THE
14 MIDWIFERY
Modern mothers turn to age-old practice
20 THE CLASS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
Hot off the Press
Alums recall what made a difference
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Students use 3-D printer to build prosthetic hand
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2016
NICK GOULD PHOTOGRAPHY
INSIDE LOOK
From left: Pearl Tangsirisatian ’19 and Leah Robinson ’18 perform a traditional Thai dance at the International Banquet, a sold-out event held April 9 on campus, which included skits, dances, songs and food from around the world.
S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 , VO L . 1 07, N O . 4
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office of Marketing and COMMUNICATIONS
One College Avenue Suite 3020
M E S SMechanicsburg I A H C O L L EPA G E17055 A LU M N I M AG A Z I N E
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Carrie Barlup, Cindy Agoncillo ’09, Katey Day ’16 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
Erin (Kriner) Bray ’10, Steve King ’06, Gabrielle Kurtz ’18, My Nguyen ’17, Robyn Passante, Myriam Pedercini ’17, Jeff Vrabel
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. Postmaster: Address corrections should be sent to the Office of Development, One College Avenue, Suite 3013, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. 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. 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.
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F E AT U R E S
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MIDWIFERY An art and a science, this practice of attending babies’ births is a mainstay of modern moms.
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 College-administered programs. © 2016 Messiah College
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Engineering major Tim Gover ’17 works on a prosthetic hand made from Messiah’s 3-D printer. MATTHEW TENNISON PHOTOGRAPHY
2 | SPRING 2016 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
20 26 THE CLASS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
HOSTETTER MEMORIAL
Messiah alums discuss a class (or a professor, a staff member or an experience) that enriched their time as students.
The Messiah community honors the late D. Ray Hostetter, our sixth president.
F R O M T H E E D I TO R IN 1995, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PREGNANT WIFE, MY AUNTS AND GRANDMOTHER QUIZZED ME AT A FAMILY BARBECUE. WHO WAS MY DOCTOR? WHICH HOSPITAL WAS I USING? THEY WERE EXPERTS IN ALL THINGS MOTHERHOOD AFTER ALL, OLDER AND WISER. I INFORMED THEM I WAS UNDER THE CARE OF A MIDWIFE.
The conversation stopped, and my aunts stared at me. “Well, now, who put that idea into your head?” Grandma asked. All I wanted was the most natural birth possible. I was extremely self-righteous about it. After some tense conversation, I asked my grandmother where she had been born—at home or at a hospital? Via a doctor or a midwife? “Well, a midwife,” she mumbled. “At home. That’s what people did then.” I tempered my smirk, because there’s no pleasure in proving a point to one’s grandmother.
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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
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Campus News
10 Athletics 12
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Brain Waves
OUR ALUMNI
28 Alumni News 28
Alumni Profiles
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Class Notes
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From the Archives
Later, as visitors came to my room, Grandma tempered a smirk of her own. We’d both gotten our way—I’d had a midwife attending and an obstetrician delivering.
View a photo gallery of the International Banquet. Learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Read about the Impact Venture Challenge. atch a video about the W recovery of Kevin Clancy ’13 from a traumatic brain injury.
On the day my contractions started, my midwife assured me thousands of women were going through labor at exactly the same moment I was. But, 18 hours later, my unborn son’s heart rate slowed. My midwife rode with me to the hospital. She stayed in the operating room while an obstetrician performed an emergency C-section.
Now that my son is 20 and a sophomore in college, the subject of midwifery comes up again in my life— this time in the form of our beautifully illustrated feature story on p. 14. Be sure to read about how the trend of midwife-assisted births is on the rise. I hope you enjoy the spring issue of The Bridge.
View a gallery of D. Ray Hostetter photos. Make a gift to the Campaign for Wellness.
A N N A S E I P, E D I T O R
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
“ Leadership is not an easy path, but it is worthwhile if God has called you to it.” — D. Ray Hostetter (1927 — 2016), Messiah College’s sixth president
As president, Ray also promoted an embracing evangelical spirit and built bridges beyond the College campus. Messiah College survived and prospered because he saw the importance of retaining our distinct identity— with a covenantal relationship with the Brethren in 4 | SPRING 2016 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Christ Church—while also broadening Messiah College’s denominational profile and recruitment potential. Another hallmark of the D. Ray Hostetter presidency was the formation of generative partnerships. He inspired regional leaders to embrace Messiah College’s mission and invest resources into it. He recognized the value of forming coalitions with other leaders in higher education and was a founding board member of the Christian College Consortium and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Ray expanded Messiah College’s borders by establishing historic agreements with Daystar University in Kenya and Temple University in Philadelphia. Continuing that tradition today, the College has many vibrant partnerships that extend from Harrisburg to Malaysia and China. As I think of personal experiences with Ray, I fondly remember a time we spent together during the second year of my presidency. He told me, “Leadership is not an easy path, but it is worthwhile if God has called you to it.” These words illuminate his core philosophy—that leadership is indeed a sacred calling—worthwhile not because of what being a leader grants to an individual, but because of the privilege of serving God and others in this way. I share Ray’s belief that Messiah College is urgently needed to prepare Christian servant leaders who will promote the common good. And I am convinced that Messiah College is an exceptional community of Christian faith, intellect and character because of the leadership and contributions of D. Ray and Audrey Hostetter.
K I M S . PH I PPS, PRESIDENT
PHOTO: RYAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
This spring, I presented the following tribute to former Messiah College President D. Ray Hostetter at the campus memorial service held in his honor April 16 (adapted below): I’m honored to celebrate the life and legacy of D. Ray Hostetter— a beloved family member, friend and colleague to many and the longtime visionary president of Messiah College. Ray, his father and grandfather shared the remarkable distinction of serving as presidents of Messiah College for a collective 63 years. With Ray’s business acumen, devotion to Messiah College’s mission and servantleader style, he presided during three decades of significant growth and maturation at the College. Ray led with the clear conviction that Messiah College fulfills a crucial role in church and society. In 1961, before he became president, he contemplated “whether Messiah College was really needed.” Professor Emeritus E. Morris Sider, who recounts this time of questioning in his book “Messiah College: A History,” concluded that “Ray saw a tremendous future for Messiah College but to achieve that promise would mean not settling for mediocrity.” Ray never settled for mediocrity. His vision for excellence and example of humility continue to inspire me as I serve as Messiah College’s eighth president. During his tenure, the college launched a formal general education program and investments were made in college ministries, student development, the arts and athletics. In addition, he anticipated future demand for applied programs in computer science, engineering and nursing—forerunners of Messiah College’s important new programs, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy.
COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES
The legacy of Messiah College’s longest–serving president
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Liz Gallo ’16 works for MLB “Hey, coach, I wanna help out.” When she arrived on campus as a first-year student, communication major Liz Gallo ’16 sought out Pat Lightle, Messiah’s baseball head coach, and said those words. She wanted to know more about baseball—recruiting, managing and all the not-so-glamorous parts of the game. Both of them new at Messiah, they made a connection. The coach and the student had no way of knowing then that this mentorship would shape Gallo’s career path. “He calls me the team staple, but student manager would be my official title,” said Gallo, a lifelong New York Mets fan from Scotch Plains, N.J. “From there, I learned about baseball behind the scenes.” She also learned about social media by partnering with the Office of Alumni Relations and Parent Relations and the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC). Attending five alumni career immersion Into the City trips—in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and New York City— she served as the student social media coordinator, just for the experience. “From the moment we left Eisenhower,” she said, “until we got back, I tweeted, Facebooked and Instagrammed. That’s how I got connected with parents, trustees and the president. Then, I would connect with these people when I saw them on campus.” Gallo’s skill at connecting others online led to a work-study position at the CPDC. Meanwhile, Lightle asked Gallo about her life plan.
JORDAN LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY
BASEBALL LEADS ALUM TO NETWORK JOB
Four years of volunteering as a manager for the Messiah baseball team come to a close for Liz Gallo ’16. Baseball Head Coach Pat Lightle provided mentorship that prepared Gallo for her next opportunity at the MLB Network.
“He treated me like a player in that sense,” she said. “He stresses to [the team] that you need to be
communication major with Major League Baseball. The coach called a contact of his at
“ It wouldn’t surprise me if she became a college baseball coach someday. ” — Pat Lightle, baseball head coach at Messiah College
proactive in what you want to do in your future.” She realized she wanted to combine her skills as a
Madison Square Garden who knew someone at Sportsnet New York, a regional sports network that includes the Mets. Those
connections led to a summer internship. The internship led to a job. As a new grad, Gallo is now working as a production assistant at the MLB Network. “I would listen to her talk about game strategies,” said Lightle, “and realized she really knew a good bit about the game within the game. It wouldn’t surprise me if she became a college baseball coach someday. She is perfect for the MLB Network environment.” — Anna Seip, editor
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HEARD AROUND CAMPUS
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF A PERFECT JUNE DAY?
