THE WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2016
From the President
WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION President Douglas G. Lee Chancellor Timothy R. Thyreen Interim Provost Dana Cook Baer Senior Vice President for Graduate Programs Mary Cummings Vice President for Student Services, Faith and Mission; University Chaplain James Tinnemeyer Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer John Olon Vice President for Information Technology Systems and Chief Information Officer William Dumire Vice President for Institutional Advancement and University Relations Heidi Szuminsky Vice President for Enrollment Shari Payne THE LAMP - SUMMER 2016 The Lamp is published by the Office of University Relations at Waynesburg University, 51 West College Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Waynesburg University is a Christian university offering more than 70 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Editor Ashley Wise
Art Direction and Design Carrie McAfee
Contributing Writers Kimberly Baston Robert Fox Jordan Mitrik Matthew Stultz Ashley Wise
Photography Harry Giglio Joey Kennedy Randy Laskody Colin Nelson Gregory Reinhart Marc Sorracco
Alumni Services fdolfi@waynesburg.edu Phone: 724.852.3300 Fax: 724.627.3225
Correspondence mwhite@waynesburg.edu Phone: 724.852.3293
© 2016. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication of publication or material is strictly prohibited without express written consent of the copyright holder.
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Another summer is upon us. It may be a bit quieter on campus this time of year, but many dedicated individuals remain amid the halls of our historic buildings. As we busily prepare for the return of our students, we also look forward to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Bonner Program at Waynesburg in the coming year. In 1992, former President Timothy R. Thyreen announced that Waynesburg University had been chosen to participate in the Bonner Scholars Program, founded by The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation of Princeton, New Jersey. In his announcement, Chancellor Thyreen declared: “I am confident that the Bonner Scholars Program will challenge us to advance our service and educational goals, while requiring us to stretch our imagination in the area of service... to provide what we have not yet provided... to serve those whom we have not yet identified... to illustrate what we are at our best.” His words have resonated throughout the past two and a half decades as we have sought to fulfill them. During this time, the University’s tradition of service learning has grown, resulting in strong programs that integrate faith and service with academics, preparing students not only for careers but to live lives of purpose for the glory of God. In the following pages, you will find stories reflective of that mission. In leading this remarkable institution, I am thankful for God’s faithfulness. I also remain thankful to you for your support. With your help, we will continue to advance this unique mission. Douglas G. Lee President
In this Issue
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® Features 10
Lighting the Torch Waynesburg University community revives Greene County’s Special Olympics Program
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A Hero Among Us MBA student exemplifies honor through distinguished history of leadership, courage and creativity
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From Buhl to NASA A communication alumnus shares his journey from Waynesburg University to NASA
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A Proud Salute to Champions The University celebrates the 50th anniversary of Waynesburg’s 1966 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics football championship
In Every Issue 4 Recent Developments 10 Features 24 Events 31 Campus News 42 Sports Update 46 Alumni and Friends
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Recent Developments
EDUCATIONAL VALUE Throughout the 2015-2016 academic year, Waynesburg University was recognized by a number of ranking systems as a top value in higher education. Due to its low default rate for student loans and high placement rates for graduates, among other achievements, the University is now measured as a national leader in educational value. CollegeNet
The Economist
Waynesburg University has been ranked in the top 100 of a national Social Mobility Index (SMI), which rates schools based on how well they help students improve their economic status.
Waynesburg University ranked in the top 100 nationwide in The Economist’s recently released, first-ever college rankings, which measured four-year, nonvocational American colleges based on alumni earnings above expectation.
Ranked at No. 66, Waynesburg University was the only school in Pennsylvania to break the top 100 on the national list. Developed by CollegeNET and PayScale, the SMI ranks schools based on access, affordability and the ability to advance students’ economic mobility. Gaining international attention, the SMI has been featured in the Daily Mail, a British daily newspaper. “This ranking sheds light on the affordability of a Waynesburg University degree, and equally as important, the value of a Waynesburg University education,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “Our students graduate with the knowledge necessary to lead fiscally sound lives and with the résumés necessary to secure their desired jobs, fully equipping them to become contributing members of society.”
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According to The Economist, Waynesburg University graduates earn an average of $5,214 more than expected, a figure which places the University in the 92nd percentile of colleges and universities nationwide. The University ranked No. 94 out of the 1,275 schools analyzed. As described by The Economist, their rankings are based on the premise that “the economic value of a university is equal to the gap between how much money its students subsequently earn, and how much they might have made had they studied elsewhere.”
Recent Developments
Why is Waynesburg University ranked a top value nationwide? Tuition, room and board at Waynesburg is more than $11,000 below the national average for private, non-profit, fouryear colleges.
95% of 2014 graduates reported working full time or studying in their chosen field within one year of graduation.
Our student loan default rate of 4.3% is substantially lower than the national average of 11.8%.
More than 90% of Waynesburg students receive some form of financial aid each year.
The Brookings Institution
Christian Universities Online
The Brookings Institution recently scored institutions of higher education based on the value the colleges added to student outcomes, ranking Waynesburg University higher than 92 percent of 1,666 four-year colleges analyzed nationwide.
Continuing the recognition of value, Waynesburg University ranked no. 12 on a national list measuring low debt burden among Christian colleges and universities nationwide.
The nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions measured the value that colleges add to student outcomes, irrespective of student characteristics, based on the earnings of alumni. As Brookings describes on their website, value-added measures provide a more equal way to compare colleges and attempt to isolate the contribution of a college to student outcomes. “We take pride in yet another national distinction that highlights the value of a Waynesburg University education,” said President Lee. “Our students are being challenged on a daily basis, gaining skills that they are successfully employing in the workforce.”
The list, “The Top 50 Christian Colleges & Universities with the Lowest Debt Burden,” was published by Christian Universities Online (CUO), an independent online resource for prospective students and their families researching Christian higher education. Featuring Christian liberal arts colleges and universities whose 2014 graduating class had the lowest average debt burden, this ranking seeks to provide useful data to parents and students who are endeavoring to make an informed decision in choosing the best Christian institution to meet their needs, according to CUO’s website.
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Recent Developments
Pittsburgh Business Times names Waynesburg University ‘Best Places to Work’ finalist Waynesburg University has been selected as a 2015 Best Place to Work by the Pittsburgh Business Times, based on the results of an employee engagement survey completed by employees in June 2015. “We are proud to be recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a ‘Best Places to Work’ finalist,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “It’s a privilege to serve alongside the dedicated faculty and staff at the University. This recognition is a result of the enthusiasm and commitment each one brings forth.”
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Waynesburg University was one of ten finalists in the “150+ Employees” category. To be eligible for selection as a finalist, companies must reach a minimum level of employee participation, based on total number of employees. Responses from completed surveys are compiled and evaluated. Companies are ranked and finalists are chosen in each size category according to their overall engagement score. Finalists are chosen based on the results of the survey and, in essence, by the employees themselves.
Recent Developments
Waynesburg University president to receive World Class CEO Award Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee has been selected as a co-recipient of the Southpointe CEO Association’s World Class CEO Award for 2016. “I am honored to be recognized by the Southpointe CEO Association,” said Lee. “This award reflects the dedication of the entire Waynesburg University community. Together, we bring life to our mission of inspiring and challenging our students to pursue lives of leadership and purpose.” Lee, along with co-recipient Charles Keller, senior counsel at the law firm of Peacock Keller, will be honored at a dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe in June. Located south of Pittsburgh, the Southpointe CEO Association is supported and directed by CEOs in the
Southpointe business park. In keeping with the public-private partnership that gave birth to Southpointe, the association brings local, national and international leaders together for informative events and works with government officials on all levels to build upon and expand the region's business success. “President Lee provides the leadership of Waynesburg University through his commitment to our mission,” said Heidi Szuminsky, vice president for institutional advancement and university relations. “His passion for our students is extraordinary. He truly embodies our mission, and the numerous accolades received by the University during his tenure are a result of his leadership.”
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Recent Developments
Imani honors Waynesburg University for leadership in service education The Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh presented its 2015 Leadership in Service Education Award to Waynesburg University Saturday, Sept. 26, at the 13th annual Imani Gala. Through the award, Imani seeks to honor an educational institution that "demonstrates a meaningful commitment to education through service through incorporating real world experience into the educational curriculum, while building better citizens by teaching civic and community commitment and leadership." A private school for students in grades pre-K through 12, Imani works to transform the lives of inner-city children by improving their literacy and academic skills, teaching selfdiscipline and developing character. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Imani Christian Academy through this award,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “Imani is a shining example of an institution transforming lives.” Waynesburg University’s tradition of service learning has been established over time, resulting in strong programs that integrate faith and service with academics, preparing students not only for careers but also to be agents of positive change in their communities and the world.
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Through partnerships with more than 40 local, regional and international service agencies, Waynesburg University students, faculty and staff contribute at least 50,000 hours of service learning and community/civic engagement hours annually. Each year, hundreds of students dedicate their fall, winter, spring and summer breaks to service. Through Universityorganized trips, students travel the world and serve others, utilizing skills they have gained within their classes. For more than a decade, students have been volunteering at The Pittsburgh Project (TPP). Assisting Pittsburgh homeowners with home improvements and volunteering as tutors with an after-school mentoring program, students serve TPP on weekend retreats as well as week-long service experiences. Additionally, Waynesburg is one of only 21 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service. This scholarship program offers financial assistance to selected students with a high level of demonstrated financial need in return for a commitment to service while enrolled at Waynesburg. TO READ MORE ON RECENT SERVICE INITIATIVES, SEE PAGES 10, 31, 32 AND 36
Recent Developments
Waynesburg University’s business programs accredited by IACBE Waynesburg University’s undergraduate and graduate business programs were recently granted first-time accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) for a seven-year period. “This achievement evidences the excellence of the Waynesburg University Business Administration Program, including its faculty members, staff, students and alumni,” said Dana Cook Baer, interim provost. “The IACBE recognized that our business faculty members are committed to helping students achieve positive academic and vocational outcomes by providing a comprehensive and quality educational experience.” The IACBE was founded in 1997 and is nationally-recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). To achieve accreditation, the Department of Business Administration underwent a rigorous self-evaluation, a comprehensive and independent peer review and demonstrated compliance with appropriate principles outlined by the IACBE. “Accreditation for the Master of Business Administration Program confirms what we have always known, that our curriculum, our faculty and, most importantly, our student outcomes are on par with other programs. It was a gratifying experience to work with my colleagues and the IACBE,” said Janice Crile, director of graduate programs in business administration and assistant professor of business administration.
The University was commended for excellent performance in the following areas: the University’s commitment to provide support for assisting faculty in pursuing doctoral studies and the University’s dedication to preserving the historical presence of the campus and the current business building at the Waynesburg campus. Waynesburg University’s accreditation status will be recognized at the 2017 IACBE Annual Conference and Assembly Meeting in April 2017 in San Francisco, California. “The commitment and support from the University has been tremendous, and this achievement is reflective of the collective efforts from everyone,” said Dr. Christian Ola, chair of the Department of Business Administration and assistant professor of business administration. “Additionally, the entire Department of Business Administration worked in unison to make this happen. I’m proud to be a part of this team.” The IACBE is the leader in mission-driven and outcomes-based programmatic accreditation in business and management education for student-centered colleges, universities and other higher education institutions throughout the world.
