The GēDUNK June 2025

McNULTY'S MISSION

Retiring President Paul J. McNulty ’80 leaves a legacy of faith and service

• Lingo comes home • His ‘Chosen’ profession • Commencement 2025

Abigail Ruhl ’25 waves a “paw” during Commencement. Ruhl and other senior members of Willie the Wolverine’s mascot team, who remain anonymous during their service, received the paws as a gift from the athletic department to signal their special role in boosting school spirit.

A DREAM COME TRUE

When Brenda and I graduated in 1980, we expected, like most GCC alums, to return occasionally for quick visits. We also foresaw the possibility that one or more of our children would attend our alma mater (two eventually did). But we never imagined it would be our home again. Now, 45 years after departing for the first time, we leave again after 11 wonderful years of living at One Campus Drive. The campus we loved as students, the place that shaped our values and instilled a deep sense of purpose, has been our home in this slow sunset of our lives.

When people ask me if I used to dream of being president of Grove City College, I’m reminded of professional golfer Bubba Watson’s response when asked whether he dreamed of winning the Masters. He said, “I never got this far in my dreams.” Being president has indeed been a dream come true, but not the way I envisioned at a young age.

As early as I can remember, I dreamed about making a difference in the world, of having a lasting impact. My heroes were great statesmen such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Naturally, I associated my dreams with the halls of political power in Washington, D.C. And the Lord blessed me with some fantastic opportunities in the world of public service. But administrations come and go and so do Capitol Hill lawyers and Justice Department officials. Lasting impact in that environment can be elusive.

Then came Grove City College and the extraordinary opportunity to invest our energies in the lives of young people hungry for mentors and spiritual direction. The College is a community that emphasizes character development and fosters godly virtue in the everyday business of learning, playing, and living together. Wolf Creek doesn’t flow into the Potomac River, but the graduates of our exceptional college are in the headwaters of hope for better leadership in today’s world. My dreams of lasting impact, as well as the similar dreams of everyone who supports the vision and mission of the College, have been fulfilled through the lives of our students.

Brenda and I are excited about the next chapter of our lives, but leaving is hard. The community is remarkably special. The employees work with self-sacrificing dedication to the mission. People are kind to one another. Doing the right thing is a given. It’s not heaven, but it’s a small foretaste, by the grace of God, of what the restored creation will be like.

We are enormously thankful to the Board for this opportunity, our colleagues for their friendship and support, and the students for the joy they have brought to our lives. It has been the best job I’ve ever had.

We pray that the Lord will protect and sustain Grove City College for generations of students to come. In the words of the apostle Paul, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)”

Paul J.

McNulty ’80 President

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jeffrey Prokovich ’89

Vice President for Advancement

Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod

Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations

EDITOR

Nick Hildebrand

Director of College Communications

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Joanie Baumgartner

Director of Advancement Communications

DESIGN

Justin Harbaugh

Art Director/Graphic Designer

Amy Evans

Associate Director of Advancement Communications

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman

Advancement Communications Coordinator

Brad Isles

Website Manager/Content Coordinator

OFFICE OF ALUMNI & COLLEGE RELATIONS

Tricia Corey

Karen Grassell

Mandy Sposato ’00

Michelle (Jeffries ’19) Vogt

COLLEGE ARCHIVES AND GALLERIES

Hilary (Lewis ’09) Walczak

OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT

Brian Powell ’03

Doug Angle ’20

Jason Burtt ’00

Elizabeth (Smith ’81) Hanley

Zach Jew ’11

Randall LaBrie ’20

Megan Snitchler ’19

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Steve DeCaspers ’97

President

Amy (Martin ’06) Simon Vice President

Cover photo by Jason Kapusta

Interior photography by Jason Jones,

Justin Harbaugh, Nick Hildebrand, Brad Isles, Kiley (Hajek ’19) Miranda, Joanie Baumgartner, Derek Isles, Tiffany Wolfe, Matt Durisko, Grace David ’24, Blaise Kilmartin ’25, Luke Paglia ’27, Luke Morton ’27, Luke Dieter ’25, Greta Paulding ’27, Mara Brak ’26

impact

STORY

A FATHER’S INSPIRING EXAMPLE

Rachel (Brockhage ’12) Ellison has always held her alma mater close to her heart. After completing her undergraduate studies, Rachel pursued graduate school and later married Andy Ellison. Together, they are continuing a legacy of generosity and faith that was deeply rooted in Andy’s family, particularly through his father, Mike Ellison.

Mike was a visionary entrepreneur who founded a Cincinnati-based aerospace company in 1986. Under his leadership, the company grew to employ approximately 450 people across seven sites in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. He was not only a successful businessman but also a man of deep faith and values. He believed in the importance of living out Christian principles in both his personal and professional life. This belief was encapsulated in Mike’s favorite Bible verse, Joshua 24:15: “Choose this day who you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Mike’s commitment to his faith was evident in his actions. He frequently hired Grove City College students in Engineering and Human Resources, recognizing the College’s reputation for producing graduates with strong moral and ethical foundations. He often supported faith-based charities,

Grove City College changes lives. This impact story is shared by an individual who had a remarkable experience at this special place, and who knows that now is the perfect time to inspire others. Together, we are working to ensure that our transformational education will continue to impact students, and change lives, for the next 150 years and beyond.

ANDY AND RACHEL (BROCKHAGE ’12) ELLISON

Donors to the Annual Fund

some of which have had a global impact. Mike’s family continues to hear stories of how his charitable contributions have blessed many lives.

Tragically, Mike passed away unexpectedly in 2018. His death left a significant void for those who knew and loved him, but his legacy of faith and generosity lives on through his family. Andy Ellison stepped into his father’s role as CEO immediately after Mike’s passing and led the company until its sale in 2020. During his tenure, Andy upheld the values and principles instilled by his father, ensuring that the company’s operations reflected their family’s commitment to faith and integrity.

In honor of Mike’s legacy and of the timeless Christian values he championed, Andy and Rachel have made a generous gift to the College. “My dad was a man after God’s heart,” Andy shared. “He would have loved to see value from his work on earth supporting an institution he knew well, which is committed to the same faith and excellence he pursued before leaving for his eternal home.”

Their donation was inspired not only by Mike’s faith and generosity, but also by figures in GCC history like J. Howard Pew and David Rathburn ’79, men who chose to invest their blessings in what really matters. The Ellisons hope to continue the inspiring legacies of these leaders with their ongoing support of future generations of GCC students through the Annual Fund.

Learn more about how you can create your own legacy at Grove City College by supporting any of the Impact 150 capital campaign projects, the Annual Fund, or scholarships. Visit gcc.edu/impact150 or email us at giving@gcc.edu.

We have just entered the third year of Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College, which launched in May 2023. The astounding generosity of alumni, friends, parents, and others has helped us to achieve 70% of our overall goal in the first two years of this effort. But the work is not yet finished, and we press on together to ensure that our shared vision of strength for the next 150 years will become a reality. The College sincerely thanks each and every individual donor, and the organizations, corporations, and foundations that have aligned with our mission through their generous support. We are pleased to present our current progress toward these campaign priorities and invite your continued partnership as we reach toward our goals. LOWER CAMPUS FIELDHOUSE

$42,422,431

$8,149,404 Amount

$5,099,389

$15,884,925

$39,816,255

$138,106,508

Game Changers

These capital projects during Phase 1 of the Impact 150 campaign have a common goal: to support our growing number of varsity athletes and relieve the pressure on the Physical Learning Center (PLC). The varsity weight room in the PLC is stretched beyond capacity as it currently serves all 600+ student athletes. These new facilities will provide much-needed space for multiple sports, including a brandnew field for baseball. Expanding varsity facilities also means we can more effectively meet the fitness and recreation needs of our nonvarsity students.

UPDATED LOWER CAMPUS FIELDHOUSE PLANS

A new fieldhouse is needed to sustain the momentum and growth of our varsity sports and open up space for all students in the PLC on upper campus. The new Lower Campus Fieldhouse project was recently reimagined with a new architect, and the new, more cost-effective design will more readily serve the more than 200 athletes on the football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis teams. It will house new locker rooms, strength and conditioning areas, coaching offices, multi-purpose training and meeting spaces, and state-of-the-art sports medicine rooms. Overlooking Thorn Field, it will stand out to game day visitors and prospective students as a visible example of the College’s commitment to athletic excellence. The new design, estimated at $20M, boasts a community-friendly feel, with a pedestrian area connecting to the football field, and ample space for fans to gather on game days. Fundraising is underway, with several naming opportunities available so that construction can begin on the project in 2026.

Learn more about how your support for these new facilities can transform the student athletic experience at Grove City College!

MCNULTY ATHLETIC CENTER

The McNulty Athletic Center (MAC) is the next step in upgrading athletic facilities across campus to support our growing number of varsity student-athletes and to relieve the pressure on the Physical Learning Center (PLC). The availability of convenient, all-weather practice facilities is limited and often restricts non-varsity students from accessing the IM Room for personal use and for intramural sports. The MAC will be a permanent indoor facility with an inflated dome roof, built just behind the PLC on the current field above the Don Lyle Soccer Field.

The 50,000-square-foot MAC will include a five-lane 200m indoor running track, weight training areas, a pole vault area and long/triple jump pits, as well as a highly durable rubberized center surface whose many uses will include four tennis courts, portable basketball hoops, and pickleball courts. The MAC will be named for President Paul J. ’80 and Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty, who have committed a generous lead gift to the project. The College is seeking additional funds for the roughly $5M cost of the project.

WILLIAM C. STEWART FIELD

Baseball is Grove City College’s oldest sport and has a long-established history in the Athletics program and in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. However, the team’s current field has been an ongoing challenge, with drainage concerns and uneven terrain in the outfield causing hazardous playing conditions. The College has committed to building a new baseball field to ensure the safety for our players and to remain competitive in the conference. The new field east of Madison Avenue will be a proper ballpark which will aid in future recruiting efforts, allow GCC to be considered for hosting PAC, NCAA, and PIAA tournament games, and accommodate many groups in the local community and region.

Construction will begin on the estimated $3.5M field this summer and is planned to be completed for the Spring 2026 baseball season. Stewart Field will be named for GCC alumnus and Trustee William “Bill” Stewart ’61, a member of the College’s first team to return to the baseball diamond after WWII, and whose hitting propelled the 1960 team to success. Stewart has generously provided a lead gift to make the field a reality.

Grove City Wolverines

BILL STEWART Outfield

Finishing Touches

Since May 2023, Grove City College has sought to raise $48 million in resources to renew Rockwell Hall, the centerpiece of the Olmsted design for Grove City College’s campus. Now, just over two years later, the project is nearing completion. In Fall 2025, it will re-open and be re-dedicated as the Smith Hall of Science and Technology in honor of alumnus and tech entrepreneur William W. Smith Jr. ’69 and his wife Dieva Smith in recognition of their generous support of the College and longstanding commitment to its vision, mission, and values.

Finishing touches are being put on the building, which features a restored exterior and a brand new “connector” with STEM Hall that provides four floors and 11,000 square feet of new space for collaborative learning and discovery. The official home of the departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Exercise Science, our students are eager to get back into the building and experience all that this historic renovation has to offer, including some updated scientific equipment to complement the refurbished classrooms, labs, and workspaces.

Several naming opportunities remain available, including some faculty offices, providing donors a unique chance to honor a professor or other individual who made an impact in their lives. Donors contributing $5,000 or more will be proudly recognized on our Donor Wall, celebrating their generosity and commitment as they leave a lasting legacy. Contact Brian Powell ’03, senior director of development, to learn more about how you can be involved at 724-458-2992 or powellbm@gcc.edu.

The rededication of Rockwell Hall as the Smith Hall of Science and Technology will take place on September 12, 2025

‘In Great Measure’

The late David R. Rathburn ’79 gave to Grove City College “in great measure to great impact,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said when Rathburn’s final gift to his alma mater was recorded this spring.

The gift – totaling $70 million – is the largest single donation in College history, making Rathburn the College’s greatest benefactor and, with his decades of service to Grove City College on the Board of Trustees, ensuring him a place in a pantheon that includes J. Howard Pew, Class of 1900; Isaac Ketler; Charles S. MacKenzie; and a handful of other legends.

Rathburn, who died in February 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer, was a successful entrepreneur, active alumnus,

major donor, and longtime member of the College’s Board of Trustees, which he chaired for 17 years and led through times of intense change and growth. Rathburn even served as acting president of Grove City College for a few months in 2003 between the terms of John H. Moore and Richard G. Jewell ’67.

“David was a generational leader who believed deeply in the distinctive mission of Grove City College. His personal and philanthropic devotion to the College serves as the highest exemplar for those who recognize the tremendous value of a GCC education … He was a model of stewardship, a steadfast partner in leadership, and a good friend,” President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.

and his

The bequest from Rathburn’s estate calls for 75 percent – $52 million – to go to the College’s financial aid endowment to fund need- and merit-based scholarships for students. The remaining 25 percent is earmarked for capital improvement projects. The gift boosted the College’s endowment to $220 million, a 25 percent increase.

“This transformational gift will make Grove City College more affordable for hundreds of students every year, help us complete a vision for campus that matches the excellence of our community, and, we hope, inspire others to emulate David’s example of service and support,” said Edward D. Breen ’78, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. “This gift is massive, but it is not the end of our efforts to set the College on a firm foundation for the future. We hope that this historical milestone is one of many for the advancement of the College and its mission.”

The legacy gift is part of Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College.

During his lifetime, Rathburn donated millions to Grove City College for initiatives and projects large and small, including the Christian activities building that bears his name. The $70 million estate gift is the largest ever recorded by the Advancement Office.

“David Rathburn now stands as the single most generous donor in College history. But the impact of his contributions of ‘time, talent, and treasure’ are beyond measure. He leaves a legacy of leadership and philanthropy for the ages,” Jeffrey D. Prokovich ’89, vice president for Advancement, said.

“What David understood is that Grove City College equips men and women to be highly successful in the world by not being of the world,” McNulty said. Rathburn recognized the value of that and gave generously to support and advance the College’s mission and culture.

“It’s a place where wisdom and virtue matter. It’s a place where faith and freedom matter –where godliness is admired and affirmed and not belittled. Where the pursuit of eternal truth is guided and encouraged. Not disparaged and attacked. This institution, by God’s grace, is the result of people like David who have invested so much in it,” McNulty said.

David Rathburn

Nu Lambda Phi fraternity brothers in front of the Christian activities building named in his honor.

upfront

News about the College, alumni, students, campus, faculty, and sports

‘As the next chapter begins …’

The College conferred degrees on 573 undergraduate and graduate students at Commencement on May 10. The pomp and circumstances marked the end of a four-year journey for most members of the Class of 2025.

Student speaker Julia Bauer ’25, a Marketing major from Pittsburgh, reflected on that journey in an address that led off with a quote from C.S. Lewis: “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?”

Bauer talked about the lessons, little and big, that she and her classmates learned on campus and how they will apply to life beyond. “As the next chapter begins, amidst all the new changes and challenges, it may

be difficult to feel prepared for what lies ahead. Once we step off this campus, we bring a piece of Grove City with us wherever we go: the relationships that molded us and the formation of our character through the experiences we’ve had here together,” she said.

“Shape others as compassionately and faithfully as you were shaped. And when things get difficult, lean into the foundation you’ve gained here … And most importantly, lean into the Lord, who was gracious and faithful these last four years, far more than any of us deserved, and promises to be with us in all of our next steps,” Bauer concluded.

Retiring College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 delivered a stirring, final address to the crowd assembled to celebrate graduates. (Read the full text on page 62) “Class of 2025, today

is a hopeful day, a milestone day for hopeful hearts because you have been equipped for your calling. You’ve been created for a reason and redeemed for a mission. These things are much more important than mere proficiency. And, as we all know, the world desperately needs your godly purposefulness and principles,” he said.

The College also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree to Dr. James Bibza, the longtime professor of Biblical and Religious Studies who spoke at Friday’s Baccalaureate. First Lady Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of her service to the College.

Fuller channels Lewis in Mere Economics

The title of Grove City College Associate Professor of Economics

Dr. Caleb S. Fuller ’13 and co-author Art Carden’s new book gives readers a pretty good idea of what the economists were shooting for. Mere Economics: Lessons for and from the Ordinary Business of Life pays homage to a book that has provided millions of believers with a winsome and deeply thought-out case for Christianity.

