volume 86 | summer 2013 | number 2
administration Barbara K. Mistick, President Camilla Rawleigh, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Brian Speer, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Wilson Magazine Committee Mary Cramer ’91, Alumnae Association President Debra Collins, Director of Communications Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center Marybeth Famulare, Director of Alumnae/i Relations Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations and College Editor
Camilla Rawleigh, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Brian Speer, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Carol A. Tschop ’72, Alumnae Association Representative
Courtney Wolfe ’12, Class Notes Coordinator
STAFF Managing Editor Ben Ford Design Kendra Tidd Contributing Writers Debra Collins, Ben Ford, Cathy Mentzer, Cherie Pedersen, Brian Speer, Courtney Wolfe Contributing Photographers James Butts, Walter Colley, Debra Collins, Rosie Magee, Cathy Mentzer, Ryan Smith, Kendra Tidd Wilson Magazine (USPS-685-580) is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Alumnae Association of Wilson College. Send address changes to: Wilson College Alumnae/i Relations, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201-1285, 717-262-2010 or mag@wilson.edu. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editor and do not represent the official positions of Wilson College or the Alumnae Association of Wilson College.
contact us: Wilson Magazine mag@wilson.edu 717-262-2607 www.wilson.edu/magazine Alumnae Association aawc@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/aawc The Wilson Fund advancement@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/give
18
volume 86 | summer 2013 | number 2
08
features
departments
08 The Gift of Knowing by Debra Collins In her commencement address to the Odds, National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle urged the graduates to make a difference during a challenging time for the planet.
02 Message from the President
12 Supporting a Colony by Cherie Pedersen Biology professor Laura Altfeld shares her knowledge of the complex lives of ants with her students. 16 Beyond the Classroom by Cherie Pedersen Curran Scholars find happiness and lessons for life by helping others outside of the campus. 18 Unbridled Success by Cathy Mentzer Megan (Westover) Giordano is living her dream by helping special-needs children through equine therapy. 12
on the cover
Dinks are a long tradition at Wilson. Photo by James Butts
03 Wilson News 22 Around the Green A rabbi who helps students explore different faiths, an introverted mother who came out of her shell as a student at Wilson, and a teacher who received national recognition and credits Wilson. 28 Wilson Athletics 32 From Your Viewpoint by Dave True 33 From the Archives by Sarah Wilson The tradition of the dink, it's history is a real head scratcher. 34 Alumnae Association President's, trustees' and director's reports, as well as Reunion Weekend highlights. 45 Class Notes 67 Obituaries 69 Last Word
16 Corrections: The editors wish to correct the following errors in the winter/spring issue of Wilson Magazine. On page 25, Virginia Sciarpelletti is from the Wilson Class of 1995. Photo captions on pages 13 and 15 should read: “Students rally to keep Wilson College open” and “Banner created by Alison Hung ’81.”
— message from the —
president A
s with our own lives, the life of Wilson College shifts, moves and changes, but the core of the Wilson experience endures. As you read this issue of Wilson Magazine, I think you will be as inspired as I am by the stories of how Wilson and the people of our community — students, alumnae and alumni, faculty and staff — continue to change lives in positive ways. At the center of a Wilson education are the close bonds between students and professors — relationships that endure and contribute to the open, welcoming atmosphere here. Those ties and relationships are evident in the story of an award-winning teacher who received his education through Wilson’s Teacher Intern Program. Logan Newman ’00 credits Wilson and his instructors with giving him the tools to become the talented teacher he is today. Those enduring student-faculty bonds are also manifest in the blossoming careers of three young Wilson graduates working with special needs children through therapeutic riding at a groundbreaking facility in south-central Pennsylvania. Using lessons learned from Prof. Ann O’Shallie, Megan (Westover) Giordano ’08, Kristen Leitzell ’12 and Stephanie (Bachman) Fleck ’12 are helping families seeking a “leg up.” Wilson’s professors continue to amaze and inspire us all, among them Dr. Laura Altfeld, an ecologist who instills her own enthusiasm for the subject in her students, who say she often goes above and beyond the normal role of teacher. At Commencement in May, the Class of 2013 declared its faith in Wilson’s future by presenting the College with the gift of a time capsule that class members wish to be placed in the renovated John Stewart Memorial Library. Two weeks later at Reunion Weekend, the Class of 1963 made its own resounding statement about Wilson by giving $80,000 for the library — the largest, organized fundraising effort for a 50th reunion class gift in memory and a pledge that will help change the lives of future Wilson College students. Separated by 50 years, the classes of 1963 and 2013 have similar dreams for their alma mater. The library continues to be our top fundraising priority and we are making progress on matching the generous $3.6 million gift committed to the project by Marguerite Lenfest ’55. At this point, we have raised nearly $2.75 million for the project, $513,935 of which will be matched by the Lenfest gift. Wilson College changes lives and will continue to do so. We have more work ahead of us, but I am confident that together, we can ensure a bright future for Wilson College.
Sincerely,
Barbara K. Mistick President
02 wilson magazine
wilson news
"we all come to labyrinths
S
urrounded by maples adorned with colorful ribbons, members of the Wilson community moved as one on a journey of discovery through a labyrinth in celebration of World Labyrinth Day on May 4. A communal walking of the labyrinth was the culminating event in the semester-long Labyrinth Project coordinated by Wilson Chaplain Rosie Magee, who was inspired by the image of a labyrinth in the days following the Jan.13 Board of Trustees decision to implement transformational changes at Wilson. “Change can bring about anxiety and fear of what the future will look like,” Magee said. “I was struck by the visual image of a labyrinth versus a maze. A maze is designed for people to get lost. A labyrinth has no boundaries. It models a way for people to process emotion.” The labyrinth was constructed from stones decorated by the students, faculty, staff,
as ourselves."
alumnae/i and friends of the College. Each stone had a story behind it and was personal to someone. Lauren Dieffenbach ’13, a fine arts major, was moved by the image of hundreds of painted rocks sprawling across the green. “I love seeing Wilson students united artistically,” she said. English professor Larry Shillock was equally amazed at the sight of close to 100 Wilson community members working on the labyrinth. “This is truly a hands-on project for a hands-on campus,” he said. “I love it.” The project’s emphasis on community resonated with a number of students. Casey Beidel ’13 came to the labyrinth to find some peace amid preparing for graduation. “I will reflect and take some time to think about graduation and meditate on the last four years,” Beidel said. Katherine Johnson ’14 was seeking clarity. “For me, the labyrinth helps process
— jean lutz
change,” she said. “I have changed a lot since coming to Wilson. I was able to think about how much has changed.” Caitlin Wood ’14 had never heard of a labyrinth, but she volunteered to help with the project to be among her fellow classmates. “I like the sense of community this project has,” she said. The overwhelming response to the Labyrinth Project touched Magee. “There is something about the image of the labyrinth and the energy of the project that really drew people,” she said. “We experienced community in a new way. I am tremendously blessed by the project and by the gifts provided by others in making it a wonderful day.” —Courtney D. Wolfe
summer 2013 03
wilson news ‘Wilson Today’ Plan Moves Forward Immediately after the Board of Trustees approved the plan for bringing Wilson College to a sustainable financial future, eight newly formed and seven standing committees began work on various elements of the plan. Work completed this spring included:
Nationally Touring Art Exhibit Stops at Wilson Wilson College hosted a lecture/performance and reception on April 3 to mark the opening of "The Fluidity of Gender: Sculpture by Linda Stein," a five-year traveling exhibition stopping at 22 museums and college/university galleries nationwide through 2015.
The student center committee established the programming framework, as well as possible locations for a new, interim student center space; the coeducation recruitment committee conducted a number of focus groups with local high school students; the affordability and value committee developed the guidelines for the student debt buyback program and spoke with prospective parents and their students; and the marketing committee worked through the development of a message platform and identity review.
The lecture/performance was held in Warfield Hall’s Allen Auditorium and a reception began immediately afterward in the Bogigian Gallery in Lortz Hall. The exhibit remained on display through April 30.
The gender equity/women-centeredness committee and the pedagogy and curriculum committee held sessions on campus and produced recommendations that will be taken up by the faculty in the fall. The traditions committee has recommended the implementation of a permanent committee moving forward, while the work of the retention committee is ongoing. The standing academic program committees continue their work on programs through established processes. More detailed reports on the work of committees are available online at today.wilson.edu. Research Day Recognizes Student Achievements Wilson College held its fourth annual Student Research Day on May 3. Twenty-one seniors presented their work in the Brooks Complex Auditorium or Allen Auditorium in Warfield Hall, and eight juniors participated in a poster session in Brooks. “Student Research Day was created in recognition of the importance of student research and the accomplishments of our students,” said Mary Hendrickson, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “The research demonstrates the high level of accomplishments by the students as they complete their quest for bachelor’s degrees.” Seniors presented research on topics as far-ranging as the effects of multitasking on Facebook on reading comprehension, and censorship of the female voice in rap music to more scientific subjects as how snake venom can be used to prevent disease in humans, the effectiveness of algae to mitigate harmful acid mine drainage on the environment, and effects of hormones used in dairy cows on forms of cancer in humans. The day concluded with a presentation by Casey Beidel ’13 who, as winner of the 2013 Margaret Criswell Disert Honors Scholarship, was recogCasey Beidel ’13 nized for having the best proposal for honors in the major. Beidel’s presentation was “An Exploration of New-Wave Fabulism.” He is the son of Wilson Director of Undergraduate Admissions Patricia Beidel ’82 and her husband, Duane.
04 wilson magazine
Stein is founder and president of the nonprofit organization, Have Art: Will Travel! The focus of her work, in her words, has been, “to encourage constructive and empowering male/female gender roles leading to peace and equality.” Her aim is to expose and highlight sexism in the art world and beyond. Stein has exhibited extensively since beginning her career as an artist in the 1980s. Her work can be found in public and private collections across the country and has been the subject of numerous newspaper, magazine and journal articles. She regularly lectures, screens films/video, and has appeared on film as well as television. She has a master’s degree from Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s College. The exhibit was presented by Wilson’s Department of Fine Arts and Dance and sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program, Diversity Team and Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs/ Dean of the Faculty. Wilson Students Form Two New Clubs During the spring semester, Wilson students took advantage of the special opportunity the College affords students to create their own organizations by forming two new clubs: a collegiate Future Farmers of America chapter and the Wilson College Music Club. The FFA chapter was spearheaded by Carolyn Lawrence ’15 and Daniele Riley ’14, both of whom are majoring in veterinary medical technology. They started the club because FFA had been a positive part of their lives in high school. At the collegiate level, FFA operates as a service organization within the community, providing the possibility of the Wilson chapter partnering with the FFA chapter at Chambersburg Area Senior High School and with local 4-H groups. Members of the Wilson club will also have the ability to travel to compete in livestock judging competitions.
Students and Faculty Honored at Academic Awards Ceremony Wilson College honored students and faculty members during its annual Academic Awards presentation on May 3 in the Harry R. Brooks Complex for Science, Mathematics and Technology. The James Applegate Award presented to a student with an interest in and appreciation of drama and theater — Lauren Kershner ’13.
Donald F. Bletz Awards for Excellence in Teaching Senior Faculty Award Larry Shillock, professor of English Junior Faculty Award Amanda McMenamin, assistant professor of Spanish Adjunct Faculty Award Dale Cross, adjunct assistant professor of business The Alice Martin Brumbaugh Award in Sociology presented to a woman student who has entered the College at a nontraditional age and shows a special interest and/or outstanding promise as a student in the discipline of sociology — Connie Goodwin ’13. The CRC Press General Chemistry Achievement Award presented for outstanding achievement in general chemistry — Lindsey Sutton ’16. The Marel Harlow Cheng Memorial Prize presented to the student who has done well in international studies or who has made some noticeable contributions to international understanding — Amrisha Vaidya ’15. The Regina Shaputnic Cuomo Mathematics Award presented to a student or students who exhibit outstanding ability and are pursuing a major in mathematics — Amanda Clark ’14. The Margaret Criswell Disert Honors Scholarship presented to a rising senior who has, in the judgment of the selection committee, submitted the proposal for senior advanced study and research considered most worthy of support — Morgan Shadle ’14. The Estep-Lawson Memorial Prize presented to a student in a lower-level French course who demonstrates excellence and shows future promise in French studies — Amanda Clark ’14. The Donna Gomer VMT ADP Award presented to an adult degree student displaying excellence in the study of veterinary medical technology — Katie Bruner ’14. The Davison Greenawalt Grove Award presented to a member of the junior or senior class participating in research in the area of physical and life sciences — Chelsey Smentkowski ’13. The Dorle Haas Memorial Prize presented to a senior for outstanding service within the greater Chambersburg community. (The winner is selected by a committee appointed by the president) — Tracey Artz ’13.
summer 2013 05
The Margaret Strode Haines Award recognizes a student who possesses outstanding qualities of scholarship, interest in the humanities and strength of mind, body and spirit — Morgan Shadle ’14. The Gloria Randle Scott-Frances Richards Hesselbein Prize presented to the member of the senior class who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer service during four years at Wilson College — Hannah Onstott ’13. The Joanne Harrison Hopkins Literary Achievement Award presented for the finest, imaginative literature in fiction, poetry or drama produced during the academic year — Mallory Sunderland ’14. The Josef Michael Kellinger German or Foreign Language Award presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in German or foreign language studies — Katelyn Wingerd ’16. The Catherine Herr Langdon Award presented (by vote of the women students with the approval of the dean of students and the president of the College) to a senior or seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence and who have fully, unselfishly and willingly given comfort, compassion, encouragement, guidance, help and understanding to fellow students during the year — Yolanda Cabrera ’13. The Alta Lindsay McElwain Prize presented to the best student in Latin or Greek in the freshman class — Leah Edwards ’15. The Robert Shannon McElwain Prize presented to the best student in mathematics in the freshman class — Ghada Tafesh ’16. The Helen Adams Nutting History Prize presented to the member of the junior or senior class who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the field of history —Trisha Williams ’13.
