1846 Fall '22, Vol. I No. I, Forward

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

TDear Alumni, Friends, and Families,

his is an exciting moment for Saint Vincent College. As we mark our 177th academic year, we celebrate the rich history of those who have gone before us. We also look forward to opportunities to grow and to make an impact in our world through our students, faculty, and alumni.

This is also a moment of change for the Saint Vincent College magazine. This is the first issue of 1846: The Magazine of Saint Vincent College. The name is, of course, a nod to the year of our founding by Boniface Wimmer. It’s also an acknowledgement of who and what we are at our core. Saint Vincent College has always been an institution rooted in the stability of Benedictine monasticism and education. At the same time, Saint Vincent has always adapted to meet the needs of the time. 1846 represents our commitment to upholding traditions that define us while adapting to a changing world, always in service of our Mission.

In this issue, themed “Forward,” you will read about dynamic faculty whose endeavors in writing and research create unparalleled opportunity for our students. You’ll also read about students and alumni whose education guides them toward a broader purpose and of friends whose contributions further the cause of Benedictine education and enhance the student experience.

This issue also highlights the enduring importance of the arts at Saint Vincent and examines key moments in our long history that have served to move us forward, always forward.

You will also find 1846 to be interactive. The magazine’s companion website, 1846.stvincent.edu, features enhanced content, video, photos, and even a podcast as we adapt to the way our community receives

The story of Saint Vincent College is one of stability and adaptability—of students, faculty, staff, monks, alumni, and friends who make up a community unlike any other and who make a difference in the world. is here to tell our story.

Looking Forward, Rev. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B. President

Archabbot and Chancellor

Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., S’85

President

Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., C’87, S’91

Executive Vice President/ Chief Operating Officer

Jeff Mallory, Ed.D., C’06, G’13

Director of Marketing and Communications

Zach Flock

Editor-in-Chief

Morgan Stout, C’16 Assistant Director for Communications and Content

Art Director

George Fetkovich, C’80

Contributing Writers

Noah Aftanas, C’21

Jim Bendel, C’60

Jim Berger, C’04

Guy Davis Madison Harry Andrew Julo Brian Niemiec, C’17

Photography

Alexander Byers, C’08

Emily Loden Nicholas Schmidt

Julie Watkins

Acknowledgments

David Hollenbaugh David Safin, C’00

Visit us on the web at 1846.stvincent.edu 1846@stvincent.edu

Saint Vincent Magazine (United States Postal Service

Publication Number USPS 5144-8000) is published by Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for alumni, parents and friends. Third-class postage paid at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Alumni Office, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690.

Saint Vincent College reserves the right to accept or decline submissions of both information and photos for use in the Saint Vincent Magazine, based on content, quality, timeliness and suitability, at the discretion of the editor. Saint Vincent College subscribes to a policy of equal opportunity in the classroom, workplace and programs, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, veteran status, national origin, marital status, genetic history or disability. To learn more, visit: http://www.stvincent.edu/LegalInformation/.

contents

4 Art Finds a Way

Saint Vincent provides a place and purpose for art.

8

Edward Dunlap’s Legacy

New athletic and recreation center to bear name of noted philanthropist. 10 4ward

Four members of the men’s soccer team maintain a kinship over 300 miles 14

’46 and Forward

For more than 175 years, Saint Vincent College continues the journey forward. 20

Providing the Key to Public Health

Kyanna Williams-Pate, C’17, discusses her journey to becoming a young leader in the public health industry. 24

A Seamless Transition

T.J. Dailey makes the jump from the Bearcat Baseball Field to professional baseball in Texas. 28

A Human Touch to Education

A passion for Benedictine education creates opportunities for students at Saint Vincent and across the Atlantic.

out the first installment of 1846: The Podcast featuring Art Rooney II, President of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chairman of the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors.

ON THE COVER

Wimmer by art director George Fetkovich, originally produced for a

Illustration

held in the Saint Vincent Gallery, September 2016.

of founder Boniface

faculty art show

news briefs

JODIS AWARDED EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD

NEW FACULTY

Saint Vincent College is excited to welcome five new faculty for the 2022-2023 school year! Dr. Jeannine Pitas, Dr. William Rullo, Mallory Truckenmiller-Saylor, and Dr. Sean Durkin will be joining AHSS, and Dr. Natalie Nakles and Erin Welling will be joining the Boyer School.

On Thursday, May 26, Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing at Saint Vincent College, was awarded the 2022 Education Leadership Award for Post-Secondary Education from the Young Men and Women in Charge (YMWIC) Foundation, Inc. Pictured from left: Dr. Jeff Mallory, executive vice president; Rya Jones, C’22, YMWIC alumna; Mr. Adam Ferguson, C’19, coordinator for community relations/senior leadership liaison; and Dr. Stephen Jodis.

Scholar-Athletes Named

n Tuesday, May 17, recentlygraduated Saint Vincent College student-athletes Sydney Green (left) and Cris White (right) were honored at the annual Presidents’ Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet, held at the Chadwick. Each of the 10 full-time PAC institutions and its two football affiliate members were represented by some of their most distinguished student-athletes at the event. They were accompanied by associate athletic director Sue Hozak, G’11.

NEW COACHES

OThirteen new coaches will be joining the Saint Vincent College Athletics Department for the 2022-2023 school year. SVC Athletics is excited to welcome Samantha Kelly, Alex Parker, Walter Bonds, Hope Creamer, Diron Duah, Cory Northrup, Chad Schmeling, Joe Alessandro, Stephen Meyer, Nick Schroeder, James Eckels, Marissa Frollo, and Nick Roger to the team.

Saint Vincent College announced the appointment of Dr. Michael J. Urick, C’04, as the Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government, effective July 1, 2022. The appointment was made by Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., President of Saint Vincent College, with the approval of the Chancellor of the College, Father Martin Bartel, O.S.B., Archabbot.

URICK SAFIN

NEW MISSION, NEW NAME

VEROSTKO

Mr. David Safin, C’00, chair of the Communication Department and associate professor, screened several of his films, including his most recent entitled “Up on the Hill,” at Jump Cut Theater’s June Film Kitchen on Tuesday, June 14.

CENTER OPENS NE W E X H I B I T

On Monday, May 23, the Fred Rogers Cen ter for Early Learning and Children’s Media unveiled a new name, rebranding to formally become the Fred Rogers Institute. The new mission of the Fred Rogers Institute is to advance the legacy of Fred Rogers by investing in the strengths of families and caring adults to support the healthy development of children.

FRED ROGERS INSTITUTE Saint Vincent College

On Thursday, Septem ber 8, the Verostko Center for the Arts opened its princi pal fall exhibit, East Meets West: Women Icon Makers of West Ukraine. Blend ing traditional Byzantine iconography, modernist paint ing techniques, and elements of Eastern European folk art, the eight artists featured in this exhibition visual ize Christian narratives as both ancient and accessible. The exhibit will be on view in the Verostko Center through Friday, November 18.

Read more and get the latest Saint Vincent College news at 1846.stvincent.edu/news.

Alex Byers

STORY

Madison Harry

Art Finds A Way

Sinceday one, the arts have had a place and purpose here on the grounds of Saint Vincent. Founder of the first Benedictine monastery, Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., knew from the beginning in 1846 that the arts play a role not only in faith but also in building a strong and well-rounded educational foundation. From the strum of a guitar to the flick of a brush to the shaping of clay, each of the fine arts have helped to mold Saint Vincent into the institution it is today.

There is no denying that when you step foot on the Saint Vincent campus, art can be found everywhere. It is ingrained in the architecture of the Basilica and the Verostko Center for the Arts, it can be seen in the paintings adorning the walls, and it can be felt during the theatre performances that make you laugh and sing along. Each of these serves as examples of Wimmer’s vision manifested in the modern day.

“I am determined,” said Wimmer, “to have our monasteries be not only schools of religion and of the sciences, but also nurseries of the fine arts in order to develop a better taste for these things...”

