2021 Philanthropic Investment Report Servire est Vivere (To Serve is to Live)
On York College’s
Purpose A message from the President
In the early days of my presidency, I led a comprehensive strategic planning process, combining input and advice from a variety of York College stakeholders in order to help us refocus our work. Updating our Mission Statement was a key piece of our planning as it serves to communicate to the world our chief purpose and promise as an institution. Reviewing our Mission Statement, I am reminded how important it is for us to continue to deliver essential educational experiences to students: “York College prepares its graduates for productive and purposeful lives. As a diverse community of educators and learners, we provide a high-quality, private education that emphasizes personal development, close faculty/student mentoring relationships, and real-world experiences. We partner with our community for the benefit of both our students and the broader region. We strive to make this world-class, private education financially accessible.” Preparing our graduates for purposeful lives is in the first sentence, and is at the heart of everything we do. Now, more than ever, delivering on this part of our mission is challenging as our world is changing and evolving at a breakneck pace. On one hand, rapid changes can seem daunting. On the other, evolving to meet those changes head-on is a part of who we are and have been from our earliest days as an institution. For us at York College, change has been our one constant. And, frankly, we are good at it. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to deliver on our mission to provide the type of educational experiences that lead toward purposeful and productive lives after graduation. Many of these are encompassed in the experiential-learning component of our curricula. Project-based learning connects our students to real-world environments with external private and public partners to devise innovative solutions to actual issues. Not only do our students learn “on the job,” so to speak, but they bring their experience back to campus so that our curricular offerings can be continually adapted to the demands of the workplace. From teaching students in our local schools to caring for patients in medical centers across the region, these connections give our Spartans invaluable opportunities to serve and impact the broader community. Perhaps best of all, these learning opportunities give students hands-on experience and a chance to road-test a career. Equally important is that they develop those attributes that will benefit them regardless of their lifelong professional path–emotional intelligence, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and ethical reasoning. All vital to living a life of purpose. With appreciation,
Pamela Gunter-Smith, PhD President
Establishing the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J.
Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions Retired physician Dr. Donald E. Myers made a $5-million gift to York College of Pennsylvania in memory of his late wife to name the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions. “The gift from the Myers family will provide a transformational opportunity for the School of Nursing and Health Professions to develop much-needed new programs in the health sciences, such as Occupational Therapy,” said Provost Laura Niesen de Abruña. “We have been planning to add this program and others for several years but did not have the right funding until the Myers family stepped in with their extremely generous gift. I look forward to expanding the programs offered by the School, just as we had envisioned in our strategic plan.” A 1951 graduate of York Junior College (YJC), the predecessor of York College of Pennsylvania, Myers said the gift allowed him to recognize the College’s role as a stepping stone to his 40-plus-year career as a physician in York and also to honor his wife’s memory. Myers enrolled in YJC “at a time in my life where I didn’t have a lot of money to attend college and I lived in York, so attending was economically practical.” He also received a scholarship from the Rotary Club of York. “I came to find out that there was outstanding instruction at YJC, particularly Harry Bauman in chemistry.”
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Myers was a member of Mu Eta Kappa and served on the Student Council for YJC. After graduating with an associate degree in chemistry, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College, and then served for two years of active duty during the Korean War in the Army Medical Corps. He completed medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1960.
“The gift from the Myers family will provide a transformational opportunity for the School of Nursing and Health Professions to develop much-needed new programs in the health sciences, such as Occupational Therapy,” –Provost Laura Niesen de Abruña
“At that time, it was very difficult to get into medical school, perhaps because schools were flooded with applications from veterans returning from service,” he said. “F&M and Michigan State were the two schools in the nation, interestingly enough, that were highly ranked. With a good scholastic record from them, you were very likely to get into medical school. Fortunately, good grades and all classes from YJC transferred to F&M.”