06 wilson magazine
Organic Chemistry Award presented to the student or students in organic chemistry who have the highest grades earned for the year — Stephanie Walker ’15. The Outstanding Peer Teacher Award presented in recognition of exemplary service as an FYS Peer Teacher for 201213 — Leigh-Ana Castillejo ’15. The Nicky Hoffman Reich Award presented to the Wilson student whose work with animals shows commitment to their humane treatment — Kelly Flavin ’13. The Helga Rist Prize presented to a dedicated, successful, American Wilson College foreign language student (or students) who has demonstrated integrity, promise and potential — Dana Lomma ’13, Grettel Ocampo-Conejo ’15, Arlene Soto ’14. The John D. Rose Award in Environmental Studies presented to an outstanding junior majoring in environmental studies or biology to fund a summer research project or internship in some area of environmental studies, ecology or conservation biology — Meghan Reed ’16, Derrick Group ’15. The Grace Tyson Schlichter Award in Communications presented to a senior who has shown general academic excellence and outstanding career potential in the field of communications — Laura Hans ’13. The Mary Beers Sheppard Prize presented to the member of the senior class who, in the judgment of the English faculty, has shown the keenest understanding and appreciation of literature — Angella Dagenhart ’13. The William P. Van Looy Business Prize presented to junior or senior business and economics majors who have demonstrated excellence in busi-
ness studies and in community service to Wilson College and the local community — Anush Petrosyan ’14. The E. Grace White Prize presented to a senior whose major field is biology or biochemistry, and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and plans a career involving the biological sciences — Connie Goodwin ’13. The E. Grace White Summer Scholarship presented to outstanding juniors in biology for use at approved laboratories — Janelle Wills ’14. The Wilson College Education Award presented to one elementary education major and a student preparing for teacher certification in a secondary school level who have shown outstanding achievement in both their academic studies and in their professional preparation — Connie Bailey ’13 (elementary), Lisa Cook ’13 (secondary). The Wilson College Equestrienne Award presented to a graduating senior who has excelled in academics and equitation — Katherine Snyder ’14. Wilson College Scholar Athletes who have maintained a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher and participated in one of Wilson’s varsity athletic teams — Hannah DeMoss ’13, Sonja Hess ’15, Nicole Melanson ’15, Sarah McGuckin ’13, Megan Schneck ’14, Chelsey Smentkowski ’13, Janelle Wills ’14. The Carolyn Zeleny Prize presented to a sociology student in the junior or senior class on the basis of academic excellence and/or community service — Dana Hill ’13.
wilson news The music club arose from the desire of some students to have an instrumental musical outlet after high school. When Jose Cordova, professor of Spanish, sent out an email asking whether there was interest in such a club, the response was stronger than expected, with about 15 students expressing interest so far, according to club president Allison Shastay ’15, a biology major who plays the alto saxophone.
stage and screen actress most remembered for her iconic portrayal of Edith Bunker in Norman Lear's groundbreaking television show "All in the Family," received an honorary degree from Wilson at the 1997 commencement ceremony.
The club practices once a week in the dining hall. Cordova has recruited a Wilson graduate, Gloria Massa '47, as a de facto conductor. Although the group Carolyn Lawrence ’15 and Daniele Riley ’14 has significant challenges, including a need for sheet music for all members and a lack of brass or percussion players, members are enthusiastic and hope to organize a performance for next fall.
The origin of Stapleton’s connection with Wilson is unclear, but former interim president Donald Bletz remembers a close friendship between Stapleton and Putch, and then-Wilson College Business Manager Jim Hyatt and his wife, Martha, during the late ’70s-early ’80s.
Wilson College Receives NCAA Grant The NCAA in April awarded a matching grant to Wilson College, allowing the addition of a full-time athletics communication/sports information director to be hired by the college athletics department. The NCAA Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant, which will be distributed over three years, is highly competitive: Wilson is one of just six institutions nationwide to receive the grant. Wilson College applied for the grant after the Board of Trustees’ decision to expand coeducation across all programs, according to Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lori Frey. “Expanding Wilson’s athletics staff with this position is an important step in continuing to improve our intercollegiate sports programs, and will assist in making a smooth transition while we expand opportunities for our female and male student-athletes,” Frey said. “We are grateful to the NCAA in providing us with the support during this exciting time of growth within our department.” The NCAA will fund 75 percent of the position’s salary during the first year, 50 percent the second year and 25 percent during the third year. one of the wilson family remembered When news spread of the passing of actress Jean Stapleton on May 31, many in the Wilson College community paused to remember her once-strong connection to the College. Stapleton, award-winning
But her relationship with the College dated much further back, to the time when she and husband William "Bill" Putch operated the Totem Pole Playhouse at Caledonia State Park. According to newspaper accounts, the couple lived in the area from 1958 to 1983, when Putch was producer and director of the theater and Stapleton often performed in summer stock offerings there.
The couple’s son, television and film director John Putch, also recalls the relationship between the couples. “They were very good friends of my mom and dad's,” he said. “They were members of the Christian Science Church near the College.” Stapleton developed a fondness for Wilson. “Over the years, Ms. Stapleton has lent her name to fundraising campaigns, given her financial support and even held benefit performances for the College,” says a form nominating her for the honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1997. “Mom was a big women's rights advocate and the all-female college at the time meant a lot to her,” Putch said. Stapleton thought so highly of the College that in 1986, she donated a collection of personal letters, photos, posters, clippings, playbills and the like to Wilson, along with the archives of her husband, who died unexpectedly in 1983. The collections were housed in the Stewart Library for a number of years. Former Wilson President Gwen Jensen (1991-2001), photographed with Stapleton, remembers that at some point in the 1990s, Stapleton asked to remove her archives from the College, which at that time had no facility to properly store and display the materials. In 1988, Stapleton performed the one-woman show, “The Italian Lesson,” in Wilson’s Thomson Hall. Proceeds from the sale of tickets were used to establish the endowed Jean Stapleton Scholarship Fund. “She was a wonderful woman, a very kind, modest person, and very professional,” Jensen said. “She loved Wilson College, Chambersburg and Franklin County, and treasured her summers in the county with the (Totem Pole Playhouse).” —Cathy Mentzer
summer 2013 07
'The GIft of
Knowing' Odds Rule During 143rd Commencement By Debra Collins
“T
oday, Odds rule!” said President Barbara K. Mistick in welcoming the Class of 2013, their families and the Wilson College community to the 143rd commencement ceremony, held May 19 on the campus green. “We know this liberal arts foundation that you and your families have invested in is the best preparation for the life of work and service in your chosen field of study and scholarship,” Mistick said. During the ceremony, Wilson recognized 94 students for bachelor’s and associate degrees and 14 students for Master of Education degrees. Fifty-four students earned certificates through the Teacher Intern Program.
Commencement Speaker Sylvia Earle told the graduates they are a 'cause for hope.'
summer 2013 09
“I know that you are ready,” Mistick told the Class of 2013. “Wilson has prepared you well for a life of accomplishment, honor and service as citizens of the world. Know that you can do anything you set your mind to. After all, you are a Wilson graduate and today is your day.” In her address, commencement speaker Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence and noted scientist, oceanographer, environmental advocate and author, expressed concern for the major environmental challenges facing the world today and encouraged members of the graduating class to use their Wilson education to make a positive difference. “You have come along at the most important point in history. Think of it as a sweet spot in time …,” Earle said. “In the past half-century, more has been learned about the nature of the world and our place in it than during all preceding time. At the same time, more has been lost in terms of the ability of the Earth to support life as we know it.” Despite these challenges, her speech ended on a hopeful note. “What a time to be alive, armed with the gift of knowing,” said Earle, who was granted an honorary doctor of science degree from the College. “You are cause for hope. The ‘odds’ are more than ‘even’ that thanks to what you know, what you will do in this century will make the next century a better place.” Megan Longstreet, senior class president, and Angella Dagenhart delivered addresses representing the College for Women and Adult Degree Program, respectively. “It is our time to shine and make this crazy world of ours a better place,” Longstreet said. “There will be challenges along the way, but in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us.’ We must know what lies within us as individuals and go out into the world with the intent to make our dreams come true.” Dagenhart focused on the qualities of persistence, resourcefulness and resilience, lessons she said she learned from seeing a tree growing out of a rock. “Wilson Class of 2013, no matter what conditions you find yourself in once you leave today, don’t give up but remain persistent; don’t become frustrated, but remain resourceful; and don’t let life knock you down for too long, but instead, remain resilient,” Dagenhart said. “Plant your feet firmly and reach for the sun.” During commencement, former Wilson Trustee and past board chair Robin Joan Bernstein was recognized for her gift of time, talent and dedication on behalf of Wilson College with the designation of trustee emerita. W
10 wilson magazine
summer 2013 11
12 wilson magazine
supporting
a colony Professor takes study of ants to new levels By Cherie Pedersen
L
aura Altfeld, associate professor of biology, has a passion for ants. She likes them so much that she received a Paul Swain Havens Research Award last year to do a pilot study of ant biodiversity in southcentral Pennsylvania. “Ants have been on earth tens of millions of years, and they are pretty sophisticated in terms of their behaviors and their chemistry and their interactions with other organisms,” Altfeld said.
Specifically, Altfeld is exploring the roles and types of ants in local urban, agricultural and forested ecosystems. “I go out and I trap ants. I bring them back to the lab, and I identify them to get a sense of how these three ecosystems compare with one another,” she said. “For instance, what effect does irrigating, fertilizing and putting plants in the ground have on ants in farmland areas? What types of ants are present in the Borough of Chambersburg? What types of ants are present in forests, which are less impacted by people?” Altfeld frequently takes students along to teach them techniques for data collection, as well as for preparing, preserving and identifying specimens once back in the laboratory. She hopes to get additional funding from the National Science Foundation so she can expand the project and hire student research interns in the summer. “What I’m excited about is doing research that I can engage students in,” she said.
A native of south Florida, Altfeld spent her childhood outdoors, “barefoot and exploring stuff.” As an undergraduate at Eckerd College, she studied marine biology but switched to ecology as a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida. “I’m really fascinated by interactions between species,” she said. “That’s where I found my niche.” a special place As a visiting assistant professor at Eckerd, she discovered another niche that felt right — teaching. When a position opened at Wilson in 2008, it felt like the perfect fit. “The College connects with my own mission,” said Altfeld. “There is a special place in my heart for promoting women in science, and the courses I teach — ecology, conservation biology, marine biology, research techniques — are the courses I want to teach.” Altfeld is particularly adept at helping students design and carry out their own research projects — an opportunity she says is unique at Wilson. “At most other schools you do research by invitation. It’s not required,” she said. “We
14 wilson magazine
require all of our students to do research. It’s how they get a degree in biology, chemistry or biochemistry from Wilson College. They take what they’re interested in, read in the literature about what the current state of the field is, and then design a study to fill the gap of knowledge in a particular area. So students come up with novel research questions that they can then focus on and be the ‘expert’ in the room on.” At Wilson, research is a three-semester process. After students decide on their research question, faculty members help them develop a proposal. “We encourage them to submit their proposal to the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences (PAS) for funding so they learn about the grant process,” Altfeld said. “Then they conduct their research and analyze their data. In the last semester, the expectation is that they have to present it to PAS. They submit their abstract and if the abstract is approved, then they’ll present at the meeting.” In April, nine seniors traveled with Altfeld and other faculty members in the Physical and Life Sciences Division to the annual PAS
meeting in Pittsburgh. Three of them received funding for their projects. Altfeld takes pride in the knowledge that Wilson graduates are well-equipped for independent research. “We give our students opportunities that they can’t get other places, particularly the personalized mentoring through the research process,” she said. “We guide them the entire way so if they do go on to graduate school, they will already know what to do and they won’t need the same kind of guidance to get through it.” 'extremely geeky' But not all research takes place at Wilson. During the 2013 January-Term, Altfeld led an expedition of nine students, funded in part by travel-abroad scholarships, to study rain forests, mangrove islands, seagrass beds and coral reefs in Belize. With its diversity of ecosystems and cultures, it is the ideal place for field studies, including the study of how culture influences conservation. It was the second time she had taken students to Belize and the course — which is also open to alumnae/i — has been so successful, she plans to run it every two years.
