2021 Summer Saint Vincent Magazine

SAINT VINCENT

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M A G A Z I N E

Summer 2021

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Class of 2021 members from left, Tyrique Anderson, Riley Assalone, Millicent Caffrey, Juliana Donaldson and Gabriella Furey.

Dear Alumni and Friends,

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n what was, indeed, a beautiful day in our neighborhood, we celebrated an outdoor commencement on Saturday, May 22, for the first time in our history. Held at Chuck Noll Field in the heart of campus, graduates and their loved ones gathered for the largest event hosted at Saint Vincent College in more than 15 months. To be together again, in-person, seeing the smiles on the faces of our students as they walked across the stage on this momentous occasion was inspiring.

Commencement also provided another assuring sign of hope that the darkest days of the pandemic are in our rear view and the sense of normalcy for which each of us has been longing draws nearer.

In a spring semester that was capped by this celebration, we acknowledge the challenges, both expected and unexpected, that were again presented to our entire campus community. However, even despite these difficulties, we were excited to again see more activity on campus throughout the spring, including the return of all 24 varsity sports participating during the semester, a hybrid Honors Convocation event and a wide range of virtual opportunities for students. As we look toward the fall semester, we are planning for a return to full classroom capacity for in-person learning and our typical academic calendar.

“To be together again, inperson, seeing the smiles on the faces of our students as they walked across the stage on this momentous occasion was inspiring.”

Earlier this summer, we welcomed a new Chair of the Board of Directors, Mr. Arthur J. Rooney II, President of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was unanimously elected as Board Chair at the June 11 meeting to replace Mr. J. Christopher Donahue, who stepped down after 25 years on the Board, including 22 as Chair. We are ever grateful for Mr. Donahue’s leadership and support, and we look forward to the ways in which Mr. Rooney will bring his vision and expertise to this position.

A special thank you to every member of our campus who has contributed and continues to contribute to our pandemic mitigation efforts. From coordinating vaccine clinics and delivering meals, to conducting student testing and adapting modalities of instruction, the Saint Vincent community remains strong and the evidence of that surrounds each of us every day.

Finally, we are grateful to our alumni and friends, as through your prayers and generosity, you have sustained our efforts and enhanced the Saint Vincent experience for our students.

May God continue to bless you and your loved ones, and we look forward to welcoming you to campus very soon.

Forward, Always Forward,

Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B. President

Athletics

Cindy Citrone, founder and chief executive officer of The Citrone 33 Foundation, received an honorary degree and addressed the class of 2021 at spring commencement at Chuck Noll Field.

14 Art, Science

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One semester of athletics can be demanding on the staff members who work behind the scenes. But what about doing EVERY sport in ONE semester?

Alumni

Brother Placid Sellers, O.S.B., and Krista Jobe brought art and science together with a Medical Illustration class, unique for undergraduates.

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The story of a sweater; golf outing returns; ‘30 under 30’; alumni news, weddings, engagements, births.

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S a in t V inc e n t M a g a z ine ARCHABBOT AND CHANCELLOR Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B. PRESIDENT Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/ CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jeff Mallory, Ed.D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT & CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR David M. Hollenbaugh SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Michael Hustava SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS Ben Becze, CFRE

EDITOR & DESIGN Kim Metzgar svmagazine@stvincent.edu

33 Lasting Legacy

Faculty Awards Thomas Octave and Dr. Sarah E. Daly received faculty awards at the spring honors convocation.

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Spring Commencement

Michael and Mandi Downey created a legacy gift for Saint Vincent and future generations of Bearcats.

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Cover Summer 2021 Volume 18, Issue 3

PRINTING Laurel Valley Graphics

AD ARTWORK AND CAMPAIGN DESIGN George Fetkovich PROOFREADER Carol Riddle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Becze Jim Bendel Jim Berger Michael Hustava RJ Leisie Kim Metzgar PHOTOGRAPHY Grace Alverson Alexander Byers Alumni Relations Office Sports Information Office

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/ Legal-Information/.

Members of the class of 2021 took part in an outdoor commencement at Chuck Noll Field on May 22. Cindy Citrone, founder and chief executive officer of The Citrone 33 Foundation, received an honorary degree and addressed the class. See page 14.

Photo by Grace Alverson, C’20.

From left, Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., archabbot and chancellor; J. Christopher Donahue, chairman of the board from 19992021; Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., president; and Arthur J. Rooney II, incoming chairman of the board and board member since 2014.

Saint Vincent College Board Of Directors Elects New Chair

By Jim Berger

“We thank Chris for his diligent work on behalf of our College these some 25 years, and 22 as Chair of the Board,” said Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., Saint Vincent College chancellor, “and we look forward to our continued relationship with the Rooney family and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Art will continue the tradition of strong Board leadership here at Saint Vincent College.”

“On behalf of the entire Saint Vincent College community, including our students, faculty, and administration, we are grateful to the incredible work that Chris Donahue has provided us as a longtime member and Chair of the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors” said Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., Saint Vincent College president.

“His steady leadership, keen

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he Saint Vincent College Board of Directors has announced a change in its leadership following the retirement of J. Christopher Donahue, who has served as the Board’s Chair since 1999.

Mr. Donahue, who announced his retirement at the Board’s quarterly meeting on June 11, will be succeeded by the Board’s Vice Chair, Arthur J. Rooney II.

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insights, incredible generosity and unrelenting commitment to the success of our institution have contributed to a period of unprecedented growth that will continue to sustain our success at Saint Vincent.”

Mr. Donahue, the president, CEO, chairman and director of Pittsburgh investment manager Federated Hermes, first joined the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors in 1996.

“Even board chairs graduate,” said Mr. Donahue. “Thank you, Saint Vincent College, for the opportunity to serve. Gratitude to all who have supported our mission and I wish all the best for the future. With Father Paul, Art Rooney II and Archabbot Martin at the helm, Saint Vincent is in great hands.”

Mr. Donahue has presided over the Saint Vincent College

Board of Directors throughout an era of sustained growth for the College, during which its endowment, enrollment and academic offerings have consistently and significantly grown.

Most recently, Mr. Donahue and his wife, Ann Carey Donahue, served as co-chairs of Saint Vincent College’s recordbreaking Forward, Always Forward Campaign. The largest capital campaign in the College’s history closed in September 2020 having raised $118 million, surpassing its original goal of $100 million.

The Forward, Always Forward Campaign focused on endowment growth, new construction and renovation and funding of current academic programs and projects. More than $36 million was added to the College’s endowment for scholarships, professors and programs. Several substantial construction projects were completed, including The James F. Will Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Hall, featuring the Ralph and Donna Liberatore Human Anatomy Lab; the Dale P. Latimer Library, featuring the Verostko Center for the Arts and the Sharon and James E. Rohr Learning Commons; UPMC Field; DiPadova Hall and the Student Life and Hospitality Hub. Throughout Mr. Donahue’s time on the Board, his family’s generous philanthropy to Saint Vincent enabled the College to initiate a number of significant building and renovation projects, including the 2003 expansion and renovation of the Robert S. Carey Student Center, named for Ann’s brother. The family has also been supportive of the Saint Vincent College faculty by endowing the James F. Will Professorship of Engineering.

that they have done for Saint Vincent.”

Mr. Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, joined the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors in 2014 and was appointed Vice Chair in September 2020.

“We are excited to welcome Art Rooney II into this new role as Chair of the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors,” said Father Paul. “His contributions as a member and Vice Chair of the Board provide a foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Donahue are the parents of eight children, including 2008 Saint Vincent College graduate James C. Donahue. The family has deep ties to the Saint Vincent community, as Mrs. Donahue’s grandfather and two great uncles were orphaned and raised by the Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent. Her great uncles later became Rev. Callistus Stehle, O.S.B., and Archabbot Aurelius Stehle, O.S.B., who presided over the Saint Vincent Archab-

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ost recently, Mr. Donahue and his wife, Ann Carey Donahue, served

as co-chairs of Saint Vincent College’s record-breaking Forward, Always Forward Campaign. The largest capital campaign in the College’s history closed in September 2020 having raised $118 million, surpassing its original goal of $100 million. upon which Saint Vincent will continue to move forward. We are blessed to further benefit from Art’s leadership and expertise and we are grateful that he has embraced the opportunity to serve the College in this capacity at such a pivotal time in our history.”

“I am honored to be named Chair of the Board at Saint Vincent College,” Mr. Rooney said, “and I want to thank Chris Donahue for his outstanding service as Board Chair for the past 22 years. He is leaving a tremendous foundation for the College and the Board to continue to build upon. I am excited to work with the Board and the entire Saint Vincent community to help lead efforts into the future

bey from 1918-1930.

Mr. Donahue has served as president and CEO of Federated Hermes since 1998 and has been responsible for the development of the firm’s long-term strategies and goals, directly overseeing investment management and research, sales and marketing, and administrative functions of the corporation.

“We look forward to continuing our longstanding friendship and will always appreciate the dedication and passion for Saint Vincent, our students and the monastic community that Chris has so proudly displayed these many years,” said Father Paul.

“We wish Chris, Ann and their entire family the very best, and sincerely thank them for all

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for such a respected and important Catholic college.”

Mr. Rooney was appointed president of the Pittsburgh Steelers in May 2003, while he also serves of counsel at the Pittsburgh law firm Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney, where he specializes in corporate finance, sports law and governmental affairs.

He currently serves as the Chair of the National Football League’s Stadium Workplace Diversity Committee as well as Chair of the NFL’s Compensation Committee. He also sits on additional NFL committees including the Legislative Committee, the Management Council Executive Committee, the International Committee, the Health and Safety Advisory Committee and the NFL Foundation.

Mr. Rooney is very active in the Pittsburgh community. In addition to serving on the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors, he also sits on the boards of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Senator John Heinz Western PA History Center and the United Way of Allegheny County.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1978, before graduating with highest honors from Duquesne University School of Law in 1982. Mr. Rooney and his wife, Greta, reside in Pittsburgh.

“With a relationship that dates back more than five decades,” said Father Paul, “the Rooney family and the Pittsburgh Steelers are very much part of the Saint Vincent community and have long been advocates for the mission of the College. We look forward to the ways in which Saint Vincent will continue to grow under Art’s guidance and through the support of our entire board of directors.”

Summer 2021

BENEDICTINE HALLMARK OF COMMUNITY SERVICE NEVER MORE EVIDENT THAN AT VACCINATION CLINICS

inquired with Kathleen Pantalone, senior director of event and conference services, about the possibility of bringing vaccination clinics to campus. With Pantalone’s blessing, Smetanka made arrangements with John Pastorek, the director of Mainline Pharmacy Group, which operates eight pharmacies across four southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

“In our original talks,” said Pastorek, “John didn’t even hesitate to offer the campus and provide volunteers. There was no red tape. He just made it happen. Anything that I asked Saint Vincent to provide, he said yes. You could tell from speaking with John that he knew how important this was and how much of an impact Saint Vincent could have on the community. You could see that he not only knew it was the right thing to do but truly wanted Saint Vincent to be on the front lines of the battle to end the pandemic.”

Smetanka explained that it took a team effort to bring the vaccination clinics on campus, and that the idea was first discussed in December, not long after the first vaccines in the U.S. were approved.

“In December and January,” he said, “the Forward Together Advisory Committee and the President’s Cabinet made securing a vaccination clinic for our community a high priority. Judy Maher (director of human resources) obtained a list of all the local pharmacies that were receiving vaccines and Mainline was clearly one of the largest. Both Dr. Jeff Mallory (executive vice president) and I contacted the pharmacies on the list. Mainline called us right back and we quickly made the arrangements.”

The Rogers Center hosted its first vaccination clinic on January 25, during which an estimated 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered to Phase 1-A eligible patients. The first event of its kind to be staged at SVC didn’t come with an instruction manual, but Pantalone and staff quickly worked to develop an organizational plan that would streamline future clinics.

By Jim Berger

Since its opening in 2008, the Fred M. Rogers Center has been a hub of activity on the Saint Vincent College campus, annually welcoming thousands of guests for lectures, presentations, conferences and banquets. While the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered these traditional events and activities, the Center continued to welcome scores of visitors each week during the first half of 2021. Through a partnership formed with The Mainline Pharmacy Group, Saint Vincent College and the Fred M. Rogers Center hosted regular vaccination clinics, administering upward of 30,000 doses between January and June.

With vaccine production accelerating in early January, Dr. John Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean,

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Summer 2021

came through the doors. The best part is, I never actually had Along with the pharmacists, pharmacy students and nurses to ask anyone to do any of this. They saw someone in need and enlisted by Mainline to administer the vaccines, Pantalone immediately came to their aid. Everyone who volunteered has solicited volunteers from Saint Vincent and the surrounding played a small part in helping someone get vaccinated to enable communities to perform vital roles including check-in and them to get back to a more normal sense of being, and that’s a registration, crowd/line control, traffic/parking lot control and huge deal for a lot of people.” scheduling future doses for vaccine recipients.

Pastorek was also effusive in praising the hundreds of Saint With a machine-like efficiency in place, the clinics would Vincent volunteers who helped the Mainline clinics run smoothly. soon become a bi-weekly event and as vaccinations became more “The Saint Vincent volunteers and community have been readily available and the list of eligible recipients expanded, they amazing,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many people have come would grow to accommodate more than 2,000 people at each into our pharmacies to say how clinic through March and April, with Mainline administering COMMUNITY: call for service to the com- well the clinics were run at Saint Vincent. That wouldn’t have both the Moderna and Pfizer mon good and respect for the individual. been able to happen without vaccinations. the campus community and “I cannot possibly explain Benedictine monastic community is volunteers. It says a lot about how amazingly talented Kathleen is and how great she rooted in a particular place in which mu- the culture Saint Vincent creates on campus that so many people has been to work with,” Pastorek tual service,especially in the mundane were willing to give their time said. “It was very clear to me so often to help this cause. from the beginning that she areas of everyday life, is demanded of Everywhere you turned at the has orchestrated large events everyone with no other reward than the clinics, there was a smiling before and knew exactly how face at the next step in the to do things to make them run building up of the community... Beneprocess. This means a lot to smoothly. Besides having a large dictine educational institutions seek to people, especially people who number of people on campus, are nervous about getting a these clinics are totally different recognize the service their members vaccine.” than other large events. Kathleen give to promoting human well-being on Throughout the scourge of figuring out a way to get that the COVID-19 pandemic, the many people through the campus, as well as off. It is our intent to nation has pined for a return building that quickly, efficiently commemorate the example and witness to normalcy, longing to shed and safely is nothing short of face masks, dine at bustling amazing. She knew exactly how provided in the past, to celebrate human restaurants and gather in crowds things needed to be set up and generosity wherever it is found, and to with friends and family. While was able to make adjustments on reiterating the need for the the fly to keep things running expand care and concern for our memcommunity to remain cautious, smoothly.”