“ Breezy, sunny, birds chirping and not too many clouds. I would hike, talk and laugh with the people I love and then we would come home, have a bonfire and eat fresh fruit until late.” — Sallie McCann ’16
“ Kayaking on a lake without waves on a sunny day.” — Anne Insley ’19
“ Grab my board, hit the waves and enjoy the swell.” — Julien Belmear ’18
“ Surfing in Hawaii, hiking to a volcano, camping out under the stars in my hammock and falling asleep listening to Ben Howard.” — Derek Siewert ’19
“ Going to Six Flags on a day that is very sunny with clear blue skies but not too hot.”
“ Hanging out with friends playing soccer.” —Sara Yunez ’18
“ Hiking, blue skies, warm breeze and no agenda.” — Cindy Sterling, ticket and billing coordinator
“ Road tripping to a fun new place where I can swim. Then after have a cookout with friends.” — Marissa Gonzalez ’19
— Kassidy Singleton ’19
“ No humidity, cold ice cream, driving in my car with the windows down and music blasting, singing along at the top of my lungs.” — Sheryl Ezbiansky, administrative assistant for Student Involvement and Leadership Programs
“ Chilling with my friends at a house on the lake.” — Caleb Comeaux ’18
“ Just spending time outside, especially if it is by the water.” — Michaela Werner ’17
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“ Sitting on the beach with a cold lemonade in my hand.” — Lindsay Corriveau ’16
Two alums, two Fulbrights TIM SENSENIG ’15, CHRISTINA MCINTYRE ’16 AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS HONORS Two alumni recently received Fulbright honors. Former Messiah College Student Body President Tim Sensenig ’15, who majored in German and English with a secondary teaching certification, was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant to complete an English teaching assistantship (ETA) abroad. Sensenig will be teaching English as a second language to students in Hamburg, Germany. “A Fulbright Fellowship is a prestigious opportunity,” said Sensenig. “It is humbling to have been selected as a representative for my nation. I am looking forward to teaching English abroad but, even more so, to the many lessons that the people of Germany will undoubtedly teach me in return. I am thankful for all the friends, family and advisors who continue to encourage me throughout this process.”
In his statement of purpose, Sensenig details why he wanted to return to Germany: Since the eighth grade, when I first enrolled in German language classes, I have come to love all things German: the profundity of Wagner, Dürer, Goethe, Kafka and Brecht; the drama of Reunification; the dazzling topography of the Alps. But during my summer tenure as an assistant teacher in Bavaria, that fascination bloomed into a new cosmopolitanism. I celebrated the neighborhood Sonnwendfeuer on the summer solstice, wandered the mind of Ludwig II at Herrenchiemsee and Neuschwanstein, and attended mass in gothic cathedrals. Comparing these unfamiliar experiences with my American traditions revealed the richness of human life. Christina McIntyre ’16, a politics and sustainability studies major with a concentration in community and urban
MATTHEW TENNISON
MELISSA HESS ’05
CAMPUS NEWS
development, was awarded a Fulbright research scholarship to Canada for 2016-17. McIntyre will be pursuing an M.A. in political science at the University of Toronto, writing a thesis on comparative low-income housing policy in Canada and the U.S.
“ IT IS HUMBLING TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY NATION.” —T im Sensenig ’15, who will travel to Germany as a Fulbright Fellow
In an excerpt of her personal statement for the grant, McIntyre wrote of how she honed her passion for affordable housing: It was only during my first year of college that I discovered cities— thriving, diverse ecosystems of people from all walks of life. The cultural richness, economic vitality and social dynamism fascinated me. But
the crushing reality of urban poverty that I witnessed in Harrisburg’s South Allison Hill neighborhood broke my heart. As I tended street gardens, tutored children, scrubbed soup kitchen floors and shared meals with the homeless in a place where almost 40% of the residents are in poverty, I came to know the desperation of a community. “I’m honored to receive a Fulbright,” said McIntyre. “Adequate and affordable housing is a fundamental human need, and low-income housing policy has great potential to improve access to opportunity and quality of life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as a citizen diplomat in Toronto and study urban policies that affect vulnerable communities in both Canada and the U.S.” — My Nguyen ’17
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM: US.FULBRIGHTONLINE.ORG
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 7
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FOUR CATEGORIES HONOR MESSIAH COLLEGE’S LEADERS IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE, ACHIEVEMENT
The four alumni award winners were honored at a banquet April 2.
D I S T I N G U I S H E D A LU M N U S AC H I E V E M E N T AWA R D
A LU M N I C H R I S T I A N S E R V I C E AWA R D
A LU M N I A P P R E C I AT I O N AWA R D
LISA HELFERT
MATTHEW TENNISON
COURTESY OF JODIE SMILEY ’77
COURTESY OF MARLIN BENEDICT ’76
Messiah College hosted the Alumni Awards Banquet April 2 to recognize and honor the 2016 recipients for their outstanding achievements and contributions.
JONATHAN ISAAC ’17
ALUMNI AWARDS PRESENTED
YO U N G A LU M N A AC H I E V E M E N T AWA R D
MERLIN BENEDICT ’76
JODIE SMILEY ’77
DAVID VADER
ANGELA LYKINS YEH ’03
Recognizing a lifetime of vocational achievement in a manner that embodies the mission of the College, Benedict has a long history of board service and community involvement. A business administration graduate, he works as a senior executive partner at Simon Lever LLP. He coached soccer for many years for the Lititz Youth Soccer Club. “Messiah means very much to me from the beautiful first day I walked on and fell in love with the campus,” said Benedict. “Then I had the greater experience of meeting my wife there and tremendous lifelong experiences with men’s and women’s soccer. My five children also attended and graduated from Messiah.”
Honoring outstanding lifelong service or long-term effort in fulfilling the mandates of the Christian gospel to both serve and sacrifice for the needs of humanity, this award was given to Smiley, who works at the executive director of Paxton Ministries. She has served with the nonprofit for more than 30 years. The Christ-centered organization provides affordable housing and support services to adults in need. “My journey in Christian service wouldn’t be possible without the encouragement of friends and family,” said Smiley. “I thank the many friends who continue to guide and encourage me, as well as our great staff and board of directors of Paxton Ministries who make working there such a blessing and privilege.”
To recognize an individual who has contributed to the College in an extraordinary manner through long-term professional service, significant volunteer service or financial contribution to the school, the alumni appreciation award went to Vader, professor of engineering. He serves as the founder and director of the Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. “The students and co-workers I have met and served with from so many different fields of study have shaped everything about how I think and act in the world,” said Vader, “and, because of this, my life has been more impactful. It is a great honor for me to have been recognized by the Alumni Association of Messiah College.”
Honoring an alumnus who has attended Messiah College within the past 15 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community or the College, Yeh embodies this award. She works as a music teacher for special needs children at Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia. “Her accomplishments happen every day in a very quiet, but very meaningful way,” said William Stowman, co-chair of the Department of Music, who nominated Yeh. “This kind of diligence, responsibility and commitment is exactly how we hope a Messiah College education manifests in the lives of our alums.”
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— My Nguyen ’17
Impact Venture Challenge awards student entrepreneur teams The second annual Impact Venture Challenge (IVC), a “Shark Tank”-style entrepreneur competition, was held in the High Center’s Parmer Hall April 28. The six team finalists presented their business plans to a judging panel and a live audience. Accounting Beyond Borders, led by accounting major Courtney Allen ’16, won first place and a prize of $5,000 seed money. The plan for the nonprofit organization is to serve the accounting and business needs of missionaries and mission organizations in Panama and around the world. By fulfilling these needs, the group relieves stress on missionaries, allowing them to more fully dedicate their time to their ministries. “I had an idea to develop the accounting work I have
been doing for missionaries in Panama for the past three years into a non-profit organization that helps missionaries globally,” said Allen. “IVC helped me do just that by providing guidance and structure to create a strong business plan and financial model that makes my idea for Accounting Beyond Borders a reality.” Second place and $3,000 went to Sapwood, led by business administration major Joshua Toal ’17. Through its sales of all-natural air fresheners, the company can donate to reforestation efforts. Third place and $2,000 was awarded to OmegaSwap, a business that allows college students to swap goods and services. The group is led by Ryan Fitzgerald ’16, Alec Marshall ’16, Kenneth Schofield ’17 and Austin Weaver ’16.