What I’m excited about is doing research that I can engage students in. — laura altfeld, phd.
In 2011, the year before she was granted tenure, Altfeld was recognized with the Donald F. Bletz Teaching Award for her efforts both in and out of the classroom.
of reference for. I think that’s my strength — communicating complex information in different ways so a group of students can all understand.”
“Sometimes I’m extremely geeky, so my students know I’m not bored with the information,” she laughed. “I can’t help but think that passion and enthusiasm is contagious. I also think I’m a good communicator. I try to use metaphor as much as I can to take some complex mechanism and describe it in terms that students might already have a frame
Talk to any of her students and they name other qualities that have inspired them. “Dr. Altfeld is a great professor,” said senior Ovsanna Movsesyan, who plans to study anesthesiology in medical school. “She’s a very positive person, very organized and patient. I really enjoy working with her (and it is clear) she loves her job.”
Rachael Kinley ’13, attributes the confidence she felt when presenting her research at PAS to Altfeld, who served as her primary research adviser. “She was judging another session at the time I presented, but she ran to and from my auditorium to hear me speak, and I was grateful for that dedication,” Kinley said. Altfeld credits the new Brooks Complex for Mathematics and Technology with giving her the physical tools to teach. “The rooms that I get to teach in are wonderful,” she said. “As an ecologist, I’m proud that this is a LEED-certified building.” LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Four years at Wilson have convinced Altfeld that the College is not only the right fit for her, but also for her students. “This is an extraordinary place to come study science and, if science doesn’t work as a major, there are so many other things they can choose,” said Altfeld. “Students can find themselves when they are here.” W
summer 2013 15
16 wilson magazine
Beyond the
Classroom Curran Scholars program integrates what classroom learning means to life By Cherie Pedersen
T
hey serve meals at the Salvation Army, work with survivors of domestic abuse, train as emergency medical technicians with the local fire department — they even finger-paint. All told, Wilson’s 17 Curran Scholars will donate 4,420 hours — 260 hours each — to their communities this year. Though their academic schedules are full, their service is teaching them lessons in what it means to be active citizens in the world long after they collect their diplomas. “There is no room for passivity in community service,” said Hannah Onstott, a senior from Camp Hill, Pa., in a Convocation speech last fall. “I can’t just show up and offer a pair of hands for a few hours and call it a day. It requires a personal drive that is strong and well-motivated from within, something more powerful than financial aid.” With awards ranging from $4,000 to $7,500 per year, the Curran Scholarship plays an important role in enabling recipients to benefit from a Wilson education. Endowed by a trust set up by Dr. William Curran, a 19th-century Presbyterian physician committed to women’s education, the scholarship is also supported today by endowments from the Alice Shutt Fuchs Class of 1938 Scholarship, the Filomena Massa Memorial Service Scholarship and the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation. Each year the school awards up to 10 scholarships, primarily to firstyear students, which renew annually, contingent on maintenance of a 2.5 grade-point average. Total awards during the 2012-13 school year amounted to almost $100,000. Talk to any Curran Scholar about what the program means to them, however, and financial aid — vital as it is — is not their first response. “Volunteering always makes me happier,” said Gillian Barth ’14, a veterinary medical technology major from Carlisle, Pa., who not only gained valuable career experience at an animal rescue shelter, but also had her eyes opened to worlds she might not have entered otherwise, both as a trained emergency responder with the Chambersburg Fire Department and as a volunteer with survivors of domestic abuse. Onstott speaks of healing as she reflects on her volunteer service. “A common Jewish teaching that speaks to me is Tikkun Olam. It encompasses all people everywhere, and expects us as humans to help heal our world and each other through deeds of justice and love.” Small deeds count. “I love leaving my Sunday school classroom covered in finger paint… and when I volunteer with Animal House Rescue
and help out with one of their vaccine clinics, I don’t mind getting a few extra scratches,” Onstott said. “By earning those extra scratches and having paint-stained T-shirts, I open an awareness of who I am, where I am today and how I got here.” More than 30 community agencies, ranging from literacy and arts councils to hospitals and youth clubs, participate in the program, with more added each year. For the Rev. Rosie Magee, the college chaplain who oversees the program, the Curran Scholar experience is about integrating what classroom learning means to life in the world at large. “Wilson College does a fabulous job in forming people intellectually, but also as whole people,” she said. “Part of being a whole person is working out how our belief is put into action and how our action forms our belief.” Small wonder that Curran Scholars are also required to take two courses in religion and/or philosophy. “A spiritual formation is vital,” Magee said. “The notion of service leadership is something we really seek to emphasize, and it is demonstrated by these student leaders who go out beyond our community walls to serve others. To my mind, it’s the perfect fit.” Like ripples in a pond, the reach of the program continues to expand following graduation. Nicole Sarsok-Smith ’10 of Frederick, Md., now works for Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly, which encourages employee community service. “I am currently working on a project called ‘Thanksgiving in May’ to collect money and food for Manna Food Bank,” said Sarsok-Smith, a former Women with Children participant who occasionally took her son and daughter along when she volunteered at Penn Hall and the Salvation Army. “The two academic years I was a Curran Scholar will always be an experience for my children and me to remember. It helped shape my perspective on life in a positive way.” Kacie Oberholzer ’12 also learned lifelong lessons as a church youth education volunteer. “It was a great way to get involved in the greater Chambersburg community while at the same time helping to pay for my education,” she said. Now a veterinary technician in Greencastle, Pa., Oberholzer continues the volunteer work she started as a Curran Scholar. “Since leaving Wilson, I am becoming a fearless extrovert! I am not afraid to step out and meet new people and try new experiences on my own.” W
summer 2013 17
Unbridled Success Wilson graduates are performing ‘small miracles’ at Leg Up Farm By Cathy Mentzer
W
hen she was 6 years old on her family’s 100-acre Pennsylvania farm, Megan (Westover) Giordano ’08 got her first pony and fell in love. By high school, she found a second love in helping people. Today she combines the two as the equine director at an innovative, nonprofit therapy center for special-needs children called Leg Up Farm near York, Pa. While she helps improve the lives of children who face countless barriers every day, it’s Giordano who feels fortunate.
“I am, every day, living the dream that I’ve had for myself since I was a kid,” she said. “To be able to have a job that includes something I’m passionate about is an awesome thing.” Two other Wilson graduates — Stephanie (Bachman) Fleck and Kristen Leitzell, both from the Class of 2012 — are employed at the center as therapeutic riding instructors. The three, along with three instructors in training, provide about 350 therapy appointments a month to clients ages 4 through 21 with diagnoses such as autism, Down syndrome, and neurological and mental health disorders. Many of the children have multiple challenges.
summer 2013 19
Leg Up Farm is an inclusive therapy center where children and young adults with special needs and developmental delays receive a variety of therapies — physical, occupational, speech-language, behavioral, animal-assisted — along with educational programs, support and counseling for caregivers and other services, all under one roof. The center’s unique “Circle of Care” philosophy combines specialties to create a customized program of therapies with a team approach. Many therapy sessions include more than one therapist — a physical therapist with a behavioral therapist, for example. The facility, which opened in April 2010, added a therapeutic riding center in 2011. Giordano is the riding program’s first director. Giordano finds her work with children and horses rewarding each day. “Sometimes I think that I come away learning more than even a student,” she said. “It has taught me different lenses to view life through. Some of the kids we work with have this incredible sense of joy.” One young girl giggles the entire time her horse is trotting. “Sometimes as equestrians or even just ordinary people, we forgot how much joy there is in life.” During lessons, Giordano is also guided by her love and respect for the horses, which inspires her work. “There’s a huge sense of what I’m doing is contributing to a greater good,” she said. “The ability to impact someone’s life in a positive way — that’s huge.” Small miracles In the observation area for the arena at Leg Up Farm, Giordano’s words are on the wall: “Small steps result in small miracles.” Leg Up Farm founder Louie Castriota Jr. has adopted it as one of the facility’s guiding principles.
20 wilson magazine
Castriota, a former marketing executive, conceived the idea of a therapy center after his daughter was diagnosed with autism and other developmental delays. After learning how little help was available to families with special-needs children — state-funded early intervention services stop at age 4 — he decided to develop a facility where all kinds of therapy would be offered to families, regardless of ability to pay.
riders. We should all believe they have the ability to accomplish that.” Leg Up staff calls what they seek to foster in the children “progressive gains.” Miracles may not happen every day, but often, real progress does. Giordano recalled a young boy with multiple disorders that affected his cognition, balance, range of motion and verbalization. “When
I am, every day, living the dream that I’ve had for myself since I was a kid. — megan (westover) giordano
Leg Up Farm provided more than 14,000 therapy appointments in 2012. Officials expect that number to grow to more than 20,000 this year. About 80 percent of families coming to the farm use Medicaid as their primary insurance. Castriota, who has written a forthcoming book about his experiences called “Leg Up – The Courage to Dream,” shares a belief with Giordano that expectations for these special-needs children should not necessarily be lower than with other children — that small steps can result in small miracles. “I think sometimes other people see a disability, and I think we share a philosophy of seeing abilities,” he said. “We’re working toward helping (the children) become independent
he started riding, he had a very low range of motion. He would have been considered basically nonverbal when I met him. He could say mom, dad, no,” Giordano said. After working with him and his horse, which the boy adores, things have changed. “We do a lot with his verbalization and are working on five-word sentences. That’s pretty incredible,” Giordano said. “He’s now running. He was never able to run before. He’s learning how to do two-point across poles (a jumping exercise over poles on the ground) and a posting trot.” Not just a pony ride The goal of teaching the students horsemanship skills distinguishes the therapeutic
riding program at Leg Up Farm, according to Giordano, who credits Wilson Associate Professor of Equestrian Studies and Equine-Facilitated Therapeutics Ann O’Shallie with instilling the philosophy in Wilson students. “Sometimes people hear the words ‘therapeutic riding’ and they think ‘pony ride,’” Giordano said. “One of the things we really learned from Ann is that therapeutic riding is so much more than pony rides. These children should be learning horsemanship skills.” Giordano wanted to recruit therapeutic riding instructors with the same mindset. “One of the big reasons I wanted to bring Wilson grads into our program is because I knew we would be coming from the same place with very similar philosophies.” By expecting more of each student, instructors not only work on children’s physical strength and stamina, but also help them develop problem-solving and communications skills, as well as giving them coping mechanisms. “I think it does huge things for their self-confidence,” Giordano said. Fleck and Leitzell are equally passionate. “Facilities like Leg Up are the future of therapeutic riding,” said Fleck, former Wilson College Government Association (WCGA) president. “The standard is being raised. If you look down the road a few years from now, who knows what we’ll be doing?”
children don’t necessarily feel like they are undergoing therapy. “It’s one of those activities where she is working and she just doesn’t know it,” said Trina Buss Sgrignoli, whose 9-year-old daughter, Hannah Buss, has Down syndrome and has been coming to the farm for equine therapy since October 2012. To her mother, each small step Hannah reaches toward improvement is a milestone. Since she started therapy at Leg Up Farm, Hannah’s wide gait is narrowing, her core muscles are stronger, she sits more upright, her understanding of commands has improved, Sgrignoli said.
finishes, Hannah gets high-fives all around. The affection students and instructors feel for one another is palpable. Taking up the challenge As a high school student, Giordano wanted to somehow combine her love of horses with working with juvenile delinquents. She was introduced to working with special-needs children while studying at Wilson College, where she majored in both equine-facilitated therapeutics and religion. Something clicked. “At Wilson, I really fell in love with the challenge of finding ways to use the horse to work on therapeutic goals,” she said.
“She really enjoys the equestrian therapy. She doesn’t understand all the benefits she gets out of it, but she likes the horse. She likes controlling the horse. She likes learning something new,” Sgrignoli said. “It’s something that’s her own and nothing her other siblings get to do.”
When Leg Up Farm was building its therapeutic riding facility, Giordano had graduated from Wilson and was living in Chambersburg while enrolled in a graduate program in mental health counseling at Shippensburg University. She was also an adjunct instructor in Wilson’s EFT program.
Hannah also loves her instructors, and so does her mom, who enrolled Hannah in equine therapy in Montana before moving to Pennsylvania.
“I was really miserable without working fulltime with the horses,” said Giordano, who considered enrolling in a seminary for a time. “I was at the point where I wanted to compile all of my experiences and develop my own (therapeutic riding) program.”
“(The instructors here) are very loving and caring and enthusiastic about working with the kids,” Sgrignoli said. “If they’re having a bad day, you don’t know it.”
Children from Leg Up Farm even compete in horse shows for all riders — not special-needs riders, according to Leitzell, who proudly announces that one of her kids recently placed third. “I’m really excited to see where we are in a few years,” she said.
At a recent riding session led by Giordano with Fleck and Leitzell as “sidewalkers” who walk beside the horse for safety, Giordano alternately barks instructions, asks questions, gently encourages and praises Hannah while leading the child through a series of riding exercises. “There you go. Beautiful. Very nice!”
