Westminster Magazine Fall/Winter 2024

FALL/WINTER 2024

Volume XLIII, Issue 1

EDITORIAL STAFF

Elizabeth Fontaine Hildebrand ’92

Editor & Designer

Kristen Aleprete

Staff Writer

OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

724.946.7364

Kara H. Montgomery

Pamela Marlowe Zackal ’08

ALUMNI COUNCIL

Dr. Nanci Kleese Hosick ’95, M’03

President

PRINTER

Printing Concepts, Inc. Erie, PA

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

David N. Farner ’85

Chair, Board of Trustees

Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson

President

Dr. Jamie G. McMinn

Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College

Kenneth J. Romig ’85

Vice President for Finance & Management Services

Dr. Gina M. Vance

Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Jason A. Lener ’93

Director of Athletics

The Rev. James R. Mohr II

College Chaplain

Erin T. Smith

Chief Information Officer

Lana K. Whitehead

Vice President for Enrollment Management

Photography credits: Derek Buck, Kevin Fenstermacher, Elizabeth Hildebrand ’92, Jason Kapusta, Kara Montgomery, Katie Rose Rankin ’27, Jess Veon ’26, Tiffany Wolfe, Pamela Zackal ’08

On the cover: Westminster College BSN badge

Mailing address:

Westminster College, 319 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001 ATTN: Westminster Magazine Editor

Email address: wcmagazine@westminster.edu

For Admissions inquiries, call: 724-946-7100

Westminster Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing & Communications. Westminster College does not discriminate, and will not tolerate discrimination, on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran’s status, religion (except for those positions where religious affiliation is a necessary qualification), or any other classification protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities, or with respect to admission and employment. Westminster College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and acts in accordance with applicable laws in all of our hiring and employment practices. Inquiries may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Officer, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001, 724-946-7247. Westminster College is related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Synod of the Trinity.

During

first-year students make the trek to and from the President’s Manse, where students dined and chatted with College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

What’s the most exciting journey you’ve ever undertaken? You may recall your first airplane flight or long train ride, or the first time you saw the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty. Perhaps you have hiked (at least part of!) the Appalachian or the Pacific Crest Trails or biked across southern France or southern Pennsylvania. Regardless of the destination, journeys usually bring with them the opportunity to gain new perspectives and insights that build memories that last.

We frequently describe the undergraduate college experience as a journey. Students and their parents may begin visiting prospective colleges during the second or third year of high school, seeking to identify the institution that seems to best match their dreams and interests. As the search narrows, students complete the application processes and make a deposit so their reservation is secured. Soon after high school graduation, students begin to pack and plan for orientation, move-in day and their first term of classes—important steps for these educational travelers.

Clearly, the college journey is more than just the initial selection and enrollment process. Here at Westminster, alongside introductory courses in their majors, Titans launch their journey to graduation by enrolling in Inquiry, the course that introduces them to the idea of a liberal arts education, helping them explore “classic and emerging questions” as well as teaching them to “exchange ideas within a supportive learning community,” according to the Undergraduate Catalog. In their first year, they also complete a writing course and a speech course to hone these critical communication skills, and a course called Westminster 101 that offers practical advice and strategies for managing the transition from high school to college.

The journey also includes courses in foreign language; humanity and culture; quantitative reasoning; religious and philosophical thought and tradition; scientific discovery; social thought and tradition; and visual and performing arts, with a variety of course choices in each area. They also complete a cluster requirement, which is an interdisciplinary experience that reinforces students’ ability to see issues from multiple perspectives. At the same time, work in their major field leads to a senior capstone course that serves as the culmination of their major area and demonstrates their communication and problem-solving abilities.

We know that from their initial days on campus, our Titans begin a critically important journey, one that will have moments of great excitement but also moments of challenge. From the Student Success Center to the Professional Development and Community Engagement Office, from the faculty advisor to the resident assistant, supportive faculty, staff, coaches and upperclass students and alumni are available to serve as key resources and guides.

As students journey through the Westminster Plan, they have opportunities to explore three experiential pathways that the faculty identify as signature strengths: leadership and service, undergraduate research, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Titans join clubs and organizations, compete in athletics, perform in the arts, and participate in service activities. Students complete one or two internships or study internationally or through a domestic travel course. Some of these courses, cocurricular and extracurricular activities bring with them great satisfaction; others seem to be filled with tough challenges. Along this journey as a Titan, the first term becomes the third and the sixth—and all too quickly, the first-semester senior faces the joyful and terrifying uncertainty of choosing their first destination after Commencement.

We believe that a Westminster education that is built on the strong foundation of timeless liberal arts and the achievement of personal and professional growth leads to graduates with the “competencies, commitments and characteristics that have distinguished humankind at its best.” Our alumni demonstrate the impact of this education as they engage in lifelong learning that enriches their lives and their careers. The Titan education is truly a journey for a lifetime!

Thankful for the journey—

Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson President of Westminster College

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Simulation lab gives nursing students hands-on clinical experiences

By ELIZABETH FONTAINE HILDEBRAND ’92

Growing up in Coppell, Texas, Haley Wenzel envisioned a future in health care. Her interest in nursing sparked in high school, and from that point forward, she has been pursuing it with steadfast dedication. Choosing Westminster was particularly exciting for her, as it would enable her to earn her BSN-RN in four years rather than six. Now, with the College’s cutting-edge nursing simulation lab providing realistic, hands-on experience, Wenzel feels even more certain that Westminster was the ideal choice for her path.

“Westminster’s new nursing simulation lab will help solidify the basics needed to succeed in nursing. It will allow us to practice more complicated procedures and scenarios that we couldn't necessarily do on real patients, giving us the chance to learn and make mistakes without having real-life implications,” said Wenzel, a junior who hopes to become an emergency room/ trauma nurse.

Westminster unveiled its new high-fidelity clinical nursing simulation lab this fall, a “dream come true” for the College and its nursing students and faculty, said College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson

“It will provide state-of-the-art equipment to advance nursing and health care education and offer our students— and we hope others in our community— the opportunity to have this hands-on experience,” she said during the Oct. 25 dedication ceremony.

The first part of Phase Four of the expansion and renovation of Westminster’s Hoyt Science Center, the simulation center—located on Hoyt’s second floor—features two distinct and reconfigurable spaces that will enable learners to engage in a variety of simulation methods. The high-fidelity simulation lab provides a space for students to develop critical judgment skills by using real-life patient experiences.

“Through simulation training, students can practice and hone their skills in a safe and controlled environment in preparation for real patient care,” said Dr. Maria Sapienza, chair of the nursing department.

In a simulation lab, the aim is to mimic a real clinical environment as closely as possible. A certain level of realism is necessary for nursing students to get a feel for the environments they can expect to encounter in the real world. And walking into Westminster's new main simulation room—the skills lab—is akin to entering a hospital ward.

Complete with standard furnishings and medical equipment, the room contains everything you might find in an actual clinical setting: hospital beds, privacy curtains, overbed tables, nightstands,

Above, Darianne Meacham ’25 checks Charlie’s vital signs. // At right, College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson talks about the reaction she had after touring the innovative lab. // On previous page, Haley Wenzel ’26 prepares medication in a simulated scenario.

lab’s

Also pictured from left are Dr. Maria Sapienza, chair of the nursing department; Dr. Jamie McMinn, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College; College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson; Charlie the manikin; and honors nursing major Elizabeth Grove ’25. // At right, nursing students practice a simulation scenario with Charlie.

communication whiteboards, wall clocks, crash carts, intravenous infusion pumps, feeding pumps, an electrocardiogram machine, glucometers, defibrillators—even plastic water pitchers.

But it’s the lifelike manikins that really help mirror an actual clinical setting. Students interact with the five manikins—a newborn, infant, teen and two adults—allowing them to experience realistic patient care. Computers within the manikins’ chests connect to laptops in the control room, where faculty control and program patient scenarios. The manikins can simulate breathing sounds, heartbeats, varying respiratory rates and even bowel sounds, creating a highly realistic training environment. They are also capable of blinking and speaking with programmable software.

The manikins offer students an opportunity to practice and refine their technical skills—administering medication, inserting intravenous lines (IVs) and catheters, performing intubations, cleaning and dressing wounds, placing feeding tube—without the fear of harming anyone.

“The addition of advanced interactive manikins is a gamechanging opportunity. Practicing high-stakes scenarios in a safe environment is invaluable, and I am excited to have the opportunity to build our knowledge and skills in responding to emergencies,” said Elizabeth Grove, a senior honors nursing major from Meadville, Pa.

Grove—who is following in her mother’s nursing footsteps— graduated from UPMC Jameson School of Nursing last spring, passed the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) national licensing exam in June and is currently working as a registered nurse in the observation unit at Heritage Valley Sewickley. She will complete her coursework for her BSN in the spring.

The manikins can also help the students develop their soft skills—those intangible interpersonal qualities that are equally

vital in patient care. Through practice conversations with the manikins, nursing students can hone their communication, relational and empathetic skills which will be necessary when interacting with future patients and their families.

Darianne Meacham, a senior from Erie, Pa., knows the importance of those soft skills and remembers the nursing care she received as a child after an accident.

“What influenced me into the health care field, and more specifically nursing, was being hospitalized after a serious ATV accident at the age of 8. I just remember how amazing all of the nurses were who took care of me, and I knew that this was something I wanted to do,” she said.

Above left, Lawrence County Commissioners Dan Vogler ’81, third from left, and Chris Sainato, far right, attend the simulation

dedication ceremony.

Similarly, it was the nursing care that Hannah Bittel’s family continues to recall years later after her birth.

“My twin sister and I were born prematurely, and to this day my parents still talk about the wonderful nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the great care they provided,” said Bittel, a junior nursing major from Pittsburgh.

Another room in the simulation center features more training spaces, as well as an observation area with audio-visual equipment that enables students to view their performances in the skills lab.

“The simulation experience affords the learner the opportunity to reflect on their performance in a safe nonjudgmental environment to prepare them for real life experiences,” said Sapienza. “Simulation areas are equipped with recording devices so learners can view their performance and reflect on areas of strength as well as areas they would like to improve.”

“I like that these simulations can also be recorded for us to see exactly what we did and learn ways we can improve if we have that situation again,” said Meacham.

A unique state-of-the-art highlight of the simulation lab is an anatomy and physiology table, specifically the Anatomage 3D virtual cadaver dissection table—with 12 supplemental Anatomage tablets—which allows students to conduct simulated cadaver dissections using real cadaver images.

At top, nursing faculty member Shannon Whitcomb demonstrates what the anatomy and physiology table can do. // Bottom left, student Elizabeth Grove ’25 speaks at the dedication ceremony, discussing the impact the simulation lab will have on nursing students. // Bottom right, student Hannah Bittel ’26 practices in the new lab.

With a swipe of the finger, students can explore the human body and build a stronger understanding of the anatomical structure. They can study the anatomy of each organ, view animations of physiological processes of organ systems and learn from real patient case studies, said Shannon Whitcomb, a lecturer in the nursing department.

“The nursing sim lab is a great investment for Westminster’s nursing students,” said Bittel. “The priority in every nursing setting is to provide safe care to our patients. The lab allows us to practice our nursing skills in a setting where we can make mistakes and learn from them. It will help give us the confidence when we are in the hospital setting to help guide our decision making and use of skills.”

Junior Elliana Hsieh from York, Pa., agreed, but pointed out that students in other majors can also benefit from the lab.

“This simulation lab will allow not only nursing students, but students on the prehealth track, to practice skills such as basic life support, CPR and AED practice and situational training in a controlled environment,” said Hsieh.

Dr. Jamie McMinn, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, said that students in other science fields such as biology, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry and neuroscience will also benefit from using the simulation lab equipment. And as Westminster is a liberal arts institution, he said he expects students from non-STEM related majors will also be inspired to use the center.

“All students will benefit from this center," he said. "It is a space where they will all have the opportunity to engage, learn and grow.” S

FUNDING THE SIMULATION LAB

The $850,000 high-fidelity simulation nursing lab was made possible by three key grants and generous supporters of Westminster College.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provided a $437,351 grant through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, which directs federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries.

Regionally, the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners approved $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, while the Buhl Regional Health Foundation offered a $93,000 grant, both recognizing the crucial impact Westminster plays in the region’s economic development. By training in Westminster’s innovative and stateof-the-art sim lab and partnering with UPMC Jameson School of Nursing, today’s students can prepare for viable career paths in nursing and health care that could potentially refuel the area’s workforce.

Above, the lab’s observation area. // At right, Elliana Hsieh ’26 and Hannah Bittel ’26 prepare to run a simulation.

| Titan news on and beyond campus CAMPUS NEWS

AN AFFORDABLE EDUCATION

Incoming Pennsylvania students can qualify for free tuition

Westminster is reinforcing its commitment to affordability by introducing a new scholarship program for fall 2025, allowing more Pennsylvania students to earn their degree tuition-free.

Requirements for consideration:

X Student must be a resident of Pennsylvania

X Student must have a weighted GPA of 3.0 or higher

X Student must have a total family annual income of $75,000 or less

Under the Westminster Advantage, all eligible Pennsylvania first-year and transfer students can attend Westminster College tuition-free for four years through

a combination of college, federal and state financial aid programs.

The Westminster Advantage bridges the gap between applied state and federal grants, including Pell Grants, and other scholarships and aid and the balance of Westminster’s tuition.

“We want more students to take advantage of the opportunities Westminster College has to offer,” said College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “The College has a long tradition of offering robust financial aid. This is just one more way we are making a Westminster education genuinely affordable.”

Students who fit the eligibility criteria will be automatically considered if they:

• Apply to Westminster as a full-time student

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 20252026 academic year

• Apply for a Pennsylvania State Grant through PHEAA for the 2025-2026 academic year

First-year and transfer students who enroll as new students for the 20252026 academic year may be eligible for a maximum of eight semesters, or four academic years, of the Westminster Advantage Scholarship.

