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7 ART BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Students create program for pediatric patients
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20 MONEY MATTERS
How alumni mix faith and finances
School of Graduate Studies Commencement
Milestones for Messiah
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017
GLENN IBBERSON ’18
INSIDE LOOK
Glenn Ibberson ’18 took a film class in Florence, Italy, this summer. “We got to experience the city through Italian films,” he said. “These locations of the city morphed through time as they were recorded. It felt like we were in one of those movies, to be honest. Everything had this beautiful age to it. On top of that, the sunsets over the river were always the best place to relax, hang out or eat a piece of pizza.”
S U M M E R 2 0 1 7, VO L . 1 0 9 , N O . 1
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office of Marketing and COMMUNICATIONS
One College Avenue Suite 3020
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Office of Marketing and Communications One College Avenue, Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717.691.6027 | www.messiah.edu PRESIDENT
Kim S. Phipps V I C E P R E S I D E N T F O R A DVA N C E M E N T
Barry Goodling ’79 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Carla E. Gross EDITOR
Anna Seip C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
Nancy Soulliard GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Cindy Agoncillo ’09, Jordan Pereira DIRECTOR OF A L U M N I & PA R E N T R E L AT I O N S
Jay McClymont ’92 CONTRIBUTORS
Sarah Fertsch ’19, Steve King ’06, Robyn Passante, Liv Ungurean ’16
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The Bridge (ISSN-0279-3938) is published quarterly by the Messiah College Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni and friends of the College, free of charge. Periodicals postage (USPS #342000) paid at Mechanicsburg PA 17055 and additional mailing offices. Please contact us at thebridge@messiah.edu or 717-691-6027. Items for the alumni news section should be identified by class year and sent to the Messiah College Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, One College Avenue Suite 3023, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. You may email them to alumni@messiah.edu or fax them to 717-796-5371. Postmaster: Address corrections should be sent to the Office of Development, One College Avenue, Suite 3013, Mechanicsburg PA 17055.
F E AT U R E S
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As its name suggests, The Bridge connects alumni, parents and donors with Messiah College. It also serves to build the College’s image with these audiences. It does this by publishing accurate news about the College and about alumni and by offering interesting feature articles that are issue- or College-related for readers’ continued education. Messiah College accepts news submissions from alumni and the broader community but reserves the right to edit or decline to print materials at its discretion. Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.
COMMENCEMENT 2017 With separate ceremonies one week apart to confer degrees on graduate and undergraduate students, Commencement 2017 marked more than one milestone in Messiah College’s history.
Messiah College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, disability and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other College-administered programs. © 2017 Messiah College
COVE R:
Abraham Smith ’11, MBA ’17 receives his degree from the School of Graduate Studies. The Bridge is printed on recyclable paper: 50/25 PCW EFC
MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGRAPHY
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MONEY MATTERS How do Messiah’s staff, alumni and students handle their finances? It takes planning, faith and perseverance. See how they maintain a healthy perspective when it comes to money.
F R O M T H E E D I TO R MY FAMILY AND I TRAVELED TO ALASKA IN AUGUST TO TOUR GLACIERS AND WATCH THE SALMON RUN. AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY COMMENTED ON MY VACATION PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK, I REALIZED I’D OMMITTED AN IMPORTANT DETAIL. I’D FAILED TO PROVIDE THE ANSWER TO THE ONE QUESTION THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE TOO POLITE TO ASK: HOW DID WE PAY FOR IT?
Here’s the secret: I budgeted for it. No smoke and mirrors, just a lot of saving for a trip we’d planned a full year in advance. As Christians, we know “our” money really isn’t ours at all. Ultimately, it’s God’s. We’re just managing it. So, you tithe and donate resources. You save for retirement and pay your bills.
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D E PAR TM E NT S
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
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ON CAMPUS
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Faces and Places
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Heard Around Campus
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ONLINE EXTRAS
MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE Learn more about student project Art Beyond the Classroom. Watch a tour of the occupational therapy facilities at Winding Hill.
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Brain Waves
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Campus News
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Athletics
Pre-order “A Brave Big Sister” by Rachel Spier Weaver ’99
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OUR ALUMNI
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Alumni News
Learn more about indie folk rock collective October Wedding, featuring pastor David Layser ’10
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Alumni Profiles
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Class Notes
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From the Archives
Watch the Commencement videos.
You also cut back if you need to. During the past year, our family created a shorthand for saving we called #afteralaska. In other words, what could we do without until after the trip—or even indefinitely? We ate at home more instead of going out. We shopped from our closets. Did I need a new pair of sandals for summer? No, I still had several from last year. Should we go out for breakfast or just eat eggs at home? This journey changed how we looked at our finances, and we’re already planning our next trip (hashtag to be determined). With a focus on continued saving, I’m excited to share our faith and finances feature on p. 20. In “Money Matters,” Messiah faculty, staff and alumni discuss budgeting with a faithful focus. Please read to learn how keeping God in mind as the owner of one’s wealth has the added benefit of keeping one’s budget on track. We hope you enjoy the summer issue.