PHOTOS BY NICK GOULD
“SHARK TANK”-STYLE COMPETITION AWARDS $10,000 IN SEED MONEY FOR STUDENT START-UPS
Top: Accounting Beyond Borders, led by Courtney Allen ’16, won the Impact Venture Challenge, receiving $5,000 of seed money. Second from left: Sapwood placed second, and OmegaSwap came in third. The IVC began last year as a collaborative effort of Dylan Thomas ’15, Ebenezer Degu ’15 and Professor of Business Information Systems and Entrepreneurship Brian Nejmeh when the two alums were students in Nejmeh’s entrepreneurship class. “We had a number of discussions around the topic of how could we motivate students to think more about launching businesses that both made a profit and made a difference in the world,” said Nejmeh. “Our sense was that some type of business plan competition might act as a catalyst.” ROAD TO FINALS To make it to the finals, teams had to advance through several rounds, including the concept overview, a business plan draft and a video pitch. A judging panel of faculty and alumni reviewed
the plans. Teams had to demonstrate that their product/service has a market, can be produced well, can generate a profit and will result in a spiritual impact. Nejmeh says one of the most rewarding parts of the challenge is seeing students realize their God-given talents. “We know from many studies that this generation of students is more apt to start a business than any prior generation of students,” said Nejmeh. “Providing a solid biblical worldview and entrepreneurial foundation from which to launch such ventures is of critical importance. I am convinced, more than ever before, that God intends for us to leverage our talents and passions to launch sustainable entrepreneurial ventures as a platform for ministry.” —Erin Bray ’10
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AT H L E T I C S
SERVICE DAY BY THE NUMBERS
1,455 26
essiah M College volunteers
COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
projects completed on campus and in the local community
Head Softball Coach Amy Weaver ’91 topped 500 wins this season.
COACH AMY WEAVER ’91 SEALS 500+ CAREER WINS IN SOFTBALL
SERVICE DAY
On Service Day April 14, Messiah College hosts the Area M Special Olympics at Starry Athletic Complex. Students and staffers volunteer to be ‘buddies’ who accompany athletes to the designated events. In addition to the Special Olympics, many service projects are available on and off campus, including opportunities at the Community Garden, Dear Valley Camp, Caitlin Smiles, the Joshua Center and many other places. PHOTOS: ALICIA DAVID ’18, COREY LAQUAY ’17 AND KEITH WEI LUEN LIM ’18
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29TH COACH IN NCAA DIII TO REACH MILESTONE Amid the start of another successful softball season, Messiah head coach Amy Weaver ’91 reached her 500th career win against Alfred State University March 7. She became the 29th coach in NCAA Division III history to reach the milestone. Among the 28 coaches ahead of Weaver in the NCAA record book, just five others coached for less than 20 seasons. This was Weaver’s 19th season—all with the Falcons. “It means a lot to me that all of the wins have come at Messiah,” said Weaver, a former Messiah softball player herself. “I love this school, love our players and love that I get to coach here. I love coaching this game, and it means a lot to me that our program is consistent and recognized on the national level.” Messiah has certainly had national success under Weaver’s
command. This season, the Falcons won the MAC Commonwealth Championship and advanced into the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. At press time of this story, Weaver and the Falcons were celebrating a berth into the NCAA Division III World Series for the fifth time in team history. For Weaver, her win total—541-257-1 entering the World Series—is a product of a greater goal. “I had an awesome experience when I was a player, so now I try to do my best to give back to the college and the program and to glorify God through what we do on the field.” — Steve King ’06, associate athletics director
COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Wrestling team wraps up season with historic wins TWO WIN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Messiah College wrestling completed the most accomplished season in program history this year, with two individual National Champions and a National Runner-Up finish as a team. Lucas Malmberg ’16 and Ben Swarr ’18 earned the titles, and four others also finished as AllAmericans. The two titles, six AllAmericans, and the seven total wrestlers who qualified for the National Tournament were all program records for the Falcons. “Everything that happened this year was a coming-to-fruition of things we’ve been working on for a long time,” said head coach Bryan Brunk. “The program records, the program highs—everything was a fruit of our labor, and it was exciting for every single wrestler, coach and fan.” For Malmberg, the National Championship at 125 was
long in the making, since he finished as the national runner-up in each of the past two seasons. This year, Malmberg raced out to an early lead and eventually finished with a 14-6 major decision. The win was a relief, but Brunk knew it wasn’t a guarantee. “Lucas and our staff did the work ahead of time to be prepared for anything,” Brunk said, giving insight into Malmberg’s mindset entering the championship bout. “We were prepared to do our best and to win or lose, because Lucas knew his identity wasn’t wrapped up in being a champion. Lucas knew his identity in Christ was already taken care of. “But certainly it was great for him to get rolling early and put
“Everything that happened this year was a coming-to-fruition of things we’ve been working on for a long time.” — Bryan Brunk, wrestling head coach the match away. After he went up big early, there was so much anticipation for him to finish as champion.” In contrast to Malmberg, Swarr found himself in a low scoring battle from the start. Up against the No. 1 seed, Swarr was tied 1-1 into the final period where, with just 10 seconds to go, he scored a dramatic takedown to support a thrilling 3-1 win. “It was weird, when he got that takedown,” Brunk recalled of the bout-shifting moment. “When he scored, I stood up and turned away from the mat and started jumping up and down with our fans. We’re such a team-oriented group, and I know that Ben’s win meant
as much to our team as it did to Ben.” For Brunk and his team, the recent success on the mats, including a third-place finish in 2014 that coincided with the National Championship of Kaleb Loht ’15 at 141, is a product of the culture. “We have fun,” said Brunk, “and we work hard to make sure everyone is a part of what we do. We are friends who cheer for each other, and I also think we’re known as a team by how much we focus on our identity in Christ. I think all this helps us have the best team culture in the country.” — Steve King ’06, associate athletics director
OR MORE INFORMATION, F VISIT GOMESSIAH.COM.
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B R A I N WAV E S
Messiah engineering students Jason Yoder ’17, Jessica Raboci ’17 and Tim Gover ’17 test a prosthetic hand, which was printed on the campus 3-D printer, to aid 5-year-old Emmy, who was born missing the fingers on her right hand.
Raptor Hand project helps little girl MESSIAH ENGINEERING STUDENTS VENTURE INTO PROSTHETICS A 5-year-old girl gets ready to play outside. She slips on her sneakers, grabs her helmet and fastens on her hand. Yes, her hand. Messiah’s engineering students have ventured into prosthetics, the design and construction of artificial limbs. Tim Gover ’17, Jessica Raboci ’17 and Jason Yoder ’17, under the direction of Biomedical Engineering Professor Emily Farrar ’10,
created a prosthetic hand from the campus 3-D printer. Using an open-source design called Raptor Hand, the students downloaded the plans and began adapting it specifically for Emily “Emmy” Hoffman, who was born missing the fingers on her right hand. First learning about the Raptor Hand design at a 2015 prosthetics conference, Farrar contacted a local prosthetist, Eric Shoemaker from Ability Prosthetics Orthotics in Mechanicsburg. She told him she had some key ingredients available: a 3-D printer and some engineering students looking for a project. “Students going into biomedical engineering love the idea of prosthetics, because it sounds like engineering of the human body,” said Farrar, “recreating a
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functional limb based on engineering principles to help someone. It fully encapsulates what biomedical engineering is.” While Emmy had mastered many activities—catching a ball, unwrapping a cupcake, brushing her teeth—she needed both hands to hold the handlebars of a bicycle.
