The Valley Magazine: Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

THE FUTURE IS

NOW

and LVC Alumni are Leading the Charge

THE VALLEY Volume 37 | Number 1 Dr. James M. MacLaren, President Molly O’Brien-Foelsch, Chief Communications Officer

EDITORIAL STAFF Dr. Tom Hanrahan, Editor, Feature Writer Colleen Cordial Michael Freeman Parker Gallagher ’22 Rebecca Hearsey M’21, P’23 Zach Hossler Susan Sarisky Jones ’92 Molly O’Brien-Foelsch, Writer Jaime Rowe M’18 Darby Seymour ’22 Ali Wenger Anita Williams, Class Notes

DESIGNER Emily Acri, Cover, Feature, and Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Acri Andy Boehme ’19 Blue Cardinal Photography Alex Detter ’24 Tim Flynn ’05 Michael Freeman P’24 Nick Gould A.J. Nutter, Primary Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus Jaime Rowe M’18

WWW.LVC.EDU SEND COMMENTS OR ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Office of Alumni & Family Engagement Maud P. Laughlin Hall Lebanon Valley College 101 North College Avenue Annville, PA 17003-1400 Susan Sarisky Jones ’92, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement Rebecca Hearsey M’21, P’23, Assistant Director of Alumni & Family Engagement Phone: 717-867-6320 Email: alumni@lvc.edu Lebanon Valley College® publishes The Valley twice each year and distributes it without charge to alumni and friends.

The deadline for submission of information to The Valley is four months before being published. We will gladly include Class Notes received after the deadline in the next issue.

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THE VALLEY

CONTENTS

2 3 8 16 18 20 22 25 32 33

PRESIDENT’S LETTER VALLEY VIEWS THE FUTURE IS NOW—AND LVC ALUMNI ARE LEADING THE CHARGE HELEN NEIDIG TURNS 100 CL ASS NEWS & NOTES TA X-WISE GIVING FROM YOUR IRA EDWARD AND LYNN BREEN CENTER FOR GRADUATE SUCCESS IN MEMORIAM CAMPUS VIEW GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

ON THE COVER Valley alumni like Ph.D. electrical engineering student Rebecca Campbell ’19 are at the cutting-edge of many fields, transforming the country—and the world.

INSIDE COVER The Classes of 2020 and 2021 attended their in-person Commencement ceremonies from May 21–23, 2021.

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1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Friends, The colleges that thrive will embrace agility and flexibility while staying true to their missions. LVC’s successes in recent years include record enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs; significant retention gains; curricular innovation; expanded brand recognition; new and upgraded facilities; national and international student and faculty awards; and the development of outstanding academic and career support services—among many other points of pride. In 2020 and 2021, unlike many colleges and universities across the United States, we held in-person learning and weathered the pandemic without needing to furlough staff or cut salaries or benefits.

We are seizing this moment to look ahead and prepare for what’s next. Through Imagine LVC, the College’s next strategic plan, we define our path to a vibrant future. Among the questions we have discussed this spring: What do we stand for as a community? What will we do over the next three to five years that allows us to outperform our enrollment competitors and achieve financial sustainability? And what resources will we need to accomplish these goals?

From the many conversations with faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, and the Board of Trustees, four clear imperatives emerged as guiding themes for our future: #1 Future-ready Students: We will enhance LVC’s preparation of students for career success and lifelong personal well-being. Tactics will include building on the strengths of the Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Graduate Success and establishing support systems through which students build skills that prepare them for future personal success—mentally, physically, spiritually, culturally, environmentally, and financially. #2 Inclusive Excellence: We will become a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. This will require a campus- and community-wide effort to attain success. There are evident inequities in retention and graduation rates among underrepresented LVC students, which must change. Significant improvements also must occur in hiring, retention, and creating a welcoming and inclusive community. #3 In-demand Programs: We will invest in new academic programs that meet the needs of employers and society, collaborate with regional partners, and leverage relationships with similar educational institutions. #4 Visibility, Reputation, and Financial Sustainability: We will diversify revenue, raise LVC’s visibility in core enrollment markets, and inform new markets about LVC’s academic excellence and success.

And we will pursue private and public funding to support the strategic initiatives of Imagine LVC. We are defining a concrete, measurable set of action steps for each of the four imperatives and will present Imagine LVC for consideration to the LVC Board of Trustees in August.

Thank you for all you do as alumni and friends to make Lebanon Valley College stand out from the competition. I hope to meet many of you at Homecoming in October and throughout the coming years.

Sincerely,

James M. MacLaren, M.A., Ph.D. President of Lebanon Valley College

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VALLEY VIEWS

Community Collaborations

Nursing Degree Program Announced In April, LVC announced it would launch a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

The program will feature clinical experiences with partner organizations, including Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey

this summer. The new degree expands the College’s health professions offerings,

Medical Center and WellSpan Good

which include athletic training, clinical mental health counseling, communication

Samaritan Hospital, among others.

sciences and disorders/speech-language pathology, exercise science, sport perfor-

The College received initial approval

mance, applied kinesiology, clinical exercise physiology, and physical therapy.

from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing

“LVC has an excellent track record of preparing highly skilled and compassionate

to offer the degree beginning in Fall

healthcare professionals,” said Dr. James M. MacLaren, LVC president. “Our new pro-

2022. Prospective first-year under-

gram will address our region’s nursing shortage. LVC nurses will be inclusive, intercul-

graduate students can apply starting

turally skilled, and committed to treating each patient as a unique individual.”

Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders

LVC Community Doubles Blanket Challenge Goal

Students in the College’s Communication Sciences and Disor-

President James MacLaren, Ph.D., challenged the LVC com-

ders/Speech-Language Pathology Program provided telether-

munity to make 250 no-sew blankets for children who have

apy sessions for patients this year during the inaugural opening

experienced abuse. The Valley community responded by cre-

of LVC’s Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders.

ating nearly 600 blankets to be donated to the Children’s Re-

Student clinicians work with clients aged 18 months to 33 years.

source Center (CRC) of Harrisburg and Lebanon. CRC provides

The clinic plans to provide in-person therapy this fall if circum-

blankets to children to reduce trauma and aid in healing.

stances allow.

“It’s been heartbreaking to learn of the recent cases of severe

Student clinicians serve clients with a range of communication

child abuse in our Annville community,” said Dr. MacLaren.

disorders, including those in need of augmentative or alternative

“Blankets provide direct comfort to children in need. They’re

communication, speech sound disorders, language disorders,

one small but meaningful way we can help. I asked the LVC

and social language impairments. Clinical experiences prepare

community to join my wife, Gina, our daughters, and me in

students for external placements in medical and school settings.

this effort.”

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3

VALLEY VIEWS

Alumni Accolades individuals after incarceration and being a strong supporter of LVC’s intercultural affairs work. Snovel, special assistant to the president and director of strategic initiatives at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, was named by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf as the nation’s first executive director of a Commission

Alumni Honored

on LGBTQ Affairs in 2018.

(l. to r.): Darrell Duri ’22, Fatima Madondo ’22, Dr. JonnaLynn

Dr. Mary Olanich ’05 will receive the

Mandelbaum ’69, and Shingirai Guchu ’21

Young Alumni Award. A former LVC Fulbright Scholar to France, she is a re-

LVC will honor seven alumni who dis-

The scholarship’s first recipient, Shingi-

tinguished themselves in their careers

rai Guchu ’21, graduated in May.

and communities during Homecoming

searcher at the Frederick (Md.) National Laboratory for Cancer Research (see p. 9). Jasmine Bucher ’97, M’11, P’14,

Dr. Eric Roden ’83, Marsha Curry-Nixon

P’23 will be honored as the June Herr

’04, and Todd Snovel ’06 will receive

Educator of the Year for her theatrical

Alumni Citations. A professor of geo-

instruction work with the Palmyra School

science at the University of Wiscon-

District, fundraising, and community ser-

sin-Madison, Roden has numerous

vice initiatives. Rev. Carolyn Gillette ’82

The Almond Tree Scholarship, which

publications and citations, and has

will receive the Creative Achievement

provides significant support for students

earned several grants. Curry-Nixon,

Award for her work as an internationally

from sub-Saharan Africa to attend LVC.

executive director of AMiracle4Sure Inc.,

and nationally acclaimed hymn writer in

is renowned for her work engaging with

response to significant events.

Weekend in October. Dr. JonnaLynn Mandelbaum ’69 will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her international missionary and nursing career. She also will be recognized for establishing

Philanthropy Transforms Heilman and Sorrentino Enhancements Join Mike Rhoades ’95 and Jason Zitter ’96 to help revitalize the Louis A. Sorrentino ’54 Gymnasium and Heilman Center. The duo will match all gifts to the projects up to $100,000. The improvements will add locker rooms for three sports (men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball), a state-of-the-art recruiting lounge, team meeting and study spaces, and more. Please visit www.lvc.edu/sportscenterchallenge or contact Jordan Evangelista, director of individual giving, at evangeli@lvc.edu to donate or learn more.

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Actively Intercultural

New Resource: Bias Resource and Education Team

Black History Month Celebration

A new bias reporting system and team of LVC faculty and staff—the Bias Resource and Education Team (BRET)—was created this year. BRET members will provide resources for individuals impacted by or involved in a reported incident through education, conflict resolution, and advocacy. They will respond to incidents of bias that have occurred

Faculty and staff honored Black History Month with various events, community service initiatives, and a Taste of Africa.

The latter is a popular event where members of the Black Student Union serve Black, African, and Caribbean food commonly eaten in Black communities worldwide.

and a Celebration of Black Excellence in Motion. Members of the Black Student Union collaborated with Gamma Sigma Sigma to hold a campus-wide sock drive to benefit the FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and students participated in Supporting Education of Girls in Underdeveloped Communities in sub-Saharan Africa,

and help build a diverse, equitable,

Events included Melanin Magic Work-

which supports the work of the American

and inclusive community.

shops, Black Jeopardy, Black History Trivia,

Foundation for Children with AIDS.

LatinX Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month

Anti-Racism and Privilege Focus of 8th Annual Symposium The College’s annual Symposium on Inclusive Excellence featured keynote speaker Tim Wise, a prominent antiracist writer and educator, and educational sessions for faculty, staff, and students. The Children’s Resource Center of UPMC Pinnacle Health was recognized as a crucial community partner for its collaboration on President

LatinX, LVC’s student-led group founded to raise awareness about

James MacClaren’s no-sew blanket challenge (see p. 3).

historical, political, social, economic, and educational issues concern-

“Our annual Symposium helps raise awareness and

ing the Latino and Hispanic populations in the United States, orga-

engages the campus in conversations about race and

nized several campus and community events to recognize Hispanic

privilege,” said Dr. MacLaren. “As a college communi-

Heritage Month last October. LatinX hosted a “Try Latin Food

ty, we have made progress in diversity and equity. We

Dinner” and an evening of Pot Painting. They also collaborated

awarded microgrants to faculty to work on new initiatives

with the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery staff for a week of activities

that support inclusive excellence, and we have started

to include decorating an ofrenda for Day of the Dead. During the

incorporating inclusive excellence into faculty reviews

week, students made tissue paper flowers (paper marigolds), wrote

and our search committees, but there is much more to be

poems (Calaveras), decorated skull cookies, and made traditional

done. We must strive to make LVC affordable, accessible,

Mexican Pan de muerto (Bread of the Dead).

and truly inclusive.”

