CLASS NOTES

2015

Vincent R. Knecht graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s PharmD program. He also received the Merck Award.

Ethan V. Wilt has been named chair of the Huntingdon County United Way 2022–23 campaign. He currently serves as first assistant to Huntingdon County District Attorney David Smith ‘89. Ethan selected the campaign theme “Beginning With a Single Step” and said the chairmanship is an honor, stating, “Huntingdon County has been so good to me over the years, and I’m excited for the opportunity to give back.” The official kick off of the campaign was during the annual “Day of Caring” on Sept. 21.

2016

Brittany N. Meier began working as an insights consultant for Chadwick Martin Bailey on June 27, 2022. She earned her Ph.D. from East Carolina University in December and was named Outstanding Occupational Health Psychology Ph.D. Student (2021–2022).

2018

Kyle T. Heasley earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. On June 1, he began working as a full-time veterinarian at Town & Country Animal Hospital in Warriors Mark, Pa., where he provides services for large farm animals and small domestic animals.

2019

Scott M. Rahner Jr. graduated with a master of arts in Reading from Montclair State University and obtained the Reading Specialist certification. He is employed as a middle school special education teacher in the New Providence School District in New Jersey.

2021

2022

Grace G. Cook-Huffman received the annual award from the Huntingdon Branch of the Association of American University Women (AAUW). The award is given every year to a Juniata College senior woman planning to continue her education at the graduate school level. Grace’s future graduate studies will be in communication and higher education.

Holly E. Uses completed the Disney College Program Sales Internship position at Walt Disney World from August 2022 to January 2023. She worked at 15 locations across Disney property in various merchandise environments and hopes to continue her career with Disney.

Sarah K. Moryken ’09 and Chris Frech were married Dec. 18, 2021.

Harris E. Cauler ’15 and Joseph D’Ambrosi were married on Dec. 30, 2022.

Brea M. Neri ’15 and Benjamin Deutsch were married Oct. 8, 2022. In attendance were (l–r) Arielle Maines ’15, Caitlyn Pingatore ’15, Devin Apple ’16, Rachel Murphy ’15, Brea Neri ’15, Clare Lewis ’15, Harris (Cauler) D’Ambrosi ’15, Megan O’Connor ’13, and Laura Bancroft ’15.

Brittney E. Marchand ’17 and James R. Kollinger ’16 were married Feb. 6, 2021. Attending the ceremony were (l–r) James Kollinger ’16 , Brittney (Marchand) Kollinger ’17 , Neal Donovan ’16 , and Heather Marra ’17 .

Olivia A. Charles-Pike ’20 and Robert Mullins were married June 12, 2022.

Laura H. Gregory ’11 and Gustavo Almaraz Rico are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Lionel David, on April 20, 2022.

Sheena Zolla Mandichak ’11 and Ian Mandichak welcomed their son, Zane Michael, on Oct. 9, 2021. Zane joins older sister Reagan.

Erin N. Kreischer ’13 and Sheridan L. Norris ’12 are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Adeline Elwood, on Nov. 10, 2022.

Sarah E. Bay Nawa ’06 and Caitlan M. Zlatos ’06 were hiking on the Appalachian Trail in southern Pennsylvania in October when they ran into Leah J. (Yingling) Antolin ‘06, who was hiking from the opposite direction. The three stayed the night at the same shelter and were able to catch up and reminisce about their time together at Juniata, including living together in Mission House during their senior year.

Erica E. (Kross) Hill ’09 met Kate (Leisey) Carbaugh ’02 while attending a wilderness first aid training in October 2022. Erica saw Kate wearing a Juniata College sweatshirt, and the two spent the weekend together bandaging, splinting, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Holly E. Uses ’22 met Heather M. (Gibney) Ramsey ’04 in a Walt Disney World park. The two shared a good conversation and fun memories of their times at Juniata. Holly has also met other alumni while working at Disney and says, “Interactions like these are one of the many reasons I am proud to be an alum.”

