THE
20 YOUNG ALUMS
What are Messiah’s recent grads up to?
29 POWER SELLER
Backstage Pass
An alum reaches 8k+ Etsy sales
14
A cast of characters puts in hours of work before opening night
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2018
FREDERICK SCHMITT ’88 PHOTOGRAPHY
INSIDE LOOK
Messiah students soak up the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple during an Into the City trip April 22-24. As part of the trip, they met with Ryan Faus ’11, director of global research and analysis for Warner New York. Read more about Faus and his career on p. 26.
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MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 1
S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 , VO L . 1 0 9 , N O . 4
THE
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
717.691.6027 www.messiah.edu
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
Josh Burkholder M.A. ’18, Emily Koontz ’20, Jake Miaczynski ’20, Robyn Passante
14
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
14
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. 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. © 2018 Messiah College
COVE R:
The Bridge is printed on recyclable paper: 50/25 PCW EFC
Josh Song ’20 waits in the wings during the J-term production of “The Boy Friend.” PHOTO BY SARAH HENRY ’19
2 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
20
BACKSTAGE PASS
YOUNG ALUMS
Meet the people behind the scenes who bring Messiah's musical and theatrical productions to life.
Find out what some recent alums (those who graduated in the past 10-12 years) are doing as they make their way professionally and personally.
F R O M T H E E D I TO R WE HAVE LOTS OF GOOD NEWS TO SHARE ABOUT THE BRIDGE. IN MARCH, WE RECEIVED THE SOCIETY OF PUBLICATION DESIGNERS MERIT AWARD FOR OUR WINTER 2017 COVER (BELOW, RIGHT). THIS AWARD PUTS THE BRIDGE IN THE GOOD COMPANY OF BRITISH VOGUE AND O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE. THE
12 ACQUIR ING
ART
What’s in Messiah’s permanent collectio
20 CELIAC DISEAS
n?
E When avoiding bread is the staff of life
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZIN E
WINTER
2017
The same month, I attended the Council of Fear Advancement the Falcon and Support of Education (CASE) editors’ forum in Seattle. During the conference, I led a roundtable discussion about the benefits of an editorial board. The Bridge Advisory Board, which I formed in 2014, convenes twice annually to provide invaluable support and story ideas. Their input helps me plan my editorial calendar one year in advance, which streamlines photography, design and writing processes. At the conference, editors from institutions such as MIT, University of California, Berkeley and University of Vermont sought insight on how to form boards of their own to help advance their publications. 10
Field hocke y makes history with first national title
20
29
D E PAR TM E NT S
ONLINE EXTRAS
4 FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE
5 ON CAMPUS 5 Heard Around Campus
Take The Bridge readership survey.
Learn more about the Kim S. Phipps Admissions and Welcome Center.
6
Faces and Places
7
Readership Survey
9
Brain Waves
10
Campus News
View our “Backstage Pass” photo gallery.
28
OUR ALUMNI
Visit the Color Cat Studio, the Etsy shop of Rachel (Schaeffer) Byler ’12.
28
Alumni Profiles
30
Class Notes
32
From the Archives
Read the citations of the 2018 Alumni Awards winners.
We hope the features in this issue— vetted through our board as outlined above—pique your interest. Follow the theatre department’s J-term musical from start to finish in “Backstage Pass” on p. 14. Also, take a look at the young alums feature on p. 20 to learn how Messiah grads are making their way in the world. As we continue to strive to provide the best content for our readers, this issue includes a readership survey on p. 7. We hope you’ll either mail in the paper version or follow the link provided on p. 8. Either way, you’ll help us assess what we can improve. Thank you so much for reading.
isten to a podcast featuring the late L Clarence H. Sakimura ’55. A N N A S E I P, E D I T O R
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Messiah alumni nurture their vocational callings
4 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
team to identify areas of greatest need. Previous outreach initiatives reached 8,000 by providing deworming vaccinations and Vitamin A; goats and seeds; water purification and catchment projects; and assistance with building schools. Paul Nisly, Messiah College professor emeritus of English, who serves on the board of Thriving Villages International, said, “I have long been interested in Haiti and have been concerned with help that is really helpful— and is not just a quick fix for an immediate need, though emergencies need quick aid, of course.” He describes the Fredricks as “among the most genuine, humble, caring people that I know. They embody the life of Jesus as they serve.”
“ I am very proud of our many talented and dedicated alumni of all generations who embody Messiah College’s mission as they lead and serve our nation and the world.” — Kim S. Phipps, President
At Messiah College, we have the privilege of journeying with students and alumni like the Fredricks as they mature and transform in faith, intellect and character. Jen expresses the importance of their college experience in preparing them for their current work: “Messiah College showed us that Christianity is not just theory. Christianity is meant to be lived out. Our love for Christ should change us and cause us to love others.” This change—sometimes dramatic, other times as gradual as the movements of spring—manifests itself in the lives of our alumni, who are a powerful force for service, leadership and reconciliation in their communities and in the world.
K I M S . PH I PPS, PRESIDENT
PHOTO: RYAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Time-lapse photography often speeds up the splendor of spring. What happens gradually, imperceptibly over many days and weeks is condensed into a few seconds—from seed to sunflower. Each May, we witness evidence of an even more stunning transformation as seniors who have matured in intellect, character and Christian faith walk across the stage at Commencement. They join the ranks of our Messiah College’s more than 28,000 alumni who continue to develop in their vocational callings, like the young alumni featured in this issue of The Bridge. I am very proud of our many talented and dedicated alumni of all generations who embody Messiah College’s mission as they lead and serve our nation and the world. I recently became reacquainted with the story of two Messiah College alumni, Ben ’95 and Jen Fredrick ’97, whose vocations evolved in unexpected but meaningful ways. More than a decade ago, the Fredricks hosted a boy from Haiti in their home while he underwent critical heart surgery and recovered, which led them to host several more international heart patients and exchange students. “Small steps matter,” said Jen. “Our small step of accepting a boy from Haiti into our homes changed our lives. We did not know the path we were walking, but we are grateful that God has allowed us to change.” The experience of hosting these international children continues to be a catalyst in their lives. In 2007, Ben, a physician in the Penn State Health system, took his first trip outside the U.S. to visit Pestel, Haiti, the home village of the first boy they hosted. This trip opened his eyes to the dramatic health disparities that exist around the world. Ben became an advocate for global health at the Penn State College of Medicine and later was appointed as the director of its newly created Global Health Center. Today, the center sponsors a four-year Global Health Scholars Program in which about 20 percent of the medical school participates. Together, the Fredricks created a nonprofit, Thriving Villages International, with a focus on the village of Pestel. They work closely with a local national leadership
OUR
HEARD AROUND CAMPUS
WHERE D0 YOU WORK WHILE EARNING YOUR MESSIAH DEGREE? Student worker at the Union
“ The hours are flexible. You are responsible for providing your class and activity schedule, and the supervisors try their best to give you hours that will work with your time.” — Ern Lau ’18, nutrition and dietetics
Campus safety officer
“ Our main duties are to direct traffic and park cars for soccer games and open houses. For dances and concerts, we make sure everything runs smoothly.” — Kiersten Smeal ’19, Christian ministries
C ashier, Sweet Frog frozen yogurt shop
“ At Sweet Frog, it’s really nice because I can talk about God when I want to. Also, we make it a policy to play Christian music to keep the atmosphere positive. In the past, I’ve had people come up to me specifically and say they’re appreciative of the Christian music we play.” —A siah Williams ’20, human development and family science