“Maybe it wasn’t wise to invite a comparison of our writing to C.S. Lewis, but we wanted to communicate the basic, orthodox principles of economics in a way that resembled what he did for the basic, orthodox principles of the Christian faith,” Fuller said.

Like Lewis’ seminal Mere Christianity, Mere Economics distills the core principles of its subject and aims to demystify them for lay readers. It also shares a Christian worldview, held by Fuller and Carden, a business professor at Samford University. The authors trace the origins of mainline economic thought to that worldview. “The 15th- and 16th-century Spanish Scholastics … correctly reasoned that God was not going to leave the social world a chaotic mess. They recognized a ‘humane science’ reflecting the mind of God while rendering the social world intelligible. That science was and is economics,” they write.

The book is not written purely for the academic audience, Fuller said. “Despite their profundity … the basic principles of economics aren’t hard to grasp, and anyone who claims otherwise is selling a bill of goods,” he said. “We want to show that the ‘dismal science’ is anything but dismal.”

Online Mises archive is boon to Austrian School scholars

After his death more than 50 years ago, famed economist Ludwig von Mises’ papers and library were entrusted to Grove City College. The 20,000-page archive has yielded a raft of academic papers, journal articles, books, and more in the decades since, but only for scholars who could make the pilgrimage to the College and put in the hours and days necessary to study Mises’ letters, manuscripts, monographs, and notes in person.

Not anymore. A years-long effort to fully digitize the archive was recently completed and now scholars can access the documents online – anywhere, anytime – at gcc.historyit.com. Getting the collection online is a significant moment for students of the Austrian School and Mises, according to Dr. Jeffrey M. Herbener, chair of the Department of Economics. “By giving access to interested scholars around the world, the Mises digital archive will stimulate new lines of research on the Misesian approach to economics,” he said.

Hewing to that same approach for the last eight decades has made the College an economics powerhouse, punching far above its weight in scholarship and advocacy for the Austrian School, which puts human action at the center of the study of what some call “the dismal science.” The College’s Austrian heritage dates to the mid-1950s when Dr. Hans Sennholz joined the faculty as chair of the Department of Economics and centered the program that he led for 36 years on Austrian School principles, which influenced and inspired the thinking of generations of students.

Mises’ contributions to the study of economics are outstanding, Herbener said. “He gave us the explanation of the business cycle – why we see these ups and downs in the economy and what policies should be implemented to mitigate or even eliminate them. He gave a devastating critique of socialism and central planning where he showed that this is not an arrangement for a modern economy that is workable at all.”

Grove City College became home to the Mises collection in 1978 when the economist’s widow Margit von Mises sought out Sennholz to make the College the permanent home to his papers and library.

College Archivist Hilary (Lewis ’09) Walczak has been has been working on digitizing the collection in-house for years. Last year funding was provided to complete the job, and 90 boxes of documents were shipped to Portland, Maine, where they were processed by HistoryIT, a digital archive service.

College offers master’s in Education

The College is launching a new Master of Science in Education in Reading Specialist degree program this summer.

The 30-credit online graduate program is designed to take certified educators to the next level of practice by increasing their skill set and knowledge to support students and reach their own professional goals.

“This historic milestone builds upon our institution’s rich legacy of teacher preparation, dating all the way back to the founding of the College as Pine Grove Normal Academy,” Dr. Constance (Nelson ’93) Nichols, chair and professor of Education, said. “Our new graduate program reflects both our roots and our vision for the future. We are dedicated to cultivating teacher leaders who bring expertise, innovation, and inspiration to their schools and communities.”

For more information or to apply, visit gcc.edu/gradprograms

GCC research aims to improve AI Biblical translation

Students and faculty at Grove City College are using AI to speed up and improve biblical translations to spread the Word in a polyglot world. For the past few years, Computer Science professors Britton Wolfe and Brian Dickinson and their students have been working with SIL Global, a faith-based nonprofit that uses machine learning to develop language solutions to improve lives.

One might think that the best-selling book of all time had been translated in every language known to man, but that’s not the case. “The Bible has been translated into most widely spoken languages and can reach most people, however, the full Bible is available in only about 10% of all languages. One of the primary applications of our work is completing the Bible translations in languages where it is partially complete,” Dickinson said.

High-quality translation tools don’t exist for hundreds of languages, impacting the ability of millions – particularly in Africa and Asia – to access not just the Bible, but digital tools necessary for communicating and participating fully in today’s world.

To aid SIL, student-faculty research conducted at Grove City College is focused on making algorithms that it uses to automate biblical translation work better and more efficiently. In addition to better translations, the coding updates can reduce demand on computing power, a key benefit to missionaries and others in the field who rely on personal laptops to do the work.

“I think the work they’re doing is a great model of what we want our students to do: to be thoughtful about how their skills as computer scientists can contribute uniquely to the Kingdom of God,” Dr. Brian Dellinger, chair and professor of Computer Science, said.

PLAY IT LOUD AEX Live, the annual music festival featuring the talents of members of the Alpha Epsilon Chi housing group and friends, is a spring semester staple that never fails to deliver

$5M grant will support Center for Rural Ministry

A$5 million grant from Lilly Endowment’s Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative is a game-changer for the Center for Rural Ministry and its mission to bolster the partnership between the College, the church, and the community, according to Dr. Charles Cotherman ’06, executive director of the Center.

The funding will enable CRM to expand its core programs to rural and small town churches and extend its impact by creating a hub for other colleges and universities to share and scale up programs and initiatives it develops with pastors, CRM staff, faculty, students, and communities. “In rural communities and small towns, the local church often serves alongside schools, as one of the few remaining anchor institutions. Our desire is to harness the unique resources of a Christian college to support and strengthen rural churches as they carry on this vital mission in their communities,” Cotherman said.

The grant will support specific initiatives to support local congregations and the leaders, connect students and faculty to rural and small town churches, and work with other Christian colleges and universities in rural areas on similar outreach and research on how thriving churches impact small-town flourishing.

The Center was established in 2023 after the success of the College’s Project for Rural Ministry, a five-year initiative that marked the beginning of the College’s regional outreach to help pastors serving rural, rust belt and Appalachian communities thrive.

Since 2019, CRM staff, College faculty, and more than 100 students, pastors, and congregations from a variety of denominations have worked together to complete servicelearning projects, foster affinity group relationships, and host students for internships, ICO trips and other partnerships. Each year the CRM hosts an annual conference to share and develop ideas to improve rural ministries and support clergy.

The rural ministry outreach has had a profound impact on some students involved, with some committing to stick with the churches they worked with and others discerning a call to the ministry because of their work with pastors, according to Dr. Adam Loretto ’05, associate professor of English and assistant director of CRM.

“This all fits within our desire to equip rising generations to contribute to local churches in vocational and lay roles. We want alumni of CRM programs and Grove City College to develop a vision for a full Christian life connected to a local church—and to see that small places are just as viable for their flourishing,” Loretto said.

To learn more about the Center for Rural Ministry, visit ruralministry.org

Twenty years of thought leadership

Twenty years ago, Grove City College took a bold step into the marketplace of ideas, taking the discussion that was happening on campus to a broader audience and, ultimately, enhancing the College’s reputation as a bastion of Christian conservative thought.

In the spring of 2005, College leaders established a campus think tank committed to advancing the values of faith and freedom in the public discourse as articulated by faculty members, guest speakers and other “kindred spirits” aligned with those values. Initially known as The Center for Vision & Values, it was rechristened to define its goals more clearly as The Institute for Faith & Freedom (IFF) in 2019.

Its official debut was a conference staged on campus that April, which has in the years since become an annual event, drawing some of the movements leading lights and providing a thrilling experience for students, alumni, and hundreds of guests.

IFF’s roots run deep at Grove City, which was a hotbed of the burgeoning conservative movement in the 1960s and 70s, hosting the likes of William F. Buckley Jr. and Russell Kirk, who met his wife Annette on campus at ISI’s first summer school. It became a standard bearer for faith and freedom through the landmark Supreme Court case and its rejection of federal funding in the 1980s. But even though the College was on the vanguard, it wasn’t getting much attention, due in part to an institutional aversion to publicity.

In that era, the College was routinely bringing in prominent guest speakers who had a lot to say to an audience that was often limited to students, faculty, and a few alums or community members, according to Dr. John Sparks ’66, retired dean of the Calderwood School of Arts and Letters and one of the IFF’s founders. Taking a page from rival Hillsdale College’s book, Sparks and Dr. John Van Til, retired professor of History, Business and Humanities, began independently publishing Vision & Values in 1993 to share the lectures and ideas being discussed on campus that advanced what Sparks calls the College’s “vision of freedom and Christian values.” The quarterly periodical was distributed to alumni and friends for more than a decade.

The 1990s also saw a proliferation of conservative think tanks throughout the country, according to Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of Political Science. “The thinking was that Grove City College should have a think tank of its own, especially given the distinctive conservative Christian voice of faith and freedom that we possessed on campus and could harness,” said Kengor, who has served as IFF executive director and chief academic fellow since it was founded.

“We wanted a think tank where we could take the pedagogy of the College into the marketplace of ideas, to take Grove City College far beyond its base,” said former College president Richard G. Jewell ’67, who helped establish the Institute.

That goal has been accomplished. IFF today is an integral part of a universe of think tanks influencing policy and culture and having an impact in the halls of power in the U.S. and across the globe. It has provided a prominent forum for faculty, fellows, and others to advance faith and freedom values through a nexus of op-eds, research, and public events and as a training ground for future thought leaders.

“Since our founding 20 years ago, we have had a strong impact in the marketplace of conservative ideas,” Kengor said. IFF’s annual conference, the Conservative Mind speaker series, Reagan lecture, and dozens of other lectures and events, have drawn a list of speakers that “would make your head spin,” he said. Kengor also points to the thousands of op-eds and policy papers produced by IFF contributors and published over the years and the Student Fellows Program, which trains “the next generation of major influencers and thought leaders.”

Dr. Paul Kengor, executive director and chief academic fellow for The Institute for Faith & Freedom, speaks at this spring’s 20th anniversary conference.

McIntyre is Professor of the Year

Dr. Dale L. McIntyre, professor of Mathematics with 37 years of service, was selected as 2025’s Omicron Delta Kappa Professor of the Year.

McIntyre originally joined the faculty of Grove City College in 1985 and left in 1988 to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University. He returned with his doctorate in 1991 and has been a staple of the Mathematics Department ever since. Over the years, McIntyre has taught more than 15 different courses, with generations of students benefiting from his knowledge and humor.

“What I hope to accomplish in my teaching is to encourage students in their mathematics and in other areas of their lives, and to enable them to see mathematics as an illustration of God’s common grace,” he said. “How does God manifest in mathematics? Its beauty, its order and precision, its changelessness, its clear delineation of right and wrong, its emphasis on objective truth, all reflect these attributes of God.”

He is married to former professor Susan (Chandler) McIntyre. They have two daughters..

GCC begins work to reaffirm Middle States accreditation

Grove City College is in the process of reaffirming accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Accreditation (MSCHE). Every eight years, the College must undergo a holistic evaluation by MSCHE to maintain its accreditation, which is recognized by government and professional agencies as essential for student success and institutional quality.

The two-and-a-half-year process includes comprehensive self-study and on-site evaluation to ensure Grove City College meets all MSCHE standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements. “Accreditation is a marker of quality for higher education institutions. It makes us more competitive and adds to the value of a Grove City College education,” according to Assistant Director of Library Services Kimberly Marks’, who co-chairs the College’s MSCHE self-study committee with Dr. Gary Welton, professor of Psychology and assistant dean for Institutional Assessment, and Dr. Darren Wood, associate professor of Biology.

MSCHE accreditation is a good fit for Grove City College, because it considers the institution’s distinct mission in its review and evaluation process. “This enables the College to achieve accreditation without compromising our calling to provide a Christ-centered living and learning experience,” according to Welton.

Faculty farewell

This academic year saw the retirements of five faculty members with more than 100 years of combined service to the College.

Beverly H. Carter Professor of Music 28 years of service

Gillis J. Harp Professor of History 25 years of service

Scott K. Powell Professor of Marketing 29 years of service

Janey A. Roach

Director of Nursing for the Charles Jr. & Betty Johnson School of Nursing and Professor of Nursing 4 years of service

Vernon W. Ulrich Professor of Mechanical Engineering 20 years of service

A LEGACY OF FAITH

“We are very pleased Dash chose to attend Grove City College. We believe a Christ-centered education is essential and know Dash will flourish while he continues to deepen his faith at GCC.”

Scott ’98 and Allison (Brunner ’99) Lanzilotta met at Grove City College and have grown their “legacy” with the arrival of their oldest son Dash on campus as a freshman last fall. Dash was accepted into several Christian colleges, and the road trips across the country commenced to help him weigh the options. Ultimately, the campus environment and unique Entrepreneurship program at Grove City were deciding factors in his choice.

Is the Grove City College environment right for your child or grandchild? Come and find out! Prospective students can schedule a personalized visit and enjoy a tour of our beautiful campus.

The Lanzilotta family: Harper, Scott ’98, Shadow (pup), Dash ’28, Allison ’99, and Bo

Grove City sweeps All-Sports trophies

For the second straight academic year, the Grove City College athletic department won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference

All-Sports Trophy in both men’s and women’s competition.

Wolverine student-athletes dominated the competition this year, with varsity programs winning 11 of 24 PAC titles in the 2024-25 academic year, a record for Grove City College.

Grove City teams won conference titles in women’s soccer, football, baseball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse, indoor and outdoor track and field, and swimming and diving. Men’s soccer, softball, and men’s volleyball finished their seasons as conference runners-up.

This is the ninth time that Grove City has swept the All-Sports Trophy races. The trophies are awarded to the schools which perform the best across the board in league competition. First-place finishes are worth 11 points, runner-up finishes are worth 10 points and the scale incrementally descends until 11th place is worth one point. Grove City accumulated 118 points to win the Men’s All-Sports Trophy and 104.5 points to take the Women’s All-Sports Trophy.

Wolverine coaches captured seven PAC coach of the year titles, with track and field coach Jessica Cooper claiming four for mentoring

men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor teams. At least five studentathletes earned All American status, with more expected when NCAA competition wraps up.

“Looking back at the 2024-25 athletic year, I am humbled by the commitment and efforts of our student athletes and athletics staff, and the unmatched support offered by the campus community- faculty, staff, students, alumni, and administration,” Todd Gibson ’02, vice president for Athletics, said.

Gibson credited the athletic community’s commitment to use their talents to compete, joyfully, in ways that honor God for the strong performances. “The success we have had in the athletic arena is a direct reflection of our athletes and coaches striving to uphold this mission. The Wolverine athletic culture is special- and we hope to inspire others by not only our on-field results, but also how and why we compete.”

Wolverine athletes will be getting some more PAC competition next year as the conference expands. The 2025-26 season will see Hiram College as a full member. Former Division I Saint Francis will be the conference’s 13th full-time member on the schedule in 2026-27, though it won’t be eligible for conference championships until gaining full Division III membership.

athletics

Bennett caps collegiate career

Grove City College women’s track and field standout Lydia Bennett ’25 concluded her collegiate career by earning runner up honors in the 1500 meters at the NCAA Division III Championships in May.

Bennett recorded a school-record time of 4 minutes, 25.17 seconds to finish second, less than three seconds behind Vassar’s Haley Schoenegge. Bennett entered the Championships as the No. 6 seed.

The performance earned her AllAmerica status and matches the best finish ever for a Grove City track and field performer. Jim McElhaney took second in the men’s discus at the 1986 NCAA Division III Championships while Rory Phillips placed second in the javelin at the 2004 NCAA Championships. She is the second Grove City woman to earn outdoor track and field All-American honors. Erin Claxton earned All-America honors in the 10,000 meters in 2005 by placing eighth.

Bennett also earned All-America honors in the mile at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships in March. She placed seventh in that event. Bennett is the first Grove City athlete to earn All-America honors in both indoor and outdoor track and field in the same year.

Bennett competed in three national championships this year, having also qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in November.

First season is foundational for newest varsity program

Men’s volleyball, the College’s newest NCAA Division III program and 24th varsity sport, opened its inaugural season in January with a home court loss in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center and ended it in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship match.

Not a bad first year for head coach Brett Heckathorn ’19 and the team, which included five All-Conference selections.