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VALLEY VIEWS

The Sporting Life Yingst Named MAC Coach of the Year

Matt Yingst, head coach of the women’s ice hockey team, was named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year.

Olivia Cindrich ’22 and Shelby Guinard ’23 were named All-MAC first team, with Guinard, a goalie, also named Defensive Player of the Year. Chloe Glass ’21 received an All-MAC Hon-

since 1998–99 and reaching the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MACC) Championship Game for the first time since 2017–18. Collin Jones ’23 was named MACC Player of the Year after scoring 20.2 points per game (PPG) and garnering 8.7 rebounds per game, both good for second overall in the Commonwealth. Court mate Justin Baker ’20, M’21 earned MACC Defensive Player of the Year honors after helping hold opponents to just 74.5 points per game and leading the team in steals (21) and scoring 13.4 PPG.

men’s team members—

Zach Tucker ’21 earned his second All-MACC honor, receiving second-

Zach Balodis ’21, Tyler

team recognition this year, after scoring a team-second 15.2 PPG. Head

Romel ’22, Alex Borowiec

Coach Brad McAlester, who finished his 27th season leading the Dutchmen,

’22, and Aidan Richardson

was named MACC Coach of the Year after coaching the squad to the Com-

’23 earned second-team

monwealth Championship Game for the second time in four years. He has

all-conference accolades.

won 397 games during his tenure.

Keri Jones ’20, D’22, a physical therapy major with a 3.99 cumulative GPA, was named the Middle Atlantic Conference’s (MAC) 2020–21 Women’s Cross Country Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Over the past few years, Jones has been one of the top cross country runners in the region. In 2019, Jones was named the MAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year after winning individual honors at MAC’s. She became LVC’s secondever runner crowned MAC individual champion, and achieved the fastest winning mark in MAC Championship history.

THE VALLEY

The men’s basketball team was rewarded for achieving its best start (6–0)

orable Mention nod. Four

Jones Named Senior ScholarAthlete

6

Men’s Hoops Dominate MACC Awards

Academic Achievements

Duo Receive NSF Grants; Lyons Surpasses $1 Million in Career Grants Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, and Dr. Dan Pitonyak ’08, assistant professor of physics, were awarded

Dr. Dan Pitonyak

National Science Foundation (NSF) grants last semester. The $210,00 grant for Lyons was his fifth for which he was principal or co-principal investigator. He has surpassed $1 million in support for student-faculty work in his interdisciplinary re-search (mathematics, physics, and computer & data science) during the past 15 years. The most recent grant will help Lyons focus on Quantum State Symmetry and Applications. Pitonyak’s first NSF grant is for $164,000 and will fund his theoretical physics student-faculty research. Pitonyak was a member of Lyons’ Mathematical Physics Research Group as an undergraduate.

Dr. David Lyons

Coach Perry Retires Mealey ’21 (l.) and Kuffa ’23 Shine

Wayne Perry ’78, head coach of women’s volleyball since the program’s inception in 1987, announced his retirement at the end of the spring 2021 season after 35 years. He’s a five-time Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MACC) Coach of the Year and boasts a 673–383 overall record, ranking him ninth among active coaches in wins in NCAA Division III and 19th all-time in DIII. In 18 of his 33 seasons, Perry guided the Flying Dutchmen to at least 20 wins and had three 30-win campaigns (2008, 2009, 2013).

He and his wife, Diana Perry, who has been an assistant coach for 30 years, led LVC to championships six times, including four consecutive MACC crowns from 2008–11. He has also taken his squads to the ECAC Tournament 10 times and has won the championship twice. Since 2001, Perry led his teams to the postseason in every season.

Emily Mealey ’21 completed her illustrious women’s basketball career in a shortened, 11-game season yet managed to finish third on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,301 points) and pull down 851 career rebounds. She led the squad in scoring and rebounding the past three seasons and was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MACC) All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive year. Teammate Kennedy

Perry coached dozens of outstanding players, including eight

Kuffa ’21 was named an All-MACC Honorable Mention af-

All-Americans and dozens of All-Conference selections. Various

ter finishing the season sixth in the conference in scoring

players received All-ECAC awards, MAC Commonwealth and ECAC

(13.1 points per game) and leading LVC in steals (19) and

Player of the Year nods, and two National Players of the Week.

blocks (11).

(l. to r.): Alaina Galwel ’23, Ben Leavitt ’22,

Musical Notes

Tessa Shaffer ’22

the annual Concerto-Aria Competition. A panel of three judges selected the trio of music education majors after performing in a live competition.

The LVC Symphony Orchestra has a long and rich tradition of featuring the winners of the Concert-Aria Competition in performances throughout the following academic year, including at the orchestra’s concert on November 14.

Trio Earn ConcertoAria Honors

Dr. Morell Releases Song in Honor of Son Dr. Justin Morell, associate professor of music, released “All

Dr. Johannes Dietrich, Newton and Adelaide

Without Words” April 30 in honor of his son, Loren, and during

Burgner Endowed Professor of Instrumen-

Autism Awareness Month. Dr. Morell wrote the composition

tal Music and director of the LVC Symphony

based on his experience as a parent of a non-verbal autistic child.

Orchestra, announced that Alaina Gawel ’23 (violin), Ben Leavitt ’22 (clarinet), and Tessa Shaffer ’22 (clarinet) were named winners of

Visit www.lvc.edu/the-valley for more news.

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VALLEY VIEWS

THE FUTURE IS

NOW

and LVC Alumni are Leading the Charge

Valley alumni are at the cutting-edge of many fields, transforming the country—and the world.

“I HAVE A VERY HIGH TOLERANCE FOR FAILURE… AND THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PL AN—ALBEIT ONE WRITTEN IN PENCIL .” ANGIE MAGAZINO ’07 It’s the can-do attitude of alumni like Angie Magazino ’07 who are exploring new and advancing technologies, science research, health professions, and businesses and helping change the world. They are not afraid of failure, are flexible and adaptable, and confront change as a challenge and opportunity—traits gained during their LVC humanities education.

They’re also willing to travel to learn and lead the way, with these 11 graduates having lived, worked, studied, or interned in 15 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries.

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Spatially Resolved Transcriptomics, bio-MEMS, and Immunotherapy

Olanich has a helpful way of describing her challenging to un-

Like many LVC alumni before her, Dr. Mary Olanich ’05 is

chopped strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and mangoes. In

in cancer research. A biology and neurobiology major who

the past, the best we could do to characterize a tumor molec-

earned a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research and study

ularly was to take that fruit salad, put it in a blender to make a

in France, Olanich was influenced by a life event to transition

smoothie, and then take part of the smoothie and sequence it.

from neuroscience to a different research area once starting

We would learn the fruits pres-

her graduate training at Washington University School of Med-

ent and their relative abundance

icine in St. Louis, Mo.

from sequencing data, but that

“I kept thinking about my grandmother, who passed away from

approach provided no spatial

liver cancer only a few months after diagnosis,” said Olanich.

information. Spatial context,

“She presented with very mild symptoms at diagnosis, and I was

however, is important—it mat-

interested in how a disease could be so quietly aggressive.”

ters where the pieces of fruit are

This curiosity led her to study molecular oncology. Specifically, Olanich chose a thesis mentor who studied a canonical tumor suppressor frequently inactivated in many human malignancies.

She added additional knowledge during her post-doctoral training at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Today, Olanich is the scientific manager at Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. in Rockville, Md., where she leads a molecular and digital pathology laboratory that fully supports investigators at the NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.

“We are essentially a core facility, which allows me to collaborate with numerous scientists, work with multiple tumor types, and use the newest, cutting-edge technologies and instrumentation,” noted Olanich.

derstand research to the general population.

“Tumor heterogeneity is a major challenge in cancer biology. If one thinks of a tumor as a fruit salad, it might comprise

located. For example, a biopsy might sample from a region with only blueberries, and there could be negative prognostic or treatment implications for missing the other fruits present.”

In January 2021, Nature Methods named spatially resolved transcriptomics as the Method

I kept thinking about my grandmother, who passed away from liver cancer only a few months after diagnosis,” said Olanich. “She presented with very mild symptoms at diagnosis, and I was interested in how a disease could be so quietly aggressive.”

of the Year 2020.

“Spatially resolved transcriptomics allow us to detect the presence and numbers of strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and mangoes and determine how they are arranged in relation to

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9

ogy platforms to our laboratory, and I expect to see the fruits of

Providing Opportunity for Youth

our labor soon,” said Olanich with a laugh.

This aspiration to help others is the foundation of LVC’s mission—

Rebecca Campbell ’19 uses her LVC physics degree to re-

and the basis for the career paths of many other alumni, includ-

search another potential cancer breakthrough, which could

ing Munyaradzi “Munya” Jakazi ’10, a program officer at World

also alleviate some of the treatment side effects that Olanich

Learning in Washington, D.C., who oversees its Iraqi Young

noted. A Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering at Temple

Leaders Exchange Program for Undergraduate Students.

University, Campbell’s research focus is to develop a bio-MEMS

“I always was geared toward a career in the service of others,”

(bio-microelectromechanical system) device capable of deliv-

said Jakazi, who hopes to found and run an organization that

ering targeted, localized treatments against tumors. She also

provides youth in need with opportunities for education, em-

was inspired due to the loss of a grandmother to cancer.

ployment, and entrepreneurship.

According to her LVC advisor, Dr. Keith Veenhuizen, director

Turns out, Jakazi, who hails from Zimbabwe, made the right

of cooperative engineering and assistant professor of physics,

choice. Since graduating slightly more than a decade ago,

“Rebecca’s research has the potential to improve the lives of

his internships and work have taken him worldwide, including

millions of people undergoing cancer treatment by reducing

positions as a program facilitator for Jovenes en Accion (Youth

side-effects.”

in Action) Digital Program and senior program associate for

“Bio-MEMS are devices that go inside or on the body [biocom-

the International Visitor Leadership Program, which the U.S.

patible] and perform a task using a mechanical or electrical

Department of State funds.

component,” explained Campbell. “These devices must be on

“Having had the privilege and opportunity to encounter, inspire,

the micro-scale.

and impact the lives of youth in the Philippines, South Africa,

“The primary draw of the micro implantable cisplatin generator

Iraq, across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well

is reducing the side effects associated often with cancer treat-

as here in the U.S., has been profound,” shared Jakazi.

ments. Many side effects from systematic chemotherapy are

“I was inspired to an international development career by my

caused by the cisplatin attacking healthy non-tumorous cells.

upbringing in Zimbabwe—seeing the necessity to offer those

By introducing the cisplatin regionally within the tumor, less of

in need the opportunities and tools to succeed in life—and my

the drug is needed, and fewer non-tumorous cells are affected.”

Peace Corps experience,” said Jakazi, who served for three

one another. My research group has added new spatial technol-

years in the Philippines.