Continued eligibility is determined annually when students apply for financial aid. Funding is only available for fall and spring semesters.

Trustee Farner ’85 installed as Board chair

The Board of Trustees installed a new chair, welcomed a returning member and re-elected three members for another term.

David Farner ’85, executive vice president and chief strategic and transformation officer for UPMC, was elected to a threeyear term as Board chair. He serves on the Board’s Executive Committee and is an ex officio member of all other committees.

Farner was first elected to the Board in 2012 and later served two subsequent terms.

Dr. Beth Eck ’85 returns to the Board after a one-year hiatus. Eck is the director of end-of-life doula services at Hospice of the Piedmont and is a professor emerita of sociology at James Madison University. She serves on the Board’s Educational Policy and Student Engagement committees.

The Board granted trustee emeritus status to Gary Brown ’71. Brown was first elected to the Board in 2005 and served four terms. During his tenure, he chaired the Athletic Advisory and Student Affairs committees and was vice chair of the Finance Committee. Brown is the CEO of Mount West Investments.

ANNUAL RANKINGS

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Westminster is one of the top best national liberal arts colleges in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges

2025 rankings. Westminster earned the 108 spot from a pool of 1,497 schools, as well as the number 14 slot on the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” list, which assesses how well schools graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants, a form of needbased federal financial aid. This is the sixth consecutive year Westminster has appeared in the Social Mobility Top 25 list.

WASHINGTON MONTHLY

Westminster continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s best, earning a top 100 spot among the Best Liberal

Arts Colleges list in Washington Monthly’s 2024 College Guide and Rankings. Coming in at number 79, Westminster is one of only two Western Pennsylvania colleges in the top 100. Westminster was also named a “Best Bang for the Buck College” in the Northeast region for helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

Current Board members Christian Carmody ’96, Tracy Stuck ’88 and Thomas Tupitza ’79 were all elected to second consecutive four-year terms.

Also elected were faculty associate trustees Dr. Jeffrey Bersett, chair of the faculty and professor of Spanish; Dr. Russell Martin, professor of history and chair of the Department of History, Philosophy and Religion; and Dr. Pamela Richardson, professor of mathematics.

Three student associate trustees were also elected: senior accounting major Gabrielle DiDolce, senior computer science and mathematics major Ian Herr and senior neuroscience major Ella Hildebrand

MONEY MAGAZINE

Westminster was named to Money magazine’s 2024 Best Colleges list, earning a three-star rating based on quality of education, affordability and future earning potential. Money’s analysis showcases the country’s top 745 colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more.

COLLEGES OF DISTINCTION

Westminster College has been named a 2024-2025 College of Distinction, recognized for offering a high-quality undergraduate education that focuses on experiential learning. Colleges of Distinction uses a rigorous selection process based on four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. Westminster also was named a Pennsylvania College of Distinction and was cited for excellence in its business, education and nursing programs.

Farner

Whitehead tapped as VP for enrollment

Following a nationwide search, Lana Whitehead was selected as vice president for enrollment management and will lead Westminster’s admissions and financial aid teams.

Whitehead served as a strategic enrollment management professional for the past 15 years, most recently as assistant vice president for lifelong learning at Kent State University, where she also was interim associate vice president for enrollment management, director of enrollment management strategic initiatives, assistant dean of graduate studies and director of graduate admissions.

Prior to her experience at Kent, Whitehead held various positions at Hiram College and Youngstown State University (YSU). Before her career in higher education, she spent 20 years as a business consultant and business systems analyst.

Whitehead earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and a master’s from YSU. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at Kent.

BANNER FUNDRAISING YEAR

$10M+ in donor support received last year

Westminster celebrated the most successful fundraising year in recent College history after receiving more than $10 million—including four gifts of $1 million or more—during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

While institutions of higher education across the country are facing serious challenges, more than 1,700 donors—alumni, students, parents, employees, friends and corporations—made contributions this year totaling $10.1 million in support of the College’s mission and vision by leaving legacy gifts, supporting key projects, contributing to the Westminster Fund or establishing endowed scholarships. This restricted and unrestricted giving total surpasses the $9 million record set in 2012.

“We are incredibly grateful for the phenomenal support and generosity shown by so many of our alumni and friends who have demonstrated a deep commitment to Westminster’s purpose and mission,” said President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson “Each gift is a testament to the transformative experience a Westminster education provides. Donor support enables Westminster to continue serving as a place where ideas and dreams can grow and flourish.”

Four specific gifts comprised more than half of the year’s giving total.

A $2.2 million undesignated gift from the estates of Frank Jones ’52 and his wife, Shirley, was used to fund necessary

renovations and repairs to the Westminster Natatorium. Mr. Jones died in 2021, while Mrs. Jones passed away in 2023.

The College received a $1 million undesignated bequest from Jere Stecklein ’73 Stecklein’s gift helped fund repairs in the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium in the Memorial Field House and some other critical systems repairs for the College. Stecklein passed away in 2023.

A $1 million estate gift from Fred Sullivan, a longtime donor to Westminster College who passed away in January, has helped fund the final phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project and to endow the Dietz Sullivan Biology Research Experience. The fund was established in memory of Sullivan’s wife, Carol (Dietz) Sullivan ’59

Alumni couple Will Maurer ’53 and his wife, Carol Jean (Young) Maurer ’62, provided more than $1 million for a lead challenge gift to inspire additional contributions toward the final phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project. The Maurers’ gift and additional challenge gifts received has been used to update the environmental science, computer science, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience and physics offices, labs and classrooms in the center.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, donors also had the opportunity to support various projects through two four-day crowdfunding campaigns.

Bridge dedicated in memory of former professor

In 1983, two Westminster science professors—Dr. Floyd Zehr, physics, and Dr. Clarence Harms, biology, took it upon themselves to construct a footbridge over Little Neshannock Creek.

Building the bridge—which connected main campus to the College's 50-acre Field Station east of Brittain Lake—was a complicated endeavor. But in the end, the structure stood for nearly 38 years and was crossed by countless students, employees and community members.

The project was a “labor of love,” Harms said when he returned to campus this fall to help dedicate a new footbridge—located not far from the original structure—named in memory of Zehr.

The new 75-foot Floyd J. Zehr Bridge, dedicated during Homecoming weekend, replaces the original pedestrian bridge

which closed in 2020 due to safety concerns. The bridge was made possible with gifts from Zehr’s widow, Pearl Zehr, and the estate of Robert Ross. Zehr, who passed away in 2014, taught at Westminster from 1965 to 2000.

Dr. Patrick Krantz, director of the College’s Outdoor Laboratory, said the financial contributions created not only a physical structure but a lasting legacy that will allow all those who use it to experience the transformative power of nature.

“The bridge symbolizes more than just an access point [to the Field Station], it represents a commitment to education and exploration,” Krantz said. “It’s a place for research, learning and tranquil reflection, and it enriches the academic and personal growth of our students and members of the community.”

Composed of fiberglass, the Zehr bridge was engineered to withstand flood conditions and is resistant to rot, rust or corrosion typically associated with wooden, steel or aluminum structures.

Academic Success office receives certification

The Office of Academic Success has been awarded certification as a Level 1 certified tutor training program by the internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).

Achieving certification means that the office has met CRLA’s high standards for tutor selection, training, direct service and evaluation as an integral part of their overall tutoring program.

Each year, the peer tutors in the Office of Academic Success must complete at least 10 hours of professional training, as well as a minimum of 25 hours of tutoring, in accordance with CRLA’s rigorous standards.

The 24-member peer tutor staff, under the direction of Ariel Junkin, peer tutor coordinator, provides course-specific support for all students, free of charge, in a variety of formats.

Zehr

Pearl Zehr, center, and Dr. Clarence Harms, second from right, stand before the newly dedicated Floyd J. Zehr Bridge following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also pictured, from left, are Vice President for Finance and Management Services Kenneth Romig ’85; Dr. Patrick Krantz, director of the Outdoor Laboratory; and College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.

Peer Tutor Coordinator Ariel Junkin, fourth from left, and Academic Success Director Jessica Shelenberger, fourth from right, gather with a group of peer tutors.

HENDERSON LECTURER

Summer Zickefoose, associate professor of visual art and this year’s Henderson Lectureship Award winner, discusses “Acts of Care in Contemporary Art” during the annual fall lecture in October. Zickefoose shared an historical exploration of how acts of care inform and are expressed through visual art. She explained that time, labor and the inherent qualities of an art medium offer additional ways to understand the practice of care. The lecture also extended deeper scholarly research for the creative studio process of building sculptural objects, not as justification or to explain, but to acknowledge the interconnected ideas and practices of generations of artists.

Meet Westminster’s newest faculty members

The School of Education and the School of Music each added two new faculty members to their teaching rosters this academic year. The new faculty members are:

Dr. Emily Mazzant, assistant professor of special education. She completed her doctorate in special education and teaching at Slippery Rock University and holds a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner certification from Drexel University. She teaches courses in behavior management and high- and low-incidence strategies and provides observation and assessment for PreK-12 students.

Kristen Czubiak M’11, lecturer of curriculum and instruction. A public school administrator and educator for more than 30 years, she graduated from Grove City College with a degree in elementary education and earned a master’s and a K-12 principal certification from Westminster. She teaches courses in educational psychology, educational foundations and general education methods.

Aaron Himes, instructor of music, director of bands and coordinator of music education. He holds a master’s in music performance from the University of North Texas and is a doctoral candidate in music education at Northwestern University. In addition to directing the Titan Marching Band, the Symphonic Band and the Wind Ensemble, Himes teaches courses in music education and instrumental conducting.

JaKobe Henry, hired as a teaching fellow, has been named assistant professor of music, effective Jan. 1. He earned a master’s degree in classical trumpet performance and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he is pursuing his doctorate in jazz performance. Henry—who joined the faculty through the Diversity Teaching Fellows Program—directs the Jazz Ensemble and Trumpet Ensemble and teaches curriculum within the College’s First-Year Program.

Czubiak Himes Henry Mazzant

Students get real-world opportunities to grow the region

Westminster was selected as one of 16 Appalachian colleges and universities to participate in the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) this fall. With a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Westminster students have been conducting a feasibility study for the development of a shop featuring Amish goods and works by local artists and artisans.

Under the mentorship of Eric Gaber, director of the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC), and Dr. Helen Boylan, faculty fellow for community engagement, 27 WEC students enrolled in an entrepreneurship practicum course are currently working with the New Wilmington Economic Development Committee, the New Wilmington Area Business Association and Forward Lawrence.

“At the WEC, we strive to afford students real-world situational analysis with projects just like this one,” said Gaber. Some of the work students are conducting include primary and secondary market research, competitive analysis, financial modeling and developing a prospective business plan for the venture that would be based in New Wilmington’s business district.

Students will present their work to other students, ARC leadership and Appalachian community leaders at the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative Capstone Symposium in Washington, D.C. in December.

Campus chaplain blazing the way

The Rev. James Mohr, College chaplain and director of church relations, was named one of Pennsylvania’s trailblazers in the field of education. City & State Pennsylvania magazine’s “2024 Trailblazers in Higher Education” included Mohr in the list that honors influential leaders in academia statewide.

Confronted with a changing economic, social and technological landscape, the leaders named in City & State’s list of trailblazers have responded with innovative programming, outreach both tangible and virtual and, in some cases, restructuring to accommodate the ambitions of a new generation.

Mohr, who joined Westminster in 2003, has guided the ministry’s evolution to meet contemporary campus needs. He helped develop a student food pantry in response to food insecurity—leading Westminster to be named a Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus— and a lending library to help with rising book costs. Mohr has also led students on experiential service trips in the U.S. and abroad.

Mohr also helped establish the College’s Student Emergency Fund, which provides financial support to Westminster students when they need help the most: in times of emergency. Acting as a strategic reserve, the fund helps students facing unforeseen adversities and financial setbacks continue their Westminster educations.

“I refer to it as the ‘Hope Fund’ because it helps provide hope to students who may have given up all hope to stay at Westminster,” said Mohr.

Travel program blends theory, field-based experiences

The College successfully launched a new domestic travel initiative, Westminster Away, last spring and plans are currently under way for another trip in spring 2025.

Designed to enhance academic learning through immersive travel experiences, Westminster Away kicked off with a weeklong trip to New England in May as part of the spring cluster course, The Birds and the Bees.

The course—taught by Dr. Kerri Duerr, associate professor of biology and director of the Harms Center for the Environment (CFE), and Dr. Patrick Krantz, associate professor of environmental science and director of Westminster’s Outdoor Laboratory—offered a comprehensive exploration of avian and pollinator ecology, blending theoretical with practical field-based experiences. The trip allowed students to see conservation practices in action, enriching their classroom learning through real-world encounters.

The 14 students and two faculty members spent their week visiting working farms and parks in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and Green Mountain National Forest in addition to New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. They also gained insights into apiary management and the importance of pollinators for agriculture at the University of Vermont Horticulture Research and Education Center.

Students practiced banding birds to monitor populations at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington, Vt.

One highlight of the trip was a visit to the 80-acre Geprags Community Park in Hinesburg, Vt., where students focused on shrubland management for golden-winged warblers. At Isham Family Farm in Williston, Vt., students learned about Audubon’s bird-friendly maple program.

“Visiting Isham Farm and observing a scarlet tanager in the field—especially since it’s the ‘mascot’ for the maple program— was incredible . It changed my perspective on bird conservation and the practical aspects of sustainable practices,” said McKenzie Means, a junior political science major from Meadville, Pa.

Students also navigated through the Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s Forest Canopy Walk, where they viewed the landscape 100 feet above the forest floor to witness birds and animals within their environment at a closer level.