In order to establish a monastery and school immersed in the arts, Wimmer began the initiative of collecting and acquiring. King Ludwig I of Bavaria and other benefactors played a crucial role in the arrangement of musical instruments, paintings, and books making their way to Saint Vincent. From these earliest days, over 175 years ago, art was integral in the faith of the Benedictines and used as a mode to instruct students, encompassing the idea of the liberal arts. There became a balance between science, faith, and art—the community Wimmer envisioned.

“Historically, art was first used to teach but also now allows access to innovative ideas and different perspectives,” said Andrew Julo, director and curator for the Verostko Center for the Arts. “Art has this creative purpose but has become a way to support the spiritual and formative pursuits of people at all levels. It is woven into the everyday as we see the humanness

of life, love, death, or desire become the central themes in works.”

With art being a vehicle to express faith and ideas, objects in service of ideas, the Benedictines served as keepers and caretakers for these items. Those who have come after Wimmer have continued his commitment to collecting, and it is thanks to those individuals and benefactors that the arts are still a prominent part of Saint Vincent.

King Ludwig I gave a variety of instruments to Saint Vincent in the early 1850s, and by the 1860s, students were already excelling in musical instrumentation. From the College’s archives, a class catalogue from 1859-1860 shares the subject distinguishments in piano, violin, clarinet, flute, and brass instruments that students received. The fine arts were thoroughly integrated throughout ceremonial exercises, with commencement being a full day grand affair, featuring orchestrated and choral works, poetry readings, and even theatre performances. The 1867 ceremony included at least eight musical numbers, a two-act theatrical performance, vocals, and poetry readings.

At a forefront then, the fine arts have expanded to include designated academic programs and collaborative efforts. “The beauty that the arts provide within the liberal arts education tradition combined with our unique Benedictine heritage is a moment of encounter that has the possibility to unify the hearts and minds of the participants and the viewers and listeners,” Dr. Thomas Octave, associate professor of music and fine arts department chair, explained.

The beauty, he explains, is not only for the immediate Saint Vincent community of faculty, staff, Benedictines, or students, but it is a beauty that so many others get to experience when they step foot on campus. Saint Vincent has maintained a commitment to collaboration that continues to share the arts with others. Octave references the Saint Vincent Concert Series, Music at Midday, the collaboration with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Summer Theatre as some of the many programming initiatives that bring the community together—a togetherness that is continuing to be strengthened post-pandemic.

Summer 2022 saw its first Summer Theatre

season in two years due to a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The season featured Dan Groggin’s “Nunsense” and Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” directed by Greggory Brandt, producing artistic director for Saint Vincent Summer Theatre and assistant professor of theatre at the College. Brandt remarked, “Being involved in the arts makes us more human. It helps us to make sense of our own lives and relate to the lives of others as well as build community. Studying and doing art enables you to tap into your own creativity and allows for self-expression and creativity to take place.” He added that it is more important than ever to emote feelings and expressions as we move forward in this COVID world. “Art empowers and prepares us to think more critically, to feel more comfortable in any social setting, and build stronger communication skills.”

As a creative, community resource, art has been able to thrive through intentional and designated spaces, whether that is the Verostko Center on campus or the Latrobe Art Center in the community. These places have carried art forward by continuing to innovate and educate through community outreach and partnerships.

In February 2022, the Latrobe Art Center and the Fred Rogers Institute launched the series “Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Again?” supported by a Humanities Research for the Public Good grant from The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). While not entirely focused on paintings or sculptures, the value of art is a key theme. Art was present in the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” program, with Fred Rogers advocating for art and the importance of teaching art to children.

“Fred Rogers embodied what it meant to bring the arts to everyone—in a way that encouraged equity and accessibility. Fred would often welcome guests who specialized in creative arts, such as cellist Yo-Yo-Ma, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and the cast of STOMP!, and visual artists such as author and illustrator Eric Carle, Native American potter Dolly Naranjo, and artist Red Grooms,” said Dr. Dana Winters, executive director of the Fred Rogers Institute.

She further explained that the recent partnership with the Latrobe Art Center allowed the Institute and Fred Rogers scholars to create and curate an exhibit from materials in the Fred Rogers Archive. “Students worked with faculty and staff to create an exhibit demonstrating ‘Arts in the Neighborhood,’ which was on display at Latrobe Art Center in April and May of 2022. The Fred Rogers Institute students, faculty, and staff worked together to show

Saint Vincent College Players’ spring 2017 production of Anything Goes

— GREGGORY BRANDT

Producing Artistic Director, Saint Vincent Summer Theatre

how the Archive materials from Fred Rogers’ past can continue to inform the appreciation of the creative arts in many neighborhoods today.”

The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery is another instance where art has been fostered to educate through programming while navigating ways to connect the past and present. Housed in the bottom floor of the Fred Rogers Center, the gallery has remained vibrant through initiatives and connections, providing flexible opportunities to navigate digital spaces.

Dr. Karen Kehoe, associate professor of history and member of the Gallery’s advisory committee said, “Throughout the pandemic, there was hard work and exploration of digital platforms to offer programming, such as the Gallery’s dinner theater offerings becoming Zoom performances. There was also consistent contact with other museums, galleries, and historic textile programs.” She explained that because of this work, the gallery has been able to remain a “vibrant part of the public history of the regions.”

Kehoe also acknowledges the efforts of the previous director of the McCarl Gallery, Lauren Churilla, and student workers. Through their determination and dedication, scholars and visitors were able to make appointments to visit the gallery during specific times designated just for them. “As the coverlets provided comfort and support to those people of the past, the McCarl Gallery was at the forefront of helping modern-day people begin to cope with the pandemic.”

Another component of Churilla’s efforts to move the arts forward is exhibited through the humanities departments at Saint Vincent and their receival of a grant from PA Humanities for the PA SHARP (Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan) initiative—providing funding to strengthen the humanities and public history programs. The grant will support projects

related to a podcast series, an oral history project, and digital and physical exhibits, allowing opportunities for faculty, students, and external community artists to be involved. The collecting done in the early days and the commitment to making sure that art is around for generations is a reason that Saint Vincent is such an art-centric place. The Verostko Center was made to be a gallery, with a secure location and temperature-controlled atmosphere, allowing for the preservation of the works of the past and the now.

The idea of intersectionality is an overall theme of the Center, drawing from the innovativeness of Roman Verostko, C’55, S’59, H’21, Professor Emeritus at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and pioneer in generative and algorithmic art, for which the Center was named. Aligned with the mission of the College and its commitment to the liberal arts, the freedom of exploration has a place to unfold.

It’s a place where students can express themselves through the Student Art Exhibition, a place where other artists can share their works—a place full of intention and to ask questions. “Art has the capacity to reflect on the past but also create for the future,” said Julo. “There is this allowance to self-actualize and discover the past in deeper ways. It serves as this connection point for ideas to intersect.”

As a liberal arts college founded on Benedictine values, the arts at Saint Vincent have a history, a deep-rooted history, from the time of its founding to the present day. Art is so prevalent at Saint Vincent and in the local community. How has it endured? It’s thanks to the individuals who have played a role and have dedicated their time and passion to preservation, education, and support— creative thinking in the times of challenge.

People find a way, and that is why the arts have, too. ♦

Art empowers and prepares us to think more critically, to feel more comfortable in any social setting, and build stronger communication skills.”

Saint Vincent community remembers philanthropist Edward Dunlap as construction begins on facility bearing his family name

STORY Zach Flock

Theevolution of the Saint Vincent College campus continues with the construction of the Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center, a project made possible in large part thanks to the generosity of Edward Dunlap, who passed away on July 23; his wife, Anna; their son, Tim; daughter-in-law, Teri; and their families. The 82,200 square foot facility will be located on the Saint Vincent College campus adjacent to the Fred M. Rogers Center. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

Edward Dunlap was a businessman and founder of CentiMark Corp., a billion-dollar corporation located in Canonsburg and

the largest commercial roofing and flooring company in North America. He and his wife also own LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington, among other businesses. His legacy of philanthropy lives on in CentiMark’s contributions to local communities. According to the company’s website, “while roofing and flooring are CentiMark’s businesses, giving back to the community is the company’s commitment.” From hurricane relief and food drives to assisting those affected by the opioid epidemic, CentiMark and the Dunlap family led by example.