Two weeks after their first match, the team made history again, recording the program’s first two victories in a pair of non-conference sweeps over Mount Aloysius and Olivet. They finished the regular season with a 13-14 record, 8-4 against PAC foes, which earned them the No. 2 seed to the conference championship and a shot at the title against rival Thiel.

“Both things are incredibly difficult to accomplish in any season, let alone your first season,” Heckathorn said.

Five players were honored as All-Conference selections. Junior middle blocker Tieg Malcolm and freshman libero Ben McVey both earned Second Team All-PAC. Honorable Mention All-PAC went to sophomore setter Craig Fair, senior right side hitter Quintin Norris, and freshman outside hitter Keith Otto.

Heckathorn said the team focused on building a culture in its foundational year. “The guys did a great job living out our culture this year on and off the court, which I think freed us up to play better than we even expected,” he said. “This season was not only a testament to our current team, but to all the club teams that came before our first varsity season. The tradition of men’s volleyball at Grove City can be traced back to the mid-80s and each of those teams was a part of the process of building this program.”

MESSAGE FROM ALUMNI AND COLLEGE RELATIONS

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Ibelieve God places leaders for a reason and a season. And this couldn’t be more true than in the placement of the Honorable Paul J. McNulty ’80 as president of Grove City College. Under his leadership, I’ve seen our alma mater thrive in its mission of excellence in Christian education and as a place where students find their purpose and calling. I’ve personally been blessed to have partnered with him in connecting our alumni and friends to Grove City College. I know we are a better place because of his commitment to “Grove.” I’m so happy for Paul and Brenda as they venture into a new season of their lives to spend more time with their family and on other worthwhile pursuits. Well done, good and faithful servants!

This issue is a tribute to this “job well done” as we feature the work President McNulty has accomplished here. We hope you enjoy this reflection on his 11 years of faithful service. Additionally, we have a special feature on an alumnus and personal friend of mine, JD Larsen ’96 (pictured below with me on set). I had the pleasure of venturing south of Dallas with my colleague, GēDUNK Associate Editor Joanie Baumgartner, to visit JD on the set of The Chosen TV show. What an experience! As a fan of this popular series, it was so impactful to hear more about his journey as the series’ CFO, and how he and his colleagues undertake this amazing work to advance the Gospel in ways that I believe are going to continue to touch lives and hearts for many years. I’m so proud to know that Grove City College has been a part of JD’s story and has positively impacted his work. Telling this story now is quite meaningful, as we were able to learn more following the March release of Season 5. Make sure you check out the show, if you’ve not done so already. It’s worth your time and you can smile knowing of the GCC connection.

Finally, I want to give you a teaser for something new. This year, we launched a trial program in both Northeast Ohio and Northern Va./ Washington, D.C., called the Regional Leaders Program Eight alumni volunteered to help us focus on engaging alumni in their region with more events, plus partnerships with students and admissions. We are excited to help our alumni feel more connected, while also giving them ways to give back. We look forward to expanding our efforts in other areas down the road, but in the meantime, I want to thank these alumni for stepping up early!

• Northeast Ohio – Laura (Koller ’11) and RJ ’08 Fryan, Christy (Ricchetti ’93) and Spencer ’92 Vago.

• Northern Va./Washington, D.C. – Kelleigh (Huber ’17) Clarke, Andrew Patterson ’12, and Susannah (Barnes ’21) Pettit.

I’ll close with a reminder to consider stopping by campus on your travels. It’s quiet in the summer but always beautiful! And remember to mark your calendar for Homecoming, October 10 to 12.

Registration opens on June 11 at alumni.gcc.edu/homecoming. See you soon!

Now grab that cup of coffee and enjoy this issue of the GēDUNK!

Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations

Celebrating scholarships

More than 125 donors visited campus on April 5, 2025, excited to meet the student recipients of the scholarships they generously support each year. The event kicked off with a short program that included remarks by President Paul J. McNulty ’80, a video featuring “a day in the life” of two senior scholarship recipients, and a live Q&A with those students led by Senior Director of Development Brian Powell ’03. A reception followed with an array of delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts, which set the perfect atmosphere for a casual time for donors and students to meet and chat. The students loved meeting their donors, too! Many special relationships have been formed through this annual tradition.

The College is committed to its goal of addressing the financial need of more than 70% of students at Grove City College. Without federal funds to assist in that process, the establishment of scholarships by alumni and friends is paramount to our students’ success. Our donors make a Grove City College education possible for hundreds of students each year. We celebrate with them the power of scholarships to transform lives!

View the Video of Kaitlyn ’25 and Zeke ’25

View the 2025 Scholarship Celebration Video

Learn more about how YOU can get involved in Scholarships at GCC!

Family, farewells, and festivities

Grove City College warmly welcomed loved ones for Family Weekend from April 25 to 27. Students eagerly shared an insider’s view of campus life, highlighting the remarkable presentations and performances they had prepared throughout the year. Family Weekend 2025 was not only a joyful reunion but also a celebration of the impressive academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements of the talented student body. The event featured a packed schedule, including a student art exhibit, a theater showcase, the Orchesis dance production, a display of student research, numerous vocal and instrumental concerts, Wolverine sports events, Greek-sponsored luncheons, and the cherished tradition of All-College Sing.

As it was President McNulty’s last Family Weekend as president of the College, there were special events dedicated to his time here. At the McNulty Farewell Reception, guests were encouraged to stop by and extend best wishes to President Paul ’80 and Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty. We look forward to celebrating with new President Bradley Lingo ’00 next year, so make sure to join us at our next Family Weekend, April 24-26, 2026!

alumni & friends events

The family of the late Richard L. Thornburgh, former governor of Pennsylvania and former U.S. Attorney General, gathered on April 8 at the Buhl Library for the dedication of the Thornburgh Book Collection as it was officially unveiled at Grove City College.

Alumni and their little ones dined with us in April for the annual Children’s Theater Breakfast before watching our talented students present Honk! in the Pew Fine Arts Center.

Alumni and friends, some current students and parents, and the Pirate Parrot came out for a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game and lunch in March in Bradenton, FL.

Fifteen alumni and friends enjoyed a February travel program to the Galapagos –Northern Islands, hosted by Orbridge, one of our GCC Travel Partners.

Current students showed their gratitude for support from alumni and friends at Thank a Donor Day on March 19.

Alumni, friends, and parents gathered on March 6 for a Touring Choir concert in New Hope, Pa., and enjoyed a meal afterward with the singers at The Riverhouse at Odette’s hosted by Board Chair Ed ’78 and Lynn (Branstner ’78) Breen.

December 2024 and January 2025 graduates were celebrated at a reception at the home of President Paul ’80 and Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty on Dec. 4.

Jim Segerdahl ’84 hosted a Law Alumni reception at K&L Gates on April 22, which also served as a special farewell to fellow lawyer and GCC president, the Hon. Paul J. McNulty ’80.

and friends

ALUMNI & FRIENDS DATES TO REMEMBER

June 20 Alumni Luncheon at ACCS Dallas Conference Dallas, Texas

June 26 Alumni and Friends Mixer Alexandria, Va.

July 9 Pittsburgh Women Freshman and Alumni Dinner Pittsburgh, Pa.

July 14 & 15 Alumni Service Days with Hosanna Industries Johnstown, Pa.

July 20 Freshman Picnic with Alumni and Students Buffalo, N.Y.

August 1

Boston Cannons Lacrosse Game with pre-game gathering Denver, Col.

August 3 Freshman Picnic with Alumni and Students Boyds, Md.

September 6 Grover Gathering Evening Flower Potluck Pittsburgh, Pa.

September 11 Alumni and Friends Athletics Golf Outing Olde Stonewall Golf Club Ellwood City, Pa.

September 12 Showcase Series: Kings Return (rescheduled) Grove City College

September 27 Night Game Tailgate: Grove City vs. Washington & Jefferson Grove City College

November 14 4th Alumni and Friends Clay Shoot Highland Sporting Clays Rockwood, Pa.

Alumni

enjoyed a lunch in Bonita Springs, Fla., hosted by Board Chair Ed ’78 and Lynn (Branstner ’78) Breen (not pictured).

Registration for Homecoming 2025 opens on June 11 at gcc.edu/homecoming! Make your plans to come “home” to Grove City College!

CLASS REUNIONS

1965 – 60th

1970 – 55th

1975 – 50th

1980 – 45th

1985 – 40th

1990 – 35th

– 30th

– 25th

– 20th

– 15th 2015 – 10th 2020 – 5th

GREEK REUNIONS

ADDITIONAL REUNIONS

Sigma Phi Omicron Zeta Xi Omega

ALUMNI TRAVEL

ANTARCTICA DISCOVERY

January 9 - 20

Embark on an unforgettable odyssey, where discovery and adventure converge on the vast canvas of the Last Continent.

CROATIA & CRUISING THE DALMATIAN COAST

April 17 - 28

This sensational 10-night journey reveals Croatia’s incredible bounty, including a 7-night cruise. Join us and let Croatia steal your heart!

RICHES OF THE EMERALD ISLE

May 24 - June 3

Savor exquisite views along the Wild Atlantic Way, the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and the striking Burren, and enjoy ferry rides to the Dingle Peninsula and the Aran Islands.

Delta Rho Sigma –and– Alumni Band

AROUND THE WORLD IN 2026

NATIONAL PARKS AND LODGES OF THE OLD WEST

June 19 - 27

Join us on an immersive adventure through the heart of America’s most captivating landscapes.

SWISS ALPS & ITALIAN LAKES

July 15 - 24

Embrace the beauty and culture of Switzerland and Italy on an epic 8-night journey! Stay in chic St. Moritz and lakeside Stresa, immersing yourself in the natural beauty and heritage of these celebrated destinations.

AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET

September 13 - October 3

Step aboard a private Boeing 767 jet for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to some of the world’s greatest icons: Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids, and the Taj Mahal, to name a few.

A ROYAL ENGLISH CHRISTMAS

November 28 - December 6

Spend 7 nights immersed in the holiday magic of England with included excursions every day and first-class hotel accommodation in Bath and London.

McNULTY’S Mission

Transformed as a student, transformational as a leader

Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 smiled, then bowed his head and covered his brow as the song began. A moment later he raised his eyes toward the performers, face flushed with emotion, and basked in the music and the affection that filled the country club ballroom.

Paul and First Lady Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty, with daughter Anni nearby, sat back and listened as Dr. Jeff Tedford ’00, chair of the Department of Music, and his wife Sasha Piastro-Tedford played a beautiful and moving rendition of “Speak O Lord.”

The Getty hymn had been a favorite of the McNultys’ son Joe, who they lost to cancer at age 26, and its theme of hearing God’s call and faithfully following it resonated with the crowd gathered for a reception honoring McNulty’s pending retirement as the College’s ninth president. More than a few tears were shed by students, alumni, faculty, retirees, trustees, and friends in attendance. When he spoke from the heart a few minutes later, they gave him a standing ovation.

By Nick Hildebrand

It was a powerful moment that demonstrated not only how beloved Paul and Brenda are to the College community but also what a profound impact McNulty has had on the College over the past 11 years. It signaled not an end, but the beginning of a new phase of a relationship that McNulty has had with the College since it changed his life nearly 50 years ago.

“I was probably as impacted in the direction of my life as any student has ever been coming through Grove City College,” McNulty said. “That light went on for me as a freshman in a very big way.”

McNulty arrived on campus in the fall of 1976, a student from Whitehall, Pa., with an interest in public service inspired by reading biographies of great Americans. “I had no idea what kind of impact coming to GCC would have on me. I was just a kid from a working class neighborhood who only came here because I was recruited to run cross-country and track.”

It didn’t take long for McNulty to find out. In his first semester he took the required class Religious and Philosophical Dimensions of Life with Dr. Andrew Hoffecker. Hoffecker was one of the architects of the Keystone Curriculum, the earliest version of the College’s Humanities Core, and he was on the leading edge of then-President Charles MacKenzie’s effort to revive the Christian character of the College and raise the academic bar.

“I took this class from a man who said things I’d never heard before, and the way he said them was just so impactful. And by end of the first semester, even before the end of first semester, I was a new guy. I was thinking in news ways. I developed a Christian worldview. I was seeing the world in a new way.”

McNulty was very active in campus life, what we would call today a Groverachiever. Amid the “silly and practical” things like playing Gollum in a production of The Hobbit

“I was probably as impacted in the direction of my life as any student has ever been coming through Grove City College. That light went on for me as a freshman in a very big way.”

– President McNulty

and going to class, McNulty said he was always “looking for every interesting moment and conversation I could find related to these bigger questions about purpose and mission.” He gained a fuller understanding of what it means to be a Christian and how to live faithfully.

By the time he graduated with a degree in History and a fiancée named Brenda, McNulty was forged by faith and primed for achievement. “I had this worldview, and I was ready to conquer the world with this holy optimism that Grove City College has the capacity to instill in students in a very special way.” ~§~

Thirty-odd years later, McNulty was in a different place. He had, in a way, conquered a world.

After graduation, he earned a degree from Capitol University Law School and got a job with the U.S. House of Representatives. He and Brenda built a family – daughters Katy ’07, Anni, and Corrie ’14 and son Joe – and his

career in Washington progressed. Determined to be a Christian lawyer in the secular world of government, McNulty’s ethics and skills earned the respect of both sides the aisle. He helped found Faith and Law, an initiative for Christians on Capitol Hill. Over three decades in D.C., McNulty played a key role in the House’s impeachment of President Bill Clinton, was part of the Justice Department’s response to 9/11 as the United States Attorney in Virginia, and served as Deputy U.S. Attorney General under President George W. Bush before leaving public service for private practice and leading the compliance and investigations division of Baker McKenzie, a global law firm.

Joe’s death in 2012 was a pivotal moment for the family. McNulty has spoken often of that hard loss and how his son’s faith only grew stronger as the cancer spread. In the wake of the tragedy, McNulty began to assess where he was professionally. He was in his mid-50s and at the zenith of his legal career, but he was open to “a new and exciting

calling that would stretch me and provide an opportunity to grow in new ways.”

And, just as it had in 1976, Grove City College provided McNulty with another transformational opportunity. He had stayed connected to the College over the years and with mentors like Hoffecker, Ross Foster, John Sparks, and MacKenzie. He spoke on campus often, taught classes, was presented an honorary doctorate after delivering the Commencement address in 2007, earned the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award in 1998, and joined the College’s Board of Trustees in 2004. In the fall of 2013, while McNulty was still managing the blow to his family, Grove City College was looking for a new president. The idea appealed to McNulty and he and Brenda considered making a “fresh start” back at their alma mater. “I thought it would be really rewarding and go right to the core of how I’m wired – what I care about most, which is my faith – so that was dominant in my thinking,” McNulty said. Joe was also on his mind.

“I thought, isn’t this interesting that just as I lose my son, here’s an opportunity to go to a campus that has 2,000 kids who are pretty much his age. I saw how courageous my son was. I saw how strong his faith was, and I knew it would be a really wonderful privilege to be able to work with college-age students and equip them for their lives. The idea of that calling seemed really appealing and right for us at that time of our lives,” he said.

“I had this sense that the College was sitting in a position, had a historic opportunity, to really strengthen its Christian identity, to put more emphasis on what it means to be a Christ-centered school. I also know it would be helpful, as the culture was becoming more polarized, for Grove City College to stand out and be more distinctive within the large crowd of liberal arts colleges.”

~§~

Over the course of his presidency, McNulty demonstrated energetic, initiativedriven, winsome, and Christ-centered

leadership as the College faced expected and unexpected challenges and explored new opportunities in an era of uncertainty in higher education, society, and culture. He revised the College’s vision and mission statements and codified five values that undergird its work: faithfulness, excellence, community, stewardship, and independence.

Asked about his legacy, McNulty said he sees it in three very broad categories. “The first would be strengthening the College’s Christian identity. We’ve emphasized what it means to be authentically Christ-centered. If I only had one sentence on my tombstone, I’ll take that one,” he said. “Second, I’d love to be remembered as someone who loved the students well … I was looking forward to student relationships, but I didn’t appreciate how much that would occupy my time and be as fulfilling as it has been. When I realized how much it mattered to them, it really mattered to me. And thirdly, I hope I’ll be remembered as being very proactive in the life of the community. I’d like to be remembered as someone who was energetic, who tried to do things new and bring about excellence, generally, on the campus, and that in 11 years we changed a lot of things for the better.”