“The CFE’s mission aligns perfectly with an experiential learning travel course by fostering deep connections between participants and the natural world through hands-on, immersive experiences,” said Krantz. “By engaging students in real-world environmental challenges, the course cultivates an understanding of how ecosystems function and the human impact on them.”

Luisi gets opportunity to use most powerful space telescope

T. he James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful space telescope currently in existence, has awarded 5.1 hours of observation time to a team of researchers that includes Assistant Professor of Physics and Planetarium Director Dr. Matteo Luisi

The team will observe ionized gas in the galaxy with their observation time, which is valued at roughly $870,000.

According to Luisi, a co-investigator on the team, only one in nine proposals to use the JWST are accepted for observations to be carried out.

“The fact that our proposal was accepted shows that our proposed research will likely yield exciting science results and will be useful to the community,” said Luisi.

Observations obtained from using the JWST will help Luisi and his team gain a

greater knowledge of the space between stars and other objects known as the “interstellar medium” of our galaxy.

In addition to the JWST observations, the team will conduct radio observations with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT).

“Our observations will enable us to deeply probe the interstellar medium and increase our understanding of a mysterious component of our galaxy,” said Luisi.

At left, Nydia Johnson ’26, a junior neuroscience major from Willow Grove, Pa., gets up close with a mourning warbler. // At right, students and faculty participate in the Westminster Away program.

Westminster, University of Sunderland students participate in international exchange program

Westminster College has a long-standing tradition of giving students real-world experiences outside of the classroom through travel opportunities, and this year, the College’s Office of Global Engagement and the University of Sunderland in England developed a unique program to benefit students from both institutions.

In January, 10 Westminster students traveled to England with Dr. Shannon Smithey, professor of political science, for a semester-long adventure, and a few months later, eight Sunderland students arrived at Westminster for a four-week stay.

“Studying abroad is so enriching,” said Smithey. “You know before you go that there will be discoveries, that there will be new places and new people that you meet through travel. But you’re also going to learn things about yourself, how capable you are and what really matters to you.”

Across the pond, Westminster students lived on the University of Sunderland’s campus and could choose from a variety of classes offered by Sunderland to fit with their specific majors. As part of the program, they were required to take at least one class taught by Smithey—she offered courses in political ideology and criminal justice—and one led by a Sunderland faculty member.

They explored England, including Nottingham, where they toured the National Justice Museum and the Robin Hood exhibition. In London, they visited iconic landmarks including the Tower of London and the Inns of Court. They also visited Lanark and Edinburgh in Scotland.

“Studying abroad was wonderful. I got to see parts of the world that I never thought I would have otherwise. It was a very eye-opening and humbling experience,” said Kaydin Brown, a sophomore business administration major from Youngstown, Ohio.

In late summer, eight students from Sunderland’s sports and business programs journeyed to Westminster to take part in a four-week management placement program with Westminster’s athletic teams.

Working closely with the coaching staff in football, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer, students worked to develop their knowledge and understanding of sports management, giving them hands-on experience to help bolster employability.

“The sports management professors were flexible and considerate of our diverse backgrounds, helping me gain valuable skills different from my studies in the United Kingdom,” said Etochi Aghamelu of Manchester, England.

“I’ve always wanted to live the ‘American dream.’ So, when I got informed that I would have the opportunity to be in the

United States for a summer program, I was literally crying from happiness,” said Konstantinos Vlogiaris, a psychology major from Peloponnese, Greece.

Westminster faculty members and administrators took the Sunderland students on excursions around Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. They explored downtown Pittsburgh, ate at the famous Primanti Bros. restaurant, took in the views of the Pittsburgh skyline while riding the Duquesne Incline, attended a Pirates baseball game and enjoyed a traditional game of bowling. They also visited the Cleveland Zoo and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Sunderland program was offered to all academicallyeligible Westminster students. Eligible students received a scholarship through the Austin P. Cooley Endowed Fund, which provides funding to students studying abroad.

“Studying in Sunderland truly was a life-changing experience,” said Alexa Tovarnak, a junior business administration and fine arts major from Campbell, Ohio. “The opportunity allowed me to discover a new sense of independence and confidence within myself. The trip showed me that the world is vast and opportunities are truly endless.”

~ Kristen L. Aleprete

At left, Westminster students in London during their semester-long study abroad experience at the University of Sunderland. // At right, a group of Sunderland students takes in a Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park.

TUPGRADES & IMPROVEMENTS

Summer campus projects enhance student experience

he College invested more than $6 million in campus improvements over the summer, making upgrades to academic, athletic and recreational spaces.

“We continue to invest in the campus learning and living environment so that our students and employees can have the resources and spaces needed for outstanding educational experiences,” said College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “We are grateful for the support from our donors that is making these improvements possible.”

All told, the projects represent almost $6.3 million in campus upgrades, continuing the more than $50 million invested in campus improvements since 2016.

Renovations to the Westminster Natatorium, home of the Titan swimming and diving program, were completed in September, ending a year-long pool closure. The pool closed in November 2023 for emergency repairs to the pool’s mechanical room. In addition to addressing those necessary repairs and replacing pumps and filters, the pool—which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025—was also replastered and lane lines were tiled. Lighting and the spectator viewing area were also upgraded.

Opposite page, the Westminster Natatorium receives necessary upgrades. // Above, the finished look of the basketball court and bleachers. // At right, top, the new campus greenhouse. // At right, bottom, the new gas fire pit outside Eichenauer Hall.

Also on the athletics side, other athletic improvements include replacement of the floorboards of the Ron Galbreath Court and the wooden bleachers in the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium were replaced.

McKelvey Campus Center is now the home to the new Student Success Center, which brings together the TRIO Student Support Services program, the Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement, the Office of Academic Success and the Office of Disability Resources. This one-stop shop is available to help students with tutoring, academic coaching, support for living and learning with various disabilities and other services.

The first floor of Old Main—the campus’ hallmark building— now houses the Office of the Registrar, the central office for student course scheduling and registration, transcript processing, transfer credit evaluations and more. The All-College Honors Lounge—a space for honors students to gather, socialize and study—has also relocated to the first floor of Old Main.

For students seeking Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees at Westminster, they will now be able to train in the new highfidelity nursing simulation lab on the second floor of Hoyt Science Center (see more on page 3). One level down, students can find the Clarence and Mary Ann Harms Center for the Environment, home to the College's environmental science and environmental studies programs.

The center features faculty offices, gathering areas and collaborative learning spaces for students interested in promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. The center also offers a connection to the new campus greenhouse, also named for Professor of Biology Emeritus Dr. Clarence Harms and his late wife Mary Ann Harms ’79

Other work over the summer included:

• Installation of a permanent gas fire pit and benches outside of Eichenauer Hall. The gathering space overlooks the UPMC Sports Complex’s soccer and lacrosse field.

• Expansion of the Marge Walker Center in Old 77. Used for student fitness and recreation, the center now features additional free weights and weight machines, as well as upgraded fitness equipment.

• Technology upgrades and addition of a showcase wall in a School of Business classroom located in Thompson-Clark Hall.

• Refreshing the Titan Club dining area with reupholstered booths, new flooring and added food service venues. Galbreath Dining will be upgraded over winter break.

Lab stations in the physics lab in Hoyt Science Center are also being replaced with modern stations. Work is expected to be completed in January 2025.

TITAN PROFILE

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Lifelong friends Michael Caimona ’95 and Timothy Richardson ’95 advancing the future of flight

By VALENTINE BRKICH ’97

When Mike Caimona ’95 and Tim Richardson ’95 were hanging out at the Theta Chi house back in the early 1990s, the first robot vacuum cleaners were almost a decade away. Now the two lifelong friends are building flying robots—experimental aircrafts—for partners like NASA and the US government and military.

“The world’s changed quite a bit since we left New Wilmington,” said Caimona.

Caimona is the president/CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences— an aviation and aeronautics research subsidiary of Boeing that conducts early-stage research in aviation technology and builds prototypes to advance the future of flight.

Tim Richardson ’95, left, and Mike Caimona ’95

“MANY TECHNOLOGISTS NEED TO LEARN THESE THINGS ON THE JOB. THANKS TO WESTMINSTER, I HAD A LEG UP.”

Richardson serves as Aurora’s chief data officer. Based in Manassas, Va., the company has several ongoing airplane development programs, most of which are autonomous aircraft. They also manufacture X-planes, aircraft for Boeing and parts of airplanes for several customers.

“Our work truly advances the future of flight,” Caimona said. “I don’t think I’ve ever worked with more brilliant or creative people.”

Richardson and Caimona, both natives of New Castle, Pa., have been friends since the fifth grade. Richardson initially attended Youngstown State but found himself spending most of his time with Caimona at Westminster.

“After a year or so, it just made sense for me to transfer,” said Richardson.

Richardson was undecided early on at Westminster and took Intro to Economics as part of his required course load.

“I found I had a real affinity for it,” he said. “It was almost like economics chose me.”

Caimona was originally enrolled in Westminster’s Engineering 3-2 program. He then briefly considered psychology before migrating back to mathematics.

“I always enjoyed mathematics and other hard sciences,” he said. “Studying math trains you to think critically. It was a challenging course of study, but I loved it.”

After college, Richardson pursued a career in information technology (IT) and found he could directly apply much of what he’d learned at Westminster—systemlevel thinking, cost-benefit analysis and optimization—to his daily work.

“In addition to being able to apply the principles of economics in the technology space, these critical skills have enabled me to turn good ideas into

— TIM RICHARDSON

workable technology solutions,” said Richardson. “Many technologists need to learn these things on the job. Thanks to Westminster, I had a leg up.”

During his senior year at Westminster, Caimona was accepted to law school and was considering a career as a lawyer, but he felt the U.S. Navy was his true calling. Caimona enlisted and left for basic training after graduation. He quickly climbed the ranks, going from enlisted intelligence specialist to senior intelligence officer.

leadership approach, and it taught me a lot about different technologies,” he said.

After 10 years of service, Caimona made the difficult decision to resign his commission to help found Kestrel, a data analytics company. At the time, Richardson was working as manager of IT operations for Prologue Research in Columbus, Ohio. The two had always stayed connected, and Caimona knew Richardson would be a perfect fit for Kestrel.

“I remember calling Tim and recruiting him,” said Caimona. “Because of the

“I called on my education often during my time in the Navy,” said Caimona, “especially for more technical areas of my tradecraft.”

Early on, Caimona focused on electronic warfare, electronic intelligence and other signals intelligence. Later, he served on a fast-attack submarine, which required him to have a comprehensive understanding of every system.

“It was a formative period that was very impactful in the development of my

nature of the job, I couldn’t tell him much. He took a massive leap of faith to join a year later. We grew as leaders at Kestrel, traveled the world, learned how to be executives and had a blast doing it.”

After that, both Richardson and Caimona continued with Boeing—which acquired Kestrel in 2008—working in various leadership positions. Richardson then went on to work as chief technology officer for the startup Govini and senior vice president for data for the online

Above, Mike Caimona ’95 and Tim Richardson ’95 at their five-year class reunion.

“I CALLED ON MY EDUCATION OFTEN DURING MY TIME IN THE NAVY, ESPECIALLY FOR MORE TECHNICAL AREAS OF MY TRADECRAFT.”

— MICHAEL CAIMONA

gaming platform FanDuel. Caimona started with Aurora in 2020 as chief commercial officer and two years later was named CEO. Eventually, he called on Richardson to join him.

Today, the two are working to advance the future of aeronautics by developing and applying innovations in aircraft design, autonomous flight, propulsion tech and manufacturing processes.

“This is a great time to be at Aurora,” said Caimona. “Many of our development programs are in the final stage where we are building out the prototype, and we will be conducting several first flights in the coming year. I am also excited with the growth we are seeing in our manufacturing business.”

“Warrior Music provides help to veterans and their families who take comfort in the healing power of music to lighten their burden, even if it’s just a small amount.”

When it comes to career advice for current students, Caimona and Richardson believe that having passion and a willingness to take chances can make all the difference.

“My life has been a series of pop-up opportunities or ideas that came out of nowhere,” Caimona said. “The key is I was always willing to make a pivot. It’s important to have goals, but you don’t want to box yourself in. I don’t know of many examples where people took a chance and later regretted the decision.”

A couple of aircrafts Aurora is currently working on, including the NASA X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, left, and the DARPA SPRINT, right.

“Every day I have the privilege to work with some of the smartest people on the planet,” said Richardson. “Learning from each other and working together to make each of us—our teams, the company and the world—better is a truly humbling experience.”

Caimona and Richardson are also involved in philanthropy through Warrior Music Foundation, which Caimona founded in 2017, with the goal of eliminating suicide among veterans. The foundation offers music therapy and music lessons to active-duty military, veterans and their families. Richardson serves on the Board of Directors.

“This is a massive problem in the military community,” said Caimona. “I wanted to leverage my music roots and connections and bring those tools to the fight. We are seeing amazing results every day. We know we are saving lives.”

“I am proud to do anything I can to ease the chronic suffering caused by post-traumatic stress,” Richardson said.

“Early in your career,” added Richardson, “spend some time discovering what you are truly passionate about. Whatever it is — technology, people, causes, industry — find a way to weave that into your career. If you do this, you may head in an unexpected direction, but it will be one that leads toward fulfillment and excellence.”

As for Aurora, both are proud of their work and excited for the future of flight.

“I love when our young engineers have an idea that we get to build and fly,” said Caimona. “We find a way to fund an early study and then work with partners to do a conceptual and preliminary design.”

