom Singer visits campus to perform, talk to students
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. in January, Messiah’s Jazz Orchestra and United Voices of Praise (above) accompanied Freedom Singer Rutha Harris (below, left) when she visited campus.
Sara Schulties ’21 said, “I’m now able to recognize her voice from videos we watched in class, which is still surreal to me.” While at Messiah, Harris also performed with the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia and United Voices of Praise, Messiah’s gospel choir. “Simply breathing the same air as someone that integral to the Movement, that’s rare air,” said Eric Byrd, who conducted the
choir that night. “The choir inspired me,” said Harris. “They uplifted my spirit. I love that gospel choir.” Harris departed campus with this charge to students and faculty: “To whatever situation you find yourself, stand up and fight for what you believe. Have faith and courage. And it must come from the heart, not the head.” — Jake Miaczynski ’20
DPT ACCREDITATION STATUS MOVES FORWARD
SARAH HENRY ’19
Effective Oct. 31, 2018, Messiah’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Candidate for Accreditation is a preaccreditation status of affiliation with CAPTE that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in professional courses. “Messiah College has assembled a diverse experienced faculty who are committed to the Messiah College mission,” said Rob Pepper, dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “With a well-designed curriculum, excellent facilities, a growing list of clinical placements and outstanding institutional support, we are excited to enroll our first cohort of students.” In November 2018, Messiah began recruiting the inaugural cohort of DPT students (toward a budgeted target of 25 students), which will start in August. Recruitment is underway via the College’s marketing campaigns and through PTCAS, the national centralized application service for physical therapy programs.
8 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Endowed scholarship honors life of Ethan Van Bochoven honor our memories of Ethan by doing something tangible to serve Messiah students.” Before spring semester began, donors had raised more than $9,000, tripling the past record for the senior glass gift. The scholarship will go toward supporting a Messiah music major with financial need who exhibits the love of performance and humility that Van Bochoven did. Please pray for his family and friends as they continue to grieve their loss and seek to find meaningful ways such as this to remember his life and the impact that he had on the lives of others.
ELENA CASTILLO ’22
Each year, the senior class unites to leave their legacy by supporting a campus initiative. This year, the Senior Gift Committee unanimously voted to create an endowed scholarship in honor of their classmate Ethan Van Bochoven, a senior music major who died in an auto accident in Harrisburg Oct. 12. “He was a generous soul, with a great sense of humor who brought such joy to our community,” said Tim Dixon, professor of music. “At his core, he was committed to Christ and to sharing the love of Christ in a thousand different ways—particularly when he was playing his violin. We miss him for all of these things. This scholarship is a beautiful opportunity for us to
TO DONATE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/SENIORCLASSGIFT
COURTESY OF GREENFIELD ARCHITECTS, LTD.
ADMISSIONS CENTER TO OPEN IN 2020
The Kim S. Phipps Admissions and Welcome Center, pictured in this updated rendering, will welcome prospective students, families and other guests in 2020. For more information about the center, visit messiah.edu/welcomecenter. MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 9
OUR
MESSIAH WINS MEN, WOMEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS FALCONS SWEEP INDIVIDUAL HONORS
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
For the fourth time in the last 11 years, the Messiah men’s and women’s soccer programs swept the highest individual honors in NCAA Division III soccer. Forward Nick West ’19 and defender DJ Cole ’19 were
named the United Soccer Coaches men’s and women’s National Player of the Year, respectively. West put together one of the most impressive offensive campaigns that has ever been seen in Grantham, leading the nation with 30 goals and collecting a total of 66 points. He was just the second-ever Messiah men’s player, and first in more than four decades, to score 30 goals in a season. (Messiah player Adrian Oostdyke scored 31 goals in 1973). After being shut out in the season opener, West went on a scoring tear that lasted 15 games, matching the all-time Division III record for consecutive games with at least one goal. “Nick West had an amazing year,” said Messiah Men’s Soccer Head Coach Brad McCarty. “Nick’s work rate and his area of influence allowed him to score in a variety of different ways. He can score in the run of play, via the system, via his teammate, on breakaways, on free kicks, off corners and on penalty kicks.” Just as prolific as West was at putting the ball in the back of the net, Cole was doing the opposite, keeping opponents off the scoreboard as the Falcons’ center back. Cole anchored a defensive line that allowed just five goals in 22 matches this season for a nation-leading 0.22 goals against average. She has been a key cog in the Falcons’ defense for her entire career. Since she stepped on campus in 2015, she appeared in 92 games, making 66 starts.