The changes were many and wide-ranging and they speak to McNulty’s vision of the College and his priorities as president.

The College’s Christian identity is paramount in that vision and over the course of his presidency, McNulty instituted or oversaw several major initiatives on that front. The biggest change was to the decades-old Tuesday-Thursday chapel program. Under a renamed and revised Office of Christian Formation, the program now features a single, longer Wednesday morning service that is more worship oriented with support from a trained music team. Five-week long programs – Fivers – of Bible study and reflection led by faculty and staff, and Faith for Life lectures complete the program, which is intended to immerse students more deeply and intellectually in their faith.

The Center for Rural Ministry, a campusbased resource center, service-learning hub, and catalyst for student-faculty research to benefit pastors, congregations, and communities in the region and the nation was established under McNulty’s watch, as was the Center for Faith & Public Life. Launched with the help of former Vice President Mike Pence, who taught a class with McNulty, the Center aims to study and advocate for Christian values in the public square.

At the core of the College’s mission, academics, new programs were introduced to meet the needs of students and society

across the humanities and sciences including the expansion of online offerings, creation of graduate programs, and the establishment of two new schools. The Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing was created in 2019 to revive nursing education in an innovative partnership with Butler County Community College, and the Winklevoss School of Business was established in 2022 to provide a more focused structure for some of the College’s strongest programs. In addition to adding Pence to the faculty, McNulty also helped bring in several other key hires, including bestselling thought leader Carl R. Trueman.

Other academic highlights of the McNulty era include the promotion of the first emeriti faculty members, upgrades to Hoyt Hall, and the biggest building project – and largest investment in STEM education – in College history. Though he won’t be in office when the ribbon is cut on the Smith Hall of Science and Technology this fall, his leadership was critical to the nearly completed renovation and expansion of the former Rockwell Hall. The $50 million Impact 150 project retains the iconic 90-year-old building’s exterior while upgrading just about everything inside so students can learn in a contemporary space that is more like the workplaces of the future than a relic of the past.

It’s a larger-scale version of the Henry Buhl Library renovation that McNulty spearheaded in 2022 that brought the campus touchpoint into the 21st century while retaining its classical exterior. Early in his administration, McNulty saw an opportunity to turn the library, which hadn’t changed much since it was built in 1954, into “the coolest place on campus.” Students now gather to study, collaborate, and hang out together in the space, which features a coffee shop and the latest technology.

Another McNulty student life initiative was the drive to bring Chick-fil-A to the Breen Student Union in 2023. The fast-food franchise is the highest profile change to campus dining during the McNulty era but not the only one. Partnering with dining contractor Parkhurst, the College’s dining halls have been restructured, with new food choices and expanded hours.

Part of the effort to enhance the campus’ quality of life has been aesthetic. Grove City College’s already beautiful campus got a little bit prettier over the last decade thanks to the First Lady’s interest in plants and gardening and the president’s interest in details, including landscaping efforts across campus and in the Chapel Garden, a porch on the student union, banners and murals,

the College’s name added to the retaining wall overlooking the steps to Rainbow Bridge, and the Grove sign on the Quad, which was a gift from the class of 2022.

Athletics, which wasn’t on McNulty’s radar when he took office, has become one of the clearest pieces of his legacy. He recognized early on the importance that varsity sports could have in building community and the College’s brand. “I love sports, but didn’t realize how much time I would put into that and how much reward I would get out of it. I wanted GCC to be seen as the top Christian college in athletics in the United States,” he said. Investment in athletic personnel and infrastructure, inspired coaching, and aggressive recruitment have resulted in a record number of student-athletes and unprecedented success in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and NCAA competition.

The 180-degree turnaround during McNulty’s tenure of the Wolverine football program, which didn’t win a single game

“I was in that first wave of grads entering the world with a renewed sense of purpose about what it means to live for Christ with a biblical worldview. I was blessed to have the opportunity to put that into action, and then to be brought back as the first president from that historic era.”

– President McNulty

A gift for encouragement

Barnabas, the apostle and missionary who played a key role in Christianity’s first century, provided Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty the inspiration for her work as First Lady of Grove City College.

“I was moved when I read about Barnabas in the scriptures. His name means ‘son of encouragement’ and his story resonated with me,” she said. “My gift is encouragement. I don’t see myself as this wise experienced person who has a lot to give but I do love spending time with students. I hope to bring them a good word, or wise counsel – if invited to do so.”

Barnabas’ close relationship with the apostle Paul, with whom he preached and traveled, also provided a connection, Brenda said: “He went around with Paul, the apostle, and helped him out, and I feel like I’m doing that with Paul McNulty in many ways.”

For most of their life together, that support followed a traditional pattern. After studying Religion and Sociology and graduating magna cum laude from the College, Brenda married Paul in 1981. Together they had four children and built a life in Virginia as Paul’s career progressed. She was a stay-at-home mom who was devoted to her family, active in her church, and worked at her children’s school. Paul’s jobs in Washington legal circles hadn’t

included much of a role for her, but when her husband was chosen to serve as the College’s ninth president, she recognized that she would have a part to play.

“I wanted to spend time on something that has eternal value,” she said. For her, that meant helping students understand how God reveals himself “through nature and through his word,” Brenda said. Studying both has been the hallmark of her legacy as First Lady. She launched a Bible study for senior women that’s helped many alumnae gain a better understanding of scripture in a pivotal time of their lives. The eight-week study at the President’s House was co-led first with Elizabeth Messer and later with Amy (Wray ’95) Frank, who plans to continue the study. Brenda said she wanted to create a space where women can be comfortable discussing the Bible, praying, and being supported. “I think students should take the time to read the Bible cover to cover many times. God is author of the Bible, and if you’re going to meet the author eventually it would have been good to have read what he wrote,” she said. “They will find, like any great author, that they love him more and they will love others more because he encourages us to love others.”

A self-described “YouTube” gardener, Brenda took a particular interest in what’s growing on campus. “We are all called to love God’s creation and to cultivate it in

some form,” she said. From experimenting with different plants to see what will thrive in the climate – and sharing her discoveries with the landscaping team – to starting her own backyard garden for sharing with the campus community to spearheading the revival of the chapel’s Memorial Garden, Brenda’s green thumb has left a mark that will endure.

One reward of her time as First Lady has been the chance, after so many years together, to be an integral part of Paul’s professional life. “When your husband goes off to work every day and you’re a stay-athome mom, you know who this person is, and you trust that this person is good and faithful. But then when you work with this person and you see everything they’re doing and they are still good and faithful … It made me love Paul even more,” she said.

Later this month, the McNultys will pack up the last of their belongings from the President’s House. They’ll spend the rest of the summer at their home in Maine and then relocate to the Charleston, S.C., area to be near a few of their six (soon to be seven) grandkids. Brenda said they’ll “play it by ear,” but she expects they’ll get involved in some kind of service-oriented work before too long, after they’ve had a chance to recharge.

“What I’ll miss most is the privilege of living in such a wonderful community of people who are kind, positive and active. They are continually pursuing great things and interested in getting to know others and encouraging them. I’m looking forward to finding such people on our next adventure,” she said.

in 2014, 2015, and 2016, will go down in history. By 2023, the team recorded an undefeated regular season and made it to the second round of the national Division III playoffs. They returned in 2024. A game ball given to him by the team is one of his prized possessions.

“I see athletics as a way of demonstrating a Christian identity and culture in a rather clear way, if you do it right,” he said. “If a team is all in on our mission, then athletics has a unique ability to strengthen the mission. It’s all about self-sacrifice, discipline, collaboration, and support for each other. It’s about love. Our athletes are learning about self-control, how to be intentional, and to pursue excellence.. And that’s what the Christian life is all about.”

The toughest parts of leading Grove City College, McNulty said, have been managing the financial well-being of the institution, including enrollment which is critical for a tuition-dependent school, and weathering

pressure from sometimes vicious online critics. “It’s a challenge trying to manage the work that we do here, to protect the work that we do here in the midst of a more polarized culture. What I like least about the job are the occasional harsh and unfair attacks of good people in the campus community,” he said.

Those barbs increased around the Covid 19 pandemic and allegations of mission drift and “wokeness” raised by online petitioners that attacked McNulty personally. A report in response from the College’s Board of Trustees affirmed the College had not fundamentally changed and vindicated McNulty’s leadership. “It was a hard time. It was a time when I had to really lean heavily on my faith and trust in the Lord’s care for me. Of course, God’s providence played out over time in a good way … We got a lot of support on campus and on the Board,” he said.

Leading the College through the pandemic was operationally the biggest challenge of his presidency and also drew criticism. Like the

“I hope I’ll be remembered as being very proactive in the life of the community. I’d like to be remembered as someone who was energetic, who tried to do things new and bring about excellence, generally, on the campus, and that in 11 years we changed a lot of things for the better.”

– President McNulty

rest of the world, the College shut down in the spring of 2020, reluctantly. McNulty wanted to keep the campus open, but the potential strain of 2,300 students on a small, lockeddown community like Grove City made it impossible. While other schools went fully remote or started online in the fall of 2020, the College welcomed a new class of freshman and was fully in person. McNulty organized a response to the challenges of that season –masking, testing, quarantines, meal deliveries (often from the First Lady), and the well-being of students – that allowed the College to operate as close to normal as possible.

“Covid was a time when we were trying to serve the community the best we could. I was getting a lot of heat from parents on both sides. ‘You need to do more.’ ‘You’re doing too much.’ I felt I could answer both sides rationally and when I took the time to answer, parents on both sides responded pretty positively,” he said. “We were pressing to be normal more than others. We did a good job

of trying to not let the Covid fear deprive our students of the best experience possible.”

McNulty said he won’t miss the experience each May of wondering if enough 18-year-olds will decide to enroll to cover the budget, but he leaves the College in the best position it has been in in years to sway those decisions. Record fundraising during his tenure, including the completion of one capital campaign and the beginning of another, has significantly grown the College’s endowment and more than doubled the funding available to offer more need- and merit- based aid to attract prospective students.

~§~

As he prepares to leave Grove City College again, McNulty considered how the institution has changed over the last five decades and where he fits into that history. In the 1970s, he was in the vanguard of a new kind of student shaped by the efforts of MacKenzie and others to create an intentionally Christ-centered curriculum and campus environment.

“I was in that first wave of grads entering the world with a renewed sense of purpose about what it means to live for Christ with a biblical worldview. I was blessed to have the opportunity to put that into action, and then to be brought back as the first president from that historic era,” McNulty said.

Serving as president of his alma mater was a “special and fulfilling” privilege McNulty said. It was just as transformational as his experience as a student, but, he said, “It’s different when the light is turning on rather than already being on.”

Today’s students, he said, are more prepared for what the College has to offer and more aware, thanks to recent marketing efforts, of Grove City’s brand and programs.

“For kids like me, it was a bigger discovery,” he said. “When I was a student there was a lot of space on this campus where you didn’t have to deal with life’s biggest questions. You could just have some fun and get your degree,” he said. Five decades later, that’s no longer the case. The seeds sown by MacKenzie in McNulty’s undergrad years, tended by presidents and trustees since, have borne fruit across campus over the decades. McNulty’s hope, as he hands the responsibility over to his successor, Bradley J. Lingo ’00, is that he’s done his part to advance the College’s mission.

“I hope the College is a place where authentic faith is observable in every classroom and dorm, and every stage and sports venue. We want our witness to be winsome, lived out in a loving, caring way and building community, having fun, but tying it all together because of what we believe,” McNulty said.

That positive vision reflects the “holy optimism” that Grove City College bred in McNulty. It’s one of a dozen qualities that made him an effective leader, a caring mentor, and beloved friend to many in the College community. It’s what brought an overflow crowd to the retirement reception and moved so many in the crowd as that song played. Only God knows what was going through McNulty’s mind as he listened, but it is likely that as the emotion overwhelmed him, he leaned into his faith and God’s providence, as he has throughout his life.

Paul McNulty was transformed by what he experienced at Grove City College. His life of service, to the College and to the public, is due in no small part to what he learned here, who he learned from, and what he learned: To ask God to “Speak O Lord,” receive the truth, and heed the call. ■

COMING HOME

GCC’s incoming 10th president ‘rose to the top’

Grove City’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the selection of Bradley J. Lingo ’00 to serve as Grove City College’s 10th president on March 14. With a distinguished record in law and academia, Lingo has a compelling vision to build on Grove City College’s 150-year legacy as a highly distinctive Christian liberal arts college of extraordinary value.

“Brad rose to the top of the search committee’s deep candidate pool because of a unique combination of experience and characteristics that make him the right leader for the next chapter of Grove City College’s story,” said Trustees chair. Edward D. Breen ’78. “He brings a vibrant commitment to Christian orthodoxy, tight alignment with the College’s conservative vision and character, extraordinary professional experience and sophistication, and a keen understanding of higher education and the challenges and opportunities facing Grove City College.”

Lingo graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the College and earned his juris doctorate, with honors, from Harvard Law School, where he served as executive editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. He was a litigation partner at King & Spalding LLP and practiced law in the Washington, D.C., office of Gibson Dunn. He joined the Regent Law faculty in 2019, where his scholarship focused on constitutional law, and he was named dean of the law school in 2022.

Lingo, who will take office in July, said he wants to make sure future generations of Grove City College students get the same “Christian, conservative, excellent, affordable education that so profoundly shaped me.”

“Fidelity to our mission is not just our sacred responsibility – it’s also the magnet that will draw outstanding students and scholars to Grove City,” he said. “We want to be a place where students are known, loved, and discipled. I hope to see Grove City establish itself as the premier Christian college in this nation. And I expect that to happen. But if

By Nick Hildebrand

we disciple students, inspire them to pursue excellence, and launch them to serve and lead across this country – that’s success.”

Lingo will be the fifth alumnus to serve as president of the College and the third one in a row, after Paul J. McNulty ’80 and Richard G. Jewell ’67.

“Grove City’s singular combination of faith and freedom makes it a beacon of light and bastion of hope for our nation. That’s both a daunting challenge and tremendous opportunity that will define the future of our school.”

– Bradley J. Lingo ’00 10th President, Grove City College

“To do this job well, you must know and love Grove City. Those of us who are alums have a unique love for this school and an understanding of what makes it so special,” Lingo said.

Lingo credited professors who taught him about Western civilization and how to recognize and appreciate what is good, true, and beautiful, mentors “who believed in me far more than I believed in myself,” and friends who encouraged him in his faith. “Romans 12:2 tells us, ‘Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ At Grove City College, I experienced the transformation that Paul is describing,” he said.

Lingo said his experience at Regent Law, where the school set records for enrollment, median incoming GPA and LSAT scores, U.S. News rankings, and employment outcomes under his leadership, will be instructive in his new role.

During Lingo’s time as dean, Regent Law set records for enrollment, median incoming GPA and LSAT scores, employment outcomes, and US News rankings. Over the past four years, Regent Law jumped 53 places in the rankings – more than any law school in the nation. Lingo credits a “discipleship-based approach” to higher education for Regent’s success. He explained, “We serve a God who leaves the 99 to rescue the 1 and who knows the number of hairs on our heads. When the faculty, staff, and administrators commit themselves to knowing and caring for students the way God knows and loves each of us, strong outcomes follow.”

Lingo and his wife Yvonne are high-school sweethearts from the Akron, Ohio area. They have three daughters, ages 9, 13, and 14, and are excited about “coming home.”

“It also feels like coming home in a deeper sense—a spiritual and intellectual homecoming. Grove City’s values are my values—because Grove City profoundly shaped my heart, mind, and soul. There’s no place that more closely aligns with the core of who I am and what I hope to teach not just my students but also my own children,” Lingo said.

When asked about the school’s future, Lingo brought up a visionary from the Grove City’s past, J. Howard Pew. “Mr. Pew would often say that he hoped our school would ‘encourage and inculcate in the minds and hearts of students an abiding faith in God and country, a love for freedom, a respect for truth, an acceptance of personal responsibility, and a desire to contribute to the betterment of the human race.”