Smetanka is hopeful that there Pantalone was quick to credit bers on a regular basis. may finally be a light at the end her team in the Event and —THE 10TH BENEDICTINE HALLMARK of the tunnel and proud that Conference Services Office, as SVC played a role in the fight well as the scores of volunteers against the virus. from Saint Vincent and the “The key now is education and sustained vigilance—adapting surrounding community who jumped at the chance to help. to the variants and a likely shift to seasonal outbreaks and the “We have an amazing Event and Conference Services team possibility of booster shots as a result. This fall will definitely which knows and understands well the concept of Benedictine Hospitality,” she said. “On a larger scale, the students, faculty and be better than the previous 15 months thanks to the vaccine, but challenges will still exist. I am confident in our ability to staff really stepped up as we grew the clinics to serve more than meet them based on the great response of our Saint Vincent 2,000 people a day. Not only does it showcase the overall sense community. of community on campus, but it also speaks volumes about the “Historically, the College has been a place the surrounding character of the people who are a part of our community. community could turn to in time of need. Whether for bread “I watched each week as students drove elderly patients on golf during the Great Depression, comfort in times of stress, or now carts so they didn’t have to walk extra steps into the building, for vaccines in the time of plague. It is heartening to see that the push wheelchairs from the door through the entire line and back Saint Vincent community still has the missionary spirit in tough to the car for people who didn’t have anyone with them to help times.” and provide a level of service and hospitality to everyone who Saint Vincent Magazine

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Theology Major Humbly Receives First Father Nathan Munsch Scholarship Junior theology major Angela Zenchak has been named the first recipient of Saint Vincent College’s Rev. Nathan J. Munsch, O.S.B., Scholarship, recognizing academic achievement, humility and character, pastoral commitment and financial need.

A member of the Saint Vincent Benedictine monastic community since 1993, Father Nathan retired in 2020 after being diagnosed with ALS. He taught theology and Latin at both Saint Vincent College and Seminary for more than 20 years, while he served as pastor of the parishes of Saint Benedict (Marguerite), Saint Mary (Pocahontas) and Saint Michael (Salisbury). From 2015-20, he was also director of pastoral formation for Saint Vincent Seminary.

A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Oakland Catholic High School, Zenchak is the daughter of Tim and Mary Beth Zenchak and an active parishioner at Blessed Trinity Parish. She was surprised and humbled to learn of her selection for the scholarship from Dr. Lucas Briola, assistant professor of theology.

Briola was effusive in praising Zenchak, saying that she was an ideal candidate for the new scholarship.

“Angela stood out because of her ardent desire to blend her study of theology with pastoral care,” said Briola, “both of which are grounded in a deep spirituality.

This integration shines through not only in her work in the classroom but also in her vocational aspirations. She has expressed her hope to enter the religious life and work with pro-life ministries, and this scholarship can help her toward this end.”

Zenchak changed her major to theology during her sophomore year when she began discerning the Sisters of Life, an active female order dedicated to the promotion of pro-life causes, and she feels that being selected to receive the scholarship is a sign that she made the right decision.

“When Dr. Briola explained to me all of the details of the scholarship,” she said, “it felt like God was taking my hand and supporting my change of major.”

The scholarship was created to show gratitude for and preserve the legacy of Father Nathan, as he helped to shape the lives of thousands during his career as a

Angela Zenchak is presented the inaugural Rev. Nathan J. Munsch, O.S.B., Scholarship by Dr. Lucas Briola. priest and educator.

“Father Nathan has been a steady, stalwart presence in the Saint Vincent College Theology Department, Saint Vincent Seminary and Monastery, local parishes and even in my life and the life of my family,” said Briola. “This scholarship hopes to honor that legacy. All of us— faculty and students alike—are forever thankful for the generous donors who have made this hope possible and have honored Father Nathan in this way.”

Though she was never able to take a course taught by Father Nathan, Zenchak is well aware of the indelible impact that he has made on the Saint Vincent community.

“Unfortunately,” Father Nathan said, “we have never met 9

due to the COVID-19 restrictions. She sent me a marvelous thank you note around Christmas, in which she described her personal journey. What struck me at the time was the resemblance between her personal journey and my own. Namely, entering college without the slightest intention of studying theology, but then having my future plans unsettled and finally changed completely by a series of personal and religious experiences.”

As she continues to discern the Sisters of Life, Zenchak is not fully certain of what her future holds beyond her time at Saint Vincent. Despite the uncertainty, she will continue to look to God as she awaits to see what’s in store.

Summer 2021

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Illustration by Angelo Celani

Medical Illustration Class Unique Experience For Students

By Kim Metzgar

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hen Douglas Sellers came to Saint Vincent in 2016 as a novice at the Archabbey, he brought with him a wealth of experience in a variety of fields.

Taking the religious name of Placid, after a young follower of Saint Benedict, the monk professed solemn vows in 2020, and has begun to combine some of the skills from his “old life” with that of his “new life.”

Timing was everything. The conclusion of his year in the novitiate—a year of contemplation, study and discernment for life as a monk—coincided with the fall 2017 dedication of the Liberatore Human Anatomy Lab in the James F. Will Engineering and Biomedical Sciences Hall.

Krista Jobe was hired as the human anatomy lab manager. The next year, Brother Placid began teaching a course in photography that relies heavily on Adobe Photoshop®. Interactions with students, some of whom were in the fine arts, and his interest in the anatomy lab—a throwback to his days as director-manager and facility designer of the Medical Media Department of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and a medical photographer and illustrator for Montefiore Hospital, Oakland—led him to Jobe.

The purpose of the course, Sellers said, “is to

Krista Jobe, center, Clair Sirofchuck and Angelo Celani in the Human Anatomy Lab. Photo by Brother Placid Sellers, O.S.B. provide the medical illustration/fine arts student with a realistic medical operating room scenario, in which a physician requires photographic and/or illustrative documentation of surgical discoveries and procedures.

It provides the doctor with a clean, accurate illustration of an often messy surgical prodecure in order to teach that procedure.”

Students learn, he said, “to do what I did in the operating room for work.”

“We originally started with one student,” Jobe recalled, “and the class was simply an independent study for her. This was sort of our ‘test’ run of the class, to see how things went and if it would make sense to offer it as a full course.”

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There was interest, and their respective department heads recommended that the course be offered as a class rather than an independent study.

“At this point,” Jobe said, “we decided to allow two students to take the class, mainly due to our Covid-19 restrictions. With my class and the two Medical Illustration students, we were a little tight on social distancing requirements in the lab.”

Angelo Celani, a senior studio arts major from Penn Hills, and Clair Sirofchuck, a junior creative writing and studio art double major from Ligonier, were the two students enrolled in this spring’s class.

“I lamented to my advisor, Brother Summer 2021

Mark Floreannini, that our college did not offer any human anatomy courses for artists, as many arts programs do, and he smiled and told me about this course,” said Sirofchuck. “I hadn’t heard of it before, being a developing class, but I eagerly signed on.”

“As an art major I lean more toward illustration and this class offered a unique opportunity for me to explore, so of course I took immediate interest,” Celani said. “Prior to this class I was educated in a variety of mediums but I took a liking to pens and ink which I taught myself how to use beyond the introduction I received in high school.... At first I was nervous to be around the cadaver as I’m sure most people are but my teachers and classmates were very welcoming

and helpful as I eased into the new environment.”

Celani had discussed the class with Brother Placid, and said they “discussed his vision of how he felt we could tie together the field of fine arts with the study of human anatomy,” and how it related to Sellers’ past experience working at the hospital.

“We met and it made the most sense for us to have the Medical Illustration course run concurrently with my Human Anatomy and Physiology course, so the Medical Illustration students would be able to observe the process of dissection and anatomical discussion,” Jobe said.

What they did not expect, however, was to be made a full part of the Human Anatomy Lab class.

“I admit, I was a little

Saint Vincent Magazine

nervous, but also excited,” said Sirofchuck. “I just didn’t know how I would react to being in a room with a cadaver. Although I was afraid of getting queasy or fainting, the way Brother Placid and Ms. Jobe prepared our class for what we would experience, as well as the respectful way in which the only uncovered area of the cadaver was what the class was presently dissecting, made me very comfortable.”

“Similar to my students, they were a little more cautious around the cadaver at first,” Jobe said. “We take the first few weeks pretty slow in terms of the dissection and study that is done.”

As the semester went on, the Medical Illustration students “were bolder and felt more comfortable to get close up to study anatomical structures.

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The real success was when they put gloves on and actually got to hold the cadaver’s heart,” Jobe said. “After that, they regularly joined my students in touching and holding different structures. I do try my best to get them involved, and they can ask questions like the other students.”

Part of the Saint Vincent way, Sellers said, is the respect that is given to the cadaver.

While the students do not know the cadaver’s name, only the medical background, he said that they give it a name.

“Krista makes it clear that this person gave us a gift. The body is treated with incredible dignity.” After the semester, he said the body “is cremated and buried in our cemetery. Other places do not always keep the remains intact, nor do they

Illustration by Clair Sirofchuck bury it.” The cremains of the person, as this group called its cadaver Dorothy, or “Dottie,” are placed in an unmarked grave with the cremains of other cadavers from the lab, overlooking the Biomedical Sciences Hall. ”My illustrational abilities have grown incredibly as I’ve become faster and more confident in drawing with ink, a challenging medium given its permanency and inability to erase mistakes, unlike pencil,” said Sirofhuck. “Learning how to digitally colorize also greatly broadens my portfolio, since we live in a digital age, besides giving me more flexibility with my pieces. Now, I can have a piece in color and in black and white without damaging my original drawing.”

She noted that “besides

artistic skill, I learned so much about the human body, and what’s inside of me. Although I took Biology 1 and 2 in high school, I never truly understood how our internal organs nestle next to each other, where our trachea, esophagus and aorta are situated, or even that we have a separate thoracic and abdominal cavity. Most textbook diagrams lay out the human body so neatly that it’s difficult to understand just how compact and messy everything is inside. Now, I have a thorough understanding of anatomy, and know firsthand what things like fat, ribs, connective tissue, and muscle fibers look like.”

Jobe noted that the students told her at the end of the semester, “that they actually learned a lot about Human

Anatomy and felt like they had a better understanding of their own bodies.”

Celani now calls it one of the best experiences of his final semester at Saint Vincent.

“Through this class I grew not only in my artistic ability but I also learned a good bit about the human anatomy firsthand.

Being able to study the forms and structure of the human body in such detail was nothing less than a gift for an artist like me. I also learned how to present my illustrations in a variety of manners giving me the versatility I need to provide art for different purposes whether it be purely visual or even possibly educational.”

Jobe has hopes of using these students’ and other students’ illustrations to create a supplementary lab handbook 13

to give to students at the beginning of the semester.

While only in the planning stages now, Jobe envisions the book’s use “for study and to reference it when they are looking ahead to future dissection sessions, or reviewing what they just learned.”

Sirofchuck said that “while my own career plans to write and illustrate books for young people have not changed, it has opened a door for me to consider possibly freelancing in medical illustration in the future.”

Celani said he has an interest in pursuing “this as a career down the line. Whether I like to admit it or not, as an artist I am drawn to interesting things and it’s just not often that I encounter something as interesting as this.”

Summer 2021

CLASS OF 2021

By Jim Berger

175TH ANNUAL SVC SPRING COMMENCEMENT Cindy Citrone, founder and chief executive officer of The Citrone 33 Foundation, received an honorary degree and addressed the class of 2021 in an in-person commencement ceremony held outdoors at Chuck Noll Field.

“Once upon a time,” she began her address, “there was

a princess who lived in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, a welcoming village of kind, strong people, a kingdom where champions are crowned every year. She fell in love with a smart, handsome prince. She had four caring children, a dream job helping others and even a spare castle in Disney World. She was the girl, you know the girl in that song, the girl who has everything… well she had everything, except a good therapist.”

Saint Vincent Magazine

Citing her family’s long history with Saint Vincent, she noted that “my husband, Rob, was baptized right behind us in the Basilica, and a shout out to his father, Bob, who is a distinguished Bearcat alumnus, as well as his uncles. Our family is eternally grateful to this institution for the values and education they have received from this very special place.”

Addressing the Class of 2021, she noted that “you arrived today despite the biggest chal14

lenges ever in the history of academia. Never did any of us ever dream of a time that a chemistry lab would be completed via Zoom, that in the shadows of the Fred Rogers Center, your ‘neighborhood’ would dictate who you could interact with, that the Basilica doors would be closed and we were unable to receive holy communion. Things were unimaginable. You did not have traditional experiences, and that is what makes you unique.”

She told graduates that

“fairytale endings and happily ever afters do not come without battling dragons. All of you are now beginning to build your life story. It’s an exciting moment that is not to be taken for granted, not to be squandered and not to be limiting. Your journey begins with your faith in God, in yourself and in your personal and professional relationships.”

Addressing her own fairytale story, alluded to in her opening, she said, “how did I get from Pittsburgh girl to Steelers

owner, Disney World resident and mental health advocate, to standing on this stage? Am I living happily ever after?”

Shortly after she graduated from college, she met her husband, Rob, at a bar in Richmond, Virginia, on a Sunday night following a Steelers game. “We exchanged ‘Here We Go Steelers’ chants and chatted about our favorite players when he proceeded to ask me out.... He said, if we went out, someday together we could own

a boat, not much of a draw for me. So he continued to promise.

‘I will speak to you in French,’ he said. I don’t speak French so no help there. Then he paused and said confidently, ‘Cindy, stick with me, and together you and I will one day own a share of the Pittsburgh Steelers.’ Now he had my attention.

“It was crazy. Everyone knew the Rooneys owned the Steelers.

He might as well have said we would become the Kennedys.

But there was something in his 15

eye, something in his promise that I knew it would happen for us. Today, together as a team, we are partners as one of the largest minority owners. I should tell you, that we never did own a boat, or speak French in our home.”

The couple is also “proud of our family’s collective, Citrone 33, a private family foundation that is making a difference in the world,” she said. “We are developing a mental wellness initiative designed specifically to Summer 2021

help young, college-age adults.

We have a seat around the table in the fight against breast cancer and the importance of organ donation.

“Our family is on the ground in developing countries advocating for women’s health care.

Giving back is a passion for us.

Rob set fire to what was within me, and I am here to set fire to what is within you.”

While she said she believes they are living happily ever after, it was not without challenges.

She lost her parents at a young age, is a breast cancer survivor, and struggled with challenges of every day life, such as fear of being a good mother and equipping her children to be happy.

