Cover Photo: Lyndsay Link
Photo: Jason Jones
You BELIEVED Juniata College is worthy of your support and you made the most significant investment in the student experience in our history.
President James A. Troha envisioned the “positive restlessness” he observed on campus upon his arrival as a catalyst for Juniata’s ambitious future.
Photo: Jason Jones
Today, as I enter into my ninth year as your president, that restlessness I referenced has garnered over $128 million dollars for this College that we love so dearly. Through BELIEVE: the Campaign for Juniata College, the College’s endowment has grown from $106 million to $138 million. Our U.S. News & World Report ranking has improved by over 33 positions, moving from outside the top 100 to number 75 among national liberal arts colleges. Numerous new student scholarships have been created, buildings have been built, existing facilities renovated, professorships created, new academic programs developed, and Juniata’s curriculum reimagined. Beeghly Library is also about to be transformed into the Tim ’72 and Kathy’72 Statton Learning Commons. These are just a few of the achievements and initiatives we have been able to accomplish because of YOUR generosity and support.
I cannot express enough gratitude for those that have led this campaign, particularly the Juniata College Board of Trustees and our BELIEVE Campaign Committee volunteers. They have been foundational to this endeavour. From their personal philanthropy to their wisdom, stewardship, and support, these groups have been exceptional partners with us over the past seven years. Led initially by former Vice President for Advancement and Marketing Gabe Welsch and now by Vice President for Advancement
Jim Watt and his team, I am grateful for our staff who have traveled extensively and worked tirelessly to support all aspects of this campaign. Finally, I want to acknowledge the Juniata alumni and friends out there who simply believed in us. Whether it was attending a campaign event, writing a check, sending a supportive email, connecting us with other alumni, Juniatians enthusiastically stood ready to support this effort. Thank you.
The successes of the BELIEVE Campaign have set us on a path that will carry us through the years and challenges ahead. We will meet the new demands in front of us, continue to gain strength and emerge as a better Juniata, just as we have been doing since our founding in 1876. With a new strategic plan already in the works, I look forward to sharing with you some new and exciting initiatives that will continue the momentum and positive restlessness that propels us forward.
Thank you again for BELIEVING.
JAMES A. TROHA, P h.D. PresidentIN THE EARLY DAYS OF MY PRESIDENCY AT JUNIATA, I OFTEN SPOKE OF A “POSITIVE RESTLESSNESS” THAT I HAD OBSERVED ON CAMPUS AND AMONG OUR IMPASSIONED
ALUMNI. I FELT THIS ENERGY COULD BE THE CATALYST FOR AN AMBITIOUS FUTURE FOR JUNIATA.
In 2014, at the launch of BELIEVE: The Campaign for Juniata College, Juniata set out to make the most significant investment in the student experience in the institution’s history. With a goal of solidifying the College’s future, we asked you to give in ways that you have not yet done. We asked you to volunteer, make gifts of meaning, mentor students, and share your heart with us.
We volunteered to be a part of this campaign because we believe the Juniata experience transforms lives. More than $128 million later, the evidence is clear. Our fellow Juniatians also BELIEVE.
You believe in the power of a Juniata education and that the experience here should be possible for all students. You believe in spaces that enhance opportunities for learning and creativity. Most importantly, you believe in the collective power of this great community and in Juniata’s mission to change the world one student at a time.
Alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and students have all come together to bring to life the vision we have for Juniata’s future. We have witnessed your belief in thoughtful and heartfelt ways, and your call to action has helped create a better tomorrow for Juniata. Your investment in our students, our faculty, and our campus will enhance the student experience for generations to come. What an excellent investment!
It has been our great honor to serve as your co-chairs for this historic campaign and to work alongside our outstanding committee members. We offer our congratulations to President Troha and the entire Juniata community. Thank you for all that you have done to help bring our beloved College to this extraordinary moment.
Your investment in our students, our faculty, and our campus will enhance the studentPhoto: Sarah Anne Wharton ’06
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Elaine Becker Jones ’76 and Keith L. Jones ’75, Co-Chairs
Charles W. “Bud” Wise III and Barbara K. Wise, Co-Chairs
David C. Beachley ’77 and Elizabeth Beachley
Geoffrey W. Clarke ’75 and Cynthia Gilbert Clarke ’76
Nicole C. Close ’92 and Christopher J. Albrecht
Brian D. Dietrich ’02 and Lauren Dietrich
Jodie Monger Gray ’88 and Mark W. Gray
Barry J. Halbritter ’65 and Marlene Robinette Halbritter ’62
Thomas R. Kepple, Jr. and Patricia G. Kepple
Richard E. Paulhamus ’70 and Lorraine Patterson Trexler ’70
Ronald Seiler, Jr. ’77
Douglas A. Spotts ’89 and Sue Ellen Spotts
Friedhelm H. Wulczyn ’75 and Susan P. Wulczyn
BY LEAH JACKSON ’14
BELIEVE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT TIM STATTON ’72 AND KATHY STAVRU STATTON ’72 DID
As Juniata looked to the future, it was clear that the library must not only evolve to provide many forms of information, but also host spaces and ideas that would strengthen the ability of our community—students and faculty—to learn. Thanks to the Stattons, along with Fred ’75 and Susan Wulczyn, Henry ’57 and Joanie Gibbel, Mike Smale ’85, and many other donors, the library is soon to become a place reflective of contemporary learning.
For millennia, libraries have resided at the core of learning, housing accumulated information accessible through the latest technological format. For centuries that was books. Today, it is a mix of learning resources, including digital tools from around the world, peer and professional advisors, and faculty talent, in addition to books. Juniata can now renovate and expand Beeghly Library to include these resources—among them spaces, people, and technology—that students, faculty, and staff will rely upon. The transformation will ensure that the library is the academic and intellectual hub of campus used to amplify the learning enterprise.
The Stattons are excited to see the Learning Commons come to life with activity.
“To be perfectly honest,” they said, humbly, “we were students of the new way of learning, and our ‘professor’ was Provost Bowen, who taught us about what the Learning Commons could become—a place for collaboration and a place where students could get help. It will be very gratifying to see students working with each other and learning together. This should greatly enhance the students’ learning experience.”
Today’s students seek and find value in collaboration; they often arrive with learning styles and fluencies that benefit from interactive learning environments:
small gathering areas, technologically enhanced spaces, video conference rooms, and the like. The future Statton Learning Commons will harness this spirit of collaboration and interaction, shaping the way people teach and learn.
Seeing Tim and Kathy lead the way on this project, Fred ’75 and Susan Wulczyn quickly realized they too could help make this transformation possible.
“If we can help meet the fundraising objective so that the Learning Commons becomes a reality sooner rather than later, Susan and I had to ask ourselves— why not?”
“I think everyone understands that technology has changed how students access the resources they need to succeed in a rigorous academic environment,” continues Fred, a senior research fellow at the University of Chicago. “We also understand that how we approach student learning is also changing. Traditional libraries have to be updated to meet these changes. The Statton Learning Commons keeps Juniata in-step with what today’s students need.”
As a long-time supporter of Juniata who remembers his Juniata days fondly, Mike Smale ’85 was also happy to support the Learning Commons project.
“My daughter, Nicole (’13), also graduated from Juniata, and had the same experience I did—leaving with a great education and great memories but even more important, life-long friendships,” he said.
Both are keenly aware that alumni support is a vital part of Juniata’s success. “We have always talked about being able to give back, even in a small way, to benefit the future of Juniata and allow others to share in the experiences we had,” Mike explained.
“The Statton Learning Commons creates opportunities for faculty to rely on library resources in more interactive ways with students,” Lauren said. “The experimental classrooms ensure they can explore new teaching methods in conversations with peers. It ensures they can refer students to resources that promote student success. I am so grateful for the support of Tim, Kathy, Fred, Susan, Mike, and so many others for their support of this vision. The impact will be felt at Juniata well into the future.”
The innovative plans and support from the Juniata community were recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the College was awarded a
When approached about the library renovation, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. “Nicole and I are very proud we were able to help,” Mike said.
For Lauren Bowen, Juniata’ provost and senior academic officer since 2014, the promise of the Learning Commons extends to collaboration among faculty as well.
$4 million grant funded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). RACP provides funds for community and economic development projects that will have a regional or multijurisdictional impact.
In addition to collaborative learning spaces, the Statton Learning Commons will also bring resources together in one place to facilitate interaction and partnership—an important step in updating the intellectual heart of Juniata.
“Juniata is a place where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts,” Fred pointed out. “The Learning Commons will be a place where the parts more easily come together. The intellectual synergy that comes from those interactions—especially those that involve disciplines other than your own—will keep the liberal arts tradition at Juniata flourishing.”
Fred, like many of us, always had a mental image of libraries as staid places known for hushed voices so as to avoid disturbing your fellow students. Instead, he recalls that some of his most interesting, intellectually powerful conversations as a student were in the dorm, late at night.
“You couldn’t do that in the library because the space was about solitude,” he admits. “Bringing those dynamic conversations into a Learning Commons will transform how students approach their work after college. In particular, it is important that we learn how to work together, even when we disagree. The Learning Commons, if it is working well, will promote discourse that strengthens civic engagement. I can’t think of a more important outcome.”
