patches The Magazine for Alumni & Friends of Harcum College
■ FALL 2013
Life’s Unexpected Detours P R E PA R I N G F O R O U R C E N T E N N I A L : A L O O K B A C K – H A R C U M C O L L E G E F R O M 19 1 5 - 1 9 3 9 W H O A R E T O D AY ’ S S T U D E N T AT H L E T E S ? I C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 3
Then...
Harcum College Special Student Class – 1918 pose in front of the fireplace in the Melville Hall lobby.
The Magazine for Alumni & Friends of Harcum College
WINTER 2014
contents CONTRIBUTORS
Andy Back Director of Internal Communications Susan Friedland Director of Foundations and Grants Rachel Kraushaar Associate Director, Annual Giving and Special Events
features
Drew Kelly Athletic Director
8 A Look Back – Harcum College from 1915-1939 The first in a series of articles highlighting Harcum’s history as we prepare for the Centennial celebration in 2015 13 Life’s Unexpected Detours Profiles of three recent graduates who rerouted their career paths with a degree from Harcum
Sachiko Mallach Vice President of College Advancement Gale Martin Director of Communications and Marketing Kate Rosin Development Coordinator Melissa Samango Director of Alumni Relations and Individual Giving Special Event Photography KSN Images – Kevin Nash Features Writer Nancy McCann DESIGN AcquireVisual.com ............................................ Comments, questions and opinions can be directed to:
departments 2
President’s Message and Campus Highlights
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Athletics
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Harcum Events - 2013 Kevin D. Marlo Golf Classic - Film Screening at Bryn Mawr Film Institute - “Journey Into Dyslexia” Screening at Philadelphia School District featuring Alumna Tracy Johnson ’04 - “The Butterfly Project” comes to the Little Theatre - Commencement 2013
Office of College Advancement Bedford Hall 750 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-526-6060 or Alumni@harcum.edu ............................................ HARCUM COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Theodore A. Rosen Chairman of the Board Michael J. Buongiorno Vice-Chair Thomas Giamoni Vice-Chair
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Faculty/Staff Notes
Denis C. Boyle Treasurer
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Class Notes
Louise Strauss Secretary
EDITORIAL GUIDELINES The Office of College Advancement publishes Patches. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. The comments and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Harcum College. The editorial board reserves the right to edit and select content for Patches that adheres to Harcum’s commitment to maintaining the high standard of integrity that has always been characteristic of Harcum College. Harcum College is an equal opportunity institution and, as such, does not discriminate in its educational and employment practices with regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, applicable veteran status, or any other legally protected classification.
On the Cover: Interior Design alumna Marjorie Chojnacki ’12, featured in the article “Life’s Unexpected Detours” Photograph by Traci Cramer
Beatrice C. Blackman ’55 Samual P. Cimino, DDS Dan Hirschfeld Dr. Colena Johnson-Kemp Alexander Klein Marvin B. Levitties Dennis S. Marlo Denise McGregor Armbrister J. Michael McNamara Heather Rodale ’72 Carolyn Saligman Karin Takiff Karl A. Thallner Lisa Yang Susan Zeller Kent ’72 Susan Zises Green ’64
on campus Medical Assistant Program Enrollment Begins Harcum is currently accepting applicants for its new associate degree program for medical assistants, which will begin in the Fall of 2013. Medical assistants are an integral part of the healthcare field and perform administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other healthcare professionals. They perform tasks and procedures such as measuring patients’ vital signs, administering medications and injections, recording information in medical records-keeping systems, preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies, and collecting and preparing specimens of bodily fluids and tissues for laboratory testing.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that medical assisting jobs will grow at a rate of 31 percent between 2010 and 2020, adding almost 163,000 new jobs. “The healthcare industry in the Philadelphia region continues to grow, and hospitals, physicians and medical offices are all in search of qualified medical assistants to help their practices and enhance the quality of patient care,” said Harcum Executive Director of Enrollment Management, Rachel Bowen. Harcum’s program starts in August 2013. Both full-time and part-time day options are available. For prerequisites for admission, contact Beth McMichael, Admissions Counselor, at 610.526.6106 or bmcmichael@harcum.edu.
Dear Friends, After finishing high school, many of us went directly on to college; others got jobs; got married; started a family. We tend to look at the road ahead as very straight but in reality, life often has a way of making unforeseen changes for us. Sometimes jobs evaporate for many reasons and careers are detoured. Families may come apart when the road bends. The challenges can be immense and we may find ourselves asking, “What now?”
In the changing jobs market, relevancy is paramount. Many of our allied health graduates must take requisite continuing education courses to maintain licensure and certifications. Our annual Dental Expo, consisting of six CEU’s for attendees, attracts more than 300 dental hygienists, dental assistants and dentists. We are now offering CEU’s for occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants. A Nursing Expo is scheduled for this fall.
This issue of Patches highlights three alumni who asked themselves that very question at pivotal moments in their lives. The answers they sought began with enrolling in our associate degree programs at Harcum College.
Harcum College’s 100th anniversary is soon upon us and we’re gearing up with plans for celebrating this institutional milestone. The cover story highlights our first 50 years. Stay tuned for activities and events that will honor our past and traditions, salute our alumni and promote Harcum’s future ventures.
Harcum’s programs are ideal for adult career changers and career jump-starters. Many of our adult students have previous degrees. They come to Harcum seeking preparation for better employment opportunities, better salaries or to be able to work in a field that they feel passionate about. The Board of Trustees commenced a strategic planning initiative this past spring to ensure that moving into the future, Harcum’s goals and objectives continue to be aligned with our mission of quality education and life-long learning. This process is helping us determine the efficacy of our educational offerings.
