Oct. 2011 Vol. 6, No. 2
IMPACT Inspiring Students to Pursue Lives of Purpose
University celebrates long-awaited Roberts Chapel Roberts Chapel serves as a testimony to the Waynesburg University mission, giving both students and faculty a new place to worship
F
or 162 years, Waynesburg University has waited for a house of worship that exemplified the
principles upon which the University was founded. On Saturday, Sept. 24, the wait ended.
The University formally dedicated
Roberts Chapel during a private ceremony and inaugural concert where more than 400 individuals including faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends, donors and guests shared in the historic event.
Roberts Chapel, named for Sherl Levi
Roberts and Sarah Bertha Earnest Roberts, the parents of the late Dr. Roy Roberts, a 1942 graduate of Waynesburg University, is located at the peak of the University’s campus. The Chapel stands as a symbol of God’s grace that has guided the University for more than 160 years. Prior to his passing, Dr. Roy Roberts shared his vision with Waynesburg University President Timothy R. Thyreen, and provided a generous lead gift of $4.5 million.
The dedication ceremony included
remarks by Waynesburg University President Timothy R. Thyreen; a performance by the Waynesburg University Lamplighters; an organ and piano concert featuring Mr. J. Christopher Pardini, organist, and Mr. David Allen Wehr, pianist; and a prayer of dedication given by Mr. Mark E. Fox, chairman of the Waynesburg University Board of Trustees. The dedication ended with a benediction from the Rev. Thomas Ribar, University Chaplain.
“This is a special time for this
University,” Thyreen said. “This place
handiwork. I’ve seen you all work in
grow and mature spiritually here, they
is a house of worship that will be shared
rain, snow and thunderstorms to build a
will be equipped to make a difference with
through the years, affecting the lives of
building that you may or may not even
their lives in a world that is in desperate
current and future students.”
believe is necessary. I don’t know if you
need.”
guys believe in God, but I do know that
Thyreen, Waynesburg University’s first
God is using you. This church will be a
chapel service, just three days after the
lady, indicated the true significance of
sanctuary for me to worship the God who
Chapel’s dedication, President Thyreen
the day and its meaning to Waynesburg
created me. Because of you, I’ll have a
echoed Fox’s thoughts by challenging
University students. The letter, written
place to praise the Lord. I am so thankful
students to align the meaning behind the
by a Waynesburg University student, was
for you.
vision of Roberts Chapel with their own
found in May of 2011 in the fence that
Sincerely,
lives.
surrounded the chapel throughout most
A Friend
of the building process. The envelope was
As the letter was shared, the
this university and its mission,” Thyreen
addressed to, “the men who have brought
importance of the day became evident to
said. “We are charged to be worthy of this
beauty to this campus.”
all in attendance.
building. We want what you have learned
here to make a difference in the world. We
A letter read by Mrs. Carolyn
The letter read as follows:
“This is truly a joyous day,” said Mrs.
During the University’s first weekly
“This building is a great testimony to
Dear Silent Heroes,
Thyreen. “This space on this hill will be
want to know that because of your life,
forever devoted to the glory of God.”
the world is a better place.”
from dust. When I arrived here to the
University on August 14, I looked out
asked that “God’s blessing and grace be
groundbreaking ceremony held in May of
my window to find a concrete foundation
forever on this place.”
2010, Roberts Chapel stands completed
engulfed amidst construction. As the
at North Washington Street on the north
year progressed, I continued to look
University has become,” he said. “As
out my window in admiration of your
generations of students come and
You have created a masterpiece
During the dedication prayer, Fox
“We praise you for what this
One year and four months after the
side of the campus quadrangle.
Living out Waynesburg’s mission unifies cross country team
T
o begin the season living out
the mission of Waynesburg
our County, and I thought this project
that day and learned a few lessons that
situated in an area with so much need
University, the University’s cross
would be great for our large team, as trail
I hope will stick with them throughout
and opportunity for service, it is difficult
country team recently completed a day of
maintenance is time consuming,” Hardie
the season and into their everyday
for me to see why one wouldn’t feel
service on the Greene County portion of
said.
lives,” Hardie said. “Traits such as
convicted to get involved.”
the Warrior Trail.