Another guiding philosophy at Leg Up Farm is that therapy should be fun. Though therapeutic riding improves their balance, develops muscles and cultivates confidence, the
Afterward, Giordano instructs Hannah to lead the horse, named Dot, to the stall, remove the saddle and brush the animal. When she
Meanwhile, Castriota was already looking to Wilson to help him launch Leg Up Farm’s program because he knew about and respected the College’s EFT program. After receiving a resume from Giordano, who had heard about the opportunity through friends, he called her within a few hours. When they met in person, “her interaction with me showed a much higher maturity level than I had gotten from other candidates,” Castriota said. “I could see that she had good values, a strong work ethic, and I could see that she was very well-prepared to take on the leadership role at Leg Up Farm.” W
summer 2013 21
around the green
22 wilson magazine
a sacred
subject Instructor inspires students to balance knowledge with faith By Cherie Pedersen
W
hen Nicole Trusky ’14 signed up for “Intertextuality: The Prophets in the Bible and the Quran,” she was given a 37page syllabus with required readings not only from Christian, Jewish and Islamic scripture, but also from several dozen books of commentary and analysis. It was, she admitted, overwhelming at first. However, the course soon turned into one of her favorites, not just because of what she learned, but because of the instructor. “This is the second course I’ve taken with Jordi (Gendra), and I will continue to take his classes to complete my minor in (religion) studies,” Trusky said. “I’ve learned to love the subject because of his courses.” Observe Rabbi Jordi Gendra in the classroom and the reason is obvious. He teaches with an exuberance and humor that keeps students engaged and attentive. He moves freely around the room, pausing frequently to ask, “You understand?” And eventually they do. Gendra, who began teaching religion classes at Wilson in fall 2011, holds a doctoral degree in medieval Jewish literature and a master’s degree in linguistics with an emphasis in Semitic languages. Born in Spain to a multilingual family, he became proficient in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. After completing his studies, he began working with translations of sacred texts. From the beginning it was clear that even texts of the same stories differ widely, in part because of the communities from which they spring, and also because of what the translator brings to a text in the context of his own background. When he designed his course on the Bible and the Quran, Gendra wanted his students to understand that, and to develop the critical
thinking skills needed to analyze and compare texts reflecting the traditions and beliefs of three of the world’s major religions. He developed the course around the prophets whose stories have found their way over the centuries into both texts. “Prophets are concrete individuals,” he explained, and most of them are characters that students are already familiar with: Adam, Abraham, Noah, Isaac, Ishmael, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, David, Job and, of course, Jesus. “Everybody knows about Jesus,” he said. What differs is perception. For most of his students, their first writing assignment is an illuminating one: compare and contrast a specific character or story in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. How are the accounts similar? How do they differ? What is the significance of these differences? Why are they there and how do they fit into the overall contexts of the Hebrew Bible or the Quran? Inevitably, the discussion turns to other questions: How is a prophet defined, and what are a prophet's attributes in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles and in the Quran? “The text talks to a specific community in time and geography, and their needs and their hopes are encapsulated in those texts,” he said. “If I have a revelation and I write it down, what is going to be the value of that revelation? How can it become a sacred text? There is a process here, and it begins by having a group of followers who will create meaning based on the text. The community begins reading the text and then the authorities in the community decide what’s good and what’s not good in that text. So then you go from a revelation to a canon. You go from 32
gospels to four. You go from four versions of the Quran to a single version.” Gendra cites the absence of powerful women from scripture as an example of community influencing text. “(Scripture) was written by men for men about men. So where are women? There is nothing more frightening for men than women taking control. And so writings that present a very powerful image of women who defy the status quo are not included in the canon. The thing that I find interesting when I’m teaching is that when students come from a context of studying religion in church, they don’t think about such things as the role of gender or violence or identity. I want them to be able to look from a critical perspective to a sacred text as a piece of literature. What does it teach you about the community in which the text was formed?” Digging deeper into a text to explore not only context, but also personal theology, is ultimately the byproduct of religious studies. A question that inevitably comes up in class is, “How do you balance knowledge with faith?” “That’s the process of discovery,” the rabbi said. “We can do this in class because class is a safe space. In class there are no dumb questions. In class everything is open and up for discussion. I always say if you have a different theory, go ahead. You just have to express it in a polite way and you have to build the argument. In the end, the answer goes back to his central tenet. “The sacredness of the text is not in the text. It’s the relationship one has with the text. The text is sacred to me because I care about the text. I speak to the text and the text talks to me. We shape each other.” W
summer 2013 23
out of her
shell
With her daughter in tow, Dana Hill’s drive led her to academic success By Cherie Pedersen
T
he first thing you notice about Dana Hill ’13 is her smile. It is the smile of a woman who radiates confidence, a woman unafraid to meet the world head-on. Seeing her today, few would believe that during her first month at Wilson, she cried every day. She was the mother of a 5-year-old daughter, a self-proclaimed introvert, a city girl adrift in a world that bore little resemblance to the one she had left behind. “It was a big culture shock,” said the transplant from Greenbelt, Md. “I had been out of school for five years. I was a massage therapist at a spa. The big thing was knowing I had a child with me who I had to be strong for.” Academically gifted, Hill was looking for a way to further her education when her mother sent her information about the Women with Children program at Wilson. Even though it meant uprooting her daughter, DaNya, from the stable family environment she had been used to, Hill recognized it as the opportunity she needed to make things better for both of them. “Luckily, I came into an environment where there were other women in similar circumstances who could understand my experience,” she said. The program helped to dispel the feeling of being alone, as did understanding faculty members who encouraged her to explore her interests in race, class and gender. “I became
24 wilson magazine
more open and felt empowered as I learned how all of these intertwine and affect our standing in society,” Hill said. “I learned how to use my voice — how to be assertive in a mature manner.” The change in her was nothing short of miraculous, according to WWC Program Director Katie Kough. “Dana is one of the most amazing student transformations I have ever seen,” she said. “At some point, she came out of her shell and took off.” On the Dean’s List every semester since her enrollment, Hill earned the Alta Lindsay McElwain Prize given to the best freshman student in Latin or Greek. As a junior, she earned the Alice Martin Brumbaugh Award in Sociology, in part for her research and presentation on Edmonia Lewis, the first African-American and Native American woman to gain international fame and recognition as a sculptor. But academics have not been her sole focus. In her sophomore year, she conducted a food drive for the Chambersburg Food Pantry. She has also volunteered at the Franklin County Day Reporting Center, helping former female inmates set goals for the future. As a senior, she was a resident adviser in Prentis Hall, which further stretched her. “I’ve learned to work with different personalities, to be a leader and to empower other people,” she said. “I’ve had to learn patience.”
She laughs about another skill she has had to learn: time management. “I have a schedule. I schedule mom time, bedtime, personal time.” Somehow it all works. She acknowledges that part of the motivation behind her drive is to prove herself. “Sometimes you feel stereotyped. You feel you have to work extra hard because you don’t want it to seem as if you’ve been given a handout or extra privileges,” Hill said. “I want to show that I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and that I deserve to be here as much as anyone else.” Now, after graduating in May with a degree in sociology, she has plenty of advice for women who find themselves in the circumstances she was in four years ago. “Give yourself time to adjust and don’t be so quick to judge. Look at the big picture. This is an opportunity that doesn’t come often.” As for her daughter, she has made not only friends at Wilson, but also “brothers and sisters,” thanks to the communal nature of life in Prentis Hall. But the best part may be in knowing that mother and daughter did this together. “I think my daughter can see that I didn’t let my situation as a single mom stop me,” said Hill. “I didn’t give up. We went to college. A lot of people can’t say that.” W
around the green
summer 2013 25
around the green
26 wilson magazine
finding his
place
Nationally recognized teacher credits Wilson College and Teacher Intern Program for current success By Cherie Pedersen
H
ow important is place in shaping a future? For Logan Newman ’00, who recently earned one of teaching’s highest honors, Wilson College played a pivotal role that started in childhood. “I grew up three blocks from the school. As a child I swam in the creek, sledded on the hills, ran through the trees and petted the horses,” Newman said. “(As a teenager) I performed in plays and attended prom there. As an adult, I studied in the library and learned in the classrooms. Because of my time at Wilson, I was able to become the teacher I am today. The education and biology classes I took were topnotch and the professors were fantastic. The small classes, close relationships and comfortable and affordable setting were important factors in my success."
Now a teacher of biology at East High School in Rochester, N.Y., Newman added something to his resume in December that few of his peers can claim: certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Created in 1987 in response to "A Nation at Risk", a report issued by the National Commission on Excellence in Education, the board sought to create advanced standards for effective teaching and learning by which teachers could be evaluated on a voluntary basis. Those who do spent countless hours preparing written and videotaped portfolios on which they were evaluated on mastery of their subject and their teaching ability using the
board’s “Five Core Propositions for Teaching” (www.nbpts.org). “It was one of the hardest things I have ever done as an educator,” Newman acknowledged. “During that time, I was also working as a mentor to new teachers in the district, and training veteran mentors in methods of communication. I also became part of a small cohort of teachers at the University of Rochester working on (becoming) master teacher fellows in math and science. But I wanted to push myself to be the best teacher I could and I had heard about this program.” If being the best means offering students something they cannot get elsewhere, Newman qualifies on another level. His school may be the only high school in the country to offer ophthalmic fabrication, a course he helped create to teach students not only about the biology of the eye, but also about the art of crafting prescription eyewear, which he hopes his students will eventually be able to do for district schoolchildren. “We look at it as an opportunity to do real hands-on and relevant learning that involves application of ideas and concepts,” said Newman, whose qualifications to teach the class date back to his days as an optician in the Navy — a career which led him to pursue a biology degree from Mansfield University. For Newman, making real connections with authentic science and doing it in unique and challenging ways are what teaching is
all about. “In my biology class, I’ve created activities that have students explore some of the fundamental experiences of evolution and natural selection, including comparing skeletons of various organisms and examining fossils of organisms,” he said. “In my ophthalmic fab class, my students get to dissect cow eyes and relate those to human eyes and the vision problems some people experience. They get to experience learning in a new and different manner.” Creativity may be a hallmark of his teaching, but he is equally inventive outside the classroom. Take his garage, which has housed everything from a model Noah’s Ark — which he made for his children’s preschool — to a coffee table in the shape of a butterfly that he made as a wedding gift for a friend. A proud member of LumberJocks, an online woodworking forum, Newman even has a web page to display and market his work (http://lumberjocks.com/LoganN/projects). Although his life has taken him in directions he could not have envisioned when he explored the Wilson campus as a boy, he is unequivocal in crediting the College for giving him the tools that launched him into a career he thrives on. "I truly believe that it was the great start I got at Wilson that helped me attain national certification,” said Newman. “Without the Teacher Intern Program at Wilson, I would not be the teacher I am today. Wilson helped to push me to be my best." W
summer 2013 27
wilson athletics
extreme makeover:
athletics Athletics department prepares for addition of five men's teams By Lizi Arbogast
W
ilson College is about to undergo a serious makeover, and part of that will involve the athletics department. With the admittance of men this fall to a formerly women's-only college, Wilson has already made strides in making sure its NCAA eligibility stays intact. The introduction of two men's sports have already been announced, and more are on the way.
"I think that as our college grows, our enrollment goes up and our number of athletes increase, that should bring additional success and opportunities to all of our programs," Wilson College Athletic Director Lori Frey said. Already under way for male athletes are cross country and men's basketball programs. But at least three more will be required within the next three years due to NCAA criteria. Wilson was an NCAA-sanctioned school (Division III) while it was a women's-only institution because the governing body requires at least five sports. To remain sanctioned when men arrive, Wilson is required to offer at least five to the newcomers as well. Wilson is in the process of submitting a waiver request to the NCAA to allow the College three years to fulfill the criteria, but not lose its eligibility during that time. "We know that it will take time to get those men's programs up and running, and I think the NCAA recognizes that as well," Frey said.
28 wilson magazine
"They have a process in place where transitioning institutions can request a waiver of requirement and still be eligible for championships and voting rights." The current plan is to add cross country for this fall, while men's basketball will have to wait until the winter of 2014-15. Also coming in 2014 will likely be men's golf, which will serve as a spring sport — another of the NCAA's requirements is to have a sport available during each season. The other two sports have a timeline of two years, but they have not been settled upon. Frey said she has been making recommendations to the board and cabinet of the College about which sports to offer, and together, the Wilson administration will come to a decision. The official plan must be presented to the NCAA before Wilson begins its fall semester. The cross country program is in an especially interesting position. It is not only new to men — it is just simply new. With the elimination of gymnastics, Wilson faced the issue of having to add another women's sport, as well. Cross country was the answer. "This is my first experience as a head coach, so it's definitely an exciting time to be given the opportunity to not only start my first-ever cross country program, but it's the first-ever for Wilson, too," coach Joanna Hayes said. "I think we're going to have to be patient the first year or two, and it's going to be a little bit challenging at first."