As always, feel free to visit us on campus. Keep in touch through email and social media and continue sending us your class notes and professional updates. There is tremendous excitement at Harcum these days. I hope you feel a part of it. Best wishes
Jon Jay DeTemple, Ph.D. President
Dental Reaccreditation In early 2013 the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs received reaccreditation from The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) for seven years, the maximum time period allowed by CODA. “Harcum’s sterling reputation in the dental community is amply confirmed by CODA’s report this month,” said President DeTemple. “Harcum dental students and alumni are highly valued by dental offices, medical practices and hospitals in the Philadelphia region and beyond.” The accreditation process began in 2011, in which Harcum completed a comprehensive self-analysis and self-study report detailing its resources, curriculum, policies and operational standards. This was followed by an on-site review in September 2012 conducted by CODA team members selected for their expertise in the program area. Enrollment Sets Records Harcum set a new record in January 2013 with over 1500 students enrolled at the main campus and Partnership Sites. Spring enrollment has increased 73.1 percent since spring 2008 – when the enrollment was 870 students – to a total of 1506 for Spring 2013. Hot Prospects Signed for Harcum Men’s Basketball Harcum men’s basketball coach Drew Kelly announced in April the first three signings of the Bears’ 2013 recruiting class, a trio of local hoops stars that should keep the Bears among the nation’s best in the NJCAA ranks. In the fall, Harcum will welcome Shawn Church, a 6’3” forward from Ridley High School in Delaware County, Pa.; Isaiah Johnson, a 5’11” guard from Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, NJ; and Hakeem Rogers, a 6’2” guard from Elizabeth High School in northern New Jersey. Church, a 2012 graduate of Ridley High School, led his alma mater to back-to-back appearances in the PIAA state tournament
TIMMONE WHATLEY ’14, GENERAL STUDIES, BOWIE, MARYLAND.
as a junior and senior. He was the 2010-11 Central League MVP, who averaged 17.8 points and 11 rebounds per game as senior, earning a first team All-Delco selection. He became just the 8th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Johnson is an electrifying guard who led Notre Dame High School to one of its best seasons in school history, including a school record of 25 wins and its first Mercer County Tournament title since 1998. A first-team All-Mercer selection, he averaged 19.6 points per game and finished his stellar career with 1,603 points, setting a new school scoring record. Rogers, a lightning quick combo guard, led a basketball resurgence at Elizabeth High School in northern New Jersey. As a junior, Rogers steered Elizabeth all the way to the NJISAA Group IV state championship game, averaging 19 points per game in the state tournament. That same year, he was named first team AllUnion County. As a senior, Rogers repeated as first team AllCounty and also earned 1st team All-State honors after averaging 19 points per game and knocking down 60 three-pointers for a team that finished 12th in state ranking. He ended his career with 1,090 points. “It is an exciting day to welcome Shawn, Isaiah, and Hakeem into our program,” said Kelly. “Their athleticism and talents will really shine in our up tempo style and it will be very exciting to watch them develop over the next two years. These three student athletes will help to keep Harcum basketball as one of the elite juco programs in the nation.” Harcum is the only NJCAA Division I program in Pennsylvania and NJCAA Region 19 (N.J., Pa., Del.). With an all-time record of 193-53 over eight seasons of play, Harcum has consistently ranked as one of the top junior college programs in the nation. Harcum achieved the #1 ranking in the NJCAA national poll in 2010, making the Bears the first northeast program to be ranked #1 since 1974. Over 20 student-athletes have transferred to NCAA Division I programs.
SHEVON THOMPSON ’14, GENERAL STUDIES, KINGSTON, JAMAICA.
CARLOS GALAN ’15, GENERAL STUDIES, BRONX, NY.
IVAN UCEDA ’14, GENERAL STUDIES, MADRID,SPAIN. COMMITTED TO UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.
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talking sports Who Are Today’s Student Athletes? A profile of Sheneaka Wright '13 While individuals from all walks of life can find a path to rewarding careers at Harcum College, for many students, Harcum is just the first step of the educational journey. Soccer player Sheneaka Wright, who graduated from the College in May 2013, is one such student. Originally from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, Sheneaka was recruited through the soccer program and came to Harcum on a scholarship. “One US dollar equals about 100 dollars in Jamaica, so scholarship was really important,” she explained. “Where I’m from, the main source of income is farming—peanuts, gourds, etc. I used education as a wheel to get out of that lifestyle.” Sheneaka admitted that she initially had some reservations about attending Harcum. “Purple was never my color,” she joked. “I was a blue girl. But now, purple is in my life forever. Harcum is my second home; it's small, you get to interact with everyone, you know your peers and your teachers really well.” Ray Rogers, an Associate Professor of Business, was impressed with Sheneaka’s academic performance. “She did very well with the academics,” the instructor noted. “She moved along with the program very well.” “I started in Nursing,” said Sheneaka. “But it didn’t go well with soccer. I love sports and I love business, so I decided to try Sports Management. I earned an academic scholarship and worked to attain a residential life assistant position to cover the rest of my expenses.” Sheneaka also served as a workstudy student in the Office of
Sheneaka Wright ’13 demonstrating her athleticism on the soccer field.
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“I love sports and I love business, so I decided to try Sports Management.” College Advancement and participated in the department’s semiannual Phonathon fundraisers, an experience that helped broaden her view of the Harcum community. “The Alumni Relations department was really good,” she recalled. “I got to meet people and see how alumni giving helps students, helps us. Talking to alumni on the phone, hearing their stories, taught me the importance of listening.” “The warmth and welcoming attitude at Harcum is really good; people care,” Sheneaka continued. “Travelling thousands of miles away and learning how the people here think, I have grasped new concepts. I’ve gained more knowledge and I'm more aware of my surroundings. I know I could never have achieved at home what I have achieved here at Harcum.” Prior to graduation, Dean of Student Life Dr. George Thornton presented Sheneaka with the Student Leadership Award. She plans to continue her education at Bloomfield College, where she received a full scholarship and will be studying International Business. “I have six brothers and three sisters who look up to me,” Sheneaka explained. “I’m the first sibling to finish high school and the first to get a college degree. I want to pursue sports, business, and travel, and build it so I can also help students back home. I want to be a mentor back in Jamaica.”