“Youth, in whichever society or country, hold the keys to the future. That is why it is important to reach and inspire them during their formative years.”

Rebecca Campbell ’19

Angie Magazino’s ’07 post-graduate journey began as a high school English teacher but quickly expanded to helping youth and adults throughout the country.

“After graduation, I set out to do the job I’d always dreamed of: teaching. I loved being a teacher, but I realized after a few years that I wanted to teach people, not English.”

Magazino’s sense of adventure has taken her to four states and Washington, D.C., where she recently became chief of program and training with Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY). This educational non-profit focuses on teaching lifelong leadership skills to participants around the world.

“I went to HOBY when I was 15 years old and have volunteered with them for 14 years. In my new role, I will enhance our youth leadership programs and create a lifelong leadership journey for alumni and volunteers,” said Magazino.

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In being connected more than ever through advances in technology, our world is much smaller— through economics and trade, entertainment, the increased exposure to people of different cultures and ethnicities, and, unfortunately, recently a global health pandemic.

worked in various posi-

LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIST

tions at Michigan State

Dr. Katherine Myers Mesick ’05 is on

University, Dickinson

a career trajectory similar to Dr. Eliz-

College, and the College

abeth Miller Bains ’64, one of LVC’s

of William & Mary, but

earliest female physics majors. But

is probably proudest of

unlike Bains, who spent much of her

co-founding Girls With

career as a NASA scientist, Mesick is

Ideas in 2015.

exploring space in another dimension

Before HOBY, Magazino

“We created Girls With Ideas because of our passion for female-led leadership and the un-

through her role as a member of the Space Science and Applications (SSA) group at the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico.

derstanding that expe-

Mesick’s expertise is in designing and

riences as a leader can

testing radiation detectors for non-

differ dramatically based

proliferation and space applications.

on gender identity,” said

She also conducts data analysis and

Magazino. “The ideal

simulations for nuclear physics and

intervention age for a girl

planetary science applications.

is nine years old—that’s

“The U.S. has flown radiation detectors in space since the 1963

when her confidence

Limited Test Ban Treaty between us, the United Kingdom,

peaks and social pres-

and then-Soviet Union,” said Mesick. “The treaty prohibits the

sures creep in, for better

testing of nuclear weapons underwater, in the atmosphere, or

or for worse.

space. We deploy radiation sensors on various space platforms

Magazino said “she will

to verify treaty compliance.”

always be a teacher at

Mesick needed extensive training and education to achieve

heart, wherever her ca-

such a distinguished position of national safety. She earned her

reer takes her.”

Ph.D. in physics from George Washington University in Washing-

Darnell Epps ’08 is

ton, D.C., working on research at the Thomas Jefferson National

similarly inclined to help

Accelerator Facility and a post-doctorate at Rutgers University.

youth overcome, perse-

Now, Mesick and her Los Alamos colleagues assess several

vere, and succeed.

types of radiation.

After graduating from

“The radiative outputs from a nuclear weapon include neutrons,

LVC with a degree in mu-

gamma-rays, and x-rays, so we design radiation detectors for

sic education and earning

each of these signatures,” said Mesick. “There are detectors op-

a master’s degree in mu-

timized for each radiation type. For treaty monitoring, our charge

sic at Washington State

is to be able to detect, locate, and report nuclear detonations.”

University, Epps used his time as an LVC Valley Ambassador [admission

In addition, Mesick and her SSA group perform research beyond radiation detection.

tour guide] to launch a

“Our group does a lot of basic science research—studying the

career as a college diver-

Earth’s magnetosphere, studying the Sun and interactions at

sity officer and recruiter.

the interstellar boundary, gamma-ray astrophysics, and plane-

Recently, he returned to

tary science, to name a few.

secondary education to

“I’ve always been fascinated by space. I ended up studying nu-

become director of fair

clear physics in graduate school, and I’m so happy that I found a job where I can do both—nuclear physics in space!”

Munyaradzi “Munya” Jakazi ’10

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11

play (diversity, equity, and inclusion) at the Hawken School in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

Epps, originally from Maryland, was drawn to LVC by several factors.

“My high school band director knew of LVC and the strong reputation of the Music Department. I found it especially appealing that the department offered a conservatory-style music education in a liberal-arts setting. I knew I wanted the freedom

WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE

and flexibility to study other subjects I was interested in, such

The Hon. Bryan Cutler, Esq., ’01 took a circuitous path to become

Though still active in music, Epps’ Valley Ambassador work

the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. After earning his associate’s degree in radiology, he attended LVC’s then-Lancaster campus to earn his bachelor’s degree. He took evening and Saturday classes while working second- and thirdshift at Lancaster General Hospital. Cutler didn’t stop there.

When we understand each other, we understand how we make decisions. When we understand and respect each other, we can solve problems.

“I had a lifelong dream of going to law school,” said Cutler. “I ultimately chose Widener University, due to its nationally ranked Health Law Program and my unique background from the clinical and business sides of healthcare.”

Cutler continued combining interests

as sociology, religion, and film.” gave him a glimpse into higher education as a career choice.

“I LOVED showing prospective students and families around LVC’s campus and helping influence their college decision,” said Epps.

After earning his master’s at Washington State, Epps worked in higher education with stints as associate director of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice (IDEAS) Center at Allegheny College, and senior assistant director of admissions and coordinator of multicultural recruitment, also at Allegheny.

Epps has crucial advice to help colleges like LVC recruit and retain diverse students and help them feel welcome and succeed.

and knowledge through volunteering

“Colleges can work closely with high school counselors and

at the township level for the local plan-

college-bound organizations to consider enrolling underrep-

ning commission.

resented students in cohorts,” said Epps. “Colleges should

“I became frustrated with Harrisburg.

That was 2006 when the Legislature voted themselves a substantial pay

offer on-campus and community programming and training on topics such as implicit bias, microaggressions, gender, consent, sexism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, race and racism, ability and disabil-

raise,” noted Cutler. “I started looking for someone to support in the election, but after a couple of people asked me why I wasn’t running, I decided to do so.

“I was raised that you never asked someone to do something that you wouldn’t be willing to do yourself. In this case, it meant learning how to run a campaign during my third year in law school. I ran the contested primary against the incumbent during my final semester, won the primary on Tuesday, and graduated that Saturday.”

Cutler handily won his subsequent elections and became Republican Majority Leader in 2018 and Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020. During his government tenure, he has supported and welcomed bipartisan support of efforts to improve the lives of all residents of the Commonwealth.

“I always try to visit numerous districts to understand people and their communities,” added Cutler. “When we understand and respect each other, we can solve problems.”

12

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Darnell Epps ’08

ity. Establish strong bias reporting protocols; listen and take

four or five, realize that he could combine his love for sound

meaningful action when issues arise. Having these topics and

and gaming into an amazing career.

foundations interwoven throughout the life of the College will help diverse students feel better represented and supported.

“Dave interned at Insomniac Games in Burbank, Calif., during my junior year, and I knew I needed to find out more about how

“LVC alumni, specifically, can help create structures for formal

he nailed that gig,” said Snyder. “I followed in his footsteps,

and informal mentoring to occur. Help students connect with

getting an internship at Insomniac the following year.

important alumni networks for internship and career opportunities, and establish scholarships to assist students with all financial costs associated with attending college.”

Gaming for a Living Staying along musical lines, Bradley Snyder ’11 works at the cutting-edge of sound technology as a lead audio designer. His

“I was paid to work on video games during my internship in 2010 while being in sunny California. I was making sound effects that would ship in a game millions of people would play.”

This dream lifestyle didn’t initially pan out for Snyder as Insomniac wasn’t hiring at his position by the time he graduated. But, ever persevering, Snyder eventually returned to California, landing a gig at Respawn Entertainment in Los Angeles.

career started through a chance meeting that ended with him

His first project was on the Titanfall game, which received more

enrolling as a music recording technology (now audio & music

than 100 award nominations at the Electronic Entertainment

production) major at The Valley.

Expo (E3), including several for audio. Snyder also worked on

“I was in high school planning on a career in animation, focused

Titanfall 2, which IGN, a prominent video game news and cul-

on 2-D Art, while also picking up my first guitar,” said Snyder.

“I attended a Christian conference in the Midwest, where I saw this massive praise concert and introduced myself to one of the band’s guitarists. He turned out to be Chris Keeney ’04, a fellow

Bradley Snyder ’11

Lancaster resident attending LVC for MRT. He became my guitar teacher and encouraged me to enroll at LVC. Somehow way out in the Midwest, I bumped into the catalyst for my current career path and trajectory.”

Coincidentally, a classmate and future department adjunct professor, Dave Nazario ’09, provided the next rung on Snyder’s ladder. He also made Snyder, an avid gamer since the age of

SPRING 2021

13

DATA-INFORMED CHANGE

ture website, ranked as the second-best game all-time in

Dr. Gregory Phillips II ’05, an

Unbroken Studios, a small independent group. He can’t say

assistant professor at North-

its category.

Snyder recently left Respawn after almost nine years to join yet what he is working on but knows “it will be a fun project for

western University in Chicago,

people to enjoy.”

Ill., researches COVID-19 testing

Kyle Wagner, CFP, ’14 also works in the burgeoning video gam-

and prevention behaviors among

ing industry. Wagner, a financial advisor with Wagner Wealth

racial/ethnic minority and sex-

Management, advises professional esports players and social

ual and gender minority (SGM)

media content creators. He is also a caster for professional

young people with funding

esports competitions with Complexity Gaming, a professional

from a new National Institutes

esports organization partially owned by Jerry Jones, owner of

of Health (NIH) initiative. He and

the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys.

his colleagues have conducted extensive data-driven research to explore concerns of underrepresented populations in the U.S. and potential solutions.

This past summer, Phillips conducted a study focused on the impact of COVID-19 on LGBT adults, which served as pilot data for his new NIH funding.

“Due to these preliminary results and the omnipresent concern

Like Snyder, Wagner soon realized he could pair his two loves— finance and gaming—into a rewarding vocation.

“I’ve been fortunate to be a caster with Complexity Gaming in Dallas, Texas,” said Wagner. “I broadcast competitive events in World of Warcraft that Complexity airs on Twitch as part of their commentary team.”

And the business is growing each year. According to the Esports Reporter, total industry revenue eclipsed $1 billion in 2020.

about students returning to school, we thought it was vital that someone collected information on LGBT youth and young adults to see how the pandemic has impacted them and their families.”

Phillips has conducted other research projects to benefit underrepresented groups.

“I’ve overseen the evaluation of Chicago’s HIV funding portfolio for the last six years, and the ability to work directly with diverse agencies throughout the city has been rewarding. Many of those early interactions have turned into positive and prolific research partnerships that are informed by community priorities, and that meaningfully include the community of interest throughout the process.”

Phillips stresses areas of concern and improvement.

“My work has been increasingly focused on developing structural interventions as the only way to directly address the root causes of stigma (e.g., racism, homophobia, transphobia). We need to change the system in which people are embedded.

“Despite a clear need for structural interventions for all conditions, not just HIV or COVID-19, funders have been reluctant to support their development. We’ve worked to highlight the need for structural change in commentaries and systematic reviews, and I hope that we’ll be able to make progress toward changing the funding paradigm.”