Shoemaker, providing medical guidance and expertise, connected the Collab team with Emmy’s parents, who happen to be family friends of his, in Cheltenham, Pa. The Raptor Hand Project is just one of many organized through the Collaboratory, an internal non-profit organization of Messiah College that engineering
“STUDENTS GOING INTO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING LOVE THE IDEA OF PROSTHETICS, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE ENGINEERING OF THE HUMAN BODY.” — Emily Farrar ’10, professor of biomedical engineering at Messiah College
MATTHEW TENNISON
Students downloaded the plans for Raptor Hand, an open-source design online, and adapted it specifically for Emmy.
engineering students. “The encounter with Emily reinforced the career path in engineering I am headed on,” said Yoder. “Seeing a creation that I helped bring into fruition have an impact on another life was moving and humbling.” Coincidentally, Emmy’s father Tom Hoffman ’96 graduated from Messiah with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminology, which led him to a career in federal law enforcement. “Twenty years later,” he said, “my alma mater is still giving back—not just to me but to my daughter. I am very excited that the Collab students have adopted this project, and I hope they know they are truly making a difference in Emily’s quality of life.” — Gabrielle Kurtz ’18
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/COLLABORATORY
EMMY’S AMAZING HAND
FAMILY TIME PHOTOGRAPHY, ANDREW SMALL ’02
students must participate in during the course of five semesters for class credit. The Collab provides the funding, mentorship and administrative oversight for the project, but the work is done by the students. “I’m grateful for the opportunity that Messiah gives us,” said Raboci of the project, “to have a hands-on experience in an area of our field of engineering with others who have similar aspirations.” The team, whose members received internship credit for the project, gathered anthropomorphic measurements and began the initial design. They visited the anatomy lab at Messiah to examine a cadaver’s ligament function and wrist movement, so they could mimic it in their structure. The prosthetic fingers move through motion detection in the gauntlet, located on the wrist portion of the prosthetic. Also, if Emily outgrows or breaks the prosthetic, it’s inexpensive and easy to print a new one. “Doing this project has really shown me how to connect what I am learning in engineering and apply it to a real-world application,” said Gover. Once the prototype was ready, the team presented it to Emmy at Ability’s Exton office for an initial fitting by Shoemaker March 25. After some tweaks, the students printed the final version pink—at Emmy’s request—and gave it to her April 22. Yoder even added her name with some hearts on the hand. “I could see her eyes light up,” said Emmy’s mom Jocelyn Hoffman. “It made me smile. I felt like, ‘Oh she likes it! She’s not going to be embarrassed about it.’ When she had the option of choosing pink, that made her very happy.” Now, Emmy will be able to reach the childhood milestone of riding a bike, thanks to Messiah’s
Finding no picture books about children with limb deficiencies, Jocelyn Hoffman wrote one—“Emmy’s Amazing Hand”—for her daughter. The book shows all the things Emmy can do with her special hand—pulling a zipper, picking up cereal—and a few things she shouldn’t (such as picking her nose).
“Anyone can read this book,” said Hoffman. “It’s for children, but it encourages adults. When Emmy was born, there was nothing like this on the market.” HE BOOK CAN BE PURCHASED T AT MESSIAH.EDU/ EMMYSHANDBOOK AND A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS BENEFIT CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS.
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
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MIDWIFERY
BY ROBYN PASSANTE
MODERN MOMS TURN TO AGE-OLD PRACTICE
ILLUSTRATIONS BY GRACIA LAM
Certified nurse-midwife Sarah Webster ’05 has a special place in her heart for all the women she has helped become mothers. But she will never forget the one who labored with her second son in a truly unique way.
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
MIDWIVES + DOCS = COLLABORATION Midwives and obstetricians want the same thing: to bring healthy babies into the world. But they have, in recent history at least, gone about it in very different ways. “If you talk to physicians, they’re deliveries. If you talk to midwives, they’re births. There’s a big difference,” said Nancy Woods, chair of Messiah College’s Department of Nursing. Woods worked for many years as a certified nurse midwife before coming to Messiah in 2008. “To ‘be delivered’ is passive; to ‘give birth’ is active. And it changes the role. As a midwife we attend births, we don’t do deliveries.” According to a 2011 assessment made by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals on the U.S. maternal mortality rate, which they called “a human rights failure,” exposure to more procedures than were medically necessary was one reason given for the U.S. being ranked 50th in the world for maternal mortality – higher than most European countries as well as several in Asia and the Middle East. That Cesarean section rate in the U.S. is now slowly declining, thanks in large part to the research and collective voice of midwives, Woods said. “The American College of NurseMidwives has a very active political action committee. And we also are very committed to evidence-based practice,” she said. “Certified midwives are experts in essentially normal pregnancy and birth, and physicians are experts in
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complicated pregnancy and birth. The best outcomes occur when we collaborate.” Birth may be a miracle, but midwives also approach it as a natural, everyday occurrence that rarely needs much outside intervention beyond their continuous emotional encouragement and medically educated support. Besides the number of C-sections, the decline of the rates of elective inductions and pain medication-assisted births are also trends midwives are happy to see. “Currently there’s more of a trend to do things naturally without pain medicine, and birth centers (staffed with midwives) are really starting to burst at the seams now,” said nurse-midwife Sarah (Kulp) Webster ’05. “We were losing touch with how our bodies are really meant to do this. More people are educated about how if they want to give birth this way they can do it. It’s safe, and it’s OK.” Woods says the current rate of midwife-assisted births in the U.S. is just 12.1 percent; she’d like it to be about 85 percent – the same percentage of relatively healthy mothers with complication-free pregnancies. “Women who have complications during pregnancy should be managed by a physician. But if you’re normal, you can give birth with the help of a trained certified midwife,” Woods said. “Birth is a normal process. It’s not an illness to be cured.” —Robyn Passante
he sang a verse of ‘Amazing Grace’ through every contraction. It was absolutely incredible,” said Webster, who has attended births of more than 240 babies in her time as a midwife for a birthing center in Wilmington, Delaware. “As she got closer to transition, it became more difficult as she wasn’t able to sing anymore. So, she wanted me to sing. And I was able to, and that’s what helped her through labor. It was amazing. It was such a blessing.” The hours are long and the stakes are high, but moments like that one make midwifery much more than a job. In an “industry” that has seen trends come and go – right now water births are being questioned, Cesarean section rates are slowly dropping and birthing centers are en vogue – this centuries-old tradition has withstood the test of time. It is an art, a science and a ministry all swaddled together.
And at Messiah College, would-be midwives are taught the tools of this ancient practice of assisting, witnessing and celebrating the miracle of birth. While they are highly trained professionals, they are often misunderstood. IS THAT LEGAL?
“When I first became a midwife people would say, ‘Is that legal?’ ‘Yes,’ I’d say. ‘It is legal,” said Nancy Woods, Messiah College’s nursing chair who worked for many years as a certified nurse-midwife. “Midwives are reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and all the major insurance companies. And they’re independent healthcare providers, so we have prescriptive privileges, and admitting and discharge privileges. We always work in conjunction with a physician to consult with or refer to if we need to, but we do not work under a physician.” Women have been giving birth since
the dawn of the ages, yet in today’s world of modern medicine and conveniences it’s easy to become detached from such intuitive knowledge, leaning on Internet advice and pain medication instead of listening to the way a body responds naturally to labor. It is the midwife’s job to be that bridge for the modern mother, leading her down the path millions have gone before her, while respecting her choices all the way. “As a midwife, I’m all about helping a woman trying to achieve what her body is trying to do,” said Webster. But all that helping and encouraging are backed by a solid education; you need a bachelor’s degree to be admitted to a certified nurse midwife or certified midwife master’s degree program. Though Messiah doesn’t offer a midwifery degree, its nursing program introduces its students to the specialty. “Many area hospitals have midwifery practices, so all of our nursing students are exposed to midwifery care,” Woods said. MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 17
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
Midwives are considered primary health care providers, offering physical exams, prenatal care, medication and prescriptions in addition to labor and delivery assistance. Some assist home births or work in birthing centers, like Webster, but many are hired by traditional medical offices and hospitals. “OBs and doctors’ offices are hiring midwives because they’re cheaper than hiring another physician,” Webster said. “Midwives can handle labor and delivery, freeing up a doctor’s time to do surgery and other things.” Certified nurse-midwife Marsena Howard, an adjunct professor of nursing at Messiah, solely attends the births of babies at home; 90 percent of her patients are women in central Pennsylvania’s Plain community, such as Amish and Mennonite. Howard says she had no interest in midwifery until she found herself in that role while working as a nurse in Kentucky. Thirty-six years later, she just attended the birth of her 2,000th baby. “They see birth as a beautiful, God-given experience and a woman’s job,” said Howard
of the Plain women. “They go into it with a positive expectation and somewhat of a stoic expectation; they have a task-oriented thought process.”
90% of her patients are women in central Pennsylvania’s Plain community, such as Amish and Mennonite.