Shana Weaver ’15, President Student Government Association (SGA) and Sheneaka Wright ’13 at the SGA Image awards where Sheneaka was presented with the award for “Best Personality.”
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Soccer
The Harcum College men’s basketball team finished the 2012-13 season with a 20-11 overall record, marking the program’s 8th consecutive 20-win season since starting the program in 2005. The Bears were nearly unbeatable on their home court at Good Counsel Gymnasium, posting a 14-1 record at home. Harcum’s top three scorers on the season were all freshmen, with Jordan Goodman leading the team by averaging 18 points per game. With the nucleus of the team returning for the 2013-14 season, expectations are high for a strong season.
The Harcum women’s soccer team came into the 2012 season under the leadership of their new coach, former Temple standout Niki Conn. Conn guided the Lady Bears to a 9-6 overall record and a 2nd place finish in the Region XIX standings. The Lady Bears qualified for postseason play for the third consecutive year, suffering a heartbreaking loss to Mercer County College, 3-2, in the Region XIX semifinals.
Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball program continued its long tradition of success, capturing the NJCAA Region XIX championship for the third time in the last four seasons. The Lady Bears got off to a rather inauspicious start, beginning the year just 2-7, but then won 19 of the their next 21 games, including the program’s 4th Region XIX title. The Lady Bears finished the season with a 21-10 overall record. Harcum returns just 3 members of the 2012-13 team, but a strong class of incoming freshmen should keep the Lady Bears near the top of the Region XIX standings.
Volleyball The Harcum Lady Bears will miss the strong leadership of our two graduating sophomores, Danielle Lohin (OH) and Jess Piatt (S). Lohin finished with a career 242 digs and 46 aces. Jess, who was out for the 2nd half of the season due to a back injury, finished up with 152 career aces and 327 assists in her two years with the Bears. While the 2012 team didn’t finish with the most impressive record, they did however take care of business off of the court, making the NJCAA All Academic Team for the year, for their overall 3.15 GPA.
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harcum events Kevin D. Marlo Golf Classic Raises Over $35,000 for Student Scholarships
Alumni Meet for a Screening of Caddyshack at Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Thanks to the contributions of our sponsors, the 13th annual Kevin D. Marlo Golf Classic raised over $35,000 to support student scholarships. Nearly 80 golfers enjoyed the day at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, PA. Rolling Green has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top 10 courses in Pennsylvania and is ranked in the top 100 nationally. The course was designed by William Flynn, father of Harcum alumna Constance Lagerman ’41. Harcum’s third annual online auction was held in conjunction with the outing this year. It provides an opportunity for non-golfers to participate in the event. Items included vacation packages, gift cards, one of a kind experiences, and unique arts and crafts. With over 70 registered bidders, the auction generated over $8,400.
Alumni and friends gathered at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute to view a screening of the 1980s classic, Caddyshack. Attendees enjoyed cocktails and food in a private room prior to the reception and were able to network and catch up with fellow alumni.
Harcum Board of Trustees Chairman, Denis Marlo, along with his foursome, Robert Olseski, John Kramer, and John Darr, high five to celebrate after a good round on the course.
Harcum Co-hosts Film Screening Featuring Alumna Along with the Philadelphia School District’s Office of Specialized Services, Harcum hosted a screening of “Journey Into Dyslexia” – a documentary featuring individuals including alumna Tracy Johnson ’04 and other thriving students, educators, and researchers who are exploring the realities and myths Tracy Johnson ’04 (far left) about the most common learnspeaks on a discussion panel ing disability. Over 100 guests with other experts at the attended the event, which was screening of “Journey Into Dyslexia” followed by a panel discussion after the screening including Dr. Richard Cooper, Coordinator of Disability Services and Learning Specialist at Harcum; Barbara Wilson, Co-Founder and President of Wilson Reading System; Susan Raymond; Producer and Director of Journey Into Dyslexia; and Tracy Johnson, Speaker and advocate for individuals with learning differences, among others. Johnson and Harcum have come together several additional times to offer the screening since the original event this past October.
The Butterfly Project Comes to Harcum’s Little Theatre
Trustee and Golf Classic Chairman Tom Giamoni and current Kevin D. Marlo Scholarship recipients Barbara Brosnan ’14 (Interior Design) and Hannah Norberg ’14 (Vet Tech) pose for the camera at the Awards Dinner. The scholarship recipients spent the day volunteering at the event.
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An audience of more than 70 Harcum alumni, students, staff, faculty, trustees and guests gathered in The Little Theatre for The Butterfly Project, a Wolf Performing Arts Center (Wolf PAC) touring production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly. The performance was followed by remarks from Ted Rosen, Vice-Chair of the Harcum College Board of Trustees, and Chuck Feldman, President of the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, as well as a question and answer session with the show’s cast of young actors and Holocaust survivor Michael Herskovitz.
Taube Weinberg ’59 and Beatrice Blackman ’55 attend a reception before the play.
Donna Allie, Founder and President of Team Clean, Inc. addresses the Class of 2013.
Alumni Gather for Phillies Game and Tailgate A group of about 50 alumni, students, faculty and staff, and friends of Harcum College gathered to watch the Philadelphia Phillies take on the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Citizen's Bank Park. Participants gathered for a tailgate of food, games, and socializing before the game began.
Commencement 2013 Donna Allie, Founder & President of Team Clean, Inc. gave a rousing address to some 390 graduates at Harcum’s 97th Commencement ceremony at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. With her theme of “You can do it!” Allie told the graduates that regardless of the odds, they can succeed if they have a goal to reach, plenty of energy, a dedication to family, and like working with people. “You have to like people, be tolerant of people, and give credit where credit is due,” she said. A native of Bryn Mawr, Allie launched Team Clean Inc. as a solo entrepreneur. In 1980, she was a single mother with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and vocational rehabilitation from Wilberforce University, and, as she puts it, “completely broke.” Coming home to Bryn Mawr, Allie was “a serial entrepreneur” and took part-time jobs, tried being a singing clown at parties and drove an unlicensed cab. Then she placed an ad in the Main Line Times offering her services as a housecleaner. Her first job, for a wealthy Main Line woman, earned her $10 for a day’s work. But Allie saw a need for her services, persevered and “started a company with no money.” She responded to newspaper ads seeking cleaning services by hiring individuals and sending them off in pairs to clean homes, establishing her team approach to cleaning. In 1989, a contractor asked her if she could clean an 80,000-seat stadium (Veteran’s Stadium) in eight hours. She said yes, and Team Clean Inc., run by Allie and her family members, was truly born.