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
AT H L E T I C S
During her four years, the Falcons allowed just 22 goals across 8,812 minutes for 0.225 goals against average. “She’s a special athlete and her influence and impact on the game is obvious because her athleticism and energy is just different than other players at times,” said Messiah Women’s Soccer Head Coach Scott Frey. “She leads by how she plays. Nobody outworks DJ. She always has the dirtiest jersey in the game and just loves to play. There’s only one way DJ plays: totally invested.” Cole helped lead the Falcons to their 18th Sweet 16 appearance in the last 19 seasons, while West and the men’s team advanced to the Elite Eight for the 17th time in program history. Across the last 17 seasons, the soccer programs have earned 16 National Player of the Year accolades. With West and Cole each claiming the honor this season, the 2018 campaign marks the fourth time Messiah has swept the award, joining the 2008, 2010 and 2012 seasons. – Matthew Fenton ’13, MA ’16, director of athletic communications
Above: Nick West ’19 celebrates after scoring a goal against Whitworth Sept. 1, 2018. Left: DJ Cole ’19 became the sixth National Player of the Year in Messiah women’s soccer history in 2018. 10 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
YEAR-BY-YEAR HISTORY OF MESSIAH MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2002 • Hayden Woodworth 2005 • David McClellan 2007 • Kai Kasiguran 2008 • JD Binger • Amanda Naeher 2009 • Erin Hench 2010 • Geoff Pezon • Amanda Naeher 2012 • Jeremy Payne • Alex Brandt 2013 • Josh Wood 2014 • Jeremy Payne 2015 • Nikki Elsaesser 2016 • Jacob Bender 2018 • Nick West • DJ Cole
Heading into the 2018-19 season, only 46 student-athletes in Messiah men’s and women’s basketball program history had ever scored 1,000 career points. During a six-week stretch in the middle of the season, three Falcons added their names to the exclusive 1,000-point club. Forward Alecia Rohrer ’19 started the trend of 1,000-point scorers, knocking down a first-quarter jumper from the right-side against the Hood Blazers Dec. 5, 2018. Rohrer went on to score a career-high 24 points in the game, becoming the 22nd Messiah women’s basketball player to reach the milestone. The women’s basketball program wasted little time adding a 23rd name to the list, with Maci Thornton ’19 scoring her 1,000th career point just a month later on
the road against the Stevenson Mustangs Jan. 9. A jumper in the paint midway through the fourth-quarter got her to 1,000. For the men’s team, Colin Sareyka ’20 needed only 66 career games to etch his name in the Messiah record book. The guard averaged 15.2 points during his first two-and-a-half years in Grantham to become the 26th men’s basketball player to score 1,000 points in his career. He reached the plateau with the final bucket in a home game against Arcadia Jan. 12. He joins his father, Kyle Sareyka ’94 (1,054 career points), in the exclusive 25-member club, becoming the only father-son combination to both score 1,000 points in a Messiah jersey. — Matthew Fenton ’13, MA ’16, director of athletic communications
FALCONS SERVE THROUGH AROMA
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Through the AROMA sports ministry, the Messiah women’s lacrosse and softball teams spent winter break on trips, with lacrosse in Kenya and softball in Costa Rica. AROMA’s goal is
to empower Messiah College students to participate in God’s Kingdom through sports. In Costa Rica, the softball team played games, ran clinics and joined in fellowship with locals in
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Three 1,000-point scorers etch names in Messiah’s record book
Clockwise from top: Colin Sareyka ’20, Alecia Rohrer ’19 and Maci Thornton ’19 each scored 1,000th career points this season.
San Jose, Punta Leona and Jaco. “We were able to play, teach and grow the game of softball while supporting local coaches and sharing God’s love with those we came in contact,” said Messiah Softball Head Coach Amy Weaver.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, the women’s lacrosse team spent 11 days in Kenya, training and playing with the Kenya U19 team while working and serving the local community. The Falcons partnered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to help run Kenya’s first High School Lacrosse Championships. “We are so thankful for such an unbelievable opportunity to work with FCA and Team Kenya,” said Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Heather (Greer) McKay. “The Lord’s grace was seen throughout the entire trip and it was so exciting to share the passion for lacrosse with everyone we met.” — Matthew Fenton ’13, MA ’16, director of athletic communications TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AROMA SPORTS MINISTRY, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/AROMAVIDEO
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 11
Thicker than Water
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
By Robyn Passante
12 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
FAMILY BUSINESSES THRIVE ON LEADERSHIP AND A LOT OF LOVE
ust two years out of college, Lucas Messick ’10, an accounting major, considered a new career opportunity in 2012 with the gravity of someone about to take his very last job — because he knew that was most likely the case.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 13
MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
F A M I LY B U S I N E S S
14 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
“I said to my wife, ‘If I take this job, this might be where we’re at for the rest of forever,’” said Messick of the accounting position at Messick’s, his family’s farming and heavy equipment dealership in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. “It was a big decision: Do I want to see my dad and my brothers six days a week?” Family members working together to run multigenerational businesses have joys and challenges different than the average 9-to-5er. Through its students and its trustees, Messiah College has played a part in many family business success stories. Lucas Messick joined his brothers Kevin ’06, who majored in engineering, and Neil ’02, a business information systems grad, along with two cousins in taking over the business from their fathers, who had taken it over from their father, Merville Messick, who founded the company in 1952. Messick’s has grown 10 to 15 percent a year for the past 10 years and now boasts 240 employees, says Neil Messick. The consistent family leadership gives the crop of current owners a steady measure of confidence despite the growing demands of a booming business. “The trust you can have that your family is always going to be there and they’re going to see this through just like you are,” Neil said. “That’s very comforting.”
MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
Left: Brothers Lucas ’10 and Kevin Messick ’06 walk the rows of equipment at their family business.
“ The trust you can have that your family is always going to be there and they’re going to see this through just like you are. That’s very comforting.” — Neil Messick ’02, business information systems
WORKING FROM HOME
Lewisburg Builders Supply Company served as a second home for Rebekah (Griffin) Flanick ’13, a public relations major. Her grandfather purchased the Pennsylvania lumber, hardware and home center in 1956. “I’ve been ‘working’ since I was 10 or so, doing jobs suitable to my age. Anything from running registers, cleaning, helping with our annual inventories,” she said. As she grew up, Flanick’s roles in the company matured. Today, she’s the director of marketing and advertising, also assisting with sales training and hiring. Her parents, who now run the business, instilled a strong work ethic in Flanick and her brother, a master wood craftsman. “My mother is the CEO of the company and gives her blood, sweat and tears to make the ship sail, and it shows,” said Flanick. Working remotely from U.S. military bases wherever her husband is stationed, she works to achieve her professional goals from afar.
Archive photo above: Messick’s farming and heavy equipment dealership began in 1952.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 15
F A M I LY B U S I N E S S
“ Having a college degree was ... a requirement for management, so [my father] thought it should be for family, as well.”
MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
— Anthony Hahn ’93, Conestoga Wood Specialties
16 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Father Anthony ’93 and son Michael Hahn ’12 run Conestoga Wood Specialties as a family business.