Dr. Donald E. Myers
Mrs. Lois J. Myers
This sign was recently erected outside of Diehl Hall, the home of the College’s BS, MS, and DNP programs, to commemorate the gift from the Myers family. 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT | PAGE 3
Myers returned to York to complete an internship and residency at Memorial Hospital after graduating from medical school. After several years working in the Memorial Medical Center, he bought his own office on East Market Street, where he practiced until his retirement. Lois Myers was an elementary school teacher, having earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Nebraska. She taught at St. John Elementary School in York for three years, and then taught at Gloria Dei School in Ambler, Pennsylvania, for four years while her husband attended medical school in Philadelphia. When Donald and she returned to York, she taught at Lincoln Elementary School and took several courses at York College. She received a master’s in education from Millersville University in 1983 and a Reading Specialist Certificate, and served as a reading specialist at the Dallastown Middle School until her retirement. She also wrote two screenplays that were featured on the national television show “The Rifleman.” “Lois was known to be a very kind person,” Myers said. “She was always pleasant and liked by many. She never found any fault with anybody and was a great peacemaker, a very loving mother, and a teacher with whom students stayed in touch.” Lois passed away in 2017. She and Donald have two daughters: Christine, who lives in Vermont, and Melisa, who lives in York County.
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“We are so grateful to Dr. Myers for his extraordinary gift naming the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions,” said York College President Pamela Gunter-Smith. “The resources provided will secure York College’s position as a major producer of healthcare professionals for our region. A truly remarkable gift, it is the spark that will launch new programs, particularly in allied health fields.” “I wanted to make a gift to York College now, as I’ve witnessed its admirable growth,” Myers said. “I was presented with a number of options, but it seemed appropriate that my gift support the School of Nursing because of my background in health sciences.” “I also wanted my wife, Lois, to be remembered in some way or other,” he said. “I wanted her name to appear somewhere other than on her tombstone.”
“The resources provided will secure York College’s position as a major producer of healthcare professionals for our region. A truly remarkable gift, it is the spark that will launch new programs, particularly in allied health fields.” –President Pamela Gunter-Smith
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The York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program
Helping Students Help Others
Jenifer Hernandez-Vargas ’23
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Jenifer Hernandez-Vargas ’23 was too young to remember coming to the United States, but she knows the story well. Her father was already living and working in America and had obtained citizenship. Her mother, just 18 years old, didn’t want their family to be separated. In search of better opportunities and the chance to be together, Hernandez-Vargas and her mother came to the United States from Mexico without documentation. Their journey to citizenship would inspire the young girl’s future career goals. Now a student at York College of Pennsylvania, she’s set her heart on becoming an immigration lawyer to help others in pursuit of their American dream. The lawyer who helped Hernandez-Vargas and her mother through the process of naturalization became a mentor—guiding her as she grew older on what courses she should study and why it was important to pursue an education. “He was a good role model to me,” she says. Many families, like that of Hernandez-Vargas, have limited resources and don’t know the language, she says. It took some time for her to learn English, and she admittedly still struggles sometimes. But having resources and access to programs helped her family succeed. “People come here chasing the American dream,” she says. “So, why not allow them the benefits to achieve those goals?” Growing up in York City, one of those benefits that helped Hernandez-Vargas succeed was the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program, better known as YCCOSP. The program provides accepted students in the York City School District the opportunity to pursue a college education with room and board at no cost. It also allowed her to dual enroll as a high school senior, giving her a jumpstart on her college education. Now, Hernandez-Vargas says, she has the opportunity to pursue her own American dream, without worry of limitations or burden to her family who worked so hard to give her a chance to succeed. Many William Penn Senior High School graduates will be the first in their families to attend college, HernandezVargas says. That’s why the YCCOSP program is so important; it gives students an opportunity to meet York College students who can be role models. “They’re really like family,” she says. “The program provides a network of people who are cheering for you. They want to see you succeed. They’ve been where you are.”
Although early in her college experience, she has already met professionals and local leaders who have strengthened her network. And she has leaned on faculty to guide her on the right steps to take so she can reach her goals. “I don’t think I’d have these opportunities if I were living anywhere else,” she states. “York College made it possible for me to do things that may not have been available to me otherwise. I won’t let that opportunity go to waste.”