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University Community Revives Greene County’s Special Olympics Program
There is a saying that is often used to describe the people and organizations of Waynesburg University: “Service is in their DNA.”
With service as one of the three pillars of Waynesburg University’s mission, students and faculty often incorporate helping others into their classes and oncampus activities. Waynesburg has created lasting relationships with many organizations from around the world; however, in recent years, the University has made a significant impact on many individuals through a local partnership.
In recent years, the Criminal Justice Club at Waynesburg University, under the direction of James Tanda, instructor of criminal justice and faculty adviser to the Criminal Justice Club, rekindled the Greene County Special Olympics program. Prior to joining Waynesburg in 2013, Tanda had gained experience with Special Olympics. His first highlight was in 1990 when he ran a half-marathon while carrying the famous Special Olympics torch during the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Georgia. Sparking an interest, Tanda continued to volunteer and participate in many fundraisers with various Special Olympics programs, even attending international conferences and participating in the Pittsburgh Polar Bear Plunge every year since its inception. After much involvement with various Special Olympics programs, Tanda joined Waynesburg with the goal of increasing fundraising efforts and community
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service among the criminal justice students. With law enforcement agencies having a strong connection with Special Olympics, he thought of no better way than to provide service by reviving the Special Olympics program in Greene County.
Tanda, currently the director of fundraising for the Greene County program, credits much of the program’s successful resurrection to two individuals: Randi Chambers, manager of Special Olympics of Greene County, and Brianna Watt, senior early childhood education (special education) major at Waynesburg University and training coordinator for the program. In its early stages, they would hold many meetings just to get the organization off the ground, always optimistic for success in the near future.
“We always kept in mind: ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and that is what we set out to do,” said Tanda. Soon after, the team saw significant growth. Through personal connections along with the help of Jim Binz, Western Pennsylvania director of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, the program soon attracted community volunteers. The team also garnered interest from the Waynesburg University community, more specifically, members of the Criminal Justice Club. “We were able to marry the two together to form a cohesive group of individuals looking to serve Special Olympics,” said Tanda.
Once they realized they needed to reach more audiences both in the community and on campus, the program began combining their efforts with students from Red Brick Communications, Waynesburg's student-run public relations firm, to grow community interest and market beyond the walls of their meetings. The program began to generate support from all levels of the Waynesburg family, including Larry Marshall, director of athletics, who facilitated practice areas; the Office of Student Services; and Adam Jack, chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences. “In my opinion,” said Jack, “this is the epitome of what Waynesburg University stands for, not only bringing the Greene County Special Olympics back to life, but also including students and community members in positions of leadership to create a culture of service that can stand the test of time.” Truly a collaborative effort from all areas of Waynesburg University, the program went from a nonexistent organization to a full-fledged entity in just a short period of time.
board staff committed to providing opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
In addition, the program has more than 20 registered athletes from Greene County. The athletes have more than 60 volunteers supporting them and assisting in athletic events. The program also continually works with five students from Red Brick Communications to further its marketing efforts and has since expanded its connections with the Bonner Scholar Program to assist with volunteer work. With more interest than ever, Special Olympics of Greene County is excited for the future. Aside from continuing the weekly basketball practices for the athletes and introducing other sports, the program plans to participate in Special Olympics’ upcoming Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraiser, a threeday segmented, 150 mile run from PNC Park in Pittsburgh to Penn State University. The executive board also strives to soon host a sectional or regional competition, inviting other local programs to Waynesburg’s campus to participate in athletic games.
To help raise funds for the program, members of the Criminal Justice Club participate in the Polar Although there are many Waynesburg University students spread cheer at the 2015 Special Olympics Bear Plunge in Pittsburgh by Christmas Parade. different hands in the jumping into the cold waters organization, everyone of the Ohio River. In 2015, the club raised more than involved with Greene County Special Olympics keeps $10,000, the highest amount the club has raised in the athletes and the mission of Special Olympics at the the past three years. The club has also participated in forefront of everything they do. numerous community-sponsored events and has hosted meet-and-greet sessions on Waynesburg’s campus to “We are one small part, in our little corner of the world, invite potential athletes, their families and community of demonstrating very worthwhile service to a very members to learn more about the program. worthwhile cause,” said Tanda. “We have been blessed with the ability to make an impact on people, and to In just three years, Special Olympics of Greene County use our talents to generate interest for these athletes has come full circle. The program is run by an executive reflects the mission that Waynesburg espouses.” ■
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Rachel Narasimhan dropped her bags on the dusty cement floor and looked around. The journey to Panama's Alouatta Sanctuary from Pittsburgh had been filled with flights cancelled due to an erupting Costa Rican volcano and other challenges, but she had finally arrived at her internship.
In an open-air hut near the edge of Panama’s Chiriqui Peninsula, Narasimhan saw for the first time the nets that would be the only separation she would have from the jungle for the next four weeks. On the other side of those nets, she glimpsed the monkeys she had traveled more than 4,000 miles to study and help rehabilitate – and she felt more than a little bit of apprehension. Now looking back on the experience, the Waynesburg University senior biology major can say that the time she spent as an intern at the rehabilitation and field research center left a lasting impact on her, both as an individual and a scientist. The experience of conducting research and working with many different types of monkeys, including two capuchins, two Geoffrey’s Tamarins and two mantled howlers, was perfect for Narasimhan, who has an interest in animal behavior, particularly that of primates. “It is one thing to see them in photographs and to learn about their behavior in a textbook, but nothing compares to seeing it in person,” Narasimhan said. The internship utilized the blend of skills Narasimhan
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acquired through her biology major and psychology minor, but as she applied her classroom-learned knowledge in the middle of the jungle, she also found that Waynesburg University had provided her with another ingredient vital to the success of her internship – confidence. “The Biology Program at Waynesburg is one of a kind,” said Narasimhan. “Throughout my courses and interactions with the professors, I developed a level of confidence without which I would not have been able to perform the internship.” Spending her days interacting with and observing the monkeys, Narasimhan was provided opportunities to watch and record any behaviors they might exhibit that are typical to monkeys in captivity. All the while, she relied on the skills she acquired through her senior research course. “This course is designed to teach students how to ask scientific questions and then test them in the best possible manner to produce the best research,” she said. “It also teaches us how the scientific community operates. Because this was a research internship, I needed to be able to understand the scientific process, and this course was instrumental in that.” Narasimhan was also able to bond with the animals through activities such as grooming sessions and cuddling. While she worked to rehabilitate the primate residents of the sanctuary, the insightful little animals offered her some comfort as well. In a moment charged with homesickness, a howler named Stevie sensed Narasimhan’s sadness, climbed into her lap and cupped her chin in her hands. “We locked eyes, and I think she was trying to tell me to stick it out. I’ll never forget the look she gave me and how she made me feel so much better
in that moment,” said Narasimhan, who was careful to always remember that she was working with wild animals and not pets.
hikes through the mountains with the furry creatures on her shoulders, Narasimhan learned many things, including her plans for the future.
After her first-day homesickness was cured, Narasimhan totally immersed herself in the ongoing projects of the sanctuary. Through documenting howler behavior, collecting data on the effects of teak plantations, a visit to the indigenous village of Ngöbe and
“I would love to do more field research in the future,” she said. “This experience showed me that I am not only capable of doing it, but that I love it and I’m good at it. It also showed me just how difficult working with animals actually is. It is not the glamorous idea we see in movies. “Animals are unpredictable, and as researchers, we are at their mercy. It doesn't matter to them whether we get the data we need or not. Despite the difficulties, this internship solidified my desire to pursue animal behavior as my career.” Narasimhan’s previous experiences in conservation and sustainability at Waynesburg resulted in an internship experience equally beneficial to her and the sanctuary. “I enjoyed learning about how to make the world a better place, one step at a time,” she said. By the end of her trip, Narasimhan was able to hike to the top of the mountain twice a day through heat that no longer felt quite so suffocating. She knew that she would miss the quick embrace of the capuchins and their satisfaction at finding the almonds she tucked away in her pockets, just for them. She also knew, without a doubt, that she would return home with more than just bug bites. “I surprised myself with how I had grown throughout the internship. When I left, I had doubts about my ability to perform this internship. I quickly learned that successful people are the ones who are willing to overcome their fears in pursuit of their passions.” ■
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A Hero Among Us 2016 Waynesburg University MBA alumnus exemplifies honor through distinguished history of leadership, courage & creativity
Waynesburg University graduate and retired Command Sergeant Major Bart Womack says he lucked into the Army. On a cold October day in 1976, seventeen-year-old Womack sat waiting for a bus. Eventually growing impatient, he got up and started walking home, and along the way, passed a U.S. Army Recruiter Station. In a fortunate twist of fate, Womack doubled back in the blustering wind to seek refuge and warmth in the station. “It took four months to enlist, and 29 and a half years later, a career had come and gone,” he said. “Needless to say, I'm lucky.” Leading a life dedicated to preserving the freedom and liberties of the citizens of our great nation, this exceptional noncommissioned officer spent nearly three decades in the United States Army, attaining the Army’s highest enlisted rank and serving with distinction in Iraq, Kosovo, Haiti and Korea and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before his retirement from the military in 2006. “One accomplishment after another gave me the ability to dream and then to dream big,” said Womack, who is the recipient of the Legion of Merit; two Bronze Stars, one
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for valor; the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge; Tomb Guard Identification Badge; Ranger Tab; and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Womack recalls the privilege and honor of serving as a Relief Commander and Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a highlight of his distinguished career. “My experience at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was by far the best duty I had in my career,” said Womack. “One becomes immediately engulfed with the honor of that duty.” Seizing retirement as an opportunity to employ his military experience as an advocate and voice for veterans on American soil, Womack decided to share the story of his experience in Iraq. His book, “Embedded Enemy: The Insider Threat,” gives readers a firsthand account of a deadly attack against the men and women of Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. “Shortly after deploying for the war in Iraq, the Bastogne Brigade was staged at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, where they prepared for combat against Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime,” Womack wrote. “During the eerie, pitch black, early morning hours of 23 March 2003, a fellow American
soldier, SGT Hasan Akbar, executed the unthinkable and unlikeliest of scenarios by throwing hand grenades into his Chain of Command’s tents. He then followed up with small arms fire while his Commanding Officers slept in preparation for war.” In his book, he details the attack, during which two officers were killed and 12 others were wounded. “[Embedded Enemy] is about how the soldiers bonded together to rescue, treat and evacuate their brothers at arms in the midst of the shadows of darkness, massive explosions, rapid gun fire, suffocating smoke, body ripping shrapnel, and complete and total chaos and confusion,” wrote Womack, who stood in front of news cameras within hours of the attack, not only as the spokesperson for the unit, but also as a victim who was just five feet away from the initial grenades as they exploded. Written with input from and the support of fellow members of the Bastogne Brigade, the book is dedicated to the two lives lost during the attack, and a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Benjamin Seifert Scholarship Fund. Benjamin is the son of the late United States Army Captain Christopher Seifert, one of the two fatalities of the attack. “I try to live by the Golden Rule of doing the right thing, praying and treating people with dignity and respect,” Womack said. “Waynesburg University’s mission of faith provides emphasis to living in that manner. These are the same things that I would emphasize to my soldiers.” Womack’s goal in returning to the classroom was to bring the educational portion of his résumé up to speed with the experience portion. “Waynesburg University was the right fit for me,” he said. “I was welcomed for who I am and for what I could bring into
the classroom. It was everything that I was looking for in an MBA program. I wanted the opportunity to put my military experience to the test with the minds of corporate America, and I got to do that in every single class.” Currently serving as the Director of CEI America’s Veterans Division, Womack actively recruits and places America’s veterans and wounded warriors into informational technology positions throughout the country, bridging gaps between employers and veterans. Since retiring from the U.S. Army, Womack has also worked in the entertainment industry as an actor and a military technical adviser for feature films and television. Recently, he spent 18 months in Afghanistan, training the Afghanistan National Army’s senior leadership at the Corps level, and in Nigeria as part of the Africa Contingency Operation, training their Army. He also volunteers as a mentor to Army ROTC Cadets and works with returning veterans in the Saddles for Soldiers program, which is designed to assist veterans and their families in coping with the trauma and stressors returning from combat, by the use of horses. “It has been quite a post military journey to say the least,” Womack said. “I always thought that the military taught me a lot about life, and more importantly about leadership. As a leader, I gained confidence, and that confidence motivated me to do anything I set my mind to do.” Perhaps, as Womack says, he lucked into the Army. But for a man whose heroic acts have been recognized with numerous military awards, whose words have touched a nation and whose leadership abilities have rallied soldiers when all seemed lost – it seems more likely that the Army lucked into him. ■
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Answering God’s calling to serve through teaching Teaching is far more than a career or job to Dr. Karen Younger, it is her calling. Younger, assistant professor of history and chair of the Department of Humanities at Waynesburg University, has a passion to do God’s work and to serve through the art of teaching. She knows being an educator is a primary way to serve and play her part in advancing God's kingdom on Earth. Younger is a minister and Christian historian with a mission to help students develop and affirm a Christian-based view of the world, proving that history has direction, purpose and meaning. Her teaching philosophy is closely tied to the spiritual, recognizing that the spiritual is as real as the material and that faith must be considered as authentic a motivator as other factors such as economics and politics.