S tudent worker for David Dzaka, professor of English
“ I love my job with Dr. Dzaka. As he is blind, I help him get ready for all his classes. I copy papers, run errands, lead him around campus. Last semester, I had a major issue with what I was going to do with my life. He put everything on hold to help me solve this problem. He is a blessing.” — Emily Lykens ’19, English
Church pianist and choir director Circulation desk worker, Murray Library and Learning Commons
“ There is a nice flow of students returning and checking out books. It’s a good time to take your mind off stress or to reflect.” — Chloe Dickson ’20, international relations and politics
“ I spend five hours a week rehearsing by myself and an additional three with my choir on Thursdays and Sundays. Worship music calms me down!” — Cameron Albert ’21, environmental science MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 5
OUR
FAC E S A N D P L AC E S
Student lands jobs at Disney, airport with Mandarin skills As a Chinese business major, Grace Nale ’19 decided to attend Messiah because of its stellar education abroad program. Although Messiah offers 30 semester-long, off-campus programs in more than 40 countries, she wanted the world— Walt Disney World, that is. “I love Disney,” said Nale. “I always have, and this wasn’t the first time I’d heard about their internship program.” After an intense interview process, Nale was hired for the internship of her dreams and headed to Orlando, Florida. Speaking Mandarin with park guests, Nale says she strengthened her language skills and her resume. “This whole path has been completely God,” she said. “The name recognition of Disney alone will make any future employer’s ears perk up.” Upon returning to campus once the internship was
complete, she landed a job with American Airlines at Harrisburg International Airport. Wearing a nametag that lets passengers know she speaks Mandarin, she checks bags and books flights. “There are always new people to meet, greet and serve,” she said. Hoping to advance to a larger airport after graduation, Nale says she’d like to work in San Francisco, a hub for international travel and Chinese influence where she could immerse herself in further into the language at work and at home. Until then, she continues to perfect her Mandarin skills— connecting with native speakers by using chat applications, watching Mandarin movies and even reading a Mandarin Bible. Although she doesn’t know where she’ll touch down after graduation, Nale says she is confident that God knows every step of her journey to come. — Jake Miaczynski ’20
“There are always new people to meet, greet and serve.” — Grace Nale ’19
6 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
READERSHIP SURVEY
LAST YEAR, THE BRIDGE LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE. TO LEARN HOW THE BRIDGE IS PERCEIVED AND TO COLLECT INPUT FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, WE ASK YOU TO TAKE THIS 15-MINUTE PAPER SURVEY—OR COMPLETE THE ONLINE VERSION AT MESSIAH.EDU/BRIDGESURVEY. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN ONE OF FIVE GIFT CARDS OF $50 EACH TO THE CAMPUS STORE, WHICH CAN BE REDEEMED ON SITE OR ONLINE. PARTICIPATION IN THIS SURVEY IS VOLUNTARY, AND YOUR RESPONSES WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. 1. W hat is your relationship to Messiah College? (Check all that apply.) c Alumnus/Alumna c Attended (non-grad) c Current undergraduate student c Current graduate student c Faculty/staff member c Retired faculty/staff member c Donor c Parent or other student relative c Other (Please specify.)
4. H ow do you generally acquire information about Messiah College? (Check all that apply.) c T he Bridge, Messiah’s quarterly alumni magazine c Emails from Messiah c Messiah’s website c Social media c Other Messiah publications c Local media c Word of mouth c Other (Please specify.)
5. H ow often do you read the paper version of The Bridge? 2. What is your gender?
Male
Female
3. What is your age? c c c c c
Under 25 25-34 35-49 50-64 65 and over
c c c c
Every issue Most issues Occasional issues Never read an issue
6. H ow much of each magazine do you read? c c c c
All Most Some None
7. D o you currently prefer to read The Bridge in... c Print c Online c Print and online
More than one month Up to one month Up to one week Discard upon receipt
9. H ow much time do you typically spend reading an issue of The Bridge (in print and/or online)? c c c c c
60 minutes or more 30-59 minutes 10-29 minutes 1-9 minutes Do not read it
10. P lease rate your level of agreement or disagreement: “I would prefer to receive The Bridge as an online magazine instead of having a paper copy mailed to my home.” c c c c
c c c c
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
13. W hat are your favorite sections of The Bridge? (Check all that apply.)
8. H ow long do you typically keep a paper issue of the magazine? c c c c
12. P lease rate your level of agreement or disagreement: “The Bridge strengthens my personal connection to Messiah College.”
Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree
c The cover c Inside Look (two-page opening spread photo) c The president’s letter c The editor’s note c Faces and Places (stories of current students, faculty and staff) c Heard Around Campus (a round-up of people-onthe-street quotes) c Brain Waves (profiles of faculty and student scholarship) c Campus News c Alumni News c Athletics c Feature Stories c Alumni Profiles c Class Notes c From the Archives c Calendar of Events
14. W hen you read the content on The Bridge’s website, which parts do you seek out? (Check all that apply.) c c c c c
Articles Videos Musical recordings Photo galleries I don’t seek out The Bridge’s online content
11. How often do you look at The Bridge’s online content? c c c c c
Always Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 7
OUR
READERSHIP SURVEY
15. W hat would you like to see more of in The Bridge related to academics and intellectual life? (Check all that apply.) c S tories about courses/ curriculum c Faculty research/ achievement c Student research/ achievement c Faculty selection, promotion, retirement c Individual faculty profiles
16. W hat would you like to see more of in The Bridge related to campus life? (Check all that apply.) c c c c c c
ultural events/shows C Athletics Campus controversies Student service/ministry Extracurricular life Individual student profiles
17. W hat would you like to see more of in The Bridge related to alumni? (Check all that apply.) c c c c c c
Alumni in their professions Alumni in their personal lives Alumni spiritual growth Alumni chapter activities Alumni in service Class Notes
18. W hat would you like to see more of in The Bridge related to the institution? (Check all that apply.) c c c c c
Campus facilities and growth Fundraising efforts Stories about donors Messages from the president Institutional history and traditions
19. W hat would you like to see more of in The Bridge related to general interests? (Check all that apply.) Issues facing higher education Arts and culture Health and healthcare Business and industry Science, technology and engineering c Religion/faith-based issues c Letters to the editor c Global/international issues c c c c c
20. H ow would you rate The Bridge’s editorial content in the following sections of the magazine? (Please circle.) Feature stories xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice Alumni Profiles xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice Athletics xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice
rain Waves (profiles of facB ulty and student scholarship) Excellent / Good / Average Poor / Didn’t notice
23. H ow would you rate The Bridge’s overall design in the following areas? Paper Version xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice
aces and Places (stories of F current students, faculty and staff) Excellent / Good / Average Poor / Didn’t notice From the Archives xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice News xcellent / Good / Average E Poor / Didn’t notice
21. H ow would you rate the length of the feature stories? c c c c
Too short Too long Just right Didn’t notice
Online Version Excellent / Good / Average Poor / Didn’t notice
o be included in the gift card drawing, T fill out the following: Name
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22. W hen you visit The Bridge’s Facebook page, what kind of information are you seeking? (Check all that apply.) c Alumni profiles c Photos of alumni c Supplemental information not found in the print version c Behind-the-scenes peeks at the magazine’s process (photo shoots, staff profiles, etc.) c Campus event information c Updates on previously profiled alumni c I don’t follow The Bridge’s Facebook page
MATTHEW TENNISON
THANK YOU!