Richardson shares Caimona’s enthusiasm. “We started flying 120 years ago. It only took us 66 years to fly to the moon. Forty-three years after that, Voyager 1 left the solar system. Wherever the future of flight is going, I’m just happy to be along for the ride.” S

TITAN PROFILE

THE PROBLEM SOLVER BRYAN BISCHOF ’08

By VALENTINE BRKICH ’97

Bryan Bischof ’08 likes a good challenge. He’s walked over 99 percent of the streets in his town of Berkeley, Calif. He’s figured out the shortest cycling route to scale the top 100 climbs in the continental US. He’s even cataloged every piece of clothing he owns—you know, just for the fun of it.

“I enjoy having goals,” said Bischof. “I find it interesting to explore classifying and categorization, and I love completionist escapades. It’s satisfying to try it all.”

When he’s not thinking up new side-quests, Bischof serves as Head of AI, at Hex—a San Francisco-based startup focused on data and artificial intelligence (AI). The company’s main product (also called Hex) empowers users to explore, analyze, and share data more effectively.

“Hex is a piece of software that helps people perform data analysis quickly and reproducibly,” said Bischof. “My team integrates large language models—like ChatGPT—into the software so that data analysts can do their work a hundred times faster and with 1/100th the tedium.”

Bischof is also the founder of QuasiCoherent Labs (QCoh), a small research consultancy focused on technical problem-solving.

“QCoh is a group of my friends who collaborate on fun sideprojects that sometimes are paid,” he said. “We’re a team of problem solvers who use mathematical, qualitative, and data science approaches to resolve a variety of challenges.”

It was through QCoh that Bischof collaborated on the data analysis and data visualization for a book called The Day It Finally Happens: Alien Contact, Dinosaur Parks, Immortal Humans—and Other Possible Phenomena (2019) by Mike Pearl, a dark but fun look at some potential futures.

“WESTMINSTER GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO START DABBLING WITH RESEARCH MATHEMATICS.”

— BRYAN BISCHOF

In December 2023, Bischof published his first book, Building Recommendation Systems in Python and JAX, in which he and co-author Hector Yee demonstrate how to create recommendation systems for any industry or scale. He is also an adjunct professor for Rutgers University, where he teaches the master’s-level Fundamentals of Data Science courses for the Master of Business and Analytics program.

“Back in 2017, Dr. Christie (Grewe) Nelson ’06 asked me to give an ad hoc lecture [at Rutgers],” said Bischof. “Eventually, she asked if I wanted to come on permanently. I love teaching mathematical concepts, so I felt very fortunate for the opportunity.”

In this role, he sometimes advises the program’s externship projects, which allow students to collaborate with industry leaders for semester-long projects in data science and analytics.

Bischof started out studying physics at Westminster, but switched to mathematics in his sophomore year following a noteworthy experience in Advanced Mechanics. The class featured a course-long project in which he computed the relative velocities of an infinite number of weights connected via pulleys—the so-called Atwood’s Machine.

“After presenting,” said Bischof, “my math professor told me how much she loved it. On the contrary, my physics professor told me how it wasn’t interesting from a physics perspective. This was a clear indication that what I really loved was math.”

Bischof went on to take high-level classes in philosophy, mathematics, statistics, computer science and physics, all of which exposed him to deep ideas and opportunities for research.

“Westminster gave me the opportunity to start dabbling with research mathematics,” said Bischof. “I wrote papers and worked on undergrad mathematics research projects with support from the Drinko Center. In particular, my curiosity was supported, and this has become

the standout asset I bring to my career and work.”

After graduating, he went on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Kansas State University.

Bischof says what he loves most about his work is solving problems. He built the first recommendation system for “fancy” coffee while he was the lead software engineer for Blue Bottle Coffee. He also enjoys collaborating with others.

“If you ask me to do it alone it’s not nearly as fun,” said Bischof. “Partnering with others or coaching them to solve a problem feels infinitely more rewarding.”

When it comes to the future of AI, Bischof said he’s most excited about reducing the gap between imagination and reality.

“As someone who has lots of ideas, but not always the skills necessary, AI lets me very quickly get closer to reality with those ideas. I hate not knowing if an idea is good because the investment to test the hypothesis is so large. AI can break down that barrier,” he said.

For current students trying to find the right career path, Bischof says it’s important to try different things.

“Explore,” he said. “The world is big— intellectually, geographically, emotionally. It’s rare that the first thing you try is the best match. Believe it or not, there’s a mathematical theory to optimal matching that applies to things like picking a job or even friends. It says that if you reject the first 61 percent of the potential options and then choose the next best option, you’re at the highest likelihood to maximize your match score.”

Unfortunately, he added, we can’t run our lives like a mathematical game.

“You have to settle for an approximation,” said Bischof. “Explore a lot up front. Expose yourself to a ton of data to inform the best possible ideas of what may be a good match for you.” S

ATHLETICS

TITAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Five inducted into Class of 2024

Five former Westminster athletic standouts joined the Titan Sports Hall of Fame in September. The Class of 2024 members were formally inducted at a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 13.

Matt Baurle ’16, Swimming & Diving

A four-time First Team All-PAC selection who was voted the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Swimmer of the Year in 2016, Matt Baurle ’16 claimed All-American honors at the 2013 NCAA Division III Championships after registering an eighth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. He was also named an Honorable Mention All-American at the 2016 Division III Championships after finishing 15th in the 200 breaststroke. Baurle owns the most individual conference titles of any male swimmer in program history (eight), winning the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke at four-straight PAC Championships. He was also a four-time conference champion while swimming breaststroke on the 200 medley relay and three-time champion while swimming breaststroke on the 400 medley relay. His preliminary times of 55.61 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:01.57 in the 200 breaststroke at the 2016 PAC Championships remain conference meet records. In total, Baurle recorded 15 PAC titles and played a key part during Westminster’s run to three-straight PAC Championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He holds individual school records in the 100 breaststroke (55.61) and 200 breaststroke (2:01.57) and swam breaststroke on the school-record 200 medley (1:32.30) and 400 medley (3:22.54) relays.

Amy Dolsak ’10, Basketball

Amy Dolsak ’10, a two-time All-PAC selection and team captain during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, finished her career with 944 points, currently the 11th-most in program history, and 143 made three-pointers, the fifth most among the program’s all-time leaders. She was part of three teams that advanced to the title game of the PAC Championship Tournament. As a senior, Dolsak was named Second Team All-PAC. Westminster, the No. 4 seed in the 2009-10 PAC Championship Tournament, moved on to the title game with a four-point first round win over No. 5 Waynesburg University (55-51) and a three-point upset victory over secondseeded Washington & Jefferson College (64-61). Dolsak finished with 12 points against the Yellow Jackets and bucketed a gamehigh 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Presidents, which entered the game ranked No. 17 in Division III. She scored 17 points in the championship game loss to top-seeded and 16th-ranked Thomas More College. Dolsak finished the year second in the league in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game, and drilled a conference-high 60 three-pointers, which currently rank as the second-most in a single season in program history. Dolsak, was a PAC Academic Honor Roll designee in 2009 and 2010.

Kathy (Travers) Fehrs ’85, Softball & Tennis

A four-year letter winner at third base, Kathy (Travers) Fehrs ’85 was a part of three district championship teams, one regional title team and a national tournament qualifier. She was a member of Westminster’s 1983 championship team, which recently

The Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, from left, are Matt Baurle '16, Amy Dolsak ’10, Kathy (Travers) Fehrs ’85, Ben Gutmann ’10, Jenny (Krueger) Quimby '12.

celebrated the 40th anniversary of the program’s first-ever trip to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament. The 1983 team, which went 17-6 overall and 6-1 in conference play, captured NAIA District 18 and Women’s Keystone Conference (WKC) titles. Back-to-back home wins over Davis & Elkins College in the Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia District 18-District 28 Bi-District Championship secured Westminster’s spot in the national tournament. The team traveled to Kearney, Neb., for the NAIA National Championship, which was hosted by the University of Nebraska at Kearney and played at Harvey Park. Fehrs hit .405 and set then-program records in home runs (three), triples (four), RBIs (21) and sacrifice hits (seven) as a senior when she was named First Team All-District 18 and First Team All-WKC. Fehrs helped Westminster claim back to-back District 18 women’s tennis titles as a junior and senior. She partnered with Becky Gladden ‘85 to finish 6-2 at No. 3 doubles, securing Second Team All-WKC, and went 7-2 at No. 6 singles, also earning Second Team All-WKC. Fehrs was inducted as a member

of the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame Class of 1994.

Ben Gutmann ’10, Swimming & Diving

Ben Gutmann ’10, the 2010 PAC Swimmer of the Year, earned All-American honors in the 200 breaststroke at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships after posting a sixth-place finish with a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 02.31 seconds. He was also named an Honorable Mention All-American in the 100 breaststroke in 2010. A First Team All-PAC selection in 2009 and 2010, Gutmann captured both breaststroke titles in 2010 after winning the 100 breaststroke in 2009. His winning 200 breaststroke time of 2:03.47 was an NCAA A-cut qualifying time along with a school, conference and pool record. As a freshman in 2007, Gutmann scored a fourth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke to help Westminster win its fifth-straight PAC title. In 2008, he was the runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and finished third in both the 200 breaststroke and 400 individual medley. In 2009, Gutmann added a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke and a third-place finish in the

400 individual medley. During the 2010 championships he swam breaststroke on the second-place 400 medley relay and finished third in the 400 individual medley.

Jenny (Krueger) Quimby ’12, Cross Country, Track & Field

Jenny (Krueger) Quimby ’12 established four program records—three of which still remain—during her time at Westminster. A three-time First Team All-PAC cross country performer, Quimby finished sixth in 2010 and 2011 after posting a seventh-place finish in 2009. She was a top-100 individual finisher at three-straight NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships, registering a career-best 72nd-place finish in 2011. She set the program’s five-kilometer record in 2011 with a time of 19:02 and runner-up finish at the Penn State Behrend Invitational, breaking Amy Kepple’s ‘90 school-record time of 19:48. In 2012 she established program records in both the 3000-meter steeplechase and the 10,000-meter run. She also scored PAC Championship runner-up finishes in the steeplechase in 2010 and in the 10,000 in 2011.

Frey, Slobodnyak named to head coaching positions

Two new head coaches have been added to Westminster’s athletic coaching staff. Michael Frey will lead the men’s and women’s tennis teams, while alumna Todd Slobodnyak ’12 will take the helm of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving program.

Frey spent six years as a volunteer assistant coach for the Grove City High School girl’s tennis program, which advanced to the District 10 AA semifinals last fall. He developed individualized training programs, conducted skills assessments and educated players on game strategies and rules while also leading practice sessions and drills to aid in player development.

Frey recently retired as lead pastor after 10 years at the Fellowship Community Church in Grove City. He also spent over 20 years coaching college student leaders as a part of Campus Crusade for Christ International (Cru).

Frey is a 1991 graduate of Wright State University.

Slobodnyak, a two-time Titan swim team captain, has returned to his alma mater as head coach.

Slobodnyak spent the last eight years as head swimming coach at Cranberry Township’s Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA. He was instrumental in establishing the RESY Riptide club program in 2016, which has grown into one of Western Pennsylvania’s

premier programs. He has produced 12 national qualifiers and nearly a dozen swimmers competing across all three NCAA divisions.

In 2017, he also took over as head coach with the high school programs at Mars High School and North Catholic High School. Eleven of his swimmers have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Championships. He also served as the head swimming coach at the Sampson Family YMCA in Plum while coaching under Shawn Haupt ’02 at Plum High School in 2012 and 2013.

As a student Slobodnyak also was twice named to the Second Team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

HOMECOMING 2024

From left, Jessa Kinter and Tony Cicchino are crowned the 2024 Homecoming Queen and King. // Titan football players get into the Homecoming spirit. // John ’74 and Barbara (Byrd ’75) Whitehead wearing original Titan letterman jacket and cheerleading sweater.

WESTMINSTER ALUMNI RETURNED TO MOTHER FAIR TO CELEBRATE HOMECOMING & REUNION WEEKEND ON OCT. 18-19. THE WEEKEND BUZZED WITH ACTIVITY AND EXCITEMENT AS ALUMNI, FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS RECONNECTED AND REMINISCED. FOR MANY, IT WAS A NOSTALGIC RETURN TO THE PLACE WHERE LASTING CONNECTIONS WERE FORMED, REMINDING EVERYONE OF WESTMINSTER’S ROLE IN SHAPING THEIR LIVES AND THE TITAN PRIDE THEY CARRY LONG AFTER GRADUATION.

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM HOMECOMING WEEKEND, SCAN THE QR CODE AT THE RIGHT. X

HOMECOMING 2024

ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

Five Titans lauded during Homecoming

Westminster Alumni Award Citations and the Young Alumni Award are presented annually to those alumni who have made significant contributions, achieved success and served their communities well.

This year’s honorees made their marks in various fields— business, sales, the sciences, education—but each started out at the same place: Mother Fair. From the inspirational and empowering liberal arts education to the relationships they formed, skills they developed and new experiences they gained, their years at Westminster were foundational and life changing.

As a somewhat unsure first-generation college student, Dr. Helen Boylan-Funari ’95 was grateful for the smooth transition and opportunities Westminster provided for her.

“I was able to become a leader in areas where I excelled and test out the waters in areas outside my comfort zone,” she said. “I felt simultaneously supported and challenged by faculty members. Ultimately, the faculty challenged me to consider and try to tackle big questions, and I’m still doing that today.“

“The education I received at Westminster provided a solid foundation for my career,” said Courtney Behm ’01. “With my business degree, I was able to join Gilbane Building Company immediately after graduation and be a valuable contributor to the company from the first day. Westminster instilled in me a growth mindset, encouraging me to be a continuous learner and to be openminded to new challenges and opportunities that came my way.”

Aside from what he learned in the classroom, Dennis Schotsch ’75 said Westminster was where he learned the importance of making connections and building relationships.

