Alumni Happenings
Alumni Happenings Restoration Project continued from page 10
Meet our New National Alumni Board Members Harcum College is pleased to welcome four distinguished alumni as members of the Harcum National Alumni Board. Deborah Defusco Widger, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, graduated in 1977 from Harcum with a degree in Fashion Design. Deborah is an accomplished retail industry professional and most recently served as president of the “Mimi Maternity” brand of clothing for Motherswork, Inc. She is now working on publishing a recipe book, Famous Faces…Famous Recipes, to raise money for cancer research.
Mary Harcum, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, is a 1981 graduate of Harcum College. Ms. Harcum is the niece of Edith Hatcher Harcum, the founder of Harcum College. Mary is currently working as a middle school health and science teacher in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Cynthia Canevari, of Milford, Delaware, is a 1990 graduate of the Physical Therapy program. Ms. Canevari works as a physical therapist assistant at Bebe Medical Center in Delaware. As a breast cancer survivor, she spends a good deal of time raising money for
MySpace? No, MyHarcum! Harcum College has launched a new website, www.myharcum.com, designed specifically for Harcum Alumni. Called MyHarcum.com, the website is to adults what MySpace.com is to cyber-addicted teens—. only it is uniquely for Harcum alumni and friends. This innovative online website acts as a multi-functional portal for the Harcum Alumni community. It allows registered participants
Karen Naylor, of Thornton, Pennsylvania, is a 1992 graduate of Harcum’s Dental Hygiene program. Ms. Naylor currently teaches in Harcum’s successful Dental Hygiene program, and manages the College’s on-campus, 16-chair dental clinic. She also works in private dental practice. » The Harcum National Alumni Board helps maintain relations with Harcum’s family of alumni, who can be found throughout the world.
6 EASY STEPS to Register for www.myharcum.com
Step 1:
Go to www.myharcum.com
Step 2:
Click on First Time Users (on the upper left of the purple menu bar)
Step 3:
Fill in your Last Name
Step 4:
Insert your ID# or click No ID# option
Step 5:
Fill out the Required Contact Information
to network, connect with old college classmates and friends, view photo albums of past events, and register for new ones. Don’t miss out on this great chance to re-connect with your classmates, roommates, teammates, or anyone else you may have lost touch with . since graduation. Once registered you have access to the Harcum College Alumni Database where you can: » Search for your friends . and classmates
» Check-out and register for Harcum College Alumni events
» Update your contact information
» Make your Harcum Opportunity Fund gift online
» Submit Class Notes
TV Host Suzanne Roberts Delivered Harcum’s 90th Commencement Address
cancer research and promoting the importance of early detection. Recently, Cindy shared her experiences fighting the disease as the keynote speaker at the 2005 Harcum Alumni Reunion dinner.
JOY the benefits of the NEW Harcum Step 6: EN Online Community
MyHarcum.com is a safe, informative, and fun way to keep in touch and stay connected. If you need help registering, please call Carol Greenwood at 610.526.6060 or email her at cgreenwood@harcum.edu.
The stars came out at Harcum College’s 90th Commencement on May 20, 2006 at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Suzanne Roberts, host of the award winning “Seeking Solutions with Suzanne” public service cable television show gave the commencement address to approximately 177 graduating students. She was accompanied by her husband, Comcast Corporation founder, Ralph J. Roberts.
The Harcum Experimental Theatre circa 1940-41. Emmy winning television talk show hostess, and patron the arts. Nusbaum was also touched by the experience; not surprisingly, one of his earliest Broadway plays, The Young and the Fair, is centered on events at an all-women’s liberal arts college. Proud of this artistic heritage, Harcum College is moving forward with plans to restore The Little Theatre to its former glory. Built as a gymnasium in 1920, converted to a Little Theatre in the late 1920s, Harcum’s Little Theatre is in need of fundamental reconstruction. Our plan is to transform it into a multi-purpose facility, which will serve as a meeting room and large classroom. The Harcum Little Theatre will serve the community as well as the College. It will be a venue for young local performers. Lectures of general interest will be open to the public. This project will not only create a multi-purpose space that meets the current needs of the College, but it will also preserve a piece of the heritage of the American theatre, recapturing for today’s students some of the magic of artistic creativity that was once a hallmark of the College. To strengthen the connection to the past, the exterior of the building will appear as it did when it was first built in the 1920s, and the interior will be reflective of its roots. A photo display of those who were connected with Harcum’s Little Theatre in its hey-day, and who went on to successful careers in the performing arts, will appear along one of the walls. Significant funding for this project is being provided by the family of Dennis Marlo, the Chairman of Harcum’s Board of Trustees, in memory of his son Kevin Marlo, an aspiring actor who died tragically in the World Trade Towers in 9/11. His sister, Christine Marlo, is helping to spearhead this effort by her role on the National Alumni Board, which has identified the restoration of Harcum’s Little Theatre, and the restoration of all of Harcum’s historic buildings, as the focus of its efforts. Estimated cost of the project is $275,000.
Ms. Roberts, who studied drama at Harcum College under the famed writer/director N. Richard Nash, has devoted much of her energy and talent over the years for the public good. During World War II, she answered the call from the United States Treasury and the International Red Cross to act in dramas that inspired the purchase of thousands of dollars in war bonds, and the signing up of hundreds of donors to give blood. After the war, Ms. Roberts performed in national plays such as “Lady on the Rocks,” a play about alcoholism performed in factories, board rooms, medical schools, and AA groups. Prior to exploring topics of interest to the “over 55” group in her current TV show, Seeking Solutions with Suzanne; Ms. Roberts also served on the staff of Hahnemann University, when she received her Masters Degree in Human Services and Therapeutic Counseling from Antioch University. Considering her remarkable set of accomplishments, and consistent and continued service to others, Dr. Charles H. Trout presented Ms. Roberts with the degree of Doctor of Public Service before she addressed the graduating class of 2006. She told the graduates to follow their hearts and their passions in their career choices and to be creative in bringing their talents and interests into each aspect of their lives.
Academic Excellence Award recipient, Amy Klikus is recognized for the highest GPA in her graduating class. Amy graduated with an Associate’s of Health Science degree in Dental Hygience, and a 3.96 GPA.
After delivering the farewell speech to the graduating class of 2006, Katie O’Hara gets her picture taken alongside Provost, Dr. Edward R. D’Alessio.
Brenda Mason, recipient of the President’s Award, is recognized by former President, Dr. Charles H. Trout (left), and Provost, Dr. Edward R. D’Alessio (middle) for her outstanding service in promoting the ideas of Harcum College. Brenda graduates with an Associate’s of Arts degree in Psychology, and a 3.69 GPA.
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