Within ten years, the company was named one of Philadelphia’s 100 Fastest-Growing Small Businesses by the Wharton Small Business Development Center. Today, with a market reach that extends well beyond the city limits of Philadelphia, where it is based, Team Clean is the largest minority-owned business in the region and employs more than seven hundred people from highly diverse backgrounds. In 2001, Allie was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the “District Minority Small Business Person of the Year.” Other award recognitions include the Main Line Martin Luther King Jr. Association’s Business Leadership Award, the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Award, and most recently, the Main Line Chamber of Commerce’s Helena Devereux Women in Leadership Award. The 2013 Commencement exercise also featured faculty and student awards. Joanne Thames, Program Director for Early Childhood education, received the Philip Klein Award for outstanding service to students and dedication to Harcum College, presented by Trustee Alexander Klein. The Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Jacki Kopack, Program Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program, by Vice President for Academic Affairs Julia Ingersoll. Three students received the Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a 4.0 GPA; Kyle Sponheimer, a Radiologic Technology major, Sara Jo Fegley, a Law and Justice major, and Lynne Lyko, a Histotechnology major. Dean of Student Life Dr. George Thornton presented the Student Leadership Award to Sports Management major Sheneaka Wright. The Harcum Award went to Dental Hygiene major Janee Thompson. Dr. DeTemple presented the President’s Award to Human Services major Robin Pryor. Professor of General Studies Gail Sklar read the names of the graduates as Dr. DeTemple presented their diploma covers. Tracy Johnson ’04 greeted the new Harcum alumni and encouraged them to stay connected to their new alma mater. The Harcum College Class of 2013 processing to the Commencement Ceremony held in Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
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By Nancy McCann
As our centennial celebration nears, join us as we go down memory lane and reflect upon our history from 1915 through today; from the visionary dreams of our matriarch, Edith Hatcher Harcum on educating women, to opening the school doors to men, to educating students for practical careers in the twenty-first century. This article is the first in a series that will cover Harcum’s progress through the decades.
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FACING PAGE: AFTERNOON TEA – 1917
1915 - 1935 In the Beginning
ABOVE: THE HARCUM EQUESTRIAN CLUB – PICTURED BEHIND MELVILLE HALL – 1925. BELOW: PHYSICAL EDUCATION – CIRCA 1930
Our story begins on October 1, 1915 when Edith Hatcher Harcum opened the doors to the Harcum Post-Graduate School in partnership with her husband Octavius Marvin Harcum. Class-size: three; pianos: five. Edith Harcum was a well-educated woman and a talented concert pianist with a passion for music. She strongly believed that music should be a credited course, not extracurricular as it was during her education. According to Phyllis Bean, who worked as registrar and coordinator of institutional research at Harcum College, music was not just an art to Edith, but a profession. She strongly believed that women should be trained to hold a job and have a career—a pioneering idea for that time. It was Harcum’s firm conviction that women should have a general education in the fine arts and culture, as well as a vocational goal. “The Harcum School enabled Edith to put her ideas about women’s education to practice,” said Bean. After the birth of their first child William Harcum, Edith wrote, “the concert career did not offer a chance for family stability” so she and her husband chose a venture that would combine “my talents as an educator and artist and his business vision and ability.” Edith was the head of the school and Octavius—or “Uncle Marvin” as the students called him—
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: THE GROUNDS OF HARCUM JUNIOR COLLEGE LOOKING TOWARD MONTGOMERY AVENUE – THE CORNER OF MELVILLE HALL CAN BE SEEN ON THE LEFT. CIRCA 1921. SENIORS DISPLAY THEIR GRADUATION GIFTS – A SIGNATURE HARCUM WEDGEWOOD PLATE HOCKEY SQUAD 1931 DUKE ELLINGTON VISITS HARCUM – MID-1930s
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handled the finances. During the 1916-1917 school year, 16 students attended the Bryn Mawr campus while 21 faculty members taught courses in Latin, German, Greek, English, English diction, French, science, Italian, Spanish, history, mathematics, piano, voice, violin, harp, music appreciation, art, domestic science and sewing, dancing and athletics. In 1917, Melville Hall, a large Greek Revival building, was renovated to house the classrooms, dormitory and private residence of the Harcums. Sadly in 1920, Octavius Harcum was killed in a car accident. Although there was no graduation ceremony that year, Edith, as president of the school, reopened Harcum College in the fall of 1921. She remained president for more than 30 years with the exception of one academic year, 1946-1947, when Dr. John Barber served as president. Also in 1920, another female pillar of Harcum College, Maud L. Marren, was appointed Dean of the College and was a central figure on campus until she retired 43 years later. During these early years, the post-graduate school became a junior college and the college preparatory classes were dropped. During the 1920s and 1930s the student body increased steadily, as did the faculty. Approximately 50 courses in various fields of study were offered. A typical program would include English, Latin, French, mathematics, ancient history, and art and music.