Hayes has quite a bit of experience with cross country; she has been involved with the sport since her junior year of high school. From there, she ran at Kutztown University, where she majored in sports management. Upon graduating in 2009, she took a job at Dickinson College in track and field, then became an assistant track and field coach at Gettysburg College in the summer of 2011. Hayes has about five months to build her program from the ground up, and she said her biggest strategies right now have been to reach out to current Wilson students in hopes of recruiting some, as well as spending time on recruiting websites to find outside participants. "It's definitely a challenge because there isn't a whole lot of time," Hayes said. "I plan to work with what I have come the fall, then really start working on the 2014 class." Because Wilson men will not be able to live on campus in the first year — living accommodations are still in the works — the only males will be commuters. Hayes said to get around that, she plans to communicate with local high school coaches and see if they have any runners who may be interested in running and studying at Wilson. "That's probably my best bet in terms of getting runners, because it's going to be pretty challenging with them having to be somewhat close," Hayes said. "Just word of mouth is going to be another big approach."
The men's basketball program is going to be in a whole different boat because it will not be tipping off until 2014-15. "Cross country is considered an individual sport, so even if we have one runner, we can take them to competitions," Frey said. "For men's basketball, it'll take (the coach) a year to recruit a team. When you're starting from scratch, you need the time to successfully bring in the athletes." Miles Smith Jr. has been hired as the men's basketball coach and will also serve as Wilson's admissions recruiter. Smith has previously coached at Mercer County (N.J.) Community College, where his team won its conference championship and went on to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. "From then, I knew that I would be in coaching for the remainder of my life," Smith said. "I had an excellent time educating kids not about just basketball but life in general." Smith plans to use the connections he already has, as well as his coaching philosophies, to build a successful program. Smith said he uses a Princeton-style offense that stresses teamwork and sharing the ball.
"I think one of the positives about it is I'll be able to bring in the guys that I recruited from 1 to 15," Smith said, "so I'll have a bit of a relationship with all the guys before I get there. The other thing going into it is being able to play the style of play I want with guys who want to work hard both on and off the court." Smith said his biggest challenge will be getting players to come to a brand-new program. Many kids dream of playing at a school rich with tradition and success, whereas Wilson is something new. "On the flip side, though, they get the opportunity to start their own history," Smith said. Upon arriving in Chambersburg, Smith said he also hopes to get acquainted with local basketball coaches and others in the community who may be able to help in the recruiting process. He also plans to recruit from places such as Philadelphia, where he already has connections and basketball contacts. The change for Wilson is certainly going to be a large undertaking, but it may benefit more than just the men who plan to become part of the Phoenix.
this process have indicated that what they found when their institution went co-ed was more female athletes became interested in their college than female athletes who were interested in women's-only colleges. They're indicating to me that recruiting will become more effective and easier for our women's programs." Although Wilson is obviously a college rich in tradition of being only for women — it was founded in 1869 as a one-gender institution — Frey said she plans to put as much energy into the new men's programs as she has and still will for the women. "As an athletic director, my goal will be to treat all of our athletes and all of our programs equally," Frey said. "In terms of giving attention to programs, I will very carefully be sure that there is equality, having been here during the time when only our female athletes were getting recognized." W — Chambersburg Public Opinion (Reprinted with permission)
Frey said, "From an athletic standpoint, other athletic directors who have gone through
summer 2013 29
Spring Sports Roundup 2013 Wilson Lacrosse Despite finishing the season 0-11, Wilson College Lacrosse Head Coach Beth Weixel is pleased with the team’s progress and optimistic about the future. “We were an inexperienced team this year, and improved drastically from day one,” Weixel said. “The team was willing to work hard and eager to learn and we ended the season playing our best lacrosse. I hope we can carry that valuable experience into next season to improve the program.” Senior Jess Menard (Fallbrook, Calif./Fallbrook) was selected to the North Eastern Athletic Conference’s All-Conference Third Team at the attack position. Menard led the Phoenix stat sheet with 29 goals, 3 assists and 17 draw controls.
2013 Wilson Softball The Wilson College Softball Team ended the 2013 season with a record of 16-17, finishing third in the NEAC championship tournament. Despite the team’s 0-8 start, the Phoenix improved during conference play, finishing the regular season 13-7 in the NEAC and earning their fifth consecutive appearance in the NEAC championship tournament. At the tournament, the team went 3-2 for the weekend, earning its fifth NEAC final four appearance. Head coach Brett Cline was pleased with the passion and determination the team played with at the end of the season. “Our goal going into the tournament was to strive for our dream and leave everything we had on the field,” Cline said. “During the tournament, this team played with pride, they played as a unit, and left everything on the field. We are very proud of what they accomplished.”
Four players earn All-Conference honors Junior Megan Schneck (Bethel, Pa./Tulpehocken) and senior Tara Fields (Berryville, Va./Clark County) were named to the NEAC South All-Conference First Team. Schneck topped the Phoenix with a .438 batting average, placing her second in the conference. She also led the NEAC with 21 stolen bases and was ranked fourth with a .464 on-base percentage. At the plate, Fields posted a .365 batting average with 35 hits, including five doubles and two triples. She also lead the Phoenix with 29 runs batted in, ranking her sixth in the NEAC. Freshman pitcher Taylor Crouse (Orrtanna, Pa./Gettysburg) and sophomore Ashleen McCullough (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) were named to the NEAC South All-Conference Second Team. On the mound, Crouse posted a 10-11 record for the Phoenix. In 123 innings pitched, she totaled 96 strikeouts, averaging 5.42 strikeouts per game, and posted an ERA of 5.21. McCullough recorded a .367 batting average with 36 hits, 12 runs batted in, six doubles, two triples, a .461 on-base percentage, and a .469 slugging percentage. At shortstop, McCullough also lead the Phoenix defensive effort, recording 77 putouts and a .922 fielding percentage.
30 wilson magazine
wilson athletics
Stats
Games Played- Goals Assists Points Shots Game-winning Games Started Goals
2012
19-19
7 9 13 75
1
2011
14-14
4
0
2
10
39
Swartz elected President of advisory committee On April 7, Wilson College junior Hillary Swartz (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) was elected president of the North Eastern Athletic Conference South Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The purpose of the NEAC student-athlete advisory committee is to promote the highest levels of athletic competition and represent the needs of all student-athletes. The group also seeks to promote the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership, growth, dedication and academic excellence through the conference. The membership of the NEAC
SAAC is composed of two representatives from each the NEAC’s 13 member institutions. As president, Swartz will represent the student-athlete's voice and serve as a spokesperson for the NEAC SAAC. She will also preside over future NEAC South SAAC meeting and serve as a liaison to the conference commissioner and campus SAAC groups. Swartz represents the sport of field hockey on Wilson’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
summer 2013 31
— from your —
viewpoint
P
resident Obama’s recent speech at the National Defense University was billed as a major speech on U.S. counterterrorism policy, especially on drones and Guantanamo. The New York Times was among those that billed it as a signficant shift. Following the speech, debate arose over the true extent of that shift. Then came the Snowden release, and it suddenly seemed that what the president hadn’t told us (about the National Security Agency) was more interesting than what he had (about drones and Guantanamo). Seen in this light, Obama’s speech is important, both because of what he says (and doesn’t say) about drones and because of what his speech suggests about the weakness of the law compared with the power of the presidency. This is a lesson we had supposedly learned under President George W. Bush. Hence, the election of Obama, who had promised a more responsible, transparent and effective government. The sovereign power of the presidency is such, however, that even qualities such as competence and responsibility may be made to serve foolishness. Drones, the law and Obama’s leadership are intricately tied. The challenge of making sense of them is that Obama does not simply act in one way (none of us does). In the 2008 presidential campaign, candidate Obama vowed to step up the fight against Al-Qaeda by making greater use of drones — especially in Pakistan. True to his word, Obama’s presidency has overseen a marked increase in the deployment of drones, especially in the Pakistani tribal areas. The policy, of course, has proven controversial in Pakistan, with our allies, and increasingly in the U.S., though sizable majorities continue to support Obama’s aggressive use of drones overseas. Much of the internal criticism has focused on the legality of the targeted killing of an American citizen following the killing of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the radical cleric then living in Yemen. One might suspect that such appeals would resonate with the president, given his training in constitutional law, but duties of the office
32 wilson magazine
work against a president being a champion of human rights. In Obama’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he spoke to how he was indebted to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and how his presidency was informed by King’s powerful witness to nonviolent resistance, but that nonviolence could not have the only or last word because of his responsibilities as president. “I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people.” Obama may be most remembered for his inspiration, but it is his overriding sense of responsibility that has characterized his presidency to date. Consider his early morning trips to Andrews Air Force Base to honor soldiers killed in action, his detailed orders for the troop surge in Afghanistan, and his overseeing the kill list in drone strikes. Obama is not unique in this regard, but he appears exceptional in his taking almost personal responsibility for duties associated with his role as commander-in-chief. This sense of responsibility was on full display at the Defense University. Here was the president speaking openly about a change in counterterrorism policy and articulating reasons for and against his policy. Speaking of the killing of al-Aulaqi, President Obama conveys the weight of such decisions: “Alongside the decision to put our men and women in uniform in harm’s way, the decision to use force against individuals or groups — even against a sworn enemy of the United States — is the hardest thing I do as president. But these decisions must be made, given my responsibility to protect the American people.” At the same time, he recognizes that drone strikes are not a silver bullet: “Force alone cannot make us safe,” the president said. “We cannot use force everywhere that a radical ideology takes root; and in the absence of a strategy that reduces the well-spring of extremism, a perpetual war
— through drones or Special Forces or troop deployments — will prove self-defeating, and alter our country in troubling ways.” The president calls for an engaged use of America’s soft power to address “the underlying grievances and conflicts that feed extremism — from North Africa to South Asia.” Obama appears in the speech as one who believes in the power of reason and deliberation. He speaks of the need for debate and advises that that we need to hear the words of the protester who had just been marched out of the room: “The voice of (Medea Benjamin) is worth paying attention to,” Obama said. “Obviously, I do not agree with much of what she said, and obviously she wasn’t listening to me in much of what I said. But these are tough issues, and the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong. But isn’t “glossing over tough issues” exactly what President Obama is doing? What is the point of hearing the protester? Yes, the president is open on a few questions, such as the possibility of an independent oversight board in the executive branch. His words, however, if looked at closely, do not serve to welcome criticism. Just the opposite, I’m afraid. In citing opposing arguments, he is not genuinely wrestling with the complexities of the issue, but acting the part of the attorney or debater who acknowledges opposing evidence and then proceeds to overcome it. Obama’s words appear crafted not to invite, but to wall off or defend against criticism. If he were genuinely open, he might at points appear contrite or self-critical, but far from acknowledging mistakes, he gives the appearance of being in command, confident that the policy is effective, legal and moral. — David True, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Religion
— from the —
archives
WHEN DID THE DINK BECOME A WILSON TRADITION?
T
he history of Wilson College is filled with tradition, but not all traditions have endured through the years and not all are long-standing. Consider the “dink.” Dinks are the beanies students don during significant campus events, the caps alumnae pack first when preparing for Reunion Weekend, and the funny hats that outsiders do not appreciate. The exact circumstances of how the dink was born are elusive, but some records of its origin can be found in the C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives. The dink’s arrival at Wilson coincides with the resurgence of class spirit on college campuses around the nation after World War II. The felt hat is first mentioned in the Aug. 29, 1947, issue of the Billboard, in which the author calls the dink a “crew-cap.” The dink later appears in 1948 Conococheague photographs of Dummy Rush Day, a celebration of class spirit and competition between Wilson’s Odds and Evens. The oldest dink in the collection dates to 1944. By 1951, numerous Wilsonites were showing off their beanies in casual shots around campus and as the years go on, the dink becomes a wardrobe staple for college celebrations. In 2013, the dink is bestowed upon freshmen during the Sarah Wilson Week pilgrimage to the namesake’s grave at the historic Rocky Spring Church Cemetery. A freshmen continues to wear the dink as it is first placed on her: conventional, backward, askew or even inside-out. The dink tradition has evolved as classes of Wilson students change it to suit their needs each academic year. Traditions are fluid markers of identity and, while they are links that connect us to the past, they can take different forms throughout the years. — Sarah Wilson ’10
summer 2013 33
association news
W
hat a year! To say that it has been challenging would be an understatement. But through it all, I have been overwhelmed by the generous spirit of my fellow alumnae who have given so much of themselves to support the College and the association. We do have accomplishments we want to share with you.