“Mr. Dunlap’s passion for education and the needs of the poor was fueled by his fervent faith,” noted Father Paul Taylor. “His

philanthropy was often anonymous, reflecting his humility. Many have been blessed by his wisdom and generosity over these many years. We are grateful for our long friendship with him and for the life he led. Our continued prayers are with his family.”

On the Saint Vincent campus, Mr. Dunlap’s legacy will live on in the facility that bears his family’s name. When completed, the Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center will be a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose indoor complex with abundant space for an array of athletic, fitness, and recreational activities.

The Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center enhances the College’s current recreation and exercise offerings, housing a fitness room with cardio and circuit training equipment; a recreational track; and instruction rooms for yoga, Pilates, and other fitness classes. The center will house intramural athletic competition and varsity athletic practice, and includes meeting rooms, visiting spaces and a healthy café. There will also be an athletic training center for medical therapy and treatment.

Andrew Kunz, C’23, president of the Student Government Association and treasurer of the Health & Fitness Club, noted the role the center will play in the growth of all SVC students: “This facility will allow students an opportunity to better themselves

both physically and socially,” said Kunz. “It will be a great escape from the stress of college and allow our vibrant community to grow further through greater athletic performance, expansion in intramurals, and additional space for clubs to improve recreation.”

Funding for the project came primarily from private donors, while the College also received a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

As Father Paul noted when the project was first announced in February, the Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center “was designed carefully with input from students and with attention to the latest technology and kinesiologic science. The Dunlaps’ investment in Saint Vincent College and in the lives of our students will bear much fruit today and in the generations ahead.” ♦

RENDERING COURTESY OF MCF ARCHITECTURE

Groundbreaking for the new facility took place on Friday, September 9.

From left: Andrés Mateos, Joel Quiroz, David Rahaman and José Hurtado.

Alex Byers Nicholas Schmidt STORY

Noah

Aftanas

bonding with Hurtado, Quiroz, and Mateos over all being from different countries, the four became fast friends.

After playing soccer throughout high school with his friends, Rahaman decided he wanted to continue his athletic career and education at Saint Vincent, and he knew he had to recruit the guys to come along with him— through any means necessary.

Hurtado recalled that he wasn’t sure if he was going to choose Saint Vincent, but Rahaman told him all of the other boys committed. “I didn’t want to be left behind, so I was like, ‘I guess I gotta go’,” he laughed. “But he lied! He lied for me to come here.” As it turns out, none of

happy to see their brotherhood extend to the entire team.

“For the four of them, you can sense the brotherhood,” he said. “They definitely rag on each other a lot, they are harder on each other, but the cool part for me is how they opened it up for their other teammates as well.”

JOURNEY TO THE EAST

story by KIM METZGER

Davis expressed that having that friendship with each other and the entire team is important for the Bearcats’ onfield success. “Between the four of us, just the chemistry on and off the field is amazing,” said Quiroz. “I know where they’re gonna be. I know where they want me to be.”

The numbers add up to a unique brotherhood onthe men’s soccer team.

“The touches are so clean,” agreed Rahaman. “We know where each other is gonna be before we even get the ball. José will know the run that I make before he even gets it.”

“Our bond goes way back. We are more than just roommates or teammates. We do everything together,” he said. “We eat together, go to class together, go to the gym together, and are with each other 24/7, so that’s what it’s all about for our brotherhood.” ♦

Afriendship

that started at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, NJ, between two Bolivians, a Spaniard, and an American found its way to Saint Vincent College.

Saint Vincent soccer players José Hurtado, Joel Quiroz, Andrés Mateos, and David Rahaman have developed a kinship that has not only continued in Latrobe over 300 miles away from Newark, but has spread throughout the Saint Vincent men’s soccer team.

And it all can be traced back to the number 28.

“One day, [at soccer practice], I didn’t even know David, and they were giving out the numbers,” began Mateos. “I wanted 8, but that wasn’t an option, so I chose 28 before [David]. He used to wear 28 his entire life, and I picked it because I liked it. It had an eight in it, which is my favorite number.” He explained that the next day, Rahaman approached him and asked if he would be interested in switching numbers. “I did not know much English yet, and I said, ‘I’m sorry, bro. I cannot do that’,” he laughed.

But, Rahaman didn’t mind too much; he ended up switching to 27, and after

the other guys had decided Saint Vincent was going to be home yet.

Rahaman chuckled. “That was my Hail Mary.”

Quiroz committed to Saint Vincent soon after Hurtado, but again, that decision wasn’t made without a little nudge from Rahaman. “David was calling me every other day to remind me to check out Saint Vincent,” he explained, then added he knew coming to Saint Vincent with the boys would be a much better college experience. Mateos was the last of the four to decide to come along for the journey, waiting until the very last day to make a decision, but he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to keep the brotherhood going.

“We are so good with each other, the relationship is great, and I didn’t want to lose that,” he said.

Each of the boys remembered feeling at home as soon as they got to campus, and they’ve each loved being able to share their brotherhood with their teammates. Saint Vincent’s men’s soccer coach, Matt Davis, has seen the brotherhood firsthand, mentioning he could see the friendship in his first interactions with them, and he’s been

Watch more of the brotherhood’s story at 1846.stvincent.edu/videos.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND FOR STUDENTS FIRST

For more information, contact us at: annualfund@stvincent.edu, call 724-805-2949, or visit www.stvincent.edu/studentsfirst.

Maya Huipiles:

These huipiles (p’ot in Kaqchikel) were hand-woven on backstrap looms by indigenous women in Guatemala. This one was woven by a woman I worked with in Santa Cruz la Laguna, and it is the traditional design of that town.

Carved Wooden Cabinet

This cabinet was made by an artisan in another indigenous town—I purchased it while doing my dissertation fieldwork, and it has held odds and ends on my desk since then!

Guatemalan Folk Art

This painting is representative of a Guatemalan folk-art motif, the vista de hormiga, or “ant’s view.” It depicts a marketplace from the perspective of an ant.

office space

BY MORGAN STOUT

Dr. Elaine Bennett has been described as Saint Vincent’s version of Indiana Jones, and while she may not have a hat and bullwhip, she has at least one longsword—she’s studied medieval German longsword fighting— and is pretty handy with a lightsaber—she bested Dr. Chris McMahon in a duel in May 2021. But you’ll find neither longsword nor lightsaber in Placid 420. As an applied medical anthropologist, the focus of her scholarly work has been on child health and nutrition in indigenous populations in Guatemala, and even though she’s not been to medieval Germany nor a galaxy far, far away, she’s been to plenty of other places: Guatemala, Peru, Canada, the Czech Republic, Austria, and almost half of the states in the U.S. (in fact, her three children have each been born in a different state). From Mayan huipiles and folk art on the walls to the backpack that’s probably more well-travelled than many of the people reading this, Dr. Bennett’s office is a walk-in scrap book of research and travels. ♦

Sticker from Ebola Day

The sticker on my bookshelf is from a day-long event that Dr. Matt Fisher and I organized with some students during an Ebola outbreak a few years ago, and the quote represents a major part of why I study and teach in these fields.

Step into Dr. Bennett’s office at 1846.stvincent.edu/officespace.

Backpack

This backpack goes with me pretty much everywhere! It carries my “tools of the trade,” which includes books, notebooks, writing implements, and of course, my laptop.

Applied Anthropology Lesson Materials

These papers are part of a lesson I’m preparing on applying anthropology to solve real-world problems for my Intro to Anthropology course.

Teaching, and through my work as a dean, facilitating the work of my faculty colleagues gives me an opportunity to help to bring about the utopia Pope Francis refers to in the quote on the sticker.

A VISIONARY LEADER

SaintVincent College marks 1846 as the date of its founding, but its story arguably began in 1809. More than 4,200 miles from Latrobe, Sebastian Wimmer was born on January 14, 1809, in Thalmassing, Bavaria. The son of tavern owners, Wimmer would study law and theology, eventually becoming an ordained priest in 1831 at age 22.