8 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
ISTOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
B R A I N WAV E S
Thanks to a generous donation from Sawyer Products, Messiah is launching a three-year plan, called the Digital Proficiency Initiative, for students and educators.
Sawyer Products funds new Digital Proficiency Initiative THREE-PRONGED PLAN HELPS MESSIAH STUDENTS STAY AHEAD OF EVER-CHANGING TECH WORLD In today’s digital age, employers in all fields seek tech-savvy candidates more than ever. To help faculty and students keep pace with the ever-evolving intricacies of technology, the College implemented the Sawyer Digital Proficiency Initiative (DPI). The DPI aims to meet and exceed the goals laid out in the College’s Strategic Plan and the Information and Web Technologies Plan. “These plans include goals designed to cultivate appropriate teaching and learning outcomes that meet the needs of a changing student body and improve the digital proficiency of educators and students,” said Susan
Shannon, director of learning technology services. With funds generously provided by Sawyer Products, this three-year plan includes training 15 faculty members who will serve as fellows. Those fellows agree to be part of a one-week intensive session in June, where they will learn and practice a variety of digital skills. “The fellows agree to integrate digital skills into a course module in the curriculum for a major,” said Vice President for Information Technology William Strausbaugh ’79. Fellows will serve as part of a professional learning community during their fellowship year,
sharing what they have learned with other faculty and presenting projects to the campus. The DPI includes a provision to hire 12 scholar interns, who will work with the fellows on specific projects. A separate provision allows for up to 100 students annually to take a 12-week digital proficiency certificate course. Once certified, students can then work in digital proficiencydesignated spaces, such as the Digital Humanities Lab or in areas in the Murray Library and Learning Commons. For the initiative, Sawyer supplied
the funds for 3D printers, Mac and Windows work stations, a Learning Glass Studio and many other unique tools. Gratefully, Messiah College plans to integrate these facilities and devices on campus. “We are excited to see this program digitally unite students and teachers,” said Strausbaugh. “We’re placing these digital skills and tools in our students’ hands. We want our students to digitally follow Messiah’s Christ-centered mission. This is technology for what we’re called to do.” – Emily Koontz ’20 and Anna Seip
“WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THIS PROGRAM DIGITALLY UNITE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.” — Vice President for Information Technology William Strausbaugh ’79
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 9
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CAMPUS NEWS
NEW ADMISSIONS BUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED
To serve prospective students and their parents better, Messiah will build the Kim S. Phipps Admissions and Welcome Center. prospective parents to campus. The fundraising target for the facility is $10 million. Full funding for this project is expected to come from contributions. The College will not borrow for this
TO COMMEMORATE THE 50 th SARAH HENRY ’19
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., MESSIAH COLLEGE HOSTED “MLK50: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?” THROUGHOUT CAMPUS APRIL 4. THE DAY OF EVENTS INCLUDED RECITATIONS OF KING’S WRITINGS, A PANEL MODERATED BY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HUMANITIES FELLOW ARION DOMINIQUE ’19 (LEFT) AND A CHAPEL SERVICE.
10 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
project and tuition dollars/operating budget will not be used for its construction. Construction is slated for the spring of 2019. The Bridge will continue to keep readers
informed in future issues of the magazine with updates about this exciting project. — Staff report TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ADMISSIONS CENTER, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/ THE_BRIDGE.
Linda Tedford receives citation SUSQUEHANNA CHORALE FOUNDER TO RETIRE Rep. Francis Ryan presented Linda Tedford, director of choral activities for the Department of Music, with a legislative citation for her years of artistry. Tedford received the award before a combined performance of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (HSO), the Susquehanna Chorale, the Messiah College Choral Arts Society and the Messiah College Concert Choir April 15. Tedford retired from Messiah this year, and a celebration was held in her honor May 2 at the High Center. “I will treasure my time at Messiah College,” said Tedford, “and the opportunity to work with Messiah students.”
COURTESTY OF LINDA TEDFORD
In January, the Messiah College Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new admissions facility that will welcome prospective students and their families to campus. The board unanimously agreed to name the new facility the Kim S. Phipps Admissions and Welcome Center in celebration of the excellent leadership and welcoming spirit that President Phipps has shown over the years. This freestanding building will be located centrally near the Eisenhower Campus Center to better welcome students and
COURTESY OF DERCK & EDSON
BOARD TO NAME CENTER IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT KIM PHIPPS
Linda Tedford (center) received a legislative citation for her work. She is pictured with Marian Alexander (left), president of the HSO board, and Stuart Malina (right), HSO conductor. Read more about her in the article on p. 14.
ISAIAH SNYDER ’20
+34
on- and off-campus projects
OWEN MCCULLUM ’18
496 employees and students at other projects
HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM HOSTS EDWIDGE DANTICAT AS KEYNOTE
employees and students volunteering in Special Olympics
AUTHOR ALSO VISITS HARRISBURG SCHOOL
KAREN GARLINGER
KAREN GARLINGER
1,103
ISAIAH SNYDER ’20
Service Day 2018
1,230
athletes participating
1,599 total volunteers
Award-winning author Edwidge Danticat delivered the keynote lecture “Home as Grief, Home as Us” at the 2018 Humanities Symposium, sponsored by the Center for Public Humanities, in Parmer Hall Feb. 22. Before her lecture, Danticat visited Marshall Math Science Academy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In keeping with the symposium’s theme of “home,” students read poems they had written on the subject. “I was so impressed with how
present, engaged and encouraging she was to the young poets at Marshall,” said Jean Corey, associate professor of English at Messiah College. “She was amazing!" That evening for her keynote address, Danticat spoke of the complexities of home. She said that by practicing the Golden Rule or exemplifying Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dangerous unselfishness,” people can serve as a home to one another. — Staff report
COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI AND PARENT RELATIONS
Alum awards presented Several returned to campus for the 2018 Alumni Awards dinner April 14. From left: The recipients include Levi Landis ’03, Young Alumnus Achievement Award; Dean Curry, Alumni Appreciation Award; and Peter Greer ’97, Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award. Jake ’58 and Nancy Shenk, unable to attend the dinner, received the Alumni Christian Service Award. FULL AWARD CITATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE BRIDGE WEBSITE AT MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE.
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 11
OUR
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
AT H L E T I C S
Ben Swarr ’18 wrestles against Sawyer Massie of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the fifth-place match at the NCAA Division III National Championships March 10.