“When Mr. Pew spoke those words, he surely knew how much a school like ours was needed in this county. But even he could not have foreseen how much it would be needed today. Grove City’s singular combination of faith and freedom makes it a beacon of light and bastion of hope for our nation. That’s both a daunting challenge and tremendous opportunity that will define the future of our school.” ■

HIS ‘CHOSEN’ PROFESSION

By Joanie Baumgartner

Many a bucket list has contained a once-ina-lifetime trip to Israel to “walk where Jesus walked.” For millions, such a trip is a lifechanging, faith-deepening way to experience the sights and sounds of the world as Jesus knew it. For Grove City College alumnus JD Larsen ’96, encountering that kind of spiritual experience can be as simple as going to work.

About twice a month, Larsen hops on a plane from his home in Florida to Dallas, then drives an hour south to Midlothian, Texas. There, hidden away on the grounds of a local Christian camp, is a very special place that looks and feels just like the Holy Land. But Larsen is not a camp director. He is the chief financial officer (CFO) of 5&2 Studios, which produces the beloved television series The Chosen. The hit historical drama chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and is headquartered and largely filmed on this spectacular set in Texas. It has been seen by nearly 300 million viewers globally, with a stated goal to reach one billion viewers.

Preparing for the “role”

Larsen’s journey to this unique position began when he came to Grove City College from his hometown of Harrisburg and

promptly graduated in true “Grover-achiever” fashion in just three years with an accounting degree. With two job offers on the table, he chose the excitement of the big city over going home to Harrisburg when he accepted a job as a certified public accountant (CPA) at Price Waterhouse Coopers, which at the time was one of Pittsburgh’s “big 5” accounting firms. He married his wife Caroline in 1999, and the couple jumped at the chance for an adventure in Los Angeles when a position with The Walt Disney Company materialized. It was there that his knowledge of the entertainment and filmmaking industries took shape.

Over the years, JD built his family (he and Caroline have three children) and his career by working with several Fortune 500 companies, including The Walt Disney Company, Marriott International, and a technology company called Presidio Networked Solutions, where he held several executive positions, most notably Division CFO for a $1 billion division of the firm. In 2021, he landed at a start-up company called Driven Technologies. Through these varied roles, from Fortune 500 to startup, Larsen sharpened his skills in leadership and financial management, which prepared him for the unique challenges of leading 5&2

Studios. He has overseen several large financial transactions, including a $145M debt financing and subsequent $250M structured sale of certain commercial rights associated with the series. These moves have provided much needed funding for 5&2 Studios to continue producing compelling biblical stories.

Being “Chosen”

When the opportunity to join The Chosen came in June 2022 through a connection he made while coaching his daughter’s soccer team, he saw it as both a professional and personal fit. With his extensive financial background, he was recruited to lead the financial operations for 5&2 Studios. “It was really a ‘God thing,’” JD said.

Ask anyone involved with The Chosen and they’ll tell you the whole series has been a “God thing” from its humblest beginnings. In fact, 5&2 Studio’s origin story started not from a place of success but from a place of failure and surrender. As a young film maker, Dallas Jenkins, creator and executive producer of The Chosen (as well as chairman and chief creative officer of 5&2 Studios), made a film called The Resurrection of Gavin Stone. After the film bombed at the box office, he retreated to his hometown and made a short film for his

church called The Shepherd (2017), a nativity story told from the perspective of a disabled shepherd. As Dallas struggled to understand what was next, a good friend sent him a latenight text saying, “it’s not your job to feed the five thousand, it’s just your job to bring the loaves and fish,” a theme that would become part of The Chosen’s culture and eventually inspire their corporate name, “5&2 Studios.” The Shepherd became the inspiration for The Chosen series, but Jenkins only had funding secured for the first four episodes. He had to trust God for what would come next.

With crowdfunding efforts, and later, a pay-it-forward model adopted by its passionate audience, The Chosen was able to expand. But by 2024, 5&2 Studios had partnered with the Come and See Foundation “to ensure that all seven seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and free for all.” Seasons 1-5 are now available on Amazon Prime Video, and Seasons 6 and 7 are eagerly awaited as they will cover the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Sharing the complete gospel story with the world is the goal.

Larsen’s expertise has been crucial in guiding the show through financial hurdles, including simply making payroll in 2022 and navigating a difficult arbitration process with a former production company in 2023. Every business skill in his arsenal has been put to the test. His preparation at Grove City College and his professional growth through each career opportunity have been foundational to his success. His current role has been the most challenging of his career, but he admits that the rewards have been greater.

One inherent reward is that The Chosen has fostered a close-knit, faith-forward culture. The team often uses terms like “Red Sea Moments” for situations where a solution seems impossible, yet God makes a way (and JD shares that there have been many!). Their brand and culture is “authentic, intimate, playful, and disruptive.” JD describes going to work every day as a true joy.

Behind the Scenes

On the 30-acre set in Midlothian, the land nearly perfectly replicates the arid terrain of ancient Isreal. The Chosen’s headquarters includes two massive 20,000+ square foot sound stages. Stepping inside, one is immediately transported to first century Roman-occupied Israel, with elaborately constructed sets designed like temples, Jewish homes, outdoor gardens, palace interiors, and more. Another building on the property houses the wardrobe department, with tunics galore hung on rolling racks, scores of colorful bolts of fabric, and cutting tables. Rows of hair

and makeup chairs round out the wardrobe area. Ten steps away are the private lounges for the cast that look like miniature apartment buildings, instead of traditional trailers. An enormous prop warehouse is filled with sky-high shelves laden with baskets, vases, statues, artifacts, and furniture – all items painstakingly curated to create incredibly believable scenes from the biblical account.

One of JD’s favorite aspects of the set is the outdoor replica of the city of Capernaum, complete with a marketplace, Matthew’s tax collector booth, and Caiaphas’ palace. Tapping on the “stone” facades produces the hollow sound of Styrofoam that gently reminds the visitor they are not really in the Holy Land. However, the dust and dirt on one’s shoes, and the meticulously constructed interiors and exteriors boast details that are wholly convincing.

“Go big early! Take big risks when you can and build up the ‘stones’ of your experiences that God can use in unexpected and beautiful ways.”

– JD Larsen ’96

Fans are often invited to be extras on the set, adding to the show’s sense of community and authenticity. The involvement of more than 12,000 extras during the filming of the “feeding of the 5,000” scenes is just one example of how integral the audience has been to the show’s success. JD is working diligently with the Come and See Foundation to ensure that fans and donors can visit the set to see how their contributions are making a difference to the mission of The Chosen One special project he is working on is the addition of a new visitor center in Midlothian to facilitate these goals.

Coming Soon

Looking ahead, 5&2 Studios has plans to expand its reach with new biblical projects. Director Jenkins has announced several upcoming series, including one on Moses, one on Joseph, and a sequel to The Chosen called The Way, focusing on the early church from the book of Acts. An animated series, Chosen Adventures, is also in the works. Jenkins said, “Nearly every time I encounter a viewer, they say something about wanting more Bible content from us. I always say we need to not get ahead of ourselves and remain

focused, but now we’ve got a robust enough team to expand our efforts. I’m very excited to bring our ‘Chosen way’ to more great stories from the Bible.” These projects will all be available through an exclusive partnership with Amazon’s Prime Video, ensuring that the gospel message continues to spread globally. JD is excited about the future of 5&2 Studios and the impact the team will continue

to have on audiences around the world. His advice for GCC students and fellow alumni? “Go big early! Take big risks when you can and build up the ‘stones’ of your experiences that God can use in unexpected and beautiful ways.” For Larsen, his “Chosen” profession is exactly the combination of experiences, skills, and timing that God is using to further His kingdom. “It’s been the role of my lifetime.” ■

for

THE COLLEGE’S IMPACT IS DEMONSTRATED IN THE CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THOSE WHO EMBODY ITS VISION AND VALUES.

Impact 150: The Anniversary Campaign for Grove City College is more than a historic fundraising and strategic building campaign to position the College for the future, it is a celebration of the history and legacy of Grove City College as it nears its sesquicentennial in 2026.

The College has had a significant impact over the last century and a half – not only on the tens of thousands of students whose lives have been transformed by the lessons learned, relationships formed, and faith fostered on campus – but on a world that has changed dramatically in that time. As we approach our milestone anniversary, we are going to be highlighting 150 for 150, a selection of people who embody 150 years of Grove City College history, and the excellence and faithfulness that are our hallmarks.

They are people who have made an impact on the College and the world beyond campus during the last century and half. Some are key figures in Grove City College’s history, while others are accomplished alumni, legendary faculty, or simply beloved members of the College community. They shaped, and were shaped by, the distinctive character of this special place and they are exemplars of Grove City College’s mission, vision, and values. We’ll be rolling the 150 for 150 out in the pages of The GēDUNK until 2026 when we reach the College’s 150th anniversary. To best represent the scope of the College’s impact, each installment will include a cross section of “great Grovers” without regard to any ranking or chronology.

DR. CHARLES MACKENZIE**

One could argue that Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie is responsible for the Grove City College that exists today.

The College’s fifth president was an academic and Presbyterian minister with a pedigree that included Boston College, Princeton, Columbia, and Stanford. He was a leading authority on the French philosopher Blaise Pascal who had led churches in New York and California when he was tapped for the job in 1971 by J. Howard Pew, the Sun Oil Company executive from the class of 1901 who led the Board of Trustees and financed Grove City College for more than 40 years.

Pew, then in his last year of life, was alarmed by changes in society and on campus during the 1960s and saw in MacKenzie a suitable and capable heir

to his educational legacy – a strong leader and accomplished scholar whose worldview was determined by a deep faith and evangelical understanding of Christian mission and a commitment to American values.

MacKenzie’s initial charge as president was to restore the College’s Christian mission and clean up student social life. He did that – and much more –during two decades in office. By the time he retired in 1991, the College had reclaimed its Christian character, established a groundbreaking core curriculum that integrates faith and learning, and waged a legal battle with the U.S. government that made Grove City College’s reputation across the country – and the globe – as a beacon of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

He led the College through the most turbulent time in its history, when forces inside and out marshalled to stymie the changes he was making on campus to strengthen academic quality and spiritual life and to pose an existential threat to the College’s longstanding commitment to independence and autonomy.

MacKenzie instituted personnel and policy changes that led to the end of off-campus housing and frat party culture, created the core curriculum that emphasized classical liberal arts and a Christian worldview, and raised the academic bar that Grovers had to meet to gain acceptance and graduate. His faculty hires, some of whom are still teaching today, were a Who’s Who of thought leaders that included Andy Hoffacker, John VanTil, James Bibza, John Sparks (also profiled here), and many others. Not everyone agreed with the changes, but with the support of the Board of Trustees, MacKenzie’s will won out and the culture he envisioned has been realized in the decades since.

That would be enough to assure his place in College history, but his legacy also includes his leadership during Grove City College v. Bell, the longrunning court fight over federal funding and regulation. MacKenzie’s refusal to sign a form committing the College to enforce Title IX, a federal statute prohibiting gender discrimination, and all existing and future government regulations eventually led to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision and the College’s complete withdrawal from the federal financial aid system. Over the nearly decade-long duration of the case, MacKenzie excelled at articulating the College’s longstanding opposition to discrimination, its resistance to accepting any federal financial support, and strong commitment to academic freedom.

MacKenzie, who passed away in 2017, drew bold lines to define what the College should be and those lines remain clear and definitive. “I recognized the College’s incredible potential for greatness,” he said years later. “I also felt I had been called to Grove City and was not free to leave until at least some of that potential had been realized.”

DR. ALVA J. CALDERWOOD, CLASS OF 1896

The namesake of the College’s school of arts and letters was born in 1873 in Lawrence County, Pa., earned his degree from Grove City in 1896, studied at Harvard for a year, and in 1897 “returned to his alma mater to spend the rest of his life teaching there,” his grandson-in-law Dr. David Dayton ’60 wrote in ’Mid the Pines

When Calderwood died in December 1949, he had been a professor for 53 years and dean of the College for 35. During those years, he taught just about everything – English, history, education, philosophy, Bible, mathematics, and Latin, “his primary love” – and connected with just about everybody. After his death, he was eulogized by his colleagues: “What the fictitious Mr. Chips was to the small group of students in his fictitious boys’ school, Dr. Calderwood is to the thousands of men and women who have been and are now students of Grove City College, not in fiction, but in enduring reality – he is eternal – THE DEAN.”

HELEN (CALDERWOOD) HARKER, CLASS OF 1923

The daughter of legendary dean Dr. Alva J. Calderwood, Helen became a legend in her own right as the College’s first lady during a pivotal era in the College’s history. Serving alongside her husband, Dr. J. Stanley Harker, class of 1925 and the College’s fourth president, from 1956 to 1971, Helen Harker was wholeheartedly committed to the wellbeing of students and became a beloved figure her in time.

Best known today as the only nonPew to have a women’s residence hall named her honor, Helen Harker earned that distinction through “countless hours of counseling, entertaining, and being a gracious hostess” to students, according to Alumni Association records. As her husband improved the College’s educational quality, she fostered a revival of campus life in the 1950s and 60s. When the new hall was built in 1971, the Association of Women Students requested it bear her name.

Calderwood set a standard for faculty in the College’s foundational era that endures to this day. He believed, Dayton wrote, “in the true, personal, teacherstudent relationship which brings out the best qualities in each.”

During her years away from campus, Helen Harker taught Latin and romance languages in western Pennsylvania schools and supported her husband as he served as pastor of several Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. She died in 1996 at the age of 93.

ED BREEN ’78*

DR. JOHN SPARKS ’66*

Board of Trustees Chair Edward Breen is, objectively, one of Grove City College’s most successful living alumni. As CEO of DuPont, he leads a multibillion-dollar global corporation behind one of the world’s most storied brands.

Breen is widely regarded as one of the leading strategic thinkers and ethical leaders in the corporate world. Breen held executive positions at Motorola and General Instrument Corporation before becoming CEO of Tyco International in 2002 when the company was mired in scandal and financial trouble. He rescued and rebuilt the company as CEO and chairman before joining DuPont.

The New Hope, Pa., resident has served on the College’s Board of Trustees for the last 19 years. He studied economics and business at the College, and he and his wife Lynn (Branstner ’78) have been longtime supporters of their alma mater.

“It is important to us that the students of today have a similar experience that will launch their lives and careers,” he said. “The foundation that the College provides is one of a Christian worldview, a free society, and the love of your neighbor. That philosophy, plus the rigorous education that I received, was essential in my success as I progressed through my career.”

1966’s senior Man of the Year lived up to his potential in service to Grove City College and the vision of freedom founded in Christian values that he continues to promote for The Institute for Faith & Freedom, the College think-tank he co-founded.

An economics major, he went on to law school and chaired the department of business and economics at rival Hillsdale before returning to Grove City College in 1976 to teach. He spent the next 37 years teaching a variety of classes in business, law, and economics and serving as dean of the Calderwood School of Arts and Letters. Sparks was among a cadre of faculty who were critical in the College’s development from the 1970s into the 2000s.

Sparks impacted thousands of students over the course of his career and served as a critical mentor to many alumni attorneys. His work to make Grove City College a thought leader in the conservative world was crucial in expanding the College’s influence and burnishing its reputation. He retired from teaching in 2013 but stays connected to the College as an IFF fellow who writes frequently about legal issues.

DR. K. JAMES EVANS ’70* – A Man of the Year honoree and AFROTC veteran, Evans retired after 42 years as vice president and dean at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, an institution he was instrumental in advancing.

LISA ADAMS GORDON ’78* – A broadcast journalist, Gordon has been an award-winning television news reporter, anchor, and producer for WICU Erie for more than 40 years.

REV. F. STANLEY KEEHLWETTER – The clergyman was dean of the chapel from 1999 to 2018, leading the College’s faith formation efforts. He also served the College as an assistant women’s soccer and track coach.

DR. BRUCE SMITH ’58** – Alumni Council Member Emeritus and avid volunteer for his alma mater, Smith served as dean of men in the early 1970s and was deputy director of the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging for 25 years.

DR. GLORIA STANSBERRY – A professor of English for 40 years, Stansberry shared her love for language with generations of students and served as advisor of The Echo.

HARVEY COLE – Known by most as “Herr Cole,” the professor of German had an impact on students during a tenure that spanned from 1962 to 2015.

R.J. BOWERS ’01 – After six years in baseball’s minor leagues, Bowers went back to school and joined the 1997 Wolverine football squad. He became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 7,000 yards, scored a Division III-record 34 touchdowns, and became college football’s all-time leading rusher his senior year.