“I’m a stay-at-home mom to a 1-year-old as well as an Army wife to an active-duty soldier,” she explained. “It means balancing some very late nights of staying up to get work done. Thankfully, my parents are very respectful of my desire to put being a mother first. As long as the work gets done, it’s less a matter of when and how.” LEARNING THE ROPES
Anthony Hahn ’93, a business administration major, says he was comforted knowing that after high school a job was waiting for him at Conestoga Wood Specialties in East Earl, Pennsylvania. His father Norman and his uncle ran the custom cabinet business, where his mother did the bookkeeping. Today, Anthony is president and CEO of the company, which employs 1,120 in five locations across the U.S. His office sits across the street from the house where he grew up and the garage where the business began in 1964, the year he was born. “Shortly before he died [in 2017], my dad said, ‘Anthony, I never dreamed that Conestoga would grow to what it is today,’” said Anthony, the youngest of four sons who switched offices with his father in a symbolic gesture to the employees when the leadership baton was passed. The company’s growth in the early ’90s made Norman realize the business needed to evolve, and so did its staff. That’s when he asked Anthony, who’d been out of high school for six years, to go back to school and earn a degree from Messiah College, where the elder Hahn was a trustee. “Having a college degree was becoming a requirement for management,” Anthony said, “so he thought it should be for family, as well.” Making sure family members are qualified for rather than entitled to a job is an important part of succession plans. Today at Conestoga, family members must earn a college degree, work outside the family business for at least three years and get promoted within another organization before they’re invited to come on board for a suitable job opening. A position is not created for them. After working at Conestoga for a year before college, Hahn’s son Michael ’12, a mechanical engineering major, spent five years at STV Energy Service as an engineering specialist. The younger Hahn then returned to the family business in 2017 as a MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 17
F A M I LY B U S I N E S S
corporate project engineer. He says working in a Christian environment emphasizes core values and caring for one’s employees. “There are many times that I will receive comments from people expressing appreciation for the ability to work for or do business with Conestoga,” said Michael Hahn. “There are even people who remember my grandfather and mention how they appreciated him as an individual. It is therefore humbling and exciting to be a third-generation family member that is involved with Conestoga and to be part of an organization with this type of reputation.” FULFILLING A CALLING
MELISSA ENGLE PHOTOGRAPHY ’05
Transitioning leadership is always a challenge in business, but when past and present executives are related, it’s easier for feelings to get hurt. Chris Bingaman learned that firsthand when he became vice president of his father Max Bingaman’s lumber business, Bingaman & Son, in Kreamer, Pennsylvania, and began making changes. His father seemed upset about the changes
18 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Anthony Hahn’s father started Conestoga Wood Specialties in 1964.
Family members Max Bingaman, Dean Heintzelman and Chris Bingaman celebrate Bingaman & Son’s 50th anniversary.
“ I can’t be my dad, I’ve got to try to be who God’s called me to be. I think over time you just understand that as a follower of Christ. I’m trusting God’s grace and guidance to do what He’s called me to do.” — Chris Bingaman, Bingaman & Son
at first, which caused Chris to question his dad’s confidence in the new leadership. But when the son dug a little deeper, he reached the root of the issue. “I finally asked him and he said, ‘I just feel like all these changes you want to make are because everything I’ve done has been wrong,’” recalled Chris, who attended Messiah for one year in the mid-’70s but left school when his dad needed help with the business. “I said, ‘No, no, the changes are required because the business is growing. It’s because what you did led to growth.’” Still, serving as the leader of a company his grandfather started in the 1930s left Chris feeling overwhelming pressure. He asked friends to pray for him. One friend sent him a pair of shoe soles inscribed with Scripture and a simple message to just fill his own shoes, not his father’s. “That was great advice,” said Chris, whose company just celebrated its 50th year of incorporation, with gross sales around $75 million. “I can’t be my dad, I’ve got to try to be who God’s called me to be. I think over time you just understand that as a follower of Christ. I’m trusting God’s grace and guidance to do what He’s called me to do.” Max also leaned on the Lord plenty over
the course of his long career but never more so than in the early ’90s, when Chris went through a tough battle with cancer. “For three years, we didn’t know whether he was going to live or die,” Max said. For the long months Chris was away seeking treatment, Max came to work every day and passed his son’s empty office. “I made up my mind that if I ever could walk up here and see him sitting there in that office again, I would be exceedingly, exceedingly grateful for that privilege,” the elder Bingaman said. “And so every morning when I walk in here and he’s sitting there in that chair, I say ‘Lord, thank you.’” COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS
Families who go through the challenges and successes of business ownership say that togetherness is better than any bottom line. “All together, the very tight-knit, truly family-owned and operated manner in which our business is run is part and parcel to the success we have been able to achieve,” said Flanick. “And it is our deepest prayer that God continues to bless the company because of it.” B
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 19
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
ASK THE
EXPE 20 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
ERTS CINDY AGONCILLO ’09
Everyone’s great at something! We asked faculty, staff and students to share exactly how we, too, can become an expert at one of their unique talents.
BY ROBYN PASSANTE
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 21
ASK THE EXPERTS
HOW TO: pack
for international travel
Expert packer and public relations major Katie Kramer ’19 just spent a semester in Rome, Italy, with side trips to Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Florence and Venice. In her “spare” time, she also hit Dublin, Paris and London. Here’s her advice on what to pack: TIP #1: Basic pieces are essential. Bring
tops and bottoms that mix and match so you have an array of outfit options. TIP #2: Pack no more than three pairs of shoes — sandals, comfy sneakers and a pair
of boots. No more!
TIP #3: Pack adapters that are compatible with your destination country for all your electronics. Your phone’s GPS will be your
best friend, so keep it charged!
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE KRAMER ’19
TIP #4: Use packing cubes or roll your clothes to make more room in your suitcase. And keep an eye on your suitcase
weight limit to save yourself hassle and money at the airport.
TIP #5: Bring some items you’d be OK leaving behind. Chances are, you’ll find
ADOBE STOCK
souvenirs you love and might need extra room to get them home.