Kameron Schaefer, a senior history
patience, teamwork, determination, and a
major from Ohiopyle, was grateful for the
willingness to give back were all brought
President Llew Williams and Chris
experience.
to the forefront. As a team, we need
Hardie, head cross country coach
to carry those lessons and traits with
at Waynesburg, 36 members of
team,” he said. “After I saw the condition
us when times get tough, both in our
Waynesburg’s cross country team worked
of the trail, I wanted to do as much work
personal lives and on the playing field.”
together to beautify the historic Warrior
as possible.”
Trail. In desperate need of restoration
for one organization, Schaefer realized
and revitalization, the work was no easy
Hardie has decided to make the Warrior
the importance of living Waynesburg
feat, as portions of the trail were deemed
Trail service an annual project for his
University’s mission of faith, learning and
impassable.
athletes.
service daily.
Co-led by Warrior Trail Association
“The Association does so much for
“I enjoyed the service we did as a
Recognizing the impact and the need,
“The team endured a few hardships
Beyond providing a day of service
“As students of this University,
IMPACT NEWS & NOTES • Waynesburg University’s Forensic Science Program recently received a
Two students have unforgettable semester in Spain
A
pretty stark contrast to
first.
Waynesburg, Pa., two
“For the first few weeks I was in culture
Waynesburg University
shock, mostly because I couldn’t speak
students put down roots in a European,
the language that well, and that made
Portable Optics Group. The donation,
Spanish-speaking city more than 4,000
me feel isolated,” Bartley said.
a hand-held Raman infrared chemical
miles across the Atlantic Ocean last fall.
Time proved to be on their side,
identification system used for rapid
Although they left with assumptions,
however, as both women slowly
identification of a range of materials
Shannon Bartley and Jessica Sarnoskie
recognized the unfamiliar transitioning
from
never could have prepared themselves for
to the familiar.
narcotics to
what the next three months would hold.
Daily life consisted of class conducted
explosives,
Bartley, a junior early childhood and
entirely in Spanish from 10 a.m. to
will further
special education major with a Spanish
1:30 p.m., with a break titled “siesta”
enhance
minor, and Sarnoskie, a senior forensic
following. During this time, they would
Waynesburg
accounting major with a Spanish minor,
have lunch, complete assignments and
University’s
studied in Spain through the Semester
relax. Monday nights involved Flamenco
mission to
in Spain program offered by Waynesburg
lessons. During other nights of the
offer students experiential learning
University. Through this program,
week, they applied a key principle of
scenarios, preparing them for their
students undergo an intensive study of
Waynesburg University to their life in
and I never attended church when I was
careers after graduation.
Spanish history, language and culture
Spain by serving in their community.
younger,” Sarnoskie said. “Coming to
in a nurturing and accommodating
For two hours each week, Sarnoskie
Waynesburg has changed my mind about
• Sarah Rizzi, an art education
Christian environment.
went to the Hospital la Caridad, a
faith and what I believe. I believe I was
major from Irwin, Pa., will present a
“I had never been out of the country
veteran’s facility, where she visited
sent to Spain to grow in my faith and
collection of her work at Waynesburg
before I traveled to Spain,” Sarnoskie
with the elderly men and played bingo.
find God. I had no one there; I could only
University in a three-week exhibit.
said. “I was scared, nervous and excited
Bartley spent her time traveling one hour
rely on Him.”
The show will run through Friday,
all at the same time. I had no idea what I
to a local convent where she served as
Since returning, Sarnoskie has become
Oct. 21, in the Benedum Fine Arts
was getting myself into.”
an English tutor and friend to a group
very involved in faith-based activities.
Gallery. The Gallery is open 9 a.m. to
The women reached Seville Sept. 1,
of girls. For Bartley, the service allowed
She credits her semester in Spain with
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by
2010. Upon arrival, they met the host
her to grow in her faith, and helped her
helping her to overcome her fear, getting
appointment. Admission is free and the
families who would serve as their three-
to recognize the ways faith and service
out there and believing.
public is cordially invited to attend.
month guide to life in a foreign place. In
coexist.
“I am so thankful to have had this
Ceramics, watercolor and acrylic
addition to the vastly different culture,
As for Sarnoskie, her visit to Spain
experience,” Sarnoskie said. “It will be
paintings, drawings and jewelry will be
the language barrier proved difficult at
impacted her faith in life-altering ways.
one thing I will never forget.”
donation from Thermo Scientific’s
Shannon Bartley with fellow Semester in Spain students in the town of Ronda at the oldest bullring in Spain.