A N N A S E I P, E D I T O R
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Don’t be a star – be a galaxy Class of 2017, you have distinguished yourself as bridge builders and peacemakers – as people who seek to identify and address areas of significant need in the church and society. In these turbulent times, the testimony of your lives offers great hope for a promising future. Today, as you graduate, consider the advice of Peter Gloor, a research scientist at MIT, as reported in a CNN segment “Is Collaboration the Future of Invention?” He says, “Don’t be a star—be a galaxy. If you embed yourself in a galaxy you can go so much further.” As graduates of Messiah College, you are called to embed yourself in an even greater reality than the galaxy—the very Word that spoke the galaxies into existence. Therefore, live each day in the light of Christ’s love and His prayer for all believers: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one . . . so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22 – 23, NIV) My charge to you is to answer this call so the world will know and experience God’s lavish and unfailing love. Therefore, root your lives in Christ through steadfast study and prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to breathe God’s passion and guidance into your journey. Read the Scripture with the expectation that it will inspire and challenge you to learn and to love. Second, pursue unity. Dream beyond individual achievement to what it means to pursue interconnected lives of meaning and purpose. Your class has valued cross-cultural learning and the establishment of enduring
friendships across racial, ethnic and class boundaries. More than half of you have studied or served in international contexts during your time at Messiah College. Continue to pursue the knowledge of and experience with different cultures and communities. Just as you have sought to deepen understanding through the rigorous study of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, continue to seek knowledge and wisdom. Be people of intellectual engagement and compassionate conviction. Finally, as you build relationships, break down barriers that promote division. Listen not to persuade but to gain understanding. Open yourself to empathy and even affection toward those with whom you differ. Lead the way in raising questions that pierce through simplistic and temporal ideas or solutions. Live countercultural lives characterized by Christ’s abundant love for those who are broken, marginalized and forgotten.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one . . . so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22 – 23, NIV
And now, go forth from this place secure in your identity as beloved children of God; prepared for a lifetime of continuous learning and growth; grounded in the Christian virtues of hope, humility and hospitality; and filled with courage to work for peace, justice and reconciliation. And, most of all, go forth prepared to inspire a world beguiled by darkness and despair. May you always be ready to demonstrate that there is love and hope in the light of Christ. God bless you!
K I M S . PH I PPS, PRESIDENT
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PHOTO: MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGRAPHY
In May, it was my privilege to share this final charge with Messiah College’s undergraduate Class of 2017:
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Athlete finds joy in summer work, travels CLIFFS, CAVES AND SNORKELING KEEP STUDENT ON THE GO Spelunking, cliff jumping, traveling to Nashville to see the solar eclipse. Leah Springer ’20 has lots to say about summer vacation. “I was home a total of eight days,” she said. The bulk of her time was spent working as a camp counselor in the Laurel Mountains at Summer’s Best Two Weeks, a faith-based camp for boys and girls ages 8-18 in Boswell, Pennsylvania. In Springer’s case, the camp experience lasted 10 weeks, working with a new group of children every two weeks.
Thanks to a “Wilderness First Responder” class she completed during J-term, Springer led the camp’s caving tours. Coaxing campers into a dark cavern filled with cold, muddy water proved to be an essential part of her job. “Eventually, the cave opens up, and it’s incredible,” she said. “There’s a place in there we call the sanctuary. We hand out candles and explain: Without light, we can’t get out of this cave. Without Christ, we can’t get out of this world.” Once the camp season wrapped, she spent time with family camping in the Adirondacks. She hiked, kayaked and jumped off 85-foot cliffs into Saranac Lake. She also fit in a snorkeling trip to the Bahamas. “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” she laughed. That adventurous spirit led to an impromptu drive to Nashville, Tennessee, to see the solar eclipse in August. “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she said.
“The sky was a dark blue with a beautiful white light. There were crickets chirping. Dogs barking. People cheering. It lasted about two minutes.” In what can feel like two minutes, summer is over. As fall semester begins, Springer is looking forward to declaring a major and gearing up for her second season of basketball at Messiah. Recruited by D-I schools while she was in high school, she instead opted to play for Messiah where she felt she could make an immediate impact. The team finished 25-3 during her freshman year. “It was phenomenal to be on such a successful team,” said Springer. “We had an amazing season and a great team dynamic. I’m looking forward to playing on the new [Jordan] court.” As she holds her summer memories close, which ones will carry into the academic year? She says working as a camp counselor
provided a critical life skill: “That experience will impact the rest of my life, because I found so many opportunities there to practice my patience instead of frustration, to be selfless ... to convey and illustrate the gospel and, ultimately, to radically love children like Jesus does.” – Anna Seip
Leah Springer ’20 made the most of summer vacation, spelunking as a camp counselor, traveling and watching the solar eclipse (with protective eyewear, of course). MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 5
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HEARD AROUND CAMPUS
WE ASKED THE CLASS OF 2017: WHAT ARE YOU DOING AFTER GRADUATION?
“Getting my master’s degree and doctorate in mathematics.”