HOW TO: grow
a perfect garden tomato
Elizabeth Sobrevilla, head flower gardener for Messiah, has been beautifying the campus for 19 years and knows her way around a vegetable garden, too. TIP #1: Choose a spot that gets at least eight hours of sun daily. TIP #2: Purchase a tomato plant. Work 2
inches of compost into the soil and place plant 6 inches deep in mid-May. Tomatoes don’t do well in cool weather, so wait to plant if the nights are below 50 degrees.
22 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
TIP #3: Add 3 to 4 inches of mulch to about a 2-foot radius around the plant. TIP #4: Put a really sturdy, 6-foot-plus structure — like a four-cornered cage of rebar or a sturdy wooden trellis — around the plant. Tie the branches of the vine to the
structure as it grows.
TIP #5: Water regularly to keep your plant moist, not soggy. Soak the soil slowly and
deeply. This encourages the roots to grow deeper.
HOW TO: train
for a marathon
Professor of Applied Health Science Doug Miller has been a runner since high school, with six marathons under his belt. His marathon PR is 2:56. (For the couch potatoes out there, that means his personal record clocks in at two hours and 56 minutes.) Here’s how that happens: TIP #1: Run early, run often. It takes begin-
ners six to seven months to get ready, running five times a week. TIP #2: Do speed work at your 5K to 10K pace, over distances of 400-1,000 meters. TIP #3: Gradually build up to a maximum weekly mileage of 40-50 miles, progressing
15-20 percent each week.
TIP #4: Listen to your body. It often speaks
loud and clear.
TIP #5: Run your long runs SLOW and
follow them with a rest day.
TIP #6: As the marathon approaches, gradually cut mileage. The goal is to be fully
rested by race day.
CINDY AGONCILLO’09
“ Good marathoning is a result of the ideal combination of building fatigue resistance and the right kind of speed,” Miller said.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 23
HOW TO: enrich
CINDY AGONCILLO’09
ASK THE EXPERTS
your life
Isabella Segui ’20, a biology with a secondary teaching certification major, has learned the secret to gaining perspective and enriching one’s life: Talking to people unlike you. “I have come to treasure talking to people who are different from me, including people who aren’t in my age group. I think I cultivated this skill from spending as much time with extended family as possible, from great-grandparents to second cousins. Family is a great place to practice how to best interact with others, regardless of age.
“I would challenge my fellow college students to get coffee with their professors and residence director. They have so much to share, but their students miss out if they don’t express interest. We can learn something from anyone, because everyone has a different perspective on life and a different story. The more we start to branch out of our age group, the wiser we will be.”
HOW TO: solve
1
8
6
4 9
3
7
each number 1-9 in every row, column and box, there are always a few obvious spaces where a particular number must go.
1
TIP #2: Focus on one number at a time, de-
7 8 4
7 2
9
9
8
24 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
3
1
9 6
5
3 3
termining all of its possible locations in each area of the puzzle.
4
9
Communication major Jennifer Myers ’22 first learned Sudoku in second grade and has a tried-and-true method to the madness of solving the numbers puzzle. TIP #1: Start by glancing at different sections quickly. Since there can be only one of
2
7
2
a Sudoku puzzle
5 6 7
5
1
TIP #3: Mark the possibilities with little numbers in the corners of the boxes in pencil. Writing them in pen is a pretty big
commitment.
TIP #4: Use your best guesses to narrow down possibilities until all the boxes are filled. TIP #5: If you’re stuck, ask a friend for help or put the puzzle down for a bit. Fresh eyes
can spot answers more easily.
TRY IT OUT! Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3 x 3 box contains the same number only once. CHECK YOUR ANSWER AT MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE
the perfect lodging without breaking your budget
Amy Kimmel ’20, a sustainability studies major, has a unique talent. Her friends say she’s the “absolute best” at finding amazing deals through Airbnb, a hotel alternative in which homeowners rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests. How does she do it? TIP #1: Create an Airbnb account so you can refer friends. When your friend creates
an account, he/she automatically receives a $40 credit toward the initial booking. Once your friend’s trip is complete, you’ll receive a $25 credit. Win-win. TIP #2: Select your travel dates before you start searching. Don’t waste time scanning
listings that aren’t available for your trip.
TIP #3: Use filters to find an ideal match.
Set the number of guests early in your search, which can sometimes affect the per-night price of your vacation. TIP #4: Keep in mind the initial price you see is a base, before a cleaning and service
TIP #5: Use the Airbnb search results map to narrow down the best locations for the lowest cost. Scan the host’s description to
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE KRAMER ’19
HOW TO: find
learn more about the location in relation to attractions and public transportation nearby. TIP #6: Always read host reviews before considering booking, and only book a place
with positive reviews and a good rating.
TIP #7: Check pictures. They should be
appealing, have good lighting and should not look “sketchy.” TIP #8: Use the “list” and “favorite” tools.
Organize good finds by saving them to lists that you create for upcoming trips. Refer back to your lists and compare selected Airbnbs by price, location and host rating before booking. TIP #9: Book it! Then go enjoy a more
personal travel experience while spending a fraction of hotel costs.
ADOBE STOCK
fee is added, so set the price cap a bit lower than your actual budget.
HOW TO: parallel
park like a pro
Parallel parking makes people sweat, but it’s really pretty simple, says Zachery Holsinger ’21, a computer engineering major. He grew up near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and practiced street parking a variety of cars. TIP #1: Drive ahead of the parking spot until
up until you feel your car is diagonal to the parking spot. TIP #3: When your driver’s side rear tire is
even between both ends of the parking spot, begin to turn the wheel to straighten your car.
the rear tires of your car are in line with the rear bumper of the car behind which you want to park.
TIP #4: Pull forward to align the car properly
TIP #2: Turn the wheel toward the curb until
Congratulations and stop sweating, you’re a parallel parking pro! B
your front tires are turned diagonally. Back
and check to make sure you’re close enough to the curb.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 25
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARISSA FELDER MA ’16
OUR
ALUMNI PROFILES
Above: Teaching at a regional conference in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, counselor Marissa Felder, MA ’16 serves as a missionary with her husband. Right: She cooks with the local church women.