ABOVE: “SWIMMING CLUB” 1931 - IN THE BACKGROUND IS “THE TEA HOUSE” WHICH WAS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE SERVED OVER CHOCOLATE CAKE. BELOW: IN THE GYMNASIUM – 1920 JAZZ ORCHESTRA – 1928
1935 – 1940s The Expansion Years By the time Harcum College reached its 25th birthday in 1940, the campus had expanded into five beautiful buildings along Montgomery Avenue, reflecting an atmosphere of gracious, purposeful living. The student body had grown considerably, graduating 46 women in 1939 in contrast to one graduate in1916. By 1948 there were 145 students in attendance and 35 faculty members. Edith Harcum was still President and Maud Marren was Dean of Admissions. Like many institutions in the Northeast, Harcum College evolved over the years from a “finishing school” to a college preparatory, and then to a junior college. Edith Harcum’s firm belief was that each woman is an individual with personal needs, interests, aptitudes and aspirations. She wanted Harcum College to be a school “where the individual talent of each girl would be treated as an integral part of her education.” With that in mind, she scrupulously avoided set and rigid courses of study,
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ABOVE: 1918-1919 GRADUATION PORTRAIT BELOW: A VISIT FROM EUROPEAN ROYALTY – MID- 1930s
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keeping the curriculum flexible in order to meet the varied needs and wants of the students. During this period, the college offered programs in three major categories. One was for those students who expected to transfer to a four-year college after two years of study at Harcum, another was for students interested in majoring in the arts, and the third area of study consisted of courses in business and professional fields. Many women of this time were primarily interested in becoming “homemakers” to use the term of that era. Harcum College provided a series of courses in home management, nutrition, child psychology and mental hygiene. For the women seeking different vocational careers, professional level training was offered in art, costume design, merchandising, interior design, journalism, illustration, dramatics, music, secretarial and medical secretarial curriculums and nursery school work. Harcum College offered three types of diplomas during this period: Liberal Arts, Artistic or Vocational Major, and the General Diploma. The mission of Harcum College at this time can be found in this excerpt from the 1945 -1946 Harcum catalog: “Harcum has a four-fold aim: to arouse in a girl a lasting interest in intellectual pursuits, which will encourage her to keep up with new ideas and discoveries; to give a broader cultural background as a means to enjoy the arts; to train her, through an understanding and realization of her own resources, to develop and use these toward a richer life and possible self-support; and lastly, to aid in attaining the social adjustment necessary to a happy, balanced life.” Edith Harcum always stayed true to this ideal, as can be heard in her eloquent message during one of her commencement speeches: “Find your hope, cherish it and set about actively realizing it. Grapple early with your fears; face them from the beginning. Try to live a life of usefulness and action. Look about you: see a plan in what seems a chaotic world; find generosity and tolerance where you are led to believe there is selfishness and bigotry; then be generous and tolerant yourself.” Stay tuned for the next issue of Patches Magazine as we explore Harcum College in 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
LIFE’S
By Nancy McCann
UNEXPECTED DETOURS led these students to Harcum… and onward to successful careers
Marriage, family, relocation or job loss can cause a detour in any well-paved road to success, as these featured alumni know all too well. But, with over 20 majors in allied health, business and social sciences, Harcum students are able to navigate their way through life’s twists and turns and find a practical career with, most importantly, job placement. Meet three recent graduates who rerouted their career paths with a degree from Harcum…
Melanie Hudson ’13 Leadership Studies Finding that road to success wasn’t easy for 42-year-old, Melanie Hudson. In 2010, Hudson entered an unfamiliar world. After her 17 year marriage dissolved, she became a single mom of a teenage daughter. She also landed in the unemployment line when her longterm government job—a Melanie Hudson ’13, contracted federal security Leadership Studies graduate officer for the Social Security Administration in center city Philadelphia—was unexpectedly transferred to another contracting company. Stepping into the job market with only a GED diploma, she wondered how she was ever going to find a well-paying job again. “I had a false sense of security that I would never lose my job,” said Hudson. “It was the only job I knew. I felt settled. Once I got over the time of feeling hurt and angry and de-
spair... I started seeing signs in my community—at my church, the library— about improving your community while improving yourself…about going back to college. The signs were flashing ‘Harcum.’ “I was making good money when I was released from my position. I figured with nothing but a GED diploma—if I get back into the workforce without a college degree—I’m not going to make the money that I was making...I had to do something. So I guess it was ‘signs from above,’” enthused Hudson. Hudson took to heart the “signs from above” and enrolled full-time in the Leadership Studies program at Harcum College. This was the first college experience for Hudson and as a non-traditional student she was a bit apprehensive, but quickly embraced collegiate life. She made the dean’s list each semester and received an associate’s degree on May 11 as she walked in her cap-and-gown. She is the first college graduate in her family and is a proud role model for her young daughter. At the start of her Harcum education, Hudson was quoted in the winter 2011 issue of this magazine as saying, “I am so excited about all the new possibilities ahead of me, as Harcum is ‘the College of possibilities.’ Since I don’t have a past with alumni, I would like to meet new people, network, rejoice and feel the Harcum spirit amongst my peers.”
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Margie Chojnacki ’12 Interior Design Margie Chojnacki earned her interior design degree from Harcum College at the young age of 59. She’s been married 40 years, raised two children, grandmother to three and works full-time as an interior designer at Mann-Hughes Architecture in Doylestown, Pa. Although it took her nearly six decades to reach her dream job, reach it she did and she gives much of the credit to her Harcum education. Chojnacki said she was always interested in interior design, but life somehow took her in different directions until she finally found her way to the picturesque Bryn Mawr campus. She first started investigating going to school for interior design during the 1980’s, when her children were small, but ended up working on a business degree at her local community college instead. Through the job postings board at the college, Chojnacki landed an office manager/book keeper position at the same Doylestown architecture firm where she works today. In 2008, after 19 years with the company, Chojnacki’s decided the time was right
TRACI CRAMER
Reflecting upon her freshman words, Hudson had this to say, “I was new at the time, but I wasn’t going to let my age, my past with my job, not having the complete support that I needed, stop me from getting to know people. I wanted to feel a part of the Harcum spirit and feel like a family. And they certainly have treated me that way. I’m going to miss Harcum. It’s my first love. It helped me think of all the possibilities that are out there especially coming from a stressful situation. They are true to their name, ‘the college of possibilities.’” Hudson wants to be a “good, effective leader” for herself, her community and her family and utilize it somehow within the human services sector of the workforce. “I get a thrill out of helping people,” said Hudson, “even if I’m helping future Harcum students. I feel good about passing along what I’ve been through and what I know and that ‘you can do it.’ If I can do it, they can do it.” Hudson plans to continue her education in the fall at Eastern University. She’ll be working toward her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.