FAITH (WHITELEY ’64) MCCOY* – A Gamma Chi sorority sister, McCoy served 33 years as a Clandestine Service staff officer with the CIA during the height of the Cold War. She earned the Career Intelligence Medal for work that remains classified.

J. NICHOLAS RANJAN ’00 – A federal district court judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Ranjan is a rising legal star. He served as the orchestra’s concertmaster during his student days.

MADGE (FALOON) THOMPSON 1905 – We don’t know much about the former Miss Faloon, but her fellow students thought highly enough of her to elect her as the first May Queen in 1905.

KARIN HENDRICKSON ’99* – A highly regarded international conductor and composer, Hendrickson has led some of Europe’s great national orchestras and composed the theme of the 2002 Olympics.

DR. RICHARD KONZEN – A professor of Music and director or orchestras during the years 1992 to 2017, Konzen served as the College organist, performing at countless events, and mentoring many students.

ISABELLE BLYHOLDER 1919 – The first woman to serve as editor in chief of The Collegian – in 1918 – Blyholder was a suffragette and later served on the Alumni Council from 1951-66.

DR. STEPHEN “ANDY” SEMS ’95* – A pioneering orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic, Sems is internationally regarded for his innovative and revolutionary approach to treating people with limb deformities.

RYAN BRIGGS ’01 – The College’s longtime sports information director, Briggs serves as the “voice of the Wolverines” and is known for his deep knowledge of Wolverine athletics and local sports.

BETTY (CASEY ’38) PRINCE*– A former May queen, Prince served the College as a Trustee, Alumni Council president, and director of annual giving. She was married to Bob Prince, the “voice of the Pirates.”

DR. JERRY COMBEE – The College’s sixth president, Combee led from 1991-95 and did much to raise the College’s national profile and educational quality. He launched the laptop program.

DR. DONALD “DOC” MCMILLAN ’32* – A surgeon and World War II veteran, McMillan was a major regional recruiter, responsible for a host of outstanding athletes and record-holders that matriculated at the College.

PATTI ZBELL-HENRY – A winning tennis coach, physical education professor, and modern dance director from 1964-93, Zbell was key to the beginning of women’s athletics at GCC. The College’s tennis courts are named in her honor.

LEE EDWARDS – A well-known conservative writer and thinker, Edwards wrote the official College history Freedom’s College for

* denotes Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award winners. ** denotes David Rathburn Distinguished Service Award winners.

class notes class notes

KEEP IN TOUCH!

We want to keep in touch with you electronically! If you have an email address, or have recently changed your address or work information, make changes through alumni.gcc.edu/update.

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Have exciting news? Submit a class note for the magazine and for viewing online at alumni.gcc.edu/classnote.

Remember to let the alumni office know that you are having a “Grover Gathering!” We’d love to send you some fun “stuff” for your event.

Email alumni@gcc.edu for more information.

June (Shaner) Switzer celebrated her 100th birthday on May 27, 2025. With a passion for literature, education, and faith, she led the English department at Saegertown (Pa.) High School. The Theta Alpha Pi sorority sister and former May princess now lives in Meadville and visits campus as often as possible.

1969

Arthur “Bill” Beers has 50 years of service to Scouting at local, regional, and national levels, and is an active volunteer in the America’s Boating Club/ U.S. Power Squadrons.

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Bruce Wilber was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Portland Mavericks baseball team in October 2023.

1989

Bruce Hezlep is now public safety director for Pine Township, Pa. He has an extensive background in public safety, including 12 years of experience overseeing police, fire and EMS services as an elected official in Cranberry Township.

Bruce Schutter created the Mental Health Warrior Program – a selfempowerment program focused on mindset

and lifestyle changes. The program has nine books of tips and the No Surrender podcast. Schutter has been interviewed on top podcasts and is a corporate speaker promoting employee mental well-being.

1992

Duke Johncour was selected as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s 2024 High School Football Coach of the Year for his work with the Avonworth (Pa.) High School team and its successes, including two WPIAL Class 3A championships. He was also nominated by the Pittsburgh Steelers to represent Western Pennsylvania as a candidate for the 2024 Don Shula High School Coach of the Year.

1994

Elizabeth (Vanstrom) Hirz is the 2025 president of the Erie County (Pa.) Bar Association. A member of the bar for 20 years, she has been the Erie County district attorney since 2022.

1995

Christopher Boorman, a neurodivergent Christian author and speaker, released his debut course on Teachable.com, “7 Mistakes Managers Make … and How To Fix Them.”

Kelly (Bannon) Trombetta joined Pittsburgh’s First National Bank in October as its chief operational risk officer.

1998

The Rev. James Kilmartin became the senior pastor of Rock City Church in Baltimore, Md., in November 2024.

2001

Matthew Garber rejoined the Harrisburg, Pa., law firm of McNees Wallace & Nurick. He is working in the firm’s Energy & Environmental Law Group. Matt Sampogna and wife Patty welcomed daughter Rose Frances on Oct. 30, 2024. She joins siblings Mary Grace, Matthew Jr., Luke and Rita.

2002

Tim Hilterman joined WhitakerMyers Wealth Managers as chief financial planning officer of the independent registered investment advisor. Tim and wife Abby celebrated the adoption of daughter PippaClaire in July, bringing their family to a joyful household of nine.

2003

Dr. Derek Stauff published Lutheran Music and the Thirty Years War: Confession, Politics, Devotion through Oxford University Press. He examines how Lutheran composers from central Germany wrote sacred music more deeply

connected to the Thirty Years War (1618-48) than previously acknowledged. Stauff is an associate professor of music at Hillsdale College.

Sally (Simmons) Thomas was named vice president, distribution, engineering, and planning, for FirstEnergy, effective January 2025. She has been with the company since 2003, previously serving as director, transmission, planning, and protection.

2005

Jenny (Cindric) and Felix Mason welcomed son Judah James on Dec. 16, 2024.

2008

Megan (Betteridge) Soja published her debut novel, Spark of the Revolution, in March 2025. It is the first in her series of Christian historical fiction, set in and around Boston at the start of the American Revolution.

2009

The Rev. Ryan Biese was elected the stated clerk of Tennessee Valley Presbytery (PCA) and officially assumed office in January 2025. He is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Leah (Burke) Blaze and husband Dave welcomed son Michael Kazimeras on July 15, 2024. Amy (Ritter) and Jacob Knox ’10 welcomed son Grady Jacob on July 20, 2023. He joins siblings Ellie, 7, Claire, 5, and Caleb, 2.

2010

Peabody College of Education and Human Development with a doctorate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations. Her doctoral research focused on the intersection of thought, ethics, and technology in classroom settings. Her published work is titled Empowering Minds: Cultivating Critical Thinking in the Age of AI Lissa (Swanson) and Jay ’08 Yanak welcomed son Truett Joseph on Dec. 20, 2023.

2011

Ashley Cetnar was named 2024 winner of the Karen Doppke Award for Women in Medical Physics, hosted by the Division of Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She accepted the award in Boston in October, while presenting as a guest lecturer. Recently, she was promoted to associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at The Ohio State University. She and husband Thomas Madar also welcomed son Jonah George on Dec. 31, 2023. He joined brothers Daniel, 6, and Andrew, 3.

Emily (Stumpf) Creedle and husband Wesley announce the birth of son John Alan on Sept. 6, 2024.

Paul Gonnella and wife Amanda welcomed daughter Martha Eloise on March 19, 2024. Brother Malachi is 3.

Timothy Morgan and wife Katie are the parents of daughter Nora Elizabeth, born Dec. 10, 2024.

2014

Bethany (Dzielski) Jarmul, a writer and poet, published her debut poetry collection, Lightning Is a Mother, with ELJ Editions. The collection explores themes of Appalachia, spirituality, motherhood, and nature. Jarmul is also the author of two chapbooks, including mini-memoir Take Me Home, published with Belle Point Press in 2024.

Christian Dehli and wife Gabriela welcomed daughter Esther Victoria on April 14, 2024. Brother Philip Todd is 2.

Corrie (McNulty) Johnston and husband Stephen welcomed son Liam Stephen on June 11, 2024. He joins brother Eoin, 2.

Kristina (Thomas) McHale and husband Justin welcomed son Jack William on Nov. 1, 2024.

Chelsea (Grayburn) and Tucker ’16 Sigourney announce the birth of Thérèse Elizabeth on Dec. 27, 2024.

2016

Patrick Elsey and wife Katie welcomed daughter Halle May on Nov. 18, 2024.

Meghan (Lund) Halverson and husband Michael welcomed daughter Catherine Marie on Oct. 11, 2024.

Megan (Daugherty) and Bryan Kelly are the parents of daughter Ruby Kate, born Oct. 16, 2024.

Micah Koegler and wife Ava announce the birth of daughter Violet Chiesa on Jan. 13, 2025.

Sabrina (Huston) and Bruce Passaretti welcomed son Anthony Kevin on May 30, 2024.

Shayla (Hunker) and Dan Shafhauser are the parents of son Jesse Brooks, born Sept. 8, 2024.

2017

Stephanie (Judd) Keppler and husband Marty announce the birth of daughter Maria Dianne on Oct. 18, 2024.

Katie (Knight) Wright and husband Dan welcomed daughter Margaret Jean “Maggie” on April 18, 2024.

2018

Hannah (Vaccaro) Collier and husband Dan welcomed son James Daniel on Oct. 13, 2024.

Jacob Michalson and wife Elizabeth welcomed son Luke Christopher on March 17, 2024. He joins sister Isabelle, 3. Dr. Christine (Knable) Mulhollem graduated from Vanderbilt University’s

Amanda (Deer) and Luke Harmon welcomed daughter Lucille Joy on Jan. 20, 2024. Rhys Miller and wife Katie are the parents of son Cael Axton, born Aug. 30, 2023, and daughter Haley Rhynn, now 3. Cara (Rozgonyi) and Philip Remaley announce the birth of son Michael Philip Blaine on Oct. 5, 2024.

2013

Jacob Choby and wife Renee welcomed son Gray Anthony on Sept. 13, 2024.

Grace (Janvier) and Alvin Thomas are the parents of daughter Charlotte Grace, born Nov. 30, 2024, and son Henry Alvin, 2.

2015

Dominic Pescatrice and wife Colleen welcomed their second daughter, Zita Mae Nina, on Oct. 11, 2024.

Dalaney (Algiere) Robert and husband Jeffrey announce the birth of twins - daughter Caylin Elise and son Coen Leo on Feb. 15, 2024.

Rebecca (Torre) and Josh Sauer welcomed daughter Charlotte Shepherd on April 14, 2024.

Molly Wicker and Jeff Simpson were married in Sewickley, Pa., on June 29, 2024.

2019

Claire Dawkins and Jonathan Grim ’18 were married Nov. 2, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jonathan Moore and wife Heidi are the parents of son Winslow Jonathan Lewis, born April 12, 2023.

Michelle (Jeffries) and Dan ’18 Vogt welcomed son John Thomas on Dec. 25, 2024.

2020

Joshua Catanzariti graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy with his PharmD in April 2024 and is completing a PGY1 residency program at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Abby (Ross) Closson and husband David welcomed son Daniel Edward on Dec. 3, 2024.

Jessica (Schaming) and Joel ’21 Gish are the parents of daughter Elizabeth, born Oct. 14, 2024.

2021

Abigail (Griffith) and Jacob Brothers are the parents of son James Elliot, born Oct. 18, 2024.

Jessica (Hardman) Tapper and husband Colton welcomed daughter Sadie Grace on Sept. 5, 2024.

Victoria (Autieri) Wanek was promoted to audit supervisor with the accounting and advisory firm Brown Plus. She works in the Camp Hill, Pa., office.

FALL WEEKEND | Friends from the Class of 1973 spent a September weekend in Alexandria, Va. Row 1, from left: Joan (Pitcairn) Kugler, Jane (Peale) Sham, Sue (Knappenberger) Appleton, and Helen (Kim) Fitzkee. Row 2: Dawn (Campbell) Stokes, Deb (Stevenson) McConahy, Chris (Kindle) Sosebee, and Diane (Russell) Rhoads. Row 3: George Kugler and Toby Fitzkee.

2022

Kellyann Baker and James Lagaras were married Dec. 24, 2024, in Ford City, Pa. Bailey (Mantzell) Cole and husband James welcomed son Theodore Bradley on Nov. 6, 2024.

2023

Elizabeth (Karns) and Sebastian Anastasi announce the birth of son Liam Vincent on Feb. 14, 2025.

Tim Forry is now the area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Grove City College.

Caroline (Jensen) and Aaron ’22 Myers announce the birth of son Jonathan Douglas on Jan. 22, 2025.

2024

Alarie (Hurst) and Josiah ’23 Findley welcomed son Thaddeus Elijah on Dec. 15, 2024.

Jacob Graham and Grace Sattelmaier were married June 9, 2024, in New Franklin, Ohio. He is a systems developer at the Wooster Brush Company.

CHESAPEAKE BAY | Friends from the Class of 1992, joined by spouses, enjoyed a yearly reunion on the Chesapeake Bay. Row 1, from left: Jim Poulos, Meg (Kellogg) Passalinqua, Caren (Hiser) Fisher, Dena (Lauch) Solman, Michele (Ricker) Somogy, and Michael Passalinqua. Row 2: Ken Scheer and Steve Somogy.

NATURAL BEAUTY | Friends from the Class of 1979 reunited in Colorado Springs, Colo., for their seventh annual gathering. Row 1, from left: Carol (Schopps) Walton, Linda (Millard) Tsagdis, Dot (Boyer) DeAngelis, and Lois (Morton) Kuttesch. Row 2: Cindy (Smalley) Monroe, Paula (Meyer) Haven, Nancy (Hayes) Bevington, Robin (Lancellotti) McCourt, and Stephanie (Folkl) Johnson.

ATLAS FORUM | Special friends represented Grove City College at the Atlas Network Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner in November in New York City. From front center, Terry (Schott ’86) Kibbe, Matt Kibbe ’85, Howard Winklevoss ’65, Carol (Leonard ’65) Winklevoss, Marilyn Pearson, George Pearson ’64, Peter Boettke ’83, Brian Powell ’03, Jason Burtt ’00, and Larry Reed ’75.

TRUE BLUE | Brothers of Pan Sophic united in mid-November in Scottsdale, Ariz., for their 12th annual True Blue golf trip round up. Joining in the fun were Rob Aho ’96, Dave MacGregor ’96, Jon Kuhn ’95, Mike Brediger ’97, Artie Slear ’95, Brian Wood ’96, Brandon Haynes ’96, and Paul Arnold ’99.

SCOTLAND STUDY | Dr. Seulgi Byun, chair and professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, and Dr. Michelle (Adams) McFeaters ’88, M.S. ’02, dean of the Winklevoss School of Business and professor of accounting, led a GCC winter travel course to Scotland. The travelers connected with alumni couple Jim ‘92 and Amy (Gibson ‘92) Berkebile who live in Edinburgh and graciously hosted the group for breakfast in their home.

FUNDRAISING | BelPres Church members and friends Nancy (Davis ’71) Burritt, Maggie (Evenson ’73) Vergien, Scott Vergien ’73, and Jane Fox ’74 attended a fundraiser for Jubilee Reach Center, now supported by several churches on the Eastside of Seattle, Wash.

SAVANNAH SMILES | Five Sigma Delta Phi sisters from the Classes of ’95 and ’96 met in Savannah, Ga., in August for a mini reunion. From left: Wendy (Parkany ’95) VanOrder, Marcy (McKee ’95) Emanuelli, Maureen (Dugan ’95) Evans, Maria (Matalik ’96) Fletcher, and Kimberly (Boyd ’96) Jacobs.

SISTERS | In January 2025, a group of Sigma Delta Phi sisters from 1974 and 1975 met for a fun lunch near Pittsburgh. From left: Karen (Mitchell ’74) Christy, Robin Riglian ’75, Nancy Foster ’75, Barb (Sankey ’74) Lomasney, Toni Sulkowski ’75, and Judy Riglian.

ROOMMATES | Five Theta Alpha Pi sorority sisters from the Class of 1970 enjoyed a week together in February 2025 at Hilton Head Island, S.C. From left: Deb (Hunt) Krause, Judy (Borland) Augustin, Robyn (Caldwell) Kiser, Jane (Giorgio) Brugger, and Mary Grace (Krebs) Schaap.  All five were roommates during their last three years as Grovers.