Tim is a firm believer in the transformative power of the Learning Commons. It holds the promise of something that a business partner once shared and made an indelible impression on him. “He said college is the place where you ‘learn how to learn.’ The Learning Commons will certainly add to this process of learning how to learn for Juniata students for years to come.”
The Statton Learning Commons’ open-floor plan will contain small group study/meeting rooms, extensive built-in technology, experimental classrooms, spaces for creativity and contemplative study, and tools for digital scholars.
The Learning Commons will be a place where the parts more easily come together. The intellectual synergy that comes from those interactions— especially those that involve disciplines other than your own—will keep the liberal arts tradition at Juniata flourishing.
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During the 2020-21 academic year, Juniata students were awarded more than $43.1 million in scholarships and grants, including the 62 new endowed scholarships created by proud alumni and friends.
Establishing an endowed scholarship creates a legacy from one generation of Juniatians to another.
Since the beginning of the BELIEVE Campaign, 62 new endowed scholarships have been created by proud alumni and friends, including Carol Heaton Pletcher ’66 and her late husband, Wayne, Pat Bruno ’66 and Lois Weader Bruno ’67, and Glen Wurst ’67.
“Wayne and I talked a lot about the potential that people saw in us and how there were people in our life who supported us and guided us. In many ways, they helped us achieve things we could have only dreamed about,” says Carol.
“It is by standing on the shoulders of those before us that we are in a position to make the world better. Education is the key.”
The Pletchers’ gift established the Carol Heaton Pletcher ’66 and Wayne Pletcher Endowed Scholarship, a testament to the couple’s strong belief in the transformative power of education.
“Our gift is the statement of our belief,” Carol says.
It is by standing on the shoulders of those before us that we are in a position to make the world better. Education is the key.
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Belief in the power of Juniata to transform lives also inspired Pat Bruno ’66 and Lois Weader Bruno ’67 to make a gift to support the education of students interested in medicine.
“Lois and I feel that Juniata has been so monumentally influential in our lives that we wanted to establish a scholarship in perpetuity,” says Pat.
The Pat ’66 and Lois ’67 Bruno Endowed Scholarship for Pre-Medical Students will be awarded each year to a third-year, pre-medical student enrolled at Juniata, who is following a non-traditional pre-medical degree path.
As Pat considered his impetus for giving, he paraphrased Longfellow, “The lives of great people remind us that we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.”
Glen Wurst ’67 also created a new scholarship to pave the way for current and future students to come to Juniata.
Motivated by his experiences during his first year at Juniata, which he describes as the “most important and formative year in all of my formal education,” Glen developed a life-long passion for education and support for the liberal arts.
“My high regard for Juniata made it easy for me to begin contributing to the annual fund soon after I graduated. I gradually increased those gifts as my financial circumstances improved,” Glen says. “A few years ago, I set up an endowed scholarship in memory of my parents to support international students’ attendance at Juniata. I also have included Juniata in my will. I believe strongly in what Juniata is doing, where it’s been, and where it’s going. I believe that supporting education, especially liberal arts education, is the best thing I can do to make the world a better place.”
Endowed scholarships have a deeply meaningful impact on the lives of the students they benefit. “I wholeheartedly thank Mr. Wurst for the scholarship because of the opportunity it has provided me. His support is a motivation to keep up the hard work and to aim for even higher grades and more success in the years to come,” says Selam Tadesse ’23, recipient of the scholarship created by Glen. “Juniata College made me feel like I was at my second home. I would not trade my experience at Juniata so far for anything. It has played such a significant role in my life and who I am today and who I will become tomorrow.”
Endowed scholarships can be created with gifts of $50,000 or more to support students year after year.
Carol Heaton Pletcher ’66 Lois Weader Bruno ’67 and Pat Bruno ’66 Glen Wurst ’67Ryan Gibboney, assistant professor of integrated media arts, right, partners with students to develop ideas and solve problems utilizing traditional and digital arts.
THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR ABILITIES, AND EXPAND THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
Through a $3.2 million donation during the early phase of the BELIEVE Campaign, John Dale ’54 of Moorestown, NJ, and his late wife, Irene Miller Dale ’58, saw an opportunity not only to fulfill a goal of the College’s master plan but to honor the contributions of Juniata College president emeritus Tom Kepple, who served in the position from 1998 to 2013, and his wife, Pat.
Kepple Hall was dedicated in October 2017, and the name of the two-story building was announced to the surprise of its namesakes.
“It makes a big difference for our students. It makes a big difference for our faculty, which makes a big difference in the value proposition of our college,” Former chair of Juniata’s Board of Trustees Tim Statton ’72 says. “Irene and John were a big part of what I like to call ‘the great Kepple years.’ In showing respect to those years, they have named the building for Pat and Tom.”
At the dedication ceremony, the Kepples expressed their gratitude for the honor.
colleague Rex McWilliams. The company, which was bought out by Comverse Inc. in 1995, developed telephone technologies that are still used in call forwarding, voice
“(John) was determined to get this building done. Determined in a way that made this building possible. We wouldn’t be here today without his plan,” Tom Kepple says. “(The Dales) have been so instrumental, not just in this building, but to Juniata and the Kepple presidency, and I want to say thank you.”
“Not only was it a surprise that you put Tom’s name on the building, I was stunned that you put me on there too,” says Pat Kepple. “You didn’t have to add my name, but you did. I don’t even have the words to explain to you what that means to me.”
The Dales have been significant donors to the College since the mid-1990s, when John retired from a telecommunications firm called Dale, Gesek, McWilliams & Sheridan, co-founded in 1970 with
The Dales’ interest in funding the arts building came about in 2000, when John, then serving on Juniata’s Board of Trustees, was asked to be a representative from the board for a program review of the art department.
When conversations regarding the funding and future construction of the building began in earnest in 2013, John had three requests — that the facility be completed in his lifetime, that the design incorporates stone from Roaring Run Quarry (a business once owned by his father during the Depression), and that he and Irene retain naming rights of the new structure.
Through the Dales’ support of the arts and creative expression in the teaching and learning environment, Kepple Hall cultivates an atmosphere of inspiration. Students are challenged to develop ideas to solve problems in a space designed and equipped for learning traditional and digital arts.
“I cannot imagine my Juniata experience without Kepple Hall. That place has a special place in my heart — memories of spending some really great late-nights with friends finishing up our projects,” says Rohan Bandekar ’22. “Having a dedicated space for integrated media arts (IMA) allows the students in the field to belong to a tight-knit community. Kepple offers a space for IMA students, content creators, and artists alike to meet with one another, share ideas, and collaborate on projects together.”
The addition of Kepple Hall has benefitted the entire community.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed our new home for the last few years,” said Ryan Gibboney, assistant professor of integrated media arts. “Now in our fifth academic year in Kepple Hall, I am excited and eager to make the most of our interdisciplinary spaces and continue to teach in our beautiful building.”
John and Irene have been great friends to Juniata through the years. Their philanthropy has reached across campus and changed the Juniata experience for generations of students. In addition to their gift for Kepple Hall, John and Irene donated more than $6 million to expand the college’s technology curriculum into information technology. They contributed funds to renovate the “C” wing of the Brumbaugh Academic Center to house faculty and classrooms for the business, IT, communication, and math departments into what is now a collaborative space known as Dale Hall. The Dales made gifts for the revitalization of Juniata’s “First Building,” Founders Hall and provided support for the Juniata Scholarship Fund each year.
“People say they are thankful that we have done this,” says John. “I’m very glad to be in a position to be able to do it.”
The Juniata College Museum of Art (JCMA) provides access to works of distinctive aesthetic quality to inspire, provoke creative and critical thought, and refresh the spirit.
Two members of the Juniata community have expanded the JCMA’s exhibit offerings and capacity through unique gifts in support of the arts.
Robert Wagoner, professor emeritus of philosophy, gifted an extensive collection of artwork to the JCMA which will significantly enhance the creative legacy available to both Juniata College and the wider community of Huntingdon.
Wagoner’s life-long appreciation of art inspired him to begin amassing his collection, which is predominantly composed of drawings, etchings, engravings, and lithographs. He began collecting art simply for the pleasure he found in doing so and found that his eye for quality improved with ongoing study and viewing.
“You learn a lot about yourself over 20 to 30 years of collecting,” Wagoner said. “As I collected more, I learned to look for things that were more challenging, pieces that had the power to grab my attention.”
His collection, portions of which have already been exhibited at the JCMA, range in date from the 15th to the 20th century and feature artists including Rembrandt, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, and Edvard Munch. The pieces span centuries but are unified in their focus on the human face. Each piece represents echoes of poses or lines that transcend the differing artists and eras.
An archive expansion project supported by a gift from Juniata trustee and Kish Bank CEO Bill Hayes and his wife, Connie, will ensure that all of the priceless works of art, including those provided by Wagoner will be protected and preserved.
“It’s not only sharing an important art resource with the community, it really represents the celebration of a wonderful architectural jewel on the Juniata campus,” said Bill Hayes.
The couple decided to donate to Juniata’s museum in memory of their son, William Parker Hayes Jr., who was passionate about history and museum studies.