“I have always believed that I should lead by example and not getting help to manage my own anxiety and emotions was not the precedent I wanted to set,” she said. “My job as a parent wasn’t done until I was able to first equip myself, and then my children with skills and tools

to address their own mental wellness.

“As we are reminded on a plane, first you put on your oxygen mask, then your children’s.

That decision to seek help was transformative. It changed the course of my life and is part of the reason I’m standing here with you today. I learned to face my challenges and view them as growth opportunities.

“For you, this past year might very well be one of the most difficult of your life. It will certainly be one you will discuss for the rest of your life. But while I was well into adulthood before I learned those coping skills, you’ve amassed several over just the past 16 months.

While navigating a pandemic was lonely, Bearcats, you never walked alone. Your professors, your fellow students, and the spirit of God surrounded you and will continue to walk alongside you.

“Your Saint Vincent education has prepared you for

success,” she added. “When you think about it, much of what’s been accomplished here on the soil of Saint Vincent has been because of commitment, grit, resilience. Herb Boyer.

Fred Rogers. Dan Rooney and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their accomplishments didn’t always come easily either, but they trained hard here, they built a strong cultural foundation and cultivated a community to support them. You, too, are a part of that legacy.”

Citrone told them “you are leaving here with power.

You each have your time, ties, talents, treasures and trust to lean into to improve the world around you. It’s about creating shared experiences, experimenting and innovating, and achieving and making a difference every day.... More than that, while you’ve spent the past several years unpacking who you are, you’ve simultaneously been packing for the longer road ahead. Your story is ready to

Saint Vincent College President Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., left, and Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., Chancellor, present commencement speaker Cindy Citrone with an honorary doctorate during the 2021 commencement ceremony, held on Chuck Noll Field.

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start a new chapter.”

“When I think about my dream and what makes my life special, it’s the ability to give back,” Citrone said. “To share resources, to have that feeling that I’ve helped someone today. This has been incredibly important to my family and we instilled these values in our children. It is the Pittsburgh way; it is the Saint Vincent way.

Every one of you has something to give and every one of you should be open to receive.”

The Citrone 33 Foundation has created “Unpack—as in “University”—in 2020 to help students in developing and maintaining their mental wellness as they navigate the challenges of college life and beyond. Its OK to not be OK, she said, advising students to be kind to themselves. She told them to never be ashamed to ask for help, and to practice acceptance. “Welcome life and all of its good and bad moments instead of resisting them.”

The Citrone 33 Foundation provided graduates with a copy of the Little Black and Gold Book of Gratitude, “a gratitude practice journal that’s created with the Steelers and 33 of the greatest players and coaches that have graced this practice field we sit on. Use it to practice gratitude,” she said. She also instructed them to take a few seconds to be “truly present. A Bearcat break.

Take this time to experience this great moment in your life, look at your surroundings, smell the air, listen to the sounds, and, most importantly, feel the love, the support, the pride of your family, your faculty, your friends, the holy spirit and most of all yourself.

“Class of 2021, it’s your moment to start your ‘Once Upon a Time.’ God Bless You.”

Dr. John Deely

Dr. Farouk Y. Seif To view the lecture visit this link: https://youtu.be/1pj_1-j83yk.

“Who is John Deely?” That question was posed in the topic of an online talk in the Deely Lecture series, established at Saint Vincent College in 2018. Dr. Farouk Y. Seif, professor emeritus at Antioch University, Seattle, gave the lecture.

A prolific scholar, Deely wrote more than 40 books and 200 articles, and had come to Saint Vincent College after a long career at the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

He worked with Thomas Sebeok to create the Semiotic Society of America and its publications.

Brother Norman Hipps, O.S.B., was president of Saint Vincent College when Deely and his wife, Brooke Williams Deely, moved to Latrobe in 2017.

Unfortunately, Deely died a short time after the move. The lecture series was begun in an effort to maintain his legacy.

Seif is past president of the Semiotic Society of America (SSA), former executive director of the SSA, a registered architect, and a fellow of the International Communicology Institute. His main interests are design for social and cultural change, paradoxes, semiotics, transdisciplinarity, and transmodernity. He is the founder and director of the Isis Institute and originator and organizer of the Intercultural Study Program,

“Journey into the Dawn of Time”, in Egypt. He is the author of more than 50 articles and a dozen book chapters. His newly published book De-sign in the Transmodern World is a state-ofthe-art integration of design and semiotics.

Seif, who met John Deely at a conference in Romania in 2008, was originally scheduled to give the Deely lecture in 2020 in person; however, the coronavirus pandemic caused its postponement and the switch to a virtual format. It is the third lecture in the series, which was established in 2018. Previous speakers were John Ettinger in 2018 and Paul Cobley in 2019. Seif’s contem-

plative reflection in the journey of the philosopher and semiotician provides an opportunity for students and others who are new to his work with insights into his life and his thought processes.

Seif’s virtual lecture was attended by persons from five countries and from many locations in the United States.

Seif noted that he titled the lecture “Who Is John Deely?” as opposed to “Who Was John Deely?” because, “semiotically, he still is with us.”

At the heart of semiotics—the study of signs and symbols as a significant part of communications—is the realization that the whole of human experience,

without exception, is an interpretive structure mediated and sustained by signs.

Seif walked viewers through the distinctions of this philosophy, starting by defining some of the key terms from a semiotician’s point of view.

Seif led viewers on a journey through the semiotic world, noting that Deely “does not confine himself to the ivory tower of academia; he travels far and wide....

“John Deely,” Seif said, “raises our awarenss of many fascinating semiotic phenomena by his continuous presence in our lives.

His spirit and intellect always will live on within us. Indeed he very much still ‘Is.’”

THE DEELY PROJECT AT SAINT VINCENT John Deely’s legacy at Saint Vincent is manifold. The College is home to the Endowed John Deely/Jacques Maritain Academic Chair, and includes the Deely Lecture Series. Additionally the chair is a focal point of semiotic thought that will continue research along the lines pioneered by John Deely and Jacques Maritain and encourage a semiotic perspective of scholarship. It will nurture faculty-student interplay in undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple disciplines and promote Saint Vincent at key academic conferences and in professional publications.

The Dale P. Latimer Library plays host to the John Deely Reading Room, which features selected books and artifacts from the Deely archive. The library is working to inventory all of the various papers and publications from the collection, and that work provides experiential learning opportunities for students.

S

Mary R. Anand Receives President’s Award

enior biochemistry major Mary R. Anand was named the winner of the 47th annual Saint Vincent College President’s Award. The College’s highest honor, it is annually presented to the member of the graduating class who best embodies what Saint Vincent values in its students—outstanding academic achievement, student leadership and community service.

Anand was chosen from a field of five finalists.

In bestowing the honor, President Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., noted, “For her academic accomplishments and conscientious, insightful approach to learning; for the ways in which she exemplifies a holistic education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences by integrating her coursework with her vocation, including an exploration of the relationship between theological teachings and her career aspirations to become a physician; for her leadership in academics, service both locally and abroad, campus ministry and student life; and for embodying the mission of Saint Vincent College by undertaking the opportunity for a transformational experience of the mind and spirit; it is my honor as president of Saint Vincent College to convey upon Mary Anand the President’s Award on the fifth day of May, 2021.”

A native of Wexford, Anand

has been named to the Dean’s List in each of her seven semesters and has earned induction into the Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Sigma Epsilon and Alpha Chi honor societies, while she is a Benedictine Leadership Studies fellow and is enrolled in the Honors Program.

She is a four-year member of the Respect Life Club, presently serving as secretary, while for the past three years, she has volunMary R. Anand and College President Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B. teered with been involved with a plethora of Bearcat disabled girls in Kolkata. clubs and activities, including the B.E.S.T. as a Bearcat Buddy.

Anand is also certified by the Activities Programming Board, She has been active with Cam- Diocese of Pittsburgh as a Level the American Medical Student pus Ministry, regularly serving as 1 Catechist in the Catechesis of Association and the Circle K lector, eucharistic minister and the Good Shepherd program.

Club, as well as the March of the altar server. Anand is a mentor for She will pursue a medical degree the American Medical Student with plans to become a physician Bearcats marching band (serving Association, having presented scientist, performing both clinical as treasurer) and the Concert Band. Cella has been active in seminars on MCAT preparation care and medical research.

Campus Ministry as an altar AWARD FINALISTS and sharing her experiences on server and in Eucharistic procesMichael J. Cella applying to medical school with sions, while he has worked as a Along with his biology major, her fellow health professions teaching assistant in the Biology with an organismal concentrastudents. She has volunteered at tion, Cella is a music minor, with Department for the past four the Mission of Mercy Clinic and semesters. He was chosen for the a concenhas volunteered at Canonsburg DeMazza-Prosperi Internship, tration in Hospital. shadowing 10 different physipiano. He In 2019, Anand was named cians in various medical specialhas been Outstanding Intern in the Alties and working with debilitated named to the legheny Health Network Singer and afflicted patients and comDean’s List Medicine Institute research pleted a senior research project in each of internship program as a member entitled “The Antimicrobial and his semesof the gastroenterology research Antibiofilm Activities of Esteam under Dr. Shayam Thakkar. ters at Saint sential Oils on the Oral MicrobVincent and is a member of the Also in the summer of 2019, she Tri-Beta, Gamma Sigma Epsilon, lome.” He will attend Lake Erie took part in the Faith, Work and College of Osteopathic Medicine Alpha Lambda Delta and Alpha God in India service-learning to pursue an osteopathic medical trip, where she volunteered at the Chi honor societies. A prefect in degree and hopes to specialize in Saint Benedict Hall, Cella has Missionaries of Charity Home for

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internal medicine and become a primary care physician.

Shae S. Robson

Robson, who minors in finance in addition to her accounting major, has been named to the Dean’s List in each semester and is the recipient of this year’s Award for Academic Excellence in accounting. She is a member of the Delta Mu Delta, Alpha Chi and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies and was presented Alpha Lambda Delta’s Maria L. Leonard Senior Book Award earlier this semester.

She is a member of the Women in Business Club and holds work-study positions in both the Department of Athletics and the Fitness Center, while she has completed a pair of internships in Pittsburgh. In 2019, she was a global business services intern for Matthews International, while last summer, she was a business tax services (BTS) intern for KPMG. Robson is a four-year starting outfielder on the Bearcat softball team, posting a .325 career batting average with 99 hits, 66 runs and 43 RBIs over the span of her career and earning selection to the Presidents’

Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll in each of the past three years. Following graduation, Robson will sit for the CPA exams and begin as a BTS associate with KPMG in November.

Julia C. Snyder

A double major in English and communication, Snyder is also an anthropology minor and has earned selection to the Dean’s List in each semester.

An Honors Scholar and the 2021 recipient of the Award for Academic Excellence in English, she is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta, Lambda Pi Eta and Alpha Chi honor societies. Snyder is a founding member of the SVC Writer’s Club, while she has also been a member of the MADComm Club, Reading Club and Respect Life Club, having served as secretary for all three, as well as the Campus Ministry leadership team in Apologetics. She is a staff member for Generation magazine having served as co-editor of its recently released 2020-21 issue, while she is copy editor and staff writer for The Review, administrative assistant for the Department of English and marketing

intern for Eulalia Books. In this role, she has produced book trailers for upcoming releases, written press releases, assisted with social media management and promoted new releases for the independent publisher of literary translations housed at Saint Vincent College and affiliated with SVC’s literary translation program. In 2018, she completed an internship in Heinz History Center’s publications division, where she wrote blogs and book reviews and served as proofreader, editor and researcher, while in 2019, she traveled to Guatemala for the class Culture and Health in Guatemala. Snyder’s poem “Insomnia” was the first-place winner in Saint Vincent College’s 2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry Competition, and her essay “Rationalism in Contemporary American Culture” was the first-place winner in the 2018 Douglas B. Rogers Conditions of a Free Society Essay Contest. Snyder plans to pursue a career in publishing.

Moira J. Sullivan

Sullivan has been named to the Dean’s List in each of the past seven semesters and has been named the recipient of the 2021 Award for Academic Excellence in anthropology. A Benedictine Leadership Studies Fellow and member of the Alpha

Lambda Delta and Alpha Chi honor societies, Sullivan is also active in student theatre, having performed in various productions of The Saint Vincent Players and the Gilbert and Sullivan Club, for which she serves as fundraising chair on its executive board. She holds a work-study position for the Anthropology/ Sociology Department and as a part of her Applied Anthropology course as a sophomore, she was part of a research team that examined student approaches to food and Saint Vincent College Dining Services. She has also studied abroad during a week-long trip to Peru as part of the History and Culture of Peru course, while in the summer of 2018, she participated in a 10week long Historical Archaeology Field School at historic St. Mary’s City in Maryland.

Sullivan will attend graduate school at Monmouth University, pursuing a master of arts in anthropology with a certificate in archaeology. She plans on focusing her research on military sites archaeology.

—Jim Berger

Junior Accepted Into Grammy U Program John P. Crocetti, a junior double major in corporate finance and music performance from Connellsville, has recently been accepted into the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY U program as a New York Chapter Representative.

GRAMMY U is a competitive program with the initiative to prepare college students for their future careers in the music industry. GRAMMY U students are introduced to a new perspective in the music and recording industry by working with professionals. Crocettti is currently part of the mentorship program with Travis McFetridge, the president of the Great South Bay Music Group. McFetridge has worked with a wide array of hip-hop, rap and R&B artists including Drake, DaBaby and Kendrick Lamar. As his mentee, Crocetti meets with McFetridge a few times a month, discusses the music business and collaborates on projects together. The mentorship started when he was first admitted into the program and will end by the time he graduates in May 2022. Until then, he will be paired with a new mentor each semester.

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Summer 2021

BOYER SCHOOL

Students Gain Hands-On Experience During Vaccination Clinics

Saint Vincent College has served as a regional hub for public vaccination efforts since the public launch of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in late January.

Through Saint Vincent College’s partnership with Mainline Pharmacy, more than 30,000 doses were distributed at twice-weekly vaccination clinics held in the Fred M. Rogers Center during the past five months, staffed primarily by volunteers from the Saint Vincent student body, staff and administration.

The clinics were initially limited to the 1A group for the first eight weeks, but as the public vaccination rates increased, so did the list of those eligible to receive the vaccine. As a result, a special vaccination clinic was held for Saint Vincent College students and community members on Wednesday, April 21.

For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. John Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean, has been leading the College’s health and safety efforts as chair of the SVC Forward Together Advisory Committee. Also the driving force behind launching the College’s partnership with Mainline Pharmacy, Smetanka stressed the significance of being able to offer a clinic solely to the SVC students and community.