MARISSA FELDER, MA ’ 16
Counseling in the Congo A GRADUATE ALUM FOLLOWS THE GOOD SAMARITAN PARABLE AS A GUIDE TO SERVICE One year after completing Messiah’s master’s degree in counseling, Marissa Felder, MA ’16 and her husband flew to the Democratic Republic of Congo to serve as missionaries. “All we could find were horror stories of war and injustice,” she said of her research of the area. “I was not expecting anything remotely pleasant.” Thanks to Messiah’s program, however, Felder felt trained for the Congo experience. “I wouldn’t have received that type of global perspective, motivation and inspiration from any other institution,” she explained. The couple served in the city of Bunia. Felder taught at a diocese church and presented at a regional conference on emotional and
spiritual health, ministering to families suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. “The people were so gracious in light of everything they lived through,” she said. “They were very friendly and warm.” Certain convictions fell on her heart after the experience. She said, “We are called to partner alongside people, to help the poor by living out the parable of the Good Samaritan in whatever we do.” The parable is well known to the Congolese, as the country is 88 percent Christian. “But people don’t see that,” said Felder. “The Congo is one of those places in Africa that you don’t hear much about unless it’s the war. That’s not the Congo I know. The Congo
26 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
is a place overflowing with Godfearing men and women who wait upon the Lord and expect Him to do great things in and through them.” Heather Barto, director of the graduate program in counseling said of Felder, “She had a strong desire to learn all she could in order to be the best counselor she could be. She’s also a very gracious person who I am sure is impacting many lives as a counselor.” After the Congo, Felder returned to the U.S. to work as a
mental health counselor in Valley Stream, New York. “I have clients from every culture and every lifestyle, and I love it,” she said. “That is part of what I was exposed to and encouraged to explore at Messiah. You are called to be in service to everyone. If you have a limited view, then that limits you as both a counselor and a Christian.” Felder plans to return to the Congo this year. “This is just the beginning,” she said. There’s so much to look forward to.” — Jake Miaczynski ’20
“The Congo is a place overflowing with God-fearing men and women who wait upon the Lord and expect Him to do great things in and through them.” — Marissa Felder, MA ’16
E M I LY ( M O H L E R) HEMMING ’ 13
ALUM SERVES AS WHARTON’S MEDIA EXPERT
What do journalists need? Reliable sources. That’s where public relations major Emily (Mohler) Hemming ’13 comes in. An associate director of media relations at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, she’s the liaison between her employer—which happens to be one of the top business schools in the U.S.—and the media. “A large part of my role is building relationships with journalists so they will consider Wharton as a reputable source when working on stories,” explained Hemming. Each day, she monitors the news to find timely topics relevant to Wharton’s experts and pitches story ideas to the media. “I also handle inbound requests, lining up faculty experts to speak with journalists on a deadline, if the outlet or story angle aligns with our mission,” she said. “That’s just a glimpse of what I do, but one of the things I love most about this job is that there’s really no typical day.” So, how’d she get there? After graduating from Messiah, she spent five years working at the Harrisburg and Philadelphia offices of Tierney, an advertising agency. Then she saw the job posting for Wharton. “I reached out to a friend and fellow Messiah alum who worked at Wharton, and he passed my resumé along to the hiring director,” said Hemming. “A few months and interviews later, Wharton offered me the job. In
LARA WILLIAMSON, THE WHARTON SCHOOL
NETWORKING HELPED HER GET THERE
Emily (Mohler) Hemming ’13 works as the associate director of media relations at the Wharton School in Philadelphia.
“ THE SAME PASSIONS THAT CARRIED HER THROUGH COLLEGE ... ARE NOW CARRYING HER TO HER NEXT VOCATIONAL STEPS. I’M EXCITED TO SEE HER JOURNEY UNFOLD.” — Nance McCown, associate professor of communication addition to classroom learning at Messiah, the career development office taught me to create compelling resumés, prepare for interviews and, most importantly, network. These tangible and intangible skills have followed me every step of the way on my professional journey.” These accomplishments come as no surprise Nance McCown, Messiah’s associate professor of communication. “The same passions that carried her through college—a keen interest in
building effective relationships, a desire to forge connections between ideas and people, and the hard work and drive to pursue goals—are now carrying her to her next vocational steps,” said McCown. “I’m excited to see her journey unfold.” Hemming says she hopes to advance to a management role in the next five to 10 years. In addition to her full-time job, she is pursuing a master’s in organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. “Essentially, I’m
studying how and why people think, experience and behave in an organizational setting,” she said. “As I shift from building public relations campaigns to building teams of people, this program will allow me to develop the necessary leadership skills.” — Rachel Hungerford ’22 and Anna Seip
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 27
OUR
ALUMNI PROFILES
ABIGAIL GORDIANY ’ 18
Wrestling with answers on the Camino de Santiago in Spain Some students take a gap year when deciding what to do with their futures. Abigail Gordiany ’18, a communications major, walked 500 miles instead. This summer, she made a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Literally translated as “the way of Saint James,” several routes in western Europe converge and lead to one destination: the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. More than 3,000 people make the pilgrimage every year to visit the cathedral and the shrine of St. James. In the middle of her senior year, Gordiany had been torn between pursuing a career in public relations or theater. When a friend told her about the Camino, she decided to look for direction, enlightenment and closeness to God by making the journey the summer after graduation. For accommodations, she stayed in hostels along the route where pilgrims can get a shower, a home-cooked meal and a room to sleep in. As a first-timer, she started her walk from France because it had the easiest terrain. The journey brought struggles, however. “It was extremely challenging to walk that stretch of road in the beginning,” she said. “My feet were sore, I wasn’t used to the flat ground and I felt surrounded by more people than I expected.” But she soon settled into a routine. Each morning, she woke up at 8, ate breakfast, walked for most of the day (with stops to rest, pray and journal), reached her target hostel, took a shower, ate dinner and went to bed. She averaged about 16 miles each day.