Key to the museum restoration project is the concept of open storage. The museum’s collections will not only be visible, but accessible, providing new opportunities for students within this important teaching space.
Improvements to the 1907 Beaux-Arts structure were completed in the summer of 2021. Originally constructed as a Carnegie Library, the building was converted to house the JCMA in 1998 and is now home to a unique and growing collection for generations of visitors to enjoy.
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Relationship, gathering, and presence are at the core of a liberal arts experience. It’s the core of the Juniata Community.
Members of the Class of 2018 arrived on campus in 2014 ready to embark on a journey that would leave an impact on campus through their gifts.
Philanthropy is more than a gift given in a single moment in time. It’s the culmination of a vision made tangible and an invitation for those who come after to act upon their vision as well.
Doug ’89 and Sue Ellen Spotts sought to give in such a way that it would inspire recent graduates to give as well.
“It’s so important to see the history of any institution and to learn about the people who have gone before. It’s more than just knowing that alumni have given, it’s knowing the stories of the gifts and why that is important,” says Sue Ellen. “That is the lifeblood of a community. It’s not fixed at any one time or place. It goes on into the future through the continued gifts and visions of those who are students now.”
The Spotts set forth a challenge for the members of the Class of 2018. For every gift the seniors gave, they would match it dollar for dollar. In the end, the members of the Class of 2018 donated $48,000, which was matched by Doug and Sue Ellen. Together, two generations of alumni gifted a history display in
the Brumbaugh Academic Center and a future room within the Statton Learning Commons.
“It’s absolutely vital for the success of a liberal arts institution to deliver on its mission. We need to be all in and give to our alma mater in whatever way we can,” says Doug, who has served on the alumni council and as an alumni trustee. “Juniata attracts and then develops further lifelong learners and problem solvers who are vital to our society. We need to be conscious of that as an alumni family and to demonstrate it so that others are inspired to give to the best of their ability.”
Recounting a recent experience in which he shared his experiences within a first-year seminar focused on leadership, Doug was impressed to see students from around the world gathered.
“We had Juniata students who were on campus and we had students who were online, including those in China who had gotten up in the wee hours of the morning,” he says. “How exciting is that? Gathering doesn’t have to be either-or, it can be both-and. The Learning Commons is an opportunity to bring the community together in new and exciting ways.”
The creation of the Statton Learning Commons, where future generations of Juniatians can gather and innovate has proven an exciting prospect for all involved.
“This was our way to pay it forward, plus it’s just a really cool project. Think about how that space will be transformed for the future from the traditional to a place for lifelong learning and learning modalities,” Doug says. “Relationship, gathering, and presence are at the core of a liberal arts experience. It’s the core of the Juniata community.”
The Statton Learning Commons will pair new technological options with reimagined spaces geared to optimize connection.
“Continuing to create physical spaces for gathering is important as is making them accessible and attractive. In this era, you don’t have to leave your room or be in physical contact with someone to gather, but we lose something about the human experience if we don’t have in-person contact,” Sue Ellen says. “Relationships develop in different ways and we learn and grow when we share time and space together. It’s the serendipity of seeing something or someone you weren’t expecting to encounter.”
Colleges and universities are tasked with the challenge of meeting changing demographics of students and career fields, educating students using the latest technology while retaining the relational benefits of the classroom experience.
Colleges and universities face a similar challenge as they are tasked with meeting the needs of a changing demographic of students and career fields.
The answer at Juniata? Pivot.
The Pivot Team was created to advance a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to accelerate Juniata’s ability to strategically meet the changing needs of the higher education marketplace and its students. It is composed of members of senior leadership, administration, faculty, alumni, students, and trustees.
“When people think of the word ‘pivot’ they think of massive change. Organizations like colleges and universities don’t do massive change; they do incremental changes,” says Carl Glaeser ’77, vice chair of
Juniata’s Board of Trustees and member of the Pivot Team. “After a trustee retreat, we began talking about the potential of working with a multidisciplinary team at the College to see what we could do.”
Carl met his wife, Nancy ’76, during his first year at Juniata. He earned his degree in economics and political science and credits faculty members including James Lakso, Charles “Bud” Wise III, the late Ronald Cherry ’53, Betty Ann Cherry, and President John Stauffer as giving him a deep appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education.
“You learn how to think, you learn how to act, you learn basic things about life, and you can apply that to many areas,” he says. “I’ve worked in various industries, but being able to think globally and act locally—you can get very far with that.”
families, with a focus on women and children in Haiti and Honduras, by providing a water filter program and creating sustainable, clean drinking water.
Some of the initiatives to come out of the Pivot Team are Juniata’s growing programs to meet the needs of the local community, an innovative list of 3+1 programs, which allow students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in four years, and several steps toward creating a more sustainable campus.
“We are trying to revitalize and work toward improved sustainability and what can be done in the short term,” says Carl. “We want to complete visible projects on campus that will benefit both the College and the community.”
The work of the Pivot Team is centered upon optimizing the student experience at Juniata.
“We are in a changing geopolitical environment that will impact colleges over the next 10 years,” Carl says. “Our student base is changing and we need to change with that. With any organization that has been around for over 150 years, you’ll find that the model is sometimes not current with its environment. You have to look to see how it can be made better for everyone, especially our student base. It’s not like we are moving 180 degrees; we are moving five degrees at a time.”
Fred Mason ’73 and his wife, Karen, have taken a focused interest in Pivot’s sustainability initiatives and will lead the way through their estate to support initiatives in green chemistry.
“Green chemistry is a different way of thinking about how chemistry and chemical engineering are done to design, develop, and implement chemical products and processes,” Fred says. “Following the principles of green chemistry enables scientists and
engineers to find creative ways to reduce wastes, conserve energy, and discover replacements for hazardous substances.”
After graduation from Juniata, Fred worked in economics, finance, and strategy. His interest in chemistry began while serving on the board of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment. As he met with fellow board members and heard from top researchers in the field, Fred’s awareness of the damage to human and environmental health from chemical pollutants grew, as did his desire to act upon that knowledge.
“We believe strongly in the value of a liberal arts education as the basis for context, perspective, and the integration of knowledge,” says Fred, explaining his drive to begin the program at Juniata rather than a major research university. “Juniata has the strengths through the chemistry, environmental, and other science programs.”
Photo: Jason Jones
BY APRIL FEAGLEY AND GRETA HALL
Reunions are a time to reminisce, and for Juniata alumni anticipating their milestone 50th, it is also a moment to imagine the impact they can have on current and future students through giving. Plans for a collective 50th Reunion gift begin years before the actual celebration, and the classes who recently celebrated their golden anniversary have created a tradition of generosity never seen at Juniata.
After the completion of a class’s 45th reunion, members are invited to attend the President’s Commission on 50th Reunion Giving to learn about trends in higher education, new initiatives at Juniata, and opportunities to become more involved in the future of the College.
For the past four years, Sarah Young Fisher ’75 has shared her investment expertise during the President’s Commission event.
“My motivation is to help people understand all of their options for charitable giving. The older you get, the more you appreciate your education. Many people want to give, but they want to know how to give without hurting their pocketbook,” Sarah says. “I present a 20-minute seminar and talk about all the different ways you can leave your legacy at Juniata, the best ways of giving depending on your individual financial situation.”
Learning about mutually beneficial ways to give not only informs alumni but can also help inspire people to lead their Legacy Gift Committee, which is formed to help prepare would-be committee members for the work of motivating their peers to get involved with the reunion planning process as a volunteer or through philanthropy.
Carol Ellis Paullin ’71 knew she would volunteer for the Class of 1971 Reunion Committee as she had served on the College’s board of trustees since 2011. She attended the annual President’s Commission the first year her class was invited to participate, and felt she would be best able to contribute by chairing the Legacy Gift Committee after hearing updates from previous Class Legacy Committees.
“I always knew I’d be involved. Being a trustee gave me a different perspective on the College and a renewed appreciation for the importance of our alumni,” Carol says. “I had no idea how much our class would raise, but I really wanted us to do well. And we did! I’m so proud of our committee and our classmates.”
The 50th Reunion gifts are the compilation of gifts, pledges, and estate commitments from members of the class during the five-year window leading up to their official celebration. During that period, the Legacy Gift Committee works with the College staff to select a class project they believe will inspire their classmates to give back. While members of the class are not limited to supporting the specific class project that is chosen, it is exciting to see a class rally around a common cause.
Ultimately, each class gift is as unique as the class who makes it.
The Class of 1965 raised $2,015,719.65 and supported an endowment for the Super Internship Fund, which provides stipends of up to $5,000 for students participating in internship experiences in areas where living costs can be prohibitive. A second endowment for the Super Internship Fund
The Student Commons within Ellis Hall was provided by members of the Class of 1971 in honor of their 50th reunion.
“I always knew I’d be involved. Being a trustee gave me a different perspective on the College and a renewed appreciation for the importance of our alumni,” Carol says. “I had no idea how much our class would raise, but I really wanted us to do well. And we did! I’m so proud of our committee and our classmates.”
“Photo: Jason Jones
was created by the Class of 1966, who raised $1,503,586.66.