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“Christian convictions do not have a substantial impact on the techniques used in history work, but a worldview based on God’s revelation as authority does influence scholarship and teaching,” said Younger. Younger developed her own education by earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Trinity International University, a master’s in theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a doctorate in American history from The Pennsylvania State University. Now, as a professor, Younger still strives to further her education, constantly seeking new techniques to bring into the classroom. She also hopes that students see her own passion for learning and commitment to Christ. In turn, she helps students develop a similar commitment to learning and Christ through their experience in her classroom. Their ability to take ownership of their education and faith is her main objective. The students at Waynesburg have been a major factor in Younger’s satisfaction and enjoyment while teaching at the University. In her time at Waynesburg, she has realized what a privilege it is to work at the University. She is a champion for the University’s mission, especially its emphasis on service.
assistant professor of history and director of the Honors Program. “The goal of the public and applied history option is to allow for more options in the job market by blending a traditional academic history program with a public history program,” said Younger. These new options have allowed Waynesburg’s history program to remain competitive in preparing students for the evolving opportunities in the professional field. Younger has also been directly involved in creating opportunities for Waynesburg history majors to use their skills in various service-based experiences.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to get to know students as freshmen, interact with them in and out of the classroom for four years and then send them on their way into the world.”
“The last three years, to quote the often-quoted A.B. Miller when describing the work of Waynesburg, have been ‘a labor of love,’” said Younger. “There is seldom a week that goes by that I do not thank God for the honor of teaching and serving at Waynesburg University.” Younger joined the University in 2012. Previously, she taught at Lycoming College and was the managing director and lecturer at The Pennsylvania State University’s George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center, in addition to serving as the managing editor for Civil War publications at the Kent State University Press and University of North Carolina Press. Since joining Waynesburg, she has invested a large amount of time and effort into various curriculum changes to allow a wider array of options for history majors. The creation of the public and applied history concentration was a result of changes developed by Younger and Dr. William Batchelder,
A recent trip to Bonaire, an island municipality of the Netherlands, in January 2016, provided an opportunity for history students to work on recording historical material. While there, students conducted oral histories of Trans World Radio workers and missionaries of Bonaire. Whether in the classroom or on trips like Bonaire, Younger values time spent interacting with students. “It’s so rewarding to be able to get to know students as freshmen, interact with them in and out of the classroom for four years and then send them on their way into the world,” said Younger.
Besides sharing her passion for history, Younger’s mission is to have a spiritual impact on students. Her greatest joy as an educator comes from being able to have a direct influence on the spiritual maturity of students, in addition to their intellectual development. Waynesburg has been the perfect place for Younger to fulfill her calling. The University’s commitment to faith and open-minded, hard-working students allows her to easily accomplish her goal of teaching history from a Christian perspective. “I encourage students to see our foremothers and forefathers as real people who we should seek to understand, not simply glorify or condemn,” said Younger. “In the process, I hope to serve God and play my part in advancing the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” ■
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From Buhl to NASA Bill Ingalls, the man behind the camera, shares his journey from Waynesburg University to his photography career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The space shuttle Atlantis is seen shortly after the rotating service structure (RSS) was rolled back at launch pad 39a, Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Atlantis was set to liftoff Friday, July 8, 2011, on the final flight of the shuttle program, STS-135, a 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Imagine the brutal cold wind of Kazakhstan’s Kazakh Steppe upon your face as you watch a rocket launch; the inside of an Alaskan volcano as a robot repels itself downwards and seismic tremors cause rocks to break loose and fall deep down into the earth; and the joyous expressions of the Mars Science Laboratory team as they learn that a rover has landed safely on Mars. But don’t try too hard. 1988 Waynesburg University alumnus Bill Ingalls was there, and he took pictures. Through them, he tells the story. Recognized amongst his peers for capturing some of the United States’ most treasured historic moments, including the first launch of a U.S. citizen on a Russian rocket, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s last visit to the White House and the burial at sea of Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, NASA’s senior contract photographer has witnessed history unfold, sharing through his photographs what he has experienced firsthand. “In all of these, it is a true honor to be able to bear witness and share that for those who cannot be there,” said Ingalls. “I’m always doing my best to try and tell a story in the most creative and yet understandable way I can.” Ingalls’ career has taken him all over the world, from Florida and California to Kazakhstan and Japan, but he still fondly remembers where it all began –Waynesburg University. Bill Ingalls. Photo Credit: Michael Ventura
“The ability to have a diverse, liberal arts education has helped me to understand the world at large much more than if I had simply learned one specific area,” Ingalls said. “It gave me the ability to admit when I do not know something, and the skills and confidence to know that I can learn almost anything.” Ingalls’ photographs have appeared on television and in hundreds of magazines, newspapers and books throughout the world, including National Geographic, Newsweek, TIME, The Washington Post, Fortune, People, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, but some of his first photos appeared in Waynesburg University’s student-run newspaper, The Yellow Jacket. “Waynesburg University had a huge impact upon my life,” said Ingalls, who recalls the opportunity to explore many different areas at Waynesburg, such as writing for television, producing, directing, shooting for television, photography, film processing and print making.
A supermoon rises behind the Washington Monument, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
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“At Waynesburg, I also had many other classes and experiences that helped to shape who I am today and gave me a well-rounded education. University life is not just about getting a skill set for a particular job, but rather to help open Continued on page 22
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team in the MSL Mission Support Area reacts after learning that the Curiosity rover has landed safely on Mars and images start coming into the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in Pasadena, California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz TMA-14 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday, March 26, 2009 carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Dante II robot collects data from within an active volcano in Mount Spurr, Alaska, during a mission aimed at perfecting remote robot operations in July 1994. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
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The space shuttle Enterprise, atop a barge, passes the Statue of Liberty in New York on its way to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum where it will be permanently displayed, Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Aerial view of the Washington Monument on Thursday, April 5, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: (NASA/ Bill Ingalls)
your mind to the world around you and to realize how all things are related and have impact on one another.” The University’s impact on Ingall’s life did not end there, though. As a student at an alumni event, he met Waynesburg alumnus Joe Headlee, who was the head of NASA’s former Broadcast and Imaging Branch at the time. It was a chance encounter that would prove to have a profound effect on his life. “He attended an alumni day weekend while I was a student at Waynesburg,” Ingalls said. “He agreed to have an intern that summer, working with his television producers. I competed for the internship and won.” After graduating from Waynesburg, Ingalls briefly worked at Robert Morris University, all the while dreaming of NASA. “I continued to hound NASA about any opportunities,” Ingalls said. “They finally had something for me in photography. I was thrilled and have been working at NASA ever since I was hired in June of 1989.”
Carol Armstrong, wife of Neil Armstrong, and Piper Van Wagenen, one of 10 grandchildren, are seen during a memorial service celebrating the life of Neil Armstrong, Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, at the Camargo Club in Cincinnati. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Last spring, Ingalls returned to Waynesburg. Once again having the opportunity to roam Buhl’s halls, Ingalls spent time in several classes, discussing his work with students. “Bill is an example of how our communication alumni stay connected with the program and contribute to it,” said Bill Molzon, assistant professor of communication and director of TV operations at the University. “His help has ranged from fixing a digital photography problem for me to donating his time to photograph last year’s Gross National Product (GNP) concert.” Whether photographing for Waynesburg University or NASA, Ingalls has mastered the art of capturing events as they unfold and sharing the story with all who missed it firsthand. ■ 22
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Expedition 33 Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin gets his hair cut at the Cosmonaut Hotel, on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The space shuttle Endeavour is seen on launch pad 39a as a storm passes by prior to the rollback of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media next to the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch pad on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The full moon is seen as it rises near the Lincoln Memorial, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The full moon was called a "Super Perigee Moon." Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
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Members of the faculty partook in the celebration.
Waynesburg University celebrated the 166th anniversary of its charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tuesday, March 22. The Rev. Dr. James Gilchrist, senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, served as the Charter Day speaker. In his convocation address, “The Deep Logic,” Gilchrist urged the upcoming generation of leaders to do a better job than those before them. “The world desperately needs the kinds of qualities that are cultivated at a truly Christian university,” he said. “I hope that you find those qualities here, and I hope that you go out and share them with the world.” During the convocation, Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee presented Gilchrist with the University’s A.B. Miller Leadership Award. “In honor of the public spirit exemplified by former Waynesburg University President Alfred Brashear Miller and in recognition of your embodiment of the highest principles of this institution, Waynesburg University honors you,” Lee said. 24
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Michael Merten, president of Student Senate, shared the scripture lesson.
The award cited the ways in which Gilchrist has foreseen the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Gilchrist’s outreach through mission work has led him to travel throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. Recently, he traveled with members of Westminster to Malawi and India. Gilchrist is a regular participant in the Council on Foreign Relations Workshop on Religion and International Affairs. He teaches in the Doctor of Ministry program at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and previously taught at Carnegie Mellon University and Dickinson College. Also during the ceremony, Lee conferred upon Charles Beiter the title of professor emeritus of English. Beiter, who joined the University in 1966, retired from his full-time position in May 2015. “For nearly 50 years, you have devoted yourself through a number of roles and service on countless committees, leading and inspiring students, colleagues, administration and the Waynesburg University community as a whole,” Lee said of Beiter. “Today, we recognize you as a highly respected educator and acknowledge all the ways that you have challenged and encouraged your students to lead lives of purpose.”