Even though people from around the world walk the trail each year, language was not a barrier. “It seemed apparent on my journey that English was a universally recognized language, and people were more than willing to converse in English,” she said. Despite this advantage, she sought a solitary experience. “From the start, I knew this journey was about my internal struggles and reconciling and wrestling with them and not about making friends,” she said. Nevertheless, several people impacted her journey. “Everyone on the road sought some sort of peace or comfort, regardless of the faith or lack of faith they had,” she said. “It was inspiring to meld with people of different cultures and backgrounds and get so deep so quickly. It gave me hope.” Gordiany reached the cathedral in 25 days. “There’s something about traveling for so long and so far and reaching a holy city,” she said. “As I crept up to the cathedral, I felt a wave of absolute peace and felt calm and accomplished.” With the assurance that God wanted her to pursue her passion for theater, she returned to her home in Orlando, Florida. To accommodate her audition schedule, she works remotely, teaching English to students in China. She also recently received a callback to perform in Disney World’s “Beauty and the Beast” show. “If that works out, I’ll work at Disney and cut my teaching hours down a little and keep auditioning,” she explained.
28 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
PHOTO COURTESY OF ABIGAIL GORDIANY ’18 | ADOBE STOCK
ALUM WALKS 500 MILES ON PILGRIMAGE
Following the Camino de Santiago, Abigail Gordiany ’18 walked the 500mile route to decide whether to pursue a career in theater or public relations.
“I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WHEN WE OPENLY WRESTLE WITH GOD, HE AFFIRMS OUR PURPOSE.” — Abigail Gordiany ’18
It’s a constant cycle of teaching, rehearsing, praying and auditioning. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything else,” she said, “because I feel God with me more fiercely than ever before.” Would she walk 500 miles again to come to a life decision? “If I were to make another trip to the El Camino, and I plan to, I would go in the off season, as to have more of a private
experience,” she said. But she also says that the trip helped her take the right path in life. “I’m a firm believer that when we openly wrestle with God, He affirms our purpose,” she said. — Rachel Hungerford ’22
IN MEMORIAM
JAY H. FASNACHT ’55 Jay H. Fasnacht ’55, a graduate of Messiah Junior College and a former member of the Messiah Board of Trustees, passed away in July. He was the loving husband of Marian Louise (Wolgemuth) Fasnacht ’55,
also a graduate of Messiah Junior College. Together, they raised three daughters. After completing his degree at Messiah, Fasnacht finished his education at Case Western Reserve University and embarked on a distinguished career as a certified public accountant in the Lehigh Valley and Sarasota, Florida, communities. His life could be characterized by active service to others. He was on the Messiah College Board from 1999 to 2005, and he and Marian
chaired the Messiah Partner program. They also were founding sponsors of the Sarasota Friends of Messiah College annual dinner, which later supported an ongoing scholarship endowment offering tuition aid to students from the greater Sarasota area who attend Messiah. In addition, he served on boards for the Bible Fellowship Church denomination, the Lehigh Valley Industrial Development Corporation, the Lehigh Economic Advancement Project, Pinebrook Junior College
and Lehigh Christian Academy. Classmate and fellow board member J. Harold Engle ’58 reflected fondly on his longtime friend, “Jay was a quiet and very thoughtful leader. He had a good sense of where things should be going and was willing to speak up when needed. He never sacrificed his values.” Messiah College is grateful for his well-lived life, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Marian and their entire family.
Earn your
Physical therapy is consistently ranked as one of the top, fastest-growing job opportunities in the U.S. Messiah College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is designed to prepare competent therapists for a meaningful career in a variety of professional settings. • 110-credit program that can be completed in eight semesters; cohort-learning model • 32,000-square-foot educational facility custom-designed for physical therapy (PT) • Program incorporates community service, cultural relevancy and global engagement • Networking opportunities with the local PT community • For accreditation information, visit messiah.edu/DPT.
Experience the academic distinction of a nationally ranked Christian college.
Classes start August 2019 APPLY TODAY see anew
717-796-5061 messiah.edu/DPT
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 29
OUR
CLASS NOTES
1980s Priscilla Herd ’85 works as a counselor for Gaudenzia, Inc. in Harrisburg, Pa. Mel Horton ’85 works as associate dean for the Farrington College of Education at Sacred Heart University in West Haven, Conn. James Somerville ’86 and Kristine Stokes married Feb. 15, 2002. James is the owner of Hudson Manor Bed & Breakfast in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Karen (Steeves) Dainty ’87 works as an information systems analyst II for G & D Integrated in Morton, Ill.
Kristen (Swedberg) White ’88 works as the owner of Lilac Hill Bookkeepers in Marbledale, Conn.
1990s Carmen McCain ’99 and her co-author Brandon Kendhammer were published in the Ohio Short Histories of Africa for their book “Boko Haram.”
2000s Neil ’00 and Elizabeth Heisey ’00 announce the birth of Reuben Dayle, March 18, 2016. Leanne Whitesell ’01 works as an environmental specialist for the Washington State Department of Ecology in Lacey, Wash.
KRISTEN COFER ’19
School of Science, Engineering and Health
Mallory (Goodman) Pineo ’06 and husband Jason announce the birth of Adrielle Jean, April 27, 2018.
received a master’s degree in communication and media studies from Rutgers University.
Brittani (Benedict) ’07 and Charles Blachford ’06 announce the birth of Timothy Daniel, Sept. 18, 2018.
Colleen (Schmoyer) ’07 and David Yeany II ’06 announce the birth of Drake David, April 8, 2018
Lindsay (DeVries) Herndon ’07 and husband Ivan married April 22, 2017. They announce the birth of Carson John, May 13, 2018. Erin (Jackman) Grossman ’07 and husband David announce the births of Lucas Samuel, Aug. 10, 2016, and Owen Del, July 31, 2018. Chad ’07 and Jamie (Youngs) Watkins ’07 announce the birth of Samuel Elisha, Aug. 10, 2018. Jamie
2010s Katie (Greulich) ’10 and Travis Galaska ’10 announce the birth of Bradley Owen, Aug. 13, 2018. Stephanie Pope ’10 works as a medical receptionist at Englewood Health in Ramsey, N.J. Jessica Thier ’11 and John Fink married May 27, 2018, in Charlottesville, Va.