YCCOSP Alumni Statistics (2016 to Present)
42 Graduates
60%
Employed in York County
20%
have completed or are currently enrolled in graduate programs
3.32
Overall GPA for current students
2,000+ hours of community service work annually
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Aubrey Greer ’22
Ian Walsh ’21 (left)
Julianne Grap ’22
Scholarship Gives York College Students a Chance to
Make a Comeback
Linda and Keith Marshall ’77 PAGE 8 | 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT
Aubrey Greer ’22 was tired. She had spent most of the day applying for jobs and was scheduling backto-back phone interviews in hopes that she could find work. When COVID-19 hit Pennsylvania and closed college campuses, Greer moved back home to West Philadelphia. Things looked bleak: her mom was furloughed, and Greer lost the two jobs she had.
The story was similar for Ian Walsh ’21, who came to York College as an undeclared student. He eventually decided to pursue Sociology, but it took some time for him to find his footing. “I didn’t have enough focus,” he said. “I wanted to find my group of friends at college, and getting connected became more of a priority than my classes.”
“I didn’t want to be a financial burden to my mom. I needed to find a source of income. I didn’t know how I could keep going to school without a job.” –Aubrey Greer ‘22
It led to a conversation with Walsh and his dad, and if Walsh couldn’t bring his grades up, he knew he’d have to leave York College. After completing the Back on Track program, he made Dean’s List. With a new focus on excelling in college, Walsh’s advisor nominated him for the Marshall Scholarship.
Between interviews, her phone buzzed. It was Greer’s advisor at York College of Pennsylvania, calling to tell the Criminology student that she could rest a little easier: she was going to receive the Marshall Scholarship. “I was very grateful, but I didn’t know right away what it meant,” Greer said. When she realized the scholarship would cover the cost of an entire year of her education, she ran to tell her mom. They both cried. Scholarships can be hard to come by for the “average” college student. For students who struggle academically, they are almost unheard of. But, that’s what Keith Marshall ’77 wanted to fix. When he created the Marshall Scholarship at York College, he wasn’t looking for ways to reward the “A” student; rather, he wanted to give a hand to the “D” student who was making an effort to do better. When Greer first came to York College, she struggled to make the transition from high school to college academics. She took on too many activities and put her classes on the back burner. Her grades plummeted. “I knew I wasn’t the person I wanted to be on paper,” she said. “I knew I could do better. I just needed some guidance.” Greer went through York College’s Back on Track program, which helps students who are struggling academically to bring their grades up. By working closely with an advisor, students are given an opportunity to make college work for them and to succeed through their academic experience.
When he got the call that he’d be receiving the award, his jaw dropped. Now, he said, his parents don’t have to carry such a financial burden with multiple children pursuing higher education. He also was able to meet Keith and Linda Marshall at a scholarship dinner. “It’s really motivated me to take this opportunity to do better,” he said. “I have been given a gift, and I don’t want that to be wasted.” Julianne Grap ’22 never struggled in high school. But, when she came to York College, she wasn’t just taking challenging courses—she was learning to be an adult. She had a roommate and was in a new community. She had to budget and figure out how to study and balance a schedule. Soon, the weight of it all could be seen in her grades. In the Back on Track program, she found success. She learned the skills she needed to go from being a teenager to an adult, to taking on more challenges, and handling the responsibility with grace. She was working as a camp counselor over the summer when she had several missed calls from York College. She wasn’t worried about it and thought she’d get back to it later, until the College called her mom. “They told me to call right away,” she said. “I had no idea they would possibly be calling me about a scholarship.” But, beyond the financial assistance, Grap, who was the first student to receive the scholarship, found mentors in the Marshalls. They helped her develop a network and coached her on how to be a better student. “Success is never very linear, and my journey at York College has been far from it,” she said. “I know they were there to support me.”