Margie Chojnacki ’12 Interior Design surrounded by tools of her trade at Mann-Hughes Architecture
to pursue that interior design degree again. Not only were her children grown and married but the architecture firm was expanding its services to include interior design. With the flexibility and blessing from her employer to leave work during the day—as long as she made up the hours—Chojnacki traveled to Harcum to attend classes. In the spring of 2011, MannHughes promoted her to the design department working with architect and mentor, Brenda Hobbs. Chojnacki attributes much of her success to this mentorship, the generosity of her employer and support of her husband, Dave. She earned her degree one year later in May 2012. Chojnacki loves her career choice. She helps to “create the atmosphere” for the firm’s commercial clients, namely churches. Not your typical church, according to Chojnacki. These “worship centers” incorporate classrooms, administrative offices, conference rooms, cafes and lounges, bookstores and more, as well as the worship space into the whole structure. Once the floor plan is designed, Chojnacki tackles the interior architecture and design by choosing the right fabrics and finishes, furnishings, lighting, flooring, etc., to capture the client’s theme and or mission. “Harcum has done for me just what I was
“Harcum has done for me just what I was hoping it would do.”
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Carolyn Best ’12 Occupational Therapy Assisting (OTA) Carolyn Best found her way to Harcum College at the midpoint of her life. After raising her 20-year-old triplets with her husband of 26 years and sending them off to college, Best decided the time was right to pursue her long-time passion and interest in the healthcare field. “When I was in high school, I was a candy striper in a hospital, so I had an interest early on, but just never pursued it…that initial passion just resurfaced when I had some time to think about it again after the kids were grown. Harcum gave me the opportunity to pursue it.” While the pursuit of happiness is rewarding at any age, Best realized that the pursuit of a well-paying job was essential when one has three children in college at the same time. Although she had earned a sociology degree with a minor in business and worked in human resource management for 15 years earlier in her life, Best was hesitant to try to re-enter the business world. “Going into the healthcare field with this degree (OTA) offered me the opportunity to get a good-paying job right from the start,” enthused Best. “It’s a better income than trying to work my way back into a management position in business. This has given me the opportunity to get in a field that has a need for occupational therapists and it pays pretty well too.” Best works for Select Medical, a therapy group within Pembrooke Health and Rehabilitation Residence in West Chester, Pa. As an OTA, Best supports the occupational therapist by following the goals established in an evaluation. She works mostly with an older population rehabilitating from a wide variety of illnesses or recovering from injury due to falls or accidents. The goal is to get her patients back to participating in “activities of daily living.” Best described occupational therapy (OT) as an “overall support system for those dealing with any kind of ailment. OT looks at the whole person and tries to pull all the pieces together to get them to the next stage of health…Our focus is to get them to participate in activities of daily living.
“We generally work on upper body and trunk strengthening,” continued Best. “After an initial focus on strengthening and endurance, we focus on functional activities including independence in dressing and bathing and then often get them working in scenarios of what they want to be doing once they leave rehab. It could be working in a kitchen; it could be doing their laundry. ‘Activities of daily living’ is a big terminology for occupational therapy work; whatever that may be. It’s different for everybody.” Best had several good reasons for making Harcum her college of choice later in life. First, is her family tie to the school. Her mother, Jane Allen Weaver graduated in 1948 with a secretarial diploma. Best also liked the flexible scheduling Harcum had to offer as well as the small classes “where we got to ask questions and be heard and weren’t lost in large masses of people; so that was really supportive and helpful…I hadn’t been in school for a lot of years. It was fun to be on a campus. I would come to the campus to study, work with classmates or other students, and read and be a part of all of the goings-on there…I wanted that campus experience. I would look for that and it was there…That’s what I liked about Harcum.” JESSICA WHITEHAIR
hoping it would do,” said Chojnacki. “I was in the same position at the architecture firm for 19 years…There was no other way for me to advance other than to go to school. That was the impetus for me to go to Harcum. “I am very happy with my Harcum education,” Chojnacki continued. “The teachers were very helpful, very caring…as well as dedicated staff throughout. It was absolutely worth the travel…I really believe that Harcum was the best choice for me.”
Harcum alumna Carolyn Best (right) with fellow Harcum graduate Jaina Itchon ’12, Physical Therapy Assisting in Pembrooke rehab gym
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faculty & staff notes Michael Wolf, a veteran developmental math instructor at Harcum, and Valjean Wright, Director of Student Success Initiatives, presented “Developing Career-Based Developmental Math Materials” at the 21st Annual Conference on Integrated Learning: The SchoolTo-Career Connection at Penn State University in November, 2012. Wolf described the results of his research at Harcum and gave a demonstration of math materials he developed over the last three years in the Integrated Math Project funded by the Perkins Grant, under the supervision of the Perkins Grant Coordinator, Valjean Wright.
Anders Back, Harcum’s Director of Internal Communications and Publications, has been elected Vice-President of the Association of Communicators in Education (CUPRAP), a Middle Atlantic regional association of higher education communications professionals, with 400 members representing over 100 universities, colleges and schools in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. He will serve a two year term. Back was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of CUPRAP in 2011 and was appointed Treasurer in 2012.
Nikolay Karpalo, Manager of Facilities, was selected as Harcum’s 2013 Employee of the Year at the annual Employee Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, May 7. “Nik” was recognized for his tireless work keeping the College’s physical plant operating smoothly and for his initiatives in maintenance, repairs, landscaping and working with outside vendors.