14

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Kyle Wagner, CFP, ’14

“There’s an entire generation who grew up playing video games,” said Wagner. “They see esports the same way as previous generations view traditional sports such as Major League Baseball. Regardless of the sport, people enjoy watching the best-of-thebest compete.”

Wagner has big plans for the future.

“I want to become known as the ‘esports financial advisor.’ If you are a highly successful streamer, YouTuber, or professional esports competitor, I want to be the person you think of when you need help with your finances.”

Innovation in Major League Baseball Dr. Andrew Pipkin ’08, D’11 is a physical therapist and medical director in Major League Baseball (MLB). His young career has taken him to four states and pursuing a master’s degree from Australian Catholic University to his current role with MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays.

Along the way, Pipkin gained skills and expertise with MLB’s Cleveland Indians (minor league rehab coordinator in Arizona), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (upper extremity athlete fellowship), University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (sports physical therapy residency), and is in the process of pursuing a master’s in high performance sport in Australia.

In Toronto, Pipkin uses evidence-based medicine and performance principles to develop injury prevention and rehabilitation programming for the team’s professional athletes.

“We use the latest technology in sport and performance areas to better quantify what an athlete’s activity, or workload, is on a given day, and also how they are responding to this workload,” said Pipkin. “This allows us to manage injury progressions better and monitor athlete’s workload to reduce the risk of injuries.”

Pipkin is grateful to LVC’s physical therapy faculty for creating his fondness for continuous learning. He also shared some professional advice for current majors.

“My physical therapy faculty have been incredibly supportive since my student days,” he said. “LVC’s program instilled in me the values of continuing to learn and improve myself even after I graduated.”

SPRING 2021

15

Congratulations to Helen Neidig P’73 (Neidig-Garber Science Center) who turned 100 on March 15.

16

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(left, l. to r.): Linda Banigan O’Leary (daughter), Helen Neidig P’73, John Banigan (son)

(top, l. to r.) F. Allen Rutherford Jr. ’37, P’71, P’74, H’85; Greg Stanson ’63, P’92, P’95; Dr. H. Anthony “Tony” Neidig ’43, P’73, H’04; Helen Neidig P’73

(top right, l. to r.) Helen Neidig P’73, Kathy Neidig Calabrese ’73 (daughter), Wendy Thomson (friend)

(bottom right, l. to r.) Dr. Michael Porambo ’09, Helen Neidig P’73, William Lehr Jr., Esq., H’19

SPRING 2021

17

CL ASS NEWS & NOTES BIRTHS

NOTE: All locations are in Pennsylvania and all years are 2021 unless otherwise noted.

Alexander K. Hess ’09 and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a son, Greyson,

’80s Sara Wardell Smith ’85 and Timothy Smith ’81 are proud grandparents of

Oct. 1, 2020.

’10s

granddaughter Virginia Smith, born Oct. 25, 2019.

’00s Sarah Van de Weert Abbenante ’06 and her husband, Nick, welcomed a daughter, Ryan Claire, June 24, 2020.

Sadie Boyer

Katie Krediet Boyer ’10 and her husband, Jim, welcomed a daughter, Sadie Grace, Aug. 9, 2020. Katie is an ESL teacher

Karen Kue

Joi-Yan Kue ’11 and her husband, Michael, welcomed a daughter, Karen Elise, Nov. 10, 2020.

in the Chambersburg Area School District.

Thalia Renshaw

Kelly Gondek Renshaw ’07, and her husband, Scott, welcomed a daughter, Thalia Isabel, July 8, 2020.

David J. Sodl ’08 and his wife, Julie, welcomed a son, Luke David, July 11, 2020.

Maya Musselman Grace Humphries

Mary Kent Humphries ’11 and Ryan Humphries ’12 welcomed a daughter, Grace Carey, in May 2020. Mary stated, “She has brought endless joy to our lives Greyson Hess

18

THE VALLEY

and can’t wait for her first Chicken Tender Thursday!”

Dr. Jamie Musselman ’11, D’13 and Kris Musselman ’08 welcomed a daughter, Maya, in September 2020.

Alyssa Wargo Wischerth ’11 and Matthew Wischerth ’11 welcomed a daughter, Addison Rose, Aug. 11, 2020.

WEDDINGS

’00s (l. to r.) Dylan Tobias ’16, Justin Tice, Daniel Hunt, Austyn Gulliver, Adrien Gulliver ’17, Abigail Nicholas Gulliver ’17, Grace Nicholas, Rachel Hunt ’17, Anissa Gulliver ’21, and Alexa Gulliver

Abigail Kathryn Nicholas ’17 and Adrien Marcel Gulliver ’17 married Aug. 1, 2020, in Reinholds. Dylan Tobias ’16, Rachel Hunt ’17, and Anissa Gulliver ’21 were in Jerilyn Oehme Herrick ’08 and William Henry Harper Simms III

Alex Simms ’13 and his wife, Brandy, welcomed a son, William Henry Harper, Sept. 21, 2020.

Sgt. Andrew Herrick

the bridal party. Wayne Minich II, former LVC affiliate minister, officiated.

Abigail is a music educator in the

Jerilyn Oehme ’08 married Sgt. Andrew

Lancaster School District, and Adrien

Herrick Sept. 19, 2020, in Gettysburg.

is an electronics technician at 4Wall

Megan Sargero Tillery ’08 and Dr. Brian

Entertainment.

K. Reed M’01 attended.

’10s Dr. Jan E. Ikeda ’15, D’17 and Dr. Christian A. Grove ’15, D’17 married June 19, 2020, in Lancaster. The event was livestreamed for guests. Jan and Christian are physical therapists with Madden Physical Therapy.

(l. to r.) Brian Partington, Alexandra Partington, Kaitlyn Partington Wilcoxson ’17, Eric Wilcoxson ’17, Brianne Partington ’21

Kaitlyn Partington ’17 and Eric Wilcoxson ’17 married July 4, 2020, in New Jersey.

Micah Cassel

Rachel Yeater Cassel ’15 and her husband, Tim, welcomed a son, Micah James, June 27, 2020. Proud aunts

Amy Templeman Sneath ’19 and Matthew Klein and Cristal Acevedo Klein ’17

include Julie Smith Cassel ’17, Joanna

Cristal Acevedo ’17 married Matthew

Yeater ’18, and Lois Yeater ’23.

Kline Sept. 26, 2020, in Manheim.

Terry Sneath ’19

Amy Templeman Sneath ’19 and Terry Sneath ’19 married May 24, 2020, in Ladera Ranch, Calif.

SPRING 2021

19

CL ASS NEWS & NOTES Steve Roberts ’65 and his wife, Janet Gessner Roberts ’68, retired. They were the owners of EchoData Group. Steve is a member emeritus of the LVC Board of Trustees who served for almost two decades, receiving emeritus recognition in 2013.

Tax-wise giving from your IRA If you’re age 70.5 or older and have an IRA, you can make a gift to LVC and save on taxes— even if you don’t itemize.

It’s called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), and it’s fairly simple to do.

•

Instruct your IRA administrator to make a distribution from the IRA directly to LVC. We’ll direct your gift to whichever College

•

of Florida College of Education, shared some LVC memorabilia with LVC President James MacLaren. John sent Dr. MacLaren a pin from the 1966 Centennial Tyler Isabelle ’19 and Paige Bryson ’20

married Oct. 10, 2020, at the London-

one as part of the 100-year celebration.

derry Historical Society in N.H. Paige is a

The students then voted on who had the

permit coordinator at Momentum Solar.

best beard that year.

CLASS NOTES

Betty Criswell Hungerford ’54, H’09

distribution comes directly to The Valley.

And the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) returns in 2021. A QCD gift will count toward your RMD (if you have one this year).

For many donors, a QCD is the most tax-advantaged way to support LVC students because it’s a gift made from pre-tax assets.

Please contact Joe Martellaro, director of gift planning, at martella@lvc.edu or 1-866LVC-1866 for additional information on IRA giving.

stepped down as chair of LVC’s Alumni Awards Committee. She received an LVC Alumni Citation in 1992, a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004, and an Honorary Doctorate in 2009.

THE VALLEY

Zoom 2020—Ed Ruth ’65, Don MacGowan ’66, Bob Corsaro ’66, Lewis Nieburg ’68, Phil Buchanan ’68, Ron Beckley ’66, Paul Tietze ’67, John Dennelsbeck ’67, Richard Henzel ’66, Phil Thompson ’68, and George Hollich ’65

Rev. W. Franklin Lantz ’57 celebrated his 40th anniversary since ordination

Don MacGowan ’66 shared a photo of a

to Christian ministry in the Evangelical

Zoom reunion of the West Hall Gang,

United Brethren Church (Methodist), now

held during LVC’s virtual Homecoming

United Church of Christ. He said LVC was

Weekend last fall. Don said the “gang,”

his prelude to the ministry.

primarily members of the Classes of

’60s

1965–69, “have many fond memories of living in the former West Hall.”

Dr. Michael J. Campbell ’69 retired as a

June Stringer Rietdorf ’63 directs and

music professor from Young Harris Col-

plays for two choruses in Englewood,

lege in Georgia. He taught saxophone,

Fla., where she and her husband, Timo-

directed the jazz band, taught advanced

thy, spend six winter months each year.

conducting (instrumental and choral),

George J. Hollich Jr. ’65, P’95, P’98 was

and music appreciation. He served as

made an honorary alumnus of Milton Hershey School.

20

dents were not allowed to have a beard at the time but could petition to have

eligible.

You do not claim it as income

that noted he had a “Beard Permit.” Stu-

Paige Bryson ’20 and Tyler Isabelle ’19

’50s

for tax purposes since the

•

of mathematics education, University

Gifts of up to $100,000 are

priority you choose.

•

Dr. John Gregory ’66, a retired professor

an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor throughout the U.S.

’70s

’90s Michael Reidy ’70 won

Dr. Camille DeClementi ’90 was recog-

several awards for two

nized by 92Y (www.92Y.org) as a 2021

of his novels. “Lost

Women in Power Fellow. She is vice

Lady” won a Chill with

president of ASPCA Animal Hospital.

a Book Reader’s

Steve Trapnell ’90 is vice president,

Award and a BRAG

senior communications consultant for

Medallion Award. “The

Fulton Bank. He has worked as a jour-

Rock Pool” won Book “Thoughts and

nalist, college instructor, and corporate

of the Year from Chill.

communications practitioner in the

Whispers” by

Rev. Ruth McAllister

financial services, telecommunications,

Michael Reidy ’70

(l. to r.) Melissa ’00, Lyla, Colby, Randy ’99,

Burgess ’74 and her

manufacturing, and transportation/

and Landon Kostelac

husband, the Rev.

logistics industries.

Mark A. Burgess ’75, retired in July 2019.

Dr. Amy Earhart ’91, associate professor

Randy Kostelac ’99 and Melissa Zinn

John Ellis ’74 retired from teaching after

of English and affiliated faculty of Afri-

Kostelac ’00 submitted a photo and text

39 years. He was a seventh-grade teach-

cana Studies at Texas A&M University,

for the I am a Dutchman feature in the

er in the Penns Grove-Carney’s Point

was named a 2020 President Impact

President’s Report. This editor apologizes

School District in New Jersey.