“I have come to treasure the lifelong friendships made while a student and for the many connections made since that time. The opportunities provided by serving on Alumni Council, as well as the many other volunteer options, has deepened my commitment to continue to be involved in campus events,” he said.

Current senior and soon-to-be alumna Gia Francisco ’25 said she is grateful for the relationships she has built and the guidance she has received.

“My advisers and professors have presented me with different opportunities I would have never thought possible. They have given me the confidence and tools to look into the future and grow my professional network,” she said.

“The best thing about Westminster is its people,” said BoylanFunari. “That was true when I was a student, and it’s still true today. It’s the relationships that are built in the dorm, in the classroom, in the lab, in the field, on the court, etc. You build relationships with the people—faculty, staff and fellow students— that inspire you, support you, challenge you and make you laugh. These relationships define your college experience and help make you the person you are.”

Westminster presented Alumni Award Citations, the Young Alumni Award and the Rising Titan Award as part of the 2024 Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Alumni who graduated within the past 10 years and are making significant contributions as they build careers and serve their communities or the College

Justin Wilson ’18, who holds a degree in broadcast communications from Westminster, is the senior premier digital sales representative at ADP. Wilson frequently participates in Westminster’s annual Professional Networking Symposium, offering his time and experience to mentor students interested in careers in sales. While attending Westminster, Wilson was a member of the football team and was involved in the Tiny House Project. He resides in Monaca, Pa., where he serves on the Monaca Borough Council.

President Richardson, left, with this year’s award winners, from left, Gia Francisco ’25, Courtney Behm ’01, Justin Wilson ’18, Helen BoylanFunari ’95 and Dennis Schotsch ’75.

ALUMNI CITATION AWARDS

Courtney Behm ’01 is the vice president and director for the Global Sales and Marketing Services (GSMS) department of Gilbane Building Company in New York City. Starting her career in Gilbane’s Cleveland Office, Behm cofounded the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland, providing high school students mentoring in architecture, construction and engineering. She has served with various industry organizations and is an active member of the NYC chapter of Professional Women in Construction (PWC). As a student, she was a member of the women’s softball team, a manager for the women’s basketball team and was a photographer for The Holcad. She served as a Westminster College Alumni Council member from 2018 to 2022 and participates in professional networking opportunities. After receiving her bachelor’s in business administration from Westminster, she earned her MBA from Cleveland State University and is a certified professional services marketer.

Helen Boylan-Funari ’95 is in her 23rd year as a Westminster faculty member. A professor of chemistry and environmental science, she also serves as the faculty fellow for community engagement. She is a consistent supporter of various student-facing projects and is passionate about empowering young people to make a difference in their communities. Active in the community, she is a member of the Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare Board of Directors and New Wilmington’s EDCOM Amphitheater Committee. She is an organizing committee member of Pittcon, an international laboratory science conference, and is actively involved in the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. While a student, Boylan-Funari was a member of the volleyball team, was a part of chapel drama and served as a physics tutor. After graduating from Westminster in 1995, she earned her Ph.D. in analytical/environmental chemistry from Duquesne University.

RISING TITAN AWARD

Dennis Schotsch ’75 has been a dedicated Westminster alumnus for decades. He has given back to his alma mater in myriad ways, having served a number of terms on Alumni Council and has volunteering at events such as Commencement, Homecoming, Celebrity Series’ performances, the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration, the Professional Networking Symposium and Accepted Students Days. He is a member of the Westminster College Legacy Society, the Westminster 1852 Society and has established an academic scholarship fund. A retired senior business analyst for FirstEnergy, he served 40 years in financial accounting and customer services areas of the business. While attending Westminster, Schotsch was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the business and economics honorary. Schotsch earned a degree in business administration from Westminster in 1975.

Honoring up-and-coming students who showcase the ability to be leading alumni

Gia Francisco ’25, a senior honors student from Canfield, Ohio, is business administration, professional sales and marketing, and sports management triple major. She is a member of the women’s tennis team, is editor-in-chief of The Holcad student newspaper and is a student writer in Westminster’s Office of Marketing and Communications. She is actively involved in the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center, The Fellows Program, Zeta Tau Alpha and the Sports Promotion Club. During the summer of 2024, she completed an internship in event management at Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, N.C. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career in sports and event management.

HOMECOMING 2024

Reunited and it feels so good.

EACH YEAR, ANNIVERSARY CLASSES AND CLUSTERS ARE INVITED TO GATHER FOR A REUNION PHOTO. IT’S A GREAT TIME TO MEET FRIENDS, CATCH UP AND REMINISCE BEFORE HEADING TO THE FOOTBALL GAME. IF YOUR REUNION YEAR IS NEXT YEAR, MAKE PLANS WITH YOUR CLASSMATES TO ATTEND!

CLASS OF 1974

FOR MORE CLASS REUNION PHOTOS, SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW. q

50th ANNIVERSARY | Members of the Class of 1974 celebrated their Golden Anniversary at this year’s Homecoming. Members of the Class of 1974 celebrated their Golden Anniversary at this year’s Homecoming. Front row: Sara (Gehr) Dickey, AdaJean Hoffman, April (Brown) Jeroski, Nancy (Herrington) Poole, Karen (McLuckey) Michelotti, Cynthia (Rutledge) Postell, Anne (Downing) Smith, Wayne Mockel, Steve Gould, Thomas Dietrich, Ed Newmeyer. Second row: Mark Haverstock, Deborah (Krier) Haverstock, Mary Ann (Tkach) Isaac, Jon Yohe, Art Kusserow, Thomas Melonic, Arlene (Blair) Bonnett, Marion (Thompson) Leisy, Linda (Kirchner) Bosworth, Bob Finney, Richard Ollinger. Third row: Thomas Bost, John Zupanovich, Tim Piper, Dale Lisiak, William Klinger, Karen (Brown) Otteni, Betsy (Cella) Bergen, Linda (Stilwell) Teets, Betsy Zeiner, Betsy (Bergreen) Price, Douglas Price. Fourth row: Bill O’Neil, Hrodmar Helgason, Ilah Heller-Bair, Ray Bair, Susan (Toth) Shafer, Laurel Phythyon, Robert Walrod, John Kelso, Nancy Spera, Avalyn Shank, Philip Liu. Fifth row: Lyle Johnston, John Whitehead, Robert Ferguson, Cylde Goldbach, Randy Punchard, Jerry Caslow, Charles Flesher, William Foster, Jim Giel, Janice Twaddle, Sharon (Graham) Dimon. Sixth row: Alex Stupakis, Patty (Gannon) O’Brien, Kathleen (Turner) Dennison, Debbie (Magill) Jardine, Judy Armington, Sharon (Sharpe) Rich, Julie (McCready) McNamara, Lynne (Zulick) Rogers, Karen Betz, David Finney, John Still. Seventh row: Dave Williams, Mark Freado, Rob Talvin, Betty Sue (Johnston) Miller, John Waters, Noel Calhoun, Paul Riddell, Jeffrey Fuller, Cheryl (Miller) DeJonge, Ralph Dise, Robert Wittke. Back row: Russell Everett III, Elmer Rybka, Nancy (Burton) Bautzmann, Gladys George, Marsha (Kennedy) Crall, Keith Johnston, Sally (Naylor) Johnston, Karen (Ostrowski) Dunlap, Herb King, Philip King, Scott Colvin.

A MESSAGE FROM ALUMNI COUNCIL

Greetings, Alumni Community:

Ihope this message finds you well and remaining well-informed of all that is happening at Westminster! As Alumni Council president, I have had the honor of witnessing a lot of our fall activities up close, and it has been one of the best parts of serving in this capacity.

When Alumni Council set its goals for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, we made it a priority to plan for more opportunities to engage with students. Seeing and hearing from students as they build their own Westminster experience is invigorating, and I thought that highlighting a few of these activities might also help you feel the energy.

Several past and present Council members paired up with first-year orientation leaders this fall to welcome the incoming Class of 2028 on move-in day. Council provided refreshments and snacks to keep the new students and their families fueled for the big move. The move-in team did an amazing job of helping the new students feel right at home the moment they pulled onto campus.

Alumni were on campus in September for the annual Professional Networking Symposium, a long-standing tradition that allows students to engage and network with alumni in pursuit of sharpening their professional skills and learning more about various professions. Hosted by the Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement, this event—led by Justin Gregorich ‘10 and Helen Boylan ‘95—was created by Professor of Economics Emeritus Dr. Daniel Fischmar and Dr. Christie (Grewe) ’07 and Ben Nelson ’07.

During the September Alumni Council meeting, we had the opportunity to interact with students as a part of our scheduled agenda. Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) students discussed the opportunities they are gaining through internships arranged by Eric Gaber, program director and lecturer of business. As we toured the television and radio facilities, we heard from a group of communications majors. Our students have been pairing up with alumni this fall to provide game day commentary. Thank you to our alumni commentators, especially Council’s own Tiffany Jackson Greene ‘16 who is offering game-time play-by-plays for volleyball. Finally, Alumni Council members passed out Westminster-themed sunglasses to students. Each pair included an attached message of support from the Council and ways they can stay connected to the Office of Alumni Engagement now and in the future.

This fall, many of you returned for Homecoming, one of the most exciting annual events where old and new Titans come together to celebrate Mother Fair. Alumni got to see the students keeping the old traditions alive. The Rock was freshly painted, crowds were tailgating, Greek alumni met the newest classes of their brothers and sisters, and students were well-decorated for the football game. The Titan spirit was palpable. Alumni Council was also featured on a digital screen at the Hot Spot in hopes of familiarizing students and alumni about the volunteer role of our Council members and how they too can give back to Westminster.

I hope that learning about a few of these events will prompt you to find new ways to engage. We would love to have students linked with as many alumni supporters as possible, and we’re always looking for a robust and thriving group of potential future Council members to serve our great institution. Nominations for Alumni Council are rolling and the form can be found by scanning the QR code below.

Thank you for your passion, energy and generosity!

Dr. Nanci Hosick ’95, M’03 Alumni Council President

i SHARE YOUR TITAN STORY

Everyone has a story, and we want to hear yours! We want to know all about you— your career, your milestones and your many adventures. The Class Notes section is a wonderful way to share your story and keep up with old friends and classmates. Send us your news today!

CLASS NOTES | Titans doing big things.

1959

THE REV. ROBERT PALISIN was elected as the Republican precinct leader in Precinct 3C in Avon Lake, Ohio, in May. In July, he was elected to the Lorain County (Ohio) Republican Central Committee, to which he was named parliamentarian in August.

1967

JACK RIDL has been named a finalist for Michigan’s Poet Laureate, only the third Laureate to be selected since 1930. On Oct. 1 his eighth collection of poetry, All at Once, was released by publisher CavanKerry Press.

1971

STEVE VINCIGUERRA received the International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence for his work with SeaWorld.

1973

JOHN HOPKINS was named the new pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Kittanning, Pa., in July. Prior to relocating to Kittanning, John previously served as a pastor in Murrells Inlet, S.C. He and his wife relocated to Kittanning from Pawleys Island, S.C.

1978

DR. DAVID CAMPBELL has written the book, Democracy’s Hidden Heroes: Fitting Policy to People and Place, which tells the story of the local public managers

and nonprofit directors who work where bureaucratic hierarchies and community networks meet and often collide. David is professor emeritus of human ecology at the University of California, Davis.

WILLIAM VAN SLYKE and KRISTIN (HAYES) VAN SLYKE celebrated their 42nd anniversary at a Toronto Blue Jays game and were recognized on the scoreboard at Rogers Centre during the game.

1980

LESLIE (LAWHEAD) IMSE received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Choral Directors Association on Oct. 19 at the University of Connecticut Music Conference in recognition of her dedication and impact on choral music. Leslie retired after 42 years as a choral music educator and arts administrator. She resides in Simsbury, Conn.

319 S. Market St. New Wilmington, PA 16172

FIRST SOUTH FRIENDS | It’s been more than 50 years since they met as freshmen. The first south floormates of Shaw Hall and members of the Class of 1976—front from left, Barb (Mager) Cable, Sue Valicenti-Dosch, Sharon McKee, Alison (Boehmer) Engleman, and back from left, Barb Bridge, Diane (Morrell) Beck, Corky (Converse) Farry and Roberta Laird—reunited in July at Cable’s lake home at Indian Lake in Central City, Pa.

ANDREWS SCHOLARSHIP GIFT | Paul Williams ’65, left, and Scott Schulick, right, both trustees of the Doris and Jack Andrews Trust, pose with College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson after presenting a gift to the Doris and Jack Andrews Academic Scholarship Award. The award was established in 2007 as a memorial tribute to the lives of Mahoning County (Ohio) philanthropists Doris and Jack Andrews.

DAVID NOBS has been elected to the Arizona State University’s Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees. Dave serves as managing director of growth and development at Lavidge. He resides in Phoenix.

1983

MARK GILL was appointed interim mayor of Sharpsville, Pa., following the resignation of the previous mayor. He will serve out his predecessor’s term, which runs through the end of 2025.

JIM RIPPER and his wife opened their first Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change franchise in Beaufort, S.C., and celebrated their grand opening and ribbon cutting on July 31.

1984

SCOTT HIGGINS was inducted into the Alle-Kiski Hall of Fame in May. Scott played football, basketball and baseball at Riverview High School and was an All-American in both baseball and football at Westminster.

1985

RANDY BOBBERT was selected as an honored listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in America for 2024. Randy currently lives in Pittsburgh where he is a senior business continuity analyst with Federated Hermes.

1986

JOE BURNS received an International Communicator Award for a Rock School Radio Show podcast episode called “The Widow Maker.”

1988

DAVID SMITH competed in the 2024 U.S. Senior Open in June at the Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. The tournament featured a field of 156 of the

world’s best professional and amateur senior golfers.