“Move back to Maine, get a graphic design position and, Lord willing, go back to school to get my Master of Fine Arts.” — Nadine Gilliland ’17, studio art
— Nicholas Weaver ’17, mathematics
“My sister promised me that once I graduated, we would travel to anywhere I wanted in the country that summer.” — Kelly Schwiker ’17, mathematics
“Serving as the youth ministry coordinator at my church in Lebanon Valley, Pennsylvania.” — Connor Felty ’17, biblical and religious studies
“I want to go to grad school, but I think I’m going to wait a year or so just to have a break.” — Lindsey Barnar ’17, engineering
“Serving as the middle school pastor at Mechanicsburg BIC Church.” — Evan Lebo ’17, Christian ministries
“Leaning on Jesus as He walks me through my first year teaching in Honduras.” — Hannah Boyanowksi ’17, education with teaching certification grades PreK-4
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“Going to my children’s activities without a book in my hand.” — Heather Negley, MBA ’17, director of conference and event services
“Become a professional dancer and move to the West Coast to fulfill my dream.” — Sarah Kistler ’17, dance
“Going to Dulles, Virginia, and living with my old college roommate, Kyle.” — Ryan Wilshusen ’17, English
“Move to the Philly area and prepare for my wedding.” — Gabby Campisi ’17, business administration
“Provide critical funding for research and education in rare diseases through my role as a medical grants manager at CSL Behring.” — Abraham Smith ’11, MBA ’17
B R A I N WAV E S
Students mix art with pediatrics If you are called to act, why wait? Dani Kepner ’18 and Ally Morgret ’18 have answered that question over and over since creating Art Beyond the Classroom (ABC), a visual-arts based program for children in limiting settings, such as hospitals. In a 2014 conversation about career aspirations with Assistant Professor of Art Education Elizabeth Dubin, Kepner had expressed an interest in art therapy but wasn’t sure how to fit that into her art education pursuits. “Professor Dubin nonchalantly suggested, ‘Well, why don’t you start an art therapy program?’” Kepner said, a studio art and psychology major. “This stunned me. I didn’t think creating a program was even a possibility for me, as I knew very little about program development or management. However, it was evident that she had confidence in me before I had confidence in myself to take this leap of faith.” Part of that leap included finding someone to partner with her. In a Created and Called for Community (CCC) class, she met Morgret. “Because we both have a passion for children and art,” said Morgret, a human development and family science major, “our desire is to go to the source and provide quality art and a safe space for children to express themselves alongside our helping hands.” When they pitched the idea to Penn State Children’s Hospital in the summer of 2014, they didn’t know how they would be received by the medical community. “I had little hope that they would even let us into the hospital,” said
NICK GOULD PHOTOGRAPHY
ART BEYOND THE CLASSROOM THRIVES
Above: ABC helps children in limited settings such as hospitals enjoy art. Left: Dani Kepner ’18 and Ally Morgret ’18 created the program. WHAT’S NEXT?
Kepner. “They not only let us in, but they let us grow from a monthly group session, to weekly one-on-one sessions, to twice weekly and now for extended hours.” Because the program became successful quickly, the two students needed some help to maintain and continually improve it. They created a leadership team and held an open information session for students who wanted to volunteer. In the spring, ABC opened its second branch at NHS Autism School in Carlisle, led by two new members. IVC While they’d been managing ABC for years, Morgret and Kepner took things to the next level by entering the Impact Venture Challenge (IVC), Messiah’s student entrepreneur contest.
ABC reached the finale, which included only six teams. “Making it through the first round allowed us to voice the importance of aiding children through their development with the creation of art,” said Morgret. “Presenting it on stage for the finale allowed us to spread the word about our services and show the community that our hearts are in this for the children and not our own glory.” Although they didn’t win, the women were far from discouraged. “Art Beyond the Classroom confirmed my calling. Impact Venture Challenge confirmed that I have room to grow,” said Kepner of the experience. “We were able to pitch our program alongside five other extraordinary teams of people with purpose-driven business venture ideas.”
What happens to a student-run program when the students graduate? Kepner says the next few months will be telling. Kepner is hoping to go to graduate school for art therapy while Morgret hopes to get an internship to become a child life specialist. While they plan to keep the leadership team in place, they hope some passionate students will continue to keep ABC running smoothly. Both women agree that one of the biggest takeaways from creating ABC is that “undergraduate” does not equal “underqualified.” “I’m often asked the question— after mentioning that ABC’s first location was Penn State Children’s Hospital—‘Oh, how did you land that gig?’ My answer is much simpler than those who ask expect it to be: We just asked. We worked hard, got creative and leaped!” –Anna Seip
FOR MORE INFO GO TO ARTBEYONDTHECLASSROOM. WORDPRESS.COM
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 7
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BLEN ASRES ’18
CAMPUS NEWS
OT STUDENTS START CLASSES
MATTHEW TENNISON (ALL OTHER WINDING HILL PHOTOS)
RIBBON-CUTTING CELEBRATES PROGRAM The first cohort of students entering the Master of Occupational Therapy program began classes at the Winding Hill location in June. During the ribbon-cutting event June 23, attendees had the opportunity to explore the pediatric climbing wall, cadaver lab, activities of daily living apartments and study rooms. TO WATCH A VIDEO TOUR OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FACILITIES, PLEASE GO TO MESSIAH.EDU/ MOTTOUR
CINDY AGONCILLO ’09
Falcon Fitness Center officially opened August 2017