A year later, Wimmer arrived at St. Michael’s Abbey at Metten, which had just been re-established by Bavaria’s King Ludwig I. Wimmer received the name “Boniface” after the English Benedictine monk responsible for the conversion of Germanic tribes to Christianity in the eighth century.

It was a prescient name for the man who would become the father of American Benedictine monasticism.

Hearing the experiences of German missionary Father Peter Henry Lemke, Wimmer realized there was a dire need for German-speaking priests in the U.S. to offer the sacraments to German Catholics. “Language saves faith” became his rallying cry.

In 1842, Wimmer asked Abbot Gregory Scherr to build a seminary in Germany to educate missionaries to send to the U.S.

The Abbot said no.

Wimmer modified his plan and asked again a year later. Once again, the Abbot said no. The pattern repeated, and each time, Abbot Gregory’s answer remained the same.

Father Paul Taylor, president of Saint Vincent College, views the Abbot’s reticence as a blessing.

and forward

ANY INSTITUTION WITH MORE THAN 175 YEARS OF HISTORY IS BOUND TO FACE MOMENTS OF JUBILATION AND ADVERSITY— MOMENTS THAT TEST THE METTLE OF THE COMMUNITY, SPUR NEW GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY, AND DEFINE ITS CHARACTER.

THE STORY OF SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE IS ONE OF OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND RISING TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE MOMENT, MOVING FORWARD, ALWAYS FORWARD.

STORY Zach Flock

“In a way, it was good because in each time, Wimmer’s plan grew and changed,” Father Paul explained. “It sharpened to the point where his final request wasn’t to have a seminary in Germany to educate priests to send over, but rather to actually establish a monastery in the U.S. that would train priests to minister to the German Catholics in the area.”

With his appeals to the Abbot yielding little, Wimmer published an anonymous article in the Augsburger Postzeitung on November 8, 1845, an article known today as the Foundational Charter of the Order in America.

Wimmer’s article focused on three areas: the plight of German-speaking Catholics in the United States, the good work of the missionaries there, and most importantly, what he felt was the missing piece.

“The third part was that the solution Wimmer saw was precisely a Benedictine monastery,” notes Father Paul. “That the life and culture and work of monks met the need in the most particular way. The Dark Ages had a need, Medieval times had a need, the Reformation had a need, and now in this time of missionary work, there was another need.

“The Benedictine ideal of stability could be adapted to this new world, this mission territory, where a monastery in the U.S. would provide this

St. Marys, arrived at Saint Vincent. As Father Paul explains, “their priest sent them to here and said ‘Father Boniface Wimmer is a good man, and he will take care of you.’ They wanted to go to college. They wanted to be doctors, accountants, and lawyers.”

And go to college they would, with the classical curriculum studied by seminarians serving as the model.

Wimmer and the Benedictines at Saint Vincent adapted to the needs of the community, and the great tradition of Benedictine education in the United States had begun.

A GLORIOUS ARCHABBEY CHURCH

Wimmer dreamed not only of establishing schools for Benedictine study, but of a magnificent church to serve as a worthy place of worship on the Saint Vincent College campus. This dream would begin to take shape in 1891, four years after Wimmer’s death. Following a Solemn High Mass on December 21, 1891, ground was broken for what is today the Saint Vincent Basilica. Monks working on the grounds produced between 12,000 to 15,000 bricks per day, and stone was quarried nearby at Donohoe Station and the Kuhn’s farm.

The designer was the renowned GermanAmerican architect William Schickel, whose works also include Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Church in Rochester, New York, Manhattan’s Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Boston.

stable home of monks. That when people needed their children to be baptized or they needed to bury the dead or receive the sacraments and even more, that they would need to be educated, the monks would always be there.”

Wimmer’s article caught the attention of the King, leaving Abbot Gregory with little choice but to let him go.

In September 1846, after a 28-day boat voyage, Wimmer and 18 others arrived in New York before moving to Western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Bishop Michael O’Connor gifted land in the Laurel Highlands, and at age 37, Wimmer established Saint Vincent as the first Benedictine Monastery in the United States.

In 1849, several young men from the town of

The cornerstone was set in October 1892, but a pause in construction from 1893 to 1895 delayed the completion of the Church until 1905. On August 24, 1905, on the 50th anniversary of the elevation of Saint Vincent to an abbey, Bishop J.F. Regis Canevin led the consecration of the Church.

“A church is not simply a building,” noted thenArchabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, in the 2005 book, The Saint Vincent Basilica, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, One Hundred Years, edited by Kimberly A. OpatkaMetzgar. “It possesses a sacramental character whereby it becomes the visible means of personal faith—encounters with the Divine Presence. In the liturgy for the dedication of a church, we read: ‘We thank you now for this house of prayer in which you bless your family as we come to you on pilgrimage’.”

For more than a century, this archabbey church, now a Basilica, has stood as a symbol of God’s presence, the enduring legacy of Boniface Wimmer, and the heart of Saint Vincent.

WIMMER AND THE BENEDICTINES AT SAINT VINCENT ADAPTED TO

THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE GREAT TRADITION OF BENEDICTINE EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES HAD BEGUN.

A FIERY TRIBULATION

In the winter of 1963, college students were enjoying Christmas break on an icy January morning that would rattle the Saint Vincent community.

“I was a sophomore in college,” noted Brother Norman Hipps, an alumnus who would serve as the 17th president of the College. “I was with my brother in Pittsburgh. My brother was a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon. I was staying at his place when my classmate called and said, ‘Turn the television on. Saint Vincent’s on fire!’”

It was Monday, January 28, 1963, and it was bitterly cold. A blizzard hit the area over the weekend, and snow and ice covered the double quadrangle of buildings that served as the center of activity for the College, prep school, seminary, and monastery.

A prep school student, Ronald Palenski of Alexandria, Virginia, was the first to raise concern when he asked Father Colman McFadden during morning study hall if there was a chimney in the Benedict Hall biology lab.

“My heart almost stopped,” Frater Colman later recounted, “because I knew there wasn’t.”

The smoke Palenski spotted wasn’t coming from a chimney; it was coming from the roof.

Students were evacuated quickly. Several priests attempted to douse the flames with extinguishers, but it was too late. Father Ferdinand Lillig, Saint Vincent fire warden, sprang into action. Fire companies from Latrobe and Greensburg were

called. As the firefight continued, 29 additional companies joined in the response.

“The fire got out of control because it was on a terribly cold day and when they hooked up the hoses, the water force was limited,” said Brother Norman. “It froze. They had to run hoses down to the monastery reservoir and break through the ice.”

It would take hours to bring the fire, the cause of which was determined to be faulty wiring, under control, and firefighters remained on the scene for days. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported, but the damage was significant.

While the fire spread quickly through the interconnected buildings, the Basilica was spared.

Latrobe Fire Chief Earl Dalton offered a detailed account in a letter to the Archabbey Prior, closing by writing: “Take care, don’t worry, a bigger and better Saint Vincent is in the making.”

Nearly 50 years later, Brother Norman echoed that sentiment.

“Buildings were destroyed. The church that was constructed in 1835 before Boniface Wimmer came was destroyed. The bell tower that was an iconic symbol. But, you know, it seemed to open things up. The new monastery building was constructed, and then the science center in 1969. It just seemed to expand what before seemed to be a much more enclosed space.”

In the wake of a devastating fire, the Saint Vincent community would rally and rebuild.

Charred buildings release plumes of smoke following the fire of 1963.

A NEW BEGINNING TO AN OLD TRADITION

For more than a century, Saint Vincent provided men with an education rooted in Benedictine tradition. By 1977, however, College administrators recognized the importance of welcoming women into the Saint Vincent community.

Although it would take several years of planning before Saint Vincent welcomed its first cohort of women, the first degree awarded to a woman by Saint Vincent came sooner.

Loretta Scalzitti was taking evening courses at another institution but wasn’t satisfied. Her boss, a Saint Vincent alumnus, thought she’d do better in another setting.