“Not all colleges have the opportunity to offer vaccinations on campus, especially small colleges without a medical school or hospital,”

Students enrolled in the SVC/Carlow University collaborative BSN program at the April 21 vaccination clinic at the Fred M. Rogers Center. he said. “Having the Mainline clinics on campus provided a rare opportunity for our students to both get the vaccine themselves, and also to support the community. This vaccination clinic marks an important milestone in our efforts to contain COVID-19.

“Many students,” he added, “have been vaccinated already through volunteering at earlier clinics in February and March.”

The volunteer roles by the SVC students have included checking in patients, scheduling patients’ second doses, parking lot management, shuttling patients and guiding patients throughout the Rogers Center.

Recently, this list of volunteer roles has grown, as students in the Saint Vincent College/ Carlow University collaborative bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program have been entrusted to administer the vaccinations, enabling them to garner important hands-on experience while also helping the community curb the spread of the virus.

Smetanka proposed the idea of having nursing students admin-

Saint Vincent Magazine

ister vaccines to Carla Tomas, director of the Saint Vincent/Carlow BSN collaboration, shortly after forming the partnership with Mainline Pharmacy. Tomas promptly accepted the offer, and after her students received extensive vaccination training during the early weeks of the semester, they delivered their first shots in the Rogers Center as part of their clinical training.

“Because they are students and aren’t yet licensed,” Tomas explained, “anything that they do related to giving medication or a vaccination has to be overseen by a licensed faculty member.

So, the best way for us to give them this experience of giving a vaccine was to have the vaccine clinic take the place of a typical clinical day, when they normally would have been at the hospital.”

The nursing students worked the vaccination clinics each Friday in the Rogers Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in lieu of their typical clinical, scheduled on Mondays from 7 a.m. to noon at Excela Westmoreland Hospital.

While this new arrangement forced some scheduling adjustments, Tomas said that there was 20

no hesitation on the part of both her students and their faculty at Excela Health.

“Everyone was willing,” she said. “They understand the importance of it and want to be part of something good.”

During the special Saint Vincent vaccination clinic on April 21, junior Austin Kemp was among the nursing students who administered the Pfizer vaccine.

A native of Sarver, Kemp was thankful for the opportunity to help his fellow students and the community.

“I think that it’s a great opportunity,” he said. “Obviously, this pandemic has affected everyone’s lives dramatically. To be in the health care field is an honor in itself, and to be able to help during the pandemic is an incredible experience.”

The April 21 clinic marked the third at which Kemp administered vaccines after receiving extensive education and training.

“In class,” he said, “we really covered in-depth how to distribute medication, and immunization shots in particular. It’s been really cool to be able to apply what we’ve learned like this. We

were first approved shortly after Christmas, and even considered traveling the 200 miles back home to do so. When she learned of the clinic coming to Saint Vincent, she was elated.

“I was very excited that the vaccinations were being offered here,” she said. “I am glad I was able to do it here so super conveniently. It’s incredible. It’s such a good opportunity and I am glad that it has been offered to everyone.”

Tomas, who is also a member of the Forward Together Advisory Committee, has continually reiterated to her students the importance of being vaccinated.

“I tell them that if things are ever going to get back to normal on this campus,” she said, “it’s because we achieved herd immunity, which is done through immunization. I’ve had students tell me that they are tired of being contact traced and tired of being quarantined, so they got the vaccine. That’s what it takes.

Nicole Abrams administers a vaccine at the April 21 vaccination clinic in the Fred M. Rogers Center.

“One of our students here today,” she continued, “said that she was able to convince her friends to get the vaccine because she was the one who would be giving it.”

Luallen realizes that some have been tentative about receiving the vaccine, but said that she never hesitated to do so because of both its effectiveness and the hope that it could help hasten the return of normalcy to daily life on campus.

“I can understand why people were nervous,” she stated. “You hear of people who may have had issues with vaccines in the past. But, I think getting this COVID vaccine is very important. It’s going to help the common good for everyone, and it’s going to help us just get back to normal.”

Having overseen Saint Vincent College’s response to the pandemic for the past year, Smetanka said that he is proud of the resiliency, compassion and

dedication shown by the SVC community in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. He acknowledged that its disruption to normalcy has forced many great sacrifices but reinforced that as more members of the community get vaccinated, the return to normal will be sooner.

“Having a significant fraction of the campus community vaccinated takes us one step closer to full classrooms, dining rooms, bleachers and concert venues,” he said. “It’s one step closer to visitation in residence halls, welcoming visitors to campus and not having to be physically distanced in social situations.

Plus, reducing the number of COVID-19 infections is central to eliminating the possibility of more contagious variants developing and to finally putting this pandemic behind us for good.”

—Jim Berger

BOYER SCHOOL

all really jumped at the opportunity to help. It’s very important to get the vaccine in order to effectively protect ourselves, our family members and everyone else, and I’m pleased to be able to help.”

Fellow nursing major—and vaccinator—Nicole Abrams, a sophomore from Pittsburgh, was excited when she first learned that the Rogers Center would be a vaccination site. When she received word that she and her classmates would be given the opportunity to actually administer the vaccines, she was even more overjoyed.

“I just really love it,” she said.

“We can just come down here, right on our campus, to volunteer and get this experience.”

Among the score of students that Abrams vaccinated during the clinic was her roommate, Cara Luallen, a sophomore engineering major from Pataskala, Ohio. She had been eager to get vaccinated since the vaccines

Austin Kemp administers a vaccine at the April 21 vaccination clinic in the Fred M. Rogers Center .

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Summer 2021

MCKENNA SCHOOL

Dr. Sarah Daly Receives Quentin Schaut Faculty Award

Dr. Sarah E. Daly, assistant professor of criminology, law and society, is congratulated by Saint Vincent College president Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., as the winner of the Quentin Schaut Faculty Award.

D

r. Sarah E. Daly, assistant professor of criminology, law and society, was awarded the 2021 Quentin Schaut Faculty Award at the spring Honors Convocation on May 5.

Named in honor of Father Quentin Schaut, O.S.B., an English professor and the seventh president of Saint Vincent College, the award recognizes the contributions, leadership and achievements of a junior faculty member to the curriculum and life of the College.

Daly joined the faculty in 2016 and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society in the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government.

She is a highly-regarded expert in the areas of mass violence,

gang violence, youth/school violence, online communities, victimology and crisis management and intervention.

In addition to her teaching work, Daly is the author of Everyday School Violence: An Educator’s Guide to Safer Schools, published

by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and editor of Assessing and Averting the Prevalence of Mass Violence (IGI Global, 2018) and Theories of Crime Through Pop Culture (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).

“Dr. Daly’s research, and many of her classes, examine violent crimes,” said Dr. John J. Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean. “She has published books, book chapters and journal articles on gang violence, mass shootings and, most recently, the subculture of incels. Despite the difficult subject matter, her wonderful sense of humor and dedication to encouraging students survives. Inside and outside of the classroom, Dr. Daly serves Saint Vincent

Saint Vincent Magazine

students tirelessly as a champion for justice and equality.”

Daly is a 2005 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

“Coming from a family of educators,” she said, “teaching seemed like a natural path for me.

But, after two years teaching at a high school, I began graduate school in my quest to answer the questions I had about the realities I never experienced.”

While continuing to teach, and subsequently, counsel, Daly would earn a master of science degree in professional school counseling, with a New Jersey Counselor Standard Certificate, at the University of Pennsylvania; a master of arts degree in criminal justice from Rutgers UniversityCamden; and a doctor of philosophy degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University-Newark.

She also worked as a research assistant and got her first taste of teaching in higher education as a part-time lecturer at Rutgers’ Camden and Newark campuses.

Daly teaches a wide range of 22

courses including Gender and Crime, School Violence: Origins and Strategies, The Criminology of Race, Culture and Crime, Quantitative Research Methods, The Etiology of Mass Violence and Urban Street Gang Prosecution. Her students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, have universal praise for her knowledge, teaching ability and knack for continually engaging them in subject matter than can often be difficult to discuss.

“Her students provide a window into her classroom and her style,” said Smetanka. “The word ‘amazing’ is most often used. One student remarked, ‘in her class, no question is a dumb question.

Everyone has valid questions.’ A student in Quantitative Research Methods said that ‘everyone needs to take this course so that they can write exceptional capstone papers,’ while a student in Dr. Daly’s course on urban gangs shared that ‘this course was interesting and engaging. It honestly changed my whole perspective on gangs and causes of gang violence.’”

“The students are the reason to do the work,” she said. “Their resilience and dedication, even during the pandemic, gave me hope for the future, and still does, even when my research tells me things are pretty terrible.

“I appreciate this award because I do strive to help students understand both the power and privilege of education and I recognize that with this honor comes great responsibility. At the end of most classes, I challenge my students with two words. I say, ‘now what?’

After a few minutes of frustrated sighs and blank stares, the students get to work using research and knowledge to plan change for a better future.”

—Jim Berger

Students Receive Hands-On Courtroom Experience of the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County; Megan Will, Somerset County Assistant District Attorney; and criminal defense attorney Adam Cogan of Ligonier. The argument took place in the Fred M. Rogers Center and the panel of judges uniformly praised the students for their depth of understanding of the case and their poise in presenting their arguments.

The 10 students included: • Maria Arcara, junior computer science major from Greensburg.

• Gretchan Baker, senior criminology, law and society major from Scottdale.

• Shireen Deeb, senior politics major from Boynton Beach, Florida.

• Emily Diehl, senior politics major from Lilly.

MCKENNA SCHOOL

On May 10, ten Saint Vincent College students were afforded the opportunity to present a mock appellate court argument in front of a panel of judges as part of the course Constitutional Litigation and Analysis, taught by Professor Bruce Antkowiak, J.D., chair of the Department of Criminology, Law and Society.

The argument presented by the students involved a challenge to new voting restrictions imposed by the mythical State of Chaos that limited voting hours and restricted voting by mail. An additional challenge was raised by a religious group because the narrow voting window conflicted with their holy day of the week.

The students prepared a brief and presented argument before the Hon. Meagan Bilik Defazio

Derek Fether presenting during the mock trial.

• Derek Fether, senior criminology, law and society major from Vintondale.

• Elisa Fontaine, visiting student from Hem, France.

• Levente Kiss, visiting student from Budapest, Hungary.

• Robert Necciai, senior

politics major from Gibsonia.

• Madelyn Pollick, senior politics major from New Kensington.

• Kaitlin Repp, junior politics major from Gettysburg.

Professor Examines ‘Leadership In Middle-earth’ In New Book Dr. Michael J. Urick, C’04, associate professor of business administration and graduate director of the Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence program, has authored a new book entitled Leadership in Middle-earth: Theories and Applications for Organizations. The book was released on May 25 by the United Kingdom’s Emerald Publishing.

“Leadership in Middleearth,” said Urick, examines management theories related to motivation, team composition and development, diversity and inclusion, leader emergence and other related concepts. Each theory is illustrated through examples of Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien, famous for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

novels.

The book is the second installment of the “Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture” series, of which Urick serves as editor.

“Leadership in Middle-earth” is the third book authored by Urick, and second this year.

He also co-edited a three-book series on leadership in 2018 and plans to author two more books on leadership over the next two years. He regularly speaks at organizations and events on issues related to leadership.

Founded in 1967, Emerald Publishing is a scholarly publisher of academic journals and books in the fields of management, business, education, library studies, health care and engineering. Named the 2020 publisher of the year

by IPG, it is headquartered in Bingley (UK). Emerald works with more than 500,000 researchers spread over 130 countries at thousands of universities to share knowledge and provoke debates that lead to positive change. Their readership includes more than 23

30 million electronic downloads of publications per year.

Urick has an M.B.A. and M.S. in leadership/business ethics from Duquesne University. His Ph.D., focused on organizational behavior, is from the University of Cincinnati. He has been part of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government faculty since 2012 and has directed the nationally ranked Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence program since 2014.

Urick is a recipient of several teaching awards including “Learning/Education Person of the Year” from the Institute of Supply Management and “Excellence in Teaching” from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Summer 2021

ARTS, HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES

2013 Graduate Named As Gallery’s Artist-In-Residence Enamored with art since her childhood, Stacey Pydynkowski, C’13, now has a new home in which to work on her craft.

Pydynkowski was recently named artist-in-residence at the Jeannette gallery You Are Here. Pydynkowski is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists, the Latrobe Art Center and Greensburg Art Center, while her work is represented by Firebox Studios in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

She has created a number of commissioned paintings and created murals for Johnstown’s Riverwall Project and Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s Art in the Alley, while she also regularly gives art lessons and has shared studio space with close friend and classmate Sarah Hunter, C’12.

Ater taking part in the gallery’s MAD Lab project during the fall, she applied for the position. “You Are Here transformed its space into a maker’s lab,” she explained, “and artists collaborated to create canvas murals and upcycled benches to distribute to Jeannette and surrounding communities.

Artists took turns painting in shifts, each building off of what the previous artist started, until completion. We not only created art, but we created a sense of community and collaboration during a time of distance and isolation.

You Are Here’s communityoriented mission and focus on public art strongly resonated with me and led me to apply for this residency.”

Pydynkowski has been an avid creator since her youth and has extensive experience working in various mediums, including fiber arts, clay sculp-

Stacey Pydynkowski ture and drawing. She gravitated toward painting during her time at Saint Vincent, and it has been her concentration ever since.

“My studio art professors at Saint Vincent not only provided valuable instruction and resources, but they granted me permission to explore and discover,” she recalled. “I began college with very little technical experience, but a very strong desire to create and learn, and my professors helped me to harness that.”

Pydynkowski has been enchanted by nature—specifically flowers—for as long as she can remember, and this influence became even more significant during her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018.

“I’ve collected flower petals

Saint Vincent Magazine

since I was young, stowing away my favorites in shoeboxes,” she said. “Flowers have always been so profoundly beautiful to me. I think it’s the notion that something so ordinary can possess its own language and serve as a symbol of resilience, hope and health.

“I began to use flowers extensively in my work after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the spring of 2018,” she continued. “Flower bouquets would show up at my doorstep from coworkers, family and friends. I was so touched by the gesture and determined to find a way to preserve the love and kindness of each petal before they wilted. I became obsessed with preservation techniques and 24

began adhering the petals to my canvases. Every petal has a story and I like to think that the love behind each petal transfers to the viewer.”

Her cancer battle also influenced her art.

“I used my paintbrush as a tool to make sense of the journey,” she said, “documenting the experience in all of its turbulence, uncertainty, joy and everything in between.

Having the art community to lean on in that time meant everything to me and I was grateful to have a means of expression to make sense of the emotions and feelings that words can’t always touch.