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A Philanthropic Journey to an
Endowed Scholarship Fund
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Martin “Marty” and Lynne Shapiro moved to York in 1973 when Marty became a Financial Advisor for a major brokerage firm. They found their home and quickly became involved in the community. A year later, he began teaching as an adjunct faculty member at York College of Pennsylvania in the Economics Department. Marty was inspired by his hard-working students. He related to them as he, too, worked full-time as a financial advisor, and taught part-time, while raising a family. “The experience greatly enriched my life. Many of my students worked full-time jobs during the day and pursued degrees at night. I always felt motivated to help these hard-working students,” he said. Marty made an impact on his students—many of whom he still keeps in contact with. In 1983, Marty met Ivan Villalba ’85, and they grew close as Marty counseled him while Ivan attended YCP. “I learned of his artistic talents and became interested in his career,” he said. “We kept in touch all these years.” In the summer of 2020, Villalba felt inspired to paint a 5-foot-tall, 18-foot-wide mural titled Echte Welt 2020 (Real World 2020) and dedicate it to the College, said Marty. While the original theme was globalization, the pandemic helped to evolve the piece. Villalba and his wife, Dana, delivered the painting to Grantley Hall on campus in July 2020 and a dedication ceremony was conducted to honor him. According to Marty, Villalba’s “education at the College led to his success in his business.” Lynne watched her family grow around campus. “My family has enjoyed York College, which is walking distance from my home. My children played tennis there and rode bikes through the stream,” she said. “I had the
65
privilege of seeing my daughter graduate and become a valued contributor to the community.” When it comes to giving back, the Shapiros not only gave their time, but they have made a commitment to YCP in giving to support students. To Marty, giving is a deep family trait. “Philanthropy has always been paramount in my family. I remember my father saying to me, ‘Always put something aside for those less fortunate.’ ” The Shapiros have highly regarded the mission and value of the College, and their investment has made it possible for students in financial need to attend college. For several years, they made annual gifts and built up an endowment scholarship that goes into the College’s invested funds. Recently, they have added an annual gift in the form of a termed scholarship where a set amount is set aside for a scholarship over a minimum of five years. This has allowed the College to begin awarding scholarships immediately and continue to do so on an annual basis. Marty and Lynne Shapiro wanted to make sure their philanthropy would continue after they’ve gone. They have pledged a planned gift within their estate plan that will further enhance their endowment for years to come.
“It is a great honor to give a donation to York College, an institution that is such an important part of the York community,” said Lynne.
Fund Type
term or endowed scholarships or awards with connections to YCP faculty, staff, or administrators
55
21 Established by a faculty member
Endowed Scholarships or Awards
13 Established by a staff or administrator 14 Established by member(s) of the YCP family in honor of a faculty, staff, or administrator
4
Established by faculty, staff, or administrator(s) in honor of another faculty, staff, or administrator
1
Charitable Trust
9
Term Scholarships
13 Established with some other significant connection to a faculty, staff, or administrator
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Envisioning the Future
Knowledge Park at York College of Pennsylvania Imagine a new beginning for the 200-plus-year-old Schmidt & Ault paper mill along Kings Mill Road; the once-blighted property transformed with tall windows and stunning views of the Codorus Creek, shared labs, and workspaces—a Silicon Valley atmosphere right here in York. Pamela Gunter-Smith, President of York College, envisions the building’s new life as a place to foster the free-flowing exchange of ideas among students and professionals from all disciplines in a state-of-the-art environment: the York College Knowledge Park. Working closely with community partners, Assistant Vice President of External Affairs Jeff Vermeulen is leading the initiative to turn the vision into reality. From York College’s perspective, he sees the Knowledge Park as a learning lab—a place where students focus on project-based learning and internships while faculty will have the opportunity to consult and facilitate sponsored research. “It’s a step forward in the evolution in what it means to receive a York College education and how we partner with the community,” he said. “This type of realworld learning will happen on our campus and will speak to the student who’s going to want the York College experience.” PAGE 12 | 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT
The Knowledge Park is a collaboration between the academic community and external partners from the private and public sectors. It is part of the larger vision that combines the connection of York City to the College’s Engaged Scholars programs, its five schools, and the three signature high-impact teaching practices of project-based learning, global awareness, and facultystudent research. “There’s a connection between the York Water Company and the Knowledge Park that is not only physical, not only a neighborly connection, but we’ve persevered through a century of common service,” said JT Hand ’19, President and CEO of York Water Company. One of the original York Water pumping stations was at Kings Mill Road, right across from where the Knowledge Park will call home. About two years ago, when the Codorus Creek Beautification Initiative got underway and grant money from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) seemed attainable, the timing was right for the Knowledge Park vision to become reality. The College received a $6 million RACP grant last year, which will help with renovating several buildings on the north side of Kings Mill Road. Work is scheduled to begin next year.