Donna Broderick
Nikolay Karpalo
Medical Laboratory Technology Program Director Donna Broderick and her faculty and students created “The Harlem (Harcum) Shake,” a YouTube video, as part of a contest sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). ASCP used the videos as a way to gain interest, excitement and awareness for the profession. The contest launched National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week April 22-26. The video has received over 4,000 views on YouTube, far exceeding competing videos produced by The Mayo Clinic, the University of Kentucky and several other colleges and universities.
Steve Pipitone, Coordinator for Distance Education and Tim Ely, Director of e-Learning at Montgomery County Community College (and former Harcum assistant vice-president), co-presented on April 11, 2013 at the Villanova University 9th Annual Tech Expo. Their presentation was “The Perfect Blend: Strategies for Developing Quality Hybrid Courses”, selected from a large number of submissions. The 2012 Technology Expo had 1,270 attendees representing 330 colleges, universities, K-12 schools, school districts, intermediate units, nonprofit organizations and businesses; and 107 technology vendors participated as exhibitors.
Steve Pipitone and Tim Ely
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Theresa Groody
Theresa Groody, Director of Continuing Studies, contributed a feature article, “Hidden Attributes of the Dental Assistant,” to the May/June 2013 issue of Inside Dental Assisting magazine.
class news 1955
1967
Sandra Ludwig Gordon ’55 is married and living in Boynton Beach, Florida. She has four children and 12 grandchildren.
Brenda (Comer) Tishk ’67 went on to earn a BA in Education from the University of Miami. She lives with her husband in Henderson, Nevada, and would love to reconnect with her Harcum classmates.
major at Florida International University. Both children are living at home and Joy and Elliot are enjoying the full house. Joy is still hoping to get in touch with Jayne (Shumway) Schwartz, Carol Lupin, Deborah Ryan, and her little sister, Idriane (Rains) Wish.
1968
1977
1966 After graduating from Harcum, Hillary Ripps ’66 established a production career in Los Angeles, California. She worked on several films and helped launch an Academy Award-winning production company that influenced the re-emergence of the short-film format. Hillary won her own Oscar for her work as executive producer on the short film 12:01. She remains an active member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and currently works at Julien’s Auction House. She is also a committed volunteer for the Hollywood Ronald McDonald House and Guide Dogs of America. Hillary received a Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award from Harcum College in October 2012.
Hillary Ripps ’66
Marlene (Ritardi) Inman ’68 lightheartedly reports that she is "retired + 65 years old + Medicare recipient = OFFICALLY OLD!"
1973 In 2012, Nancy Carter ’73 reconnected with her Harcum roommate Jayne (LeValley) Linderman after more than 37 years! They now write to one another on a regular basis. Nancy says she would love to hear from other members of the Class of 1973.
1974 Joy (Schulman) Lisak ’74 can hardly believe she was a member of Harcum’s freshman class 40 years ago! She remains in close contact with eight Pennswood friends, including Mindy (Heilweil) Teich, Sheryl (Bornheim) Rockwell, Gail (Weber) Moran, P.J. Rothchild, Susan (Ostrander) Rodli, Laurie (Penterman) Waugh, Mary (Hamilton) Meslar, and Sue Eadie. The group is trying to coordinate a reunion. Joy and her husband, Elliot, have been married for 33 years and have two children, ages 23 and 25. Their daughter earned a BFA in Illustration from Ringling College of Art and Design and their son is currently a Psychology
Barbara Boswell Brunner ’77 is retired after founding three successful retail companies in the Pacific Northwest. She currently resides in Southwest Florida with her husband and writes full-time. Her award-winning book, Dog-Ma: The Zen of Slobber, was published in August 2012.
received an Outstanding Alumna Achievement Alumni Award from Harcum College.
1982
1985
After working for more than 18 years between Sun Microsystems and Oracle, Teresa Buchanan ’82 says that she is exploring new opportunities. Ann Caulfield VMD, CCRT, CVA ’82 graduated from Harcum and worked as a veterinary technician at University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. She later attended the Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and was certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist and a Veterinary Acupuncturist at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to her position as a vet at Berwyn Veterinary Center, she heads Rehabilitation Medicine at Ryan Hospital at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In October 2012, Ann
Ann Caulfield VMD, CCRT, CVA ’82
Terri Cotto-Rivera ’85 graduated from Harcum, and then earned a BA in Health and Education from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) and an MA in Education from Wilmington University. She has worked as a physical education teacher for more than 23 years. Sandra Feather ’85 went on to earn a BS in Molecular Biology and a master’s degree in Physical Therapy at Neumann College. She was the director of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at Harcum College for nearly 10 years and later served as the College’s Director of Admissions. She is currently working toward a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership, while serving as the Director of Enrollment
Cornell Asian Alumni Association Honors Harcum Trustee Harcum Trustee and parent, Lisa Yang, was honored at Cornell University’s 22nd annual Pan-Asian Banquet, hosted by the Cornell Asian Alumni Association on February 2, 2013. Ms. Yang, a former investment banker who now devotes her time to the Devereux Foundation and has generously supported Cornell’s Employment Disability Institute (EDI) in the Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School, was recognized for her philanthropic work, as well as her commitment to Cornell University and the Asian/Asian-American community. Lisa Yang (left) and her daughter, Eva Tan ’14.
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class news 1992
2004
Since her graduation, Susan Doebling ’92 has become an integral part-time faculty member for both the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs at Harcum College. She also regularly volunteers for the College’s Sealant Saturday events. In October 2012, Susan received an Outstanding Alumna Achievement Alumni Award from Harcum.
In February 2013, Tracy Johnson ’04 was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society at Eastern College.
2010
Sandra Feather '85
Brooke (Karmels) Arena ’10, a Dental Hygiene alumna, and her husband, Bryan, welcomed their first child, Bryan, Jr., in January 2012.
Management at Penn State Worthington Scranton. Sandra received an Outstanding Alumna Achievement Alumni Award from Harcum College in October 2012.
Nellie (Cruz) Montoya ’10 graduated from Harcum and continued working toward a BA in Business Administration at Albright College.