Howard is careful to respect the modesty and privacy of the women under her care. In the Plain community, women don’t share
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their due dates with others, and only the husband is in the room for the delivery. “Their children don’t even know they’re expecting. It’s very much a private issue with people, it’s not something that’s talked about,” she said. “They’ll tease each other about when their due date might be, but it’s typically something that’s not told.” Howard makes regular visits throughout the pregnancy, getting to know the woman and her family while staying in tune with how things are progressing, particularly once labor starts. With a home birth, the responsibility rests on the midwife alone to make an informed, quick decision to send a laboring woman to a hospital if more traditional medical care is needed. “I think I’ve been at it long enough that there’s a sixth sense, a God-directed sense,” said Howard, who typically sends to the hospital about 25 percent of first-time moms and about 10 percent of mothers who’ve been around the pregnancy block at least once. “You’re always keeping your eye open for
“ I think it’s made my faith more a part of my daily life, when you’re faced with making decisions that matter for other people, and you’re relying on the Lord to give you direction for those kinds of things.” — Marsena Howard, adjunct professor of nursing at Messiah College
things that are not quite right. And if I see those, I send them to the hospital.” Midwives typically stay with the mother and baby for two hours after the birth, caring for both during that time. Howard follows up with her patients the next day and then checks the mother and baby again during the next six weeks. GOD-GIVEN INTUITION
Howard’s been on the job so long that at least one of the babies she attended the birth of now has grown to have babies of her own, and the seasoned midwife was present for those births, as well. It is a profession and a calling that both leans upon her faith and strengthens it, she says. “I think it’s made my faith more a part of my daily life, when you’re faced with making decisions that matter for other people, and you’re relying on the Lord to give you direction for those kinds of things,” said Howard, who does not have children
of her own. “And it’s my whole life; it’s allconsuming. To make the Lord a part of that is the only way to live.” Webster, also not a mom yet, has relied on that mix of education and God-given intuition to keep her wits about her despite her own fatigue and sometimes troubling circumstances. She recalls one patient whose baby had a cord prolapse, where the umbilical cord falls below the baby’s head. With every contraction, the blood supply was cut off from the baby, necessitating a move from the birthing center to a nearby hospital so the woman could deliver via C-section. From the ambulance drive to the hospital straight into the operating room with the mother, the 32-year-old professional remained calm. “I’m good at it. It’s something that comes almost naturally to me,” she said of midwifery. “Give me a laboring woman and I come to life.” B
D I D YO U K N OW…
Longtime friend of Messiah College, Kathryn T. Boyer ’46, was a midwife? Boyer, a nurse, enrolled in Georgetown University’s midwifery program in 1977 while her husband Ernest L. Boyer ’48 served as the U.S. Commissioner of Education under President Jimmy Carter. Over the years she helped women give birth in hospitals, birthing centers and at home. “I preferred home births where the husband could be involved,” she said. “Back then, some hospitals were strict about not allowing the husband to be in the room.” She also attended the births of many of her grandchildren. “I gave my days to the Lord and during that time of doing births, I would just trust in the Lord to help me,” she said. “He never let me down.” More details about Boyer’s midwifery career can be found in her 2014 memoir “Many Mansions: Lessons of Faith, Family, and Public Service.”
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
The Class That
CHANGED
my LIFE
BY JEFF VRABEL
NOTE: DESPITE THE HEADLINE, THE FOLLOWING STORIES ARE NOT ALL ABOUT CLASSES. WHEN WE ASKED ALUMNI ABOUT WHAT COURSES MADE THEIR MESSIAH EXPERIENCES TRANSFORMATIONAL, MANY DREW IN PROFESSORS, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND, IN SOME CASES, ENTIRE MAJORS. A LIFE-CHANGING CLASS, AFTER ALL, ISN’T CONFINED TO ONE ROOM TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. IT PLAYS OUT AFTER HOURS, ON WEEKENDS, SOMETIMES FOR YEARS AFTER IT ENDS. IN SOME CASES, IT GOES TO A HAWAIIAN RAINFOREST. THAT SAID, MESSIAH HAS SOME GREAT CLASSES.
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T
egan Brozyna ’07 pinpoints a specific Messiah course that changed her life: Textiles Surface Design, taught by Professor of Art Christine Forysthe. Brozyna, now a painter and mixed media artist, says the class opened up her definition of “materials.”
FRED SCHMITT ’85
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
“ EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM ABOUT THEATER. I REALIZED I WAS NOT GOING TO BE FAMOUS IN NEW YORK, BUT [PROFESSOR NORMAN BERT] HELPED ME REALIZE WHERE MY REAL TALENTS LIE. I CONTINUE TO USE THOSE SKILLS TO THIS DAY.” – Candy Mastorovich ’83
MICHAEL MASTOROVICH
“I
t freed me up to think of new possibilities of making,” Brozyna said. She started to work with fabrics, dyeing them, printing on them, ripping them apart. “It loosened up my art. Because of that class, my work became more abstract.” The admiration went both ways. “Tegan asked a lot of questions,” said Forsythe. “She’d do something again and again to get it right, rethinking process and idea and then marrying them. That’s what art-making takes.” The art world took note. For seven months, Brozyna’s geography-centered exhibit “ReMapping the World” was on display in the Philadelphia International Airport. For the exhibit, Brozyna worked with paper maps to create landscapes and terrains out of hundreds of circular forms. “She cut them up into little bits and created new three-dimensional forms,” said Forsythe. “What she did was beautiful.” Now a New York resident, Brozyna is finishing up her MFA at Brooklyn College. And she’s keeping her future plans as open as her art. “As an artist, you have to be creative about piecing together a career,” she said. “It’s not something like engineering, where you get a degree and work your way up. Ideally, I’d like to be a practicing artist and complement that with teaching.” To that end, she’s a graduate teaching fellow at Brooklyn College, where she helms a drawing workshop about — not surprisingly — new materials. “We’re exposing them to everything they can use to add meaning to their work.”
Candy Mastorovich ’83 also finds meaning in her work because of Messiah — not from a class, but from her theatre major and favorite professor, Norman Bert. While at Messiah she worked as stage manager and prop master, ensuring that what went on behind the curtain facilitated everything in front of it. “I learned a lot about what goes into a performance,” she said, singling out a play called “Macbett”—a satire of “Macbeth”—she remembers as an impressive and slightly unorthodox Bert choice. “Everyone dreams about going to New York and becoming famous, but Dr. Bert helped me realize my real talents lie backstage. I continue to use those
MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES
FROM STAGE MANAGER TO PROJECT MANAGER
Working backstage during a Messiah production of ‘Macbett,’ a parody of the Shakespearean classic ‘Macbeth,’ Candy Mastorovich ’83 employs the organizational skills she learned as a theatre major in her job today as a project manager at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a data and telecommunications company.
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SHUTTERSTOCK
organizational skills to this day.” After graduation, Mastorovich worked with the Christian Arts Company in Pittsburgh before marrying and changing career paths. She’s now a project manager with AlcatelLucent Enterprise, a data and telecommunications company, but says she still applies lessons from those backstage environments. “Stage managing a show is very much like working on an IT project,” she said. “It’s a matter of organizing and managing schedules, budgets and deadlines in order to produce a completed product.” MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD
David Wilson ’16 encountered his transformational moment halfway across the globe. Messiah’s three-week wilderness encounter in Hawaii is open first to adventure education majors before opening wide to others such as Wilson, a mechanical engineering graduate. “I saw an email that said I could get credit for a trip to Hawaii,” Wilson laughed. “That was about all I thought about it.” The setting was Kauai, and the structure involved daily hikes through the island’s Alkali Swamp and Waimea Canyon, the latter so vast it was dubbed the “Grand Canyon of
JORDAN LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Hiking the Na Pali Coast in Hawaii Kauai, Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Programs Wendell Witter helped David Wilson ’16 navigate rain and exhaustion during an 11-mile trek.
the Pacific” by Mark Twain. But, the class had heavy matters in mind. There were three goals: 1. Encounter God, 2. Encounter the wilderness and 3. Encounter other people. Students led each day’s hike and decided all starts, stops and rests. Reflection was key. “On a daily basis, we had some form of meditative time,” Wilson said, “and then a group discussion about faith. It impressed me that there was that much curriculum.” The trip’s centerpiece was a hike through the Na Pali Coast, the island’s mountainous, largely untouched western edge. Reaching the beach at trail’s end required an 11-mile hike over rugged terrain, with each participant carrying 40 lbs. of backpack and supplies. It
was challenging and restorative. It was also long and rainy. As gorgeous as the vistas were, there were more of them than expected. “Sometime after lunch, it started raining,” he said. “People were falling. It was a miserable time of walking. Finally, I had to stop to rest.” That break, he says, is where something switched. Wilson was there to prove himself. He wanted to grow his spirituality, see the world and bond with his peers. But he also wanted to do it himself. “Finally, at that stop, I asked the group to take my weight for me,” he said, redistributing supplies from his backpack to theirs. “And they were great about it, just really affirming.