1992

TRACI CIEPIELA has authored a book, Through the COVID Looking Glass and Back, in which she shares her COVID experience and vaccine injury.

Traci resides in Waterloo, Iowa.

ALEXANDER GRAZIANI was appointed the municipal manager for Monroeville, Pa. Alex previously served as borough manager of Churchill, Pa., and city manager in Latrobe, Pa.

1995

JULIE (SHELLITO) WEAGRAFF was appointed to the Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism, ServeOhio.

DIANE (HEANEY) BELL penned her third children’s book, Samantha Sloth Finds Glimmers in Grief

LARRY “CHIP” FILER was named vice president for facilities and campus operations at Christoper Newport University in Newport News, Va.

JOHN SICILIA retired in August from the Northern Regional Police Department. He spent nearly 30 years of service in law enforcement. Pine Township and HM3 Partners Independence Fund established the Chief John Sicilia Scholarship in his honor. The scholarship will support high school seniors pursuing careers in criminal justice.

1996

STEVE KNIGHT won the Professional Specialist of the Year for Falls Church (Virginia) City Public Schools, where he is the PreK-12 educational technology and career and technical education coordinator.

SHERRY (HARKER) PATTERSON was promoted to head girls’ basketball coach at Clay-Battelle High School in Blacksville, W. Va.

2001

DR. NATHAN CARLIN, director of McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, was named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Humanities

2002

SARAH STANKORB earned a thirdplace award in the Best In-Depth Newswriting category at the American Academy of Religion Journalism Awards. Sarah’s submission included an extended article about the history of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Church, focusing on the work of one survivor, Christa Brown.

2003

KRISTY (FETTERMAN)

BERG completed her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) by The Institutes. Kristy is a director for Erie Insurance in Erie, Pa.

SARAH (BRUENING) WORTHINGTON was named CEO of the Prince of Peace Center in Farrell, Pa.

2004

MOLLY (DYKE) ANDERSON, elementary principal at Westfield (N.Y.) Academy and Central School, is appointed to the Westfield Memorial Hospital Board of Directors

DR. SEAN TAYLOR was appointed director of music for Berkshire Choral International. He is associate professor of music and director of choral studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where he conducts the Master Chorale and Chamber Singers.

2006

JORDAN HINDS was named senior program manager at the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central Pennsylvania.

DINA LINN was recently promoted to the role of collections manager in addition to her ongoing position as supervisory museum curator (aeronautics) of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. While continuing to manage the museum’s extensive heritage asset collection, she now supervises the Aircraft Loan Program and the Library and Archives division.

2007

DAVID RESTINO was named as vice president and chief financial officer of First United National Bank.

AMY (LAVALLEE) VAUGHT was named assistant director of student and academic affairs in the School of Computing and Information at the University of Pittsburgh.

2008

CARSEN (NESBITT) RUPERTO was named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 Under 40” list. Carsen was named the chief people officer for Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Inc. in January. She and her husband, Steven Ruperto, reside in Pittsburgh.

2012

DR. CLAIRE (CELLI) FAUZEY earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Slippery Rock University in May 2024.

MIKE GORMAN, associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, was named a Rising Star by The Legal 500

CARISSA (O’CONNOR) RENNINGER has been named vice president of marketing for VisitMercerCountyPA, Mercer County’s tourism agency. Carissa resides in Volant, Pa., with her husband and two children.

2014

DR. TERESA WHETSTONE graduated from the College of Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University. She is doing her residency in family medicine at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

2015

2017

THE REV. DANIEL KUSHNER was ordained to the priesthood during a Mass of Ordination on June 29 at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh. He is parochial vicar at Divine Grace Parish.

KYLE MITCHELTREE, CEO of Mitcheltree Brothers Logging and Lumber in Pulaski, Pa., was named to Pittsburgh Business Times’ “30 Under 30” list.

2018

RACHEL ELISER was promoted to marketing and communications manager at Covenant House Illinois, a homeless shelter for youth in Chicago.

JOSEPH

SALMEN, a wealth advisor for JFS Wealth Advisors in Hermitage, Pa., was honored as a 30 under 40 awardee by the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce.

2019

MIKE ANNARELLA was named the director of football communications for the University of Pittsburgh.

ALYSSA CRAWFORD was named the 2025 Teacher of the Year for Buies Creek Elementary School in Harnett County, N.C.

MATTHEW MCDONALD was named to Pittsburgh Business Times’ “30 Under 30” list. Matt is a senior transportation electrification associate with Duquesne Light.

2020

DR. TROY HOLDEN earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati. He is a first-year resident in the UPMC Internal Medicine Residency Program in Pittsburgh.

DR. SAMANTHA WINTER earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Medicine at Seton Hill in Greensburg in May. She is doing her residency in neurology at St. Luke’s Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa.

2021

ZOE CABLE earned a Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University in June. She is the education coordinator at Adagio Health in Pittsburgh.

BREANNA FERGUSON was named assistant cross country and track and field coach at Albion College.

BRIAN WHETZEL earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida on May 17.

2022

MICHAELA DUKE has joined the CPA firm Maher Duessel as a staff auditor.

2023

STEPHEN ADAMETZ was named head varsity swimming coach at Shaler Area High School in Pittsburgh. He also serves as a seventh-grade English teacher in the Hampton Township School District in Allison Park, Pa.

LINDSAY BELL is the new girl’s basketball head coach at Mohawk Area High School in New Castle, Pa.

BRYNN SHETTERLY earned a Master of Medical Science degree from LECOM.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Westminster College is a family tradition

By BECKIE (HARRIGER) ERWIN ’86

When Jeffrey Huff and Laurel Lugaila met as students, they couldn’t have anticipated how deep a legacy they would build with the College. Their commitment to Westminster has resonated through generations, as all seven of their children, along with a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, have and will have earned a degree from the College.

Jeffrey Huff, a 1985 graduate with degrees in computer science and English, and Laurel (Lugaila) Huff, who earned her degree in interdisciplinary sociology and psychology in 1984, laid a strong foundation for their family. The couple married in Westminster’s Wallace Memorial Chapel in May 1985 and returned to New Wilmington in 1996 to raise their children.

“We couldn’t think of a better place to raise our children,” Laurel Huff reflected. “Being near the campus offered them countless opportunities, from sports camps to Old 77 lockins and attending preschool. They became familiar with the campus and when it came time to choose a college, we were very happy that Westminster was an obvious choice.”

Each member of the family made their own unique mark on campus, and even though everyone had a different Westminster experience, they all share the same pride for having been Titans.

As a student, Laurel Huff was head majorette and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Her favorite part of being at Westminster was the January J-Term for its internship opportunities.

The Huff family from left, Emily Huff ’24, Madison Huff ’20, Eric Elliott ’16, Rachael (Huff) Elliott ’18, Laurel (Lugaila) Huff ’84, William Huff ’28, Jeff Huff ’85, Alyssa Huff ’15, Jessica (Huff) Zoeller ’23, Baby George (possible future Titan?) and Daniel Zoeller. Branden Huff ’14 and his wife, Melissa (Hall) Huff ’14, are pictured on the opposite page.

Jeffery Huff double majored in computer science and minored in English. He has worked all over the world and now owns a successful management consulting firm. At Westminster, he was a Presidential Scholar and held a decades-long record on the five-mile cross country course. He said he was mostly grateful for the financial support he received that made attending Westminster a reality.

Eldest son Branden Huff ’14 was a business administration major and is now a regional accountant executive at Advanced Feedscrews in Salt Lake City, Utah. While at Westminster, he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and played on the soccer team. For him, it was his fraternity, the friends he made, and meeting his wife, Melissa (Hall) Huff ’14, that made his college experience most worthwhile.

Melissa Huff studied biology, was a member of Phi Mu and continued her education to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is now a registered nurse at Amergis Healthcare in Salt Lake City. For her, the campus life, the friends she made, meeting her husband, Branden, and becoming a part of the Huff family all contributed to her lasting memories from Westminster.

Alyssa Huff ’15 was a political science major with an English minor. While at Westminster, she was a member of Pi Sigma Pi, Pi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Delta. She was also president of the Pre-Law Association, attended multiple Model United Nations conferences, was a member of the Student Government Association, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, was treasurer of Students Against Destructive Decisions and a member of the Economics Club. She is currently a Marriott/Tharaldson Hospitality Property support task force manager. She mostly enjoyed the travel opportunities provided by Westminster, which include attending the Model United Nations in Chicago and Toronto and traveling to Greece with a cluster course. She lives in New Wilmington.

Rachael (Huff) Elliott ’18 studied mathematics and computer science. She is a lead analytics engineer for Dick’s Sporting Goods. She graduated magna cum laude, was part of the Westminster Honors College, Pi Sigma Pi, Omicron Kappa Sigma Honors Society and served as treasurer of Kappa Mu Epsilon Math Honors Society. She appreciated the research opportunities she had with her professors at Westminster. Like her parents, she and her husband, Eric Elliott ’16, met at Westminster, marrying on campus in 2017.

Eric Elliott was a business administration major at Westminster, where he was a member of the golf team. He said Westminster prepared him to work in multiple fields. He currently works as a project manager at Wayne Crouse, Inc. He and Rachael live in Mt. Jackson.

Madison Huff ’20 majored in chemistry with an astronomy minor. She lives in Charlottesville, Va., and works as an analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense. At Westminster, she was selected for a NSF Westminster grant to research exoplanets in Australia, was co-president of the Society of Physics Students, a member of Chemistry Club, was awarded the 2020 American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry, worked as student director of Westminster Planetarium and graduated cum laude She is grateful to her professors at Westminster who provided support, opportunities and friendship during and after college.

A nursing major, Jessica (Huff) Zoeller ’23 is a labor and delivery nurse at Magee-Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she has delivered more than 250 babies. At Westminster, she was a member of Pi Sigma Pi and graduated magna cum laude. She also received the St. Francis School of Nursing Alumni Award and the Daisy Award. She said she mostly appreciated Westminster’s real-life, hands-on experiences offered through the nursing

school. She and her husband, Daniel Zoeller, welcomed a baby boy, George William, on Sept. 27, 2024. Future Titan, perhaps?

Emily Huff ’24 studied biochemistry with a biology minor. While on campus, she belonged to Pi Sigma Pi Honors Society, was secretary of Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honors Society, secretary of Pre-Veterinary Society, Chemistry Club and graduated magna cum laude She enjoyed the research opportunities at Westminster that provided skills she says she will utilize for the rest of her career. She lives in New Wilmington.

The youngest, William Huff, is currently a freshman at Westminster studying nursing. He expects to graduate with the Class of 2028.

From lifelong friendships to professional networks, the Huff family legacy serves as an inspiring story of dedication, achievement and the enduring power of education.

“Even though the Westminster experience was different for everyone, the outstanding education and personal support Westminster gave us and our children provided us with the tools and knowledge we needed to succeed,” said Jeffrey Huff. S

Branden and Melissa (Hall) Huff

WEDDINGS | Love always.

2021 | ASHLEY RUSSELL and BRANDON DOMENICK ’17, June 14, 2024, at the Wild Dunes Resort in the Isle of Palms, S.C. Alumni members of the wedding party included bridesmaids Camden Hergenrother ’23 and Haley (Domitrovich) Trella ’21 and groomsmen Vincent Nerti ’15, Steven Perrotta ’12 and Richard Conti ’16. In addition to Ashley’s father, Eric Russell ’95, several members of the Titan community were in attendance, including Alazia Greaves ’21, Marvin Liberiste ’19, Cortlynn Douds ’21, David Richards Jr. ’09, Nicholas Trella ’21, David Richards Sr. ’84, Doreen (Andrews) Richards ’84, Joseph Ambrosini ’86 and William Fleo ’87. Ashley is a fifth-grade teacher in the Riverside Beaver County School District and Brandon is a managing partner and investment adviser for Capital A Wealth Management. The newlyweds reside in Cranberry Township, Pa.

GIVING BACK

College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson, center, accepts a check for $57,766 from members of the Class of 1974 to fund an endowed scholarship in the class’ name. With the President, from left, are Alex Stupakis, Herb King, Randy Punchard, Scott Colvin, John Still, Jim Giel, President Richardson, Bill Foster, Debbie (Magill) Jardine, Susan (Toth) Shafer, Linda (Stilwell) Teets, Noel Calhoun, Art Kusserow and Rusty Everett.

NEW ADDITIONS | Welcome, Tiny Titans.

2001 | SUMMERLEA (HOBBS)

KLINER and her husband, HENRY

KLINER ’01: a son, Charles “Charlie” Robert, on May 20, 2024. The family lives in Canonsburg, Pa.

2007 | ANGELA (DONNELL)

CROOKS and her husband, Kevin: a son, Orrin Evander, on Feb. 10, 2024. The family resides in Meadville, Pa.

2009 | KATHERINE (KHATTAB)

RONNOW and her husband, Jared: a daughter, Kylee Carter, on March 3, 2024.

2012 | LINDSAY (SPEIDEL)

NEDLEY and ALAN NEDLEY ‘13: a daughter, Olivia Rae, on March 4, 2024. She joins big brother, Camden, at home in Rockledge, Fla.

2013 | JULIE (CHRISTMAN)

CARGAL and her husband, ERIC CARGAL ’11: a son, Sean William, on June 2, 2024. The family resides in Pittsburgh.

2013 | KIRSTEN (EDMONDSON) WELLER and her husband, Troy: a son, Travis, on April 18, 2024. The family lives in Quakertown, Pa.

2013 | CHRISTINA (ERCEG)

ZIEGLER and her husband, ANDREW ZIEGLER ’14: a daughter, Katey Lynn, on April 29, 2023. She has an older brother, JP. The family lives in Hermitage, Pa.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD,TINY TITANS!