Part of the Campaign for Wellness, the Falcon Fitness Center, a 29,750-square-foot fitness and wellness center, opened in August. Additional facilities provided by the campaign include Sawyer Products Gymnasium, an auxiliary gym, along with the renovation of Hitchcock Arena now serving as the new home court. 8 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
AT H L E T I C S
TIM MOSES ’17 MAKES HISTORY AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FIRST TO EARN EIGHT ALL-AMERICAN HONORS On a sunny afternoon in late spring, on a pole vault runway in Geneva, Ohio, Messiah’s Tim Moses ’17 made history by becoming the first NCAA Division III men’s pole vaulter to earn eight All-American honors. Moses accomplished the feat by way of a fifth place finish at the 2017 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The eight All-American awards—given to those who finish first through eighth at the National Championships— also broke a tie with former Heptathlon National Champion
Chris Boyles ’02 for the most ever by a men’s competitor. Moses came closest to being a National Champion with a runner-up finish at the 2015 Indoor Championship, and his career is marked by impressive consistency as he earned All-American honors for placing, in order, sixth, fifth, second, third, fourth, fourth, fifth, and fifth, respectively, across his eight championship competitions. “The success I experienced in pole vaulting taught me that if you work as hard as you can, you can be successful,” Moses said, commenting on his athletic
achievements. “Participating in track and field helped teach me how to win, and that carried over into my academic pursuits.” “Tim was such an exceptional competitor, and his preparation and training were as good as it gets,” said Messiah head coach Dale Fogelsanger. “He had such a drive to win, and he went into every championship event with a shot at finishing atop the podium. “Finishing as an All-American
Messiah ranks highest in Learfield Cup in 8 years FALCONS WIN 11 CONFERENCE TITLES National Championships by the Messiah field hockey team and wrestler Lucas Malmberg ’16 highlighted another tremendous year for the Falcons in 2016-17, and it also helped them achieve their highest ranking in the NCAA Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings in eight years. The Falcons
earned 526.50 points in the annual ranking and finished in 22nd place, their highest finish since 2010. Messiah’s point total also secured a 17th-straight year of finishing both in the top 35 of NCAA Division III schools and atop all institutions from the state of Pennsylvania. Carnegie Mellon (44th) and Franklin and Marshall (50th) followed the Falcons, who also won 11 conference
is really hard to do, so for him to do it in every indoor and outdoor season of his career is almost unbelievable.” Moses is slated to begin dental school later this year, and he believes Messiah has prepared him well for the next challenge. “My greatest memories of competing for Messiah include each national championship meet in which I participated, but Messiah also provided an academic program that helped me gain admittance into dental school. At Messiah I was able to pursue success in the sport I love while also taking important steps toward my lifelong career.” — Steve King ’06, Senior Associate Director of Athletics
championships to set a new program record for a single year. Messiah also once again led all conference schools in the Learfield standings, with no other school landing in the top 75. The Falcons scored points in 11 different sports, with a perfect 100-point score coming from the Falcons’ first-ever Division III Field Hockey Championship in the fall. Lucas Malmberg’s second-straight National Championship helped the wrestling program secure 75 points. — Steve King ’06, senior associate director of athletics
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PHOTOS BY MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGR APHY
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
YOU ARE READY. YOU ARE PREPARED. YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. – PRESIDENT KIM PHIPPS
Undergraduate Commencement
Bryan Stevenson, Undergraduate Commencement Speaker
IN 2017, MESSIAH’S 108TH UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT MADE HISTORY MAY 13. THE CEREMONY—HELD INDOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES DUE TO RAIN—CONFERRED DEGREES ON 616 GRADUATING SENIORS. Commencement speaker and social justice lawyer Bryan Stevenson reminded students to seek justice and to “be proximate” to the marginalized as followers of Christ. Honors presented during the ceremony included the following: • Joel Johnson ’17 received the Donald and Anna Zook Alumni Merit Award. • Chemistry Professor Alison Noble and Professor of Engineering Randy Fish received the Dr. Robert and Marilyn Smith Awards for Outstanding Teaching, awarded to Messiah faculty members who have demonstrated a commitment to their students and the content they teach. • Residence Director Bryce Watkins received the Outstanding Cocurricular Educator Award. —Anna Seip TO VIEW THE UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT VIDEO, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/UGCOMMENCEMENT
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2017 COMMENCEMENT
“As graduates of Messiah College may you continue to fulfill God’s calling in your lives as you represent the ideals and aspirations of the College’s Christian educational mission.”
Alison Noble, Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient
PHOTOS BY MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGR APHY
— President Kim Phipps
Bryce Watkins, Outstanding Cocurricular Educator Award Recipient
616
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
TOTAL 2017 GRADUATES
Randy Fish, Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient 12 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Joel Johnson ’17, Alumni Merit Award Recipient
2017 COMMENCEMENT
OUR GRADUATES TO CELEBRATE TRADITION—WHILE ALSO MAKING ROOM FOR THE FUTURE—WE’VE PROFILED SEVERAL UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2017. Within this group, you’ll find newly minted alumni heading off to law school, seminary and new careers (in the case of our undergraduates). For our master’s degree profiles, however, they can reaffirm the careers they already know and love or move on to the next occupational adventure—fully equipped with new leadership skills, completed capstone projects and invaluable knowledge.