Events
The Rev. Dr. James Gilchrist served as the Charter Day speaker.
The title of professor emeritus of English was conferred upon Charles Beiter, who retired in May 2015.
Above and above right: The Lamplighters Concert Choir performed during the convocation.
An Evening with Natalie Grant The Charter Day festivities kicked off with an evening concert by multi-Grammy nominated Natalie Grant on Monday, March 21. A powerhouse vocalist, heart-gripping songwriter and charismatic performer who has consistently remained one of the top selling Christian & Gospel artists with over 3 million in sales, Grant is currently the host of GSN's hit television series "It Takes A Church,� the network's highest rated show for women. The Gospel Music Association named Grant the 2012 Female Vocalist of the Year, an honor that she has received five times. Ashley Beaman, a 2012 graduate, was a surprise honoree for Grant's #Beoneforsomeone campaign. Beaman serves as the director of the Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach, an initiative for local residents to tie in Christian roots with service that will benefit the Greene County area.
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Commencement WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY'S 163RD
Victor Browne walks across the stage to receive his diploma.
Students celebrate in the Commencement activities.
Waynesburg University held its 163rd Commencement exercises Sunday, May 1, honoring approximately 550 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from main campus in Waynesburg as well as the University's three locations in the south, east and west of Pittsburgh. D. Raja, co-founder and chairman of Computer Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), delivered the Commencement Address, “What’s Important in Life?,” during which he shared the story of his own beginnings, his evolution into a servant leader and the importance of reputation. He also encouraged gradates, assuring them that everyone faces adversity at times, and that success can still be achieved through their reaction to that adversity. “The older I get, the more convinced I am that success in life is not so much what happens to us, it is how we respond to what happens to us. We have the power to choose our response.” Kayla Diane Bleckley, a creative writing (psychology minor) graduate from Latrobe and Jessica Marie Marabello, a mathematics (secondary education) graduate from Pittsburgh, were named valedictorians. Marabello delivered the valedictory to the University. Lance Hyde, a graduate of the Master of Business
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Kaitlyn Wood and Jordan Mitrik pose for a picture after Commencement.
Administration Program from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania., represented the graduate program students. Two graduates, Charles Lee Cook, a biology (pre-dental/ medical/veterinary) graduate from Cheswick, Pennsylvania, and Aaron Berkley Palmer, a sports management graduate from Leesburg, Virginia, were commissioned Second Lieutenants in the Army of the United States of America during the Commencement ceremony. Prior to the Commencement exercises, the Rev. Dr. Richard E. Visser, a retired Baptist minister with more than 40 years of service, delivered the Baccalaureate Address, “Being Salt and Light.” “In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells His followers that they are ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world,’” Visser said. “In today’s brutal world, that is your calling. As salt can enhance and improve the flavor of food, you can improve the ‘flavor’ of people’s relationships and attitudes.” Raja and Visser were awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees during the Commencement exercises for the ways in which their lives parallel the mission of Waynesburg University.
Events
Valedictorians Kayla Bleckley and Jessica Marabello pose for a photo together.
Students and friends celebrate together after Commencement.
Students eagerly await the turning of the tassel.
Charles Lee Cook and Aaron Berkley Palmer were commissioned Second Lieutenants in the Army of the United States of America during the ceremony.
D. Raja and Rev. Dr. Richard Visser pictured with President Douglas G. Lee.
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HOMECOMING2015 Waynesburg University held its annual Homecoming celebration Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, offering activities for alumni, students, staff and faculty. The weekend’s events began with an alumni reception at President and Mrs. Lee’s home, followed by an alumni celebration at The Perfect Round restaurant, a pep rally and the Waynesburg Idol Finale. Waynesburg students joined alumni and their families at the latter two events. On Saturday morning, Homecoming game day kicked off with the Homecoming 5k run/ walk, which included alumni, staff, students and members of the community. Current students hosted JacketFest following the 5k, during which the campus offered alumni department tours for Academic and Affinity Groups and student clubs hosted booths with family-friendly activities. The Waynesburg football team played their Homecoming game in the afternoon at John F. Wiley Stadium. The Yellow Jackets’ 35-31 victory over the Grove City Wolverines ended in the recognition of head coach Rick Shepas as the all-time winningest coach in Waynesburg history. During the game, alumni spent halftime at the Alumni Tent and then enjoyed a 5th Quarter Steak Cookout at the stadium after the game.
The Class of 1965 celebrate their 50th reunion at a brunch hosted by President and Mrs. Lee at their home on Homecoming Saturday.
Homecoming is a fun event for the entire family.
During halftime of the game, the Waynesburg University student body crowned seniors Derrion May, a biology major from Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Lori Williams, a human services major from Mount Clare, West Virginia, as Homecoming King and Queen, respectively. Photos from the weekend can be viewed and purchased at waynesburguniversity.smugmug.com. Alumni, students, faculty and staff filled the stands at the Homecoming football game on Oct. 3. 28
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Recent alumni Ryan Smith and Allyson Wernert commemorate their reunion with a Homecoming selfie.
University students cheer on the Yellow Jacket football team at the Homecoming game Oct. 3.
President Lee presented head football coach Rick Shepas with the game ball after the Homecoming victory made Shepas the all-time winningest coach in Waynesburg history. Shepas gave the ball to Kurt Detwiler, a Waynesburg student and football player who was injured during the summer.
Many alumni and their families returned to Waynesburg for the annual Homecoming celebration Oct. 2 and 3.
President and Mrs. Lee chat with alumni at the steak cookout after the game.
The Yellow Jacket mascot Sting watched the football game with Mary Cummings, senior vice president for graduate programs.
The Yellow Jacket football team won the Homecoming game 35-31 over the Grove City Wolverines.
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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY Waynesburg University celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a ceremony in Roberts Chapel, Monday, Jan. 18. Benito Stallings, philanthropy advisor at Waynesburg University, served as the speaker. In his address, “Loving One Another as Christ Has Loved Us,” Stallings explored the questions of “What is love?,” “Why do we love?,” and “How do we love?” Turning to Scripture to answer these questions, Stallings stated that the message of the gospel is a message of love. Stallings recounted King’s great example of love and service towards all individuals, both through the Civil Rights Movement and through his life in general. He also shared a few examples of the Civil Rights Movement with ties to Waynesburg University. “[Waynesburg] University’s faith in Christ inspires its students to learn about the world around them and leads them to seek to lay down their lives in service,” Stallings said.
Through traveling on behalf of the University, Stallings has met an array of Waynesburg alumni and has been touched by the stories he has heard from 1950’s and 1960’s graduates. “I must have talked to a half dozen ministers who graduated from Waynesburg and decided to integrate their churches,” Stallings said. “A retired history professor told me the story of how he helped integrate Florida State University in the early 60’s.” Stallings also noted that the University’s tradition of loving one another goes back further than the 50’s and 60’s, citing Waynesburg’s involvement in the Underground Railroad and women’s suffrage. “To the student body, I say keep pursuing Christ and loving others in the way that you’re doing, and I firmly believe you’ll change the world. By God’s grace, we’ll see senators, governors, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers coming from Waynesburg who will lay down their lives and challenge and inspire others to do the same.” Stallings’ background includes community outreach, fundraising, budget management, organizing and motivating volunteers, preaching and teaching. Currently, he is seeking ordination into the priesthood within the Anglican Church.
“To the student body, I say keep pursuing Christ and loving others in the way that you’re doing, and I firmly believe you’ll change the world.”
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Campus News
Approximately 475 Waynesburg University volunteers serve at PA State Game Lands Waynesburg University’s incoming freshman class participated in a service project at the Pennsylvania State Game Lands Saturday, Aug. 22. CONSOL Energy, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Sherwin Williams and Wayne Lumber sponsored the event. The approximately 475 volunteers included upperclassmen Bonner Scholars and orientation leaders as well as University faculty and staff who served alongside the freshman class. The Bonner Scholars also honed their leadership skills by leading the freshmen groups. The volunteers focused on revitalizing several cemeteries in the Game Lands. Dating back to the 1880s, the cemeteries were overgrown with brush and were in need of maintenance. In addition to clearing brush, repositioning fallen tombstones, setting posts to mark the cemetery areas
and painting fences, the group built and hung 150 blue bird boxes. Before heading to the Game Lands, Kelley Hardie, assistant dean of student services, Jeremy Febinger, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s wildlife conservation officer for Greene County, and Michael Merten, president of the Waynesburg University Student Senate, shared words of motivation and prayer with the student audience. In alignment with the University’s mission of connecting faith, learning and serving, often referred to as connecting the heart, head and hands, the first two days of New Student Orientation Weekend were devoted to faith and learning, with the third focusing on service through the project at the Game Lands.
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Campus News
Waynesburg University participates in USA TODAY’s national service initiative The Waynesburg University Center for Service Leadership hosted a service event to celebrate “Make a Difference Day,” Saturday, Oct. 24. “Make A Difference Day” is a USA TODAY initiative, backed by the Gannett Company and TEGNA Inc., in collaboration with Points of Light. With millions of volunteers from across the nation uniting in a common mission to improve the lives of others, it is one of the largest national days of community service. For more than two decades, “Make A Difference Day” has been celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in October and connects people with opportunities to serve, increases the strength of communities and promotes civic engagement.
The University’s event, “WU Make a Difference Day,” is sponsored by USA Today and is focused on serving the local community. The project will benefit Greene County residents through several service opportunities including academic tutoring, animal safety, educational awareness programs, environmental stewardship and youth programs. “A day of service provides the Waynesburg University community with the opportunity to utilize their talents, skills and passions to address the needs within Greene County and make a difference,” said Kelley Hardie, assistant dean of student services. Waynesburg University students, faculty, staff and alumni served at 11 local service sites, including the Crisis Pregnancy Center, the Humane Society of Greene County, Lion’s Club Park and World Vision.
2015-2016 Faith, Learning and Service Immersion Trips During the 2015-2016 academic year, 158 students and 23 faculty and staff members served on 12 Faith, Learning and Service Immersion Trips. Participants had the opportunity to employ their servant hearts in many different areas of academic and professional interest and to aid communities locally, domestically and internationally. • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Camp Boggy Creek – Eustis, Florida – May 2016 Crossroads Coalition – Wynne, Arkansas – January 2016 Gettysburg National Park – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – October 2015 Greene County Habitat for Humanity – Waynesburg, Pennsylvania – October 2015 Greene County Immersion – Waynesburg, Pennsylvania – October 2015 Habitat for Humanity – Concord, North Carolina – March 2016 Mission Academy Ministries – Nassau, Bahamas – January 2016 Nutritional Center – Patzun, Guatemala – January 2016 Strong Missions – Carrillos, Costa Rica – March 2016 The Lamplighters Touring Choir – Morristown, New Jersey – May 2016 The Pittsburgh Project – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – March 2016 Trans World Radio – Island of Bonaire – January 2016
Campus News
Ray Weir, a member of Agape College's board of trustees and a friend of Waynesburg University (left), is pictured with Agape College's President Dr. Louis Ao (right).