Fellowship Recipient. She also received

for forgetting to include it; I am sorry.

Nelson Rudiak ’76 wrote and recorded

a NEH-Mellon Fellowship for Digital Pub-

I am a Dutchman!

lishing for her “Digital Humanities and

I am a dedicated Father and Husband.

the Infrastructures of Race in African-

I am a proud employee of Redner’s

“Corona Virus Blues,” which has been played worldwide. Inspired and taught by his brother, the late John Rudiak ’72,

American Literature” project.

he launched a fine art photography

Michelle May Herrold ’92 is associate

website.

director of training at Trustmark Health

We are Steelers fans.

Benefits in Lancaster.

We are Orioles fans.

’80s

Kevin M. Shertz ’95 attained his Delaware

is registered in Maryland and Delaware,

services at Cheil Dallas, Texas, for Cheil

working out of Davis, Bowen & Friedel

Worldwide.

novel, “The Jewelry of Grace,” in January.

for Good,” which is available on Kindle and Amazon. She expressed her thanks to the LVC English Department for teaching her how to write.

’00s

His first novel, “The Pride of Central,” was

For his 42nd birth-

on the Amazon best-seller’s list for its

day, Pete LoBianco

genre for 17 days.

Jr. ’00 combined his love of cycling with

Ana Craig ’97 is the treatment center

a local charity, New

director at AppleGate Recovery in

Life for Girls, for his

State College.

Roseann McGrath Brooks ’82 published her first novel, a Christian romance, “All

We are proud Dutchmen.

Angelo Vicari ’99 is head of client

David Bohr ’97 released his second

Brooks ’82

I am a volunteer coach.

professional architectural licensure. He

Inc.’s Salisbury office.

“All for Good” by Roseann McGrath

Markets Inc.

Don’t be shy; share your good news!

www.lvc.edu/stay-connected

“Everesting” atPete LoBianco Jr. ’00

tempt. Everesting is a cycling sport where you pick a

hill anywhere in the world and complete repeats of it until your vertical gain equals Mount Everest’s height.

SPRING 2021

21

CL ASS NEWS & NOTES The Hon. Bryan Cutler ’01 was elected

Go further, achieve more, and help the next generation of Dutchmen do the same.

to his first full-term as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

He served as speaker during the last quarter of the 2019–20 session.

Thomas Killian Jr. ’01, M’11 is the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s director. He is working on his doctorate in psychology from Northcentral University in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Anne Parmer ’03 was named a Forty

Thinking about pursuing a new job or changing careers? The Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Graduate Success is here to help.

Under 40 recipient by Central Penn Business Journal.

Marsha Curry-Nixon ’04, is an adjunct professor of practical theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary of the United Church of Christ.

Dr. Andy Dewald

Breen Center staff are available via WebEx, phone, email, or on campus to: Review your

Provide

Give graduate

cover letter

LinkedIn

school

and résumé

analysis

guidance

Offer career path

Prepare you through interview

advice and coaching

practice and feedback

’04 is chair of the Department of Psychology at Hawaii Pacific Dr. Andy Dewald ’04

University in Oahu, Hawaii.

Career network through Handshake (formerly JobCenter)— contact breencenter@lvc.edu to register.

Pass it on.

We invite alumni to create internships for LVC students, volunteer for networking events, conduct mock interviews, share career path advice at special virtual events, and more.

Contact us at breencenter@lvc.edu or 717-867-6560.

Kendra Cook ’06 with a Dodge Victory at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Kendra Cook ’06 is the executive director of the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. Her husband, Zachary Cook

The Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Graduate Success launched in fall 2018 with the support of a $1.5 million gift through the Breen Family Foundation from LVC trustee Edward D. Breen, executive chairman of DuPont, and his wife, Lynn.

22

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’06, is a history teacher in the Eastern Lebanon County School District.

E. Thomas McKee M’06 was named a

Oct. 4, 2020. He serves at Faith Evan-

continue managing patients safely

Forty Under 40 recipient by Central Penn

gelical Lutheran Church in Whitehall.

despite working under added pressure.”

Business Journal.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher M. Rankin ’01 and John C. Brewster ’04 participated in

Erin Treese ’09 was named a Forty

Carrie Krug Nedick ’06 is the director of donor services for Lehigh Valley

the service.

Community Foundation in Allentown.

Karyn A. Camilo ’09 received her mas-

Todd Snovel ’06 was named a Forty

ter’s degree in chemistry from Drexel

Under 40 recipient by Central Penn

University. She is an HPLC scientist at

Under 40 recipient by Central Penn Business Journal.

’10s

Business Journal.

Eurofins.

Roberto Marti Jr. ’07, M’20 is the coordi-

LCDR Daniel Hodge, M.D., ’09 opened a

vestment advisor at SVN Commercial

private practice, Fourth Tree Health, in

Advisory Group, a national real estate

Camp Hill in July 2020 after completing

firm in Sarasota, Fla. She specializes in

his service with the U.S. Navy. Fourth

industrial properties and self-storage.

nator of transfer services at Harrisburg Area Community College.

Nikki Nelson ’07 is a sleep consultant at Nikki Nelson Sleep Consulting.

Mary O’Malley ’10 is an associate in-

Tree Health is a primary care practice.

Corey Lamoreux, Esq., ’08, was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star. He is a partner with Reilly Wolfson in Lebanon.

Anthony Marasco ’08 is an assistant professor of music technology with the School of Music at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Andrew Pipkin ’08, D’11 is the medical director for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team (see story on p. 15).

Holly Frey Serio ’08, a former music teacher in Eastern Lebanon County School District, received the Class of

MAJ Michael P. Pence, D.O. ’09, attending anesthesiologist, and CPT Thomas A. O’Hara, D.O., general surgery resident, in the

2020 Teacher Impact Award from WITF

COVID-19 operating room at Dwight David

and Rotary District 7390.

Eisenhower Army Medical Center

B. Melissa Smith M’08 is the administra-

(l. to r.) Ben Guiles, Phillip Freeman ’11, and Jonny Ross ’12

Phillip Freeman ’11, Ben Guiles, and Jonny Ross ’12, members of the interna-

tor of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilita-

Dr. Michael Pence ’09 is an active duty

tionally recognized band Small Town

tion Center.

anesthesiologist who serves as assistant

Titans, were recognized by YouTube with

Ben Wagner ’08 is the founder and CEO

chief of the Department of Anesthesi-

its Silver Creator Award for getting more

ology at Dwight David Eisenhower Army

than 100,000 subscribers to their band’s

Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. During

YouTube channel.

of Scott Rose Partners LLC in Tampa, Fla.

the pandemic, he managed the operating room schedule, cared for patients, and provided emergency airway control to patients impacted by the disease. He noted that “the educational foundation I Thomas D. Busteed ’09

Thomas D. Busteed ’09 was ordained to the Word and Sacrament ministry on

received while obtaining my LVC biology degree allowed me to stay up to date on recommendations and synthesize the data. This training enabled me to

Charles McElwee ’11 is the inaugural John Farley Memorial Alumni Fund Fellow from The Fund for American Studies for journalism. He is the managing editor at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Cory Homer ’12 is associate vice president of student success and institutional effectiveness at Sussex County Com-

SPRING 2021

23

CL ASS NEWS & NOTES munity College in Newton, N.J. He also

Dr. Connor P.

Compensation” in the Drexel Law

serves as the president of the Delaware

McDonald ’15

Review. Caitlin is a third-year law stu-

Valley School District Board of Education.

graduated from

dent at Drexel’s Thomas R. Kline

the Geisinger

School of Law.

Commonwealth

Dr. Amanda Gorman ’18, D’20 is a physi-

Lauren Fenner ’13 was honored by the

School of Medi-

Whitaker Center as an

cine in spring

award winner through

2019. He is a

the 2020 Women of Impact: Celebrating Women in STEM Lauren Fenner ’13

Awards Program.

She was selected in

the Women to Watch category, which recognizes a woman younger than 40 who has significant accomplishments

cardiothoracic Dr. Connor P.

surgeon in his

MacDonald ’15

second year of residency at The

cal therapist with Concentra Urgent Care in Harrisburg.

Dr. Robert Kupsho ’18, D’20 is a physical therapist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Dr. Lindsay E. Lane ’18, D’20 is a physical

University of Texas Medical Center in

therapist with J.Z. Mann Pediatric Therapy

San Antonio, where he is fully embedded

in Jacksonville, N.C.

with many patients severely affected by

Theresa Messenger ’18 received her

and success in STEM. She is a senior

the COVID-19 virus.

manager at Brown Schultz Sheridan &

Megan Berner ’16 is the Ecommerce

nications from Syracuse University in

Fritz in Camp Hill.

strategy senior analyst with UPS in

October 2019. She is the marketing

Kevin Greene ’13 founded ConnectUs

Atlanta, Ga.

director for Power Train Sports and

Church in Lancaster. He, his wife, Dr.

Peyton Carper ’16 is an associate in liti-

Alisha Greene ’13, D’15, and children

gation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher

Neal Rose ’18

Kinsley and Zaylah reside in Lancaster.

& Flom LLP in New York City, N.Y.

received his mas-

Sheryl Ann Klus ’13 received board

Cody Kelly ’16 presented at the New Di-

certification as a behavior analyst in May

rections in Music Education at Michigan

2019. She is an analyst consultant with

State University in February. Cody is the

Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11.

new vocal music and choir director at

Gregory T. Seiders, Esq., ’14 is a trial

East Stroudsburg High School South.

deputy prosecutor at the York County

Hannah Pell ’16 was appointed to the

District Attorney’s Office.

Three Mile Island Citizens Advisory Panel

Rachel Snavely-Merhaut ’14 is a theater

to participate in the decommissioning

teacher at Lawrence Public Schools in

process and serve as a liaison for and on

Lawrence, Mass.

behalf of the public.

Michael Butcher ’15 is an AmeriCorps

Corey Kuchinsky ’17 turned his passion

volunteer who serves in Northern Vermont with the DREAM Program.

Dr. Tim Carroll ’15 completed his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California Santa Barbara. He is doing his postdoctoral work at Pacific Northwest National

for pizza into a part-time business, Pizza Tent, a mobile pop-up open on Fridays outside the Crowded Cookhouse Commissary in Lancaster. Corey is a full-time CPA with Deloitte in Harrisburg.

Colin Albright ’18 is a CPA with Simon

Laboratory in Richland, Wash.

Lever LLC in Lititz.

Connor DeStefano ’15 is a career advisor

Clarissa Dempsey ’18 is a private tutor at

at Educational Data Systems Inc.

Sylvan Learning Center.

Dr. Kayla M. Klumpp ’15, D’17 opened a

Caitlin Dryden ’18 published “Putting

new clinic with Select Physical Therapy in Hanover.