Alumnae/i Relations Office Marybeth Famulare has been our director for just over one year now. We would like to commend her for the excellent job she is doing. Her listening and communication skills are just what we need at this critical time. Thank you, Marybeth. In July of last year, we began sending an e-newsletter. It contains the happenings of the association and happenings around campus. It goes out around the 15th of every month. There is now a tab on our website for volunteer opportunities. It fosters outreach among alumnae, students, faculty and staff. We have reached out to the Wilson College Government Association to improve communications between our two organizations. A student has been appointed to meet with Marybeth on a regular basis to exchange opportunities, questions and suggestions. In January, we held a special meeting of the association to discuss how alumnae can help the College. By the end of the meeting, we had established four task force groups and had come up with ideas on assisting with recruitment, retention, fundraising and marketing. During our Winter Retreat Weekend, these task force groups were introduced into our existing committee structure for further deliberations. There has been some confusion on sent emails. Recipients are not sure where the message is originating. The association now has its own email address. It is aawc@wilson.edu.
and set up a Facebook account. The main event for engagement is Reunion Weekend. Hopefully you are enjoying the fruits of their labor. Finance Committee We have assets totaling $130,000. However, very few dollars are actually our money. As you are aware, we are the custodian for two reunion class gift funds, numerous class and club treasuries, restricted funds for restoration and preservation opportunities, and restricted funds for scholarships and internships. Last year, we changed our accounting year to July 1 through June 30. Our fiscal year 2012 audit was clean with no recommendations to management. Reports have been filed with the proper regulatory agencies. To strengthen the governance of the association, the board recently adopted a whistleblower policy and a records retention policy. We are in the process of revising our internal financial procedures. Heritage Committee Through the work of our Heritage Committee, we assisted with the purchase of wicker furniture for the porch at the Hankey Center. The Ring It Forward Program is up and running, whereby an alumna may pass on her ring to another alum or student. The committee is working to set up an online, digital map of the bricks and other donations made by alumnae/i. Photos of places around campus were taken and used to create notecards, which are for sale. The letter art spells out WILSON. Wilson College will turn 150 years old in just six years. As we prepare to celebrate a century and a half of education, we want to hear from you. What made your Wilson experience special to you? No memories are too small. Just write them down, type them up or email them to the Hankey Center at amy.ensley@wilson.edu.
The association felt the need to show our appreciation to the faculty and staff for their loyalty and commitment to the College during the past year. We distributed goodie bags containing a variety of candy with a note of thanks.
Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee works to ensure that our board spans the decades. Soon after preparing a slate for this year, they began work on next year. The committee recently revised the new board member handbook, as well as the guidelines for mentors.
Engagement Committee The Engagement Committee has been busy this year. We co-sponsored events during Women’s History Month, Labyrinth Project and Graduation Fair. The alumnae/i relations office has updated our website pages
Student and Parent Relations Committee Thanks to Chair Lorrie Trader ’05, Sharon Falk ’92 and Marybeth for reviving the Aunt Sarah Program. We now have 99 students and 103
34 wilson magazine
alumnae participating. Seven students traveled to Washington, D.C., where two alumnae hosted them at their places of employment. It gave the students an opportunity to experience the work environment. This was a joint venture with the Office of Career Development. Alumnae were involved in multiple career panel discussions. They talked about requirements for the job, tasks of the position and advancement opportunities. Alumnae from New York City hosted a workplace tour and dinner for students and a club adviser who were in the city for a conference. The committee sponsors a day for Food for Finals each semester. We are beginning a Cash for Causes Program. Anyone may purchase a Giant Foods gift card. The association purchases the card at a discount and then sells it at face value. The cards may be used for personal use or given to a student, department or club on campus. This past year the association granted six requests for internship monies. These funds are given to us by individuals, regional clubs and the sale of merchandise. Recognition and Stewardship Committee We are continuing our stewardship by sending personalized thank you notes from the board members to individuals donating under $1,000 to the Wilson Fund. We are planning a Thank-A-Thon where alumnae will man the phones in the call center for an evening. In 2012, a new award was approved. It will be given to an outstanding Adult Degree Program graduate to honor this person’s distinguished professional and volunteer career. This person must have shown continuing service, interest and support in the growth and quality of Wilson College. Travel Committee The Travel Committee has been working hard on opportunities for alumnae to be together in social settings. Last October, a group visited the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia and then had a delightful luncheon. This month a couple traveled to Prague. Look for a trip to Cambridge, Mass., this September, which includes a visit to the Longfellow House, lunch and Harvard Museum of Natural History. Ten people will be touring France in September, followed by two persons going on a Rhine River Cruise in October. On the agenda for next year will be a trip to Ireland in July and a visit to national parks in the Southwest United States in September 2014.
The recommendations of the Commission on Shaping the Future of Wilson College and the ultimate decision for Wilson to pursue coeducation have created division among our alumnae. As your elected board, we admittedly sometimes struggled with our role in the proceedings. We are here to be your voice, but we have to be the voice of all of our alumnae. If there had been a clear, singular, majority opinion from our membership of approximately 8,000, then it would have been easy for the association to travel down a definitive path. However, that was, and still is, not the case. What we could do was to follow one of our main duties and responsibilities as outlined in our bylaws and assist in maintaining communication. We strove to keep you apprised and involved through articles in the Wilson Magazine, postings on our web page, and emailed newsletters from the Alumnae/i Relations Office. We directed you to websites, on-campus meetings, town hall meetings and live streaming of informational meetings. We asked that you send your comments and suggestions to the commission's email address and confirmed with the commission that these comments were being heard. Could we have done more? Hindsight being 20-20, of course. We are not perfect. We are a group of volunteers. We are here for our alma mater. The board realizes that there is still turmoil on the road ahead and has an increased sensitivity to all feelings and sentiments. We will make every attempt to communicate with you and keep the lines of communication flowing. Please make sure we have your current addresses. We may have differing opinions, and we may not agree with how things are done, but one of the many things that Wilson has imparted to all of us is that each opinion has a right to be heard and to be respected. However, we should not be combatant; we should not be enemies. We are all here because of our love for Wilson. We should be promoting a spirit of fellowship among our members and supporting each other during these tumultuous days. Let’s work together to share our time and talent to most effectively serve the Wilson community. — Mary F. Cramer ’91 President
summer 2013 35
Alumnae trustees report — June 2013 Last year at this time it was reported that the Commission on Shaping the Future of Wilson College was studying opportunities to sustain Wilson’s future. Late in 2012, the commission presented its findings to President Barbara K. Mistick, who then made her recommendations to the Board of Trustees. On Jan. 13, the board approved the following: • Wilson Value Proposition [lower the book tuition rate of the College to $23,745 (a 17-percent reduction) in 2014-15 and establish a student debt buyback program]. • Extend coeducation to the undergraduate college. • Establish an integrated marketing committee and launch an integrated marketing campaign. • Evaluate the creation of a Division of Health Sciences. • Repair Wilson’s ailing infrastructure by committing funding for deferred facility maintenance and funding annual depreciation for needed repairs and improvements. Under the leadership of Mistick, committees have begun to implement the Wilson Today: Positioning Wilson to Thrive plan. The initial committees focused on: gender equity/women centeredness, pedagogy and curriculum, retention, coeducation recruitment, affordability and value, student center, traditions, and marketing, as well as standing academic committees. In line with the changes occurring with the Wilson Today plan, the board approved revisions to the bylaws and charter of the College at the May meeting of the Board of Trustees. Academic Affairs The faculty continues to respond to the board-approved findings of the commission and the strategic plan of the College. The program ideas are studied for feasibility and then developed into programs. The faculty is also evaluating majors for elimination or retention based on enrollment, ties to a strong curricular area or appeal to male students. The board approved a graphic design major, which includes graphic arts and graphic media. The graphic arts emphasis on artistic content and creation will ensure successful student outcomes in a wide variety of occupations. Graphic
36 wilson magazine
media is a holistic approach to mass communications, including use of text in design. Other programs in development, but not yet approved, are additional applied animal studies and a Registered Nursing (R.N.) degree to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). A budget was approved to continue the feasibility study in the health sciences with the assistance of two consultants. The College will be reformulating the education curriculum for certification in middle school now required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. There was a drop in headcount for the 2012 fall semester, including declines in the College for Women and Teacher Intern Program. In addition to lower enrollment, there were significant leaves of absence or withdrawals in the first semester. The first-year student fall-to-spring retention rate was 70.67 percent compared to 71.22 percent the previous year. Reasons given included financial, medical and transfers to other institutions. At the commencement ceremony, Wilson recognized 94 students for bachelor’s and associate degrees and 14 for master of education degrees. Fifty-four students earned certificates through the Teacher Intern Program. Enrollment management and student development In March, the admissions and student development offices sponsored a webinar, “Customer Service the Disney Way: Attract More Students and Boost Retention.” Vice Presidents Carolyn Perkins and Mary Ann Naso were joined by Vice Presidents Camilla Rawleigh and Brian Speer to construct a first draft of Wilson’s “Customer Service Philosophy and Standards of Service.” As of May 17, 2013, the following registrations (note: registration began late this spring due to data conversion issues) had been received for fall: 201 – Undergraduate College; 155 – Adult Degree Program; 16 – M.Ed.; two – M.A. in Humanities; and four – non-degrees. Internationally, there are seven registered guest students from Seoul Women’s University and three deposits for students from Canada, Armenia and Ghana, with an additional 14 international students having been offered admission. New, first-year student deposits are ahead of this time last year. Wilson is a founding member of CACHE —
Capitol Area Consortium of Higher Education — a group of colleges working with businesses, corporations and government offices to have college fairs for employees. Additional opportunities to partner with high schools and community colleges to offer Wilson courses for credit are being explored to include Shippensburg Area School District, Big Spring School District, Carlisle High School (accounting courses), Elizabethtown High School (animal sciences and environmental courses), and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (accounting, business, environmental studies, history and psychology). Discussions are also under way for a student exchange proposal offering an equestrian semester. The Board of Trustees requested additional information on veteran recruitment and learned that 44 students are enrolled in various Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense educational benefits programs. Wilson has renewed its participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, which covers remaining tuition and fees not provided by Chapter 33 benefits for full-time participants, and has also renewed its membership for 2013-15 in the Service Members Opportunity College and the concurrent admissions program. In spring 2012, the faculty bylaws were amended to reflect the dissolution of the Student Affairs Committee at the end of this spring. A recommendation was made to faculty in January, and subsequently approved, that the Honor Council/Joint Honor Council functions of SAC be continued through the newly created faculty Honor Council Committee. The Board of Trustees approved this change in February. The Retention Committee, comprised of five faculty, two staff members and two students, has met weekly since March. The committee’s goal is a more cohesive process in all areas of the College, focusing on how “the student can succeed” and what support services are available for this goal. New students will be added to the committee in the fall. The following men’s sports will be available in 2014: golf, basketball and cross country; soccer and volleyball will be added in 2015. College advancement The College was one of six recipients of a
association news NCAA Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant for 2013-16. With $70,105 over three years, the College will create a full-time athletics communication/sports information director position within the athletic department.
serve as the basis for the marketing message platform. A graphic designer, Kendra Tidd, has joined the office. A website manager will also be added in the future.
Point-in-time comparisons of fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2012 show that total giving to the College is down but the donor rate is up. As of May 31, the Wilson Fund is at $765,403; with 1,659 donors.
Buildings and grounds The electrical grid of theCollege was upgraded last year. Painting and new sidewalks are being completed this summer, as well as continuing to address life safety and building code concerns. The committee also continues to look at broader infrastructure needs. The administration provided a five-year plan outlining cumulative spending needs of the College. This allows for prioritization of needs and determines funding needs. This plan will be reviewed at least annually.
The Office of Marketing and Communications has conducted eight focus groups. These groups consisted of students, faculty, alumnae/i and staff. The results of these focus groups, as well as brand survey results, will
The board approved renovations to the McElwain-Davison building that include upgrades to electrical and plumbing systems and installation of air conditioning. The board also approved funds to create a student center
The Board of Trustees voted to accept the Lenfest Library matching gift of $3.6 million for Feb. 1 through March 1, 2015. The money will be received in $1.2 million increments. The board also approved a revised “Gift Acceptance Policy,” which includes procedures.
where the fitness center is now located. The fitness center will be moved to the old gym. Some needs identified for the student center are food options, flexible space with a variety of seating options, gaming area and room for dances. Finance Trustees reviewed forecasts for income and expenses for fiscal year 2013 and anticipate a deficit of $564,000. A summer working budget was approved for 2013-14. The performance of the endowment continues to improve under the able management of Solaris Advisors. The market value of the endowment as of April 30, 2013, was $65,986,132. Of this figure, 52 percent is represented in the quasi-endowment and 48 percent is permanently restricted for various purposes, including scholarships, faculty and staff development, physical plant, library and others. The value of the perpetual trust as of the same date was $10,872,758.
Message from the director of alumnae/i relations
I
t is challenging to be new and attempting to form relationships at this time in Wilson’s history. There has been one heck of a learning curve over the past 13 months (as the new director of alumnae/i relations). I believe at this juncture, it's important that you understand a little more about me to know if you want me to be your representative. I generally approach new endeavors by establishing expectations. As the director of my office, it is my responsibility to represent and reach out to all of our nearly 8,000 Wilson alumnae/i and non-graduates. It is also in my job description that I serve as a bridge between the College and the alumnae association. In that role, I work closely with the board volunteers seated here on this stage. I communicate with other offices of the College to share the varied messages I hear from you. I work to create opportunities for collaboration and I seek avenues to foster ongoing Wilson connections. Related to the commission process, I am not in the convincing business. I respect that each of you has the right to think, feel and do what you need to do for yourself. I have focused on listening, respecting, directing you to materials or proper channels, talking about your Wilson passion — how you would like to be connected to Wilson at this time and how might I assist in making that happen. For many of you, the common theme has been supporting students. For others, it has been a reconnection to a specific club, academic program or sport. Some of you give time, ideas, funding, moral or student career support.