Waynesburg expands international recruiting with Agape College agreement Waynesburg University recently established an agreement with Agape College, located in northeastern India, through which Agape will recruit international students in Nagaland, India, for Waynesburg University. Waynesburg’s strategic goals include the increase of global literacy and diversity, building student understanding of engagement with the world around us. The partnership with Agape will directly contribute to these goals. Ray Weir, a member of Agape College's board of trustees and a friend of Waynesburg University, was instrumental in the establishment of the agreement. Agape College was founded in 1991 and has established strong relationships among the Christian communities of Nagaland. Nagaland is one of three majority-Christian states in India, thus providing an opportunity for
Waynesburg and its Christian-based mission to further its international presence and partnerships. “Agape College is excited to become a partner with Waynesburg University,” said Agape College President Dr. Louis Ao. “This partnership will expand opportunities for students from India to pursue an American college education with over 70 major concentrations offered at a highly rated Christian university.” International student applicants to Waynesburg are eligible for merit scholarship consideration based on their high school academic achievement and SAT scores. Agape, an independent, non-denominational Bible college, is accredited by the Asia Theological Association.
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Campus News
Qualified students can apply for the internships, which will be offered in the Controlling Department of one of Bosch’s Automotive Division Business Units. The internships will provide students with experience in global business practices and intercultural exposure in the heart of the automotive industry at a time of globally changing consumer trends. Jerry Lawman, a senior international business major from Poland, Ohio, can attest to the benefits of an international internship with Bosch. From February to July 2015, he served as the first Bosch intern from Waynesburg University.
Waynesburg University secures international Bosch internships for qualified students Waynesburg University has formed an agreement with Bosch through which international business students will have the opportunity to apply for a reserved internship position at the company. Each year, the global supplier of technology and services with nearly 360,000 employees in more than 50 countries, will reserve two rotational six-month internship positions in Ludwigsburg, Germany, for a Waynesburg University international business major.
“It was a great pleasure to have Jerry on our international team working parallel with another intern from China,” said Alexander Firsching, a senior vice president at Bosch. “He represented how international we are, and especially in the interaction with the business in the region. It is always helpful to have people from the Americas or Asia on the team.” Bosch provided Lawman with the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of a successful international business. He said that his Waynesburg University business classes helped him to develop the skills necessary to complete the tasks he was assigned. "My classes really familiarized me with what I would need to know for this internship,” Lawman said. “In particular, a lot of the classes I have taken involved learning about business terms, concepts and strategies that are needed for a successful internship experience.”
Beta Sigma Delta International Honor Society Induction Waynesburg University’s chapter of the Beta Sigma Delta International Honor Society for students in business, management and administration inducted new members at a ceremony held in the University’s Center for Research and Economic Development April 18, 2016. Anthony Bocchini, professor of business administration, and Neeley Shaw, instructor of business administration, are the chapter advisors.
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Pictured above, from left to right in front row: Brenna Ross, Victoria Robinson, Paige Lane and Cara Badger; left to right in back row: Keyur Patel, John Wicker, Robert Leon and Zachary Harkins. Not pictured are Andrea Losko and Jessica Bish.
Campus News
Waynesburg and Central Greene build mutually beneficial partnership Waynesburg University and the Central Greene School District (CGSD) have established a mutually beneficial partnership, through which University students gain realworld experience as early as their freshman year while supporting CGSD kindergarten teachers with largerthan-normal enrollment. “This partnership between Waynesburg and CGSD is one of a kind,” said Annette Vietmeier, director of curriculum, instruction and technology for Central Greene School District. “It provides opportunities to grow and impact our community in ways not being done anywhere else. The commitment of the pre-service teacher is incredible as they gain the ability to put theory into practice.” The partnership, which began four years ago, has enabled Waynesburg students to gain valuable field experience and has helped CGSD support the class sizes and needs of their students with no additional cost to the district. In return, Central Greene faculty and administration have made themselves available to facilitate mock interviews and offer various training and professional development sessions for Waynesburg students. Staff
members from Waynesburg’s Department of Education have also offered their service to the district’s literacy and strategic planning teams. Waynesburg students have been afforded a substantial amount of hands-on learning from Central Greene’s mentors who have engaged them in classroom activity from the first day. Students also participate in Central Greene’s teacher training and professional development sessions throughout the school year. “This experience is unlike any other college or university in the region,” said Yvonne Weaver, interim chair of the Department of Education and field placement coordinator and certification officer for Waynesburg University. “Our students spend significant time in the classroom during their freshman, sophomore and junior years, ultimately allowing them to be career and profession ready.” The partnership has grown from nine student teachers at the kindergarten level to 47 student teachers kindergarten through 12th grade. Waynesburg University also supports field experiences in school districts throughout Greene, Washington and Fayette counties.
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Campus News
Six Waynesburg students selected to receive Vira I. Heinz scholarship Six Waynesburg University students have been selected to receive scholarships through the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership. The Vira I. Heinz Program, part of Heinz Endowments, is intended to empower young women to address global issues by offering opportunities for international education, leadership development and community service. Typically, each participating college or university in Pennsylvania is granted three spots for female sophomores or juniors. This year, as has been the case in previous years, Waynesburg was granted six spots. The program provides scholarships of at least $5,000 for women who have never been out of the United States to study abroad for the summer, and Waynesburg is one of only 13 higher education institutions to participate in the program. Collectively, the Waynesburg recipients will receive more than $40,000 for their trips, scheduled to take place during the summer of 2016. “It’s an honor,” said Pat Bristor, associate dean of students and coordinator of the University’s Vira I. Heinz Program. “It’s the quality of our students. We have outstanding students, and we have exceptional female students who apply for the scholarship and really present themselves well.” The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.
Waynesburg scholarship recipients this year include: Melanie Byler, a sophomore athletic training and exercise science major from Salisbury, Pennsylvania,
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who plans to travel through International Studies Abroad to India. She will be completing a healthcare service learning program and hopes to learn the Hindi language as well as expand her knowledge of Eastern medicine. Moesha Godwin, a sophomore psychology major from Bronx, New York, who will spend the summer in Adelaide, Australia, studying international health and indigenous cultures, particularly the Aboriginal culture. She is traveling through International Studies Abroad. Alexis Prettiman, a sophomore criminal justice and international cultures double major from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, who will travel to Rabat, Morocco, through the Council on International Educational Exchange. While there, she will study the Arabic language and seek to better understand the religion and traditions of Morocco. Summer Fiori, a junior psychology major from Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, who will travel to Northern Thailand to study at Chiang Mai University through the Center for International Studies. She will study the Buddhist religion, learn to speak Thai and serve as a volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park. Anna Narehood, a junior forensic chemistry major from Frenchville, Pennsylvania, who will spend the summer in Luneburg, Germany, and is traveling through the University Study Abroad Consortium. Narehood plans to study German culture, language, government and politics. Maranda Valentino, a junior history secondary education major from Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, who will travel to Saint Petersburg, Russia, learning the Russian language and studying sociology and history at Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University.
Campus News
Waynesburg University PRSSA hosts regional conference Waynesburg University’s Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was recently selected to host a regional conference, which took place Friday, April 8, through Saturday, April 9, 2016, on the University’s campus. The event afforded attendees the opportunity to network with public relations professionals and expand their knowledge of the field. “Caffeinate Your Career,” the slogan defining Waynesburg PRSSA’s regional conference, symbolizes stimulating your career to ensure success in the professional world. “[The theme] is intended to play off of the running joke in PR: that we all run on coffee due to the demands of our positions,” said Samantha Peer, senior public relations major and co-director of the regional conference. Ninety-four public relations students from across the region traveled to Waynesburg to participate in the two-day conference. While there, attendees were exposed to a variety of professional development sessions and workshops that aided in energizing their communications career. Students learned from 15 industry professionals with backgrounds in public relations sectors such as agency, crisis management, entertainment public relations and law enforcement media relations to gain a deeper understanding of the numerous career paths.
PRSSA National chooses approximately 10 of its chapters to host regional conferences each year. Chapters interested in hosting a regional conference must submit a bid form to PRSSA Headquarters outlining the conference’s budget, logistics, promotion plan, schedule and theme. Bid forms are reviewed and chapters are chosen by PRSSA Headquarters, as well as its national president and vice president of regional conferences.
WCCC, Waynesburg University sign Articulation Agreement for Nursing Officials of Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) and Waynesburg University recently signed an agreement to enable qualified students who complete the nursing associate degree program at WCCC to easily transfer to a parallel baccalaureate degree program at the university. The agreement, which applies to the University’s RN to BSN program, was signed by Dana Cook Baer, interim provost at Waynesburg University, and WCCC President Tuesday Stanley. To be eligible, WCCC students must complete the associate degree nursing program, be in good standing with no history of academic probation and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
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Campus News
Payne joins University as Vice President for Enrollment Dr. Shari Payne joined Waynesburg University as vice president for enrollment in October. She oversees all recruitment aspects of the admissions process. “With 20 years of experience in admissions, financial aid and academic affairs, Dr. Payne and her innovative leadership are a valuable asset to Waynesburg University,” said Douglas G. Lee, Waynesburg University president. “Her dedication to service and to having a positive impact on the lives of others aligns with our mission, making her a great fit for the University.” In her role, Payne directs an overarching recruitment plan in order to bring a high achieving and diverse student body to Waynesburg, with the goal of maintaining the academic excellence of the University. Prior to joining Waynesburg University, Payne served as the vice president for enrollment management at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where she was responsible for student enrollment, including the recruitment of new students and the retention of continuing students. She previously served in various roles at Robert Morris University, including dean of engaged learning, director of academic operations and director of financial aid. Payne holds an Ed.D. in higher education administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in communications and information systems from Robert Morris University and a Bachelor of Arts in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh.
WAYNESBURG ALUMNI E-NEWSLETTER You can receive monthly updates from The Waynesburg University Alumni Office by updating your email address. The Alumni Newsletter is the best way to get the latest information about upcoming alumni events near you, campus updates, sports news and more every month! Email us at alumni@waynesburg.edu or call 724-852-3300 to update us with your most current email.
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Campus News
Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards presented to Sielski, Cink and McCullough Three Waynesburg University faculty members received the 2016 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards during the University’s chapel service Tuesday, April 5. The Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards are presented annually and include three awards. One recognizes a faculty member with a history of teaching excellence, a second recognizes a faculty member with teaching excellence in introductory subjects and the third honors a part-time faculty member at any Waynesburg University site. Dr. Christopher Cink, professor of biology and chair of the University’s Department of Biology, Environmental Science and Athletic Training, received the 2016 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Award for a faculty member with a history of teaching excellence. A student nomination stated, “His passion for the field is one of a kind. He always goes above and beyond to help students succeed and achieve their goals. He takes extra time out of his day to help students with any questions or concerns they may have. Whenever you call, he is there for you.” Cink joined Waynesburg University in 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Baker University and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Paul Sielski, professor of mathematics, received the 2016 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Award for a faculty member with teaching excellence in introductory subjects.