“My relationship with art during this time contributed to my passion for public art,” she continued. “I want others to have the opportunity to find comfort and strength in visual imagery, just like I did. Art is powerful— an unexpected, bright swoosh of paint against a gray sky has been enough to turn around my day, at least for a moment. And, in making marks, I aim to create this experience for the viewer.”

While her studio art major has certainly paid off, Pydnkowski emphasized that her second major, psychology, has been equally impactful, and she shares the same amount of fascination in both.

“I entered SVC with a passion for both subjects,” she said, “and was able to feed both interests.

Professors were supportive and I loved being able to make connections between what I learned in the two disciplines.”

Pydynkowski will be producing a new body of work from her studio space online, posting weekly blog updates on the You Are Here website and working with the studio on a variety of community projects and initiatives.

A

ssociate professor of music Thomas Octave was awarded the 2021 Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award at the spring Honors Convocation on May 5. Named in honor of the founder of Saint Vincent College and Archabbey and pioneer of Benedictine monasticism in the U.S., the Wimmer Faculty Award recognizes a senior faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence.

Octave has been a member of the faculty since 2006 and is currently chair of the College’s Department of Fine Arts in the School of Arts, Humanities and

Social Sciences. He teaches a wide range of courses, covering subjects including music appreciation, spirituality of music, musical theater, opera and the art and music of western civilization, while he offers private vocal lessons for undergraduate students.

He is adviser and the conductor of the Saint Vincent College Singers, has served as orchestra conductor at numerous Saint Vincent College Summer Theatre productions and is director of the Saint Vincent College Concert Series, which presents world-class performances by internationallyacclaimed artists across a variety of genres.

“Saint Vincent College has been blessed to have Professor Octave’s many talents,” said Dr. John J. Smetanka, vice president for academic affairs and academic dean, “including his baritone voice, his skills on the piano and

his expertise as a choral conductor, grace our musical studios, classrooms, Performing Arts Center and events such as these for more than 15 years.”

“I am grateful to God for the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the Saint Vincent community,” said Octave. “To think that you can share with so many people what you love to do, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Octave also serves as diocesan director of Sacred Music for the Diocese of Greensburg and musical director and conductor of the Westmoreland Choral Society and the Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. He is associate spiritual director with the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality and has served as guest conductor for numerous elementary, junior high and high school choral festivals across the region.

He has a bachelor of fine arts

Thomas Octave, associate professor of music, expresses his gratitude for being awarded the Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award at the spring Honors Convocation on May 5.

“My mother was an educator for 38 years,” he said, “teaching first grade. In the summertime, every year, she’d have my brother and me help with setting up her classroom, and I’d say to myself, ‘I never want to be a teacher.’

Yet, God had other plans.”

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in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a master of music in vocal performance from Duquesne University.

Smetanka noted that Octave’s passion for and joy of music has positively impacted countless students, both past and present.

“A student in his choir shared,” said Smetanka, “‘I have been singing classically since elementary school and Professor Octave is the best voice teacher I ever had.’

Another observed that, ‘his passion for music excites me and his teaching has made me a better singer.’ A first-year student in Music Appreciation said, ‘Professor Octave taught me more than music and history—he helped me to appreciate life.’ Yet another shared, ‘I was frightened to take a music course, but Professor Octave challenged me and allowed me to see that there are many ways to appreciate music.’”

“I’m grateful to my colleagues,” he said, “who each day enliven my work, inspire me and challenge me. I’m thankful for this community that challenges me, consoles me and pushes me forward.

But, most of all, I’m thankful to the students of Saint Vincent who show me new life and new joy daily. Even during this time of pandemic, we’ve been a resilient community and to be a part of that is one of the greatest gifts of my life.”

A native of Monessen, Octave and his wife, Sara, reside in Lower Burrell.

—Jim Berger

ARTS, HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES

Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award Presented To Thomas Octave

Winter 2021

FRED ROGERS CENTER

New Community Programming Series Launched By FRC Saint Vincent College, the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media and the Latrobe Art Center are teaming up to launch “Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Again?,” a community programming series based upon the life and legacy of Fred Rogers.

The programming aims to increase public access and awareness of the important cultural and intellectual legacy of one of the most beloved American spokespersons for children and humanity and will explore the resources of the Fred Rogers Archive, the history of Latrobe and local programming in the Latrobe community.

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Again?” will be supported by a Humanities Research for the Public Good grant from The Council of Independent

Colleges (CIC). This grant program is a national incentive to promote student research and public engagement at private colleges while showcasing the archival, library and museum collections held by these institutions. Saint Vincent College is one of just 24 institutions from across the U.S. to be awarded the CIC grant, which is generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

“We want to tell the story of how a small town helped shape the man who would become America’s favorite neighbor,” said Dr. Dana Winters, Rita McGinley Chair of Early Learning and Children’s Media, director of academic programs at the Fred Rogers Center and director of the “Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Again?” series. “Latrobe has always held a deep connection to and a strong sense of pride in Fred Rogers.

“But the question this project will help answer is how the man who would influence generations of children was himself influenced by a town he called the neighborhood, and, more importantly, how the small town of Latrobe—and many small towns like it across the country—can continue to help children and families thrive in a culture of kindness, compassion, humanities and arts.”

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Again?” will be a series of four community events, slated to begin in February 2022, that will combine the research of Saint Vincent College students, the history of Fred Rogers, the city of Latrobe and the outreach of the Latrobe Art Center. Each event will include a student presentation on the chosen theme based on research in the Fred Rogers Archive, an exhibit of materials from the Archive

Online Educators’ Symposium July 20-21

The inaugural Fred Rogers Center Educators’ Symposium will be held online July 20 and 21 to help educators learn from the life and work of Fred Rogers and find ways to apply learning into practice with children, families, and educators.

This two-day learning experience, anchored in archival and community resources of the Fred Rogers Center, will be full of collaboration, stories, inspiration, and joy. This will include: • Sessions on topics connecting Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to a variety of learning contexts, including a session from Fred Rogers Center archivist,

Saint Vincent Magazine

Emily Uhrin and the Simple Interactions team.

• Panel of educators sharing how Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood impacts practice with children, families, and educators • Opening keynote given by Hedda Sharapan, child development expert and former Associate Producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood • Closing keynote given by Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski authors of When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids.

Registration closes on July 19.

For additional information visit www.fredrogerscenter.org.

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and public activity related to the theme of the event. Each of these community sharing events will include a virtual experience, while the exhibit for each event will be displayed in the Latrobe Art Center for one week.

The Fred Rogers Center is the single most authoritative resource for studying Rogers’ legacy. It is home to the Fred Rogers Archive, which contains more than 20,000 items related to Rogers’ life and work, including photography, original scripts and production books, handwritten correspondence, awards, citations and viewer mail.

Undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers and the local community often utilize the Archive to study Rogers’ life and legacy.

Academically, the Center is an important leader in the field of children’s media and education. Winters and her staff and students have traveled around the globe to educate on Rogers’ legacy, children’s development and how children, youth and families can be supported through community work. The Center has formed past and present partnerships with national organizations like New America Foundation and Common Sense Media and regularly collaborates with world-class research institutions such as Harvard Graduate School of Education and the University of Pittsburgh.

Saint Vincent College students are afforded numerous opportunities through the Center to learn about Rogers’ legacy and how it applies in their lives, while creating and developing new projects that serve children and their helpers. Additional information on the series will be released when finalized.

Dr. Dana Winters To Take On Executive Director Role

Dr. Dana Winters power of human connection.

As executive director she will continue to oversee those programs while also implementing other areas of the FRC’s strategic plan, which, among other areas, focuses on expanding and developing programs for families and educators who work with children. Another area of focus for the Rogers Center is enhancing the use of the Archives while becoming a thought leader in its work with children.

The staff at the Rogers Center will also be expanding because of the development of new programs. Under the direction of Dr. Winters and Dr. Sara Lindey, and as a result of a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges, college students will be researching Fred Rogers’ approach to supporting children by using the Archives, and will then share the product of their research with the Latrobe community through a series of programming. The Educators’ Neighborhood is now

the second biggest program at the Rogers Center, providing a year-long opportunity for teachers to work in small and large groups under the guidance of the Center’s staff and develop new approaches for their classrooms.

Established in 2003 to carry forward Fred Rogers’ important legacy, the Center is the official home of the Fred Rogers Archive as well as a straightforward, understanding and compassionate voice for the healthy development of children. Its mission is to extend the legacy of Fred Rogers to today’s generation of children and the adults who love and care for them—or, as Fred called them, “the helpers.” Initiatives focus on helping the helpers as they care for, educate and raise children.

An important vision in the founding of the Center was to provide learning and growth opportunities for students at Saint Vincent College who will go on to work with and for children in their careers. In the center’s 27

work around digital media and learning, the FRC seeks to help adults understand how to use technology well in the service of children and how to ensure technology does not take the place of the essential human interactions and relationships in a child’s life.

Dr. Schomburg’s background in child development and early learning led her to work with Fred Rogers beginning in 1982 on a project to support early childhood professionals who were using the Mister Rogers Neighborhood television program in their child care homes or classrooms. The work expanded to include various professional development projects at Family Communications, Inc. (now Fred Rogers Productions) From 2006-2014, she was a senior fellow at the Fred Rogers Center. She and senior fellow Dr. Chip Donohue from the Erikson Institute co-authored the joint FRC/ NAEYC position statement, Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Programs that Serve Young Children from Birth through Age 8. She was vice president of the NAEYC Governing Board from 20102014. She holds a Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh with a specialization in child development. She is professor Emerita at Carlow University in Pittsburgh where she taught for 25 years and was an associate dean and director of the School of Education. She continues in her role as consultant to Fred Rogers Productions and is an adviser for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

FRED ROGERS CENTER

Dr. Dana Winters, previously director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs for the Fred Rogers Center, has been named the center’s new Executive Director. She fills the role formerly held by Dr. Roberta Schomburg.

Dr. Winters holds The Rita McGinley Endowed Executive Director of the Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media position, while Dr. Schomburg will be staying on as the PNC Grow Up Great Senior Fellow.

Winters joined the Center after serving as the Senior Evaluator for the Collaborative for Evaluation and Assessment Capacity at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, and as an Education Counselor with the Educational Opportunity Centers of Penn State University. She holds a Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.A. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in sociology from Saint Vincent College.

As the director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs, Winters worked to apply and advance the legacy of Fred Rogers in serving children and their helpers. Through projects involving children’s helpers across many diverse settings, including child care, school systems, community programs, residential care and children’s hospitals, she communicated and reflected what is simple and deep about work in service of children and their families. She supervised the Center’s research lab, Incubator 143, which partners with educators, trainers, advocates and researchers to focus on identifying and amplifying the simple active ingredient that universally helps serve children—the

Summer 2021

Sue Hozak

Becky Pizer

Kaitlyn Williams

Ben Varilek

A Spring Sports Season Like No Other

By Jim Berger and R.J. Leisie

it was certainly something she nor her staff had ever done before, she was able to quickly streamline the testing process into one of With the return of varsity athletic competition during the machine-like efficiency. spring 2021 semester, a sense of normalcy was restored for “The athletic department hired two nurses to administer Bearcat student-athletes. surveillance COVID-19 tests to the student-athletes to meet NCAA Normal, however, is not the participation requirements,” explained word to describe the teams’ 2021 Hozak. “Student-athletes were tested schedules. in compliance with each NCAA sport From early February through midFROM EARLY FEBRUARY requirement. The student-athletes handled May, 24 varsity athletic programs the situation extremely well and remained THROUGH MID-MAY, were in season, combining to positive throughout the testing process. compete in 215 games, matches and “In addition to the nurses,” she 24 VARSITY ATHLETIC meets over a 96-day span. continued, “Samantha Firestone, our head PROGRAMS WERE IN Instead of competing in men’s and women’s golf coach, played a September and October, fall sports SEASON, COMBINING TO key role in the required NCAA COVID such as football, cross country, soccer testing process by monitoring the testing COMPETE IN 215 GAMES, site and in overseeing the reporting of test and women’s volleyball took to the field, course and gym in March and data.”

MATCHES AND MEETS April. Typically completed by late The first Presidents’ Athletic Conference OVER A 96-DAY SPAN. February or early March, basketball (PAC) competitions were scheduled for seasons stretched into the early days February 6, with the men’s and women’s of spring. Spring sports, which have swimming and basketball teams in action. traditionally begun competition in While the student-athletes and coaches mid-February, now had to complete their schedules during a were ecstatic to return to action, they would be doing so in empty seven-week sprint through March and April. venues, as health and safety policies enacted by SVC and its PAC Adding to the hecticness of the spring, the Department of colleagues prohibited outside spectators in attendance for much of Athletics had strict protocols to follow in regard to COVID-19 the spring. This led to another question—how will parents, friends compliance. All student-athletes underwent screenings and and fans be able to follow their favorite Bearcat teams? temperature checks each day, performed by the athletic While the Robert S. Carey Student Center gymnasium and training staff of Becky Pizer, Jodi Lohr, Ben Varilek and Kaitlyn Chuck Noll Field had long been outfitted with technology to Williams, while each athlete was administered a rapid test prior provide live video and audio streams, many of the other venues on to and immediately following each competition, oftentimes 2-3 campus had not. The sports information office and information times per week. Student-athletes were also required to undergo technology department quickly went to work to remedy the immediate testing if identified as a close contact of anyone on situation, outfitting UPMC Field, the Resnik Pool, the softball campus who tested positive. field and the baseball field with technology to enable high-quality Associate athletic director and head women’s volleyball coach livestreaming.

Sue Hozak was responsible for overseeing all testing and though “Sometimes the thought is that you can just set up a web cam or Saint Vincent Magazine

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Kate McCauley

John Bell

Samantha Firestone

Jodi Lohr

Every Event For Each Sport Completed In 96 Days an iPad at a field, hit a button, and everything’s set,” said Michael Hustava, senior director of marketing and communications.

“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. We wanted to be sure to provide our viewers with a quality product, and to do so, we had to have strong internet connections at every venue, specialized computer software and high-quality cameras, not to mention manpower.”

Despite an occasional glitch, the plan was carried out effectively, as every home SVC basketball, swimming, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball and bowling event was streamed live. Saint Vincent’s PAC counterparts followed suit, as live coverage was also provided at nearly every Bearcat away contest.

From the outset of the fall semester, the Saint Vincent campus was essentially devoid of visitors, with only students, faculty and staff permitted on campus. The resumption of athletic competition meant that student-athletes and staff from other colleges would be visiting the SVC campus, as well as officials and, as the spring progressed, spectators. Kate McCauley, manager of football operations, and John Bell, strength and conditioning coordinator, were responsible for overseeing all game day operations throughout the spring, monitoring these outside visitors and ensuring compliance of all health and safety regulations at each SVC venue.