“MESSIAH COLLEGE HAS PROVIDED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME IN LIFE, HELPING ME DISCOVER WHO I AM AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.” – JOCELYN
MATTHEW TENNISON
CHAVOUS ’17
D O U B L E M A J O R : C O M M U N I C AT I O N , S O C I O LO G Y A N D A N T H R O P O LO G Y
JOCELYN CHAVOUS ’17 GARNET VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA Until Messiah College reached out to Jocelyn Chavous to ask her to join the basketball team, she’d never heard of the school that was less than two hours west of where she grew up. “Listen to your gut,” she said. “After visiting other schools, I thought, ‘I want to be at Messiah.’” A Martin Scholar, she jumped right in to the college experience. She served on the Student Government Association as the vice president of diversity affairs and as a work-study for the assessment of student learning. With the women’s basketball team, she traveled to the Dominican Republic with AROMA to show the love of Christ through sports by visiting orphanages and nursing homes. “The Dominican Republic opened my eyes to feeling and sensing God,” she said. “A language I didn’t know, my first time out of the country. I could feel Him there and this overwhelming peace.” The AROMA trip gave her the confidence to travel even farther from home. With the sociology and anthropology department, she flew to Fiji to work with Give Clean Water to maintain water filter systems. She then returned to the U.S. to join the Civil Rights Bus Tour, talking to leaders along the way. “Messiah College has provided many opportunities for me in life, helping me discover who I am and what I want to do,” she said. This fall, she is attending graduate school at Shippensburg University to major in counseling and student personnel. She says she hopes to one day work in student affairs at a school or university.
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“ I DON’T THINK FAITH SHOULD BE ITS OWN AREA, BECAUSE IT’S CLOSELY KNIT INTO 2017 COMMENCEMENT
MY EVERYDAY LIFE.” – EMMELINE ZHU ’17
C H E M I S T R Y W I T H M AT H E M AT I C S M I N O R
S T U D I O A R T (C O N C E N T R AT I O N I N T WO - D I M E N S I O N A L S T U D I E S )
EMMELINE ZHU ’17 CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS The daughter of missionaries in China, Emmeline Zhu ’17 says attending Messiah just “felt right.” The studio art major culminated her four years at Messiah with a senior art project titled “Becoming of Place,” a trio of wood block prints of three places she has lived: Beijing, China; Chelmsford, Massachusetts; and Orvieto, Italy, where she spent a semester abroad. In her artist’s statement, she describes the wood block printing process: “Each color layer is printed after carving away more material on the same wood block. This physical loss of material renders the process irreversible, yet only by doing so can a more complete image be revealed. Just as this displacement of material realizes a more complete image, the separation of ourselves from a familiar place transforms who we are. In the process of this loss, we become more human.” At Messiah, Zhu says she learned to “see faith” and apply it to art. “It’s important that my faith is connected to my art,” she said. “I don’t think faith should be its own area, because it’s closely knit into my everyday life.” After Commencement, Zhu along with other Messiah volunteers helped Professor of Art Daniel Finch complete “The Lemoyne Passage,” a mural depicting the history of transportation, commissioned by the borough of Lemoyne.
Messiah College wasn’t the first choice for Elliot Rossomme ’17. Then Massachusetts Institute of Technology put him on the wait list. A teacher at his small Christian high school asked if he’d ever considered attending Messiah. Rossomme regrouped and headed to Grantham. “We learn to trust God a lot more when things don’t go the way we want them to,” said Rossomme. “God has changed my perspective on what it means to succeed and do well.” At Messiah, he learned to wrestle with the tension between ambition of self and following the humility of Christ. “Where do these two things meet? Messiah is a place where I’ve learned to ask questions like that,” he said, “providing you with a network of Christians who have striven to be of the world and not in it in broader society.” Messiah also provided him with
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opportunities to spread his wings academically, spiritually and geographically. He spent his junior year studying abroad at Oxford, which further shaped his faith. “The Christians I met there were confident in their faith,” he said. “It defined them. It didn’t sidebar their lives.” In the summers, he stayed busy as a researcher at Georgetown University and the University of Georgia. After graduation, he headed across the U.S. for another adventure: graduate school. He’s pursuing a doctorate in physical chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley as a chancellor’s fellow. “I’m going to Berkeley, because there’s a need for the Gospel there while pursing excellence,” he said. “It includes a humility and willingness to serve that’s not glamorous.”
ROSSOMME IS PURSUING A DOCTORATE IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY.
MATTHEW TENNISON
MATTHEW TENNISON
ELLIOT ROSSOMME ’17 BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA
“ COMBATTING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW GOD’S LOVE AND COMPASSION.” – RYAN GEPHART ’17
POLITICS
RYAN GEPHART ’17 MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
MATTHEW TENNISON
As a Center for Public Humanities fellow, politics major Ryan Gephart ’17 conducted research on mass incarceration and the criminal justice system. He will continue that passion for social justice when he attends law school at Georgetown Law. “Combatting racial discrimination,” said Gephart, “is a great opportunity to show God’s love and compassion.” Gephart, who says he wishes he could do all pro bono work, acknowledges he has a “privileged ignorance” to racial discrimination as a white, male Christian. He says he has a moral obligation to work on remedying that. “You can define what the end should be,” he said. “You can call for that rectification, because you have this megaphone. This is where people like me fit into this dialogue. I have a great opportunity to ask people to
rethink things.” He also acknowledges an important caveat: If the oppressor class gets to define what equality looks like for the oppressed, we aren’t throwing off the yoke of oppression at all. “I’m well positioned to draw attention to certain injustices that many people may overlook,” he said, “but it’s not my place to determine what true equality and justice looks like. That is something I believe is to be reserved for those people that society has wronged.” Looking at the system in new way also includes viewing it through a Christian lens. Gephart, whose mom is a pastor, says his faith has always been there. Messiah, however, broke down barriers for him of what faith is. “Without being at Messiah, I think I would’ve retained that dichotomy view, just gone along as a typical Christian. I learned to look past the metaphorical temple we construct and distill it to its central tenets. It becomes less dogmatic and more beautiful. It reframed the whole creator-creation relationship, which has been awesome to figure out on my own.”