Patricia D. (Stinson) Judd ’63 met Naomi Radio, Juniata’s head women’s lacrosse coach, and team members while playing at Bridgewater College in March 2022. They met at Smiley’s, a local ice cream shop.

Gail E. (Zimmerman) Wills ’78, daughter of Francis Zimmerman ’54 and Shirley (Nell) Zimmerman ’52, met Jane Allen Schlamowitz, daughter of Arthur Allen ’52 and Dorothy (Hummer) Allen ’52. The two bonded over their mothers’ 67-year long friendship, as well as their decadeslong participation with nine other Juniata women in a Round Robin chain letter. These alumni included Marjorie (Seidel) Kochard ’52, Lois (Robinson) Darby ’52, Lois (Miller) McDowell ’52, Jo Ann (Barksdale) Calderwood ’52, Ruth (Armentrout) Felix ’52, Mary Lou (McKee) Landes ’52, Kay (Wright) Oliver ’52, Sarah (Keller) Ayers ’52, and Miriam (Smith) Wetzel ’52.

Jeffrey J. Wood ’76 met Telah Zinobile ’23 while vacationing at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. He was signing the guest registry at The Chapel of the Transfiguration and noted Telah and her family were also from Pennsylvania. The two quickly made their shared Juniata College connection.

Vince Buonaccorsi Professor of Biology

Vince Buonaccorsi and I first met when he was an undergraduate student in an Animal Behavior Lab I was teaching at the University of Notre Dame. The class was full of terrific students, but Vince radiated an impish curiosity that distinguished him from everyone else. Under normal conditions, that semester in lab would have been the extent of our time together. The bittersweet aspect about being an academic is that we have such a brief time with our students. We only catch a glimpse of what makes them remarkable people before they’re gone. Our lives rarely intersect with theirs in any substantial way. But I got lucky.

In 2001, Vince joined the Juniata biology department. When he arrived, he lived with me for several months while his house was being built. And over the next two decades, we had the opportunity to teach and serve on committees together. I finally met Kristin, the high school sweetheart he would talk so much about during labs. I coached his kids and he coached mine. Our sons became close friends. We had long talks about biology, teaching, the nature of God, youth soccer, and Notre Dame football.

It was a blessing to have the opportunity to see how much more remarkable Vince became after he graduated. I got to see first-hand how he forged relationships with colleagues, students, and people in the community and how he made everyone around him better. He inspired a generation of Juniata student researchers. He coached a host of soccer players and helped them discover the beauty in the game. He was a patient academic mentor who helped nurture students as scientists and as people. He strove to give his students a rich liberal arts experience. And when those students succeeded, as they invariably did, he celebrated their successes like a proud parent.

As an undergraduate, Vince was in a band called “Brian, Colin, and Vince.” I highly recommend their album “Bucket O’ Fun N’ Stuff N’ Yeah.” Vince sang, played the bongos, and whistled. In his time here, I never heard him sing or play the bongos, but he did whistle. Boy howdy, did he whistle. He could, almost miraculously in my opinion, whistle two notes at the same time, and he did so routinely as he roamed the halls of von Liebig. Since our offices were in different suites, I didn’t see Vince every day, but I always heard him. His whistling, like his spirit and curiosity, echoed through the halls. Sometimes I whistle in the hall, a little self-consciously, just to remember him. He was my favorite student of all time.

— By Jay Hosler, Professor and Chair of Biology

See obituary on page 57

Patricia C. Weaver

Professor Emerita of Accounting, Business & Economics

I first met Pat Weaver at the Waffle Shop restaurant in State College. In hindsight, this was an appropriate place for an introduction, as we returned together many times over the years. Over breakfast, she described Juniata and its community in great detail. I walked away thinking that Juniata was probably a special place, but I didn’t yet realize how special, nor that I had met the person who would become my greatest mentor and a dear friend.