“Through all of the challenges we faced,” said McCauley, “John and I leaned on each other and on our accompanying staff every minute, hour and day. Our secret to having such success through it all was communication. We had every event broken down hour by hour, from arrivals of visiting teams and officials to our teams’ departing, to make sure we had followed every protocol put in place. We had a plan!”

Added Bell, “When it started, we looked at the big picture and the goal of our student-athletes who were competing. Kate and I undertook certain aspects of each event. At that point, communication and being able to adapt on the run were the keys.

We knew it was going to be a difficult and time-consuming task, so we took the approach of enjoying each event.”

Though faced with plenty of obstacles and uncertainty, the SVC student-athletes overcame the adversity, with many teams having banner years. The women’s basketball team went a perfect 10-0,

winning its second PAC title in three years. The women’s bowling team reached the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference finals and ended the season ranked in the top25 nationally, while the baseball team reached the PAC championship game for the first time in team history, despite having twice to put its season on hold due to COVID-19 protocols.

“This team never made any excuses about COVID and time missed,” said Bearcat baseball coach Mick Janosko. “They were very focused on the task at hand and determined to not let anything get in the way. This team really did the little things this spring to be successful.”

When the sprint that was the 2021 spring athletic season came to a close, coaches, student-athletes and administrators breathed a collective sigh of relief, and now look forward to the hopes of a more ‘normal’ fall season. Their teamwork, adaptability and resilience, however, won’t be forgotten.

“The spring semester was one that we never could have imagined,” said Hozak. “It began with much uncertainty, given all the changes the athletic department was going to have to make in order to have our teams practice, let alone compete.

With the efforts of so many individuals, including the sports medicine staff, coaching staff, other college administrators and our student-athletes, this semester was an example of unparalleled teamwork.

“While we had our moments of frustration and disappointment, the fact that our student-athletes could compete at all during the pandemic gave our department that glimmer of normalcy that we all desperately needed. Our athletes remained cooperative and understanding throughout the semester, even though their collegiate world was turned upside down. As administrators and coaches, we had to make some of the most difficult decisions of our careers. It is my hope that because of these experiences, we all will come away with a better appreciation of ‘normal,’ not only in our world of athletics, but in all that we do.”

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Summer 2021

ATHLETICS

Women’s Basketball Team Wins PAC The women’s basketball team won its second Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship in three years this spring as the Bearcats defeated a familiar foe, the Washington and Jefferson Presidents, by a final score of 65-61.

It was the third consecutive season that the Bearcats have faced the Presidents in the PAC tournament. Last year in the PAC semifinals, the Bearcats lost by a score of 74-53. This year was a much different story as it was a tightly contested game throughout, including four lead changes and two ties.

The Bearcats were down by eight points with just 4:12 to play in the fourth quarter, but the team had an 18-6 run to close out the game for the title.

That victory ended the team’s season, however, as the NCAA Division III tournament for all winter sports was cancelled due to low participation among member schools as a result of the pandemic.

Freshman Emily Cavacini hit a three-point shot to begin the comeback, followed by a Jenna Lafko steal and two free throws

by Carlee Kilgus to cut the lead to three.

With 1:58 left, Kilgus hit another trey, and Lafko made one free throw to give the Bearcats a two point lead. Kilgus then made a game-winning layup with 14 seconds remaining. Lafko stole the

The 2021 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Champion Bearcats include Head Coach Jimmy Petruska, who netted his 200th career win this season; Assistant Coach Kurt Mattern; and Joel Trenton, a volunteer assistant coach. Team members included senior guard Carlee Kilgus, South Fayette; senior guard Jenna Lafko, Hampton; sophomore guard Anna Betz, Brentwood; freshman guard Emily Cavacini, Shaler Area; junior guard/forward Taylor Geer, Keystone; junior guard Abbey Larkin, Baldwin; freshman guard Alana Winkler, Vincentian Academy; sophomore forward Madison Weber, Curwensville; freshman forward Lizzie Bender, Gilmour Academy; sophomore center Ella Marconi, Kane; senior forward Katie Cramer, Saint Joseph Academy. ball and was fouled, making both free throws to secure the four-point victory.

Sophomore Ella Marconi was leading scorer for the Bearcats with 17 points and added eight rebounds. Lafko had 15 points, five assists and added eight steals.

“This season was very rewarding given the circumstances,” Coach Jimmy Petruska said.

“We were thrilled and blessed to be given the opportunity to compete,” he added. “We took each day as a blessing because we could have been shut down at any point. I really saw our players value the moment and more importantly be in the moment. Being in the moment is something we emphasize

Saint Vincent Magazine

in our program because of how difficult it is to do. The PAC title game was a thrilling game to be a part of. Our players stepped up in every way possible. We put ourselves in the position to have an opportunity to win and down the stretch our players made big time plays. I am very proud and honored to have coached this season and more importantly this team.”

Four members of the team received PAC honors, including seniors Kilgus and Lafko, who made the All-PAC first team. Kilgus was also named conference Defensive Player of the Year. Marconi garnered second team honors, while senior Katie Cramer received honorable mention and was named to the Sportsmanship 30

Team. The all-conference teams, as well as the PAC’s yearly award winners, are determined, by vote, of the league’s 10 head coaches.

For the second time in his coaching career, Jimmy Petruska was honored as Coach of the Year. During the pandemic-shortened season, he attained his 200th career victory with a win against Waynesburg.

“This milestone is a direct result of all of the players that have come through my program to play for me,” he said. “Their commitment, dedication and sacrifice to the program are the main reasons for this great success. I am thankful and humbled to lead this program.”

SPRING SPORTS SUMMARY FOR BEARCAT MEN’S, WOMEN’S TEAMS All-Mideast Region by D3Baseball.com. Senior pitcher Tom Bash and sophomore outfielder Jordan Sabol were First Team All-PAC picks, while Evans and senior outfielder T.J. Dailey were each Second Team All-PAC selections.

BASKETBALL— The Saint Vincent Bearcats men’s basketball team finished the season at 3-8, 2-7 in conference play.

Shemar Bennett was named to the All-PAC Second Team.The previous two seasons, Bennett was named Honorable Mention.

Walter Bonds represented SVC on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

BOWLING —The women’s bowling team took part in its first-ever Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship Match; however, the team fell short in its quest for the top spot. Junior Jessica Guesman was named to the All Conference First Team, while senior Dani Koehler garnered Second Team honors. Saint Vincent ended the season at 14-4.

In three seasons in the AMCC,

Matt Evans received regional and conference honors for the baseball team this year.

ATHLETICS

A summary of the successes of the Bearcat athletic teams and its student athletes in the spring 2021 semester would take more than the limited space of this printed magazine. Alumni and fans of Saint Vincent sports are encouraged to visit the Athletics Department website to discover photos, archives of events, rosters, records and statistics.

Saint Vincent Magazine, does, however, offer this limited summary of athletic endeavors this spring.

BASEBALL—For the first time in program history, the Bearcat baseball team advanced to the championship game of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, where it narrowly fell to top-seeded Washington & Jefferson, 3-0. The Bearcats earned a spot in the tournament with a 2-0 win over Bethany in a play-in game, before advancing to the title game with a 13-4 win over Franciscan and a 5-3 victory against Grove City.

Senior infielder/pitcher Matt Evans was named Second Team

Shemar Bennett averaged 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds this year.

Saint Vincent has a record of 103-25.

CROSS COUNTRY—Defending PAC champion Saint Vincent finished as the conference runner-up. Freshman John Hurley was recognized as the PAC Newcomer of the Year. He was the runner-up in the event.

For the women, Saint Vincent took sixth.

FOOTBALL—While only playing a four-game schedule, finishing at 2-2, Coach Aaron Smetanka’s Bearcats continued development of a high-powered offense, which included wins of 56-26 over Waynesburg University and 35-6 at Bethany College. Eleven team members were honored by the conference and its coaches. Senior offensive linemen Colton Belmont was named All-PAC First Team. Senior running backs Mike Stasko and David Marshall Jr. were named All-PAC Second Team Offense. Senior Cam Norris received Second Team honors at linebacker while Jared Gonzalez was named Second Team punter. Honorable Mentions included Bruce Johnson, Keith 31

Kalp, Brady Walker, Jack Poling, Kyle Coombe and Gonzalez for kicker. Christopher Komst represented SVC on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

Head Coach Aaron Smetanka was named one of the selections for the AFCA 2021 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This year’s class was chosen from a field of more than 150 high-quality applicants.The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premiere, future leaders in the football coaching profession.

GOLF—The women’s golf team finished fifth in the conference. Sydney Ball was named All-PAC Honorable Mention and respresented Saint Vincent on the PAC Sportsmanship Team. The men golfers also took fifth in Summer 2021

ATHLETICS Saint Vincent had 212 total rushing yards in the victory over Bethany this season, led by senior Mike Stasko, who ran for 107 yards on 16 carries. He finished with 379 yards in four games, a 6.6 yards per carry average, and also became the all-time leading rusher in the modern era of SVC football. the conference tournament.

LACROSSE— The men’s team finished 9-3 overall, 4-2 in conference play and a number of laxers received honors. Graduate student Zack Novelli and sophomores Caleb Hawkins and Broderick McMahon were named to the All-PAC First Team. Second team honors went to sophomores Jordan Billet, Jacob Visalli and freshman RJ Kenna. Matthew Cassidy, Ethan Cavin and Brandon Martin garnered honorable mentions. Senior Kyle Pope represented the Bearcats on the Sportsmanship Team.

The women’s lacrosse team concluded the 2021 season with a record of 5-6 overall and a PAC record of 2-4.

Junior Joey Smith was named All-PAC First Team. Senior Lucy Volna received Second Team honors and freshman goalie Kyra Lipetzky was named Honorable Mention.

Senior Cat Votovich represented the Bearcats on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

SOCCER—The men’s team finished 4-5, 4-4 in the conference. Freshman Joel Quiroz Mansilla was named All-PAC First Team while freshman Jose Hurtado was named All-PAC Honorable Mention. Junior Cory Northrup represented Saint Vincent on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

The women’s soccer team finished the season 2-5-2 in conference play. Freshman Tanisha Grewal was named All-PAC Second Team. Junior Hannah Irvine represented the Bearcats on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

SOFTBALL—The softball team had several game cancellations, and finished the year at 12-15-1, 6-8 in conference play. Juniors Kelsey Tobin, Abbey Ginter and sophomore Jessica Persin were named to the All-PAC Second team. Junior Kaylee Ludwick and sophomore Mallory Halleck were named

Saint Vincent Magazine

Honorable Mention. Freshman Jessica LaPorte represented the Bearcats on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

SWIMMING—The women’s swimming team finished third overall in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships.

Lauren Krecota was named to the PAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Sportsmanship Team. Sophomores Sara Basala, Lauren Connors, Katy Kozy, senior Marion D’Aurora, and junior Krecota were First Team All-PAC selections, while Cara Luallen and Erica Steel received Second Team honors.

The men’s swimming team also took third at the Championships. Two swimmers, John Martin and Kevin Martin, made the First Team all conference, while Chris Bush, Kris Smith and Danny Whirlow were named to the Second Team.

Receiving Honorable Mention while also being named to the Sportsmanship Team was Noah Schollaert.

TENNIS—The Saint Vincent women’s tennis team finished at 1-5 on the season. Junior Maura Skelley was named AllPAC First Team in singles and Second Team in doubles with her partner sophomore Angela Popovich. Popovich also claimed

All-PAC Honorable Mention.

Senior Hannah Schilpp represented Saint Vincent on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

For the men, freshman David Lynn was named All-PAC First Team in doubles with his partner Mauricio Sanchez. Junior Josh Boland was named AllPAC Second Team in singles.

Junior Aaron Kuhn was named All-PAC Honorable mention in doubles with his partner sophomore Evan Ray. TRACK— The track teams competed in seven meets; however, the conference championship scheduled for the end of April was cancelled.

VOLLEYBALL—The women’s volleyball team finished 2-7 for the season. Five players were recognized on the all conference teams, including senior Madison Reeping, who was named to the Second Team. Sophomores Carly Augustine, Madie Marsico and Luciana Polk were named All-PAC Honorable Mention.

Senior Danielle Zemba represented Saint Vincent on the PAC Sportsmanship Team.

The men’s volleyball team ended at 2-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The win over Thiel was the first for the nascent team since the program was established in 2019.

Maura Skelley received All-PAC First Team honors in singles and Second Team honors in doubles with partner Angela Popovich.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Ben Becze, senior director of development and alumni relations, center, congratulates graduates Kaleb Wilson, left, who earned a bachelor of arts in politics and history, and who served as Student Government Association president, and Kyle Watson, who earned a bachelor of science degree in integrated science and was senior class president. They carried on the longstanding tradition of ringing the bell in the Melvin Platz following the ceremony.

Welcome, New Alumni

Dear New Bearcat alumni,

Welcome to our network of Bearcats. You have now joined a network of more than 15,000 Saint Vincent College alumni who stand ready to offer a guiding hand and a critical connection. You will soon discover something that our Bearcat community already knows: “The Bearcat community is everywhere.”

Just in this issue (see photo on page 38) North Catholic High School Principal, Michael Palcsey, C’08, G’12, G’16, was being interviewed for a marketing piece and discovered that the videographers, Tristan Newcamp, C’20; Timothy Oxenreiter, C’16; and photographer, Dena (Dennler) Koenig, C’91, were also Saint Vincent College Alumni.

Be prepared to experience this often in your travels.

Octob er Fall F 1-3 a Week mily Home end & comin g

Many of you, as evidenced in our class of 2021 news, are already moving forward to graduate school or to employment. We hope you continue sharing your news with us well into the future. Best wishes from your Bearcat family.

Ben Becze Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations ben.becze@stvincent.edu 724-805-2457

Saint Vincent College Office of Alumni Relations alumni@stvincent.edu 724-805-2457 www.stvincent.edu/alumni 33

Summer 2021

ALUMNI NEWS

SVC History Gifted: 1932 Football Sweater

By Ben Becze

Eighty-nine years ago this past May, Joseph J. Hurray graduated from Saint Vincent College with a bachelor’s degree in science. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Salem, Ohio, Mr. Hurray played right guard for the Bearcats.