DOUBLE MAJOR: BIBLICAL AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES, ETHNIC AND AREA STUDIES
LESLIE GIBOYEAUX ’17 HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
ACCEPTED TO PRINCETON SEMINARY AND YALE DIVINITY, GIBOYEAUX WILL ATTEND PRINCETON THIS FALL . MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 15
MATTHEW TENNISON
For Leslie Giboyeaux ’17, the Messiah College always has been a familiar place. A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native, she grew up going to summer camp on campus. Even her research centered on the city she knows so well. As a Center for Public Humanities fellow and young theologian in residence, she worked on a church history project about racial segregation and integration of the churches in Harrisburg. A double major in biblical and religious studies along with ethnic and area studies, she brought a unique voice to the room of the other fellows. “A lot of our conversations ended up being about race—mass incarceration, stories of resistance,” said Giboyeaux. “Race issues kept coming up, thinking about how race works at Messiah as a Christian campus. We looked
at the theological implications of the work we do.” She says the Messiah faculty was instrumental in giving her the freedom to do research. “They’re very supportive in helping you find the answers to your questions,” she said, “even if it’s not part of their original syllabus. I ask a question in class, and they’ll come back the next day with five books. ‘Here are some resources.’” A commuter during most of her time at Messiah, she credits the Martin Scholars Program with helping her meet other students. She also chaired the Multicultural Council and La Alianza to become further involved on campus. Accepted to Princeton Seminary and Yale Divinity, she ultimately decided on Princeton and will begin classes in September. She says to hope to pursue a Ph.D. afterward.
“ HE INVITED ME TO HIS HOUSE FOR DINNER, TO HIS CHURCH, TO HIS SON’S CONCERT. THAT JUST PROVES THE PROFESSORS ARE INTERESTED IN YOU OUTSIDE OF ACADEMIA.” – YACOUB SEYNI ’17
C O M P U T E R I N F O R M AT I O N S C I E N C E (C O N C E N T R AT I O N S I N C O M P U T E R S C I E N C E , S O F T WA R E D E V E LO P M E N T ) W I T H M AT H E M AT I C S M I N O R
YACOUB SEYNI ’17 MARADI, NIGER
CINDY AGONCILLO ’09
Only one of four Christians in his entire high school, Yacoub Seyni ’17 grew up in Niger, where 99 percent of the population is Muslim. In search of a college with a combination of excellent academics and a Christian environment, he says he had never traveled outside his home country before flying to the U.S. to attend Messiah. The chaplain team bought him a jacket. “I didn’t know it would get this cold,” he said of the Pennsylvania winters. Seyni also didn’t realize how large of a role his professors would play outside the classroom. He says Scott Weaver, assistant professor of computer science, inspired him by displaying patience with students. Also, David Owen, associate professor of computer science, included him in family events. “He invited me to his house for dinner, to his church, to his son’s concert,” said Seyni.
P S YC H O LO G Y W I T H P R E - C O U N S E L I N G A N D T H E R A P Y M I N O R
OLIVIA MINGORA ’17 YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
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“SOMETHING THAT’S USEFUL STARTS FROM ONE LITTLE SEED.” – OLIVIA MINGORA ’17
KEITH WEI LUEN LIM ’ 18
For Olivia Mingora ’17, gardening serves as a ministry and a form of therapy. Although she came to Messiah planning to pursue biblical and religious studies, she switched in her sophomore year to a degree in psychology with a pre-counseling and therapy minor. “You don’t need to major in ministry to pursue ministry,” she explained. “I felt called to counseling.” She’s specifically interested in horticulture therapy, using gardening and farming as a therapeutic process to help others heal. After her father died last year, she says working in the Community Garden allowed her to grieve. “The garden was the first place I found healing. Jesus was working through that medium to provide the closure I needed,” she explained. “Some days, I was in the garden, and tears were streaming down my face. Some days, I was praying. Some days, I felt peace. Some days, I was angry. I was able to
work through and allow those thoughts to happen. It’s a big reason why I want to pursue gardening therapy.” She credits her psychology professors and Director of Sustainability Brandon Hoover for making a personal investment in her life. “[Hoover] supported me in so many areas: leadership, gardening and what it means to take care of the earth and take care of relationships,” she said. After graduation, Mingora spent the summer working on a community farm in Maryland. This fall, she begins a one-year position at High Spirits Community Farm in Massachusetts working with adults with intellectual disabilities. As her career takes root, she describes her favorite part of gardening. “I like planting the best,” said Mingora, “planting the seeds, knowing that you’re planting it into nutritious soil. It’s all weeded, and it’s going to grow into something productive. Something that’s useful starts from one little seed.”