PARTING PRAYERS | College First Lady Brenda (Millican ‘80) McNulty hosted a March 2025 brunch in her home to reunite current and former campus women’s Bible study leaders from 2015-25. Nearly 20 students and alumnae gathered to say goodbye before the McNultys’ retirement. Elizabeth Messer, who taught Bible studies at GCC for 10 years, spoke to the group via video.

HILTON HEAD ISLANDERS | 1970 Pan Sophic classmates met for a long weekend in South Carolina to dine, sing, laugh and remember their mates who could not attend. Row 1, from left: Tom Evens, George Elliott. Row 2: Steve Flory, Doug Bashline, Ken Zeigler, Kern Stump, and Bill Rundorff.

302 HOPEMAN | Dick Manley ’67 and three sophomore roommates are all turning 80 this year and celebrated with a 5-day Caribbean cruise. They dubbed it “The EP 302 Hopeman Reunion.” With these shirts, they say they were a hit on the ship. From left, plus spouses: Jan (Livermore ’67) Danford, Dick Danford ’67, Marg Kiefer, Larry Kiefer ’67, Jeri Manley, Dick Manley, Ed Strausbaugh ’67 and Kris Strausbaugh.

in memory

The Grove City College Alumni Association places a book in Henry Buhl Library in memory of each alumnus for whom the Office of Alumni and College Relations receives written notification of death, including a copy of the obituary. This pays tribute to the lives of deceased alumni while benefitting current and future students.

To notify the Office of Alumni and College Relations of the passing of a loved one, please send an obituary to alumni@gcc.edu.

Eva (Heckman ’45) Lewis, El Cajon, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. She taught business classes in the Grossmont Adult Education system.

Edith M. Bell ’46, Grove City, Pa., Jan. 31, 2025. She taught for 37 years at Oil City High School.

Virginia (Fitzgerald ’46) Johnston, South Hadley, Mass., Nov. 16, 2024. As a chemist, she had several jobs including in Pittsburgh’s steel mills, as a professor at Mount Holyoke College, and in public service.

Adley W. Hemphill ’47, Pinehurst, N.C., April 2, 2025. The Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award winner was president of the Davison Chemical division of W.R. Grace & Co.

Lois (Anderson ’47) McKean, Kokomo, Ind., March 24, 2025. She had been a secretary for the Northwestern School District of Howard County.

Linnie (McConnell ’49) Brankley, Willingboro, N.J., Sept. 20, 2024. A homemaker, she was a founding member of the ABT sorority.

Janet (Miller ’49) Caldwell, Columbia, Ky., Feb. 2, 2025. She was a church organist for 50 years and taught piano lessons.

Thomas C. Place ’49, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Dec. 25, 2024. The Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement

Award winner was the PGA Tour’s Director of Information from 1971-1992 and a respected and award-winning sportswriter.

William H. Hassler ’50, Bel Air, MD., Feb. 13, 2025. The Air Force veteran worked with the Department of Education. At the time of his death, he was preparing a play of “In Flanders Fields” for his living community, an update to the final project from one of his GCC classes.

John D. Heile ’50, Elizabethtown, Pa., Nov. 8, 2024. The Navy WWII veteran worked in controller and financial management roles, retiring from General Dynamics.

Dr. Ernest W. “Bill” Logan Jr. ’50, Beaver Falls, Pa., Dec. 18, 2024. After practicing dentistry in the Navy, he practiced in New Brighton for 36 years.

John C. “Jack” Polena ’50, Mentor, Ohio, Jan. 17, 2025. The WWII Army veteran had an accounting degree.

Robert E. Powell ’50, Erie, Pa., Feb. 14, 2025. He spent his career with his grandfather’s business, Strong Mobile Homes.

Della (Collins ’51) Macomber, Ellington, Conn., Dec. 9, 2024. She spent over 30 years as an English teacher.

Roy A. Marburger ’51, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Jan. 10, 2025. After Army

service, he co-founded Dynamic Equipment Corp. in Pittsburgh.

Robert W. Scott ’52, Beverly Hills, Fla., March 12, 2025. An Army veteran, he was president of both Scott Traffic Consultants and Keystone Traffic Consultants.

M. JoAnn (McClelland ’53) Baker, Williamsburg, Va., December 21, 2024. She taught elementary school for many years. Survivors include husband Robert Baker ’52

Mary Jane (McSorley ’53) Brunner, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2025. After an early career with Alcoa, she raised her family and worked as parish secretary at St. Ignatius Catholic Church.

Ethel Jean (Skillen ’53) Snead, Cabot, Pa., Dec. 22, 2024. She retired from Montour School District as a business teacher.

Agnes (Milan ’54) McIntyre, Naples, Fla., Dec. 5, 2024. While raising her family, she was an accountant for the family restaurant and owned a needlepoint studio.

Ruth (McConnell ’54) Miller, Gibsonia, Pa., Jan. 5, 2025. She was a local mail carrier.

Ralph R. Gurley Jr. ’55, Pittsburgh, Pa., April 9, 2025. He worked at Bettis Atomic Power for 44 years.

Peggy (Zahniser ’55) Troutman, Rochester, N.Y., March 9, 2025. She raised her family

after working as a med tech at Eastman Kodak.

Norman S. Amsler ’56, Zelienople, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024. After Army service he taught history at Beaver Jr. and Sr. High School for 33 years.

Emily (Dhus ’56) Bishop, Rocky River, Ohio, March 31, 2025.

Richard F. Fehrs ’56, New Castle, Pa., Dec. 25, 2024. The Air Force veteran coowned Treloar and Heisel Insurance. Survivors include wife Joan (Treloar ’54) Fehrs and daughter Cindy (Fehrs ’81) Clark.

Dr. Robert S. Janicki ’56, Vero Beach, Fla., Jan. 26, 2025. A Navy veteran, he retired as senior vice president at Abbott Laboratories after a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry. He received the College’s Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award in 1984.

Phyllis (Wiley ’56) Lynch, Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 13, 2024. She worked as an estimator.

Dr. James T. Mathieu Sr. ’56, Pasadena, Calif., Aug. 6, 2024. He taught sociology at Loyola Marymount University and helped establish Marol Academy in South Sudan.

Carole (Lawrence ’56) Maurer, Wynnewood, Pa., March 27, 2025. She was a nationally recognized calligrapher.

Linda (Johnson ’56) Pail, Greensburg, Pa., Nov. 3, 2024. She had taught both English and preschool. Survivors include daughter Cindy (Pail ’79) Lee.

Sue Ann (Rodgers ’57) Kennedy, Grove City, Pa., March 29, 2025. She spent 30 years with Mellon Bank of Grove City, retiring as head teller.

Richard L. Carr ’57, Chardon, Ohio, March 31, 2025. The Air Force veteran and chemical engineer co-founded Kolchem, Inc., later retiring from Fuchs Lubricants. He was mayor of Emlenton, Pa., for 10 years, and an Alumni Council member. Survivors include children Amy (Carr ’84) Pollum and Emily (Carr ’87) Pastor

Robert P. McBride ’57, Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 31, 2025. He was a teacher and athletic director with the Smethport (Pa.) Area School District.

Don R. Funk ’58, Canonsburg, Pa., March 15, 2025.

Dolores S. Ginyard ’58, Norristown, Pa., Feb. 23, 2025. The first black woman to graduate from Grove City College, she taught for more than 30 years in the Norristown School District, coaching many successful sports teams. She also served on GCC’s Alumni Council.

Jacqueline (Hough ’58) Laitinen, Warren, Mich., May 5, 2023.

Charles B. Montgomery ’58, La Quinta, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025. He was founder and president of Montgomery Builders Supply and Montgomery Truss & Panel in Grove City.

William J. Schneider III ’58, Middletown, Ohio, March 30, 2025. After Naval service, he worked in communications for Armco, then as owner of Triangle Advertising. Survivors include wife Judith (Dwyer ’58) Schneider.

John J. Bechakas ’59, Kane, Pa., Jan. 28, 2025. The Army veteran worked as an accountant before joining the family food business.

Donald R. Caroleo ’59, Harmony, Pa., Oct. 28, 2024. He retired as a sales manager with ALCOA building products.

E. Ann (Frampton ’59) Lytle, Savannah, Ga., Sept. 13, 2024. She raised her family and volunteered with mental illness causes.

Dr. Rosalie (Bierer ’59) Kryston, Sicklerville, NJ, Dec. 27, 2024.

John R. “Bob” Turner ’59, Warren, Pa., Nov. 8, 2024. He was an engineer with Penelec for 35 years.

Dr. John L. Wick ’59, Butler, Pa., Dec. 10, 2024. After Naval service, he specialized in ophthalmology.

Mary Ann (Davis ’60) Keefe Edsall, Zieglerville, Pa., Aug. 11, 2024. Survivors include daughter Amy Keefe ’86

Patricia (Jurczak ’60) Polce, Lexington, Ky., Jan. 24, 2025. She taught English, was an Army wife, and raised her family.

Dr. Thomas C. Wolford ’60, Le Roy, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2024. The Navy veteran was a research oceanographer for the Coast Guard and NOAA.

Robert T. Cetola ’61, Williamsburg, Va., Aug. 31, 2024. He had a distinguished Air Force career, retiring as a Brigadier General in the Reserves. He later worked for General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin.

Carolyn (Easter ’61) Moser, Frankenmuth, Mich., March 13, 2025. She taught English, was a school principal, and a talented musician.

Z. Brang Seng ’61, Murrieta, Calif, Oct. 7, 2024. His 40-year career as a medical laboratory technologist included time with Kaiser Permanente.

Alfred K. Carpenter ’62, Fredonia, N.Y., Dec. 27, 2024. He taught business for 30 years at Cassadaga Valley

High School, also coaching tennis and basketball.

Daniel E. “Ed” Lesser ’62, Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 17, 2024. The Air Force veteran worked with American Airlines, in furniture restoration, and for the United Way.

Caroyl (White ’62) Reid, Hillsboro, Ohio, Nov. 10, 2024. After teaching abroad with the Peace Corps, she had a career with IBM and flipped houses.

Carol (Hamblin ’62) Thompson, Tampa, Fla., Dec. 1, 2024. She devoted her life to teaching.

John H. Tinnemeyer III ’62, Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 31, 2024. He worked in metallurgist sales management in his 30 years with U.S. Steel. Survivors include wife Linda (Arbuthnot ’62) Tinnemeyer.

Col. David L. Welton ’62, Brookville, Pa., Nov. 20, 2024. He served for 26 years as an engineer and intelligence analyst with the U.S. Air Force. In retirement, he taught at Penn StateDuBois. Survivors include wife Lillian (Pierce ’62) Welton.

Roger N. Williams Jr. ’62, State College, Pa., Dec. 25, 2024. He taught German for 10 years at IUP and Penn State and worked in Philadelphia as a translator and editor.

The Rev. Rawley D. Boone ’63, New Albany, Ohio, Jan. 6, 2025. He led Presbyterian churches in Panama, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Robert L. Hunter ’63, Butler, Pa., Jan. 25, 2025. The Army Reserves veteran and entrepreneur led Hunter’s Truck Sales to become the U.S. Truck Dealer of the Year in 2016. He also helped found Idealease and was very community minded. Grove City

College presented him a Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award in 2023. Survivors include wife Gail (Holmgren ’66) Hunter

Janet A. Wagner ’63, Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 19, 2025. After 10 years with Mellon Bank, she became executive secretary for Hillman Company Chairman Henry Hillman, where she remained for 44 years.

John W. Salak ’64, Cranberry Township, Pa., Oct. 25, 2024.

John R. Best ’65, Jackson, N.J., Feb. 24, 2025. He taught math at Ocean Township High School.

Garrett L. Tyrrell ’65, Hobart, Ind., Aug. 4, 2024. He was an industrial engineering manager with several steel companies and ran a bike shop.

Edmund C. Harper ’66, Penn Laird, Va., Sept. 15, 2024. He worked in college admissions and automotive programs.

Keith W. Ray ’66, Butler, Pa., Oct. 17, 2024. He worked with Armco for 25 years.

Robert C. Allison ’67, Latrobe, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024. The Navy veteran worked at Westmoreland County Children and Youth Services.

William E. McCartney ’67, Clearfield, Pa., March 12, 2025. He worked in heavy equipment sales for Harbison Walker and Caterpillar.

Joseph G. Imhoff ’68, Cranberry Twp., Pa, Sept. 19, 2024.

Susan (Delanoy ’68) Mattson, Venice, Fla., Oct. 3, 2024. She helped found Venice Christian School, taught first grade, and was vice principal. Survivors include husband David Mattson ’67

Alan M. McDonald ’68, Houston, Texas, Dec. 23,

2024. He worked with Diamond Shamrock and Intamix, started several recycling facilities, and created McDonald Filtration. Survivors include siblings Lois (McDonald ’62) Kleinkauf, James McDonald ’63, and Glenn McDonald ’75

Linda (Benscoter ’68) Pierce, Brockway, Pa., March 20, 2025. She was Brockway Glass’ first female industrial engineer, later serving as the Borough manager and assistant plant manager at Ross Mould.

David M. Carleen ’69, Huntington Beach, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025. He was a small business owner and freelance writer who also performed magic.

Paulette (Grose ’69) Dye, Mount Pleasant, Pa., Jan. 30, 2025. She was a retired French teacher for Southmoreland High School.

Luanne (Wunderley ’69) Obert, Vienna, Va., March 1, 2025. She retired after 40 years with the U.S. Army’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate.

William D. Badders ’71, Cleveland, Ohio, March 5, 2025. Along with 40 years as an educator in Cleveland, he was president of the National Science Teachers Association and co-authored a textbook.

Carol (Hummell ’72) Balaz, Washington, Pa., Jan. 21, 2025. She was a teacher in the Washington School district and honored for excellence.

Gary L. Logsdon ’72, Norristown, Pa., July 11, 2024.

Carl S. Bemben Jr. ’73, Butler, Pa., Feb. 4, 2025. He worked for 40 years in the steel industry as a process engineer and sales manager.

Pamela (Hughes ’73) Debaldo, Gibsonia, Pa., Jan. 27, 2025. She taught business, raised her family, then taught preschool and worked with Healthquest Pediatrics.

Douglas E. Wonsettler ’73, Medina, Ohio, Oct. 11, 2024. He was a flower expert and sales rep for BFG Supply.

Patricia (Shaw ’74) Warren, Washington, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024. After working in TV news, she pursued watercolor painting and pottery.

Franciscus C. “Frans” Bentlage ’75, Oak Harbor, Ohio, Jan. 14, 2025. He worked in heath and safety, retiring from Tenneco Automotive.

Joseph A. Ionta ’75, Monroeville, Pa., March 4, 2025. He was a 40-year teacher and coach in the Plum School District. His track and cross-country athletes had much success, and he led many events for leukemia research.

S. John Banks III ’76, Butler, Pa., March 9, 2025. The Army veteran worked in finance and technology for businesses and banks.

Jerome E. Nairne ’76, Stow, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2025. The Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award winner was owner and operator of Chesterfield Companies.

William K. Parland ’76, Parma, Ohio, March 25, 2024. He was a biology professor at Cuyahoga Community College. Survivors include sister Nancy Parland ’81

Craig H. Voorhees ’76, Franklin, N.C., April 16, 2024. He worked for 30 years at Grove City’s George Junior Republic.

Constance (McClelland ’77) Martin, Cheswick, Pa., Feb. 4, 2025. She taught for 40 years in the Pittsburgh area

with many years at Winchester Thurston School.

Gerald R. Nezovich ’77, Middletown, Pa., formerly Westminster, Colo., Feb. 1, 2025.

Nancy L. Metkler ’78, Springdale, Pa., March 5, 2025. After working as a police officer in Wilkinsburg for 17 years, she helped to lead the MSA Employees Federal Credit Union in Cranberry.

Robert B. Pharis ’78, Mars, Pa., Jan 27, 2025. He founded and co-led Allen Bates computer software for 36 years. Survivors include wife Ellen (Seehafer ’78) Pharis

Darcie (Zembower ’79) West, Mount Clemens, Mich., Jan. 4, 2025. She retired after 30 years of service to the YMCA. Survivors include siblings Barry Zembower ’76 and Rebecca Zembower ’77

Timothy L. Edris ’80, Dover, Pa., Dec. 23, 2024. He was a realtor with Century 21. Survivors include brother Steven Edris ’75

Paulette E. McCauley ’81, State Road, N.C., June 16, 2024. Most recently she was an A/V production technician in Lakeland, Fla.