24

THE VALLEY

Mental Health on the Frontline: Why Mental Injuries in First Responders Should be Covered through Workers’

master’s degree in advertising commu-

Fitness in Chambersburg.

ter’s degree in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies from the George Washington Neal Rose ’18

University’s Elliot School of Interna-

tional Affairs in May 2020. He is a Foreign Affairs Officer with the U.S. Department of State in their Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau.

Julie Rutherford ’18, Kevin Beaver ’19, Brandon Roy ’20, and Anna Weaver ’21 co-authored a paper published in Biosensors, a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Michelle Rasmussen, assistant professor of chemistry, led this undergraduate student-research group.

Don’t be shy; share your good news!

www.lvc.edu/stay-connected

Devin Brown ’19 is a

associate professor of accounting and

Roger M. McKinley ’49 died Aug. 8, 2020,

senior staff accoun-

instructional coordinator of the MBA

in Winchester, Va. A U.S. Navy World

tant with Brown

Program, for his mentorship.

War II veteran, he served 26 months

Schultz Sheridan &

Devin Brown ’19

in the Pacific Theater, primarily as a

Fritz in Camp Hill.

FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE

Hannah Dalpiaz ’19

Pope Francis named Bishop Edward C.

member in an air-sea rescue squadron.

Malesic to lead the Diocese of Cleveland,

He began his career as a Department

Ohio. He led the Diocese of Greensburg

of Navy junior management assistant in

since July 2015. He attended LVC for

logistics analyst. He became manager of

three years before enrolling in a

the Defense Logistics Systems Analysis

seminary.

Office in 1970, retiring from the Senior

is a crisis intervention counselor at

Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill.

Abigail “Abbey” Samuelson ’19 is a lab technician with Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology.

’20s Carlos David Campbell ’20 is an actuary with Willis Towers Watson in New York.

Dominique Guimond ’20 is a treasury analyst with Post Acute Medical in Enola.

Executive Service in 1981. McKinley was

IN MEMORIAM

awarded the Secretary of Defense

’40s

Joanna Helen Norris Roe ’49 died Dec.

Christine Kreider Schott ’40 died Sept.

24, 2020, in Cornwall. She was a music teacher for 21 years in the AnnvilleCleona School District. Schott was a member of Tabor United Church of Christ and Lebanon Women’s Club. She

Tyler Perhac ’20 is a graduation recovery

enjoyed traveling, listening to music,

teacher with the PA Distance Learning

and playing Bridge.

Charter School. He works with vulnerable populations and teaches sports management.

Clare Schaeffer Berger ’46 died Jan. 17, her 97th birthday, in Stroudsburg. She began teaching in Lebanon County,

Adam Salazar ’20, M’21 will join RKL LLP

then moved to New York City. There, she

as a tax associate in June after complet-

worked at Macy’s and the Columbia Uni-

ing his LVC MBA.

versity Library. Returning to the Poconos,

Alexis Sanders ’20 is a head fitness

she taught second grade at Clearview

coach and director of athlete services

Elementary School in Stroudsburg for 20

with Fitness4Focus in Lancaster.

years, retiring in 1986. Berger is survived

Lauren Sigmon ’20 is a high school English teacher at Reading High School in the Reading School District.

Tyler Suessmuth ’20 is a solutions analyst with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.

radio/radar operator and gunnery crew

by her daughter, Leslie Berger ’75. She was predeceased by her husband, Alvin C. Berger ’48.

Esther Engle Hivner ’47 died Aug. 29, 2020, in Elizabethtown. She was a retired second-grade teacher for Lower Dauphin

Nicholas Sweitzer ’20 is a commercial

School District and taught at the former

solution support specialist at Armstrong

Hummelstown High School. She was

World Industries in Lancaster.

a member of Trinity United Methodist

Brandon Vance ’21 was hired as a Staff

Church in Hummelstown for more than

Accountant I with Withum, Smith+Brown

80 years. Hivner was predeceased by a

PC. He thanks Andrew Hildebrand,

sister, Lucille Engle Otto ’33, and a broth-

CPA, CVA, J.D., ’91, P’20, P’22, P’24, LVC

er, Robert M. Engle ’48.

Meritorious Service Medal.

6, 2020, in Dauphin. She assisted her church in the resettlement of Cambodian and Vietnamese families into the Harrisburg community. She created the Khmer Silk Weaving Project by securing funding to build an authentic Cambodian loom and source silk thread, for which she received a National Heritage Fellowship Award. Roe was a member of Market Square Presbyterian Church. She was the longest member at 80 contiguous years.

’50s Lt. Cmdr. Robert R. Fischer, (Ret.) ’50 died Sept. 3, 2020, in Williamsburg, Va. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. He received the United National Medal, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and China Service Medal. Fischer worked in supply disbursing and inventory control for Ingersoll Rand. He was a member of the Jamestown Presbyterian Church.

Francis A. Heckman ’50 died Aug. 7, 2020, in North Reading. He served in the Army Air Corps until 1947 and was a World War II veteran. Before retiring in 1986 from Cabot corporation in Billerica, Mass., he was an electron microscopist and research scientist. Heckman was a

SPRING 2021

25

IN MEMORIAM founding member and the first president

being honorably discharged, he owned

tical sales for A.H. Robins and played in

of the New England Society of Electron

and operated the State Theater in New

competitive drum and bugle corps.

Microscopy. He was a member of Trinity

Castle. Later, he became a banking and

McClure held charter memberships in

Evangelical Church.

equipment salesman in Pittsburgh.

the Lebanon County Shrine, Annville-

Joseph L. Markley ’50 died Nov. 24,

John Edwin McClure ’50 died Oct. 11,

2020, in Mishawaka, Ind. He served our

2020, in Elizabethtown. He was a U.S.

country, driving a tank in Austria under

Army Air Corps veteran who served in

the command of General Patton. After

World War II. He worked in pharmaceu-

Cleona Kiwanis, and Annville Businessman’s Club. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Moyer McClure ’52.

Committee (chair). Hackman also volunteered on her class reunion committee.

Born in Ephrata, Hackman was the daughter of the late Dr. Warren H. ’22 and Mabel Long Fake and the wife of the late Lloyd R. Hackman. One of their four daughters, M. Louise Hackman Hess ’78, followed in her mother’s footsteps and has served on the LVC Board of Trustees since 2013.

“My mother was a lifelong learner whose dedication to LVC was inspired by her father, Dr. Warren Fake,” said Louise. “He graduated from The Valley in 1922 and went on to become a physician and entrepreneur. He also served as a trustee and was named a Distinguished Alumni in 1972. She proudly followed in his footsteps by joining the Board of Trustees, where she especially enjoyed working with the administration of President John Synodinos H’96.”

After graduating from LVC, Hackman worked for Dutchmaid Inc. in the design department and served on the Board of Directors, retiring in 1985. Along with her husband, Lloyd, she founded New Holland Lingerie, a garment manufacturing company.

Elaine Fake Hackman ’52, Board Member Emerita, Dies

Hackman was an avid reader who enjoyed entertaining her grandchildren with trips to the bookstore. She was a lifelong resident of Lancaster County who spent many hours researching family genealogy and local history. Hackman enjoyed traveling and RV trips with Lloyd and time spent at the family cabin

Elaine Grace Fake Hackman, an emerita member of the Col-

in Union County in retirement.

lege’s Board of Trustees who served from 1982–1999, passed

She is survived by a son, David Hackman (Amy Cardina); four

away peacefully on Oct. 25. Formerly of Akron, she was a resi-

daughters, Suzanne Hackman Morgan ’77 (Randy), Louise

dent of Brethren Village.

Hackman Hess ’78 (Ken), Annette Radcliffe (Chris), and Christine

A member of the women’s basketball and field hockey teams

Myers (Steve); daughter-in-law, Melissa Hackman; 11 grand-

as an undergraduate, Hackman remained devoted to her alma mater after graduating with a history degree in 1952. During her nearly two decades serving on the Board, she served in

children, Laine, Elyse Kirkhoff ’11, Kelsey, Abby, Evan, Chloe, McKenzie, Jack, Samira, Emma, Gianna; one great-grandchild, Odin; three sisters, Margaret Fake Anders ’50, Ethel “Tess” Fake

numerous leadership roles, including as a member of the Exec-

Wolf ’59 and Joan Sweigart.

utive Committee (vice chair for two terms) and Trusteeship

She was preceded in death by a son, Warren Hackman.

26

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Bozidar Robert Mrgich ’51 died Dec. 17,

Emily J. Felty ’18. He was predeceased

Corporation in Steelton, Bethlehem, and

2020, in Palmyra. He served in the U.S.

by a sister, Linda Felty Earp ’62.

Michigan City, Ind.

Air Force during the Korean War. He had

Edward Joseph Hutchko Sr. ’54 died

Donna Williamson Shafer ’58 died Nov.

Nov. 20, 2020, in Wilkes-Barre. He played

2, 2020, in Fla. Trained as a concert

center and tackle for LVC’s football

pianist, she taught for 35 years in Fort

team. After serving in the U.S. Army, he

Walton Beach, Fla. She achieved Ameri-

began a business management career,

can Teacher of the Year two consecutive

retiring from the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

years. Shafer was a member of the Trinity

He was a member of All Saints Parish in

United Methodist Church in Fort Walton.

Elaine Fake Hackman ’52 (see In Memo-

Plymouth.

riam, p. 26)

James Oliver Lebo ’59 died June 14,

William Schmidt ’55 died Aug. 7, 2020,

2020, in Ocala, Fla. He served in the U.S.

Richard “Richie” Furda ’53 died June

in Kissimmee, Fla. After graduating with

Air Force during the Korean War, earning

22, 2020, in Lakewood, N.J. He served

an LVC economics degree, he earned his

a Korean Service Medal, United Nations

in the U.S. Army Special Category Army

elementary and secondary education

Service Medal, and National Defense

with Air Force from 1953–1955, with

teaching certification. He taught many

Medal. He worked at the Pennsylvania

18 months at Dreux Air Force Base in

years in Brick Town, N.J., before teaching

Department of Health and Welfare

France. He retired in 1986 after 32 years

at First United Methodist Church in

until retiring.

with Eastern Electric in Kearny and New

Kissimmee.

York City, and AT&T in Morristown, as

Rev. Russell W. Barr ’56 died July 16,

a 35-year career with the Pennsylvania National Insurance Company. Mrgich was a lifetime member of St. Nicholas Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in Oberlin. He is survived by a niece, Rachel Moola ’05.

district manager. Furda was co-captain of LVC’s 1952–1953 basketball team that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. He was

2020, in Georgia. He served in the U.S. Air

’60s

Force before attending LVC. He pastored

Carolee Green Weidner ’60 died Dec. 16,

inducted into LVC’s Hall of Fame in 1989.

two appointments before returning to the

2020, in Florida. She taught music at W.E.

Air Force in 1965 to serve as a chaplain

Cherry Elementary in Orange Park, Fla.,

Rev. F. Kenneth Hoffer ’53 died Oct. 30,

for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Barr became

for more than 30 years, winning Teacher

2020, in Narvon. He was a World War

pastor of Carmel United Methodist

of the Year in 1986. Music was her life—

II Navy veteran. He was the pastor of

Church in Gay, Ga., in 1995.

from learning to play piano at age three

four E.C.C. churches in Delaware and

Patricia Oyer Sheaffer ’56 died Nov. 26,

to playing the organ for St. Michael’s

Pennsylvania. He also held executive positions at the former Pomeroy’s Department Stores in Reading for 34 years.