EIGHT WRESTLERS QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS—A PROGRAM RECORD FALCONS PLACED EIGHTH AS A TEAM, EARNED THREE ALL-AMERICAN HONORS Messiah wrestling made history this season, qualifying eight wrestlers—a program record—for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, March 9-10. The Falcons finished in eighth place as a team with three All-Americans, the fifth-straight time Messiah has finished in the top 10 in the nation and has earned three or more All-American accolades. The eight qualifiers included Sean Redington ’20 (125 lbs.), Hunter Harris ’18 (133 lbs.), Stephen Maloney ’20 (149 lbs.), Kevin Edwards ’21 (157 lbs.), Jeff Hojnacki ’18 (165 lbs.), Ben Swarr ’18 (174 lbs.), Derek Beitz ’18 (184 lbs.), and Kyle Koser ’18
(197 lbs.). Swarr wrapped his career with a third-straight All-American finish, placing fifth after receiving National Champion and runner-up honors in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The senior is one of just six Falcons in program history to be named an All-American at least three times. “Ben is a phenomenal leader and worked very hard every week this season to continue to improve despite already being such an accomplished wrestler,” said Head Coach Bryan Brunk. “He had a remarkable career and his value to this team and more importantly outside of wrestling was second to none.”
12 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
In addition to Swarr’s AllAmerican honor, fellow senior Hojnacki collected his second All-American recognition with a sixth-place finish, and freshman Edwards became the first Falcon rookie to be named an AllAmerican since Lucas Malmberg ’16 won the honor in 2014 with a sixth-place finish at 157 lbs. Earlier this season, Brunk picked up his 200th career win and was named the Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Messiah’s senior class will be missed, as the grouping of Harris, Hojnacki, Swarr, Beitz, Koser, Adam Peris ’18, and Dan Kiser ’18 combined for an individual record of 719-287 (.715 winning percentage) and a team record of 72-11 (.867) during their four years. The seven also combined for 13 NCAA Championships qualifiers and six All-Americans. — Josh Burkholder M.A. ’18, interim coordinator of athletic communications
“[BEN SWARR ’18] HAD A REMARKABLE CAREER, AND HIS VALUE TO THIS TEAM AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUTSIDE OF WRESTLING WAS SECOND TO NONE.” — Bryan Brunk, head wrestling coach
Women’s basketball makes NCAA tournament run Year for the seventh time in his Messiah career. Earlier this season, he notched his 600th career win, becoming just the sixth active coach in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history to reach that mark. Guard Kaitlyn Hoff ’18 culminated an exceptional career with the furthest run into the NCAA Tournament that Messiah has had during her four years with the program. Hoff became the 21st player in Messiah history to reach the career 1,000-point mark as the Falcons defeated Alvernia on the road Feb. 21. “I can’t say enough about Kaitlyn,” said Miller. “Kaitlyn’s growth on and off the court throughout her career was remarkable. She came in as a 2-guard and transformed herself into the point guard and leader this program needed.” Messiah’s season came to a close in Scranton, Pa., as they fell to Tufts University in the sectional semifinals March 9. — Josh Burkholder M.A. ’18, interim coordinator of athletic communications
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Messiah women’s basketball completed one of the most successful seasons in program history in March, finishing the year with a 27-3 overall record and appearing in the Division III NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the sixth time. The 27 wins tied with the 2000-01 team for the third-highest in Messiah women’s basketball history. The Falcons attained perfection at home during the 2017-18 season, emerging victorious in all 15 games on the brand-new Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena, including NCAA Tournament first- and second-round wins March 2 and 3. “The season was very successful as we obviously won a lot of games,” said Head Coach Mike Miller. “But the success came from the team being committed to the process on and off the court. Their commitment to each other, spiritual development and the game of basketball was beyond expectations.” Miller was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the
Kaitlyn Hoff ’18 brings the ball up the court against Albright College in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game Feb. 24.
MESSIAH COLLEGE ATHLETICS
FALCONS REACH SWEET 16 FOR SIXTH TIME
Katie Wingert ’18, the best swimmer in Messiah history, focuses before a race at the MAC Swimming Championships Feb. 17.
WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM WINS FIFTHSTRAIGHT MAC CHAMPIONSHIP KATIE WINGERT ’18, CASSIE COTTON ’19 MAKE PROGRAM HISTORY AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS For the first time in program history, two Messiah women’s swimming student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships. Senior Katie Wingert ’18 returned for the second time in her career, while Cassie Cotton ’19 qualified for the first time. Both swimmers competed in the 50 Free and 100 Free, with Wingert also swimming the 200 Free and Cotton the 100 Fly. Wingert and Cotton led Messiah women’s swimming to their fifth-straight MAC Championship title on Feb. 15-18 as the Falcons notched 619.5 points, well ahead of second-place Widener (463.5). “The women really rose to the occasion this year,” said Head
Coach Katie McComb. “They brought joy to practice and grew so much over the six months that we were in season.” Over the course of her career, Wingert has established herself as the greatest swimmer in Messiah history. She is the only Falcon to reach the National Championships twice. She holds four Messiah records and three MAC records as an individual, as well as being a part of five Messiah and MAC relay records. “Katie was a great mentor and encourager to the team this year,” said McComb. “She brought the underclassmen under her wing and provided incredible value as a captain.” — Josh Burkholder M.A. ’18, interim coordinator of athletic communications
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
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BACKSTAGE PASS BY JAKE MIACZYNSKI ’20 PHOTOS BY SARAH HENRY ’19
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B A C K S TA G E PA S S
THE PLOT:
STUDENTS MUST TRANSFORM MILLER THEATER INTO THE FRENCH RIVIERA DURING THE ROARING ’20S. TO INCREASE THE DRAMATIC TENSION, THEY’VE GOT ONLY ONE MONTH TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THAT’S SHOWBIZ. OR, AT MESSIAH COLLEGE, THAT’S J-TERM. In January, the Department of Theatre and Dance produced the musical comedy “The Boy Friend” in a matter of weeks. Receiving class credit, students spent hours working to build the show from the ground up. “When the curtain rises, everyone’s in awe, wondering how the stage could transform in such a short amount of time,” said Brooklyn Duttweiler ’20, the show’s assistant stage manager. “Just thinking about it makes me smile, because I know how it happened.” The show must go on, that’s true. But it takes a backstage crew—responsible for costumes, sets, lights, sound, music and choreography—to get a show started. “Backstage departments are the unsung heroes,” said Tymberley Whitesel, chair and professor of theatre at Messiah, who worked as the scenery and lighting designer for this show. “Without their work, audiences would pay to see a bunch of people walking around a dark, empty stage for a couple hours.” Messiah’s Associate Professor of Theatre Daniel Inouye, who directed “The
Boy Friend,” says he has two primary responsibilities during any production: 1) interpreting the playwright’s text and 2) managing all the people and pieces involved. During J-term, his duties speed up. “We rehearse and work on the production from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with the students and production staff working on various elements throughout the day,” he said. “A typical day includes working on songs in the morning; staging scenes in rehearsal; building and painting the set or creating costumes in the afternoon; and then more rehearsals on stage in the evening.” SETS AND COSTUMES
Before anyone grabs a power tool, Whitesel and Melissa Mendez, the technical director,
set up the show on paper first. “Every time a set piece goes up,” said Whitesel, “I think, ‘This was in my head a month ago, and here it is in real life.’ Everything starts working out as you envisioned it, and that’s one of the most rewarding experiences of set design.” Whitesel also created 3D models of scenery for each act in Miller Theater to help everyone envision the space. “Once I get the final design from Tymberley, I figure out the best way to construct the different elements so that they can do what the set designer and director are envisioning while also being manageable for the run crew to handle during the set changes,” said Mendez. That’s when crew member T.J. Quintilian ’20 began building the set in the scene shop.