As a mentor to faculty and students, there are none better than Pat. She gave generously of her time to all who asked. As a new teacher, her advice was invaluable to me. She taught me how to listen to students, how to weave storytelling into my teaching, and how to design assessments. She shared her joy of teaching and her love for Juniata students in numerous ways, but mostly by her laughter, smiles, and distribution of DVDs. Her signature course, Managerial Accounting, challenged students but rewarded them as alumni, as they eventually realized the value of her demanding assignments. She possessed legendary writing and editing skills, and all ABE department members took a deep breath before sending documents knowing that they would be returned with copious feedback. But she provided honest, nonjudgmental advice backed with her full support.

As a leader of the business department, she was a force of nature. It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of her influence and inspiration. She encouraged faculty to innovate. She challenged us to be better. And she did this in a quiet, unassuming way that created an environment of mutual respect and admiration. She was recognized with the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service. However, she did not want attention for herself and was known for walking at the very end of the graduation processional- not in the front where her years of service and status as a full professor entitled her to be.

If it was time to celebrate, her favorite drink was the Mangopolitan at Mimi’s. This led to afternoons sitting at Mimi’s bar, sharing stories, laughing, and, in one instance, taking notes on how they prepared our drinks. In the end, we were successful in creating a decent replica of her favorite cocktail. Whether celebrating or not, Pat was easily recognized by her colorful Crocs — she possessed over one hundred pairs!

I don’t know how to summarize the meaning and depth of Pat’s influence in 450 words, but I bet she could have done it. Pat’s dedication and love for the Juniata College community sets a powerful example for all of us. I feel truly blessed to have known her as a teacher, leader, mentor, and friend. She will be greatly missed.

— By Kathy Baughman, Swigart Professor of Business & Economics; Chair, Accounting, Business and Economics

See obituary on page 57

Dr. Robert E. Wagoner Professor Emeritus of Philosophy

I first met Bob in the spring of 2002 when I gave my “job talk” — a demonstration of how I teach — for the world history position in Juniata’s history department. I was in-my-element but nervous, all the same. After the talk in a classroom in Good Hall, a short older fellow with a big grin came up to me, praised my talk, and welcomed me with such warmth that I never forgot it. Soon I would learn what a big part Bob would play in my life and career.

We found much in common as I and he were both midwestern boys who had gone east, to Harvard, but had never lost a certain skepticism about the pretensions of academic prestige.

Amongst the first things Bob did for me was offer to take me to Italy and Greece along with his dear friend, the classicist Prof. Steve Rutledge of the University of Maryland. Bob wanted to help me feel more comfortable and proficient in teaching World Civilizations, a course I had neither taught nor even taken before coming to Juniata! It did not work out that time, but our relationship deepened. (Bob and I finally did make that trip, to the Vatican Museum in Rome and to the British Museum in London, in the summer of 2018.)

I realized that I had a treasure at hand in terms of Bob’s knowledge of and love for ancient Greece: he taught “The Greek Mind” as part of Juniata’s general education curriculum for many years. Bob had a deep love for art & aesthetics, and when he invited me over to his house I was stunned to see etchings, prints, and sketches by Albrecht Dürer, Pablo Picasso, and other luminaries. Bob generously donated much of his collection to Juniata College’s Museum of Art, with which he was closely involved for many years.

Bob taught me “The Greek Mind” by coming in to my World History class regularly and lecturing on Homer’s “The Iliad.” He paced in front of the class and spoke passionately to our young Juniata students about ancient Greek views of what makes life worth living – striving to be “The Best” at whatever you do… and holding your child in your arms:

“She [Helen] joined him now, and following in her steps a servant holding the boy against her breast, in the first flush of life, only a baby, Hector’s son, the darling of his eyes, and radiant as a star…” — (The Iliad, Book 6)

Bob challenged the students: “Will YOU strive to be THE BEST?”

“What will YOU make of your lives?” I think the students knew, and I knew, that with Prof. Robert Wagoner in the classroom, and in our lives, we were in the presence of greatness.

— By Douglas Stiffler, Associate Professor of History

See obituary on page 57