Hoffer played baseball in Lancaster and was elected to its Hall of Fame.

2020, in Beavercreek, Ohio. She was a

Episcopal Church just a few months be-

psychiatric nurse in Ohio, New Hamp-

fore her passing.

shire, and Pennsylvania. She also taught in the Good Samaritan Hospital and Miami-Jacobs College (Fla.) nursing pro-

Jay Allen Felty ’54, D.D.S. died Aug. 27,

grams. Sheaffer was predeceased by her

2020, in Schuylkill Haven. He earned

husband, the Rev. Aaron Sheaffer ’55.

his D.D.S. at Temple University in 1958,

Robert Nelson ’57 died Dec. 16, 2020. He

inaugurating three generations of family dentistry. He was awarded a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1984 and practiced dentistry for 59 years. Felty was vice president of the Friends of the Union Canal Tunnel, where he helped create the Union Canal Tunnel Park. He was a member of the Lebanon Moravian Church. Felty is survived by a son, Dr. Dana S. Felty ’80, his grandsons, Nathan S. ’14, and Dr. Justin M. Felty ’16, D’21, and a granddaughter,

was a member of the LVC baseball and basketball teams. He was inducted into Lebanon Valley College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

Richard Lee Shover ’57 died Jan. 16 in Michigan City, Ind. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a heavy mortar unit leader and forward observer during the Korean War. He was a labor relations manager for the Bethlehem Steel

Cecelia Reed Keehn ’62

Cecelia Reed Keehn ’62 died Sept. 6, 2020, in Kingston, N.Y. She taught music in the Kingston School District and pri-

SPRING 2021

27

IN MEMORIAM vately. Keehn was the director of music

Humanity and the Assistance Center of

a distinguished career that led to being

at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of

Towson Churches.

recognized as one of the Outstanding

the Redeemer for more than 50 years and a soloist at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley. She was a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. Keehn is survived by her husband of 58 years, G. Thomas Keehn ’63, and a brother-inlaw, David P. Keehn ’68.

James “Jim” Francis Hogan ’63 died Sept. 10, 2020, in Fairfax, Va. He started as an inspector for the Food and Drug Administration and then became a special agent for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (now the Drug Enforcement Administration). He did extensive undercover work, ran across infamous Mafia figures, and participated in Elvis’s and Howard Hughes’s death investigations. Hogan was predeceased by his first wife, Louise Hill Hogan ’64.

Barbara Bongart McMinn ’63 died Sept.

29, 2020, in Lebanon. She taught music in the Pequea Valley School District.

After retiring, she worked in customer relations at Hersheypark. McMinn was a member of the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia.

Douglas Kenneth Troutman ’63 died Oct. 25, 2020, in Fountain. He taught music in the York School District and Stamford, Conn. A pianist and organist, he was a founding member of Men in Harmony, a Christian men’s chorus. Troutman was a member of the Christ United Church of Christ in Fountain, where he played piano and organ.

Thomas Koch, Ph.D., ’66 died Sept. 30, 2020, in Towson, Md. He held clinical chemistry positions at St. Joseph’s Hospital, University of Maryland Hospital, Quest Diagnostics, and Union Memorial Hospital. He served Maryland Presbyterian Church in many capacities.

Koch was a volunteer with Habitat for

28

THE VALLEY

Barbara Lenker Tredick ’66 died May 20, 2017, in Carrollton, Texas. After more than 40 years of practicing, directing, and teaching nursing, she retired from Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii and moved to Texas.

Robert Posten ’67 died June 10, 2020, in Maryland. He co-founded the Annapolis Brass Quintet, which performed in all 50 states, Europe, Asia, and Central America.

The quintet performed the first brass concert in the Brahms-Saal Concert Hall in Vienna, Austria, and established the International Brass Quintet Festival in Baltimore.

Harry Milton Capper ’68 died Dec. 24, 2020, in Harrisburg. He worked at AMP as a research and development engineer and was the owner of Capture’s Photography. Capper was a member of Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church and an inventor with numerous patents.

Young Women of America. She was the executive producer of “Panorama,” a daily show hosted by Maury Povich.

Seeger worked as media relations manager for the American Red Cross, an event planner for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and vice president of communications for The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. She was an LVC adjunct instructor of English and executive director of Central PA Hunger Relief. Seeger was predeceased by her father, Frank Eugene Stachow, late LVC instructor of woodwinds. She is survived by her siblings, Elizabeth Stachow Guthrie ’70, Andrew ’73, David ’76, Robert ’79, and Michael Stachow ’87.

Heidrun Hergard Multhoff Mayer ’75 died Dec. 14, 2020, in Brattleboro, Vt. She worked as a social worker and nurse in a juvenile home and several nursing facilities. Her greatest achievement was being the mother of 30—three sons from

Larry Lee Light ’68 died Oct. 17, 2020, in

her husband’s first marriage, an adopted

Lancaster. He was a United Methodist

son and daughter, and 25 teen foster

minister who pastored churches in Phila-

girls. She was awarded Pennsylvania’s

delphia, Chester, and Bucks counties.

Foster Mother of the Year in 1980. Mayer

Later, Light was a sales director and spe-

is survived by a son, Friedrich “Fred”

cialist with classic and antique automo-

Mayer ’79. She was predeceased by her

biles in Morgantown. He is survived by a

husband, Joerg Mayer, LVC professor

brother, Terry L. Light ’70.

emeritus of mathematical sciences.

’70s

died July 16, 2020, in Reinholds. He was

Maxine Spangler Obleski ’72 died

Army Band, obtaining the rank of Staff

March 15, 2020, in Greeley, Colo. She

Sergeant E6. Kegerise received the

worked in aerospace, ergonomics, engi-

Meritorious Service Award from the

neering, and education and was on the

Reading Scottish Rite. He was a French

Magellan Venus Radar Mapping project

horn musician in the Ringgold Band.

team. Obleski was a biology professor

He is survived by his mother, Evelyn

at Aims Community College in Greeley,

Gehman Kegerise ’53.

where she received an Award for

Gregory Allen Hilt ’79 died July 12, 2020,

Excellence in Teaching.

SSG Kim R. Kegerise, USA (Ret.) ’76 an active/reserve member of the U.S.

in Mercersburg. His long, varied career

Frances “Fran” Stachow Seeger ’72

in the computer sciences led him to live

died Sept. 28, 2020, in Lemoyne. She had

in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin,

Virginia, and Connecticut. He is survived

Orlando who “made those around him

RestoreCore in King of Prussia. He also

by his wife, Glenda Gordon Hilt ’79.

smile with his witty jokes, and was so

operated Bookmark Accounting Service.

Gabriel Anthony Pompette III ’79 died

happy when surrounded by his family.”

Snavely enjoyed camping and boating.

Nov. 5, 2020, in Brookfield, Conn. He wrestled and played football at LVC,

He is survived by his wife, Patrice; children, Wesley, Kenneth, Jenna, Jennifer,

Karen Karapandza Townsend ’87 died Feb. 15, 2020, in Harrisburg. She was

then was a regional sales manager

and Emilie; and grandson Grant.

for Kodak Alaris. A lifelong athlete, he

Anna-Inez Matus ’84 died Nov. 8, 2020,

member, a lifelong Bishop McDevitt

coached football for Brookfield Pop

in Pine Grove. She was a certified radio-

football fan, and a long-standing mem-

Warner for 13 years and served as

logical technologist for almost 20 years

ber of the Women’s Civic Club of Her-

commissioner of New England Pop

with the University Hospital of Maryland

shey. She is survived by her sisters,

Warner.

in Baltimore. She had various occupa-

Kathleen Karapandza Jensen ’79 and

tions, including x-ray technician, author,

Mary Karapandza Alvarado ’84. She was

educator, counselor, life coach, and

preceded in death by her mother, Louise

therapist. Matus was passionate about

Cody Karapandza ’56, and her husband,

Life Science.

Richard D. Townsend M’98.

’80s Rebecca Supplee Lundgren ’80 died

an actuary for CBC, an avid game night

Dec. 22, 2020, in Wyomissing. After work-

Leland J. Steinke Sr. ’85 died Dec. 5,

ing at Reading Hospital, she became a

2020, in York. He was employed by

clinical nurse specialist at Wernersville

Tapestry Technologies in Chambersburg.

’90s

State Hospital for 38 years while contin-

He was a member of Immaculate Heart

Richard D. Townsend M’98 died March

uing her nursing education at LVC and

of Mary Catholic Church in Abbottstown.

19, 2019, in Harrisburg. He was a labor

the University of Pennsylvania, earning a

Steinke loved taking cruises, playing

analyst for Giant Food Stores in Carlisle.

master’s degree in nursing. After retiring,

board games, and being a member of

He was a faithful and devoted member

she volunteered, giving flu shots and

several gaming groups.

of the Temple University Night Owls

providing hospice care.

Christine “Teenie” M. Hopple A’86 died

Community Band. He is survived by

Donald M. Busler ’81 died Aug. 21, 2020,

Jan. 17 in Lebanon. She was a librarian

in Camp Hill. He was an assistant golf

at LVC and the Annville Free Library.

Townsend ’87.

professional for the Holly Tree and

She was a professional seamstress and

Cynthia “Cindy” Batdorf Root ’99 died

Greenville country clubs in South Caro-

made quilted wall hangings and quilts.

July 19, 2020, in Lebanon. She was an

lina and a sales representative for Maxfli

Hopple was a member of Zion United

accomplished real estate agent. Root

Golf. Busler was a history buff who loved

Methodist Church in Myerstown, serving

was the volunteer treasurer for the

researching World War II events.

as secretary of the Women’s Club. She

Affordable Housing Council of Lebanon

was actively involved with Friends of Old

County, a member of the Lebanon

Annville. Hopple is survived by a son,

County Real Estate Association Board,

William “Bill” Hopple, an LVC building

and an event lead at the local branch of

and maintenance technician.

the American Cancer Society.

worked as a nurse for NGK Metals,

Barbara Long Kuehn ’86 died Oct. 31,

Melissa Fritz Schload ’99 died Sept. 1,

Caloric Corporation, and Empire Steel

2020, in Bethesda, Md. She served with

2020, in Maytown. She was a member of

Castings. Fies was the executive director

the CIA for 31 years, including numerous

the LVC women’s tennis team. Schload

of the Berks Unit of the American Cancer

overseas assignments and multiple

was a huge Tar Heel basketball fan and

Society and past president of the Berks

deployments to the Middle East. Her

New Kids on the Block follower. She

County Association of Occupational

many interests included the performing

loved watching cooking shows.

Nurses. She was a member and ordained

arts, cooking, fine wine, and entertaining

elder at Epler’s United Church of Christ.

friends. Kuehn is survived by her hus-

Marie Torchia Fies ’81 died July 19, 2020, in Reading. She was president and founder of Nurses in Industry Inc., an occupational nursing service. She

his wife of 31 years, Karen Karapandza

band, Kenneth Kuehn ’86.