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MATTHEW TENNISON
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MATTHEW TENNISON
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
It felt good to be valued even though it was, in my mind, failing at my goal.” By the time they reached the final descent, Wilson needed bodily support. “[Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Programs] Wendell Witter was leading, and he waited for me at every step. I’d basically fall into him, he’d take my weight and I’d keep walking,” said Wilson. “It became one of my favorite memories, coming down this big hill made entirely out of this red dirt to the beach.” Wilson’s group remained on the beach for five days, talking and journaling and going through selah, a reflection time mentioned in the Psalms. And he readied for the final, which involved spending 24 hours alone in the woods. In that time, he says he arrived at a few understandings. “I understood the concept that God loves me at a heart level, as opposed to a head level. I guess that happens in a 24-hour period off by yourself,” he said with a laugh. Something else came out of it, too. Wilson had originally mapped out a mechanical engineering career, something linear, expected
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC CLANCY ’83
Left: Eric Clancy ’83 credits Amy Slody, director of disability services, with helping his son Kevin ’13 (below, middle) persevere after a brain injury.
and traditional. The walk in the woods changed that plan. “It got me so much more in touch with my faith,” he said. “I don’t think I’d be satisfied living a 9-to-5 life.” Living out his faith, he’ll start a short-term appointment with the international Christian mission organization SIM (Serving in Mission). “I can use my engineering background on these projects,” he said, tying together all he learned at Messiah. “It’s the best plan I could have.” THE MESSIAH FAMILY
For Eric Clancy ’83 memories of Messiah center on his family — specifically his son Kevin ’13 and the offices and staffers who handled a series of challenges to make his time at Messiah memorable and productive. As a junior in high school, the younger Clancy had fallen while volunteering with his church, suffering a traumatic brain injury. He entered Messiah in 2009, just one year after leaving the hospital. As the Director of Disability Services, Amy Slody offers students such as Kevin Clancy individual coaching and support. She has dealt with psychological issues, financial troubles, depression, anxiety and autism. But this case was something different. “Brain injuries are different than the disabilities we often encounter,” Slody said. “They’re entirely new. Students haven’t had to deal with it their entire lives. There are psychological components to deal with, in addition to the academic issues. So we developed a compensatory strategy to work with faculty and organizations on campus.” Slody and her group are neither tutors nor counselors. The office isn’t equipped to edit English essays or decipher chemistry equations. Their approach is bigger picture; they’ll connect students with resources that can ultimately help. When she arrived five years ago, Slody and her office coached 18 students; today they’re up to 75. “I’m not sure she may get the recognition that is so deserved,” Eric Clancy said. “She was an incredible support to Kevin as he navigated school, life and classes.” As you see, it’s tough for alums to pinpoint one class as a life changer. Each memory, each person is just one piece of the larger, collective Messiah experience. B
THE MESSIAH EXPERIENCE THAT IS STILL CHANGING MY LIFE Liv Ungurean ’16, a recent public relations graduate, set off for a May cross-cultural trip to Scandinavia immediately after Commencement. During the trip, she learned about the region’s policies and practices for gender roles, women in the workplace and work-life balance. The advancement of women—and the doors that an education can open for them—is a passionate topic of hers. The youngest of 10, Ungurean has grown up knowing her parents emigrated from Romania decades ago in search of a better life. “They have seen how hard it is to start from scratch. They value education and opportunity,” said Ungurean. She also credits her advisor Kate Simcox, associate professor of communication, with helping her learn to respect her roots while looking toward the future as a woman with a career. “In my culture, women aren’t really emphasized as people of high influence,” explained Ungurean. “She has opened my eyes to show me we’re worth a lot more than society tells us.” Since graduation, Ungurean has been applying for jobs in her field. “Throughout the courses and the people who have influenced me, even though I don’t know what I’m doing quite yet, God has taken care of me up till now,” she said. “God made a way, he provided. I don’t lack a pinch of faith that he won’t provide for me in the future.” —Anna Seip
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HOSTETTER MEMORIAL
IN MEMORIAM D. Ray Hostetter, 88, Messiah’s longest serving president, died Feb. 12, 2016. Serving as the sixth president for a term of 30 years (1964-1994), he remains an integral part of the fabric of Messiah College, where his father and grandfather before him also served as presidents.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
He received a B.A. from Greenville College, an M.A. from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in higher education from Columbia University. From expanding the assets of the college by obtaining 300 acres to introducing new athletic programs, he pioneered significant growth during three decades. The construction of facilities during his presidency included Hess, Sollenberger and Miller Residence Halls, Fry Apartments, Kline Hall of Science, Eisenhower Campus Center, Climenhaga Fine Arts Center, Sollenberger Sports Center and a Murray Library expansion. Hostetter Chapel is named for the three generations of Messiah presidents; these men provided leadership to Messiah for a collective 63 years. In addition to new buildings, new services such as professional counseling and career services, which are now part of the Engle Center and the Career and Professional Development Center, were added. The athletic program was enhanced with the addition of wrestling, baseball, field hockey, women’s basketball, volleyball, and co-ed track teams. Hostetter partnered with Temple University to bring Messiah’s programs to an urban community and Daystar Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, offering the first bachelor’s degree program of an accredited Christian liberal arts institution in Africa. As a founding board member of the 26 | SPRING 2016 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Left: Hostetter meets with students. Right: He is pictured with his wife, Audrey.
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Christian College Consortium, he continually sought to improve Christian higher education. A memorial service was held at Grantham Brethren In Christ Church April 16. President Kim Phipps delivered one of the tributes in his honor. Also, the Student Government Association announced the new D. Ray Hostetter Memorial Leadership Grant to carry on his legacy for future students. TO VIEW A GALLERY OF MORE PHOTOS FROM D. RAY HOSTETTER’S PRESIDENCY, PLEASE GO TO: MESSIAH.EDU/HOSTETTERGALLERY.
President Jimmy Carter speaks with Audrey and D. Ray Hostetter.
President Eisenhower and Hostetter look at plans for Eisenhower Campus Center. Mamie Eisenhower (right) was named an honorary trustee.
“ The D. Ray Hostetter Memorial Leadership Grant...equips our campus to continue developing student leaders and honor President Hostetter for generations to come.” — Jonathan Fuller ’16, student body president, who announced the scholarship
NICK GOULD
Student Body President Jonathan Fuller, Director of Student Involvement Kevin Villegas and President Kim Phipps greet Audrey Hostetter at D. Ray’s campus memorial service April 16.
Hostetter partnered with Daystar Institute in Nairobi, Kenya in the ’80s. MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 27
OUR
ALUMNI NEWS AND PROFILES C A M PA I G N F O R W E L L N E S S
Be a part of the tradition, be a part of history SUPPORT THE ALUMNI SCOREBOARD! Exciting renovations are planned for the Hitchcock Arena at Messiah College, which will have a tremendous impact on our basketball program. We are in the middle of several indoor athletics building projects as part of our Campaign for Wellness, including transforming Hitchcock into the new competitive basketball arena, a new fitness center, team rooms and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. We have raised more than $5.6 million toward our fundraising goal of $6 million. To help us finish the campaign on a high note, we are asking all alumni, parents of alumni and friends of the men’s and women’s
basketball programs to help support the alumni scoreboard and associated features, which will include: • • • •
4 -face scoreboard s corers’ tables v ideo display s hot clock with game time • e nd-of-period lights • i ndoor locker room clock The fundraising goal for the scoreboard and associated features is $250,000. So far, we have raised about $50,000. However, we have received a $100,000 challenge grant! Therefore, if you
R E B E C C A LO N G E N E C K E R ’ 07
WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST PROTECTS SHORE HABITATS FOR BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND MORE
COURTESY OF REBECCA LONGENECKER ’07
AT U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, ALUM COMBINES CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP
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make a contribution prior to June 30, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar! All donors to the alumni scoreboard will be recognized on a wall of gratitude in the new Hitchcock Arena. The hallmark of the athletics program at Messiah College is a focus on supporting our student-athletes in their pursuit of academic excellence, athletic accomplishment and Christian character. Moreover, in countless acts of service and outreach, our student-athletes use their talents to further Christ’s kingdom both on and off the field among local, regional, national and international communities. We hope you will consider
Without milkweed, there are no monarch butterflies. The species depends on this plain green plant. It’s where the butterflies lay their eggs. Later, the leaves serve as the feeding ground for monarch caterpillars. Wildlife biologist Rebecca (Kern) Longenecker ’07 and her team monitor this critical habitat. “We try to decide the most strategic ways to improve conditions for monarchs in the Northeast,” she explained, “planting milkweeds and also native plants that are beneficial food sources for monarchs.” Through her job at the Northeast U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Hadley, Massachusetts, Longenecker works with a team of biologists on a variety of projects to protect and restore native habitats. In addition to protecting the
being a part of our storied basketball tradition by supporting this exciting new state-of-the-art scoreboard at Messiah College! ONLINE GIFTS CAN BE MADE AT: MESSIAH.EDU/CFW
• CLICK ON “CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGN” • THEN CLICK ON “DONATE NOW” • T HEN SELECT “ALUMNI SCOREBOARD” FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU
We look forward to cheering on our Messiah Falcons in the new Hitchcock Arena!