Architectural renderings illustrate the interior of the Knowledge Park. 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT | PAGE 13
The Knowledge Park will present ample opportunities for students, faculty, and external partners to collaborate on realworld issues in innovative and tangible ways. PAGE 14 | 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT
“With a major need for high tech and cyber-related training, this forward-thinking plan by York College will boost our region’s emergence as a top location for a highly-skilled, trained, and technical workforce,” said Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York). “This investment will ensure York County will be home to one of the most cuttingedge institutions that leads to family-sustaining careers for many years and will pay major dividends back to the local and state economies.” Dataforma, a web-based cloud software company that provides services to the construction industry, joined the College’s J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship in 2011. As the company grew into a multimillion-dollar organization with nearly 30 employees, they sought to find new space, but didn’t want to lose the connections with the College. When Dataforma CEO Mark Zeleznock heard about Knowledge Park, he jumped at the opportunity to become an anchor tenant. “We were willing to do whatever it took,” Zeleznock said. “We love working with young students and recent graduates, and York College is providing the skills that our business requires.” According to Vermeulen, this kind of collaboration is one of the ways to reduce Pennsylvania’s brain drain—where educated people in their 20s and 30s leave the state. Knowledge Park, he said, can help keep those minds here. Zeleznock sees the opportunity for Knowledge Park to become a conduit for high-level talent to move into the area. “It’s tough to be in a small town and recruit employees when there’s only one company in town doing this type of development,” he said. York College has done an excellent job of renovating existing buildings that are part of York’s history. One alumnus, in particular, has a strong connection to the mill. For the past six decades, John C. Schmidt ’48 has driven the same way into York from his home in Spring Garden Township—down Grantley Road, through Kings Mill Road, and past the mill his grandfather bought over 100 years ago.
York College has been in communication with Schmidt since the early stages of the Knowledge Park project. Now 89, he can still vividly remember details of the property’s history. He even wrote a book about it several years ago, called The Mill: My Life in Paper. In 1898, Schmidt’s grandfather and a partner purchased the business, creating the Schmidt & Ault Paper Co. When Schmidt’s grandfather died in 1923, Schmidt’s father took over the business. The mill employed hundreds of York residents back in the day, but for Schmidt, the mill was his life. The family constantly talked about the business, often singing the praises of “The Cadillac” of the plant, Machine #5—its delivery required a trip through the Panama Canal followed by a train pulling 90 cars before it reached York. When Schmidt left the mill in 1972, it was the last time he’d walk inside for nearly 50 years. The site later became Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. In 2000, the company closed the mill citing market conditions. For Schmidt, who admits to being sentimental about the site’s past, a completely revitalized area is a sight he’s eager to see along his regular drives into the City. “Life moves on,” he said. “You have to look forward, not backward.” Looking ahead, Gunter-Smith said, “The concept of Knowledge Park is something typically found at institutions much larger than York College, which is what makes the endeavor so unique. It’s truly a win-win for everyone. It’s really special that this is going to be transformed in a way that serves both the College and the community. That’s why this works well. That’s why it will be so successful here.”