’00s

2019, in Orlando, Fla. He was a longtime

Joseph M. Snavely, Sr. ’87 died July 29,

Sherry Near Blake ’04 died Oct. 2, 2020,

senior payroll analyst at HD Supply in

2020, in Lancaster. For the last 14 years,

in Mountville. She worked as a secretary

David Paul Beppler ’83 died Oct. 14,

he was the chief financial officer at

SPRING 2021

29

IN MEMORIAM Michael Rhoades ’95, head men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth University, remembered the annual cards and more from his time as a history major at LVC. “Dr. Broussard was a great professor whose classes were tough and fair,” Rhoades shared. “His letters and cards always made us respect him and LVC even more. Great life…Legacy made!”

Broussard was born in Houston, Texas, and later majored in history at Harvard College. At Harvard, he was a member of R.O.T.C., the debate team, and the Young Republicans. He earned his Ph.D. at Duke University.

From 1968 to 1970, Broussard performed his active-duty military service in the Army Adjutant General’s Corps at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind., reaching the rank of captain.

Subsequently, he served as a reserve officer in the Office of the

Dr. James “Jim” Broussard A friend and confidant of governors and scholars worldwide, beloved professor Dr. James H. Broussard died Aug. 10, 2020.

Chief of Military History. He taught American history at Clarkson College of Technology, Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State), served as the historian of the Indiana state legislature, and returned to teaching at Ball State University and the University of Delaware.

Since arriving at LVC in 1983 as chair of history and political

In the late 1970s, Broussard founded the Society for the History

science, he spent nearly four decades inspiring generations

of the Early American Republic, a thriving and respected part of

of students. He and his wife, Margaret, welcomed countless

the historical profession. At the time of his death, he was estab-

students, alumni, and their families to their home for fishing,

lishing the Center for Political History, based at LVC, which held

boating, food, and comfort.

its first conference in 2018.

Alumni shared extensive memories of their time with Broussard

In 1989, Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey proposed a tax

and his role as a teacher, mentor, and often lifelong friend and

plan that required a constitutional amendment permitting vari-

advisor. Regardless of when they graduated, alumni remem-

able tax rates. Broussard believed this would raise taxes unfair-

ber Broussard for his spirit of fun, which he brought to campus

ly. He formed Citizens Against Higher Taxes and campaigned

through activities ranging from rolling oranges or grapefruits

against the amendment. It was defeated 3–1, the biggest

down the hall to meeting personal donut requests for all stu-

defeat of an amendment in the state’s history.

dents on test days. There were also Revolutionary War reen-

Broussard authored two books: The Southern Federalists,

actments using water balloons at the family home, lovingly referred to as “The Estate.”

1800–1816, and Ronald Reagan, Champion of Conservatism, and numerous articles and book reviews. He was a frequent

The Honorable Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania Governor and

political commentator for multiple media outlets. In 2017,

first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and his wife, Michele,

C-SPAN visited campus to record one of Broussard’s classes on

were close friends of Broussard.

The Colonial American Revolution.

“Jim was a dear friend. He was an icon of the conservative move-

He was a member of the Lebanon Country Club, Steitz Club,

ment with strongly held views but always expressed them with

Phi Beta Kappa, and numerous historical societies. He is sur-

civility and respect for other perspectives,” Governor Ridge re-

vived by his wife, Margaret; their son, David Broussard, and

membered. “Mostly, he was just a sweet guy who cared deeply

David’s wife Sophie and their children Elsa Rose and Samuel;

about Pennsylvania and our nation. I’ll miss our conversations.”

his brother, Thomas R. Broussard; his sister, Nancy Leonard; his

Broussard remained connected with his former students throughout his life. He held regular luncheons in Harrisburg and invited alumni to play golf whenever they were in the area.

He and Margaret also sent Christmas cards to an extensive list of alumni and friends.

30

THE VALLEY

sister Dorothy Bell; one niece and three nephews. Contributions can be made to the Center for Political History at Lebanon Valley College.

at Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital for

at Ingram Micro and as an LVC house-

one he met.” He enjoyed the outdoors,

the last several years. Blake was an avid

keeper. Boltz enjoyed volunteering at

cutting wood, hunting, and fishing.

reader, enjoyed old movies, and arts

East Hanover and Jonestown elementary

and crafts.

schools and being at the beach, espe-

Theresa Morales Doster ’08 died Jan. 1

cially in the Outer Banks.

Suzanne “Sue” M. Shankroff died Nov. 27, 2020, in Elizabethtown. After attending Bucknell University, she married

in Lancaster. She was passionate about

Nancy Davison P’83, P’86 died July

Benjamin “Ben” Shankroff, her husband

her job as a Spanish teacher at South-

22, 2020, in Freehold Township, N.J. In

of 54 years. “Sue’s love for family, garden-

east Middle School in the Lancaster City

addition to working at the Freehold Trust

ing, and traveling made her life a joy.

School District, where she taught the

Company (now Central Jersey Bank

Planning family trips, outings, and events

last 11 years. Doster was a world traveler,

and Trust Co.) for 11 years, “she was an

were among her favorite activities.” She

visiting Barcelona, Ireland, London, Por-

incredibly loving and devoted wife and

and Ben were the lead donors for creat-

tugal, Belgium, and Paris. She is survived

mother… whose smile lit up a room.” She

ing the Shankroff Tennis Center, home to

by her husband, Anthony Doster ’14.

and her late husband of 41 years, Jim,

LVC’s men’s and women’s tennis. Shank-

were members of the College’s Miles

roff was a longtime member of Congre-

Rigor Society. Davison was a member

gation Beth Israel in Lebanon. She is

of the First United Methodist Church of

survived by her husband, Ben; son, Mark

Freehold for more than 60 years. She

(Betty); daughter-in-law, Rita Shankroff;

was a senior choir member, served

grandson, Jordan Shankroff ’15, M’20;

on various committees, and was the

granddaughters, Kelsey Shankroff Boyer

church’s administrative secretary for 37

’13 (Adam) and Katelyn Shankroff; among

years. She was predeceased by her hus-

others. She was predeceased by a son,

band, Jim, who served on LVC’s Board of

Brett Shankroff.

’10s Jessica A. Finlayson ’14 died Jan. 22 in Whitehall. She was an eighth-grade math teacher at Northampton Middle School and the head varsity coach of Northampton’s high school girls volleyball team. An avid skier, she frequently went to Blue Mountain and on family ski trips. Finlayson loved going to her

Trustees, and is survived by daughters Susan ’83 and Carol ’86 Davison.

Mary Louise Kurtz Sweigard died Nov. 14, 2020, in Mechanicsburg. She attend-

parent’s lake house at Lake Hauto and

Randy Gerhart died Dec. 21, 2020, in

ed LVC for one year as a music major.

enjoyed boating, swimming, and

Reading. He attended LVC and Ryder

She was a manager of the Hospitality

volleyball.

Technical Institute. He worked at GPU for

Shop at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital

20 years as a storage IT engineer and at

and served on the Community Con-

Quest Diagnostics in Norristown.

certs Association. She was a member of

The Hon. David J. Arnold Jr., Esq., died

James Joseph Gray died June 23, 2020,

Free Grace Brethren in Christ Church in

Jan. 17, in Lebanon. He earned a criminal

in Schenectady, N.Y. He attended LVC

justice degree from Kutztown University

on a football scholarship. He worked in

husband, John I. Sweigard ’52.

and his law degree from Widener Uni-

management for A&P for more than 36

Paul W. Wagner, Jr. died Sept. 22, 2020,

versity Commonwealth Law School. On

years, then worked part-time for Nabis-

in Tremont. He was a Marine Corp vet-

Jan. 14, 2020, he won the special elec-

co until he was 85. He was a longtime

eran who served in the Vietnam War.

tion for the 48th Senatorial District of the

member of St. Luke’s Parish, Holy Name

He was a certified nursing assistant at

Pennsylvania Senate. Arnold believed

Society, Pastoral Council, and a Eucha-

the Lebanon VA Hospital. Wagner was a

in and exhibited hard work and integ-

ristic minister.

member of the Tremont Area Ambulance

Jim Hitz died Sept. 9, 2020, in Jonestown.

Association since 1979, Mine Rescue,

FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE

rity in all aspects of life. He was a man of few words, however the statements he chose to make were meaningful. He loved fighting for the underdog. Arnold is survived by his wife, Alicia Arnold ’99, and daughter, Reese.

He worked for Lash Plumbing and Heating for more than 35 years, then as an LVC maintenance technician/plumber, retiring after 10 years of service. Ann

Millersburg. Sweigard is survived by her

and taught mine safety classes for the state. He and his wife established the Kristan L. Wagner Endowed Scholarship in memory of their late daughter.

Hayes, LVC senior director of human

Bonita “Bonnie” Boltz died Sept. 25,

resources and Title IX coordinator, wrote,

2020, in Hershey. She worked at Boscov’s

“Jim was good-humored, laughed easily,

for more than 20 years. She also worked

and shared his broad smile with every-

SPRING 2021

31

CAMPUS VIEW

Spring blooms on campus.

32

THE VALLEY

Go further in your career.

Achieve and earn more with a graduate degree from Lebanon Valley College.

Take classes online, on-campus, or both. Lebanon Valley College has greatly expanded its graduate and professional studies programs and offers various fellowships, merit, and Valley Forward scholarship opportunities.

Business + Communications Master of Business Administration | Choose from six concentrations: Accounting, Healthcare Management, Human Resources Management, Leadership & Ethics, Project Management, or Supply Chain Management/Logistics Our certificate programs are structured to allow an efficient transition to a master’s degree program if you so desire: Healthcare Management | Leadership & Ethics | Supply Chain Management/Logistics | Project Management

Education Master of Education | The program’s modular design, which includes the option to earn a stand-alone certificate(s), follows current educational trends combined with the flexibility to help you achieve your goals.

Master of Music Education Master of Science in STEM Education Integrative STEM Education Certificate* | Modern Band Certificate | Online Teaching & Learning Certificate* Social, Emotional, & Behavioral Wellness Certificate** | Comprehensive Curriculum & Assessment for PreK–12 Certificate Gifted Education Certificate | ACT 48 Continuing Education for Educators *PDE Endorsement | **PDE Endorsement pending

Health Professions Master of Science in Applied Kinesiology

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Master of Science in Sport Performance

Sport Enhancement Certificate

Master of Athletic Training

Psychology Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Are you ready to leverage your LVC undergraduate degree by growing your professional skills and expanding your knowledge? If so, consider enrolling in one of LVC’s Graduate and Professional Studies Accelerated Alumni Admission programs through our abbreviated, quick admit process.

FELLOWSHIPS, MERIT, AND VALLEY FORWARD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. WW.LVC.EDU/GRADUATE-STUDIESSPRING 2021

33

101 North College Avenue Annville, PA 17003-1400 www.lvc.edu

Homecoming OCTOBER 15–17, 2021 |

The traditions of Homecoming and Family Weekend bring together alumni, parents, family members, friends, and LVC students for a three-day celebration.

WWW.LVC.EDU/HOMECOMING #HOMEATLVC