This is, without a doubt, the cutest section of the magazine! Westminster Magazine invites you to send news of your latest arrival. Birth announcements and photos can be emailed to alumni@westminster.edu or submitted online at westminster.edu/classnotes. Digital photos must be high resolution and 300 dpi. If emailing, please do not embed photos in the body of your email, but instead attach your high-resolution image.

DAVID DEAL ’86

NETWORK BUILDING

Networking mentor, job recruiter keeps eyes on Westminster grads

Our Westminster alumni are some of our greatest resources. With thousands of Titan alumni from coast to coast, networking opportunities abound for our students. Whether a connection is made at a national or regional event, career fairs or even at Westminster’s Professional Networking Symposium (PNS), our alumni serve as skillful mentors who can provide sound career advice or guidance during a job search. Many times these networking connections evolve into friendships, internship offers—and sometimes even job opportunities.

David Deal ’86, vice president of operations for NVR Homes Inc.—one of America’s leading homebuilders—has been connecting with Westminster undergraduates for more than two decades. He's a staple at the annual PNS event, and he enjoys the art of networking and building relationships with fellow Titans. In addition to inviting numerous Westminster students to participate in his company’s internship program, he estimates that in the past 25 years, more than 60 Westminster graduates have accepted positions within his company.

1. You have hired more than 60 Titans in your time at NVR. What is so special about Westminster graduates?

I find that the liberal arts education one acquires at Westminster provides individuals with a solid foundation for communicating with a diverse group of people. That is extremely important in the homebuilding industry. I also believe that being personally organized and thriving in a team environment are traits that graduates acquire at Westminster. We value this deeply when evaluating future leaders of NVR.

2. As someone who has hired Westminster graduates, how do you think Westminster has done in preparing our students for successful careers?

I strongly believe that Westminster and its outstanding faculty take a personal approach at ensuring all of their students are prepared for their next step in both their careers and in life. There is truly a benefit to the College’s small 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This allows staff members to get to know their students on a personal level and invest in their development.

“I STRONGLY ITS OUTSTANDING APPROACH STUDENTS IN BOTH

David Deal '86 chats with senior Michael Tokar '25 at the 2024 Professional Networking Symposium in September.

STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WESTMINSTER AND OUTSTANDING FACULTY TAKE A PERSONAL APPROACH AT ENSURING ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THEIR NEXT STEP BOTH THEIR CAREERS AND IN LIFE.”

— DAVID DEAL ’86

3. Can you talk about your career path after Westminster and your job with NV Homes?

I am very fortunate to have worked with two of our NVR brands, Ryan Homes and NVHomes, in my 38-year career. During this time, I have held roles of project manager, sales and marketing representative, division sales manager, division general manager, division manager, market manager, and currently, vice president of operations. Each position offered me growth and learning, as well as the opportunity to coach others in the organization through their careers. NVR’s training programs are second-to-none and individuals have lots of opportunity to have lasting careers and opportunity here.

NVR is a growth-oriented company offering incredible opportunity throughout the country, as well as exceptional hiring, training and development programs. The variety of roles offered at NVR is vast: accounting, finance, management, information technology, manufacturing, architecture, sales, marketing, homebuilding, human resources and strategic leadership.

4. When you were at Westminster, was there a particular coach or professor who made a great impact on you?

My time at Westminster was very unique in that I was a second-generation student, with my mother and father both being alumni. In fact, I had professors whom my parents had and athletic coaches who were in school at the time. That being said, being a student-athlete left quite an impression on me, as coaches like Joe Fusco, Dar Huey, Scott Renninger and others were quite influential and even to this day have assisted in my efforts to recruit talent. I also can say that Dr. Gail Miller, who was my business adviser, was always willing to offer guidance and was a great mentor as well. The common theme that all these individuals wanted to share with their students was that while excelling in athletics, academics, careers and life is important, it should never be at the expense of your core values.

6. What's next?

I look forward to continuing to recruit and develop Westminster alumni as I have done for over 25 years. It has been a pleasure to observe their growth and success both within NVR and also in life. S

NATIONAL CONNECTIONS & ALUMNI EVENTS

Alumni events are open to all Westminster College alumni and friends. The Office of Alumni Engagement works with volunteers to plan events in cities and regions across the country—or virtual online events. Get connected with alumni in your area!

PITTSBURGH REGIONAL ALUMNI COMMITTEE

APRIL 7, 2024

Titan Alumni Day at the Heinz History Center

Members of the Pittsburgh Regional Alumni Committee (PRAC) coordinated a day at the Heinz History Center for alumni and friends, followed by an informal gathering at The PA Market in the Strip District. Attendees explored a variety of interactive exhibits—some of which featured Westminster College athletics and discovered the rich tapestry of Pittsburgh’s past, with a new exhibit focused on contributions of women throughout the city’s history.

AUGUST 27, 2024

Annual Committee Meeting

The PRAC held its annual meeting at Panera Bread in Aspinwall Township, Pittsburgh. Events for the year ahead were discussed and members signed up to host various casual happy hours throughout the city. If you’re interested in joining the group, please email alumni@westminster.edu

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Gateway Clipper Sightseeing Cruise

As its first event of the new fiscal year, the PRAC coordinated a sightseeing cruise for alumni and friends. The narrated tour set sail from Station Square and cruised the rivers identifying key Pittsburgh landmarks and history. When the cruise returned to port, the group enjoyed a casual gathering with appetizers at the nearby Hard Rock Café.

42 www.westminster.edu

TIDBITS | Pittsburgh area Titans gathered on April 3 at OneValley at the Roundhouse in the Hazelwood Green neighborhood to cowork for the day, hear institutional updates and learn from one another. Alumni hosts included Elizabeth Bacheson ’06 (Proofpoint), Colin Dean ’07 (Target & Code & Supply), Matt McConnell ’97 (Fusion Technology) and Megan (Salinetro) Yelley ’12 (OneValley).

DONORS IN THE KNOW | The Office of Institutional Advancement continued its virtual series, Donors in the Know, on Sept. 19. Supporters of the School of Music, specifically those who contributed during last fall’s crowdfunding campaign, were invited to hear about the international concert tour to Scotland.

THIRST QUENCHERS | Alumni Council members Karla (Bacon) Arnold ’81, M’82, left, and Melissa (Ruefle) Spencer ’98 man lemonade and refreshment stands at Shaw and Russell halls during first-year student move-in day on Aug. 25.

TITAN

ACROSS THE POND | Titans and friends embarked on an 11-day trip through England and Scotland in July 2024. The group enjoyed stops in London, Stonehenge, Bristol, Stratford, Bath, York, Oxford, Edinburgh and more. The international trip was coordinated by the Office of Faith and Spirituality and led by the Rev. Jim Mohr, campus chaplain, and his wife, Jill.

APRIL 21, 2024

Florida Alumni Dinner Cruise

In its 13th year, alumni and friends embarked on the Florida dinner cruise with host Keith McCauley ’68. Attendees enjoyed a cruise on the water with dancing and dinner.

President Kathy Richardson welcomed guests and shared College happenings.

APRIL 25, 2024

National Networking Day

Alumni celebrated Westminster’s National Networking Day with regional social events.

The following alumni served as hosts: Jim Beaudry ’12 (Chicago), Janet (Hershelman) Sullivan ’71 (St. Paul, Minn.), Emma Messett ’20 (Denver), Alyssa (Hanna) Falarski ’12 (Pittsburgh) and Kevin Webb ’02 (Hermitage, Pa.).

JUNE 2, 2024

Alumni Day at Hershey Park

Regional representatives Mitch Kirsch ’79 and Doug McKinney ’80 were the driving forces behind an alumni day at Hersheypark, the largest—and chocolatiest—amusement park in Pennsylvania.

AUGUST 8, 2024

Coffee Club Sip & Share

Round two of the Coffee Club Sip & Share occurred on Aug. 8. Members of our recurring giving club were invited to join College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson, virtually, for College updates. The event included interactive Westminster trivia.

AUGUST 25, 2024

Titans Over Time

The Office of Alumni Engagement welcomed Westminster’s incoming class with a blast from the past. First-year students and their families enjoyed scanning old yearbooks— some finding beloved family members among the pages. Attendees were also invited to pose for a move-in day family photo—complete with lots of Titan flair.

OCTOBER 5, 2024

New Jersey Alumni Gathering

Now in its third year, regional representative and committed volunteer Arthur “Skip” Winter ’73 organized the New Jersey event at The Garlic Rose restaurant in Cranford, N.J.

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER 3

Giving Tuesday

DECEMBER 8

Christmas Celebration Worship Service

DECEMBER 14

Kraynak’s Christmasland Event

JANUARY 16

Wear Westminster Day

APRIL 11

Celebration of Philanthropy

APRIL 12

Alumni Association Open Meeting

APRIL 24

National Networking Day

APRIL 27

14th Annual Alumni & Friends Florida Dinner Cruise

MAY 20-23

Clash of the Titans Crowdfunding Campaign

Stay connected with your classmates and other Titan alumni through in-person or virtual events. We’re frequently updating our events calendar, so please check back often!

westminster.edu/events

| Titans we will miss. IN MEMORIAM

Word has reached us of the passing of the following alumni and friends of Westminster College. To submit information for the In Memoriam section, please provide a complete obituary notice (if available) to the Office of Alumni Engagement.

WESTMINSTER CLASSMATES

LOIS (ARMSTRONG) MACHESKY ’42, 101, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 3, 2021.

LILLIAN (SEMPLE) HESKETH ’44, 98, of State College, Pa., Oct. 3, 2020.

WILLIAM SCHWEITZER ’47, 102, of Hurst, Texas, Sept. 7, 2024.

THE REV. DR. WILLIAM MCCLELLAND ’48, 99, of Zanesville, Ohio, June 11, 2024.

DOROTHY (SHEVEL) PANDOLPH ’48, 96, of New Castle, Pa., Dec. 26, 2022.

DR. FRANK PAWLOSKY ’48, 94, of Fairfield Township, Ohio, Aug. 21, 2019.

WILMA (BOCK) BLACK ’49, 97, of Joplin, Mo., formerly of Hermitage, Pa., April 21, 2024.

THE REV. ROBERT FIELD ’49, 97, of Rockingham, Va., Aug. 11, 2022.

IDA (FALSETTI) GLEESON ’49, 96, of Oakmont, Pa., Aug. 20, 2024.

DR. WILBERT E. GRIFFITH ’49, 96, of Glenshaw, Pa., Sept. 10, 2023.

JOHN MACMORRIS ’49, 95, of Summerfield, Fla., May 8, 2024.

EVALYN “EVIE” (DART) MCCANDLESS ’49, 94, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., June 24, 2022.

JOHN KRATZ ’50, 92, of St. Paul, Minn., Feb. 10, 2020.

NOREEN (STEGAILOV) METZGER ’50, 91, of Herndon, Va., Aug. 15, 2020.

GEORGE OTHITES ’50, 96, of New Castle, Pa., July 22, 2022. FLORENCE (REAMER) OWENS ’50, 92, of Wolverine Lake, Mich., July 5, 2021.

PAUL ZARILLA ’50, 97, of New Castle, Pa., April 15, 2024.

SHIRLEY (SHIELDS) DAVIDSON ’51, 92, of Avon Lake, Ohio, Dec. 23, 2020.

WILLIAM DOUTHETT ’51, 94, of Butler, Pa., July 25, 2024.

RUTH (HANEY) HUMMEL ’51, 91, of Stow, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2019.

DOROTHY (WALLACE) INGRAM ’51, 94, of Dunedin, Fla., April 24, 2024.

GRACE (TEMPLE) MILES ’51, 92, of Hermitage, Pa., Dec. 24, 2022.

SAMUEL PARKER ’51, 92, of Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 29, 2020.

VIRGINIA (BRETSNYDER) SHEPPARD ’51, 95, of Moorestown, N.J., Aug. 16, 2024.

WALTER GYR ’52, 92, of Greenville, S.C., June 10, 2021.

RUTH (HODIL) HEIM ’52, 89, of Pittsburgh, Pa., May 28, 2020.

MARTIN HOLTZAPPLE ’52, 94, of Cinnaminson, N.J., March 14, 2021.

JANE (SCOTT) LOVE ’52, 91, of Hinckley, Ohio, Oct. 10, 2021.

ROBERT LOVE ’52, 96, of Hinckley, Ohio, Oct. 8, 2021.

MARY (SCHELL) MUSGRAVE ’52, 93, of Zelienople, Pa., March 24, 2024.

HOWARD “MAC” MCCRACKEN ’53, 94, of Pittsburgh, Pa., May 7, 2024.

RICHARD PESCEVICH ’53, 94, of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Dec. 24, 2022.

JOANNE (MONINGER) PIATT ’53, 93, of Washington, Pa., Sept. 6, 2024.

JANE (MILLER) BOYCE ’54, 91, of Federal Way, Wash., June 13, 2024.

JEAN (AGNEW) KLEIN ’54, 87, of Chambersburg, Pa., Aug. 24, 2020.

MARGARET “PEGGY” (JONES) LORD ’54, 89, of Cushing, Maine, Feb. 3, 2022.

BARBARA (SKIFF) MCKISSICK ’54, 91, of Ellicott City, Md., May 7, 2024.

THOMAS FINLAY ’55, 90, of Wilmington, N.C., Aug. 7, 2022.

DORIS (VALENTINE) PALESKO ’55, 88, of Austin, Texas, 2021.

DONALD PHELPS ’55, 90, of Geneva, Ohio, April 22, 2023.

SHIRLEY (FRAZEE) DEBOLT ’57, 87, of Cincinnati, Ohio, June 20, 2023.

DR. PERRY KIRKLIN ’57, 85, of Lakeland, Fla., May 5, 2020.

ROBERT CAMPBELL ’58, 88, of Dowagiac, Mich., Sept. 19, 2024.