I pledge to continue listening and assisting in our collaborative efforts. I will continue to share your thoughts, feelings and suggestions with the appropriate office or volunteer personnel. I will freely share what I can or cannot do, usually with an explanation. I am not afraid to push back and state my own concerns or questions. I am not afraid to admit I may not know something or I potentially made a mistake. I am aware that for each of my actions, some of you will approve while others question. I urge you to please inquire and let's talk things out. Even if we agree to disagree, we move forward with a greater shared understanding of each other. I say all of this because I need you. Wilson needs you. We need to find ways to rebuild relationships. I cannot undo anything in the past, and I know from everything I have heard over my first year that there is a great deal of hurt in this room. There is also a great deal of love and commitment in this room. We are, as our Reunion 2013 theme says, "Proud to be Wilson!” — Marybeth Famulare Director of Alumnae/i Relations This column was adapted from a speech given by Marybeth Famulare, alumnae/i relations director, during the annual meeting of the Alumnae Association of Wilson College. On Facebook, friend or follow her at AR Wilson. “Follow” allows you to view alumnae/i relations posts but not give access to your personal page.
summer 2013 37
association news a Day in Cambridge, Mass. — Friday, Sept. 13 I invite you to join Wilson alumnae and friends for a day in Cambridge, Mass., highlighted with a visit to Harvard’s unique glass flower collection. When I moved from Pennsylvania to the Boston area in the 1970s, my great-aunt suggested that I visit Harvard’s extraordinary mid-1800s glass flower collection. I enjoyed them so much then that I wanted to share them with you. — Betty Halteman Scott ’61 ATT Committee The day begins with a visit to the Longfellow House, built in 1754. The home was occupied for a brief time by Gen. George Washington and later by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was here that Longfellow wrote “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and “Song of Hiawatha.” After lunch at the historic Harvard Faculty Club, we will visit the remarkable glass flower collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The collection includes 3,000 highly realistic glass botanical models of 847 different plant species. Glass artisans Leopold Blaschka and his son created the flowers in their studio near Dresden, Germany, from 1887 to 1936. Harvard professor George Goodale commissioned the flowers for the purpose of teaching botany. Noted contemporary glass artist Dale Chihuly has stated, “It is an unbelievable collection. No one
really knows how they did that, it is mind-boggling and extraordinary.” Our tour concludes after the visit. About the Program: We will meet at the Longfellow House, 105 Brattle St., just outside of Harvard Square at 9:30 a.m. Parking passes for Harvard University lots are available for purchase online or there are commercial parking garages in Harvard Square. Cost for the day’s activities will be $55. Space is limited so please make your prepaid reservation by Aug. 26 by calling Dianna Heim at 717-262-2010.
Adve nture s Await! For more information about additional international trips sponsored by the Alumnae Association Tours and Travel Committee, visit wilson.edu/aatours. Sept. 19-27 — Dordogne, France Oct. 12-20 — Rhine River Cruise July 20-30, 2014 — Ireland Sept. 19-29, 2014 — Southwest National Parks
President Mistick Updates Alumnae/i at Town Hall Meetings More than 130 alumnae/i and friends attended a series of town hall meetings held across the country with President Barbara K. Mistick and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Camilla Rawleigh. Topics covered included the Wilson Today plan, the changing landscape of higher education and how best to position the College to thrive well into the future. The five events were held in: New York City, hosted by Loretta Hunt Marion ’61; Berkeley, Calif., hosted by Karen Chapman (daughter of Betty Lou Leedom Thompson ’60); Pittsburgh, hosted by Carol Schaaf Heppner ’64; Washington, D.C., hosted by Trudi Warner Blair ’76; Bryn Mawr, hosted by Thompson; and Camp Hill, hosted by Marie Behler Schleicher ’68.
38 wilson magazine
reunion weekend
—2013—
Nearly 300 alumnae and alumni registered for Reunion Weekend, held May 31 through June 2, which celebrated the theme, “Proud to be Wilson,” and featured a new event — an evening picnic on the main green near Warfield Hall. A highlight of the weekend was the presentation of a check for $80,000 from the Class of 1963 to be used for the Stewart library project. At the annual general meeting of the Alumnae Association of Wilson College, a resolution was introduced from the floor to ask the Board of Trustees to reverse its January
decision to expand coeducation and to instruct President Barbara K. Mistick to immediately cease all actions to make the undergraduate college coeducational. A vote of the membership in attendance was taken and the resolution failed. It was the official reunion year for classes from every five years from 1948 through 2008. However, a total of 42 classes were represented at this year’s event, according to Marybeth Famulare, director of alumnae/i relations.
Alumnae arrive on campus
Welcome picnic on the green
summer 2013 39
Step-Sing on Norland Hall porch
President Barbara K. Mistick gives her State-of-the-College address
Alumnae Association of Wilson College General Meeting
class lineup and procession
40 wilson magazine
association news
All-Alumnae Luncheon
Class dinners
Memorial Chapel Service
summer 2013 41
association news
Alumnae Awards Faculty Award Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Anderson-Stojanovic was professor of classics and fine arts at Wilson from 1977 until her retirement in 2012. During her tenure she taught Latin, Greek, classical studies, art history, archaeology and anthropology. Anderson-Stojanovic received full professorship in 1992. In addition to her professorial responsibilities, Anderson-Stojanovic was the curator of the Barron Blewett Hunnicutt Classics Gallery in the Hankey Center. She served as the head of the humanities division from 1991 to 1998, college marshal from 1999 to 2003 and faculty marshal from 2004 to 2012. She also served on many campus committees throughout her career. She is the author of several scholarly essays in her field and two books. She was the recipient of the Drusilla Stevens Mazur Research Professorship at Wilson and the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching. Outstanding Young Alumna Award Maria “Nicole” Zvarik ’03 graduated with a double major in dance and behavioral science, with a concentration in sociology. Zvarik is a co-founder of Deep Root Dance Collective in the San Francisco Bay Area — a collective of modern dance choreographers, performers and teachers. She is the dance department head at Bayside STEM Academy in San Mateo, Calif. Zvarik, a former resident artist at California State University Stanislaus and at The Garage, an art space in San Francisco, is also a member of the National Dance Education Organization and volunteers at Home and Hope Shelter. Tift College Award Cynthia Dimmick Grove ’63 graduated with a degree in sociology allied with English. Grove was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1998, serving as chair from 1993 to 1996. She was award trustee emerita status in 1999. Grove co-chaired the Leading with Confidence Campaign, which raised $49 million dollars for the College.
42 wilson magazine
From left, Alumnae/i Award recipients Outstanding Young Alumna Maria “Nicole” Zvarik ’03; Joan Foresman Edwards ’58 (accepting the Tift College Award on behalf of Cynthia Dimmick Grove ’63); Distinguished Adult Degree Program Alumnus Stephen Oldt ’99; and Distinguished Alumna Susan Whitmore Brooks ’63 are joined by President Barbara K. Mistick at the awards ceremony in Brooks Auditorium.
2013 Distinguished ADP Alumnus Award Stephen Oldt ’99 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business and economics. Oldt is a former member of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees. Previously the executive vice president and chief operating office of Orrstown Bank, Oldt, of Shippensburg, Pa, is a township supervisor. In 2002, Oldt was inducted into the American Football Association Minor League Football Hall of Fame. The Distinguished Adult Degree Program Alumnus Award was established in 2012 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Adult Degree Program. Distinguished Alumna Award Susan Whitmore Brooks ’63 graduated with a degree in biology. Brooks is a clinician, building partner and business partner of Madison Psychiatric Associates. In 1971 she was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Woman of America Award. Her professional societies include the National Association of Social Workers, American Group Psychotherapy and the American Board of Examiners in Social Work. Brooks is the co-author of “See the Paintings: A Handbook for Art Appreciation in the Classroom.” Brooks is a member of the Pines and Maples Society and is a space honoree in the Brooks Complex. She has also served as an ambassador of the college, attending inaugurations and events at other colleges in place of the president.
Class of 1948 — Sitting, from left: Margaret Caldwell Fahrney, Edna Denise Sites Foreman and Rose Ohler Snider. Second row, from left: Kathlyn Light List, Elizabeth Gisiger Stevens, Gwendolyn Walley Haines, Edith Brock Miller and Nancy Adams Besch.
Class of 1953 — Sitting, from left: Phebe Weishaar Shinn, June Rose Behm, Carol Wirt Burke, Sarah Dolde Duff and Claire McCann Stone. Second row, from left — Suzanne Warnecke, Margaret Bonnell Esslinger, Ellen Van Looy Reed, Jean Stewart Pryor, Deborah Crudden English, Martha Kline Collier, Patricia Prior Breinin, Mollie McMillen DeBoer and Sybil Chance Harp.
Class of 1958 — First row, from left: Nancy Evans Bruhns, Janet Holz Ollivier, Marlyn Lupton MacDonald and H. Virginia Crane Timberg. Second row, from left: Katharine Horton Minnihan, Charlotte Lynch McClatchy, Jane deJarnette, RoseMarie Becci Butz, JoAnn Savage Martin, Joan Foresman Edwards, Carol Phillips Bauer, Carol Edwards Shupp and Loretta Kan Tuan. Third row, from left: Suzanne Bounds Kinard, Doris Oswell Brunot, Elizabeth Dill Melton, Kizzie Anna Wraase Easton, Mary Kreighbaum Hamilton and Susan Freeman Matiejunas.
Class of 1968 — Sitting, from left: Lynn Gutekunst Rickard, Nancy Huntington Moore-Fuss, Marianne Scott Perry and Karen Van Brakle Worley. Second row, from left: Jolene Young Lichtenwalner, Carol Hardy Folk, Louise Robinson Plodinec, Elizabeth Johnson Fitzpatrick, Pamela Kempf and Mary Flournoy. Third row, from left: Margaret Hatch Kauffman, Patricia Bennett, Margaret Zarfos, Linda Zuryk Loder and Gretchen Sahler Patterson.
Class of 1963 — Sitting, from left: Patricia Vail, Elaine Corrie Bagley, Sylvia Keiler Woodworth, Judy Kreutz Young, Patricia Weaver Telkins, Christine Heroy Muddell, Anne Yerkes Barton and Maryan Garner McCormick. Second row, from left: Carla Dean Day, Judith Clouse Steelman, Carolyn Mills Baker, Joanna Getz Gardner, Judith Flewelling, Judith Hummer Smith, Elaine Hoenig Cooper, Joan Max Mitchell and Janice Pritchard Rockmore. Third row, from left: Mary Walters Petricoin, Virginia McElfresh Dorwaldt, Eudora Roseman, Joan Cisz, Linda Huebenthal Woolston, Jo-Ann Morisse, Virginia Leopold, Sarah Ridings Wagner and Joy Sutton Perry. Fourth row, from left: Nancy Hadley Jaffe, Susan Whitmore Brooks, Barbara Carton Ward, Maryanne Heske Ehrlich, Sue Wallenius Welch, Janice Jones Johnston, Mary Stanton Winheld, Jane Reyelt Englerth and Charlene Cronenberg Berardino. Fifth row left to right: Theresa Filippi Loverro, Carol Kim Retka, Gail Annich Lovell, Lynne Pfarrer Seidel, Wendy Jo Culver, Meredythe Beaston Wagner, Georgette Ioup, Margaret Thatcher, Carol Rusch Sanders and Nancy Gage Ewen.
summer 2013 43
association news
Class of 1978 — Sitting, from left: Sharon Salazar Hickey, Janet Ver Planck, Colette Bartlinski Reynolds and Judith Crossland. Second row, from left: Josephine Callanen Jacobs, Jenni Rodda, Jacqueline Harrison Mason, Kerry Reilly Schlechter and Marietta McAtee. Third row, from left: Persis Worrall, Annette Cutino, Virginia Graham, Suzanne Robert and Mary Jane Phelps.
Class of 1973 — Sitting, from left: Catherine Corbeer Pasierb, Lucille Continisio Jerue and Melissa Craven Fowler. Second row, from left: Judy Grumbacher, Sylvia Winfrey and Elizabeth Beckhusen. Third row, from left: Janette Dias Souza Tatge, Sandra McNair, Cynthia Fink Barber, Amy Allen Boyce and Theresa Tsai. Fourth row, from left: Patricia Szabo, Karen Markley Dyer, Carol Ely Hepfer, Susan Irving Galante and Patricia Schuetzler Howard. Fifth row, from left: Sheena Lare Wilson, Jane Stever Jones, Rebecca Shannon and Louise Corso.
The 1980s classes attending Reunion Weekend — Sitting, from left: Wendy Deichert Tyra, Glynys Thomas and Joanne Shaffer. Standing, from left: Nancy Henderson Schultz ’81, Barbara Shaffer ’81, Mary Ann Gacono ’81, M. Dale Greenberg ’81, Alison Hunt Thompson ’81, Janet Foley ’82, Carol Parssinen ’82, Mary Snider Boldt ’84 and Ellen Chen-Cooper ’85.