“He said ‘How about starting to take accounting classes at Saint Vincent?’” remarked Scalzitti. “He said ‘I think you’d do well there.’ So I did.”

Before the College was fully coeducational, Scalzitti was one of only a few women taking courses; in most of her classes, in fact, she was the only woman.

“Other than my accounting-required core classes, I took a lot of electives. I really didn’t think when I started I was going for a degree until I had so many credits, and I finally figured, ‘Okay, let’s go for it.’”

There was some debate over whether Scalzitti could receive a degree from Saint Vincent prior to the official transition to coeducation, but a call from Brother Norman let her know she would in fact be the College’s first female graduate. Unfortunately, she didn’t walk at Commencement: she had an important meeting at work that day. Saint Vincent officially became coeducational in the Fall of 1983, and the change was welcomed.

“I was attending Seton Hill, but my major business classes were at Saint Vincent,” said Jan Albright, C’84. “That was the way it worked back then. I was going to get a great business education from SVC, but it would have a Seton Hill diploma on it. So, when Saint Vincent announced it was going coed, I was probably the first person to apply.”

Like Scalzitti, Albright looks back fondly: “I gained self-esteem and self-confidence at Saint Vincent. In many of my business classes I was the only female. It prepared me for the business world in the ‘80s.”

Albright graduated with a business finance degree. Her career includes a position as senior vice president of Wachovia Bank, working with small businesses and start-ups, and working with Project Scientist, a non-profit that encourages and engages young girls in STEM fields, carrying the opportunities she experienced at Saint Vincent forward.

A NEW MILLENNIUM

Jerome Oetgen’s Always Forward: Saint Vincent Archabbey 1949-2020 chronicles the recent history of Saint Vincent, including the election of Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, who Oetgen refers to as “The Second Founder.” Serving as archabbot from 1991 to 2020, Archabbot Douglas would oversee major developments that propelled Saint Vincent into the 21st century.

Shortly after his election, Archabbot Douglas told the community, “We do not know what 1996 or the year 2000 will bring. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Yet we live in hope. For Saint Benedict, hope is the hallmark of the monk.”

A two-and-a-half-year celebration beginning in 1994 marked the College’s 150th anniversary. The commemoration began with a service in the Basilica attended by over a thousand people, including Duke Max of Bavaria and Latrobe native Fred Rogers. The Basilica itself underwent an extensive restoration completed in time for the closing ceremony on December 10, 1996.

But construction on the Saint Vincent campus during Archabbot Douglas’ abbacy wasn’t limited to the Basilica.

Kennedy Hall, later renamed the Robert S. Carey Student Center, received a new pool, bookstore, student lounge, and snack bar, as well as renovations to its athletic facilities and offices, new locker rooms, a fitness center, and new student chapel.

Rooney Hall, named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney, Sr., was built in 1995 for the dual purpose of housing students during the academic year and the Steelers during training camp. The neighboring Saint Benedict Hall was constructed a few years later. The new residence halls overlook Chuck Noll Field and a 1,000plus seat grandstand and press box, which were constructed in 2007.

The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, named for the late wife of golf legend Arnold Palmer, was established as a home to gardens, wetlands, and an environmental learning center, while the Fred

LORETTA SCALZITTI, C’83

M. Rogers Center was constructed as a conference center and home to the Fred Rogers Institute, including an archive of Rogers’ writings, personal effects, TV props, and puppets.

Other projects include the construction of the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion in 2014 and an extensive expansion and modernization of the library, now known as the Latimer Family Library.

The skyline of Saint Vincent was also altered. In 2000, inspired by William Schickel’s 1891 design, two new 55-foot spires were installed atop the Basilica, each adorned with a 10-foot cross.

In 2020, having reached age 75, Archabbot Douglas announced his retirement. Oetgen would write, “the consensus among those who knew Saint Vincent well was that Archabbot Douglas’ leadership had transformed for the better the institution and the community that comprised it.”

In June 2020, Father Martin de Porres Bartel was elected as the 12th archabbot of Saint Vincent. One hundred and seventy-five years after Wimmer’s journey across the Atlantic, Archabbot Martin would guide Saint Vincent through the uncharted waters of a pandemic—and beyond.

FORWARD

“The life of man is a struggle on earth. But without a cross, without a struggle, we get nowhere,” wrote Wimmer. “The victory will be ours if we continue our efforts courageously, even when at times they appear futile.”

The story of Saint Vincent is one of determination: facing challenges with courage, finding opportunity in the face of adversity. This determination guided Wimmer to America in 1846, and it guides Saint Vincent still.

“Today, our time, our age, our culture needs the stability of Benedictine monasticism more than ever,” noted Father Paul. “Stability that offers people a security in spirit and in belonging, offers a place where people can come to pray and learn. That people can become resilient because they tap into the stability of this 1,500-year-old establishment, and that they can stand strong because they belong to something that is that old and that strong and that stable. That’s what Saint Vincent can do for society today.” ♦

In the hearts and minds of the Saint Vincent community, thewords of Boniface Wimmer echo on: “Forward, always forward.”

From top: Herman and Sis Dupré Science Pavilion, Rooney Hall, Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, and Fred M. Rogers Center.

Providing the Key to Public Health

Alumnus Kyanna Williams-Pate brings advocacy to the forefront of healthcare.

WHEN

Kyanna Williams-Pate, C’17, first came to Saint Vincent College, she thought that college students were really tall.

Granted, she was in middle school at the time and was on campus in the Fred Rogers Center, which admittedly has really tall doors. She realized this upon her second trip to campus, while she was staying for a week as part of a partnership the College has with the Crossroads Foundation. One of Williams-Pate’s next trips to campus would be on Freshmen Move-In Day in 2013.

Williams-Pate applied to several colleges and was accepted to all of them, but ultimately chose to attend Saint Vincent. And, while many students might not yet know what they want to major in or what they want to do after college during that first, or even second, or third or fourth semester, she

knew exactly what she wanted to do.

“My mom was just like, ‘You were always running around putting Band-Aids on everybody and trying to check their heartbeat,’” WilliamsPate recalled with a laugh. “I remember getting my first stethoscope when I was in first grade from my Nana. She worked at a nursing home and got me a stethoscope from work. And I thought that was just the coolest thing, being able to actually hear a real heartbeat, and it wasn’t pretend.”

Williams-Pate matriculated at Saint Vincent before the College started offering any of the biomedical programs it has now, so she declared a biology major and a psychology minor, becoming not just the only Black female in her class to graduate with a degree in biology, but also the first in her family to graduate from college.

Alex Byers

Emily Loden STORY

Morgan Stout

While the mentorship Williams-Pate received from some of the upperclassmen and advisors further affirmed her desire to become a physician, being the first to do anything can be a struggle, and being the only can be just as wearying. “I had a lot of difficulties being the only Black biology major in our class,” she recalled. “I had to overcome that and learn to believe in myself.”

Williams-Pate overcame those barriers, and went from considering transferring, to thriving at Saint Vincent and beyond. With financial scholarships and mentorship from advisors, she turned the adversity she faced into something that continues to be one of her strongest traits.

“Just being a Black person at Saint Vincent where there are very few people of color and very few people who are from an inner-city area [was challenging],” she said. “I had to learn adaptability. Saint Vincent, because of that very nature, taught me adaptability, and that’s important in whatever you go into after you leave college.”

Williams-Pate also stressed the importance of advocacy, both in terms of not being afraid to advocate for yourself and also remembering that it’s okay to let people advocate for you. “You have to be able to advocate for yourself. I did so much advocacy when I was [at Saint Vincent],” she said before emphasizing that it’s just as important to not feel like you have to do everything yourself and that if there are people who are willing to advocate for you, allow them to do so. “I did have a good relationship with a couple professors across all disciplines,” she explained. “That was comforting, knowing that there were people at the faculty and staff level [who] could advocate for me.”

Some of the advocates Williams-Pate mentioned include Dr. Nancy Rottler, former assistant vice president for student success and retention; Anna Smith, intervention specialist; Br. Albert Gahr, associate professor of biology; and Theresa Torisky, academic advisor in the Opportunity SVC program.