1990 Clarinda (Alden-Kraus) Koenig ’90 has been happily remarried since 2004. She practiced as a COTA on and off from 1992 until 2005 when she began working independently as an elder caregiver. In 2010, she accompanied her husband to Bavaria, Germany, where he was reunited with a boyhood friend from an orphanage where they had both lived during World War II—the two men had not seen or known each other for 61 years! Clarinda says she is grateful to Harcum for enabling her to support her four children through 14 difficult years as a single parent.
After graduating from Harcum, Miriam (Tartack) Sandler ’04 went on to earn an MA in Organizational Leadership from Cabrini College. She married in June 2009, welcomed her first child in September 2012, and currently works as an event photographer.
Are you interested in reconnecting with Harcum? Do you have fellow alumni in your area who want to get together for an event or outing? Let us know! We are happy to come to you. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@harcum.edu or 610.526.6060 support system to help encourage women in the areas of business and relationships. Portia is currently studying Organizational Leadership at Eastern University. She attributes her success to the support of the Harcum staff, professors, and students who believed in her and pushed her to challenge herself. She hopes to one day write a book about leadership, and then a play about the book. "It’s not what your education can do for you," says Portia. "It’s what you can do with your education."
2011 Susan Doebling '92
Julia Gerhart ’11, an orthodontist assistant, married Ryan Rubright in April 2013.
1995
2012
Nicole (Wertz) Sciubba ’95 lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania with her husband and teenage daughter. In her spare time, Nicole teaches children about sheep and chickens while volunteering as Sheep and Poultry Leader with the Newtown Square 4-H Club.
Portia Graham ’12 volunteered as a Community Education Advocate with I-Lead and now works as a Community Education Outreach Advocate for AmeriCorps VISTA. She also launched Against the Odds Healing Heart Ministry, a non-profit organization that focuses on nurturing relationships, families, and individuals, while providing a
Portia Graham '12
Harcum Alumni Breakfast in Freiburg, Germany On June 24, 2012, Harcum College alumni and representatives from the International Office of the University of Education in Freiburg, Germany met over breakfast for a lively exchange of ideas and experiences. Interested in planning an event for your Harcum class or program? Contact Alumni Relations at 610.526.6074 or alumni@harcum.edu. From left to right: Saskia Nees ’11, Levke Schmidt, Maria Wessels ’11, Lena Cooke ’12, Daniela Neu ’12, Kerstin Potter, and Johannes Lebfromm.
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Regina Hoffman, whose newly renovated kitchen was featured on this year’s Ardmore Library Kitchen Tour, received her Certificate in Residential Design from Harcum College in 2012. “For several years I have participated in the Ardmore Library Kitchen Tour as a spectator. This tour, along with others I have attended in the area, have helped me to build a vision for my own home and have given me many ideas I can use as a design professional.”
Harcum Goes West This past February, Harcum Advancement staff member, Rachel Kraushaar, traveled to Colorado and Arizona to catch up with Harcum College Alumnae. Kraushaar had the opportunity to meet with eight women to share news about Harcum as well as hear about their experiences at the College. “It was wonderful to be able to sit down with these women and hear stories about their time at Harcum and what they have been able to accomplish since they left,” said Kraushaar. Carole O’ Connell was one of the alumna who Kraushaar had the pleasure of meeting. Carole O’Connell graduated in 1956 and had hopes of starting a career in the fashion industry. However, only a couple of months before graduation she was recruited out of Harcum to be a hostess for TWA International. She worked with TWA until she married her husband Bob. Carole and Bob had five children and lived all over the country including stops in Washington DC, Buffalo, Chicago, Denver and San Diego. After Carole’s youngest son went to college, she went back to work for Denver International Airport.
Regina Hoffman ’12
Today, Carole stays actively involved with her grandchildren and gives weekly tours at Coors Field in downtown Denver where she has been a tour guide for 19 years. She also spends time tap dancing with a senior tap dance group called the “Silver Hotties” who has several performance engagements including performing at Denver Nuggets games. Carole remembers her time at Harcum fondly, and is thankful for the friends she made and the opportunities that arose from her time here.
in memory Harcum College remembers the following alumni & friends: JEAN (BUTTLES) CLARKE, CLASS OF 1940 CHARLOTTE (SHEPPARD) DEVAN, CLASS OF 1940 CONSTANCE (FLYNN) LAGERMAN, CLASS OF 1940 JANET (MACLAREN JOHNSON) HEWES, CLASS OF 1944 HENRIETTA “BENNY” (LATTA) EVANS, CLASS OF 1944 MARY (ECK) HEMMERICK, CLASS OF 1948 VIRGINIA (MCDOUGAL) HUNTZINGER, CLASS OF 1956 JUDITH (KEMPNER) MOLSKY, CLASS OF 1959 LISA D. LOWE-WEIL, CLASS OF 1978 THERESA (TROVATO) BORGIA, CLASS OF 1981
VALERI FAITH FREES, CLASS OF 1983 CATHY LYNN (HILDUM) CHASE, CLASS OF 1989 MICHELE (EVANS) CRESSMAN, CLASS OF 1989 JOHN BRIAN LILLEY, CLASS OF 2006 JOAN (VANDUSEN) BRENNER CAROLINE MARY DOHERTY NANCY DONALDSON BARBARA (NEITZEY) GAMMON EILEEN NEWELL MARCIA (BRADWAY) SNOWBERGER HARCUM COLLEGE • FALL 2013
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photo memories Do you know the story behind the following photographs pulled from our archives? Can you identify anyone? If so, contact us at alumni@harcum.edu
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And Now...
Today’s students pose in the Melville Hall lobby at the same place student posed 95 years ago.
The Magazine for Alumni & Friends of Harcum College ■ FALL 2013
750 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
SAVE THE DATE
14TH ANNUAL KEVIN D. MARLO
GOLF CLASSIC Benefitting Harcum College Scholarships
Monday, May 19, 2014 ROLLING GREEN GOLF CLUB, SPRINGFIELD, PA