“Every class works toward a fundraising goal that is meaningful to them. We were a class heavily involved in the era of the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War, world-changing events which shaped our thinking and values,” says Bob McDowell ’67, who co-chaired the 1967 Legacy Committee with Kathy Forsht Salmon ’67. “As a result, we were led to focus more on helping future students than on the physical attributes of the campus. We wanted to build the capacity of the College to give more students aid so they could afford to come to Juniata and have the same experience that was so meaningful to us.”
The Class of 1967 set a new record by contributing $4,010,000.67, of which more than $160,000 was
given to establish The Class of 1967 Endowed Scholarship to benefit local students and families. Spencer Korman ’20 was the first recipient of the Class of 1967 Endowed Scholarship.
The class project selected by the Class of 1968 supported improvements to the terrace on the upper level of the Brumbaugh Academic Center (BAC), which was named Terrace ’68 in their honor.
“As a group, we focused on making a gift that resonated with us. Many wanted something they could point to and say, ‘Our class did this.’ Others wanted to make a gift more like the Class of 1967’s. We decided to look at what the College needed,” says Class of 1968 reunion committee chair Ruth Bartleson McDowell ’68. “We had a committee of 25 people from all over the country. Mainly, we worked to get people enthusiastic about the
upcoming reunion and shared memories of the good times we had. When we found out what we were able to raise, we were shocked.”
Working alongside Class of 1968 Legacy Gift Committee Chair George Zlupko ’68, the class secured an astounding $7,130,468.68, the largest 50th Reunion gift in Juniata’s history, to support students and faculty, including $231,278 for the renovations to BAC.
Many members of the Class of 1969 remembered carrying boxes into the still-new Beeghly Library as students and opted to use their class project to “carry” the campus library into the future. They raised $2,845,469.69. Of that total, $367,014 were gifts and pledges directed towards the construction of the new Statton Learning Commons. The Class of 1969’s gift will be recognized in the Academic Resource Suite on the first floor of the Learning Commons.
“We wanted to beat the Class of 1968, but they set the bar high. We were very happy that our class actually raised the largest amount of money for the class project itself,” says Class of 1969 Legacy Gift committee member John Batchelor ’69.
Alumni Hall in BAC was new when the Class of 1970 arrived at Juniata. From “Great Epochs” in their first year on campus to their capstone class as seniors, Alumni Hall was where their academic journey at Juniata began and ended. Thus, the decision was made to fund extensive renovations at Alumni Hall through their class project.
In an ironic twist of fate, the Class of 1970 was the first class to be sent home due to a campus closure out of concern following the shootings at Kent State — 50 years later they had to postpone their reunion when students were sent home from campus because of the pandemic.
TOTAL
This makes up 19% of the overall campaign
Class of 1965: $2,015,719.65, 44% Participation
Gift Designation: Endowment Super Internship Fund Class of 1966: $1,503,586.66, 57% Participation Gift Designation: Endowment Super Internship Fund Class of 1967: $4,010,000.67, 57% Participation Gift Designation: Endowment Scholarship
Class of 1968: $7,130,468.68, 55% Participation
Gift Designation: Brumbaugh Academic Center – Terrace ’68 Class of 1969: $2,845,469.69, 53% Participation
Gift Designation: Statton Learning Commons Class of 1970: $4,886,370.70, 60% Participation
Gift Designation: Brumbaugh Academic Center –Alumni Hall
Class of 1971: $2,628,358.71, 51% Participation
Gift Designation: Ellis Hall – Second Floor
“When Kent State happened, we were sent home for a week in our senior year. We were on campus for the very first Earth Day, for Woodstock, and the Civil Rights activity in the 1960s,” says Rich Paulhamus ’70 who served as Chair of the Class of 1970 Legacy Gift committee, and was joined in the classwide effort by his wife, Laurie Patterson Trexler ’70. “We were seniors when the government conducted a lottery for the draft during the Vietnam War. There were all kinds of emotions on campus. It just made our class that much closer.”
The bonds forged in that period of change held strong, helping the Class of 1970 deliver a Legacy Gift of $4,886,370.70 to Juniata. $750,000 was directed to Alumni Hall, a gift that met the bar set by the preceding class and became the largest class project gift.
Gifts from the Class of 1971 supported the renovation of the second floor of Ellis Hall, a central location where students gather to eat, study, chat, and work. In addition to their fundraising totals, each class seeks a coveted spot on the steps of Founders Hall, where class plaques are added for reaching alumni participation milestones.
“We set a goal to make 50 percent participation and it took every last hour of Memorial Day weekend to get there,” says Carol. “It’s surprising what you can do when you get a group working together who are committed and are having fun. We’re all very excited we did it.”
The Class of 1971 raised $2,628,358.71, including $251,133 for the Student Commons at Ellis Hall.
Driven by their love for Juniata and their dedication to sharing the value of a liberal arts education with current and future students, those who led their respective committees expressed their desire to pay it forward.
“Juniata helped me to become a lifelong learner. I took courses, especially in history, literature, and art, which I loved,” says Laurie. “When I became a teacher, one of my goals in teaching was to instill that love of learning in my students. My advice for others is to get involved to the point where you have an understanding and appreciation for how your gift is used and what it does for the students. Our students never cease to amaze me.”
Following John’s time on the Class of 1969 Legacy Gift committee, he continued his involvement with Juniata as a member of the Board of Trustees.
“There is more that hasn’t changed about Juniata than has, and that is a positive. Juniata has a much more diverse curriculum than it did 50 years ago, driven by the times, society, and career paths,” says John. “The quality of the professors — professors who get to know their students, the values, and the commitment to the liberal arts remains the same. That’s important.”
Collectively, the six classes who celebrated their 50th Reunions during the BELIEVE Campaign gave $25,019,974.76 through their Class Reunion Legacy gifts, 19% of the total Campaign.
“It speaks a lot to the place Juniata holds in peoples’ hearts,” says Rich, “It’s important for us to invest in the College.”
The following individuals served as members of Juniata’s Board of Trustees during the BELIEVE Campaign:
Robert N. McDowell ’67**
Board Chair, 2011-2016
Timothy D. Statton ’72
Board Chair, 2016-2021; Vice Chair, 2011-2016
Mary M. White ’73
Board Chair, 2021-Present; Vice Chair, 2016-2021
Carl D. Glaeser ’77 Vice Chair, 2021-Present
David P. Andrews ’74**
Christopher E. Bair ’92
Anne C. Baker**
John L. Batchelor ’69
David C. Beachley ’77
Donovan R. Beachley, Jr. ’47*
John A. Brinker ’69**
Charles C. Brown, Jr. ’59**
F. Samuel Brumbaugh ’54*
Carole Miller Calhoun ’60
Patrick L. Chang-Lo**
Nicole C. Close ’92
John McN. Cramer ’63**
George E. Cruser ’52*
John A. Dale ’54**
Bruce Davis ’65**
Randall C. Deike ’88
Francis X. DeMar*
Donald L. Detwiler ’64**
Jayne Keirn Donahue ’75
Richard J. Endres, Jr.
David J. Fahey ’81
Sarah Young Fisher ’75
Ethan J. Gibbel ’02
Henry H. Gibbel ’57**
Tracy Stough Grajewski ’86
Jodie Monger Gray ’88
Madeleine F. Green**
Warren F. Groff ’49*
Joy L. Hadley ’84
Barry J. Halbritter ’65** William P. Hayes
Gail Morgan Habecker ’76
Treasurer, 2012-Present Carol Ellis Paullin ’71** Secretary, 2013-2020 Bruce L. Moyer ’74 Secretary, 2020-Present
William E. Hershberger, Sr. ’57* Kenneth E. Hess ’75** Nancy Heisey Hess ’92
Steven J. Hess ’91 Frances R. Hesselbein** Nathan Hevrony
John T. Hill II** David J. Hogan ’61** Steven J. Holsinger ’76
Eric C. Jensen ’77
Elaine Becker Jones ’76
Karl K. Kindig ’72** Michael J. Klag ’74
Charles R. Knox ’54*
Randy L. Kochel ’79
C. Todd Kulp ’80 Richard A. Laabs
Fred C. Mason, Jr. ’73
Kimberly A. McDowell Linda Wachsmuth McKonly ’73**
Robert S. McMinn II ’79
Harriet Richardson Michel ’65** John A. Nagl Wayne C. Patterson ’60** Richard E. Paulhamus ’70
Thomas R. Pheasant ’66* Carol Heaton Pletcher ’66
Gayle Wampler Pollock ’68** Gary A. Raymond** W. Clemens Rosenberger ’54* William A. Rys ’96 Christoph Schwemmlein ’84** Parisha P. Shah ’01 Patricia Janusz Shreiner ’62** Henry F. Siedzikowski ’75 Douglas A. Spotts ’89 Michael M. Strueber** Daniel K. Sunderland ’88 Patricia B. Swigart** Maurice C. Taylor ’72** George P. Valko ’75 Robert E. Wagoner ’53** Charles W. Wise III Friedhelm H. Wulczyn ’75
* - Deceased Trustee Emeritus ** - Trustee Emeritus at the time of publication
Photo: Lyndsay Link
Throughout the course of the Campaign, many passionate alumni stepped forward to help Juniata continue building a supportive and inclusive community.