Neil R. Jones ’83, Irwin, Pa., Sept. 9, 2024. The paramedic taught pediatric trauma care, was a flight medic and a manager at Children’s Hospital, all while continuing to coach swimming.

Susan (Moore ’85) Berry, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Jan. 4, 2025. She was a CPA who had been controller at Central Penn College.

Paul D. “P.D.” Gregg ’87, Wheeling, W.Va., March 13, 2025. He loved the theater was technical director at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre.

Scott A. Wisner ’88, York, Pa., Jan. 2, 2025. He retired from Central York Middle School after 35 years of teaching algebra, also coaching several girls basketball teams.

Annette R. O’Conner ’89, Grove City, Pa., Feb. 7, 2025. An attorney, she was a state inspector in Michigan later working for Wendell August Forge in Grove City.

Heather (Hagen ’89) Rogus, Allison Park, Pa., Dec. 13, 2024. She taught physics for over 30 years at Pine-Richland High School.

Herman S. “Buzz” Kuminkoski Jr. ’93, Butler, Pa., March 29, 2025. The Air Force veteran was an electrical engineer for General Dynamics.

Karl F. Mech III ’96, Brooklyn, Md., Dec. 21, 2024. He was a certified journeyman machinist.

Friends

Rev. Everett C. DeVelde Jr., Grove City, Pa., Dec. 12, 2024. In his varied career, he was director of technical services at GCC from 1980 to 2000, where he also taught computer science and Hebrew. Survivors include daughters Beverly DeVelde ’83, Gretchen (DeVelde ’86) Bettua, and Anna (DeVelde ’05) Cooke.

Lee M. Klingenberg, Mt. Lebanon, Pa., Feb. 23, 2025. A gifted artist and graphic designer, he painted many campus watercolors and special projects and designed the alumni magazine in the early 2000s. Survivors include wife Jane (McKnight ’63) Klingenberg

Carol L. Magee, Grove City, Pa., April 24, 2025. She retired from the College after 43 years of service at the Switchboard, Bookstore, and Campus Safety.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Raleigh G. Peters ’95, Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 27, 2025. The current Grove City College Trustee held esteemed positions in the financial industry, most recently with New Mountain Capital, and was a committed community and church volunteer. Survivors include wife Laura (Peelor ’96) Peters

a tribute to Raleigh Peters from fellow Board of Trustees member Rick Sems ’93.

li’l Wolverines ONCEA GROVER ... ALWAYS A GROVER

CONGRATULATIONS NEW PARENTS!

Grove City College welcomes your new bundle of joy. We want to send your newborn a Grove City College T-shirt! So between the feedings and late-night lullabies, be sure to send the Office of Alumni and College Relations your child’s name and date of birth. Shirts are available in infant sizes and up to 5T.

Due to the popularity of the Alumni Babies feature, photos will be limited to babies under the age of 5 in Grove City College shirts only. Digital photos must be high resolution, 300 dpi. Please do not embed photos in the body of an email message, but rather attach a high-resolution image. To request a baby shirt, visit alumni.gcc.edu/babyshirt Send pictures to alumni@gcc.edu.

John Alan Creedle Born 9-6-24

Emily (Stumpf ’11) and Wes Creedle

Lydia Marie Fulkerson Born 5-25-24

Hannah (Bowersox ’19) and Justin Fulkerson

Gray Anthony Choby Born 9-13-24

Renee and Jacob Choby ’13

James Daniel Collier 10-13-24

Hannah (Vaccaro ’18) and Daniel Collier

Isabella and Dominic Frascella Born 12-28-23 and 12-4-20

Margie (Dudek ’05) and Daniel Frascella ’04

Malachi and Martha Gonnella Born 9-28-21 and 3-19-24

Amanda and Paul Gonnella ’13

Annika Grace and Ruthea Hope Gibbs Born 3-5-22 and 2-13-24

Sandra (Kraynik ’14) and Chris Gibbs ’14

Olivia Lynn Diani Born 5-28-24

Emily and Joseph Diani ’14

Frederic Jupiter Fuller Born 2-15-25

Karolina (Lagerquist ’16) and Caleb Fuller ’13

Michael Kazimeras Blaze Born 7-15-24

Leah (Burke ’09) and Dave Blaze

Caroline Lee Curran Born 6-11-24

Marie (Carroll ’15) and Christopher Curran ’15

Evelyn Mae Fifield Born 5-3-24

Natalie (Ziemer ’18) and Christian Fifield ’18

Lucille Joy Harmon Born 1-20-24

Amanda (Deer ’11) and Luke Harmon ’11

Felix Silas Mason Born 4-3-23

Jenny (Cindric ’05) and Felix Scott Mason ’05

Isaac Matthew Nguyen Born 5-8-24

Amy (Noll ’16) and Martin Nguyen

Rebecca Jane Recio Born 5-22-24

Karly and Chris Recio ’10

Sadie Grace Tapper

Born 9-5-24

Jessica (Hardman ’21) and Colton Tapper

Clay Henchir Born 7-6-24

Keil (Erickson ’14) and Bryan Henchir

Jack William McHale Born 11-1-24

Kristina (Thomas ’14) and Justin McHale

Anthony Kevin Passaretti Born 5-30-24

Sabrina (Huston ’16) and Bruce Passaretti ’16

Rose Frances Sampogna Born 10-30-24

Patty and Matt Sampogna ’01

John Thomas Vogt

Born 12-25-24

Michelle (Jeffries ’19) and Dan Vogt ’18

Caleb Daniel Knox Born 9-24-20

Amy (Ritter ‘09) and Jacob Knox ’10

Luke Christopher Michalson Born 3-17-24

Elizabeth and Jacob Michalson ’10

Zita Mae Nina Pescatrice Born 10-11-24

Colleen and Dominic Pescatrice ’15

Oliver Grey Steiner Born 3-1-24

Jordan (Bucci ’19) and Dalton Steiner ’19

Truett Joseph Yanak Born 12-20-23

Lissa (Swanson ’10) and Jay Yanak ’08

faith & learning

Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty ’80’s commitment to the mission of the College, Christian scholarship, and the integration of faith and learning was the inspiration for this feature. In recognition of that, we present here the text of his address to graduates at the College’s 145th Commencement, his “last words” to the College community as president.

“Packing Up Your Purpose”

By Paul J. McNulty ’80

Class of 2025, greetings to you and praises to God for this beautiful morning and this very special day. Thank you for this enormous privilege of speaking to you on this memorable occasion, for this one last time. I hope you know how much Brenda and I treasure our relationship with you and how much we admire what you’ve accomplished in your time here at Grove City College.

It’s a great joy to watch you excel and grow in so many different ways. Thank you for enriching our community with your friendship, your many talents, and your remarkable dedication to your calling as students.

Four years ago, we celebrated two Commencement ceremonies on this great Quad, one in the morning for the Class of 2021 and one in the afternoon for the Class of 2020, a group that sadly experienced the cancellation of its Commencement because of the Covid shutdown the previous year.

Graduates, when nearly all of you arrived a few months later in the fall of 2021 for the start of your college career, everyone was excited about getting back to the long-standing practices and traditions of campus life. I suspect

the disruption of your high school experience provided an extra appreciation for this wonderful community and the many opportunities you’ve had at the College.

So, we were back in 2021 to the move-in day routine, and I remember the day primarily for that reason. Brenda and I once again joined the enthusiastic men and women of OB in helping you move into North, Memorial, or Hicks. Ladies, your things were neatly packed in your cars, many of you using those spiffy blue bags for moving into college rooms, and they were helpfully marked with your room number on little pieces of masking tape. All very nice. Guys, well, at least your stuff made it to your car. You packed everything you thought you might need to live comfortably and pursue excellence in your various curricular and extra-curricular endeavors. For women, that meant puffy pillows, soft blankets, baskets full of toiletries, and four years’ worth of office supplies. For men, that meant spikeball sets and cases of energy drinks.

Over the past four years, you’ve added several indispensable items such as couches, rugs, house plants, and strings of lights, giving your luxurious rooms a cozy ambiance. I imagine you’re

saddened to be moving out of such deluxe living accommodations. The problem now, though, is that you either don’t want all these items or you can’t fit everything into your car. So, that’s why we’ve placed giant dumpsters around campus.

It’s interesting to consider the similarities of our circumstances. The First Lady and I are also in our last days on campus, packing up, using the dumpsters, and saying goodbyes as we get set to move away from this sweet place. But this morning I want to focus on something else I hope we have in common as student Grovers from different generations – from this Baby Boomer to beloved Gen Zers.

You see, 45 years ago, when I was packing up to depart this wonderful college, my material possessions were very meager: a box or two of books, some clothes (most of which the Thrift Shop would have rejected), milk crate book shelves, and a ratty upholstered rocking chair that somehow survived for several more years. I had some debt and not even $100 to my name.

Now, to be fair, I was engaged (and never Creeked – that’s another story) to a very cute young lady with the last name Millican who sat a short distance away from me on Commencement day. Her parents rightly wondered what their daughter was getting into, and mine were just happy someone was willing to take the risk of being my life partner. So, silver and gold I had none, to quote Peter, but what I did have was far more valuable. You see, I had acquired early in my GCC education a new worldview that came with an energizing sense of calling, a transformative understanding of the purpose for my life. It was a framework for thinking about everything – marriage, family, work – that was instilled in me by God’s grace and the faithful counsel of administrators, faculty, and staff at this college.

In those days, President Charles MacKenzie was leading an effort to rekindle the flames of authentic, life-changing Christian education first ignited by Isaac Ketler a century earlier. And my mind was on fire about the challenge and joy of thinking Christianly about law and justice and public policy. In 1980, it was far beyond my imagination that God would take my legal career to the Justice Department’s command center on 9-11, or meetings with the president in the Oval Office, or an argument before the Supreme Court, or the presidency of my beloved alma mater.

All I knew then was that because of our time here, Brenda and I were equipped with a strong sense of moral purpose, and we felt compelled to devote our lives to sustaining and nurturing this purpose for God’s glory and the advancement of his Kingdom. Here’s the interesting thing. While we were experiencing this personal transformation, America in the late 1970s was struggling with a widespread feeling of pessimism. In a famous 1979 speech about energy policy, President Jimmy Carter observed that America was threatened by a crisis of confidence which he defined as “a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will.” These words quickly came to be known as his “malaise speech.” Carter

described “the growing doubt about the meaning of our lives and the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” The erosion of confidence in the future, he warned, is “threatening to destroy the social and political fabric of America.”

Well, this speech was a political disaster for Carter. It might have been true, but it wasn’t the message Americans wanted to hear from their leader. The speech contributed to Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory 16 months later. And now, nearly half a century later, there are numerous surveys and reports claiming that Gen Z also struggles with a feeling of pessimism.

One survey concludes that more young people now say they find it hard to have hope for

“There is nothing that unites us more than a biblical worldview and the shared understanding of our purpose.”

– President McNulty

the world than at any time since at least 1976. Another analyst observes that your generation worries that you will never make enough money to attain the security previous generations have achieved. A recent report produced by Accenture asserts that we are living in an age of “permacrisis” where we feel as though our world is stumbling from one especially stressful circumstance to another.

So your class, much like my 1980 class, is entering a world of economic uncertainty, strong skepticism about government, troubles with Russia and in the Middle East, and many other major difficulties.

Which brings us back to President Carter’s concern. If one’s purpose in life is tied to the temporal circumstances, we will have a crisis of confidence. Carter was essentially saying the same thing as our football team: America, focus on your vision not your circumstances. And that’s why our vision for your time here at the College has been to develop you as leaders with the highest proficiency, purpose and principle ready to advance the common good.

Today we recognize and celebrate far more than the significant achievement of earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree and the excellent return on your investment of time, talent, and treasure. We are truly thankful for the proficiencies you have developed through years of hard work, and we look forward to seeing where God will put these skills to great use. But our vision goes well beyond competency development, doesn’t it? Throughout your time here, the trustees, professors, administrators, and staff have cared more about who you are and who you will be than what you will do. This is the story of my education and the story of your education and what makes our GCC degrees so distinctive. We believe everything begins with knowing who you truly are so that

you can embrace God’s purpose for your life. Learning that the most important thing is not what you are going to do but how you are going to do it truly changes the trajectory of your life. I have no doubt it changed my life and provided opportunities that mere proficiency and worldly ambition would never have accomplished.

There is nothing that unites us more than a biblical worldview and the shared understanding of our purpose.

In his book, The Quest for Purpose, Professor Perry Glanzer explains that understanding our true purpose requires knowing what it means to be God’s image bearers to be a community of imitators of God. So, whether we are just getting started in life or hoping to spend more time with grandchildren, God’s purposes matter most. I’ve been talking, of course, about a godly purpose. Godliness is a critical distinction. I’ve prosecuted countless folks with a strong sense of purpose. But, the Psalmist says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” And the wise man in Proverbs says, “Commit you work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

The point is clear. Our calling is all encompassing. It should touch everything we do from our first thoughts in the morning to our last thoughts at night. Godly purpose means committing our ways to the Lord. It may be worth noting that the pursuit of purposefulness is a popular topic. Pastor Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life has sold over 50 million copies and has been translated into 137 languages. It’s one of the 10 best-selling Christian books of all time! People are anxious to find a fulfilling purpose for their lives.

The interest in this topic reveals the way God has made us. We want our lives to stand for something. I know I did on my graduation day. We were created in his image to exercise dominion over creation, to be cultivators of the garden. We want to make a difference. But what does it actually mean, in a practical sense, to live life with godly purpose? What does it look like? I want to suggest, very quickly, five specific behaviors, or “ways,” to use the Psalmist’s term, that godly purpose is pursued. What can we be doing today and all the days we have left on this earth?

First, be rooted in God’s word. This is where you will continue to learn what living with purpose is all about. God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The believer is commanded to love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and surely this means being devoted to growing in the knowledge of biblical truth and doctrine. And to this end, plant yourself in a church with biblical preaching, show up, and stay there. Trust me, days of hardship will come, and there is no better balm for the heart or fortification for the soul than years of faithful instruction from God’s word.

Second, treat everyone with respect. This follows directly from Christ’s command to love

our neighbor as ourself. Every person is God’s image-bearer. Living with purpose in relation to others requires expanding our empathy and increasing our civility. We need to see others. Be curious about their stories. In his book How to Know a Person, David Brooks observes, “There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen – to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood.”

Third, communicate like Jesus. We are called to imitate Christ, which means we should model ourselves after him in the way we speak and write, using words that are truthful, gracious, humble, knowledgeable, insightful, measured, and occasionally courageous. In today’s world, purposeful language stands out. Guys, it’s like occasionally shaving and dressing nicely. People will notice and admire you for it.

Fourth, don’t grow weary in doing good. Remember our vision: be a leader of the highest proficiency, purpose and principle ready to advance the common good. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to serve others. Be generous with your time and money. This calling is at the heart of Grove City’s intentional community that we dearly love. This campus is a training ground for the building and strengthening of the communities where you will live in the years ahead. Your dedication to the well-being of your community is the principle means of God’s work of common grace in this broken world. Remember Ephesians 2:10: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Fifth and finally, always be hopeful. Purposefulness involves being excited about how God will use you for his glory and the good of others. It’s what fundamentally distinguishes you from Gen Z pessimism. Hope, like true joy, is not dependent on life’s pleasant circumstances. It’s born out of vision, out of purpose. Hope is the fruit of a biblical worldview, that God reigns perfectly over all creation and is bringing everything to pass according to his good purposes. The Christian’s story always, ultimately, ends well.

Class of 2025, today is a hopeful day, a milestone day for hopeful hearts because you have been equipped for your calling. You’ve been created for a reason and redeemed for a mission. These things are much more important than mere proficiency. And, as we all know, the world desperately needs your godly purposefulness and principles.

So, leave your old rugs behind, and throw away those house plants that are now dead anyway. Don’t worry if you’re broke or haven’t yet landed a job. Just be sure to pack up your purpose and the principles by which you will live. Trust me, it’s really all you need.

May God bless you richly as you strive to live with true purpose for his glory.

Grove City College Alumni Magazine

Grove City College

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Grove City, PA 16127

www.gcc.edu