“I didn’t grow up in a church family
featured in the collection. Select pieces will be available for purchase. For more information, call 724-852-3274. • The Pittsburgh Chamber Players, an acclaimed group of talented Pittsburgh Symphony musicians, will perform in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center Monday, Oct. 17, as part of the University’s Performing Arts Series. The Chamber Players perform in mixed ensembles of two to eight artists. Audiences and critics celebrate the Players as innovative, eclectic and of the highest artist quality and ability. Admission is $5 and the public is invited to attend. • The Waynesburg University Players will present “Julius Caesar” Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Saturday, Nov. 5. The performances will take place in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. Seating is limited and tickets should be reserved. For more information, call 724-852-3226. • Irina Nuzova, an acclaimed solo pianist, will perform Tuesday, Nov. 8, as part of the University’s Performing Arts Series. The performance will be held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Nuzova is an acclaimed pianist who has appeared in recitals as a soloist and as a chamber musician in Europe, South America and the United States.
Johnson serves as Crosby Lecturer
U
niting faith, service and learning is one of Waynesburg University’s principal goals — a goal that was recently met and exceeded by September’s Glenn A. & Jane L. Crosby Lecture Series speaker, Dr. Byron Johnson. The Crosby Lecture Series, notorious for bringing scholars distinguished in their disciplines to interact with Waynesburg University students, faculty and staff, hosted Dr. Johnson September 22 as he presented “More God, Less Crime: More a Leap of Faith or a Matter of Fact.” The topic, deemed “stimulating and appropriate” by a number of students, was well-received across a number of academic disciplines. As a sophomore criminal justice major, Morgan Blumer thought herself to be the perfect audience for Johnson’s message. According to Blumer, Johnson’s correlation between faith and criminal justice caused her to consider new avenues of thought. “Some of the statistics were rather surprising and interesting,” Blumer said. “I also found Dr. Johnson’s way of thought and open mindedness to really open my own mind to new questions and perspectives.” Johnson, professor of social sciences at Baylor University, is involved in a series of empirical research studies regarding the religious landscape of China and additional studies related to religious intolerance and tolerance in America. As both the director of the Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) and the director of the program on Prosocial Behavior, Johnson is considered a leading authority on the scientific study of religion. Thomas Paulone, a sophomore criminal justice major from Jeannette, Pa., was deeply affected on a personal level by Johnson’s presentation. “I learned from Dr. Johnson how complex the criminal justice world can be,” Paulone said. “It’s crazy to see how some people live and where they come from; it makes me feel blessed for what I have.” Pieces of Johnson’s research have been used in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor and the National Institutes of Health. “Having a speaker of this caliber is such an honor,” Paulone said. “No other school can live up to the experience we get at Waynesburg University.” Blumer, too, credits the University with the opportunity to meet celebrated researchers and speakers. “Waynesburg University and its wonderfully experienced professors are always presenting students with countless resources and helping hands,” Blumer said. “They open our minds and present us with new opportunities to lead us in the direction of our aspirations after graduation.”
Crown pre-ranked first in the country Even though the 2011-12 season has yet to get underway, junior wrestler Alex Crown is already making big headlines and program history. The third-year standout, who finished fourth at the NCAA Division III National Championships this past March, was pre-ranked number one in the country at 125 pounds by d3wrestle.com. It is believed to be the first time that a Waynesburg wrestler has been given the top spot by the prestigious national website. As a sophomore last season, Crown not only won his second-straight Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) title, but he finished in the top two at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships for the second-straight season after winning his first championship.
Women’s soccer off to tremendous start As of Oct. 3, the Waynesburg University women’s soccer team was on one of the most successful stretches in program history. The Yellow Jackets had won ten-straight games and were on top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) with a 10-1 record. Their ninth win of the year came on Sept. 28, when they beat a solid Wimington team 1-0. Senior forward Courtney Ebersole tallied her 12th goal of the season and senior goal keeper Katrina Kelly made the score stand up with seven saves in goal. The ten-game winning streak is the program’s longest since at least 2001.