“That just proves the professors are interested in you outside of academia.” In Grantham, Seyni found his niche, majoring in computer information science and leading the programming team and the math club. He also participated in the Department of Computer and Information Science’s mentoring program and managed the database for the Agape Center. Seyni says he plans to work in the U.S. then attend graduate school. His goal is to help with the educational systems in underdeveloped countries. “I am thankful for the Lord and for all the four years he has been with me,” said Seyni. “Being able to succeed academically and in my personal life, it took so many people. It took hundreds of people—in any area I’ve ever interacted with—to get me through the four years.”
Graduate Commencement ONE WEEK AFTER UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT, MESSIAH HOSTED ITS INAUGURAL SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COMMENCEMENT MAY 19 IN WHICH 104 STUDENTS RECEIVED DEGREES IN PARMER HALL. • Representatives from each program served as speakers, including Katie Galaska, graduate program in business and leadership; Kelli AlAssad, graduate program in counseling; Eric Fleming, graduate program in education; Sarah Dillon, graduate program in higher education; Jennifer Wagner, graduate program in music conducting; Talisha Sneeringer, graduate program in nursing. • During the ceremony, Associate Professor of TESOL Jan Dormer received the Harry and Nancy Preis Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. • Rachel Cornacchio, director of the graduate program in music, conducted the School of Graduate Studies Choral Ensemble.
Jan Dormer, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award Recipient
TO VIEW THE GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT VIDEO, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/GRADCOMMENCEMENT
104
GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
TOTAL 2017 GRADUATES MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 17
“I was excited to begin a new chapter of my life that would further my career as a music educator and allow me to collaborate with other dedicated and trained musicians.”
PHOTOS BY MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGR APHY
— Jennifer Wagner M.M. ’17, conducting
18 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
GALASKA HAS IMPLEMENTED SOME OF HER CAPSTONE FINDINGS BY LEADING THE FEMALE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE AT HER ACCOUNTING FIRM. MASTER OF BUSINESS A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
KATIE GALASKA ’10, MBA ’17 SOUDERTON, PENNSYLVANIA
MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGR APHY
Noticing a small representation of female leadership at the accounting firm where she works, Katie Galaska ’10, MBA ’17 explored the topic further for her Master of Business Administration (MBA) capstone project. “After attending Messiah for my undergraduate degree in accounting and recognizing how strong the business department is, I couldn’t imagine obtaining my MBA from anywhere else,” said Galaska. “The business department places a focus on the real world and seamlessly incorporates the Christian faith into business to build leaders who are faithful and ethical.” The 13-class program took Galaska a little less than 2.5 years to complete. She says the most surprising part of the graduate school journey included the diverse mix of fellow students—from various career paths, ages and undergraduate degrees—she met along the
way. “The majority of our classes had group projects that were deliberately chosen to mix up our backgrounds and allow us to gain additional knowledge and skills from each other,” she said. She says the flexibility of the program being fully online allowed her to continue working full time to pursue her professional and personal goals—one of which is being an effective Christian leader. “Messiah prioritizes integrity and ethics within the business program,” she said. “While other programs may place a slight emphasis on these values, Messiah recognizes that a Christian leader will answer to both an earthly supervisor and a heavenly Father for one’s leadership and actions.” For Galaska, an immediate outcome of her MBA degree includes implementing some of her capstone findings in her current job. “After my capstone project, I’ve been leading the female leadership initiative at my firm and promoting recommendations to upper management,” she said, “which I hope will lead to happier, more confident and more productive employees.”
“ SOME PEOPLE PAY FOR A DIPLOMA, BUT I PAID FOR AN EDUCATION,
M A S T E R O F E D U C AT I O N
ERIC FLEMING ’04, M.ED. ’17 RED LION, PENNSYLVANIA Attending graduate school at Messiah was a homecoming of sorts for Eric Fleming ’04, M.Ed. ’17. With a bachelor’s in Spanish, he returned a little more than a decade later to complete a Master of Education, selecting the curriculum and instruction track. “I really didn’t know what to expect, so I can’t say I was surprised by a whole lot,” said Fleming of beginning the program. “The summer intensive course was truly intense, but I really enjoyed being in the classroom again for that weeklong course.” As part of his degree, he completed a 50page capstone project. He credits Associate Professor of Graduate Education Maude
Yacapsin with supporting and encouraging him through the process. He said he even considered postponing the project for a semester, but Yacapsin urged him to stick with it. In the acknowledgements section of the project, he thanks her and the other Messiah professors who helped him during the two-year journey: “Some people pay for a diploma, but I paid for an education, and that is exactly what I got. Behind every challenging assignment, late-night forum post and daunting list of readings was a professor who was personally invested and unquestionably demanding.” Fleming, who teaches high school Spanish at York Country Day School in York, Pennsylvania, says his master’s has made him a better classroom teacher. “At some point down the road, though, I’d love to take a leadership role,” he said. “With this degree, I feel prepared to do so.” B
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 19
MARTI AIKEN PHOTOGR APHY
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I GOT.” – ERIC FLEMING ’04, M.ED. ’17
$ OFFERING
CHARITY
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TITHE MISSIONS TRAVEL SHOPPING CHURCH
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
EATING AT RESTAURANTS
GYM MEMBERSHIP
VACATION
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES
TV
GIFTS
NETFLIX
CABLE
TUITION
COFFEE
401K
FINANCIAL PRIORITIES
STUDENT LOANS SAVINGS
TAXES ESSENTIALSCAR
CREDIT CARD DEBT PERSONAL LOANS
ORTHODONTIST
CELL GROCERIES HEAT CLOTHES
PETS
GAS
FUEL
MORTGAGEFOOD CAR REPAIRS
PHONE
ELECTRIC
WATER RENT
TRANSPORTATION DENTAL WORK HEALTHCARE WIFIMEDICINE
INSURANCE
HOME
REPAIRS
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BABIES
DAYCARE
MONEY MATTERS: F E AT U R E S T O R Y
By Robyn Passante
FINANCES + FAITH ADD UP TO TRUE WEALTH “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
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M O N E Y M AT T E R S
hen newlyweds Laura (Clark) ’08 and Dave Helman ’07 graduated from Messiah, they faced almost $100,000 in student loan debt, plus a credit card balance. It wasn’t an ideal start to their life together, but they set a joint goal to refrain from big purchases, keep their older cars running, live on Dave’s entry-level salary and use most of Laura’s pay to whittle away at what they owed.