Reflecting on Williams-Pate’s time at Saint Vincent, Torisky said, “Kyanna has always been a poised, professional young woman who has been steadfast in her goals and has believed in herself. I am so proud of all that she has achieved.”

Ultimately, Williams-Pate said that the adaptability she learned while at Saint Vincent is something that has helped her get to where she is right now, which is currently enrolled in medical school with two master’s degrees and her own business. “Being able to adapt in places that are unfamiliar and amongst people who didn’t necessarily have as many similarities to me, that helped me to better navigate [and] to adapt more to the different environments that I was going to be in,” she explained.

And, beyond Saint Vincent, Williams-Pate has continued to lean into advocacy, devoting her professional life to public health and advocating for marginalized populations.

After finishing her master of public health degree at University of Pittsburgh, she began public health consulting with several non-profits across Allegheny County. She began consulting as a Project Coordinator for Gateway Medical Society (GMS), the African American Medical Society in Pittsburgh in 2020. Because of her passion of serving her community, Williams-Pate started her own public health consultancy called Key to Public Health in March 2022, which is primarily a grant writing business, and worked as a project coordinator. Both through her business and her work with GMS, Williams-Pate played a crucial role in educating the public about COVID-19 and addressing vaccine hesitancy by coordinating events on COVID-19 hosted by physicians and nurses and developing informative public health tools. She ran GMS’ social media, and through that, she was able to work with 1Hood Media, a Pittsburgh-based organization working to build liberated communities, to create the show Ask a Black Doctor, which has reached audiences of 20,000 every other week. By educating the public about COVID-19 and other health disparities, she helped people to establish a foundation that folks could stand on so they can be empowered to advocate for themselves and their health.

Now, after building a strong résumé in public health and establishing herself as a young leader in the field, Williams-Pate is finally pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor: she’s enrolled at Lincoln Memorial University’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, and just like she knew that she wanted to be a doctor before she even got

to college, she already knows what she wants to do once she’s finished with medical school.

“My plan is to open up a health center providing preventative care to individuals who are underserved in various capacities, whether they’re uninsured or have limited access to certain services,” she explained. Her hope is to incorporate Key to Public Health with that to help with getting grant funding and to make the health center interdisciplinary. “I would like it to be physicians, other healthcare personnel, and social workers, so that there’s an all-encompassing onestop-shop.”

In seven or eight years, she’ll be Kyanna Williams-Pate, DO, MPH, MA, and she’ll be ready to continue aiding and advocating for the groups that need it most, moving the world forward, always forward. ♦

“Saint Vincent really taught me adaptability, and that’s important in whatever you go into after you leave college.”

Williams-Pate presents during the Academic Conference while a student at Saint Vincent College in the spring of 2017.

A SEAMLESS

TRANSITION

BEARCAT TJ DAILEY TURNS PRO

Ashe had for the past 16 years, Saint Vincent College graduate student T.J. Dailey spent the summer playing baseball.

This year, however, he traded in the sandlots of suburban Pittsburgh for stadiums across the southwestern United States.

Following a successful tryout, the five-year Bearcat standout spent the summer playing for the Weimar (Texas) Hormigas of the Pecos League, an independent professional baseball league with teams located in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Arizona.

Dailey, a right fielder, made the leap into the pros after a stellar 2022 season in which he batted .341 and ranked among Presidents’ Athletic Conference leaders with eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 40

runs scored, and a .645 slugging percentage, earning All-PAC honors for the second straight year. His presence in the middle of the lineup helped the Bearcats to a 2414 record and the #2 seed in the PAC Championship Tournament.

After ending his collegiate career in such fine fashion, Dailey had no intentions of hanging up his cleats and glove for good after the Bearcats’ final game this spring.

“After the last couple of years,” he said, “I thought about professional baseball. I thought I had the talent to at least give it a shot and say that I tried.”

PHOTOGRAPHY

Julie Watkins Nicholas Schmidt STORY

Jim Berger

With the Bearcats’ season extending into mid-May, Dailey was forced to forgo the bulk of the professional tryouts traditionally held across the country throughout April and into early May. But, he continued to search for opportunities until coming across the Pecos League.

“I learned about the Pecos League tryouts online,” he explained. “With our season at Saint Vincent stretching out as long as it did, a lot of the tryouts

for other leagues and teams had already taken place. This was one of the last ones. I just wanted to give it a shot and see what happens.”

The tryout consisted of a timed 60-yard dash, throwing from the outfield, traditional batting practice, and a seven-inning scrimmage. Dailey estimated that 15-20 players took part in the tryout, and he didn’t have high hopes when the day wrapped up.

“I flew into Houston on Monday,” he recalled, “did the tryout on Tuesday morning, and flew right back on Tuesday night. I had no idea whether I made the team. The next morning, Wednesday, I got a call from the coach, and he offered me a spot on the team.”

Dailey hardly had any time to savor the news, as he was then ordered to join the team in Austin, Texas, for its first game that Friday evening, meaning that he had less than 24 hours to make the trip from Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

“My dad and I immediately packed everything up on Thursday morning and started driving. We drove all day Thursday and Friday,

and then I played in my first game on Friday night in Austin. I pretty much got right out of the car and was in the starting lineup. It was crazy, but it was fun.”

Not only was Dailey in the starting lineup for game one, but he smacked a solo home run in his second at-bat. A day later, he would go deep again, this time launching a grand slam.

“It was a good start,” he said, modestly.

Dailey ended up being a fixture in the lineup for the Hormigas during his first professional season. He finished the year having started 41 of 47 games and ranked second on the team in home runs (3), RBIs (28), and runs scored (42), while he also drew 20 walks and stole 16 bases.

Though at first glance, it would appear as if it was a seamless transition for Dailey to go from Division III baseball to the pros, he said that it was anything but.

Instead of playing with classmates aged 18-22 who resided in Bonaventure Hall and ate most of their meals at The Shack, Dailey spent the summer playing with and against players ranging

“THE PREPARATION

AND THE MINDSET OF HAVING CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF THAT THE COACHES GAVE US AT SAINT VINCENT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT HERE AT THIS LEVEL.”

in age from 22-32, most of whom were scholarship athletes at the Division-I and -II levels and had previous professional experience.

Dailey was impressed by the talent level of players across the Pecos League, saying that he routinely faced pitchers throwing 95 miles per hour.

“Pitching is definitely a step up,” he said, “and hitters are way more advanced. There are a lot of newcomers like me who came right out of college, but there are also a lot of guys who had played affiliated ball [for a Major League organization] or in other independent leagues and are working their way back up. It was a melting pot of ages and skill levels, and it was very cool to experience.”

Dailey didn’t hesitate when asked what the most difficult aspect was of his first professional season, one in which the Hormigas played 48 games in 58 days across six different states.

“The travel was absolutely a grind,” he said, “and took a long time to get used to. It seemed like we were always driving through the night and playing the next day without much sleep. We’d eat after the games, around 11 p.m. or midnight, when pretty much everything was closed. We got stuck eating McDonald’s a lot, which got pretty old.”

After Dailey batted .377 with 13 home runs, 18 doubles, eight triples and 76 RBIs in 70 games over his final two collegiate seasons, it wasn’t a surprise to Saint Vincent head coach Mick Janosko that his pupil was afforded the opportunity to play professionally. The veteran head coach cites Dailey’s drive and work ethic as the reasons for his success.

“T.J., first and foremost, deserves all the credit,” said

Janosko. “He transformed himself as a player. Five years ago, he came in as a primary pitcher and struggled a little bit with that. Then, we saw some progress with him offensively, and the rest is history. Once he fully committed to the outfield, he took it and ran with it. The biggest compliment I can give him is that he worked for everything he got. He earned it. There were no shortcuts. It’s a credit to him. He just worked exceptionally hard. It’s proof of what we tell all of our players— once you truly commit to getting better, results will show.”

Janosko beamed when describing the impact that his star right fielder had on the SVC program.