Michelle (Bennett) Bence ’12 and husband Joel announce the birth of Mackenzie Grace, August 29, 2018. Michelle works as an English teacher for Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, Pa. Patricia (Abdelmalik) Colon ’12 and husband Tony announce the birth of AJ, March 31, 2018. Mary Elizabeth Higgins ’12 received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the National Association for Professional Development Schools. She completed a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Penn State University in 2017. Andrew Wismer ’12 completed a Ph.D. in human
BE GENEROUS BE SAVVY BEQUEST A bequest, a gift made to the College through your will, is a tangible and meaningful way to help you ensure that your legacy and the work of Messiah College and its students live on.
Kristen at rec basketball, age 7
By making a bequest gift to Messiah College, you will: • Create a meaningful, personal legacy • Ensure a Christ-centered education for future generations • Receive charitable deductions on your estate
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY TEAM 717-796-5051 • heritagesociety@messiah.edu
MESSIAH.EDU/CREATEALEGACY 30 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
factors and cognitive psychology from the University of Central Florida this year. He works as an experienced designer at Hewlett Packard, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Alison French ’13 and Kevin Guy married May 15, 2017 in Rising Sun, Md. She works as the director of juvenile justice ministries for Metro Maryland Youth for Christ in Baltimore, Md. Chrissy (Greulich) Clow ’13 and husband Harry announce the birth of Caleb Aaron, Nov. 21, 2017. Chrissy works as a teacher in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district in Maryland. Emily Rosen ’13 works as a school psychologist for
Council Rock School District in Newtown, Pa.
Moldova and the Baltics in Washington, D.C.
Shannon Cochran ’14 works as the director of strategic marketing and communications for Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pa.
Rachel (Shearer) Selby ’14 and husband Joshua announce the birth of Nathan Phillip, Aug. 15, 2018.
Michelle Curtis ’14 graduated with a Master of Divinity with a major in pastoral ministry from the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. She also received the Millard Lind Award for Excellence in biblical interpretation from the seminary’s Bible department. Rachel Bauman ’15 works for the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe as a policy advisor for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus,
Aaron Swarr ’15 and Jenna Garber ’14 married Nov. 12, 2017. Wendy Sweigart ’15 received the 2018 Art of the State of Pennsylvania honor from Jump Street/The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Anya Greiner ’16 and Josh Gustafson ’16 married May 5, 2018. Anya works as assistant store manager at Longenecker’s True Value in Manheim, Pa. Ahyeong Park ’17 received
a Princeton in Africa fellowship with the Nyaka Aids Orphan Project in Nyakagyezi, Uganda, for the 2018-19 fellowship year. Kellyjane Watson ’17 works as a complain room paralegal for the New York County District Attorney’s office in New York, N.Y. Joshua Choate ’18 and Angela Cairns married July 25, 2015. They announce the birth of Theodore James, Nov. 2, 2018. Joshua works as digital managing marketer for CourseVector in Camp Hill, Pa.
Service Notes
missionaries at Kibuye Hope Hospital in Burundi, East Africa. Jenna (Hunsberger) ’07 and Jason Weigner ’07 are serving as agricultural missionaries in Bolivia for a two-year term through ECHO, a global Christian organization Nancy Heisey ’73, associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary and professor of Biblical studies and church history, serves on the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society committee at Eastern Mennonite University.
Stephanie Hancock Sund ’97 and husband Greg serve with Serge as medical
Get a head start on college with Dual enrollment provides motivated high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college courses that may satisfy both high school graduation and college credit requirements.
Why dual enroll? To learn more about 2019 summer online courses visit: messiah.edu/online
NOW ENROLLING
messiah.edu/dual 717-691-6000
see anew
• The significantly discounted tuition rate improves your potential to save on overall college costs.
• Meet Messiah College general education requirements, explore areas of interest, or transfer credit to another college or university.
• Experience college life by taking classes taught by Messiah College faculty on our main campus during the fall and spring, or online during the summer.
• Provide scheduling flexibility for when you get to college, and strengthen your potential to graduate early.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • WINTER 2019 | 31
OUR
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Powerhouse: then and now time to engage in worship,” said Garber. “It’s like breathing—we need it to live. It’s essential to life and we all experience it differently.” The Messiah College worshiping community changes every year. “Seven hundred students graduate, 700 new students come in,” explained Douglas Curry ’91, who has served as the College’s worship pastor since the 1990s. As a microcosm of the larger church culture, Curry and his teams work to expand students’ understanding of the global Christian community, implementing a variety of worship styles from around the world. “In a sense, the Worship Community at Messiah is no different from our athletic teams,” said Curry. “Players come in with
MATTHEW TENNISON
Chapel services remain a staple of the Messiah experience, but in the late ’80s, the College added evening concerts of prayer to offer a less formal worship setting, too. In 1989, these concerts—which allowed students to linger in the presence of God as they prayed and encouraged one other—became known as Powerhouse. The first Powerhouse gathering included a group of only 30 students. Oh, how things have changed. Today, Powerhouse worship leaders must pay close attention to fire codes, due to the mass amount of students who flood Hostetter Chapel on Thursday nights. “Powerhouse represents what God does through students who have hearts for worship,” said Mark Templeton ’91, director of
MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES
“ Powerhouse represents what God does through students who have hearts for worship.” — Mark Templeton ’91, director of leadership gifts
leadership gifts, one of the founders of the event. Priscilla Paino ’20, a music and worship major, who serves as the current president of Powerhouse, says Thursday nights provide a time when students come together and worship through good times and bad. “Here on campus, we do life together. We go through joy, pain, sickness and celebration together as a community,” she said. While Paino and her team lead students in worship, other students, such as social work major Anita Garber ’20, make their way through the crowd, praying and encouraging their peers. “I love seeing people make
skills and abilities, but they need to grow. They need to learn how and why they play on this team.” While styles and forms of worship shift over time, today’s Worship Community maintains staples of worship, such as hymns. The hymn sings have become an engaging, popular event on campus, according to Curry. While Powerhouse has grown through the decades, the weekly event continues as a timeless part of the Messiah experience for students to engage in traditional and modern styles of Christian worship to celebrate the story of God through music. — Jake Miaczynski ’20
32 | WINTER 2019 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Growing from a few students in the 1980s to hundreds today, Powerhouse remains a staple of worship for Messiah College’s student body on Thursday nights.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POWERHOUSE VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/ POWERHOUSEVIDEO
CALENDAR OF EVENTS A P R I L 2 0 1 9 – M AY 2 0 1 9
APRIL 4-7; 11-14 “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Miller Theater Climenhaga Building
APRIL 6 Undergraduate Open House
SAT.