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A Strategic Gift Creates a
Major Minor
Stef and Tony Campisi ‘76 PAGE 16 | 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT
Tony Campisi ‘76 has spent over 40 years working in the insurance industry, a lifelong career that he happened upon as a York College student. He recognizes that, like him, few college students aspire to work in insurance. He is hoping to bring recognition to what he calls a “noble and rewarding profession” by creating a pipeline of skilled professionals for the industry through a multiyear agreement to establish a risk management minor at the College. “The majority of people working in insurance get there by accident,” Campisi said. “One constant, however, is that once they get in, their eyes are opened up to the opportunities and challenges to be addressed, as well as to the recognition they are serving a noble purpose. “When you are in the insurance business, you are ultimately helping free enterprise work and enabling individuals and organizations to pursue their goals. Without risk management techniques, free enterprise does not work. If you can’t manage risk, it’s hard to take on the risk necessary to run a business, to own property, to do anything in life, because life is full of risk. Risk management is the oil that makes the gears of our free enterprise system work.” Campisi joined Glatfelter Insurance Group in 1980 as Chief Financial Officer, was promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations in 1993 and served as President/CEO from 1999 to 2020. He now serves as the company’s Chairman. He is also President of the Arthur J. and Lee R. Glatfelter Foundation. A trustee emeritus of York College, he is co-chair for the EVOLVE Campaign and chairs the Center for Community Engagement Advisory Board. He previously served as a member of York College’s Collegiate Council, served on the “A Time to Act” Campaign Committee, and was the 2011 recipient of the College’s Professional Leadership and Service Award and one of the first Spartans of the Year award recipients. Campisi also received a Doctor of Humane Letters from York College in 2018. The Campisi Risk Management minor is available to York College students of any major starting this fall. The curriculum is focused on risk identification and evaluation, as well as techniques to manage risk. It also incorporates broader studies of economic theory, fundamentals in insurance, and business law.
Every business has to think about risk management in a very comprehensive way, according to Campisi. “Businesses make certain decisions about how they will operate and what they will or won’t do. If you don’t understand the risks associated with these decisions, you are exposing yourself and your business to potentially unmanageable losses. Every individual and organization faces risk; you can’t avoid it. That is why we’re taking this opportunity to have a curriculum that provides a basic education to students about risk management.” While the minor is a natural fit for business majors, students studying other areas would also benefit from learning about risk management. “The program is designed to get students to think about the exposures to loss we all have, and how we should manage risk in a way that allows us to achieve our goals in life,” Campisi said. “If we don’t manage it well, it’s going to impact our ability to achieve our desired goals and enjoy life.” Colleges the size of York do not typically offer a risk management program as part of their curriculum. “I see this as a way for YCP to step into an opportunity that other colleges of comparable size are just not pursuing,” Campisi said. “This is a very mature industry according to its workforce demographics. We are going to be seeing 50 percent or more of the current workforce retiring in the next decade. Schools are not turning out enough risk management professionals to meet the current and future needs of the insurance industry.” The time is ripe for York College to offer a risk management minor, and Campisi recognized that as he contemplated how to support his alma mater during its EVOLVE Campaign. He and his wife, Stef, previously established the Campisi Family Scholarship Fund at the College, but he wanted to do more. “I recognized the need for talent in the area of risk management and insurance. There really is nobody in our area that is doing this. Larger colleges that have these curriculums are most often preparing students for an actuarial science career. The industry as a whole, and specifically our South Central Pennsylvania region, need a broader and more comprehensive course of study. This minor is a great addition to the curriculum at York College, and a wonderful opportunity for students to be better prepared to manage risk and potentially pursue a very challenging and rewarding career in the world of risk management and insurance.”