monarchs, she’s also keeping an eye on another migratory group: shorebirds such as the red knot, an endangered species. Because these birds forage for food on the beach, humans can disrupt the delicate balance. “On some of our refuges,” she said, “we don’t allow sunbathing and swimming, but we do allow walks on the beach.” Growing up in Reading, Pa., she developed a love for the outdoors as a child. That childhood interest
BETSY GRAHAM ’ 10
Kentucky to South Korea SON’S ADOPTION TAKES MOM OVERSEAS Elizabeth “Betsy” (Caprio) Graham ’10 and her husband Tom prayed for a child for four years. After two heartbreaking miscarriages, they had considered adoption but were still unsure. Then in 2014, they were stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where Graham’s husband is an endodontist for the U.S. Army. They attended a local church gathering one night to listen to the stories of several families who had successfully adopted children. Excited about the possibility, the Grahams applied
at a local adoption agency the next day, completing the necessary home study, documentation and background checks. Then, they waited and prayed. Close friends of the couple had adopted a boy from Korea, and the Grahams witnessed the process of foreign adoption. So, at the beginning of 2015, the Grahams sent their adoption packet to Korea. Within two months, they were paired with a six-month-old child. “The beauty of adoption is that it is not about you,” said Graham. “It’s all about the Lord, how the Lord brought this son into our lives. He doesn’t look like us, but he is a Graham, by the grace of God.” Then, they waited some more and prayed even harder. The child who they named John Judah Minsu –JJ for short—needed a visa approved
Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ (Caprio) Graham ’10 and her husband Tom, stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, adopted JJ from South Korea earlier this year.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETSY GRAHAM ’10
led her to major in biology at Messiah, where she witnessed how conservation and environmental stewardship were connected with her Christian life. She credits Messiah with a rigorous science program that emphasized ecology, field labs and taxonomy. “Those disciplines are rapidly disappearing from the curricula at many colleges and universities, yet they are essential for helping students to be environmentally literate,” said Longenecker. As an undergraduate, Longenecker worked with Erik Lindquist, professor of biology and environmental science, on the research of woodland pool ecology in Pennsylvania, toad behavior and the Panamanian golden frog. “I remember instructing her in many biology courses,” said Lindquist, “but the most memorable was watching the spark of field work and research become a fire on our travel course to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile [during a J-term cross-cultural]. Becky seized every course and research opportunity available to her.” Longenecker attributes these experiences with preparing her for graduate school. She received a master’s and Ph.D.—both in wildlife ecology—from the University of Delaware. Her fascination with the natural world remains tied to her faith. “A desire to bring glory to God by studying and conserving his creation has been a big motivation for me,” she said. “Conserving the environment so that it maintains all its components, processes and functions is also a tangible way to love my neighbor, who depends on it for food, water, air and a livelihood.” — Myriam Pedercini ’17
by the U.S. before he could travel. While seeing a photograph of their child and choosing a name for him was something to hold onto, nothing in the Grahams’ power could make the process happen faster. “You begin to form an emotional attachment and start praying for him,” explained Graham. “I had to entrust JJ to God every day, believing he was going to take care of my son until I could.” Meanwhile, the couple missed JJ’s milestones—his first words, first steps, first birthday. Finally, in December of 2015, they flew to Seoul, South Korea, for an adoption court date and to meet their son, who was now 18 months old. They visited JJ at a foster home, where he was in the care of an elderly woman. “We kept saying, ‘Wow, this is our child.’ We immediately fell in love with the Korean people and were proud our son was born in Korea,” she said. In January of 2016, they returned to Korea to bring their son home. The initial transition was not easy for JJ. He grieved his foster mother, cried at night and did not enjoy U.S. food. The Grahams had witnessed his smiles during their visits to Korea and knew their son would smile again. After three weeks, they began to see a bond starting to form. One of the biggest challenges was the hit-the-ground-running parenting. Even though JJ is almost two, the Grahams have been his parents for only six months. “You grow with your baby when you have one, but when you are adopting, you are jumping in,” said Graham. The Grahams say they want people to find hope that infertility is not the end. “Adoption is a beautiful option,” said Graham. “We have seen the faithfulness and goodness of the Lord and are changed for the better.” — Gabrielle Kurtz ’18
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 29
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CLASS NOTES
1960s
1990s
Harriet (Sider) Bicksler ’68 retired as editor for the Brethren in Christ Historical Society.
Norman Cole ’92 works as a community director for Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga.
Edward Nugent ’69 works as the preaching and teaching pastor for Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Minot, N.D.
Michele (Wastler) Dombach ’92 works as a vice president of development for Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, Pa.
1980s John D. Finley ’81 joined Sunshine Bancorp, Inc. as EVP, chief financial officer.
Susan (Tucker) Engbrecht ’92 works as a media and worship ministry assistant for First Baptist Church in Statesboro, Ga.
Hannah practicing for her future in nursing
HANNAH O’DONNELL ’18 Nursing
Beth Haldeman ’92 was named president-elect of the Pennsylvania Principals Association and will begin her two-year term in November. Kimberly (Craley) Robinson ’92 works as a 911 dispatcher for Tioga County Emergency Services in Wellsboro, Pa. She received the 2013 Emergency Telecommunicator of the Year award from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. John Bowers ’99 was named chief operating officer for Patterson Intellectual
Property Law, P.C. in Nashville, Tenn.
2000s
Jeremy Campbell ’01 received a Doctor of Business Administration from Wilmington University in 2015.
Trevor Brunsink ’00 recently published “The Twelve Coins,” a fantasy adventure book.
Meg (Jones) Hoover ’01 and her husband Brandon announce the birth of Jud Jones, June 30, 2015.
Stephanie Kish ’00 works as a human resources generalist for Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa. She received a Master of Business Administration from Lebanon Valley College in 2015.
Megan (Miller) Noel ’01 and her husband Bryan announce the birth of Gavin, July 12, 2015. Joe Polek ’01 works as a South Carolina marketing coordinator for Bojangles’ Restaurants, Inc.
Creating a legacy at Messiah College – Planning a gift through your will or trust is a simple way to make a difference for a lifetime. A gift in your will does not affect your current cash flow or assets, but you will have the benefit of knowing your legacy gift will provide a lasting impact to future students. How can I make a legacy gift to Messiah College? • Make a provision through your will or trust • Add a codicil to an existing will • Name Messiah as beneficiary in a qualified retirement plan • Designate Messiah College as beneficiary of a life insurance policy • Sample language to add Messiah to your will: I, [name], of [city, state, zip] give, devise and bequeath to Messiah College, situated in Grantham, Pennsylvania [written amount, description of property or percentage of the estate] for its unrestricted use and purposes.
Visit messiah.edu/createalegacy for more information. 30 | SPRING 2016 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Rebecca (Greyer) Lewandowski ’02 works as a human services program representative for the Office of Children Youth and Families for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, Pa. Sharon (Pauley) Taylor ’02 and her husband Rob announce the birth of Ethan, Sept. 26, 2015. Nicole (Juliano) Hanby ’03 works as a school counselor for The Windward School in White Plains, N.Y. She and her husband Ethan announce the birth of Ethan Peter, Feb. 4, 2015.
Leah (Cervin) Smith ’05 and her husband Joel announce the birth of Dahlia Ruth, Nov. 29, 2015. Emily (Forschler) Hahn ’08 works as a physician assistant for Penn State Hershey. She and her husband Matthew ’07 announce the birth of Susanna, October 16, 2012, and Frieda, December 7, 2014. Maris Miller ’08 and Philip Hufnal married May 27, 2015. Jonathan Bert ’09 and his wife Krystal RobinsonBert ’10 announce the birth
of Tenley Grace, Jan. 14, 2016. Allison Heermance ’09 and Caleb Eastman married Oct. 17, 2015. Amber Jackson ’09 works as an associate at Tydings & Rosenberg LLP, a law firm in Baltimore, Md.
2010s David Shirer ’10 works as a student life specialist for Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. He received a master’s in higher education in 2013.
Mary Powell ’12 works as a physical educator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland.
Matthew Hannigan ’11 is co-founder of the design firm Good Three, which was featured in Print Magazine’s 2015 Regional Design Annual.
Samuel Wheatley ’12 works as a director of ad operations for Social Fulcrum in Boston, Mass.