“ EVERY TIME A SET PIECE GOES UP, I THINK, ‘THIS WAS IN MY HEAD A MONTH AGO, AND HERE IT IS IN REAL LIFE.” — Tymberley Whitesel, chair and professor of theatre
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B A C K S TA G E PA S S
“The community in the shop is my favorite thing about the entire experience,” said Quintilian. “We joke around and have a good time—while getting work done, of course.” Next to the scene shop, Elizabeth Angelozzi, an adjunct professor, trained students in the costume shop. For a period piece, costumes must appear seamless, literally and figuratively. “We can’t just go to Walmart and purchase a 1920s bathing suit,” explained Angelozzi, “but that’s where the beauty of costume design comes in.” Paige Waldron ’18 has doubled as an actress and seamstress since her freshman year. When not in rehearsal for her role as Madame Dubonnet, she sewed costumes for fellow cast members. “Yes, the actors tell the story with the music and the script, but I get
“WHEN THE CURTAIN RISES, EVERYONE’S IN AWE, WONDERING HOW THE STAGE COULD TRANSFORM IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.” — Brooklyn Duttweiler ’20
to use costumes to enhance the story, to bring it to life,” said Waldron. UNSUNG EMPLOYEES
Besides J-term productions, the College also hosts a variety of other performances that require more unsung heroes—in the form of employees. Brittany (Taylor) Ranck ’15 works as Messiah’s performing arts coordinator,
researching, booking and meeting the needs of artists in the Performing Arts Series, a combination of six annual campus events. “It’s an invigorating feeling to know that all the work, stress and time I put into a performance is appreciated by so many,” said Ranck. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing venues filled with people attending a performance that I set up.” When she’s not working with the
An entire staff works offstage at Sight & Sound Theatres to ensure guests have a positive live Christian theatre experience. Tiffany (Billings) Murphy ’17, a public relations major who minored in theatre, works at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, venue as a guest services retail lead. Guests who arrive for a show also shop for souvenirs and buy snacks. That’s where Murphy comes in, starting each work day by leading her retail team in prayer. “After the meeting, the team will go to their registers and prepare to serve guests,” she said. “I float around the lobby to greet guests, problem-solve, encourage my team and assist in serving guests their concessions items.” Serving on the Student Activities Board, Murphy found her passion for customer service at Messiah. “Knowing that my hard work put smiles on peoples’ faces was so rewarding,” she said. After graduation, she applied at Sight & Sound. “When I read the responsibilities for this position, there was a large focus on shepherding and guiding the retail team, as well as leading the team in customer service,” she said. “I knew this would be a good fit.” Each day, Murphy steps out of her comfort zone to provide conflict resolution. “I’ve never been one to approach conflict with people,” she said. “In this role, it is my responsibility to engage in conflict all the time.”
SIGHT & SOUND THEATRES
Working offstage
If a team member slacks off, she addresses it. Those tough conversations are necessary to keep things running smoothly for the guests. When a guest approaches her with a problem, she says a quick prayer, puts on a smile and listens. “I ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment as I problem-solve, trusting He will give me the wisdom I need to love and
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serve people in a way that would represent Christ well,” she said. Thriving in a culture of servant leadership in her work, Murphy lives out her calling as she interacts with hundreds of people. “I feel so much purpose in what I do every day,” she said. —Anna Seip
A backstage team facilitated the High Center concert, featuring the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra; Messiah’s concert choir and choral arts society; and ensemble-in-residence the Susquehanna Chorale April 13.
performing arts series, she manages Messiah College Seven, a praise and worship band that travels throughout the summer months. THE RIGHT NOTE
Linda L. Tedford, director of choral activities for the Department of Music, conducts the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers and the Messiah College Choral Arts Society. She also serves as the founder, artistic director and conductor of the Susquehanna Chorale, Messiah’s ensemble-in-residence. Along with the chorale, Tedford brings her Messiah choirs together to perform with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Preparations for these kinds of concerts begin at least a year in advance. “One of our biggest challenges in preparation is the difficulty of the repertoire and the length of the program,” said Tedford. An essential element of these performances includes sound and lighting. Jonathan Bert
’09 has worked behind the scenes of Messiah events for nine years as the sound, lighting and event coordinator. As a student, he also spent four years on the College’s tech crew. He easily remembers his toughest day at work. “We had a huge concert when the High Center opened with Wynton Marsalis, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a gospel choir,” recalled Bert. “They had their own sound engineer from Lincoln Center, and he was very demanding. We connected between 42 and 46 channels of audio for that show. I tried to convince him we really did not need to amplify the jazz orchestra in Parmer Hall, but he insisted on it.” Bert spent hours prepping the stage, setting each microphone and taping down cables. Once the concert started, though, the engineer muted all but a few microphones. “Then at intermission he asked me to tear down all of the extra microphones and cables,” said Bert. “However, at the end of the night, the engineer was extremely
appreciative and told me to stop to visit him at Lincoln Center anytime. To this day, that stands out as one of my most frustrating days in this job. I can also say that it was one of the most incredible concerts I have ever heard.” TAKING A BOW
Without a behind-the-scenes crew, a production falls apart. Thanks to the unsung heroes offstage, however, the curtain rises, the music swells, the lights come up and the audience settles in to enjoy the show. B
VIEW OUR “BACKSTAGE PASS” PHOTO GALLERY AT MESSIAH.EDU/BACKSTAGE.
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F E AT U R E S T O R Y
WHERE ARE
YOUNG ALUMS:
by Robyn Passante
THEY NOW
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?
rmed with the tools to excel in their chosen fields and the passion to spread Christ’s love while doing it, Messiah graduates get right to work in communities all over the world. We caught up with a handful of recent grads pursuing varied careers to see how they are using their talents to achieve their goals – and making the College proud in the process.
Luckily, Adam Brackbill has a strong faith and good business sense. His thriving homemade ice cream start-up named Urban Churn is proof. “When I graduated college, I would never have thought I’d be making ice cream,” said Brackbill. Taking note of the blossoming farm-totable movement a few years ago, however,
Brackbill noticed local chefs expanding their menus with more creative, locally sourced options. So in 2014, he started Urban Churn, concocting unusual flavors – a fan favorite is mango habanero – and using local ingredients whenever possible. While Urban Churn can be found at a booth in Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market, Brackbill mostly focuses on filling wholesale
orders for the several local establishments that sell his brand. “They’re all original recipes,” he said. “That’s the most enjoyable part: coming up with something real crazy and seeing people enjoying it. Like ‘lemon, feta and thyme.’ People think the feta won’t be good in ice cream, but everyone loves it.”