After graduating from Saint Vincent, he went on to Ohio State University graduating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1939. After starting his dental practice in Salem, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during WWII, serving until 1945 at which time he returned home to raise a family and practice dentistry until his passing

Saint Vincent College Head football coach Aaron Smetanka, C’12, left, and Ben Becze, senior director of development and alumni relations, right, are joined by members of the Bearcat football team, second from left, David Shelnutt, C’23, and Christopher “C.K.” Komst, C’21, as they stand with class of 1932 alumnus Joseph J. Hurray’s letter sweater. in 1981. His children recently donated his letter sweater

to the College which is now prominently displayed in the

Office of Alumni Relations in Alfred Hall. The Alumni Relations Office welcomed Coach Aaron Smetanka, C’12, alongside players of the same position of Mr. Hurray; David Shelnutt, C’23, and Christopher “C.K.” Komst, C’21, to proudly welcome Mr. Hurray’s letter sweater home. We offer our thanks to Joseph Hurray’s children: Mary Jo (Hurray) Jacobson, Jack Hurray, Barbara (Hurray) Hess and Mark Hurray for donating this special piece of family memorabilia to the College for alumni and current and future Bearcats to enjoy for many years to come.

At left: 1930 Varsity Squad photo.

Saint Vincent Magazine

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Golf Outing Returns With Sold-Out Event

By Ben Becze

ALUMNI NEWS

After nearly a 15-month hiatus, Saint Vincent College Alumni and Friends were able to gather once again for an in-person event. The 64th Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Outing took place under sunny skies and with warm temperatures on June 4, 2021.

A sellout event, 160 golfers teed off at both the Latrobe Elks (Latrobe) and Champion Lakes Golf Resort (Bolivar). After their rounds, golfers returned to campus and the Fred Rogers Center for the presentations of the Sam Folby P’38 Cup (low score—Elks) and the Coach Tom Harbert Cup (low score— Champion), door prizes and a dinner of smoked chicken and beef brisket, mac and cheese, cornbread and apple cobbler, to name few of the delicious dinner items to choose from.

On behalf of the Office of Alumni Relations, thank you to TUDI Mechanical for serving as the outings title sponsor, to KLA Construction for serving as dinner sponsors and the many generous others for sponsoring tee signs, prizes, and Benedictines to allow them to participate in golf or attend dinner. And thanks to all the participants this year. We look forward to celebrating the 65th Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Outing on June 3, 2022.

Congratulations to the winning foursomes! At Latrobe Elks: Matthew Bryan C’12, Daniel Bryan C’10, Matthew Mornak, C’11, and Derek Lingafelt, C’14.

At Champion Lakes: Darin Wotus, Louisa Wotus, C’89, Bill Wotus and Sam Wotus (photo).

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ALUMNI NEWS

Three Communication Graduates On ‘30 Under 30’ List Pittsburgh Business Times has selected three Saint Vincent College Communication Department graduates to its 2021 “30 Under 30” list, released this spring.

Taleesha Johnson, C’13, Greta Edgar, C’14, and Abigail Geisel, C’14, were among 30 honorees named to the 2021 list, which recognizes young business and community leaders from across various industries throughout the western Pennsylvania region who have demonstrated outstanding professional successes while also contributing to the broader Pittsburgh community.

TALEESHA JOHNSON A Pittsburgh native, Johnson transferred to Saint Vincent College prior to her junior year, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in communication before receiving her M.B.A. from Point Park University and a master’s in exercise science/ health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania.

Currently, she works as a staff accountant for the Pittsburgh Foundation, while she also owns and operates T.L.J. Wellness and Fitness, conducting dance and fitness classes.

She transferred to SVC after making a number of visits to her friends on campus during her early college days, and, after enrolling in journalism and video production courses at her original college, she fell in love with the Communication Department at her new institution. She excelled academically, earning induction into the Lambda Pi Eta honor society, while she was also president of Visionaries of H.O.P.E. and a member of the Bearcat cheerleading team, Women in Business Club and Young

Taleesha Johnson, C’13

Greta Edgar, C’14

Abigail Geisel, C’14

Entrepreneur Club.

“I thought communication was a great major to choose because you learn skills that you will use in any field,” she said.

“My experience at SVC was great. I felt like the professors were enthusiastic about what they were teaching, which made me fall in love with the major even more.”

Though it may not appear to be a traditional career path for someone who holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and master’s degrees in business administration and exercise science, Johnson has carved out a solid career in accounting in addition to her burgeoning wellness and fitness business.

On top of her work and dance/fitness schedule, Johnson also volunteers with the Pittsburgh Promise as its communication chair and events co-chair, all while raising a 7-month-old daughter.

GRETA EDGAR The communications manager for PPG, Edgar has a bachelor’s degree in communication. She quickly fell in love with SVC after transferring for her sopho-

more year.

“I’ve always been a strong writer and consider myself a pretty curious person,” she said, “traits that make for a well-rounded communicator— though I don’t think I knew this at the time I chose the communication path. After graduating, when I got my first taste of media relations as an intern at PPG, it was so exhilarating. When you identify a new storyline, draft a pitch that gets your foot in the door with a new contact or finally land a huge piece, it feels like Christmas morning every time!”

Edgar’s interest in the media and public relations field continued to grow during her time at Saint Vincent. She completed a thorough 17-month research project assessing whether media consumption can be linked to traditional occupational roles, while prior to her senior year, she completed an internship at A to Z Communications, where she was exposed to a wide range of communication and PR tasks, including compiling media lists, generating social media plans and composing and disseminat-

ing press releases.

Edgar remains at PPG, a Fortune 500 global giant and the third-largest public company in Pittsburgh. She oversees external communications for PPG’s architectural and coating business in the U.S. and Canada and leads media engagement for a number of other company initiatives in her role on the corporate and government affairs team.

Edgar is also active in a number of PPG’s community initiatives, including its Colorful Communities program, which brings together employee volunteers, PPG paint products and financial contributions to spaces in need of a bright refresh.

ABIGAIL GEISEL Geisel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in marketing. Since 2015, she has worked for FedEx, presently serving as a senior communication specialist, while she volunteers in wish-granting and special events for Make-AWish America.

“I chose Saint Vincent for a few reasons. First, I was dead-set on going into sports media, specifically with the Steelers.

Saint Vincent Magazine

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Class Notes

1960s Charles (Chuck) McIntyre, C’60, opened his newest hotel, the Wyndham Garden, in State College in 2018. The hotel was just awarded Wyndham’s highest distinction: “Hotel of the Year in the United States.”

The award recognizes excellence in facilities and customer service. The Wyndham sits on a scenic 152acre golf course just outside State College, and offers a full service restaurant, multiple swimming pools and upscale catering facilities. The hotel is the site of the annual Class of ’60 reunion held each June.

1970s Richard Bienvenue, C’70, has been asked to be on the Washington Post Advisory Panel.

Garrett Ulrich, C’72, sent us this note with some pictures of his life-long friend Tom Gillooly, C’72, who passed away this past February after fighting cancer for the past 25 years. “He was one of a kind and a valued product of SVC’s culture and religious education. Tom graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1972 where his thinking was influenced by the teachings and his

Thomas Gillooly, C’72, and with classmates at graduation.

relationships with a talented group of professors: Jim Meny, Joseph Ryer, Father Sebastian Samay and Patrick O’Neill. These years from 1968 to 1972 were fondly referred to as the “Golden Years” at SVC by a number of us who have remained friends. Tom went on to earn a master’s degree in theology at Seton Hall University and for 13 years taught theology in high school back in the late 70s and 80s. Over the next 40 years Tom continued to read and challenge his thinking on theology and the philosophy of existence. He began writing a book which he never completed and now sits on his desk in North Carolina

Jim Scatena, C’73, met the band Chicago and shared with them a poster of their 1970 concert at Saint Vincent.

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full of interesting thoughts and concepts.The amazing part about Tom was his reach and his impact on the high school students whom he taught so long ago and the testaments submitted on the remembrances page on the funeral home’s website. One ex-student wrote, ‘He challenged us to look deeper not only at what he was teaching but also into ourselves.

I’m sure he touched many in his lifetime.’ Another wrote, ‘There are few teachers that have an impact on your life that you remember long after you walk away. It’s beyond teaching theology to 17 year olds. It’s the making it stick that’s the trick. That is the real mark of a quality educator. Nearly 40 years have gone by and I still carry with me the correct way to think because of him and I was blessed to learn it earlier in life.

Mr. Gillooly was one of those rare breeds.’ One fellow HS teacher wrote, ‘Tom was the most satisfying thinker and talker I ever met in actual reality. He could probe into the depths of knowledge, reality and existence far deeper than most people as did many famous philosophers, poets, theologians and sages. Tom was one of those. He touched a place in people that they did not know was even there and that was in fact the place of light, knowledge and ultimate meaning.’ There were several more comments written by former high school students who had very similar thoughts about Tom and his legacy of teaching, thinking and learning. Tom was a man seeking truth and answers that we all seek and he made it his life-long quest long after leaving teaching. I wanted to share this story with the SVC community.

Tom was a humble soul and a fearless thinker who leaves a legacy for those who had the privilege to know him and hear him. I was one of those people.”

ALUMNI NEWS

SVC has amazing connections with the sports community in Pittsburgh. Second, I wanted a personalized education. Relationship-building was, and still is, very important to me, and I knew I wasn’t going to get that at a larger, public school. My first class at SVC ended up being with nine students. It was perfect for me.

“I loved being a part of the Communication Department,” she said. “I was afforded many opportunities, including internships with TribLIVE, the Steelers, the Penguins and MakeA-Wish.”

Having attended SVC in part due to its longstanding relationship with the Steelers, Geisel was thrilled to have the opportunity to intern with her favorite team early in her college career. This internship ended up blossoming into a six-year affiliation with the team as a game day public relations assistant.

Since December 2015, Geisel has been employed by FedEx. Currently, Geisel manages the integrated marketing plan for FedEx’s e-commerce portfolio, working with its product marketing team to translate product features and benefits into campaigns and promotions.

“My main priority is to be a champion for our customers, advocating for them and providing them the best experience possible. My favorite part of the job is interacting with our customers.

They have fascinating stories to tell and we love incorporating them into our marketing materials whenever possible.”

Along with her work at FedEx and volunteering for Make-AWish, Geisel is also pursuing an M.B.A. at the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the SVC Alumni Council to give back to the place that she still calls home.

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ALUMNI NEWS

to do a lot more traveling, as there are still many national parks and other places around the world they would like to experience. He says “Hello to all my fellow Bearcats!”

1990s Ryan Kearney, C’92, accepted a position and began working as an NP-C with Erie Physician Network of UPMC, Department of Physiatry, at Encompass Health in Erie.

James Sagan C’77 and Nancy Summers, C’87 are the founders and principal members of the MetroSquared Foundation Inc., a charitable organization (www.metrosquaredfoundation.org). The Foundation was established over five years ago and during this time has awarded numerous grants to caregivers, veteran organizations, homeless children’s shelters, with the goal of eliminating medical debt. Recently, they directed MetroSquared Foundation to purchase and eliminate more than $1.7 million of medical debt in the Palm Bay, Florida, area. Once the medical debt was purchased, the people who had the debt and could no longer afford to pay it, no longer had to worry about the financial burden nor debt collectors and, therefore, were able to focus on the more important necessities.

This act has helped hundreds of families. The Foundation has helped numerous people and families in Latrobe and Western Pennsylvania as well. Last year, MetroSquared Foundation awarded a grant to the Latrobe American Legion Post 515 to help fund an Outreach program for veterans.

Additionally, each year, the Foundation awards a nursing student scholarship through the National Student Nursing Association.

2000s Melissa Devich Cochran, C’00, has returned to Marshall Dennehey’s Pittsburgh Office as a shareholder in the Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation Practice Group. While attending Saint Vincent, she founded the Saint Vincent College Mock Trial Team and served as its captain.

In 2003, Melissa earned her juris doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, where she was a member of the Trial Moot Court Honor Society.

the Board of Advisors of Neuropathix (OTC:NPTX), and Cognitive Clarity Inc. .

1980s John Robinson, C’73, retired from his second judicial office in 2012. In 2018, he retired from practice of law with Partner Michael J. Robinson, Esq., C’70. He then retired as adjunct lecturer in law at Susquehanna University, in Selinsgrove, in December 2020 after 20 years of service. John spent the winter of 2021 with his wife, Susan, golf, and beer in Orlando.

Terrence “Terry” Tormey, C’76, was recently, appointed to

The work of Andrea Redinger, C’01, was featured as a PBS Teachable Moment.

The feature is currently airing on PBS. Only a few educators in the SWPA area were sought out, she said. The link is https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ijYT4VvkaA0. The show’s description notes: “Are there exotic critters in your backyard? Andrea Redinger is a biology teacher ‘extraordinaire’ at Greensburg Salem High School. Mrs. Redinger, AKA Mrs. Frizzle, gives us a ‘hands-on’ look at two exotic critters that can be found in her classroom, and encourages you to look for other wildlife in your own backyard.

Meghan McCandless, C’05, accepted the position of Westmoreland County Director of Financial Administration.

Trésor Kalambay, C’09, published his book, Reborn: Hope Never Dies, in 2020.

He wrote this

Tom Burkley, C’82, is a director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florence, Colorado, at the Supermax Penitentiary known as “the Alcatraz of the Rockies.”

Ivan Dzombak, C’83, retired from Harman International as a Harman Fellow in August of 2021, capping a nearly 40-year career in electrical and computer engineering. He has been enjoying more time for running and playing guitar, and doing a little engineering consulting as well. Once the pandemic situation abates, he and his wife, Paula, plan

Saint Vincent Magazine

The Bearcat Community is everywhere! North Catholic High School Principal, Michael Palcsey, C’08, G’12, C’16, was being interviewed for a marketing piece and discovered that the videographers, Tristan Newcamp, C’20, and Timothy Oxenreiter, C’16, and photographer, Dena (Dennler) Koenig, C’91, were also Saint Vincent College Alumni!.

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Deaths Cecil C. Baecher, P’49, on February 6, 2021.

Mario I. Teza, C’49, on February 14, 2021.

James F. Curran, C’50, on December 20, 2020.

Reynold V. Decesaris, C’50, on January 16, 2021.

William F. Leightner, M.D., C’52, on July 3, 2020.

Walter J. Maguire, C’52, on November 2, 2019.

James P. Rouse, C 52, on January 7, 2021.

Harry B. Strickland, Ph.D., C’52, on January 31, 2021.

James A. Sites, C’52, S’56, on January 15, 2021.

Theodore S. Sulkowski, C’52, on January 11, 2021.

J. Dennis Ryan C’52, on February 18, 2021.

Roland J. Horvath, C’54, on January 16, 2021.

Joseph R. Maruca, P’54, C’61, on February 5, 2021.

James A. Colonna, C’ 56, on March 2, 2021.

Robert G. Potalivo, C’56, on January 10, 2021.

Leonard A. Tobias, C’56, on March 16, 2021.

Dennis P. Livi, C’57, on December 29, 2020.

Michael C. Urdzik, C’57, on February 1, 2021.

Conrad C. Donovan, C’71, on March 5, 2021.