A nomination stated that he “helps students overcome their math phobia and move forward in their academic careers.” Sielski, who joined the University in 1988, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, in addition to a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Timothy McCullough received the 2016 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Award for a non-full-time faculty member. He is a lecturer of business in the University’s master of business administration program. “He draws on a wealth of experience not just from his own career, but from teaching this course for the institution over the years,” a nomination stated. McCullough earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Waynesburg University and a master of information systems from Robert Morris University. He is the director of human resources for the Canon-McMillan School District in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. The Lucas-Hathaway Charitable Trust has established an endowed fund that provides two annual teaching excellence awards for full-time faculty members and one award for a part-time faculty member. Faculty members were nominated by students, faculty or alumni. Each recipient received a commemorative plaque and a $1,200 award. The Trust is funded by J. Richard Lucas and C. Joan Hathaway Lucas, members of the class of 1950. The Lamp: Summer 2016
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Campus News
® U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Illinois
Stover Scholars visit Washington, D.C., leaders Waynesburg University’s Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership is an interdisciplinary scholarly center dedicated to bringing insights from the U.S. Constitution’s Founding Era and from Christianity to bear in the contemporary public square, with the ultimate goal of creatively transforming the ethical state of the polis. Waynesburg University’s Stover Scholars met with seven prominent leaders during a trip to Washington, D.C., in November. The prominent legal, political and journalist leaders included U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Washington Post columnist George Will, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA), POLITICO executive editor Peter Canellos and lawyer Cleta Mitchell. The twenty-one Stover Scholars first met with the executive editor of POLITICO, Peter Canellos, at the global news and information company’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and discussed the trends and innovation of online journalism. Next, the scholars visited with Cleta Mitchell, partner and political lawyer at Foley & Lardner LLP, at the Metropolitan Club where Mitchell reviewed accountability and the IRS. The next day, the group first met with Delaware Senator Tom Carper and then Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who both described their political careers and their quest for bipartisanship within today’s Congress. The scholars then walked to the U.S. Supreme Court for a meeting with Justice Clarence Thomas. During the nearly two-hour private session, the students were impressed with his kindness and generosity.
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Freshman Stover Scholar Christine Dawson from Wexford, Pennsylvania, said, “I will always cherish our amazing encounter with Justice Thomas, who encouraged us to stand up for what is right, to work hard and to not define ourselves by other people’s opinions.” Next, the Stover Scholars visited the City Tavern Club in Georgetown and discussed the 2016 Presidential Election with political analyst George Will and his career as a newspaper columnist and political commentator. Finally, the group met with Pennsylvania U.S. Representative Tim Murphy at the House Office Building. While waiting for a call to vote, Murphy discussed the recent Speaker of the House change and the progress of his mental health legislation. Freshman Stover Scholar Tyler McCoy from Jamestown, Ohio, appreciated meeting men and women from an array of professions. He stated, “Being able to hear how each of them view the business of our government helped me to better understand how our government works, and how moral leadership is necessary in all careers.” Dr. Lawrence M. Stratton, Director of the Stover Center, commented, “The insights the array of leaders provided the Stover Scholars during their whirlwind visit to Washington, D.C., will guide the students for their entire lives.”
Campus News
Stover Scholars at Point Park Fountain
Stover Scholars met with many regional and national leaders during the 20152016 academic year including:
Judge Carlota BÖhm, United States Bankruptcy Court
Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O'Connor
George Will, Washington Post Columnist and Fox News Commentator
• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas • Delaware U.S. Senator Tom Carper • Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk • Pennsylvania U.S. Representative Tim Murphy • U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia Claude M. Hilton • Federal Bankruptcy Judge Carlota Böhm • Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Flaherty • Greene County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lou Dayich • Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Edward D. Reibman • Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Gary Glazer • Former Federal Communications Vice-Chairman Kathleen Q. Abernathy • Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin • Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor • Greene County Sheriff Brian Tennant • Washington Post Columnist and Fox News Commentator George F. Will • POLITICO Executive Editor Peter Canellos • WLVT PBS-TV Channel 39 (Bethlehem) Executive Producer Laura McHugh • KDKA radio host and entrepreneur D. Raja • WYEP Radio Station Education Program Manager Matthew Spangler • Foley and Larder LLP partner Cleta Mitchel • Jones Day associate Tarah Ackerman • Jones Day partner William Axtman • Jones Day partner Jack Montgomery • K&L Gates partner Thomas R. Johnson • Hyman, Phelps &McNamara, P.C. director Karla L. Palmer • Crayola Vice President of Manufacturing Gary Wapinski • Former PPG CFO William Hernandez • DeSales University President Father Bernard O’Connor • Georgetown University Law Center Professor Charles F. Abernathy • University of Pennsylvania Law Professor David Skeel • Duquesne University Law School Professor Jacob Rooksby • Church of the Covenant (Washington, PA) Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Stuart Broberg • First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Senior Pastor Rev. Tom Hall
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Sports Update Fall 2015
After seeing the 2014 freshman class make an immediate impact on the PAC, the Waynesburg University women’s cross country team had high hopes for this past fall. Though it was unable to capture an elusive conference crown, the 2015 edition of the Yellow Jacket harriers still put together arguably the greatest season in program history. The biggest source of celebratory headlines was sophomore Julie Gerber. After earning her secondstraight runner-up finish at the 2015 PAC Championships, Gerber made school history by becoming the first runner, male or female, to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championships.
The sophomore was also recognized for her academic excellence by being named to the PAC Fall Academic Honor Roll and the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team. In her first collegiate season, Teghan Simonton was lauded as an ECAC Division III South Rookie of the Week and joined Gerber on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. She was one of four Jackets to earn second-team All-PAC acclaim after placing eighth at PAC’s and earned Freshman All-Regional accolades after placing 51st out of well over 300 runners at the event. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the entire squad, the 2015 Jackets made a bit of team history by appearing in the USTFCCCA Mideast Regional top 10. Waynesburg was slotted as the number-10 team in the preseason rankings, marking the first time the Orange and Black had received the honor.
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Waynesburg’s men’s cross country team highlighted its 2016 campaign by placing sixth at the PAC Championships. The Yellow Jackets were led by recent graduate Ben McAuley, who earned second-team allconference applause by placing a team-best 14th out of 120 runners.
The Waynesburg women’s track & field team won its second PAC title in the past four years. Sophomore Addy Knetzer was named PAC Women’s Field MVP for a second-straight season, while veteran head coach Jason Falvo was named PAC Women’s Coach of the Year for a third time with the Jackets.
Gerber earned her spot at nationals by finishing a PAC-best 17th overall at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships. She was the only woman from the conference to earn a spot at nationals and grabbed NCAA Division III All-Mideast Region applause for her efforts.
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The Waynesburg women were also recognized as a team for their academic excellence by the USTFCCCA. Their cumulative 3.44 GPA earned them NCAA Division III AllAcademic Team status by the organization.
Like their female counterparts, the Jacket men were bestowed academic laurels by the USTFCCCA. Waynesburg boasted a 3.35 team GPA.
The 2015 season was a bit of a rocky one for the Waynesburg University men’s soccer team, which features a slew of new faces taking over for a highly accomplished 2014 senior class. The Yellow Jackets posted a 1-16-1 overall record with a 1-6-1 mark in PAC competition. The Jackets’ lone victory of the season came against PAC rival Thiel. Waynesburg also earned a 1-1 tie with Bethany and nearly pulled a major upset before losing 2-1 in overtime to Geneva, which was the eventual runner-up in the conference tournament. Following the conclusion of the season, senior Victor Browne was honored as a second-team All-PAC selection. It was Browne’s second-straight second-team selection. The Waynesburg women’s kickers wound up placing seventh in the 10-team conference standings thanks to a 3-6 PAC record (6-10 overall). Senior Karleigh Murphey was honored with her secondstraight second-team All-PAC selection. Fellow senior Ciara Scott was recognized during the season as a PAC Defensive Player/Goalkeeper of the Week. The Waynesburg volleyball team said goodbye to two highly accomplished seniors during this past fall’s 4-26 season (4-14 in PAC matches). However, it also welcomed several
Sports Update
talented freshmen who look poised to carry the Jackets up the conference standings. Kourtney Skinner, an honorable mention All-PAC selection as a junior, and Jessica Dorazio, a three-time honorable mention All-PAC pick, both played their final collegiate matches at Waynesburg, along with another senior, Meghan Balogh. However, a deep and talented freshman class that made up half of the Yellow Jacket roster not only got a chance to grow and mature for the future, but made major contributions in its first year on campus. Moving from the volleyball court to the tennis court, the Waynesburg women’s tennis team posted a 2-12 overall record with a 2-6 mark in PAC play. Senior Rachel Wilson led the Yellow Jackets by going 5-5 in singles competition and 5-8 in doubles play. Freshman Aubree Brown showed plenty of potential in her 7-8 doubles record. Last, but not least, the Waynesburg football team knew it had a tall hill to climb heading into this past season following the graduation of one of the most accomplished senior classes in recent program memory. Lost from the 2014 team were 15 starters, including nine on offense. Earlyseason injuries to key starters only made things tougher for the Yellow Jackets, who went 3-7 overall and 2-6 in PAC action.
Winter 2015-16
As has been the case in recent years, the Waynesburg University basketball and wrestling teams continued to be models of consistency. Both the Yellow Jacket men and women posted winning records in PAC play, while their counterparts on the mat finished second in the final conference standings. The Jacket men remained a title contender in the PAC, despite the graduation of 2015’s senior class, which played a major role in returning the program to relevance. This year’s seniors followed suit and carried the Orange and Black to a 10-8 conference mark (10-16 overall).
Junior Lauren Drane heads the ball towards teammate Tiffany Mina (8) during an early season match against Capital. Waynesburg fell by the final score of 3-0 against the Crusaders.
Recent graduates B.J. Durham and D.J. Ritchie starred for the team, averaging 15.0 and 14.9 points per game respectively. For their efforts, both players received second-team all-conference applause and were named PAC Players of the Week. The Yellow Jackets also ended a pair of long losing streaks during the regular season. Head coach Mark Christner defeated Thomas More for the first time in his six years as leader of the program. Less than two weeks later, Waynesburg ended an even longer skid when it beat the defending PAC champions from Saint Vincent on the Bearcats’ home floor. It was the first win for the program in Latrobe since before 1990.
The Jackets got the season off on the The Waynesburg women not Freshman Jake Dougherty proved up to the task of taking right foot thanks to a 35-10 win at only posted their sixth-straight over the starting quarterback job in his first year with the Muskingum. Though Waynesburg Yellow Jackets. For his efforts, Dougherty was lauded as an winning season after going 15went on to win just two more games, honorable mention All-PAC selection. 14 on the year (11-7 in PAC it did so at the right times, beating play), but they advanced to the Grove City on Homecoming and Thiel on senior day. semifinal round of the PAC tournament and played in their fourth Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Following the conclusion of the 2015 schedule, nine Jackets tournament in the past half-dozen seasons. were lauded as All-PAC selections, including senior offensive lineman Nik Sappie, who was tabbed as a firstThe Jackets were led by sophomore forward Addy Knetzer, team pick. who was named second-team All-PAC after putting
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Sports Update
together a campaign that saw her rank first in the conference in rebounding (9.1 rpg) and sixth in scoring (14.4 ppg). Knetzer was also named a PAC Player of the Week. It was the first time a Jacket player had received the honor since the 201112 season.