8 a.m. Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
APRIL 16 Messiah College Symphonic Winds and Brass Choir
TUES.
7:30 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
APRIL 28 Messiah College Wind Ensemble
COURTESY OF SUSQUEHANNA CHORALE
SUN.
3 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 1 Messiah College Men’s Ensemble, Women’s Ensemble and Chamber Singers
WED.
7:30 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
Music Nova: Student Compositions 7:30 p.m. High Foundation Recital Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 4 One College Ave Jazz Vocal Ensemble
SAT.
MAY 2 “The Telephone” Opera Scenes, Messiah College Opera Workshop and Symphony Orchestra
4 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
7:30 p.m. Poorman Black Box Theater Climenhaga Building
Messiah College Handbell Choir
THURS.
MAY 3-4 GiViM Dance Performance, “Culmination ’19” May 3, 8 p.m.; May 4, 2 p.m. Miller Theater Climenhaga Building To purchase tickets, contact the Ticket Office at 717-691-6036 or online at messiah.edu/tickets
6 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 5 United Voices of Praise
SUN.
MAY 11 “Singing the Dance of Life” Susquehanna Chorale
SAT.
8 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 11 School of Graduate Studies Commencement
SAT.
11a.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 17-18 Undergraduate Commencement Weekend 10a.m.-12p.m. Starry Athletic Complex and Shoemaker Field
6 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
MAY 3 School of Science, Engineering and Health 16th Annual Symposium
FRI.
APRIL 26 Messiah College Symphony Orchestra
FRI.
7:30 p.m. Parmer Hall Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
8:15 a.m. Frey, Jordan and Kline Academic Buildings
The Susquehanna Chorale will perform its spring concert May 11.
generosity furthering generations Messiah College’s corporation, foundation and organization partners Messiah College THANKS the corporations, foundations and organizations that chose to partner financially by providing gifts of $1,000 or more this past year. This support enables our students, employees and alumni to make a positive difference in our region, nation and world. American Endowment Foundation Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of PA Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Bingaman & Son Lumber Co. Boustead Family Foundation Boyd Foundation Brethren in Christ Foundation Campus Compact of New York and Pennsylvania Capital Blue Cross CDM Smith Charles Schwab Corporation COR Construction Services, Inc. Coynex, Inc. Crabtree Rohrbaugh & Associates Inc. Deloitte & Touche Dillsburg Brethren in Christ Church E & E Metal Fab., Inc. Edwin L. Heim Company Eklego Workforce Solutions LLC Ernst & Young Foundation Esbenshade Foundation
Feesers, Inc. Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund First Baptist Church of Littlestown First National Bank of Pennsylvania Four Seasons Produce Fulton Bank, N.A. Gannett Fleming, Inc. General Electric Foundation Glenview Alliance Church Greenfield Architects LTD Guinston Presbyterian Church Hahn Family Foundation High Industries Highmark Blue Shield Hollinger Funeral Home & Crematory Hoober Produce, Inc. Horst Insurance Houck Services, Inc. IBM Corporation Impactassets Inc. John and Jeanette Witmer Charitable Trust John E. Fullerton, Inc. John Gross & Company, Inc. Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation, Inc.
L.B. Smith Estate Foundation, Inc. Lacher & Associates Larsen Foundation Lawrence L. & Julia Z. Hoverter Charitable Foundation Lebo & Reed Real Estate Partnership Lincoln Financial Advisors M&T Bank M&T Charitable Foundation Marcho Family Foundation, Inc. Marketechs Design Studios Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe McCormick Family Foundation Mulberry Foundation Inc. National Christian Foundation Nevco Inc. Norfolk Southern Corporation NovaCare Outpatient Rehabilitation PA State Nurses Association Property Management Inc. Pyramid Construction Services, Inc. Raytheon Company Redstream Technology
Residential Warranty Corporation Sawyer Products Schwab Charitable Fund Select Asset Management & Trust Company Select Specialty Hospital — Johnstown, Inc. Select Specialty Hospital — Pittsburgh/UPMC, Inc. Sight and Sound Ministries Simpson Foundation Speedwell Construction, Inc. Stover Family Foundation Sunshine Bancorp, Inc. T. Rowe Price Associates The Carole DeSoto Foundation The Clark Associates Charitable Foundation The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation The Foundation for Enhancing Communities The Hershey Company The Mennonite Foundation Inc.
The Merck Company Foundation The Metzler Family Foundation The Presser Foundation The Standard The Vanguard Group The William Chinnick Charitable Foundation Inc. Thrivent Financial — Michael P. Smith United Service Foundation United Way of Capital Region Univest National Bank & Trust UPS Foundation Wohlsen Construction Company Wolf’s Bus Lines Inc. World Vision, Inc. York County Community Foundation
Questions? Contact Lauren Walter at 717-796-5066 or lwalter@messiah.edu.