The Dr. Maurice C. Taylor ’72 Lectureship on Social Justice was established in 2017 to assist students, faculty, and staff in developing personal and collective strategies to improve social justice in their own communities.
Genesis M. Diaz ’20, Nicholas J. Guillermo ’20, and April N. Wells ’20 set up the Alumni of Color Initiative Fund to ensure equal opportunities for students of color. More than $21,000 was raised during the Campaign to carry out this vision, to assist students in their academic and social transitions, and to cultivate a greater understanding of multiculturalism within the campus community.
The Nancy E. ’64 and Paul D. Becker Endowment Fund provides financial resources for the Plexus program, a program focused on multiculturalism as it pertains to myriad identities that encompass ability, age, gender identity, sex and sexual identity, nationality, race, religion, socioeconomic class, and more.
The Javaid Zeerak ’06 Memorial Endowment was created by a group of alumni and friends to honor Javaid’s legacy. Over $32,000 has been given to support efforts promoting intercultural learning and interfaith understanding, and to encourage diverse perspectives on campus.
Raymond E. Day ’66 gave a gift to create the Raymond E. Day ’66 Endowed Scholarship which is awarded annually to students who come from historically underrepresented groups.
Ron Cherry ’53 and Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Cherry inspired their students to be independent thinkers, to find ways to make the world a better place, and to be leaders.
The foundation of the Cherry Leadership Scholarships, now the largest group-funded endowment at Juniata College—over $1 million, is evidence that those lessons were taken to heart.
“It’s an illustration of how, when you get the right people together, great things happen,” said Steve Gillingham ’66, who was a student of both Ron and Betty Ann. “I wanted to give back to the school and to help people. I feel very strongly about education and especially wanted to help those who may not be able to continue their education on their own.”
Ron returned to his alma mater to teach economics in 1958, one year after his marriage to Betty Ann. Betty Ann, whose father, Calvert Ellis ’23, and grandfather, C.C. Ellis, Class of 1898, each served as president of Juniata, began teaching history at Juniata in 1962. Their decades of mentorship touched the lives of countless students.
Ron Cherry passed away in 2000, and in 2005, Steve, along with the late Bill Alexander ’66, Jack Warfield ’66, Jim Lakso, professor emeritus of accounting, economics and business and provost emeritus, and Bud Wise, trustee and and former professor of business, launched the effort to create a scholarship in his honor.
The response from alumni was overwhelming.
“I wasn’t surprised that people really stepped up for Ron,” said Betty Ann. “I received so many notes during his illness and after his death. I have yet to meet with alumni and not hear a new Ron story.”
However, she was surprised by a call she received in 2018.
“All along, we wanted to make a very strong scholarship to honor Ron,” said Steve. “Then, we discussed augmenting the scholarship to honor both Ron and Betty Ann. So many people loved them both, so we knew we could make it even bigger.”
Encouraged by his classmate, Carol Heaton Pletcher’66, Steve described the way many alumni viewed Betty Ann when the expanded scholarship was officially announced.
“I can’t think of any other person in the last several decades at Juniata, who has held such an enormous influence on Juniatians becoming leaders and developing relationships as Betty Ann.”
With a goal set to fund an endowment over $1 million, Steve, Carol, Jack and others campaigned tirelessly, making calls and reaching out to fellow alumni. The united effort was overwhelmingly successful.
“It blew my mind! When they called me to tell me they had reached the mark, I was flabbergasted,” said Betty Ann. “It’s wonderful. I’m very happy for Juniata. This says a lot about our students, past, present, and future.”
Betty Ann and Ron ’53 Cherry
Photo: Courtesy of Juniata College Archives
Regina “Gina” Lamendella was named as the first George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professor of Biological Sciences, in recognition of her excellence as a researcher and effective mentor who brings out previously unknown strengths an curiosity in her students.
Photo: Jason Jones
Faculty members are integral to academic success for students at any institution of higher education. Juniata College’s faculty partner with their students to position them for not only academic success, but to help develop skills, knowledge, and values for a fulfilling life of meaning and purpose.
Having experienced first-hand the significant impact Juniata’s faculty members have made in the lives of their students, and in turn, the effect graduates have had in their own spheres of influence, initiatives to support faculty members were identified as a key priority during the BELIEVE Campaign.
“My wife and I are both Juniata grads and had the chance to work with a lot of great faculty members,” says George Valko ’75. “The success we’ve had in our careers is a credit to the education we received and the people we’ve met and were educated by. We are both strong believers in education.”
George and his wife, Cindy Hill Valko ’76, who previously created a scholarship to aid students attending Juniata and have been active supporters of Juniata, announced the endowment of the George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professorship in Biological Sciences in October 2018.
“At first, we didn’t want our names on it, but we were persuaded that it would be fitting. I myself am a recipient of an endowed professorship and proud to wear that title. I hope someone else would feel the same way,” George says. “Going forward, it’s a legacy to promote educational research, something that makes Juniata the match of any school in the country.”
Endowed professorships provide support for colleges to attract, retain, and reward the highest caliber professors within their respective fields.
“I was hugely honored to be the first recipient of this endowed professorship and in that echelon of professors,” says Regina “Gina” Lamendella, George ’75 and Cynthia ’76 Valko Professor of Biological Sciences. “As a female scientist, imposter syndrome was present early on in my career. When they announced the
As a female scientist, imposter syndrome was present early on in my career. When they announced the Valko Professorship, it was a moment I realized my achievements were recognized.
“
Valko Professorship, it was a moment I realized my achievements were recognized. It was a big moment for me.”
The Valkos were familiar with Gina’s work and impressed by the fact that she chose to continue her teaching and research career at Juniata. Gina has been recognized nationally by the Council of Undergraduate Research as a researcher and as an effective mentor who taps into the unrealized potential of students, bringing out previously unknown strengths and curiosity. Her enthusiasm and love for her work is infectious and results in strong partnerships with her students.
“We’d like to see the professorship continue in perpetuity. We are so proud of Gina and so proud to have her as the first recipient of the professorship. We can’t think of anyone more deserving,” George says. “This supports excellence and education and research at Juniata. We love reading about her work and that of her students.”
The respect and admiration is mutual.
“I’m honored by the support from people of George and Cindy’s caliber,” says Gina. “I’m honored by the investment they’ve made in the professorship to get it started and to endow it as a sustainable position.”
Gina observed that an added benefit for students, outside of expanded research opportunities, is the encouragement for female students hoping to embark on careers in science.
Beyond the support and partnership faculty members at Juniata give freely to their students, faculty members are committed to supporting one another as well.
Paul Schettler, Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, shared his sense of camaraderie between Juniata faculty began nearly immediately following his arrival on campus and lasted for
the duration of his 50-year tenure. He had been encouraged to travel to Juniata from Ohio for an interview at Juniata by the late Robert Fisher.
“The ease of relationship among the faculty was different at Juniata. Everybody in the chemistry department was friends,” Paul says. “The students interacted easily with the faculty. That’s what made Juniata attractive to me.”
This sense of mutual support inspired Paul to create the Imaginative Educational Initiatives (IEI) grant program.
The purpose of the IEI grant funding is to provide faculty members in any discipline resources to explore new teaching methods and create new courses of experiential opportunities for students. The review process is overseen by the IEI Committee, which is made up of retired faculty members.
“As I was approaching retirement, I looked back over what was funded. Money tends to flow into academics, but not always to teaching. The process of teaching sometimes takes a backseat as we focus on putting together what needs to be taught in an hour or what needs to be taught from the textbook,” Paul says.
“That’s what made me decide to focus on money for the process of teaching, looking at what has changed in your field, what is happening currently, and how to improve the technique.”
Wei-Chung Wang, associate professor of business and economics and associate provost for academic initiatives, works closely with the IEI Board.
“Faculty are front-facing in supporting student learning and outcomes,” says Wei-Chung. “IEI funding enhances their ability to do that.”
From the inception, faculty members had the opportunity to apply for IEI grant funding for multi-
year projects. Two grants, up to $10,000 each, are awarded each year.
“This way, faculty members who have ideas would have some predictability for the support they will get,” says Wei-Chung. “The scope of the work can be more extensive than a single-year project.”
Wei-Chung described the IEI grant program as being integral in faculty efforts to pivot to implementing the Hy-Flex instruction model in 2020 and early 2021.
“We were able to provide support to faculty in a new teaching environment and method,” he says. “The IEI grant allowed us to provide immediate support that otherwise we would not have had.”
Through the IEI grant funding, a growing number of research opportunities are also provided for students, which adds to the faculty-student partnership on campus. Schettler’s lifelong commitment to education is central to his motivation for giving.
“I guess my giving comes from a central belief of mine that education is essential to humanity,” Paul says.
Paul Schettler, Charles A. Dana
Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, created the Imaginative Educational Initiatives (IEI) grant program to provide faculty members in any discipline resources to explore new teaching methods and to create new courses of experiential opportunities for students.
J.D. Cavrich
The ease of relationship among the faculty was different at Juniata. Everybody in the chemistry department was friends. The students interacted easily with the faculty. That’s what made Juniata attractive to me.