Class of 1983 — From left: Wendy Deichert Tyra, Glynys Thomas and Joanne Shaffer.
Class of 2003 — Sitting, from left: Jennifer Shakan, Kathryn Vanden Bout Newell, Janelle Fenlason-Stephenson, Billie Burgess and Kim McMenamin O’Brokta. Standing, from left: Tarika Daftary-Kapur, Rosenna Williams Roberts, Jill Van Metter Tao, Nicole Noll, Maria Zvarik and Savannah Zvarik.
Class of 2008 — From left: Nicole Smith, Dana Bennett Smoyer, Jacquelyn Kos, Ruth ‘Meg’ Oldman, Ashley Barner and Logan Gonella-Stoffel.
Classes of 1988, 1993 and 1998 were not available to be photographed. Photos by Pictures Plus.
44 wilson magazine
—
obituaries —
Janet Eldredge Vance ’33, May 1, 2013, in Mystic, Conn., at 100. Vance taught English and Latin for over 25 years at Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, where she was also chairman of the Language Department and advisor to the National Honor Society. Vance was an active member of the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church in Cape May, N.J., where she served as a docent for the historical lecture program in addition to leading the Summer Vacation Bible School. A descendent of passengers on the Mayflower, Vance was a past governor of the Jersey Cape Colony of Mayflower Descendants. She is survived by three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Silas Henry Vance, one sister and one brother. Clara Moyer Wilson ’34, May 14, 2012, in Gaithersburg, Md., at 99. Wilson taught school at the Martin’s and Cement Hollow schoolhouses in Piatt Township, Pa., before relocating to Pittsburgh in 1940. She was active in Girl Scout Leadership, League of Women Voters and Loyalsock Band Parents. Predeceased by her husband, Frederick H. Wilson, she is survived by two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Margaret Main Wilson ’36, March 18, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio at 97. Following Wilson College, Wilson attended Union Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She had a passion for nursing and inspired others to pursue the profession. Wilson was an active member of the Woman’s Auxiliary at Good Samaritan Hospital, The Garden Club of Dayton, Diner’s Club, Progressive Mothers, College Club and Women’s Club. Predeceased by her husband, Joseph M. Wilson, Wilson is survived by three daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Carolyn Stitely Kirk ’37, March 9, 2013, in Midlothian, Va., at 97. Kirk graduated with a B.A. in English and taught eighth-grade English before her marriage to Leroy Pelton
“Riley” Block in 1941. She was member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, where she served as deacon and elder. Kirk was predeceased by her first husband, Leroy, in 1976. She is survived by her husband, William Semple Kirk, three daughters, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mary Jane Brock Tonks Cushing ’41, April 28, 2013, in Gainesville, Ga., at 92. Cushing received a master’s degree in biochemistry from Bryn Mawr College. She married Neal Estabrook Tonks in 1946 and they lived in Montclair, N.J., until 1972, when they relocated to Savannah, Ga. She taught high school biochemistry in Montclair and Savannah until her retirement in 1992. In 1985, Kirk was recognized by President Ronald Reagan as a Distinguished Teacher through the Presidential Scholars Program. She was predeceased by her first husband in 1983. In 1992, she married Bill Cushing. In addition to Cushing, she is survived by four children, two stepdaughters, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Ruth Atkins Humphrey ’41, Jan. 31, 2013, in Minnesota, at 93. Humphrey left Wilson after 1939 and received a degree in education from University of Minnesota in 1941. She taught preschool at the Kaiser Shipyards in Portland, Ore., until a religious calling returned her to Minnesota, where she met Bruce Bradley, whom she married on Valentine’s Day, 1946. Humphrey is predeceased by Bradley and her second husband, Milford Humphrey Sr., as well as three stepsons and one son-in-law. She is survived by four children, her stepdaughter and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary Lee Langford ’43, March 19, 2013, in Tallahassee, Fla., at 91. Langford attended Wilson on a full scholarship, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in English. She taught English in Baltimore where she met her future husband, Robert Langford. Following World War II, the couple moved to Gainesville, Fla. Langford taught English for 42 years in Dade, Broward and Leon counties
before retiring in 1984. She is predeceased by her husband. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Harriet Brick McKelway ’43, May 3, 2013, in Winchester, Va. at 91. A political science major, she was a U.S. Civil Service recruiter for factory workers during World War II and then later worked for Burlington County Social Services in New Jersey, specializing in child welfare. She later received her teaching certificate and served as a long-term high school substitute teacher and taught English as a second language to adult learners. In 1944 she married Daniel Woolcock, who was killed during the Battle of the Bulge. She later married Benjamin McKelway, with whom she raised a family. Predeceased by McKelway and her brother, she is survived by her sister, two sons, four grandchildren and one great grandson. Elizabeth Holbrook McCarthy Heston ’44, April 19, 2013, at 90. Heston was active in water sports while at Wilson and competed for a spot on the Olympic swim team. World War II interrupted her studies and she left Wilson to join the U.S. Naval (Women) Reserve (WAVES). Heston met her first husband, Frank McCarthy, in 1945 while stationed in Hawaii. After the death of McCarthy, she married Eugene Heston, with whom she enjoyed traveling until his death. She is survived by two sons and one grandson. Eleanor Park Kammer ’45, March 1, 2013, in Syracuse, N.Y., at 89. Kammer graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in mathematics. She received an M.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh and taught English and humanities for more than 25 years at Geneva College. Kammer was an active member of her church in Beaver Springs, Pa., before moving to Manlius, N.Y. following the death of her husband. She is predeceased by her husband, her son, grandson and brother. She is survived by two children, a sister and three grandchildren.
summer 2013 67
—
obituaries —
Gloria Shihadeh Swift ’45, May 14, 2013 at 89. After graduation, Swift worked for the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for 44 years. She retired to the Beaumont Retirement Community in Bryn Mawr. She is predeceased by her husband, Martin R. Swift, and is survived by a large and loving family. Beverly Simon DeAddio ’49, March 10, 2013, in West Chester, Pa., at 85. DeAddio received a B.A. in philosophy and worked for Aetna Insurance and the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, Pa. She was a member of Paoli Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the choir. She is predeceased by her husband, George DeAddio. Patricia Shollenberger Bear ’50, May 1, 2013, in West Reading, Pa., at 84. Bear maintained close ties the school as a member of the Wilson College Alumnae Association and a onetime member of its board of directors. An avid learner, she continued her studies at Albright College and Alvernia College. She is survived by her husband, Garland Bear, three children and five grandchildren. Winifred Wass Everett ’51, June 1, 2013, in Chatham, Mass., at 83. Everett received a master’s degree from Teacher’s College at Columbia University in New York. She taught mathematics and served as chairman of the math department at Rosemary Hall School in Greenwich, Conn. Everett volunteered with several organizations, including the Girls Scouts and the American Association of University Women. She is survived by her husband, Edward Everett, and their two children. Susan Smith Schweitzer ’53, Jan. 1, 2013, in North Chili, N.Y., at 81. Smith is predeceased by her husband, Ernest Schweitzer, and survived by her daughter and two grandsons. Cynthia Parker DePuy ’54, April 17, 2013, in Gloversville, N.Y., at 80. DePuy taught school in Poolville, N.Y.; Lancaster, Pa.; Clinton, N.Y.; and Fonda-Fultonville schools. Her commu-
68 wilson magazine
Obituari e s i n bri e f Wilson does not always learn about alumnae/i deaths in a timely fashion and in some instances information for a longer obituary cannot be found. In those cases we will provide the information that is available. Anne Glisson Campbell ’33, Nov. 10, 2012, at 100. | Margaret Fogelberg McHugh ’33, Sept. 20, 2012, at 101. | Mary Louise Carr ’42, Oct. 9, 2011, in Santa Rosa, Calif., at 90. nity activities include The Colonial Little Theater, the Burroughs Nature Study Club, the Aldine Society, the Student’s Club, and many other organizations. She is survived by two sons and two grandsons. Kathryn Jill Morrill ’58, June 15, 2013, Arizona at 77. Morrill taught history and civics at Hopi and Ingleside schools in Phoenix, Ariz. An avid sportswoman, she was a champion swimmer and enjoyed cheering on the Mighty Mercury WNBA. She loved gardening, music and animals. Her friends and family consider her a blessing, especially her love of 30 years, Grace. She is predeceased by her brother, John Morrill II, and survived by five nephews. Elspeth “Becky” Miller Klee ’59, May 7, 2013, in Allentown, Pa., at 76. Klee was employed by Moyer Shoes and Bucks County Bank, both in Quakertown. She was an avid golfer and a charter member of the Foxy Ladies Golf Group. She is survived by her husband, Ernest R. Klee, two sons and four grandchildren. Nina Long Huizinga ’61, March 21, 2013, in West Philadelphia, Pa., at 73. Huizinga lived for 10 years in the north of Holland during her marriage. She relocated to Philadelphia following her divorce. A lifelong activist, she was arrested in 2006 under charges of defiant trespassing for attempting to enlist in the military as a means of saving younger recruits from the horrors of combat. A few days before her death, Huizinga was the recipient of an award from the West Philadelphia Neighborhood Elders for making a difference in the
neighborhood. She is survived by her three children and one grandson. Margaret Slack Valvo ’67, Feb. 2, 2013, in Grants Pass, Ore., at 67. Valvo married Geoffrey Hobin in 1967 and the couple moved to Rhode Island to start a family. While in Rhode Island she taught preschool, raced sailboats and earned a master’s degree in special education from Rhode Island College. In 1978, Valvo moved to Boulder, Colo., where she taught special needs children and developed and published a measurement tool for evaluating the abilities of special needs students. She also earned a second master’s in anthropology and later taught cultural anthropology at the University of Colorado. She moved to Grants Pass, Ore. in 2004, where she continued working with special needs students. Valvo is survived by her father, two daughters and seven grandchildren. Jeffrey O’Farrell ’90, March 17, 2013, in Chambersburg, Pa., at 54. O’Farrell worked as a mechanic and over-the-wall gasman in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Key Motorsports/TMG. He is survived by his wife, two children, two grandchildren, and his mother.
— last —
word
O
n my first day at Wilson College as the new managing editor of this magazine, I called Margaret “Jimmie” Caldwell Fahrney ’48, the correspondent for her class, to double-check the spelling of a nickname of one of her classmates, Margaret Hoffman Dubell. “It’s Marg,” Fahrney told me. No “e.” I thanked her and was about to say goodbye, but she would have none of it. She wanted to make clear to me her thoughts on her role as class correspondent and my duty as the managing editor. If I cut her copy, she told me with a mixture of humor and certainty, she would kill me. I laughed. In my 31 years as a reporter and editor for newspapers, particularly as a crime reporter in the 1980s and early 1990s, many others had threatened me, but never with as much charm as Fahrney, who insisted I call her Jimmie. We talked on the telephone for an hour, about Wilson College, the magazine, and my previous jobs at the Morning Herald in Hagerstown, Md., and most recently as managing editor of The Gazette newspapers in Frederick County, Maryland. She lives in Boonsboro, a small town I know well from having covered the town council’s monthly meetings there for several years, in addition to the cops and courts beat. I came onboard the magazine just three weeks ago and have worked editing the stories and class notes, writing headlines and learning of the College’s rich history and plans for the future. As I transition from a lifetime at newspapers, I can identify with Wilson as it goes through a transition of its own. This is a time of change, but in the pages of the magazine I hope to always respect the legacy of the past while also highlighting what is happening today. One of the exciting changes is a redesign of this magazine by graphic designer Kendra Tidd. I hope you find it as vibrant as I do. There are also new features, such as obituaries, to honor those of the Wilson community who have passed away. Each obit carries a story of a Wilson life richly lived. Harriet Brick McKelway ’40, a political science major, worked as a U.S. Civil Service recruiter for factory workers during World War II. She married her husband in 1944 and not long afterward, he died at the Battle of the Bulge. She married again, raised a family, worked as a long-term substitute teacher and taught English as a second language. She was 91 when she passed. The women who came before left big footsteps and the Wilson women of this generation are striving to fill them. Women such as Megan (Westover) Giordano ‘08, who turned her love of horses into an equine therapy program for children with special needs. Her story is featured inside. I look forward to telling the stories of Wilson. It’s not the buildings or traditions that make the place special, although that is part. It’s the people. I hope you enjoy the magazine’s new look, enjoy the articles inside, and find the publication informative and useful. This magazine is for you. This is your Wilson. I am certain Jimmie will remind me so I never forget it.
Sincerely, Ben Ford Managing Editor
summer 2013 69
1015 Philadelphia Ave Chambersburg, PA 17201-1285
Make a Difference
Every Day
Wilson Fund donations impact students’ lives every day. Your commitment to Wilson supports students and faculty and helps provide educational opportunities that shape our students’ futures. Gifts of any size make a difference. Join your classmates, faculty, staff, parents and friends in supporting the Wilson Fund.
For information on ways you can support and volunteer for Wilson, visit
www.wilson.edu/waystogive or contact the Advancement Office at 717-262-2010