“He was huge for us. There’s no question he will be extremely difficult to replace. He was such a steadfast presence in the middle of the lineup. Every time he came to the plate, it seemed like there were guys on base. You ask your middleof-the-order hitters to drive in runs, and that’s what he did. He had a tremendous last two years for us.”

Dailey, meanwhile, credits his time at Saint Vincent under Janosko for preparing him for this new opportunity.

“The work ethic that Coach Janosko instilled in us, all of the hard work that we put in over the offseason, and just the consistency that he instilled in us definitely gave me a leg up on a lot of the guys from what I saw,” Dailey said. “The preparation and the mindset of having confidence in yourself that the coaches gave us at Saint Vincent are extremely important here at this level.”

Now that his first professional season is under his belt, Dailey will switch

his focus back to academics. After earning a B.S. in finance at Saint Vincent, he enrolled in the Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence program in the McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government; however, he is still far from closing the door on his professional baseball career.

“I’m going to continue my master’s, and after that, I’m just going to see where baseball might take me. In the Pecos League, nothing is really set in stone. We’re all on one-year contracts, so it’s not like we’re locked up with a team for multiple years. As far as next year, if I do come back to this league, I’ll probably have to try out again.” There are some other leagues that I’ll look into, as well, and weigh my options. “Looking back on it, I’m proud of what I’ve done, making it in the league and being able to stick for the whole season.”

As far as advice for those looking to follow in his footsteps?

“It’s cliché to say, ‘work hard,’ but that’s what it takes. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Oftentimes, you forget how talented you are, even playing at the Division III level. “Use your talent, work hard, and you never know what may come your way.” F

T J DAILEY

WEIMAR HORMIGAS (TEXAS) OF

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WEIMAR HORMIGAS

A Human Touch to Education

STORY BY Zach Flock

Peter Stephans may not seek the spotlight, but he is absolutely worthy of it. If you saw him in the crowded Carey Center before the Spring 2022 Commencement ceremony, you might assume he was a guest of a graduate, not the person about to deliver the commencement address. But those who heard his address know that this humble man is building an incredible legacy.

Father Paul Taylor describes Stephans as “a man whose life is a monument to his passion for freedom, innovation, education and the best principles he learned in his long association with Benedictine monasticism.”

That passion drove Stephans, who grew up under communism in Budapest and was educated at the Benedictine Archabbey School of Pannonhalma, to flee his home country on horseback into Germany, like something out of a movie. Stephans arrived at the Abbey at Metten, home monastery to

Saint Vincent founder Boniface Wimmer, before eventually moving to the United States and earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Passion also guided his career, from IBM to Dynamet Incorporated, a medical manufacturing company where he rose to the role of president. Eventually, Mr. Stephans would establish his own company, now known as Trigon Holding, Inc.

Stephans’ passion for Benedictine education and his own journey to the United States—a journey not unlike Wimmer’s— led Stephans and his wife, Joan, to establish a scholarship to support students from Pannonhalma to make a journey of their own. Through the Pannaholman Benedictine Gymnasium Scholarship, up to two Pannonhalman students per year have the opportunity to study at Saint Vincent. A reciprocal scholarship provides the opportunity for Saint Vincent students to make a similar journey to Pannonhalma.

One student who was the beneficiary of the scholarship was Dávid Horváth, who traveled from Hungary to Saint Vincent during the 2021-22 academic year.

“Coming to the U.S. as an exchange student at 19 was definitely the chance of a lifetime,” noted Horváth. “I can confidently say this has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. I got to meet so many new and kind people, had crazy and fun adventures, and got to know myself a lot better, too.”

The Stephans’ provide this support because Mr. Stephans knows the benefits of Benedictine studies firsthand.

“The education I received gave me the confidence to handle all the challenges awaiting me, and the spirituality provided me with an impenetrable force shield that protected me against dependence all my life,” remarked Stephans in his commencement address. “It is quite a process to discover yourself and live a full, meaningful life, but you are fortunate. You had Saint Vincent and the classical Benedictine education guide you through this process and mold you into a person who can blossom in the years ahead.”

Horváth acknowledged the importance of his own education, saying “Benedictine education means you get to know where you are coming from. It gives you a kind of confidence and security to go out with curiosity and tolerance to explore and learn more about the truth. It is also very much aware of the social nature of all humans, and I find the Benedictine appreciation of the value of living in community indispensable.” ♦

The Benedictine Archabbey School of Pannonhalma. At right, Stephans addresses the 2022 spring graduates.

FROM

THE

ARCHIVES

By Guy Davis, Archivist and Collection Curator

SebastianWimmer was born on January 14th, 1809, in the small village of Thalmassing, near Ratisbon in eastern Bavaria. His early formal education took place in the parish school of his hometown. At the age of 11, he studied the classics in Ratisbon. At 19, Sebastian entered the University of Munich where he pursued course work in the sciences. Realizing a call to a religious vocation, he enrolled in the Ducal Georgianum, a theological seminary of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, where he devoted himself to the study of theology. Convinced that his future usefulness in this world would be accomplished by receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders, Sebastian completed theological coursework at the Diocesan Seminary in Ratisbon. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 1st, 1831.

At about that same time, King Ludwig I of Bavaria of the Royal House of Wittelsbach began reestablishing the Bavarian Benedictine Monasteries that had been suppressed during the wars with Napoleon. Two monks at the Abbey of Metten survived the period of secularization and hoped to revitalize their monastery with an influx of candidates for their order. Five priests entered the novitiate at Metten, including Father Wimmer, who, when invested with the habit of Saint Benedict, received the name of “Boniface.” On December 29th, 1833, Boniface handwrote his solemn profession of monastic vows of obedience, stability, and the conversion of life. His commitment to The Rule of St. Benedict and the internalization of the Benedictine motto of pray and work would prove most beneficial, especially when he established the first Benedictine monastery and college in America in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Little did young Boniface realize at the time when he professed solemn vows that a forward movement had begun and would continue to grow, not only in a small area of southwestern Pennsylvania, but throughout the world.

This Solemn Profession Document of Boniface Wimmer handwritten in Latin on vellum by Boniface Wimmer himself in 1833 is a valued artifact for the Saint Vincent Archabbey and College communities and for Benedictines worldwide. ♦

Brian Niemiec

POSITION AT SVC Director of Alumni Relations; men’s and women’s tennis coach

qYEAR GRADUATED 2017

MAJOR/MINOR Communication

FUN FACT

I can punt a donut hole 35 yards.

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND AND YOU COULD ONLY TAKE THREE SVC PROFESSORS WITH YOU, WHO WOULD YOU BRING:

Father Brian Boosel, George Fetkovich, and Jim Berger

FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS Obviously the tennis courts.

CROCS, YES OR NO I’m more of a Birkenstocks and socks guy.

COFFEE ORDER

Iced Americano or an iced cold brew

LEAST FAVORITE SONG Call Me Maybe

SONG MOST LIKELY TO GET STUCK IN YOUR HEAD Century III Chevrolet jingle

RECOMMEND A PODCAST “Circling Back”

LEAST FAVORITE COLOR Chartreuse. It’s the color of a tennis ball.

BONNY OR BENNY Bonny

class notes

For a comprehensive list of Class Notes, including births, engagements, marriages, career, and other updates from alumni, or to submit an update of your own, go to 1846.stvincent.edu/classnotes

Sigma Snacks

Like

many other college students across the country, Tyler Overmier, C’22, was running on empty. Between a full course load, an internship, and 5:00 am swim practices, he couldn’t help but rely on some caffeine to provide a pick-me-up to get through the days. “What if there was a product that had quick carbs before a workout and also a boost of caffeine?” Overmier wondered. At that point, he enlisted the help of his teammate, Robbie Harington, and his two roommates, Joshua Boland and Mauricio Sanchez, all also 2022 grads, in developing a product that would be a healthy energy alternative for athletes.

“I came on to help with the chemical background and ingredients, especially the caffeine” said Boland. “it became a small research project on the side of my research I was doing as part of the biology program.”