The Yellow Jackets were fueled primarily by an outstanding crop of distance runners and Knetzer, who earned her second-straight PAC Women’s Field MVP award after winning the shot put, taking second in the javelin and placing third in the discus. Junior Katie Latimer won the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while her twin sister Emily broke the tape in the 10,000 meters. Sophomore Angie Marchetti placed second in both the 800 meters and 1,500 meters.
Senior forward Maura Bobby joined Knetzer on the All-PAC teams as an honorable mention pick. The Waynesburg wrestling team was faced with the task of replacing five starters from the 2014-15 team. The Jackets not only kept its 10-man starting lineup full for the entirety of the season, but they improved on last year’s third-place showing at the conference championships. Perhaps the biggest story of the year was that of freshman heavyweight Jake Evans. Not only did he win the starting job, but he led the Jackets in total wins (37-9) and pins (136). He won the PAC championship at 285 pounds and nearly qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship tournament after placing fourth at regionals. The top three competitors in each weight class qualified for nationals. Evans joined juniors Filippo Crivelli (141 pounds) and Ryan Shank (184 pounds) in winning titles at PAC’s. Crivelli and sophomore 125-pounder Tristan Buxton represented Waynesburg as PAC Wrestlers of the Week.
Senior B.J. Durham was named second-team All-PAC after averaging 15.0 points per game and boasting team bests in steals per game, free throw percentage and minutes played per game.
Prior to leading her team to the conference crown, Knetzer was recognized as the final PAC Field Athlete of the season. Earlier in the year, Waynesburg also gathered its share of acclaim during the indoor season. Marchetti and Simonton were both applauded as PAC Indoor Track Athletes of the Week before the Jackets took fourth at the conference indoor championships. The Yellow Jacket men’s track team preceded its ninth-place showing at PAC’s with several highlights leading up to the annual event. Waynesburg won the men’s team title at the PAC Quad-Meet and junior James Steele received the honor of being named PAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week in late February.
The Waynesburg University women’s lacrosse team began a new era in its existence as Spring 2016 former assistant coach Stephanie Junior Holly Bachman was named honorable mention All-ORLC after leading Waynesburg with 35 goals, 37 Waynesburg University’s athletic Benkowski was elevated to the total points and 73 shots. calendar ended on a high note as the position of head coach prior to the Waynesburg University women’s track & field team won its 2016 campaign. The Yellow Jackets scored Benkowski her second PAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field title in the first win as the program’s leader by pulling out a 7-6 win at past four years. Hanover (Indiana).
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Sports Update
The team’s other victory during a 2-11 season was a historic one, as Waynesburg picked up its first-ever win at Thiel in dominant 18-8 fashion. Junior Jess Rains tied a program record with 10 goals in the victory.
round 77 was perhaps the biggest highlight of the team’s season and allowed him to tie for 17th at the 31-man event. Moving to the diamonds, the Waynesburg softball team improved both its overall and PAC records from year one to year two under head coach Richele Hall. The Jackets went 17-23 this past spring, up from 12-26 in 2015. Waynesburg also improved its PAC record from 6-12 to 8-10.
Speaking of Rains, she was one of three Jackets to be named to the All-Ohio River Lacrosse Conference (ORLC) teams following the conclusion of the 2016 season. She was joined by junior Holly Bachman and senior JoHanna Philips. While short on quantity in terms of players, the Waynesburg men’s tennis team made up for its small roster with big talent. Despite having to forfeit two singles flights and one doubles flight nearly every match, the Yellow Jackets still managed to go 5-11 on the year with a 4-4 record in PAC play.
Freshman Tyler Reiss won the starting second base job in his first year with the Yellow Jackets. The speedy Pittsburgh native was hitting well over .300 heading into the end of the regular season.
Freshman Alex Lawrence was honored as a PAC Hitter of the Week and was just one of five Yellow Jacket rookies to earn starting positions with the team. Another of the team’s outstanding rookies, pitcher Courtney Messenger, was recognized as a Corvias ECAC Division III South Softball Rookie of the Week.
All of the team’s four regular players were underclassmen, including freshman Jonah Cooper, who was named PAC Player of the Week on March 7. Cooper also teamed with sophomore Adam McKnight to produce Waynesburg’s top finish at the PAC Championships. The pair upset the top seeded duo from Grove City to reach the title match at second doubles. Cooper and McKnight ultimately settled for second place. The Jackets wound up taking sixth place at PAC’s.
Though the Jackets came up short in earning a spot in the four-team PAC championship tournament, Waynesburg earned regular season wins over tournament participants Bethany and Saint Vincent.
Freshman Abbey Richards produced one of the best seasons in Waynesburg women’s golf history. She was named PAC Golfer of the Week and finished second at the annual PAC Championships.
Freshman Abbey Richards dominated the headlines when it came to the Waynesburg men’s and women’s golf seasons. The first-year standout took second place at the four-round PAC Women’s Championships. She carded a 171 (87-84) during the 36hole Fall PAC Championships, before firing a conferencelow 167 (83-84) at the 36-hole Spring PAC Championships. Richards also earned the first PAC Women’s Golfer of the Week award in recent memory. The Jacket linksmen were led by senior Tyler Miller, who broke 80 at the PAC Spring Championships. His fourth-
As of May 6, the Waynesburg University baseball team was still battling for a spot in the four-team PAC tournament. The Yellow Jackets were looking to qualify for the event for a third-straight season.
As of May 5, Waynesburg sported a 12-9 conference record as part of a 14-22 season mark. The Jackets were led by senior Brian Resnik, who was twice honored as PAC Pitcher of the Week. He also headed into the final days of the schedule with an opportunity to become the all-time winningest pitcher in league history. Regardless of whether or not the Yellow Jackets qualify for the playoffs, they have already made program history by sweeping rivals Washington & Jefferson in a three-game season series for the first time since before 2002.
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Alumni & Friends
A Proud Salute to Champions This fall will mark the 50th anniversary of Waynesburg’s 1966 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) football championship. Arguably the greatest accomplishment in the history of Waynesburg athletics, the football team of 1966 holds a special place in the hearts of Waynesburg alumni.
Coach Carl Depasqua and his “Cinderella team” completed an undefeated season – 11 wins in all, earning the best record in school history, the West Penn Conference crown, the NAIA championship and the Washington, D.C., Touchdown Club’s choice as the number one small college team in the nation, as well as 25 individual and team records. Richard Kunkle, a former Waynesburg University sports information director, published a review of the entire 1966 season in his booklet, “The Road to the Championship,” where he highlighted the ways through which the team found success in a season where it wasn’t expected.
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“It has been the vibrant leadership of freshman quarterback Don Paul; it has been hard-driving Rich Dahar running the option; it has been the come-from-behind passing of reserve quarterback John Huntey; the grinding out of yardage by fullback Rich Ripepi; the pass catching of Dan Dvorchak and Don Herrmann; and the brutish defensive play of Tim McNeil, Joe Righetti and the remainder of the nationally ranked defense,” wrote Kunkle. The 2016 Waynesburg University Homecoming celebration will honor the anniversary of the championship season, keeping alive the pride and honor of such an important moment in Waynesburg history.
Alumni & Friends
NAIA championship game (vs. Whitewater Wisconsin)
Coach Depasqua with Touchdown Club Award
NAIA semi-final playoff game (vs. New Mexico)
The 1966 football team
Fan celebrations
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Alumni & Friends
Mark Fox named chairman of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association Board of Directors Mark Fox, president of Fox Ford in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, will serve as the 2016 Chairman of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association (PAA) Board of Directors.
Stay in touch with your Alma Mater Connect with former classmates online and stay up-to-date with alumni events, campus news and more! Facebook Waynesburg University Alumni Twitter @wbgalumni #waynesburgalumni Linkedin Waynesburg University Alumni & Waynesburg University MBA Alumni Instagram Waynesburg Alumni #waynesburgalumni Flicker flicker.com/waynesburgalumni
waynesburgunited.com
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A trade organization representing the 900 franchised new car and heavy duty truck dealerships throughout Pennsylvania, PAA works with the General Assembly and the Governor’s Administration to educate policy makers on the new car and truck industry. Fox has served on the PAA Board of Directors for twelve years. He joined the Executive Committee in 2009 and for the past four years served as the group’s Legislative Committee Chairman. Fox has been in the automotive industry for more than 33 years, at the business founded by his grandfather in 1921. In serving as PAA’s Chairman of the Board, Fox is following in the footsteps of his father, Robert Fox, who was Chairman of the Association in 1997-1998. “It is wonderful to have Mark in our leadership role this year,” says PAA President John Devlin. “He is highly respected in the dealer community for his strategic thinking, extensive dealership management experience and his unwaveringly honorable principles.” Fox holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master of business administration from Waynesburg University. He is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, serving as the board chairman from 2011 to 2014. He is committed to promoting the Waynesburg area. Since 1998, he has served on the Board of Directors of Community Bank and acts as chairman of the bank’s audit committee. In the area of community service, Fox has a distinguished record, dedicating his time, talent and resources to many charitable and civic enterprises. Since 1976, he has been a volunteer fireman with Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Company. He is a member of Waynesburg Rotary Club and is on the Board of Directors for Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful, a group that focuses on the revitalization of historic downtown businesses. Fox is a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Waynesburg, where he acted as Moderator from 1985 to 2011.
Alumni & Friends
University presents Golden Key and Distinguished Alumni awards to deserving recipients Waynesburg University presented the Golden Key and Distinguished Alumni awards at the annual Donor Recognition and Awards Dinner held Tuesday, March 22, during the University's Charter Day celebration. The Golden Key Award was presented to Dr. Fred and Marcia McEwen, while the Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to John J. Pauliny and Rebecca “Becky” (Sweeting) Pauliny. The Alumni Council presents the Golden Key award to an alumnus or friend of Waynesburg University dedicated to a lifetime of significant leadership and involvement with the University. Recipients of the prestigious award have distinguished themselves among their peers in a meaningful way.
From left to right: Marcia McEwen, Dr. Fred McEwen, President Douglas Lee and Mrs. Lee
This year’s recipients, Dr. Fred and Marcia McEwen, were recognized for their steadfast devotion to Christian higher education, heartfelt sacrifice and genuine care for others. Together, they have impacted Waynesburg University as selfless donors and loyal advocates. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni for their unwavering devotion to the University’s mission. The Alumni Council recognized both John J. Pauliny and Rebecca “Becky” (Sweeting) Pauliny for their distinguished and respective careers of serving the needs of others. They have committed their lives to creating a lasting impact on Waynesburg University students, past, present and future.
You can Shape the Future
From left to right: John J. Pauliny, Becky Pauliny, President Douglas Lee and Mrs. Lee
By making an unrestricted gift to the Fund for Waynesburg, you support educational programs and operational needs of the University as well as financial aid for students. To make your gift, visit waynesburg.edu/giving or call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 724.852.3378.