“Photo:
BY STEVE SAMPSELL
When Talia Bertrando ’22 leads prospective students across the Juniata College campus on tours, she’s armed with more than just her own academic and athletic credentials, and much more than just a few years of oncampus familiarity.
She has generations of information to share.
Talia’s grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great-grandfather attended Juniata and have provided unparalleled leadership and support through the years.
“She just loves Juniata and I think they love her, too,” says her grandfather, Henry H. Gibbel ’57, a longtime supporter of the college who served on the board of trustees for 46 years, including five as chair. He earned an honorary doctoral degree from Juniata College in 2012, chaired two presidential searches, hosted many prospective student events, participated in alumni trips, and famously attended every one of the school’s football games, home and away, during a 20-year stretch from 1952 to 1972.
We’ve always had Juniata in our blood, and always done our best to support it.
“Photo: Sarah Rohrer ’20
He and his wife, Joanie, have been dedicated donors and volunteers throughout their lifetimes. In some ways, it’s all they’ve ever known.
“My grandfather, Henry R., was class of 1888. My dad, Henry B., was Class of ’26,” Gibbel explains. “Our only son, Henry R., came out of Juniata in 1981, and his son, Henry A., graduated in 2015. My father was active for 33 years with Juniata, until he died at the age of 55 in 1959. We’ve just always had Juniata in our blood and have always done our best to support it.”
From bricks-and-mortar efforts to student scholarships and the prestigious Gibbel Award for Teaching Excellence awarded to a faculty member with six or fewer years of service, the Gibbels have helped shape and reshape Juniata.
“We wanted to take Henry, (our) son, to other colleges to visit and he said ‘No, I want to go to Juniata,’” Joanie Gibbel says. “Not all of our three children or eight grandchildren went to Juniata — our one daughter went to Duke, for example, and that’s a good school, they all went to good schools — but they all have Juniata in their hearts because of their grandfather.”
The Gibbels are not alone in providing that kind of long-lasting and significant support.
“Growing up, Juniata was always part of our lives,” says Barbara Beachley Marshall ’74. “When my grandparents and parents established the original Beachley Distinguished Professor Award, I remember coming to commencement when that first award was given out. I was in high school. That was the first time I realized we were part of something that was so special.”
The Beachleys were a big part of making things special.
Barbara’s grandfather, Donovan R. Beachley Sr., Class of 1921, a longtime member of the board of trustees, and grandmother, Grace Rinehart Beachley, partnered with her parents, Donovan R. Beachley Jr. ’47, also a longtime member of the board of trustees, and Mary Ellen Beachley, to create the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service.
Her brother, David Beachley ’77, became his class fund agent shortly after graduation and embraced that role. He provided a model of committed and consistent philanthropic support for his classmates and many others through the years. A current
member of the board of trustees, he has led the annual fund and advancement committee at different times. He has bolstered the Beachley Awards with his own financial support.
In addition, Barbara endowed a fund for the education department, and the family has made gifts to the Statton Learning Commons, to support faculty excellence, and to improve Kepple Hall as part of their widespread philanthropic efforts. They provide support because it’s needed, because it makes a difference, and because what they do might convince others to do the same.
“People in education don’t often have the means to make a significant gift. My hope was that it would benefit the department and that maybe other people interested in education would add to it,” Barbara
says. “It’s rewarding to see the impact it’s made. I’m so impressed with what the education department has been doing.”
The Beachley family’s efforts have been impressive.
“Really anytime there’s been a campaign we’ve supported it,” David Beachley says. “We’ve supported our local hospital, the YMCA, and community organizations, but Juniata is always our priority.”
On the 50th anniversary of the family’s first gift, Mary Ellen Beachley made a $250,000 gift to support faculty and professional development. “We attended other schools — Cornell, Radcliffe, and MIT — but never connected with them like we did Juniata,” she says.
Family provides the connection and touchpoint for many longtime supporters. Dan Sunderland ’88
followed his father, Klare Sunderland ’56, and mother, Doris Markey Ziegler ’55, to Juniata. Earlier this year, Dan’s son, Matthew Sunderland ’21, earned his degree.
Dan’s father was a member of the board of trustees for 43 years (from 1970 until his death in 2013), and served as board chair. Dan’s decision to attend Juniata was a “no brainer.” Dan and his wife Kerry have made annual gifts of support, including gifts for the Juniata Scholarship Fund and a new gymnasium floor in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center.
It was family, though, that matters most. When Matthew decided to follow in the family’s footsteps and attend Juniata in 2017, that reignited Dan’s connection. Dan is now a member of the board of trustees — and proud of his three-generation connection with the school, as well as his family’s three generations of success in their automotive
sales business. He’s the owner and president of Sun Motor Cars.
“There are many ways to support Juniata College. Obviously financially, and everyone can make their own decision about what they can do,” he says. “My schedule changed as I got older, and my other board and volunteer commitments changed, freeing me up to give more time as well.”
“That’s the big thing — if you can connect a little with the College, through an alumni event or something with prospective students, it builds a connection. It’s great to meet prospective students, current students, and other alumni, and it doesn’t take 20 hours a week. Just a little interaction gives you a great sense of the need students have, and the needs the school has. Doing that motivates you to want to help out.”
BY APRIL FEAGLEY
Student life at Juniata College is designed to provide students with a co-curricular experience that develops the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to lead a fulfilling life of service and ethical leadership in the global community. Juniata’s supporters are foundational in creating new and innovative programming to enhance current and future student experiences.
The spirit of the blue and gold has a new sound at Juniata, with a student Pep Band to boost energy at campus events.
A gift from Perry Habecker ’76 and Gail Morgan Habecker ’76 founded the Pep Band, led by Director Jon Yon.
“The Pep Band is a musical activity that brings students together and serves as a stress reliever. We were surprised by the magnitude of student interest in the Pep Band” says Perry. “We are grateful for a leader like Jon Yon, who has great rapport with students. Things have come a long way since we graduated.” Yon shares the enthusiasm for the addition of the Pep Band.
“Pep Band embodies the pure, uninhibited musical expression of fun and excitement,” Yon says. “It’s the sheer joy of playing music together, the thrill of cheering unabashedly for our athletics teams, and the unique feeling of excitement in any venue when the band is having fun with our music that makes this such a wonderful addition to the traditions of Juniata.”
Through the Pep Band, musicians have the opportunity to continue playing and enjoying music in college, spending time with like-minded peers, and gaining leadership skills through the student-led program. Tanisha Grimsley ’23 enjoyed playing in her high school’s pep band and was thrilled when it was announced that a pep band was being formed at Juniata.
“I signed up right away,” Tanisha says. “In high school, playing at the football games was one of the best times to enjoy music-making with others in a less formal manner. This led to long-lasting friendships and bonds between us, and I hope to make the same kinds of connections here at Juniata.”
While connected through their love of music, Pep Band musicians find opportunities for personal growth as they work together to energize campus events.
“As someone who doesn’t always express emotions outwardly, I enjoy being free to cheer on our student-athletes and encourage Juniata fans to do so as well. The members of the Pep Band have definitely helped me to break out of my — sometimes — quiet shell, and I have fun with them.”
Juniata’s Pep Band will perform at athletics competitions, campus events, and will take their high-energy performances into the wider Huntingdon community to be a part of parades and other local traditions.
Juniata’s Mock Trial team has established a sterling reputation as a nationally-ranked competitor in its
first three seasons. The BELIEVE Campaign has helped to turbo-charge the team’s success as a mock trial dynamo.
“The support of trustees, alumni, and friends in the BELIEVE campaign was instrumental in helping our Mock Trial team achieve a national ranking in each of our three years,” says emeritus trustee, former Juniata board chair, and the team’s coach, Attorney David Andrews ’74, who brings years of experience coaching both high school and collegiate mock trial teams. “Gifts to support the team have made it possible for our team to travel to some of the top mock trial tournaments in the country. For example, the financial support enabled our team to go to the University of California at Berkeley Tournament, one of the most prestigious Mock Trial tournaments, where we finished in the top five.”
Mock Trial involves a simulated courtroom trial, with students serving in the roles of advocates and witnesses. Real-life attorneys and judges preside over the competition. The trial is based on imaginary facts and parties, with each team arguing both sides of the case in trials during the tournament. Team members are challenged to hone their ability to adapt, problem-solve, and think on their feet.
JoAnn Bowman ’75 and Bruce Moyer ’74 are among the Juniata donors who have eagerly supported the Mock Trial experience.
“The quality of the competition and the students participating in Mock Trial have been exceptional. It is a rigorous intellectual activity that builds communication skills and the ability to reason and persuade. These are lifelong skills regardless of whether one pursues the practice of law,” says Bruce, an attorney and current member of Juniata’s board of trustees.
“Juniata’s reputation for Mock Trial success has inspired great students to attend Juniata,” says
JoAnn. “We’ve attended several Mock Trial competitions and have been really impressed with their performance.”
Nancy Neuman, donor and member of the Juniata College Mock Trial Advisory Board, expressed her support for the program.
“We are happy to support Juniata’s nationally-ranked Mock Trial team. Our family foundation supports grassroot groups who exhibit the potential to become champions,” Nancy says. “We encourage the development of confidence, hard work, and dedication, that will serve recipients well throughout their lives.”