Colonel Donald A. Gressly USMC, Ret., P’58, on January 29, 2021.

Dr. Roger Stock, C’71, on March 26, 2021.

Harold J. Huecker, P’58, on January 19, 2018.

Michael B. Devlin, C’72, on May 1, 2021.

James R. Ratner P’58 on March 3, 2017.

Thomas P. Gillooly, C’72, on February 11, 2021

Julius E. Bellone Jr., C’59, on January 17, 2021.

Terrence L. Vrabel, C’74, on April 12, 2021.

William U. Gillespie, P’59, on March 14, 2021.

James J. Bielecki, C’75, on May 13, 2021

Curt F. Roemele, C’59, on April 10, 2021.

Steven A. LoCascio, C’75, S’96, on May 8, 2021.

Sherman G. Smithbower, C’59, on January 24, 2021.

Joseph T. Pacek, C’78, on February 17, 2021.

Captain Joseph Walsh, C’59, on April 19, 2021.

Morris C. Hill, III, C’86, on April 5, 2021.

Charles M. Kupetz, C60, on June 9, 2015.

John H. Wilson, C’86, on February 9, 2021.

Andrew C. Lang, C 60, on October 11, 2020.

David B. Marva, C’89, on January 11, 2021.

Peter T. Leccia, C’61, on April 5, 2021.

Joseph W. Hufnagel C’89 on May 6, 2021.

Ronald Leslie, C’61, on April 2, 2021.

Condolences

John D. Bastin, P’62, C’66, on April 1, 2021.

Condolences are offered to:

John M. Elliot, C’63, H’85, on March 12, 2021.

Thomas M. Kissell, C’51, on the death of his wife of 72 years, Helen M. Kissell, on April 7, 2021.

Ralph J. Henry, C’63, on January 14, 2021.

Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., C’63, on April 9, 2020.

Eugene W. Chrzanowski, C’64, on January 2, 2021.

Kevin A. Kavanaugh, P’64, on February 23, 2020.

Andrew G. Roberts, C’69, on January 25, 2021.

Juliann (Gianotti) Zimmer, C’89, and her mother, Joan (Visosky) Gianotti, on the death of their family members: Larry M. Gianotti on May 24, 2019 and Marie R. Gianotti on March 13, 2021.

Celine Brudnok, C’90, registrar, and Shane Brudnok, C’17, on the death of their mother and grandmother, respectively, Regina L. Haas, on April 19, 2021.

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Suzanne (Bastin) Shanower, C’90, and Nicole (Bastin) Bobcock, C’92, on the death of their father, John D. Bastin, P’62, C’66, on April 1, 2021.

Kimberly M. Colonna, Esq., C’94, Corry A. Colonna, C’99, and James C. Colonna, C’ 95, on the death of their father, James A. Colonna, C’56, on March 2, 2021.

Sarah Yurga, C’95, and Abigail Yurga, Bearcat B.E.S.T. student, on the death of their father and grandfather, respectively, Rodney Elston, on February 3, 2021.

ALUMNI NEWS

Henry V. Giobbi, C’43, on April 8, 2021.

Charles V. Burkley C’58, on February 21, 2021.

Danielle Banko, C’96, on the death of her mother and a former Saint Vincent employee, Donna Banko Jobe, on April 4, 2021.

Autumn (Coleman) Purdy, C’98, and Judith Anne Purdy, C’21, on the death of their father-in-law and grandfather, respectively, Marvin Purdy, on March 11, 2021.

Jenna Churilla, C’09, assistant director of the Career and Professional Development Center, and Stephen P. Churilla, C’10, on the death of her mother and his mother-inlaw, Rosemary Hogan, on March 6, 2021.

Courtney Baum, director of the Career and Professional Development Center, and Bob Baum, dean of students, on the death of their father and fatherin-law, respectively, Melville Little, on January 15, 2021.

Dr. Jennifer Koehl, associate professor and chairperson of biology, on the death of her mother-in-law, Carol Koehl, on March 5, 2021.

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ALUMNI NEWS

book to help people find restoration, strength, hope from any difficult season and circumstances that they may have faced and are facing in life. It is available from amazon.com.

2010s The New York Times recently featured the work of Michelle Gil-Montero, professor of English, and Stephanie Murray, C’13, who majored in English and economics.

A review of Gil-Montero’s most recent literary translation, “Edinburgh Notebook” by Valerie Mejer Caso, appeared on March 24, while Murray’s own article, “My 3-Year-Old Can Tell I’m Depressed,” appeared on April 9.

“I have struggled with depression on and off since my teens,” wrote Murray, “and it seems to run in my family, so I always knew I’d have to educate my daughter about mental health eventually.”

Murray’s article presents expert advice for parents dealing with depression, addressing how they can discuss depression with their kids and reassure them that everything will be OK. The New York Times is the most recent of publications to feature Murray’s work. She has published more than 75 articles on a variety of topics, including The Guardian and The Washington Post.

Emily Davis, C’15, accepted a position at Belmont Abbey College as an assistant professor of history.

Alexis Zawelensky, C’16, graduated with a masters of business ad-

ministration degree (MBA) from the Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University on May 7. Alexis was a full-tuition “Powerful Woman Paving the Way” fellow during her time at Smeal, while also serving as the MBA Marketing Association president, vice president of the Women’s MBA Organization and as a teaching assistant in marketing. In July, she will begin a new career with Johnson & Johnson via their two-year Marketing Leadership Development Program out of Philadelphia.

Class of 2021 Fourteen students from Saint Vincent College’s Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing will pursue graduate degrees at schools across the U.S. following their May 22 graduation from Saint Vincent. The students include: Alyssa Baker, biology major from Thurmont, Maryland, who will attend Clemson University to pursue a master of science and Ph.D. in biological sciences.

Victoria Haas, C’17, earned a master’s degree in public history from the University of North Carolina in May 2020. In February 2021, she was hired as digital projects librarian with the Government & Heritage Library of the State Library of North Carolina.

Taylor Berardi, mathematics education major from Altoona, who will pursue a master of science in curriculum design and instruction through a graduate fellowship at Saint Vincent College.

Reese Capo, engineering major from Greensburg, who will pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Case Western Reserve University.

Nicholas DiTullio Jr. C’19, is completing his first year of medical school at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He is the son of Michele and Nicholas C’90 DiTullio.

Marion D’Aurora, an integrated science major from Leonardtown, Maryland, with a chemical and biological analysis concentration, who will attend the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health to pursue a master of public health degree in biostatistics.

2020s

Nicholas Driscoll, chemistry major from Greensburg, who will attend Penn State University to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry.

After her virtual graduation, Jessica Brinker, C’20, joined the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. She is currently assigned as a campus missionary at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, for a two-year commitment. Brinker says “This is an exciting time to share my Catholic faith that was encouraged at Saint Vincent. Any friends can visit me there if they are in the area!”

Saint Vincent Magazine

Michael Kardos, biology major from Vandergrift, who will pursue a Ph.D. in biological sciences at Duquesne University.

Rachel Keller, biology major from Saint Marys, who will pursue a master of health science in infectious disease epidemiology at Bloomberg School of 40

Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

Natalie Lamagna, environmental science major from Murrysville, who will pursue a master of science in environmental science and management at Duquesne University.

Grace Leonard, biology major from Greensburg, who will enroll in the master of sustainability program at Chatham University.

Brandon Lowe, biochemistry major from Hollywood, Maryland, who will pursue a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Anmarie Misterkiewicz, chemistry major from Mohrsville, who will attend the University of Georgia to pursue a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry.

Nathaniel Rizza, engineering major from Cape Coral, Florida, who will pursue a master of science in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida.

Emily Rohm, biology major from Lemont Furnace, who will pursue a master of science in auditory and language neuroscience at Arizona State University.

Connor Thropp, physics major from Irwin, who will pursue a master of science in medical physics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. ***** The Pre-Professional Health Committee of Saint Vincent College’s Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing has announced that four seniors have been accepted into and will attend professional health

schools following their May 22 graduation from Saint Vincent College.

Michael Cella, a biology major

from Greensburg, will attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree.

Lauren Diamond, a biology major from Smithfield, will attend Salus University to pursue a doctor of optometry degree.

***** Saint Vincent College’s Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing has announced that eight

Scott Meyers, a biology major

Engagements

of its 2021 graduates have been accepted into and will pursue degrees in allied health professions following their May 22 graduation from Saint Vincent. The students include: Brianna Carter, integrated science major from Suitland, Maryland, who will attend Logan University to pursue a master of science in sport science and rehabilitation.

Katherine Cramer, integrated science and psychology double major from Ponte Vedra, Florida, who will attend the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences to pursue a doctorate of physical therapy.

ALUMNI NEWS

Mary Anand, a biochemistry major from Wexford, will attend Eastern Virginia Medical School to pursue a doctor of medicine degree.

from Pittsburgh, will attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree.

Christian Frazier, integrated science major from Bethel Park, who will enroll in the doctor of chiropractic program at Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Joe Miller, C’10, became engaged to Whitney Hall on February 13, 2021. They look forward to getting married in 2022.

Molly Ouchis, C’15, and Joel Kankiewicz, C’17, plan a wedding in Scranton after announcing their engagement on January 18.

Samantha Zourelias, C’18, G’19, G’21, and Nicholas Amatucci, C’19, announce their December 27, 2020, engagement. Their nuptials will take place at the Saint Vincent Basilica in October 2022.

Will Keough, biology major from Alexandria, Virginia, who will pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.

Isabella Molinaro, biology major from Pittsburgh, who will pursue a master of physician assistant studies at Chatham University.

Emily Prencipe, integrated science major from Ridgway, who will attend Thomas Jefferson University to pursue a master of physician assistant studies.

Kevin Schroeck, C’13, was engaged to Allison Gavin on July 5, 2020. Their nuptials are planned for December 4, 2021.

Megan Paullet, C’17, and Daniel Carlineo, C’19, announce their July 4, 2020, betrothal. They will marry at the Saint Vincent Basilica on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

MacKenzie Ursiny, integrated science major from Belle Vernon, who will pursue a master of physician assistant studies at Barry University–Miami Shores.

Megan Farrell, C’19, and Randy Moore were engaged on Christmas day 2020. They will be united in marriage on October 8, 2022.

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Stephanie Weinskovich, biology major from Duquesne, who will attend Chatham University to pursue a master of physician assistant studies.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Marriages

Hans Rocha Ijzerman, C’03, and Daniela Rocha Lopes were married on July 20, 2019 at Villa Beccaris in Monforte d’Alba, Italy.

Other alumni in attendance were Nicholas Litz, C’01, Robert Husar, C’04, and Felix Indaye, C’05. The couple welcomed their first child, Julie Rocha Ijzerman, on July 10, 2020.

Births

Jean AbiNader, C’69, welcomed his granddaughter Ella AbiNader on March 25, 2020.

He is pictured with son, Faris AbiNader.

Kelly (Phillip) Markle, C’15, and Daniel Markle, C’14, were married on September 5, 2020, at the Madison United Methodist Church after having been together for more than 10 years.

Scott Ringstad, C’80, and his wife, Ruth, welcomed their granddaughter, Adelaide Maria Paulone, on January 28, 2020.

Mary (Yeckley) Brundage, C’17, and Jacob Brundage, C’18, were united in marriage on October 10, 2020.

Cassandra Nolfi, C’14, and Del Nolfi, C’13, announce the birth of their first child, Evelyn Marie Nolfi, on February 20, 2021.

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Aiste Vaicenas, C’17, eloped with Adam Dando on September 12, 2020, at Falling Rock in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Saint Vincent Magazine

Jessica Halbedl, C’10, and Adam Halbedl, with their daughters, Nora and Paige, welcomed their new daughter, Maggie Leigh Halbedl, on August 6, 2020.

Gretchen Irwin, C’01, and her husband Terrence Irwin, with their son Zachary, announce the birth of their new son, William Vaughn Irwin, on April 9, 2021.

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Saint Vincent College Office of Alumni Relations alumni@stvincent.edu or 724-805-2457 www.stvincent.edu/alumni

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GIVING

Mandi Gaert ner Downey, C’04, and M C’04, with th ichael Down eir children, ey, 10-year-old d and 4-year-ol au gh ter Mackenzi d son Macklin e .

Giving Back

peaking with Mandi and Michael Downey, I discovered that the impetus to creating a legacy gift for the college had its roots in the value systems created by their parents.

Their days at the college prepared them in every way possible for their professional and personal lives. When asked about their children attending Saint Vincent, Michael exclaimed: “Absolutely, yes!” Mandi zeroed in very quickly: “I would love that…Kenzie Downey, #33 on the basketball court, has a nice ring to it!”

Michael and Mandi have demonstrated Michael stated: “It was a no-brainer for us.

—Michael Downey that making an estate plan may properly Both of us grew up in families that put a big focus begin at a younger age. When asked about on “giving back.” Mandi echoed his comments: the motivation to create the estate plan now “I agree with Michael. We both believe in the importance of ‘giving back,’ and the mission of Saint Vincent College Mandi stated: “Saint Vincent is where our lives together began. is such a special place for us and our personal story…it just felt right.” We want to ensure that future students have the same and better The parents of Mandi, C’04, (Dave and Gina Gaertner) and Michael, opportunities than we had at the college.” Michael added: “I met my future wife, forged lifelong friendships, learned valuable C’04, (Bob and Mary Downey) surely began the life journey of these lessons about life, and had a lot of fun!” Including Saint Vincent two Bearcats in a very special and similar way.

College in our will just made good sense. Making an unrestricted Father Paul Taylor remembers well the endearing qualities of gift to their Alma Mater to be used “as needed” years from now Michael and Mandi as they took the lead to rally their teammates in means so much to Mandi and Michael. supporting the creation of a scholarship after the untimely death of After reading this brief story about these two alumni, and if Jamie Vick Moran, C’06, C’12. That legacy surely had an impact on you have an interest in creating a legacy to aid future Bearcats, we the decision to include the college in their estate plans. would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Mandi and Michael feel that the faculty “fine-tuned” them for

“We want to ensure that future students have the same and better opportunities than we had at the college.”

life after college. A strong work ethic, paying attention to details, and generating full effort to the task at hand are the foundations for success. Playing intercollegiate sports, Michael on the lacrosse field under the tutelage of Coach Peter Tulk, and Mandi on the hardwood with the late Coach Kristen Zawacki, they learned the importance of teamwork.

Jim Bendel, Planned Giving Director, 724-244-4805 Ben Becze, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations, 724-805-2457 Missy Intrepido, Senior Director of Development and Annual Giving 724-454-1800 MAKE A DIFFERENCE, MAKE A FUTURE

Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement 724-805-2948 www.stvincent.edu/studentsfirst

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