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MATTHEW TENNISON
MARKETING
ADAM BRACKBILL ’12 It takes courage to start an ice cream business in Harrisburg, where ice cream giants such as Hershey’s and Turkey Hill reign.
YO U N G ALU M S
Elizabeth Brake has dreams for her future, and she’s working hard to align them with God’s plan.
RYAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Brake has long envisioned a career in the disability services realm of higher education. Born with cerebral palsy, she earned a degree in education and family services from Messiah, where she interned at the Office of Disability Services. As a result, she created the Disability Services Fund, to help pay for needed resources for those with disabilities at the College. Brake has also earned two master’s degrees, one in rehabilitation counseling from Edinboro University and another in special education from Messiah. Yet the accomplished student has found it challenging to find her niche in education. “Statistically, the odds of people with disabilities becoming employed full-time is only 20 percent,” said Brake. “I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be a statistic. I thought that I would be one of the lucky ones because I’m very high functioning.” Instead of focusing on the doors that have been difficult for Brake to open, however, she began the process to become a licensed pastor. In July, she will serve as the part-time pastor at Roxbury and Upper Strasburg United Methodist Churches. “I’ve found a passion for ministry,” she said.
GIVE TO THE DISABILITY SERVICES FUND AT MESSIAH.EDU/ DISABILITYSERVICESFUND
ELIZABETH BRAKE ’08, M.ED. ’16 EDUCATION
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As a high school literature teacher, Jonathan Desmarais works daily to make an impact on the next generation. “One of the biggest parts of my teaching career has been defined by the pursuit of social justice, and that manifests itself in my teaching,” said Desmarais of his job at Logos Academy in York, Pennsylvania. It’s a passion that was sparked on Messiah’s campus. “I grew up in a Christian household, but I didn’t get my faith challenged until I was at Messiah,” he explained. “Then I got to see how the Gospel was actually lived out in the real world.” Logos, a private Christian school, uses a sliding scale for tuition. As a result, every family contributes financially, but many students also receive scholarships annually. To boost the scholarship fund, Desmarais hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail during summer vacation last year to raise money for Logos. He walked 832 miles and raised almost $5,000. “I love hiking,” he said, “and it was a good way to spread the word about Logos.”
JONATHAN DESMARAIS ’07
COURTESY OF JONATHAN DESMARAIS ’07
MUSIC
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YO U N G ALU M S
Melissa Veras ’17 can’t believe it’s been a year since she earned her degree in social work from Messiah. But in that time, she has completed a master’s in social work, has finished an internship at the nonprofit Advocates for Children of New York and has held down a part-time job at the New York Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. It’s no wonder the time has flown by. “I’m super blessed,” Veras said of the opportunities she has been offered due to her
hard work and potential. A Lloyd and Lois Martin Multicultural Scholarship recipient at Messiah, Veras also minored in business administration. She says her internship and her part-time job have given her experience in two very different sides of the profession. “I definitely like the medical component more, but I also like the legal advocacy side of it,” she said. “I would love to do them both.” She’ll get part of her wish soon. The hospital already has a full-time job waiting for her once she graduates. “They created a position for me,” she said. “I’m very happy and fortunate that they would do that for me.”
MELISSA VERAS ’17
COURTESY OF MELISSA VERAS ’17
SOCIAL WORK
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“
Dr. Jonathan Lorgunpai is completing his third and final year of internal medicine residency at Boston University Medical Center. After seven years of countless hours of studying and extra-long shifts, the first four of which took place at Yale Medical School, he says he definitely found his calling. Messiah’s first student from Thailand, he graduated with a degree in biochemistry and
DR. JONATHAN LORGUNPAI ’11
“
BIOCHEMISTRY and MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
TREVOR REID PHOTOGRAPHY
molecular biology. He says one of his most memorable professional experiences came in his third year of med school, when he treated a patient who had just attempted suicide. After Lorgunpai offered compassion and quiet counsel, the patient thanked the young doctor for saving his life and his marriage. “Getting to play a small part in helping someone reconcile with his spouse and with God and to find hope for the future again was very rewarding and humbling,” Lorgunpai said. “It definitely confirmed my calling in medicine.” In July, Lorgunpai begins a fellowship at the Harvard Medical School Multi-Campus Geriatrics Medicine Fellowship Program. Next summer, however, he plans to return to Grantham for Commencement to watch his younger brother Joseph ’19, an accounting major, receive a degree from Messiah. WANT TO READ AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH LORGUNPAI ’19? VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE.
Getting to play a small part in helping someone reconcile with his spouse and with God and to find hope for the future again was very rewarding and humbling.” MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 25
RYAN FAUS ’11
FREDERICK SCHMITT ’88
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
YO U N G ALU M S
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If your favorite band releases singles one by one, or stopped dropping new albums right before the holidays, Ryan Faus might be behind it. As the director of global research and analysis for the major music company Warner New York, Faus works in the Big Apple studying endless data from streaming services such as Spotify to come up with strategies on which artists to sign along with how and when to release new material. “I was a business administration major, but I had the equivalent of a dual major in economics and a music minor,” explained Faus, who ran the B-Sides concerts during his time at Messiah. “I loved music and being close to it, and I loved business.” When he landed the position at Warner the summer after he graduated, it was a perfect fit. And it still is, seven years later. “I’m still learning new things, I get to work with great people and I’m excited to go into work every day,” Faus said.