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Lauren Henry ’89
Elise (Reesey) Herman ’74
Alumni Gifts Expand the
Spartan Experience
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Every gift to York College of Pennsylvania makes an impact. Some recognize the College’s general operations, supporting facilities, academic expenses, or student services. Others have more acute focal points, allowing donors to make philanthropic investments in specific programs that particularly resonate with them. This has certainly been the case for alumnae Lauren Henry ’89 and Elise (Reesey) Herman ’74, whose consistent giving to WVYC, the College’s radio station, and the XGI scholarship for veterans of the U.S. Military, respectively, highlight their personal affinities at their alma mater. For Henry, giving to the College has a strong connection to her undergraduate experience. She was involved with WVYC for all four years, which included serving as the assistant music director and general manager. Responsibilities included helping the promotions team find local business sponsors, DJing in the area, and even learning the etiquette of having to let someone go from the station. Henry currently works as a Senior Principal Operational Specialist at Janssen Research and Development, a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson (J&J). She’s had a “gamut of careers” within and outside of J&J that includes professional DJ, advertising copywriter, systems analyst, and project manager. She notes, “I was able to get these positions by using the communication skills I learned at York.” This skill set was also useful when Henry was pursuing her master’s degree in instructional systems. She says, “While I may not have been the world’s best student at York, I wised up and graduated from my master’s with a 4.0 GPA, won an award for the best student in my field, and got my thesis published.” Ultimately, Henry acknowledges, “the communications team was an eclectic bunch. I think they helped shape the woman I was to become.” Accordingly, in 2000, she began coordinating WVYC radio station reunions. She also started a WVYC monetary challenge for YCPGives, the College’s annual Day of Giving. Henry says, “I want York College students to have the opportunities I did and find their ‘tribe’ through the power of the love of music.” Reflecting on her interest in staying connected to YCP, Henry observes, “I…totally found myself in college. I think that’s one of the reasons I love York so much and am still involved 32 years later. I met some of my favorite people in the world at York and keep making more friends through radio station reunions. It’s nice to know, after all these years, I still think of YCP as home.”
of “what ifs.” Many elements of her time at the College had marked influences. They include having an Art major roommate who instilled a love of art that led to Herman’s interest in collecting contemporary art; witnessing “the skills of leadership, teamwork, and true dedication” through working with the Chi Gamma Iota (XGI) group of Vietnam veterans; and meeting her husband, John Herman, through George Herman, his brother and a classmate she met in a Far East Studies course. Looking at her academic foundation, Herman believes, “I had indeed used the skills and experiences gained… in some capacity daily for my entire professional life.” She adds that her time in the YCP Admissions Office, first as a Counselor and later as Assistant Director of Admissions, helped to develop essential communication and leadership skills and surmises, “If I was not part of YCP Admissions, the opportunity to become the Faculty Advisor for Chi Gamma Iota would not have happened.” Herman’s career as a Telecommunications software designer at ROLM, IBM, Siemens pulled from the organizational and analytical skills she learned with her English degree as well. Later, Herman worked and retired as the Southern Regional Field Service Manager for Macy’s Systems and Technology. She says “having the skills of leadership, teamwork, and true dedication were the result of YCP, the involvement with XGI, an outstanding faculty, and at times, dumb luck.” Moreover, “each experience at YCP was a link in the chain of my destiny. If I hadn’t begun my first rung at York College, I would not be who I am today personally or professionally.” Collectively, Henry’s and Herman’s experiences at York College helped them to determine their professional strengths, as well as ideas for philanthropic engagement. Their passions have led to more visibility for WVYC for alumni and supporters at reunions and on YCPGives, as well as enhanced resources for the station and its students and audience. For XGI, it has also spread awareness of this scholarship so that veteran students can be better supported at the College. York College is always proud to honor our mission and vision by preparing our graduates for productive and purposeful lives. We are further gratified when alumni continue the virtuous cycle of support that made their education possible and enrich the lives of current and future students. Contributions from the Spartan family both extend opportunities to students and allow donors to support their areas of interest sincerely and actively to enhance the overall Spartan experience.