David Allen ’12 and Kara Miller ’12 married Aug. 2, 2012. Brynne Hall ’12 works as an assistant athletic trainer for Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. Amanda Blank ’12 and Brandon Hertzler ’12 married Aug. 1, 2015. She works as a benefit coordinator for R-V Industries, Inc.
Sarah Fleischman ’13 works as a managing editor for The Calvert Recorder in Prince Frederick, Md. Jamie Gardner ’13 works as a graphic designer for Infotier in West Caldwell, N.J.
Advance your nursing career with a
In the rapidly changing world of health care, skilled nurses with an advanced nursing degree are in high demand. Advance your career as a family nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree or as a nurse educator with a Master of Science in Nursing or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Messiah College. Our graduate programs in nursing offer: • One of Pennsylvania’s only online post-BSN to DNP-FNP programs. • A DNP-FNP pathway for those holding a BSN; most programs are post-master’s DNP. • RN-MSN options. • Flexible online classes that help you balance life, studies and career.
• Courses taught by accomplished faculty from a Christian faith perspective.
Discover if you qualify for a tuition discount at messiah.edu/graddiscounts
• Small class sizes for meaningful interaction with classmates and professors. • Deferred tuition option.
Apply now. Classes start July and August.
NOW ENROLLING
see anew
717.796.5061 messiah.edu/gradnursing
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2016 | 31
OUR
MATTHEW TENNISON
MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES
FROM THE ARCHIVES
What used to be a simple home ec sewing class at Messiah decades ago has progressed into a Wearable Art, a course that focuses on advanced clothing design.
One size does not fit all CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION CLASS ALLOWS STUDENTS TO DESIGN THEIR OWN WEARABLE ART Needle and thread have come a long way on college campuses. The Wearable Art course, housed in the recently renovated studio space of Frey Hall, is valuable to any student interested in the sustainability, design and construction of clothing. “In a fast fashion world, the benefits are designing one-ofa-kind clothing and knowing what you’re paying for,” said Christine Forsythe, chair of the Department of Visual Arts. Abigail Leach ’16, who majored in family and consumer science education with a minor in studio art, says she enjoyed the creative-based course. “Wearable arts is more
individually focused on developing the designer in yourself,” said Leach. “I absolutely adored that class.” For her field experience, Leach had a chance to combine skills from her major and her minor: teaching clothing construction to students at Cumberland Valley High School. “The first seams anyone sews will be crooked,” said Leach,
32 | SPRING 2016 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
“however, there is a learning curve. I remember by the third project, my students’ faces lit up when they sewed a messenger bag with straight seams.” For students interested in next-level sewing, she demonstrated a technique called draping, which involves creating a clothing design from cotton muslin as a draft. “I was working with one student on her dress,” explained Leach. “To go from working with cotton to leather was quite the learning experience for her.” Teaching sewing techniques to high school students allowed her to use real-world creativity in the workforce. “It’s a valuable skill,” said Leach of sewing. “A lot of clothes are made for a specific form, but everyone is a different body type.
“ A lot of clothes are made for a specific form, but everyone is a different body type. It’s rewarding to craft something on your own and wear a unique piece.” — Abigail Leach ’16
It’s rewarding to craft something on your own and wear a unique piece.” —Myriam Pedercini ’17
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June-August 2016 JUNE
July 11–15
Permanent Collection High Center Galleries
Men’s Soccer Day Camp* Day Camp is for players ranging from rec level to premiere level interested in competition, development and fun.
June 6–July 31
July 17–21
Summer 2016 courses Messiah College invites dual-enrolled high school students entering their junior or senior year; Messiah employees, alumni, parents and friends; or anyone who would like to further one’s post-secondary education at Messiah College to apply for summer course study. For additional questions or information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 717-691-6074 or via email at summersession@messiah.edu.
Field Hockey Resident Camp* Resident Camp is geared toward athletes heading into grades 6 through 12 who have an interest in improving their individual skill and field hockey IQ in a fun and competitive environment.
June 1–July 31
July 18–22
Little Falcons* Little Falcons is for young boys and girls wanting to learn the game of soccer in a positive, high-energy environment.
June 26–30
Messiah Admissions Youth for Christ Heatwave Wildwoods Convention Center; North Wildwood, N.J. Know a high school student who’s attending? Tell him/her to stop by the Messiah admissions table to learn more about our College. June 29–July 2
Messiah Admissions Creation Festival 2016 Agape Farm; Mt. Union, Pa. Attending Creation Fest? Make sure to stop by the Messiah admissions table and say hi.
July 24–27
Basketball Boys Camp* For ages 10-18, players will develop key skills with the help of individual instruction and professional coaching. July 28–30
Men’s Lacrosse Summer Prep Camp* This camp is a great way to learn how to become a better collegiate player, thus raising the chance of standing out at recruiting events, and being prepared for college. July 31–August 3
JULY July 10–14
Women’s Basketball Team Camp* This camp is for 9th grade JV and Varsity Teams. Teams compete in at least 11 contests throughout the week as well as participate in the Falcon Skills Factory.
Women’s Volleyball Camp* Throughout the camp, our excellent staff will provide campers with opportunities to develop in the areas of: serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, and individual defense.
July 31–August 3
August 30
Women’s Soccer Resident Camp* The Messiah Women’s Soccer Resident Camp is for field players and goalkeepers in grades 7-12 who are interested in and committed to improving their technical and tactical skills in the game of soccer.
Fall Semester Starts Messiah students begin their first day of classes for the fall semester.
AUGUST August 3–6
Messiah Admissions SoulFest Gunstock Mountain Resort; Gilford, N.H. If you’re attending the SoulFest music festival, check out Messiah’s admissions table. August 5–7
Women’s Soccer Day Camp* Day Camp is an individual skill-based program for girls ages 8-12 that incorporates those basic skills into a team/game setting. August 6–7
Softball ID Camp* Our camp will give you a college elite-level experience as you also get to stay in our dorms, work with our coaching staff and players and experience college softball for two days with our program.
MESSIAH COLLEGE
HOME
COMING WEEKEND
RECONNECT • REMEMBER • RENEW
SAVE THE DATE:
OCT. 14–15, 2016 Featuring our first-ever Young Alumni Reunion!
August 6–7
Men’s Basketball Elite Prospect Camp* Messiah College’s Prospect Camp is open to all rising sophomore-senior boys basketball players aspiring to play in college. The camp features a unique combination of college level competition, skills work and aid in the recruiting process. August 25
July 11–14 and 18–21
Move-In Day Class of 2020 students arrive on campus and begin Welcome Week 2016 activities for orientation.
Tennis Camp (Co-ed)* Focus on your technique, strategy and sportsmanship in a fun, positive and challenging learning experience.
*FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR SPORTS CAMPS, VISIT GOMESSIAH.COM/CAMPS
For more information, visit messiah.edu/homecoming
office of Marketing and communications
One College Avenue Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg PA 17055 Address Service Requested
“We love Messiah” is more than a slogan. IT REPRESENTS A DEEP AFFECTION THAT OUR ALUMNI FEEL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AT MESSIAH COLLEGE. We hear how much your time at Messiah, your alma mater, means to you. It’s a place where you were challenged to discover your calling, integrate your faith and grow. We hear how you formed lifelong friendships, some of the most meaningful relationships in your life. We hear how much you care that Messiah remains true to its Christian roots and firm in its theological traditions. We know how much you love Messiah because you tell us.
That is why the We love Messiah campaign is so meaningful. By supporting the Messiah Fund and showing your love for your alma mater through a gift, you make it possible for us to offer a high-quality Christian education to students who may otherwise not have the means to afford one. Part of the legacy of Messiah College is our alumni, employees, parents and friends who have given financial support from the first days of Messiah
through today. Without these investments, Messiah would not be the college our alumni have grown to know and love. So when you see the We love Messiah slogan, show your love. A generous group of alumni have challenged you to be one of 500* new alumni donors to show your love for Messiah by June 30, 2016. In return, they will contribute up to $25,000 to the Messiah Fund. Your participation matters! Every new* donor, regardless of their gift size, will help us achieve this goal and impact Messiah College students. Give your gift at messiah.edu/welovemessiah or by mail, Messiah College, One College Ave, Suite 3013, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Make a difference for current
students. Now more than ever, the world needs Messiah College alumni reflecting the love of the Gospel in all vocations throughout all regions of the globe. *Refers to alumni who have not given a gift this fiscal year (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016) I F YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT AT MESSIAH COLLEGE, PLEASE CONTACT JON STUCKEY, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, AT JSTUCKEY@ MESSIAH.EDU OR AT 717-796-5065.