RACHEL SCARBOROUGH ’14
a Gospel and pop artist, to be his manager for a three-week tour around Florida. “It was brutal. It was stressful,” said Scarborough of her first post-graduation job. “I came off the tour thinking, ‘I never want to do this again.’” Four years later, Scarborough has kept her word while still carving out a career in the music industry. She has her own personal management business, On Beat Management, through which she manages Sneed and other artists bent on making their music dreams
PUBLIC RELATIONS
come true. The two friends also run the nonprofit DS Collective, which connects, supports and ministers to creatives from around the world. “It’s definitely been a journey, and I feel like I’m right in the thick of it,” said the alum, who spent a semester at the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, Tennessee. That’s where she met Sneed, and her professional trajectory took shape. “God has blessed me with amazing connections and amazing favor,” she said. B
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COURTESY OF RACHEL SCARBOROUGH ’14
Only two weeks after earning a degree in public relations, Rachel Scarborough received an offer from friend Darris Sneed,
OUR
ALUMNI NEWS G R E G ’ 0 1 A N D B E T H A N Y ( WO R L E Y ) G L I D D E N ’ 0 0
Bronx couple gives back ALUMNI SERVE NYC MINISTRIES, PARTNER WITH AGAPÉ CENTER FOR STUDENT SERVICE TRIPS the city to run Bible clubs, feed the homeless, stock shelves, play with and tutor kids, experience the city, grow their perspectives and—we hope and pray—to become tomorrow’s missionaries,” said Greg, who works with World Vision, a Priority 1 partner. “We want to provide an outlet for teenagers, college students and adults to experience God in this city and see what He has for them here.” Above all, the Gliddens said that they’ve learned how dependent on God they must be in the Bronx. “From the floor underneath our feet, to the coffee in our cups, to the words in our mouths when we speak with yet another homeless person, to the family we share this cramped apartment with in the center of it all, we continue to depend on God,” said Greg. “So here’s to the next year, and the one after that. And continuing to see more of what God is doing in this city and in us.” — Jake Miaczynski ’20 PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREG ’01 AND BETHANY (WORLEY) GLIDDEN ’00
Moving to New York City with three kids might sound a little foolhardy to some. Not for Greg ’01 and Bethany (Worley) Glidden ’00. The couple said they’d rather appear crazy to the outside world than miss out on what God has in store for them. Bethany was born in upstate New York and grew up in Lancaster, Pa. Greg was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. Both attended Messiah College and met during a geography class. Fast-forward to 2014. That’s when the Gliddens and their three daughters moved to the Bronx, home of 1.4 million people, and made it their mission field. “We are surrounded by a blend of cultures, classes and colors inside one of the most diverse cities anywhere—and they all need Jesus,” said Bethany. She works full time for Priority 1 Ministries, a Christ-focused, interdenominational ministry, which has partnered with the Agapé Center for Service and Learning at Messiah College since 2007. Messiah student teams who participate in a Priority 1 service trip experience the city in a way that challenges their understanding of systemic issues, such as power, privilege, poverty and education, while receiving in-depth training through service, prayer and reflection. “Many return to campus with an excitement to bring life and hope to our local Harrisburg community,” said Shardé Hardy, the Agapé Center’s assistant director. Some Messiah students even return to the Bronx to serve as summer interns. “God has brought us many interns and countless teams to
“We are surrounded by a blend of cultures, classes and colors inside one of the most diverse cities anywhere— and they all need Jesus.” — Bethany (Worley) Glidden ’00
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The Gliddens, both Messiah alumni, work and serve in the Bronx through their jobs at World Vision and Priority 1.
“MY WORK DOESN’T NECESSARILY DEPICT CHRISTIAN IMAGES PER SE, BUT I CREATE BECAUSE GOD IS THE ULTIMATE CREATOR.”
SARAH HENRY ’19
— Rachel (Schaeffer) Byler ’12
Every month, Rachel (Schaeffer) Byler ’12 donates a portion of her Etsy shop’s proceeds to environmental organizations.
R AC H E L (S C H A E F F E R) BY L E R ’ 1 2
Watercoloring to 8,000+ sales ART ALUM WORKS AS FULL-TIME ETSY SELLER Art education major Rachel (Schaeffer) Byler ’12 had planned to be a teacher. While job hunting after graduation, however, she opened an Etsy shop—just on a whim—to display her watercolor prints and originals in 2013. Now 8,000+ online sales later, her Colorful Cat Studio qualifies as a full-time job. “2016 is when the business became huge,” she said. “It was the first year that I thought, ‘This is a big deal. What am I gonna do here?’” She sat down with her husband Josh ’12, and they had to answer some tough questions, primarily, “Can we take Colorful Cat Studio from a part-time hobby to a full-time business?” They took the leap, investing in three fine art printers to keep all aspects of
production in-house, which saved time and money. “Thanks to my digital classes at Messiah, I was confident I could do the printing,” she said. “Doing my own printing is part of why my business did so well.” She developed a schedule: paint three days a week, print two days a week. In his free time, Josh helps her print and package. When it’s especially busy during the Christmas season, her extended family pitches in. As her portfolio of wildlife and fantasy prints has grown, she has leaned on the artistic fundamentals she learned at Messiah—even the courses that seemed elementary at the time. “Introductory classes required for your major that you kind of brush off? I’ve found that I use
them a lot more than I thought,” she said. “Color and Design with [Associate Professor of Art] Brent Good—even though it’s an intro class—builds such a base. I had no idea how much I’d appreciate that class.” She says fellow Etsy sellers continually write to her, asking for advice on how she managed to amass so many sales in such a short period of time. Over and over, she gives the same answer: A lot of hard work. And faith. “God is so important to me,” she explained. “My work doesn’t necessarily depict Christian images per se, but I create because God is the ultimate creator. I feel at peace with what I’m doing, and hopefully that flows into my work. This is what I’m meant to be doing.” — Anna Seip TO VISIT BYLER’S SHOP, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/ETSY.
THE WHALE THAT LAUNCHED A CAREER
When you offer 200+ different watercolor prints—everything from woodland animals to Harry Potter scenes—what’s your best-seller? It’s a print called “Fathoms Below,” which shows a humpback whale dwarfing a ship. “That piece—that one by far—is why my shop started picking up,” said Byler. “It really seems to resonate with a lot of people. Maybe it makes you feel small by showing a larger perspective. Maybe it makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger.”
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CLASS NOTES
IN MEMORIAM
Clarence H. Sakimura ’55 1933-2018 Clarence H. Sakimura passed away in April after a courageous journey with diabetes and Alzheimer’s dementia. Clarence’s parents, Harvey and Sakaye, were invited to Messiah College in the 1940s by then-President C. N. Hostetter Jr., so Clarence’s father could become caretaker to the grounds. The Sakimuras had lost their flower and greenhouse
business as part of the Japanese relocation order. Education was deeply important to Harvey and Sakaye. Therefore, the offer from President Hostetter to work at Messiah where the Sakimura children could attend school was ideal. Clarence was the oldest child, followed by Ivan (who passed away in 1989) and Alice, who resides in California. After finishing Messiah Academy, Clarence completed a bachelor’s degree in theology at Messiah College, where he taught New Testament Greek on campus. Clarence shared his early memories of Messiah College during a 1997 interview, by recollecting, “Without fail each Christmas day, President
Ruwe at his sixth-grade band concert with his grandfather in ’08
“If someone wishes to know the essence of the Japanese spirit, it is the fragrant cherry blossom in the early morning.” — Japanese poet Motorri Noringa Hostetter would deliver a plateful of homemade cookies and candy to our home. It is recollections such as this that stand out during a time in our lives when racial tension was a dominant factor.” Clarence goes on to remember how much his father enjoyed his work at Messiah, “particularly in the midst of young people and children and delighted in the interchange with them.” In honor of the lifelong example of reconciliation and peace exhibited between the Sakimura family and Messiah College, Clarence arranged for a Japanese
cherry tree to be planted as a tribute to his parents. The plaque near the tree includes a quote from the Japanese poet, Motorri Noringa: “If someone wishes to know the essence of the Japanese spirit, it is the fragrant cherry blossom in the early morning.” We are thankful for the fragrant legacy of Clarence and the Sakimura family at Messiah College. TO LISTEN TO A 2010 PODCAST WITH CLARENCE SAKIMURA, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/SAKIMURA.