ROBERT DUVALL ’58, 93, of North Huntingdon, Pa., April 1, 2024.

J. DAVID EGNER ’58, 88, of Monrovia, Calif., Feb. 23, 2022.

ALAN KING ’58, 88, of Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 15, 2023.

THOMAS MCFARLAND ’58, 85, of White River Junction, Vt., Nov. 29, 2022.

JAMES ELDER ’59, 94, of New Wilmington, Pa., July 8, 2024.

KAY (DAGNON) HORNUNG ’59, 87, of Coraopolis, Pa., July 12, 2024.

WILLIAM LOWERY M’59, 94, of Hudson, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2024.

DAVID RANKIN ’59, 86, of Moscow, Idaho, April 5, 2024.

NICHOLAS ANGLEO M’61, 88, of Warren, Ohio, May 26, 2024.

WILLIAM HEZLEP ’61, 86, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Oct. 26, 2022.

CYNTHIA (JOHNSON) NEELY ’61, 83, of Hopewell, N.J., Oct. 24, 2022.

ROBERT GOODE ’62, 80, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 18, 2020.

EILEEN (DAVIDSON) HARRISON ’62, 81, of San Diego, Calif., May 2, 2022.

MADELINE (PIGAGE) IGNAZITO ’62, 78, of St. Louis, Mo., April 27, 2019.

STEPHEN PEKICH ’62, 83, of Arlington, Mass., April 15, 2024.

ESTHER (MOORE) BRUNT ’63, 82, of North Canton, Ohio, Aug. 6, 2024.

JAMES DEPEW ’64, 76, of Springboro, Ohio, March 15, 2019.

THE REV. WILLIAM KEMP ’64, 79, of Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 28, 2023.

SUSAN (GRUMBLING) SAMONSKY ’64, 81, of Ventura, Calif., Oct. 4, 2024.

CYNTHIA (GARVIN) WARD ’64, 81, of Ambridge, Pa., July 18, 2024.

MARGARET “PEGGY” (KUBACH) WIGHT ’64, 80, of Newry, Maine, Jan. 12, 2023.

GUIDO DELGARBINO M’65, 90, of Warren, Ohio, Aug. 9, 2020.

EDWIN DIEHL ’65, 79, of Stroudsburg, Pa., Nov. 26, 2021.

E. ROSS DILLON ’65, 76, of Aliquippa, Pa., Jan. 27, 2020.

PRISCILLA GALUSHA ’65, 82, of Maize, Kan., July 11, 2019.

DONALD MCCAMMON ’65, 81, of Hagerstown, Md., April 12, 2024.

JOAN MCLACHLAN ’65, 80, of Centerville, Mass., May 13, 2024.

JANICE (DORE) ROHRICH ’65, 81, of West Palm Beach, Fla., June 5, 2024.

BARBARA (VILLEPIQUE) BOENAU ’66, 79, of Greensboro, N.C., July 19, 2024.

THE REV. RONALD KILPATRICK ’66, 78, of Fort Myers, Fla., Nov. 26, 2022.

DR. BARBARA (ZULANDT) KIEFER ’66, 78, of Columbus, Ohio, May 27, 2023.

ROBERT BOWMAN ’67, 79, of Delmont, Pa., Aug. 23, 2024.

SHARON (HOLT) DAY ’67, 77, of Rumson, N.J., Jan. 7, 2024.

ROBERT LEDWITH ’67, 83, of Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 27, 2020.

EFFIE (BOULOUBASIS) MOUSADIS ’67, 78, of April 28, 2024.

DOREEN (SCHULLER) PARILLA M’67, 81, of Canfield, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2023.

MARION (KENYON) SUKANOVICH ’67, 79, of Ligonier, Pa., July 27, 2024.

DAVID WERLE ’67, 80, of Middlebury, Vt., March 27, 2024.

PENNY (HECKLINGER) GARDNER ’68, 78, of Orange City, Fla., June 29, 2024.

SANDRA KNAPP M’68, 86, of Greenville, Pa., April 27, 2024.

ANN LEWIS ’68, 76, of Largo, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023.

ALBERT NUZZI M’68, 82, of Niles, Ohio, June 25, 2024.

JOHN TURNER ’68, 77, of Coraopolis, Pa., Jan. 4, 2024.

JAMES HARTMAN ’69, 75, of North Las Vegas, Nev., May 20, 2021.

SALLY LOU KOLESAR ’69, 77, of State College, Pa., June 14, 2024.

LINDA (GOTWALT) STRIGANIVICZ ’69, 77, of Mars, Pa., May 3, 2024.

RICHARD GAMBLE M’70, 88, of Poland, Ohio, March 28, 2020.

HAROLD GRAY M’71, 82, of Salem, Ohio, Aug. 18, 2024.

DOUGLAS JOHNSON ’71, 74, of Brewster, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2023.

SUE ANNE (KNOWLES) LINNENBOM ’71, 72, of Beaver Falls, Pa., March 2, 2022.

ELEANORE (BURNS) MORRIS ’71, 92, of New Wilmington, June 30, 2024.

TIMMIE (NAHAS) D’ERRICO M’72, 76, of New Castle, Pa., Aug. 21, 2024.

CORDELIA “CORDY” MACK ’72, 74, of Murrells Inlet, S.C., April 2, 2024.

ROBERT MCEWEN ’72, 74, of New Castle, Pa., March 26, 2024.

DENNIS MILLER ’72, 75, of New Wilmington, April 16, 2024.

MICHAEL MONTEFORTE M’72, 89, of Niles, Ohio, May 11, 2024.

CYNTHIA (POWELL) SEIFERT ’72, 73, of North Royalton, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2024.

STEPHEN SISKO M’72, 77, of Powell, Ohio, April 10, 2024.

PAUL CARROLL ’74, 72, of Shreveport, La., March 22, 2024.

NICHOLAS BERNARD ’75, 70, of Youngstown, Ohio, July 11, 2024.

KATHRYN LYNN (ENDRESS) FELD M’75, 75, of New Castle, Pa., March 18, 2024.

TERRY MASSARO ’76, 70, of New Castle, Pa., April 23, 2024.

ROBERT UTZ ’76, 70, of Mars, Pa., April 16, 2024.

DANIEL GRABSKI ’77, 69, of Aliquippa, Pa., Feb. 18, 2024.

LILA BACHELIER ’78, 68, of Brookville, Pa., Sept. 6, 2024.

PAUL O’NEIL ’78, 68, of Shippenville, Pa., June 21, 2024.

GARY GUYON ’82, 63, of Englewood, Fla., Aug. 28, 2024.

FRANCES BRUNISH M’83, 85, of New Castle, Pa., June 26, 2024.

TIMOTHY MAURER ’83, 62, of Prior Lake, Minn., March 2, 2024.

ROBERT BRANSCOME ’88, 59, of New Castle, Pa., July 2, 2024.

SCOTT ALTMAN ’96, 50, of Catawba, Va., Sept. 19, 2024.

RICHARD KING M’96, 69, of Warren, Ohio, June 3, 2024.

CHAD TAYLOR ’00, 46, of New Wilmington, Aug. 6, 2024.

JUSTIN STEPHENSON ’01, 45, of Waynesburg, Pa., Aug. 27, 2024.

ANDREW SLANE ’09, 38, of Vogt, Germany, April 22, 2024.

Trustee emeritus Richard White ’61 passes away

Richard White ’61, 85, who joined the Westminster College Board of Trustees in 1996 and was elected to emeritus status in 2014, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.

White served on the Board from 1996 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2009.

After graduating from Westminster College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, White began his career as a chemist and research scientist with PPG Industries before moving to Bayer AG. He rose through the ranks at Bayer, eventually becoming executive vice president of Bayer and president of Arlanxeo in Canada. He retired in 1999.

While he was employed, he continued his education, earning a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

WESTMINSTER FAMILY & FRIENDS

DAVID BRAUTIGAM (1970-2008), retired librarian, 81, of Grove City, Pa., June 23, 2024. He joined Westminster in July 1970 as a circulation librarian. Throughout his 38-year tenure, David filled various library roles such as cataloger of social science books, acquisition librarian, two-time acting head librarian, and finally as print periodicals/serial librarian.

CHESTER FOBES (1973-2005), retired custodian, 70, of New Castle, Pa., May 18, 2024.

DR. ALLEN JOHNSTON (1976-2001), professor of education emeritus, 84, of New Wilmington, April 6, 2024. Johnston served Westminster as professor of education from 1976 to 2001. Prior to his tenure, he taught at Grove City College and served as headmaster of an English-speaking school in Iran. His wife, Linda Johnston, retired secretary in the speech and theater department, passed away six months prior.

ROBERT LATTA (1978-2006), director of financial aid, 82, of New Wilmington, Aug. 1, 2024. Prior to joining Westminster, Bob was active with the New Wilmington Missionary Conference (NWMC), during which he met his future wife, Karen (Hogue) Latta ’67. Bob served as the NWMC business manager for 15 years.

His doctoral thesis dealt with international affairs between the U.S. and Nicaragua. This led to a lifelong friendship with Violeta Chamorro, the first democratically elected chief executive in Nicaragua’s history who later became president of Nicaragua and elected him Honorary Consul to Nicaragua.

White and his wife, Joanne, established the Drs. Richard L. and Joanne F. White Scholarship Fund at Westminster College for students majoring in chemistry or biology.

In recognition of his commitment and service to the College, White was presented with the Westminster College Alumni Citation Award in 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne; two children, including Todd White ’88; and two grandchildren, including Connor White ’19.

DR. J. MILLER PECK (1958-1998), instructor of mathematics and computer science, 90, of Grove City, Pa., formerly of New Wilmington, Aug. 5, 2024. Miller taught more than 30 different courses at Westminster and was instrumental in bringing the first computer to campus. He graduated from Harvard University in 1957 in engineering and applied physics. He also attended Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University with a graduate study in mathematics and computer science.

DR. ROGER WOLCOTT (1956-1993), professor of sociology emeritus, 95, of Sandy Spring, Md., June 8, 2024. He earned his undergraduate degree in sociology from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Following his retirement from Westminster, Roger had the opportunity to engage his passion for progressive activism. He attended marches and rallies, joined committees and traveled in support of pacifist resistance to violence with the groups Witness for Peace and Christian Peacemaker Teams. His travels took him to Nicaragua, Cuba, the Chiapas highlands of Mexico, Hebron on the West Bank of Palestine, a First People’s reservation in Canada and the U.S. southern border.

Campus mourns passing of former Celebrity Series director Gene DeCaprio ’49

Louis Eugene “Gene” DeCaprio ’49, longtime director of Westminster College’s Celebrity Series performing arts program, passed away on Aug. 23, 2024, at the age of 97.

For 22 years, DeCaprio proudly helmed the College’s Celebrity Series program. By his estimates, he coordinated 160 shows, bringing an array of diverse entertainers such as Mel Tormé, the comedy duo of Harvey Korman and Tim Conway, Chita Rivera, Ben Vereen, Marvin Hamlisch, Betty Buckley, Paul Anka, Burt Bacharach, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, Wayne

Newton, Regis Philbin, Marie Osmond, Hal Holbrook, Tony Bennett, Maureen McGovern and many more to the Orr Auditorium stage.

For 32 years, DeCaprio also coordinated the College’s annual July 3rd Independence Day celebration, bringing fireworks and the River City Brass Band to the shores of Brittain Lake.

A native of New Castle, Pa., DeCaprio graduated from Westminster in 1949 with a degree in English. It was at Westminster where he developed his love of acting and the theater. He participated in numerous plays and readings while in college,

winning the College’s Best Actor Award in 1949. He earned a master’s degree in drama from the University of Wisconsin and did postgraduate work at UCLA,

California State University at Los Angeles, University of Pittsburgh and Youngstown State University. In 1980, Westminster presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.

Before his service to Westminster, DeCaprio spent more than three decades in public education, beginning as a high school English teacher in Pacoima, Calif. He returned to teach in New Castle area schools and later served as a guidance counselor, school psychologist and assistant superintendent for the New Castle Area School District.

In 2019, in recognition of DeCaprio’s decades of contributions to the arts, he

received a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives designating July 3 as “Gene DeCaprio Day.” He also received the U.S. Army’s Commander’s

Award for Civilian Service in recognition of the many Armed Services Band concerts at Westminster.

DeCaprio and his wife, Thelma, were married for 57 years until her passing in 2012. He is survived by a son; a daughter; a sister; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Scan this QR code to watch Gene DeCaprio talk about some of his favorite moments with Celebrity Series entertainers.

Gene DeCaprio ’49 with some of his favorite Celebrity Series performers, from left, Tony Bennett, Marie Osmond and Regis Philbin.

Gene DeCaprio ’49 is presented with an official Pennsylvania House of Representatives citation from Rep. Parke Wentling, left, and then-Rep. Chris Sainato, co-sponsors of the citation. College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson is also pictured.

MEET THE CLASS OF

WESTMINSTER WELCOMED NEARLY 300 NEW FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS TO CAMPUS ON THURSDAY, AUG. 22 AND THEY ARE AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP. LET’S HAVE A CLOSER LOOK.

Students hail from (in order) Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, New York, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, California, Texas, West Virginia, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Utah and Wisconsin! (Also Mexico & Canada!) business nursing biology sports management education

&

Friday, April 11, 2025

Avalon Country Club at Buhl Park 1030 Forker Boulevard | Hermitage, PA

Celebrating the impact of our key contributors who, through selfless generosity, ensure that Westminster College continues to thrive as a place where students develop the competencies, commitments and characteristics that distinguish human beings at their best. hosted by Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson | President of

TITAN TRANSFORMATION

The Titan’s got a new look! Cheerleaders Leah Buchan, left, and Macey Wood escort the Titan onto the football field to introduce his updated appearance to the crowd. The mascot update was made possible through donor funds.