Similarly, when Elise Herman thinks of all the ways being a Spartan has rippled across her life, she likens those memories and possibilities to a swirling dance
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Powder Mill Foundation Broadens
Student Opportunities at Two Institutions
PAGE 20 | 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT
Through thoughtful planning, Louis J. Appell Jr. continues to be one of the biggest contributors to the York area, including York College, even after his death. In 1993, he and his wife, Josephine “Jody,” established the Powder Mill Foundation to serve the York community and its local nonprofits and community partners. The Foundation works to revitalize the city by providing funding for capital improvements and expenditures, creation of new programs, collaborative efforts, and community development initiatives. After Appell’s death in 2016, the Foundation made it their mission to continue his philanthropy. York College of Pennsylvania has greatly benefited from this mission and the Appells’ generosity. The Powder Mill Foundation provided a multimillion-dollar investment into new programs at the College, including environmental horticulture. The new degree will include hands-on opportunities for students at Millbourne, the Appells’ 50-acre private estate in York. Michael H. Hady III, President and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation says, “This gift represents Louis Appell’s love of gardening as well as his commitment to York College.” The estate will be a key asset in the new programming at the College, where ornamental horticulture is showcased. The gift will fund construction of new laboratory and greenhouse facilities on the York College campus, the hiring of faculty with the expertise needed to teach in the program, and new equipment and supplies. The Appell Environmental Horticulture program, which was available to students beginning in Fall 2021 will consist of two areas of concentration: one oriented to ornamental plants and landscaping, and the other centered on food plants and their use around the globe. Food production in urban environments will be an important component, linking the major to York City endeavors for food security.
passion for horticulture and the stewardship of land and natural resources, York College students in the Appell Environmental Horticulture program will have handson learning opportunities that other programs simply cannot offer.” The Powder Mill Foundation has also been generous in enhancing programming for York Country Day School (YCDS), an affiliate of the College. The new Powder Mill Foundation Scholars program will assist students of color and low-income families from the city of York and York County with financial aid. The program will provide tuition assistance to students most in need, so that they will be able to begin their educational journey at the school. YCDS is a private, college-preparatory preschool through grade 12 near York College’s West Campus that specializes in vibrant and engaging academic experiences through signature programming including Capstone 5812, Service Learning, STEAM, YCDS College Connect, and the Center for Wellness. Students pursue knowledge and personal truths with devotion as they work collaboratively with faculty, mentors, and peers in authentic and powerful ways. “It is an honor to continue and to further the Appells’ advocacy of a YCDS education for the children of York City,” says Christine Heine, Head of School for YCDS. “The tremendous generosity of the Powder Mill Foundation provides opportunities for students to access a transformative education to lead lives of high purpose and intellectual engagement.” The program was open to selected students beginning in Fall 2021. Applications are accepted for consideration on a rolling basis until all awards are presented.
The program’s core curriculum will allow students to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to manage fruit, vegetables, and nursery and/or greenhouse production systems. Students will acquire the knowledge and experience in the key areas of ecology, economic botany and taxonomy, soil science and plant nutrition, plant propagation, pest management, landscaping, economics, and business. Students will graduate with a strong scientific base linked to marketing and business management skills that they can apply to niche markets, as York College’s location is a prime area for horticultural production and agribusiness of many types. “York College has been the recipient of Louis Appell’s generosity for years,” said President Pamela GunterSmith. “Thanks to his commitment to education and 2021 PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT REPORT | PAGE 21
EVOLVE A message from the Vice President of Development York College of Pennsylvania is in the midst of our first-ever comprehensive campaign, EVOLVE: The Campaign for York College. In October, during a campaign event in which we celebrated our early success and highlighted where additional investment would advance the College, we announced a new goal of $70 million in support of York College, but in a large part, the dollar figure is just a number. What is really important is the advancement of the College as your investment in the strategic plan makes YCP a better place for Spartan students. The question we wanted to answer in this report is “What is the return on your philanthropic investment?” This Philanthropic Investment Report has allowed you to see for yourself the great work being done at York College with donor investment. The YCP community is proud of the new Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions, the growing reach of the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program, the ingenuity and promise of the Marshall Scholarship, and the importance of philanthropy to the Shapiro family. Further, we are pleased to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit of the Knowledge Park, the innovation of the Campisi Risk Management Minor, the philanthropic focuses of our donors, and the twofold support of the Powder Mill Foundation. All of these fantastic programs were funded by investors who believe in the future of York College. Every donation matters. Every investment reaps long-reaching benefits. We appreciate all you do to support our Spartans. We hope you see the transformation of York College and that it makes you proud. Thank you, and Go Spartans! With appreciation,
Troy M. Miller, CFRE Vice President, Development