YOUR LEGACY... THEIR FUTURE Creating a legacy at Messiah College – Planning a gift through your will or trust is a simple way to make a difference. 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 (Federal Tax ID# 23-1352661), situated in Grantham, Pennsylvania (with a mailing address of: One College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055) [written amount, description of property or percentage of the estate] for its unrestricted use and purposes.
Matthew Ruwe ’18 music performance
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Have you already included Messiah College in your estate plans? If so, please contact Mark Templeton at 717-796-5069 or mtempleton@messiah.edu. We would love to thank you for remembering Messiah in this way and include you in our list of Heritage Society Members! For more information, visit www.messiah.edu/createalegacy.
1970s Gary Gonsar ’74 and Barbara Woods ’77 married June 18, 1977, in Cherry Hill, N.J.
1980s Mary Ellen (Bates) Dulaney ’81 retired from Cumberland County schools in N.C. after 30 years as a teacher and coach.
1990s Lynette (Mellinger) Nisly ’90 works as an
outpatient therapist at Pressley Ridge in Lancaster, Pa. Dean Stevenson ’90 works as the owner of Allegro Interactive Media in Clinton Township, Mich. Eric Anderson ’94 and Kelly Mattingly married April 3, 2015, in Jupiter, Fla. Justin Sentz ’98 works as the executive director of Web technologies, campus media and instructional design at Shippensburg University. He recently received a Ph.D.
in instructional design and is the 2018 recipient of the Alan Mandell Endowed Award for Instructional Design and Technology. Staci Taylor ’99 and Christopher Baker ’00 married July 17, 2011, in Daytona Beach, Fla. They announce the birth of Jessara, Dec. 19, 2016.
Master of Science organizational psychology program at the University of Hartford. Rebecca Ensley ’02 and Christian Dobitsch married Nov. 4, 2017, in Allentown, Pa.
2000s
Rebecca (Pate-Cloutier) Smith ’03 and her husband Nathan announce the birth of Chase Samuel, Oct. 16, 2016.
Noelle Scuderi ’00 works as a capstone coordinator, academic advisor and parttime instructor for the online
Nicholas Zoller ’03 works as a professor of mathematics at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla.
Aimee (Mixner) Reagan ’06 and her husband Stephen announce the birth of Samuel Matthew, Sept. 13, 2017. Nathanael ’08 and Sarah (McKone) Fickett ’07 announce the birth of Arden Cypress, Sept. 7, 2017. Stephen Slota ’07 earned a master’s degree in library and information sciences from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his Ph.D. in information and computer sciences at the University of California.
Earn your
With a program and faculty reflecting a national reputation for academic excellence, Messiah College’s master’s degree in music conducting will enhance your ability as an effective music educator and conductor. • Three specialized tracks to advance your education and career: wind, orchestral, choral • Post-graduate certificate in music conducting • Emphasis on summer and online coursework, designed to fit the schedules of busy professionals
Discover if you qualify for a tuition discount at messiah.edu/graddiscounts
• Our faculty are experienced music educators and conductors, and take time to mentor students • Coursework is instantly applicable to your everyday work setting
Experience the academic distinction of a nationally ranked Christian college.
APPLY TODAY 717-796-5061 messiah.edu/conducting
see anew
Online | Flexible | Affordable
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | 31
OUR
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Service over the years
MESSIAH COLLEGE ARCHIVES
Service remains a central tenet of Messiah College’s mission. Over the years, Messiah students have participated in service projects on campus, in the Harrisburg community and around the world. Here are just a few photos of their experiences during the past several decades.
32 | SPRING 2018 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE - AUGUST 2018
JUNE 24-29 Young Filmmakers Camp Through this enriching camp environment, students learn new filmmaking skills while forming friendships with those who share their passion. For more information, email schoolofthehumanities@ messiah.edu
JULY 8-12 Young Writers Workshop This is a summer writing program with residential and commuter options. Students will improve their writing skills while forming friendships with people who share their passion. For questions, email youngwritersworkshop@ messiah.edu.
JULY 8-14 FaithWorks @ Messiah College Discover new ways to express your faith in your work. FaithWorks is a weeklong summer institute for high school students who want to get serious about living their faith.
JULY 12-14 Messiah Admissions at Creation Festival Attending Creation Fest? Be sure to visit the Messiah admissions table at the Agape Farm in Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania.
The camp for athletes entering grades 6 –12 focuses on technical and tactical training in the mornings with a game-like setting in the evenings. If you have questions, contact Coach Brooke Good at good@messiah.edu.
JULY 21-22 Messiah College Baseball Camp Campers will be exposed to and challenged in every aspect of the game by our experienced, enthusiastic and caring staff. For more information, contact Coach Pat Lightle at plightle@ messiah.edu.
JULY 22-28 Summer Orchestra Camp
SARAH HENRY ’19
Louise M. Aughinbaugh Gallery Climenhaga Building This exhibition features works from students who took classes in the Department of Visual Arts during the 2017-2018 studio year. The gallery is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
JULY 15-18 Messiah Field Hockey Resident Camp
The art of Quay San ’18 (above) and Hannah Vertal ’20 (below) and many other students is featured in the Annual Juried Student Show through Aug. 31.
Orchestra camp, sponsored by the Messiah College Department of Music, offers an exciting opportunity for students entering grades 7–12. They will rehearse each day with their group and then as a combined all-camp orchestra.
JULY 22-26 Messiah Boys Basketball Camp The basketball camp for boys ages 10 –18 is uniquely designed to meet each athlete at his current level of experience. If you have questions, contact Coach Rick VanPelt at rvanpelt@messiah.edu.
JULY 29-AUGUST 1 Messiah Girls Basketball Camp This resident camp for field players and goalkeepers in grades 7–12 is uniquely designed to improve atheletes’ skills. If you have questions, contact Coach Scott Frey at sfrey@messiah.edu.
SARAH HENRY ’19
THROUGH AUGUST 31 Annual Juried Student Show
JULY 29-AUGUST 5 Chamber Music in Grantham: Performance & Composition This one-week intensive program is designed to enhance participants’ abilities to effectively communicate musical ideas in performance.
AUGUST 31 Move-In Day Class of 2022 students arrive on campus and begin Welcome Week 2018 activities and orientation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAMPS, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/CAMPS
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SPRING 2018 | iii
office of Marketing and COMMUNICATIONS
One College Avenue Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg PA 17055 717.691.6027 www.messiah.edu
What’s YOUR favorite thing about Messiah?
My professors. They didn’t just teach me, but they also invested in me. Service! I loved impacting my local and global community.
My athletics experience. It shaped the person I am today.
Hands down— the friendships I made!
My internship. What a great experience that prepared me for my profession!
PAY IT FORWARD.
Support our current students in a way that’s meaningful to you.
As an alum, you’re part of the Messiah College community and your experience on campus impacted who you are and where you are. Whether it was your friends, professors, co-curricular activity or internship, there is something to celebrate about your experience.
Will you pay it forward and continue the unique Messiah experience for those who come after you? When you donate by June 30, a generous group of alumni donors will gift $50 to scholarship aid on your behalf, up to $20,000! Be 1 of the 400 new* alums to pay it forward. Visit messiah.edu/alumnichallenge *refers to those who have not given since July 1, 2017