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Alumni & Friends
Ellsworth receives Women of Spirit Award Laura Ellsworth, Waynesburg University trustee, was recently honored with a 2016 Women of Spirit Award from Carlow University. This award recognizes outstanding women, who, as leaders in the community, exemplify the Carlow University mission in their personal and professional lives. Women of Spirit are acknowledged for their professional and personal leadership and their service to others. In turn, they share their expertise with the Carlow University community by actively participating in the life of the University and in the development of its students. As a partner at Jones Day, an elite international law firm, Ellsworth has practiced a wide range of complex commercial litigation including high-profile, multi-jurisdictional product liability and bankruptcy cases. She has been involved extensively in electronic discovery and currently serves on Jones Days’ e-Discovery Committee. She was named by Governor Edward G. Rendell as one of the Top Businesswomen in Pennsylvania and was appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to serve on the boards of the Pennsylvania State System for Higher Education, the Pennsylvania Council on Privatization and Innovation and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Ellsworth graduated magna cum laude with her Juris Doctorate in 1983 from the University of Pittsburgh and received her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1980.
West honored with Outstanding Women Award Marilyn West, Waynesburg University trustee, was honored by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Richmond with its 2015 Outstanding Women Award. The YWCA of Richmond launched its Outstanding Women Awards program in 1980 to recognize women in the Greater Richmond area who have made significant contributions to the community through their exceptional leadership, sustained dedication and inspiring achievements. West is the founder, owner and Chief Executive Officer of M.H. West and Co., a Richmond, Virginia based planning and consulting company with specialization in management, education and planning services. Operating with an eight-person staff, West and her team have served more than 350 clients, ranging from federal government agencies to large corporations and school systems. She leads the board of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center and serves on the Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation Board, the board of St. Joseph’s Villa and the advisory board of the Metropolitan Business League. West holds a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Waynesburg University.
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Alumni & Friends
Woodward is pictured above at the Boston Police Department headquarters in Roxbury.
CIA recognizes Woodward with Career Intelligence Medal Waynesburg University trustee John D. Woodward Jr. received the Career Intelligence Medal October 16, 2015, in recognition of his exemplary service to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for 21 years. Woodward served as a CIA operations officer for most of his career, with duty in several war zones. He also held management positions in the Agency's Directorate of Science and Technology. Woodward was especially commended for his work as the first Chief of Operations for the Intelligence Community's Counter Biological Weapons Program, where he succeeded in advancing the program's mission impact and relevance with respect to overseas operations and community engagement.
During his government career, he also served as the Director of Biometrics at the Department of Defense, where he spearheaded efforts to use biometric technology to identify national security threats in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. His publications include “Biometrics: Identity Assurance in the Information Age” and “Army Biometric Applications: Identifying and Addressing Sociocultural Concerns,” and his many articles have appeared in various journals and newspapers, including the Washington Post and Legal Times. Woodward is currently a professor of the practice of international relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, where he teaches national security-related courses.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni Gatherings
Oct. 9, 2015 | Alumnae Luncheon, Washington, Pennsylvania
Sept. 16, 2015 | Detroit, Michigan Area Alumni and Friends Dinner
Jan. 14, 2016 | Houston, Texas Area Alumni and Friends Dinner
Nov. 19, 2015 | Recent Graduate event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Alumni & Friends
Oct. 27, 2015 | New York City Alumni and Friends Lunch
Jan. 12, 2015 | Dallas, Texas Area Alumni and Friends Dinner
Sept. 17, 2015 | Cleveland, Ohio Area Alumni and Friends Dinner
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In Memoriam Virginia Abraham ’50 8/31/2015 Frederick P. Aldridge, Former Student 7/13/2015 Erma Hodel Anthony ’41 4/21/2016 Walter P. Atalski ’48 1/8/2016 Jeanne A. Cooper Ault ’42 11/14/2015 Jean Irwin Bailey ’50 8/24/2015 John R. Barna, Jr., Former Student 11/21/2015 John T. Baumbach ’61 1/28/2015 Harry Vernon Blaker ’54 12/15/2014 C. Edward Boyd ’63 4/30/2014 John R. Bransky ’51 8/21/2015 William E. Briske ’56 11/25/2015 Joseph L. Brom ’04 1/5/2016 J. Vaughn Brunazzi ’67 1/1/2016 Norman E. Bunch ’52 8/22/2015 Robert Burgan ’91 9/15/2015 Clyde W. Byers ’52 12/31/2013 Bruce T. Campbell, Friend 7/11/2014 Dawn Huffman Catalano ’03 4/9/2014 Mary Jane Zgorliski Cecil ’96 1/2/2015 Gary L. Chester ’64 9/5/2015 Joseph Chetelat, Friend 5/21/2015 Ronald R. Cochran ’57 1/15/2016 Anthony C. Cook, Former Student 12/8/2010 A. Donald Correal ’43 7/30/2015 Lisa Pyndus Cosalter ’79 5/31/2015 Vance L. Cowden ’71 3/29/2016 Thomas J. Cunningham ’07 2/1/2015 James M. Cunningham ’63 4/23/2015 Darla Jen Bondurant Davenport ’10 3/17/2016 Phyllis A. Dowling ’70 6/1/2015 Jessy D. Dulaney, Student 3/20/2016 Claire Barker Edvenson ’43 8/13/2015 Dolly J. Enoff-Ansell ’08 9/2/2015 Minerva Pirl Firestone ’62 11/4/2015 James W. Fisher ’62 10/15/2015 William E. Flint ’82 7/9/1959 Lucy Bell Mankey Foeckler ’48 12/11/2013 Raymond Kent Fordyce ’68 12/24/2015 Frances Inghram Gensler ’36 8/16/2015 Blaine L. Gjurich ’50 9/3/2013 Morton G. Glise ’37, Honorary Degree ’61 9/19/2015 Carol Goodwin, Friend 6/4/2015 Carol Engle Haines ’70 3/9/2016 William D. Hardisty, Friend 4/15/2016 William E. Hardy ’61 3/2/2016 Herbert F. Hawthorne ’51 5/10/2015 Richard A. Henderson ’73 9/2/2015 Ronald J. Herrod ’58 1/18/2016 Thomas E. Higginbotham ’50 1/12/2016 Frank T. Hinkel, Jr. ’67 11/27/2004 L. Vaughn Hixenbaugh ’66 4/30/2013 Salvatore T. Inserra, Former Student 4/8/2015 Dorothy Jones Jamieson ’47 5/12/2014 Debra M. Johnson ’01 8/8/2013 Sharon K. Johnston ’91 2/12/2013 Frank E. Jones ’50 8/12/2014 Michael J. Kaveney ’04 7/17/2015 Robert L. Kooser ’52 8/3/2015 Walter I. Kostka ’53 11/5/2015 Eleanore McDowell Kuhn ’45 3/21/2015 William “Bill” Kulak ’54 9/4/2015
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Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. - Psalms 116:15 John Lorence Jr. ’77 5/2/2016 Ronald C. Mankey ’60 12/13/2015 John W. McCall ’62 7/22/2015 Mary Bedosky McCann ’89 10/7/2015 Donald E. Meeder ’48 12/13/2012 Edward L. Meneely ’59 2/12/2015 Kathryn Levos Miller ’53 6/5/2015 Myers W. Miller, Jr. ’65 11/4/2011 Roy E. Miller ’51 4/27/2016 Sidney S. Moss, Former Student 10/27/2015 Kathleen Nevin Moston ’63 8/26/2015 Walter A. Mroziak ’64 4/20/2016 John D. Nicewonger ’67 5/16/2014 Robert B. Noble ’39 9/3/2015 Richard A. Nye ’51 1/15/2016 Antoinette Capozzi Olsakovsky ’56 11/11/2015 Eileen Vrabel Ozenbaugh ’97 5/28/2015 William F. Page ’64 11/23/2015 Lura Jean Park, Friend 3/1/2016 Julianne Johnston Peterson ’57 2/12/2016 Dennis R. Phillips ’67 6/13/2009 Clara L. Pitcock ’61 11/28/2015 Mary Nairn Platt ’44 9/27/2015 Lewis D. Raymond ’62 6/10/2015 Loretta Glod Rebottini ’47 9/14/2015 William G. Redinger ’54 2/3/2015 Edward A. Renquest ’50 9/27/2002 Vivian Aileen McEhattan Rensel ’58 12/6/2015 George R. Rice ’59 11/10/2015 Leonidas H. Roberts ’48 8/5/2015 Joanne Santucci Salsovic ’71 4/11/2015 Frances “Frank” Scherich, Former Student 10/1/2015 Thelma J. Scott ’54 7/25/2015 Anthony A. Serafino ’65 9/12/2015 Dolores Whipkey Shaffer ’52 5/10/2014 Raymond J. Sharp ’52 9/3/2015 Lolita Barney Sharp ’63 3/22/2016 Pete H. Shaw ’81 2/6/2016 James W. Sillaman, Jr., Former Student 12/23/2015 Holly Hodum Sloper ’69 7/22/2015 James Sokoloff, Friend 7/2/2015 Ronald R. Solomon ’65 9/16/2009 Joseph Soukup ’49 9/27/2015 Joseph C. Spence, Jr. ’50 2/16/2016 William G. Stalker ’61 12/18/2009 Norman L. Stock ’49 8/11/2015 Edward R. Stofko ’62 12/3/2015 Joan Cote Stover, Friend 11/15/2015 Charles B. “Pete” Stoy ’50 7/30/2015 Cheryl A. Stubbs ’81 12/3/2015 Mary B. Hegarty ’42 11/11/2009 Sue E. Turner ’69 1/2/2016 Margaret Durbin Vogt ’59 9/19/2015 Steven B. Ward ’04 12/6/2015 Pauline R. Weinberger, Friend 12/12/2014 Norman E. Welsh ’64 2/29/2016 David L. Wermlinger ’74 5/19/2015 Donald W. Whipkey ’60 2/9/2016 William R. Wilson ’50 1/31/2016 John E. Winnett ’51 12/15/2015 Norman C. Young ’55 10/29/2015 Daniel F. Zuniga ’86 2/2/2015
HOMECOMING OCTOBER 7-8 MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND! 2016 CLASS REUNIONS
2016
Homecoming is the perfect time to reconnect with classmates and visit your alma mater. Contact your friends and make plans to spend the weekend of October 7-8 in Waynesburg!
LOOK FOR YOUR OFFICIAL HOMECOMING INVITATION SOON!
2011 5 years 2006 10 years Visit waynesburgunited.com/homecoming16 2001 15 years to get all of the latest Homecoming 2016 1996 20 years 1991 25 years updates. 1986 30 years 1981 35 years CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1976 40 years THE 1966 FOOTBALL NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP 1971 45 years 1966 50 years 1965 and before: celebrating over 50 years The Lamp: Summer 2016
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51 West College Street Waynesburg, PA 15370
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO 5605
Change Service Requested
Upcoming Events July 28............................... Pittsburgh Networking Lunch September 15.................. Atlanta Alumni and Friends Dinner September 23................. Alumnae Luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn – Southpointe October 8......................... Homecoming . 50th anniversary of the NAIA championship October 19........................ Pittsburgh Theatre Production, "Finding Neverland" November 9..................... Baltimore Alumni and Friends Dinner November 17.................... WU Day of Giving Visit www.waynesburgunited.com for more information on upcoming events. Questions? Email alumni@waynesburg.edu or call 724-852-3256.