While some team members aspire to careers in law, Juniata’s Mock Trial competitors represent a wide variety of Programs of Emphasis (POEs), from business to environmental studies.
“Juniata Mock Trial has fostered my success in academics, professional presentation, and advocacy. The analytical and public speaking skills that come with being a member of the team are unparalleled,” says Dan Cummins ’24. “The generous support of donors empowers us to pursue our needs at Juniata and beyond.”
Described by a representative of the American Mock Trial Association as the “team that is shocking the mock trial community,” opposing teams from academic powerhouses like Carnegie Mellon and Johns Hopkins have gone from asking, “Who is Juniata College?” to recognizing the team as a formidable opponent.
Geoff Clarke ’75 and Cindy Gilbert Clarke ’76 have made Huntingdon their home for the past 45 years, choosing to live and work in the community they first discovered when they attended Juniata.
Photo: Jason Jones
To further their vision of drawing Huntingdon and Juniata’s campus community even closer, the Clarkes founded the Geoff ’75 and Cindy ’76 Clarke Fellowship Endowment, enhancing student employment experiences through the Office of Community Engagement. Through the Office of Community Engagement, students are connected with employment, internship, and volunteer opportunities within local organizations.
“We felt a need to create opportunities for this connection to be made,” says Geoff. “We’re trying to facilitate another connection between the College and the community to foster positive relationships. The town is a great asset to the College, and the College is a great asset to the town.”
The endowment will provide the resources needed to compensate student employment.
“Many of the organizations in Huntingdon can certainly use the help, and anything that can help businesses
thrive in the community is a benefit,” Cindy says. “This is a great opportunity to give back to Juniata and to Huntingdon, both of which fostered my development.”
Kei Takahashi ’24 learned about the fellowship as he was looking for ways to learn more about Huntingdon.
“As an international student, I chose Juniata because I wanted to see ‘real American society,’ which is different from what I could learn from television or the internet,” says Kei. “Through community engagement, I can learn a lot of new perspectives and immerse myself in the culture and look for places where I can show who I am in this community.”
Kei worked on campus in the Office of Community Engagement, aided faculty in preparing communityengaged learning courses, and spent time partnering with local organizations on community development projects. Whether working on community gardens in nearby Mount Union or repairing bocce ball courts used by local Special Olympics teams, Kei says he feels
privileged to have learned as much as he has through community engagement.
By building bridges between Juniata and Huntingdon, new partnerships with local organizations can be identified and developed.
“We’re trying to pay it forward,” says Geoff. “This is an opportunity to help someone get off on the right foot and develop skills that wouldn’t have been developed any other way.”
Juniata is committed to preparing students for a life of success, ensuring that they are ready to succeed in the workplace by the time they complete their Juniata experience.
The Holsinger Career Development and Opportunity Fund created by Steve ’76 and Wendie Holsinger will support the work to reimagine and improve career development at Juniata within the Office of Career Development and Alumni Engagement. Steve is a current member of Juniata’s board of trustees.
“The combination of career development and alumni engagement is important for our students,” said David Meadows ’98, executive director of Career Development & Alumni Engagement. “There is power in our alumni network, and our goal is to integrate alumni in helping students to become career ready.”
Juniata’s Office of Career Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to providing inclusive career and professional development opportunities and experiential learning to students pursuing lifelong career success and satisfaction in a global marketplace.
“It’s important to me that Juniata offers career development services because Juniata is preparing students for both life and a career,” says Andrew
Cerroni ’22. “It’s not always as simple as building a resume and applying to jobs on LinkedIn. There’s a lot of nuanced obstacles to navigate when trying to start a career or find a job or internship. Having someone there to guide you through that process is essential.”
Alumni are often distinguished in their respective workplaces. They credit this to learning how to think at Juniata rather than learning what to think.
“What I hear from young alumni going out into the workplace or graduate school is that they feel very well prepared, not only in terms of experiences, but in terms of their ability to think, learn, problem-solve, and collaborate with other folks,” David says.
Through the Holsinger Career Development and Opportunity Fund, career readiness will be built through awareness, advising, and high-impact experiential learning opportunities. Students will have augmented connections to facilitate mentoring and networking by tapping into Juniata’s expansive alumni network. Another facet of the fund will be to explore possibilities for extending digital career services to alumni.
“Juniata is in a really unique position because, despite its size, it has alumni across the country in many different fields. The alumni want to build relationships with current students,” Andrew says. “These relationships can lead to mentorship or internship opportunities. The Juniata network has been a truly invaluable part of my Juniata experience.”
This initiative will further the mission of the Office of Career Development and Alumni Engagement as they empower students to develop an understanding of career paths, become conversant in their unique skill sets, and become proficient in job, internship, and graduate school search and application tools.
Photo: Amber Boring ’18
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The thing about annual giving is that it doesn’t need to be big. When I started out right out of school, I didn’t have a lot of money, but even something small — $20 or $50 a year — helps keep that connection.
It’s 2,500 miles from Huntingdon, Pa., to Malibu, Ca. — about as far apart as anything can be in the continental U.S. — but distance does not deter Bob Cunnion ’77.
Although Bob’s visits to Juniata College are limited, he embraces and enjoys his opportunities to support it. He makes annual gifts on a regular basis and appreciates their impact.
“Everybody at some point evaluates how they got started and who or what has provided that foundation,” Bob says. “Juniata College is a great school and my education and experiences there were instrumental in my success following graduation.”
“I’m not that close in terms of distance anymore, but the school has done a great job over the years in reaching out and helping maintain that connection,” he added.
Many others also appreciate that connection — and the opportunity to make important gifts.
During the BELIEVE Campaign, annual giving increased 66%, from $1,770,016 in 2015 to $2,941,434 in 2021. The annual giving total of $15,469,258 represented 12% of the overall campaign and included more than $9 million specifically for the Juniata Scholarship Fund (JSF). Gifts received through JSF are directed to need-based scholarship support for academically qualified students. The JSF allows the College to continue its extraordinary liberal arts tradition for students.
While JSF specifically supports scholarship, the Juniata Fund supports other operating needs of the College. Individuals may also make annual gifts to the arts, athletics, academics, or any area they wish to support on campus.
Much of the success in annual giving during the campaign was the result of creative giving challenges and Giving Day activities.
For example, during a double giving challenge in 2017, Nicole Close ’92 and her husband, Chris Albrecht, provided a $50,000 matching gift challenge, offering to
match all donations up to $50,000. The same spring, Brian Dietrich ’02 and his wife, Lauren, provided a $15,000 matching gift challenge, in honor of his 15th reunion, to all young alumni.
Both challenges were met and exceeded.
“The thing about annual giving is that it doesn’t need to be big. When I started out right out of school, I didn’t have a lot of money, but even something small — $20 or $50 a year — helps keep that connection,” Brian says.
“Plus, it absolutely makes a difference. It’s really not about the size of the gift. It’s about being a part of something — and that’s important. We’re not a big
school, you’re not going to run into another alumnus every day like some other big schools, and this gives us something shared. Something that’s making a difference.”
Additionally, it’s a difference-making mindset shared by many alumni and friends, who were empowered with numerous choices and options for making their annual gifts. In the spring of 2021, a campus-wide Day of Giving featured opportunities to give to JSF, The Juniata Fund, Center for International Education, Alumni of Color Initiative Fund, and each of any of the 24 varsity sports teams. The effort raised $484,972 from 1,493 alumni, parents, and friends from all 50 states and six countries.
“Somebody invested in me. I have a responsibility as a Juniata citizen to invest in others.”
These words are a mantra for Jodie Monger Gray ’88 and the driving force behind her support for her alma mater.
“I was the first person on both sides of my family to go to college. We did the best we could as far as financial aid. My parents really sacrificed for me to go to Juniata,” Jodie says. “It was difficult. Things were hard.”
The family’s financial stress peaked when her sister began college during Jodie’s senior year. Every avenue for financial aid and student loans had been explored. Christmas break arrived, but the holiday spirit was missing as the reality of an unfinished college career loomed ahead.
“That was a really difficult year for my family financially. They were having a very difficult time figuring out how they were going to pay for the last semester of my senior year,” says Jodie, emotion evident in her voice. “I remember my mother got a phone call from the college, telling her I had received some kind of award for outstanding women in college. It was basically enough money that I could finish.”
That saving grace marked a pivotal moment in Jodie’s life.
“That was the point in time when I decided it was going to be important for me to give back,” she says. “That was the day the idea started in my head that it was necessary to support other students.”
A $10 gift given during her first semester of graduate school started her journey to support other students just as she had been supported. Since that initial gift, Jodie has donated every year since her graduation.
“It was all I could afford at the time. It was important for me to start paying it forward,” Jodie says.
Since that time, Jodie’s giving has expanded to include annual giving and the creation of a scholarship. Her gifts came full circle when she had the opportunity to meet the first recipient of that scholarship.
“This scholarship was something that made a difference for her,” says Jodie. “It was a wonderful experience to meet her and hear her story.”
Today, she advises recent graduates to start paying it forward right away, whatever amount is possible.