Once the idea of Sigma Snacks was hatched, the team quickly expanded as another Bearcat, Maddy Montefour, was tasked with beginning the marketing for the caffeinated creation, and a close friend from outside of Saint Vincent was brought in to help with the ingredient research.

Sigma Snacks is proud to be a Bearcat-run company, and both Overmier and Boland credit their time at Saint Vincent for the company’s ability to get off the ground. Overmier noted the influence of the McKenna school, explaining, “McKenna gave us the confidence and support to create this start-up, and every single professor was so excited to hear about our ideas and provide us advice every step of the way.” Boland gained his knowledge of chemistry and biology from the Boyer School faculty and said, “The professors and staff always kept me engaged and on track to succeed in any way I thought possible.”

Sigma Snacks are produced in downtown Latrobe and are available for purchase at www.eatsigmasnacks.com. The company has plans to be stocked on shelves in colleges nationwide in the near future.

Norris Ordination

When

Brian Norris, C’17, returned to campus this past summer, he was sporting a much different look than we he first arrived in the summer of 2013 for football camp. This new look included an all-black ward robe, complete with a crisp white clerical collar: the look of a newly ordained priest in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

Every year, Saint Vincent sends off hundreds of new alumni to professional careers and continuing education options, but it has become increasingly rare for students to choose a religious vocation. Norris is hoping he can change that, especially in his home diocese.

Norris and fellow Saint Vincent alumni, Ben Daghir, C’15, both graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland this spring and were ordained just days apart. While they each took different paths to the priesthood, Saint Vincent was a common thread, and Norris claimed the liberal arts curriculum at Saint Vincent was a major contributor to his success in an academically rigorous seminary.

While Norris is fresh to his new position, he has already been hard at work, having officiated two weddings and taking on a role in Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona. When asked about what he hopes to accomplish as a new priest, Fr. Brian said, “I hope to help young people find their way back to the Church.”

Manolis Remembered

Anita Lavin Manoli, of Latrobe, passed away on June 24, 2022. She and her husband, Charles “Chuck” G. Manoli, Sr., who passed away in August of 2016, were close friends of Saint Vincent College for more than 50 years.

Chuck spent nearly his entire life at Saint Vincent, first attending the Prep school and later matriculating at Saint Vincent to study history after serving in the Navy during World War II. Anita was welcomed into the Saint Vincent College family when she and Chuck married on August 11, 1951.

Many will remember Anita and Chuck for their hospitality to students, faculty, alumni, board members, monks, and visitors to Saint Vincent, but also for their dedication to educating future generations: Anita taught Spanish for 25 years at Derry Area High School before finishing up her teaching career with a year of adjuncting at her alma mater, Seton Hill University. Additionally, she taught Spanish at Saint Vincent and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg during the summers while she was earning her MA in Hispanic languages and literature through the University of Pittsburgh. Chuck began a lifelong teaching career as a social studies teacher at Park Terrace Junior High School in North Versailles Township before returning to Saint Vincent Prep and eventually joining the SVC History Department, in turn going on to teach for 43 years. At the end of his final year of teaching, Chuck, professor emeritus of history, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the 159th Spring Commencement Ceremony.

Chuck and Anita felt called to extend their educational dedication beyond their own classrooms and created the Charles G. and Anita L. Manoli Scholarship, which, in conjunction with the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, also presents the Charles G. Manoli Tribute lecture series. Chuck initially funded the scholarship with the salary he earned from part-time teaching, and the Manoli family have continued to be the primary benefactors for the fund, benefitting dozens of students over the years.

The Manolis have profoundly influenced Saint Vincent College students and will continue to do so for many generations to come. We thank them for their friendship.

MANOLI LECTURE SERIES

Date: November 3 @ 7:00 p.m. Fred M. Rogers Center

Speaker: Kimberly M. Colonna, C’94 Education Law Attorney

Topic: Student Civil Rights: Guarding Truth and Justice in a Developing Legal Landscape

IN MEMORIAM

NAME DATE OF PASSING

Patrick H. Mahady, P’62 February 8, 2022

Francis R. Bradley, C’58 February 11, 2022

Vincent J. Gocke, C’52 February 5, 2022

Michael Kowalczyk, C’78 January 21, 2022

Dr. James L. Houston, P’54, C’58 March 4, 2022

Rev. V. Donald Hall, P’65, C’69 March 15, 2022

James Miller, C’70 March 16, 2022

George Nemo, C’61 March 19, 2022

Catherine Varga, C’10 March 23, 2022

Thomas P. Nigra, P’59, C’63 March 21, 2022

Robert J. Kezell, C’58 March 27, 2022

John J. Firment, C’70 March 23, 2022

James J. Fannie, C’71 March 31, 2022

Dr. Jose A. Arroyo, C’52 April 9, 2022

James Sollars, C’67 April 9, 2022

Stephen J. Ulishney, C’64 April 13, 2022

Benedict L. Fajt, C’61 April 16, 2022

Mark E. Krystyniak, C’78 April 2, 2022

Philip Sheridan Reilly, C’75 December 6, 2020

Edward J. Schreier, C’64 April 6, 2022

David Hohman, C’59 April 26, 2022

Robert B. Schlather, C’68 April 27, 2022

Msgr. John L. Conway April 28, 2022

Clement A. Guarlotti D.M.D, C’67 May 9, 2022

Richard D. Glancy, P’62 October 21, 2021

Edward Revitsky Jr., C’78 May 17, 2022

Franklin J. Eppig Jr., C’71 September 10, 2020

James Eisenbart, C’72 May 2022

Anita Manoli, H’51 June 24, 2022

Francis “Pat” Markiewicz, C’69 June 24, 2022

Stephen Cibulas, C’55 June 30, 2022

Dr. Clement Guarlotti, DMD

By Michael Hricik

Dr. Clement Anthony Guarlotti, of Jeannette, died May 9, 2022. He was born April 26, 1945, in Greensburg, the son of the late Clement and Catherine (Faulk) Guarlotti. Clement was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. He always loved life and lived it to the fullest and lived for his family.

For the past 49 years, Clement has been a well-known Greensburg dentist and prosthodontist. At the age of 77, he was still at the top of his profession.

Guarlotti was excellent at what he did. His experience helped him finish procedures perfectly in a short amount of time. He always played oldies music and would sing along. He was never in a bad mood, and he made the office atmosphere light and enjoyable. Several members of his family worked for him, and, of course, they also are first rate.

Guarlotti helped start Westmoreland County Community College’s dental hygiene program 30 years ago. He was the dentist to former Greensburg Fire Chief Ed Hutchinson, monks from Saint Vincent College and many others. Even on the busiest day, he was happy and handled any problem with great skill. He even had a menu item at Rizzo’s Malabar Inn: Polenta Guarlotti. Besides enjoying fine dining, he and his wife loved dancing.

FROM THE

Art Collection

Manchester Illuminated Universal Turing Machine, #23

Roman Verostko, (American, b. 1929 - )

1998, pen plotted drawing with gold leaf, 22 x 30 in.

Saint Vincent College Collection Gift of the Artist

Learn more about this piece at 1846.stvincent.edu/collection.

Arriving

at Saint Vincent College in 1966 as a “country boy” from a small mining town near Saltsburg, Jim Wasylyshyn, C’70, was somewhat in awe of the collegiate environment. Soon after starting, however, he made a friend who told him to just “be himself, and the future at the college will be a delightful experience.” Jim followed his advice, and sure enough, he flourished during his time at Saint Vincent.

Jim speaks candidly of the impact of the Benedictine monks and sisters who were supportive of him. As Jim’s life unfolded, the time spent with Father Brice in the French language lab was quite relevant as he became an international traveler with a special attraction to spending many months each year in France.

The motivation that led Jim to create the Wasylyshyn Family Music and Theater Scholarship is a result of the countless individuals who have had a major impact on him being comfortable with “who he is and how he might be able to help others.”

To read more of Jim’s story and to find out how you can provide support to students through the creation of a scholarship, visit saintvincent.planmylegacy.org, or contact Jim Bendel at james.bendel@stvincent.edu or 724.244.4805. ♦

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