“My $10 gift would now be the equivalent of $21. If it’s $21 a year for however many years it takes, that’s what you need to do,” Jodie says. “We accepted help from someone and are now going out in the world and doing amazing things. It’s part of the responsibility we have to the community that raised us.”
Our
investment in our studentathletes, their development, and their success.
Juniata’s student-athletes strive for excellence in the classroom and competition and often find their leadership, problem-solving, and change-making skills are developed and refined through sports.
“The Division III program we are in allows Juniata the unbelievably unique opportunity to have a much more impactful student-athlete relationship,” says Christopher Thompson ’87, a Juniata trustee who also serves on the board of First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, an organization committed to building inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience in children through the game of golf.
“Most of us are not going to become professional athletes. We use the studentathlete experience to shape us to be better people as we work, collaborate, and find success.”
Christopher provided the key gift to reinstate Juniata’s mens’ and women’s golf programs.
facilities are an
“Photo: Danielle Fey
The availability of premier facilities on campus, supported through the generosity of donors, has made a considerable impact throughout the duration of the BELIEVE campaign.
“Our commitment to providing the best training and competitive environments we can is essential to the student-athlete experience, our recruiting efforts, and to developing athletic teams and programs that reflect a level of excellence consistent with that of Juniata and a Juniata education,” says Greg Curley, athletic director at Juniata.
Winton Hill Athletics Complex, completed in fall 2016, with its artificial turf soccer field and stadium, six tennis courts, locker rooms, offices, athletics training room, enclosed press box, and stadium lighting, is now home to 100 varsity athletes and is the finest competition facility within the conference.
The vision for Winton Hill took form through gifts made by Henry ’57 and Joanie Gibbel, for whom the soccer field and stadium are named; Karl Shreiner ’61 and Pat Janusz Shreiner ’62, for whom the plaza is named; the late Sam ’54 and Martha Brumbaugh, for whom one of the tennis courts has been named; and
Daniel ’56 and Karen Raffensperger, for whom one of the tennis courts have been named.
Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center has also undergone multiple renovations including the replacement of the gym floor in Memorial Gymnasium, enhancements to the Brumbaugh Fitness Center, and the addition of the Cook Family Golf Performance Center. At Knox Stadium, a new scoreboard was installed. All of this was made possible through the passion and support of Juniata donors.
“The generosity and support of our donors are critical to our efforts to provide a first-class studentathlete experience, compete for championships, and meet the expectations of our current and prospective student-athletes,” Greg says. “Our facilities are an investment in our student-athletes, their development, and their success.”
Outside of facility improvements, the department has added or reinstated several varsity sports including men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s swimming, bringing the number of varsity intercollegiate sports at Juniata to 24. This, in combination with a variety of club, intramural, and
The creation of the Cook Family Golf Performance Center was made possible through gifts given to support Juniata Athletics.
Photo: Jason Jones
Men’s swimming was one of the sports reinstated as a varsity sport during the BELIEVE Campaign.
Photo: J.D. Cavrich
individual activities, means students can enjoy the thrill of competition, promote wellness, and build relationships with their peers.
“I think the more sports we, as a college, identify as a good fit for us, the better we are,” says Thompson.
Sofia Amoroso ’23 wanted to attend a small, liberal arts college where she could explore her academic interests and also play golf.
“I had put a lot of work into golf throughout high school, and I wanted the opportunity to play golf while in college,” Amoroso says. “Meeting some of the players on the team when I came to visit, I loved the relationships and how close everyone was. I was trying to find a school that fit all of my interests, and Juniata did.”
The student-athlete experience at Juniata promotes bonds that are inclusive.
“It wasn’t like a larger school where athletes go to one corner of the world and non-athletes go to another,” Thompson says. “The experience made you feel like you were a part of a community where differences are valued and appreciated. I couldn’t be more proud and happy to be involved in what’s taking place.”
That sense of community attracts like-minded prospective students who are hoping to continue their athletic careers in college.
“Those who are committed to growing the athletic department at Juniata in all different sports give students with an interest in athletics the chance to play, to grow as a person, and to build bonds and friendships,” says Amoroso. “It was a huge part of why I chose to come to Juniata.”
When Paul Donahue ’74 and Jayne Keirn Donahue ’75 began planning for the future, they decided a way to leave a lasting legacy was to honor their shared past at Juniata.
“We were both the first in our families to go to college. The success we’ve had in our lives is because of the education we received at Juniata College,” says Paul. “This is our way of helping out and giving back.”
The couple met on campus and started their lives together after Jayne’s graduation. He began his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
She took a job with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and established a career as an internal auditor for the largest asset custodian and administrator in the world, State Street Corporation.
“In today’s economy, you need to have a college degree to accomplish what we have accomplished. Juniata and the liberal arts taught us how to think, not just parrot back information,” says Jayne, who is a current Juniata trustee. “We both learned a lot about thinking things through. We benefited from scholarships and financial aid and we wanted to help others have that same experience.”
They felt the best way to give back to Juniata was to bestow a percentage of their estate to Juniata as an unrestricted gift rather than designating the funds for a specific purpose.
“It’s unlikely the administration will be the same when the gift is given. We trust the College to always pick people who will make the right decisions,” Jayne says.
“I can’t specify today what the College is going to need after we pass away. It’s important to give the board and the administration flexibility.”
The Donahues encourage others to consider giving unrestricted estate gifts as well.
“You’ve got to pay it forward. We all benefited from scholarships and financial aid and we have to continue to make sure the money is provided to future generations,” says Jayne. “It’s our turn to make a contribution to the students of the future.”
Jayne has been a member of the College’s Board of Trustees since 2013. She serves on the Governance Committee and is the current chair of the Audit Committee. Therefore, she is well versed in Juniata’s financials. Jayne is a true expert in her field and understands the work Juniata is doing to support students today and what it will need in the future.
The Donahues value Juniata’s mission and trust in our faculty and staff to deliver on that mission in the short and long term. Their trust and confidence are nothing less than inspiring.
Sally Palmer Biel ’70 and Richard J. Biel ’71
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
John A. Dale ’54 and Irene Miller Dale ’58 D
Donald L. Detwiler ’64 and Lynnea Knavel Detwiler ’63 D Joan D. Edwards ’68
Gerard A. Ehrlen ’67
Henry H. Gibbel ’57 and Joan R. Gibbel
Carl D. Glaeser ’77 and Nancy Nordberg Glaeser ’76
The Estate of David K. Goodman, Jr. ’74
Harriet Detwiler Graffious ’57 and William J. Graffious ’56 D Barry J. Halbritter ’65 and Marlene Robinette Halbritter ’62
Kenneth L. Malas ’69
Janice Wengerd Maran ’64
National Science Foundation Carol Heaton Pletcher ’66 and Wayne A. Pletcher D Susan I. Romer ’68
Margaret Smeal SerVaas ’74 and Dana Wassum Gary A. Smith ’63 and John L. Hilliard Carolyn A. Sparks and Jack L. Sparks Timothy D. Statton ’72 and Kathryn Stavru Statton ’72 Terry L. Stevens ’70 and Dianna J. Stevens U.S. Department of Education
Christopher S. Hart ’78 and Lisa Hopkins Hart Elaine Becker Jones ’76 and Keith L. Jones ’75
The Estate of Edmund N. Book
Nicole C. Close ’92 and Christopher J. Albrecht
Jayne Keirn Donahue ’75 and Paul R. Donahue ’74 Charles W. Ebner ’59 and Maureen Ebner Jere B. Eshelman ’71
The Estates of Sarah L. Fleming and Hilda V. Nathan
Mary Louise Robert Gerek ’73 and James M. Gerek ’75
Robert H. Goldstein ’79 and Cynthia L. Keeffe
Joan Gosnell ’82 and Craig A. Reynolds
Lee W. Grotyohann ’71
Kenneth E. Hess ’75 and M. Louise Hess
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
II-VI Foundation
Bruce A. Jones ’75 and Patricia J. Jones
Thomas R. Kepple, Jr. and Pat G. Kepple
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Carole Climer Molder ’68
National Institutes of Health
Wayne C. Patterson ’60 and Jane A. Patterson Richard E. Paulhamus ’70 and Lorraine Patterson Trexler ’70 Barbara Grim Rollman ’55 and Roy H. Rollman ’55 Paul D. Schettler, Jr. and Karen H. Schettler
The Estate of Elizabeth A. Shearer ’59
Robert P. Shick ’64 and Mamie E. Carlson-Shick Henry F. Siedzikowski ’75 and Mary Rita Siedzikowski Herbert J. Sipe, Jr. ’62
The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation
P. Bradford Sterl ’76 and Theodore L. Davis
Leonard Stumpf ’73 and John Pitchford
U.S. Department of Justice
The Estate of Earl L. Wehry, Jr. ’62 Mary M. White ’73 and J. Terrell Thon Glen G. Wurst ’67
Anonymous (2)
Charles W. Wise III and Barbara K. Wise Anonymous (4) D - deceased Scan QR code for the complete BELIEVE Campaign Donor Honor Roll.
Photo: Jason Jones
Photo:Jason Jones
JUNIATA is stronger today because of your commitment to our vision. Our students, faculty, and the entire Juniata community will feel the impact for years to come. Thank you!
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