Within five years, they’d paid it all off. 22 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
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O R ITI E S L PRI
Other Tithe
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IA NC
“We made it a priority,” said Laura Helman matter-of-factly. “Even our wedding money we put toward the student loans.” The Helmans’ story represents a level of fiscal responsibility that seems impossible to many. But they are proof that with a plan, anything is possible. And when God is at the forefront of that plan, words that used to cause anxiety and fear – “budget,” “debt,” “money,” “savings” – become mere stepping stones along the path of doing God’s work. “Jesus reframes us ‘stewards’ rather than owners of money and possessions. For me, that’s been transformational for decades,” said Michael Zigarelli, professor of leadership and strategy at Messiah. “If it’s God’s stuff, then in faith I need to manage it with integrity and excellence.” We asked Messiah alumni and faculty at varying stages of life and financial means what they’ve learned about managing their money with a faithful focus. PUT GOD FIRST
Though the Helmans made an intentional lifestyle choice to keep their purse strings tight, they did not view the offering basket as an extra. “We’ve tithed through the entire time, even when we were paying off the debt,” Dave Helman said. While giving to the church first allows people at all socioeconomic levels to spread God’s blessings, Zigarelli says keeping God in mind as the true owner of one’s wealth has the added benefit of keeping one’s budget on
Essential track. “There are forces monthly everywhere trying to expenses separate us from our money,” said Zigarelli, whose single-income family includes his wife and four children – two of whom are students at Messiah. “But if I keep in the forefront that I’m a ‘steward,’ I’m less likely to succumb to those temptations.” And coming to God with an idea in mind for your finances helps to align your plan with His vision. “Stewardship should be rooted in prayer and transformation,” said Sarah Wade ’99, Messiah’s associate vice president for enrollment management, who has taken a mindful approach to saving and investing. “You don’t just get there because you wake up and do it all at once. It is hundreds of small decisions informed by my faith.”
Student loan debt
Credit card debt
STAY ALERT
Establishing a concrete financial goal that you really believe in, whether it’s to pay off a loan or to save for a down payment on a house, will keep you tuned in to your monthly expenses and extra spending. “Where we’ve seen people get into trouble is not really paying attention to their money,” Dave Helman said, “and then stuff comes up.” MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 23
M O N E Y M AT T E R S
5
FRUGAL HABITS TO LIVE BY
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When it comes to grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it. Shop for sales, and find grocery stores such as Aldi that have quality food for a discounted price.
Create a budget and review it monthly to make sure you are staying on track. Make adjustments as necessary.
When you are finished wearing pieces of clothing, swap them with friends. It feels like new to you without spending any money!
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5
3
For gift giving, be creative with homemade or “outside the box” presents. Example: we stopped buying toys for our nieces and nephews and have them over for a sleepover instead.
Pay cash for cars and big purchases to avoid unnecessary loans that snowball interest.
By Laura (Clark) Helman ’08
“STEWARDSHIP SHOULD BE ROOTED IN PRAYER AND TRANSFORMATION. YOU DON’T JUST ... WAKE UP AND DO IT ALL AT ONCE. IT IS HUNDREDS OF SMALL DECISIONS INFORMED BY MY FAITH.” — Sarah Wade ’99
Wade says she financially coasted through her early adult life before the realization that making deliberate financial choices in the short term might set one up to be financially independent—with the ability to travel or switch careers—well before the age of 65. “It’s completely changed my life and how I think about money,” she said. Maxing out her Messiah 403b, a taxdeferred retirement account, is just one of her savvy financial decisions. “Every time I receive a cost of living adjustment or raise, I put it toward savings,” explained Wade. “For example, if you receive a 2 percent raise, change your contribution amount from 7.5 to 9.5 percent and so on, until you have maxed out the 403b.” Wade says she’s looking forward to the day when she can choose to work rather than have to work. “I’m fascinated by the idea of financial freedom,” she said. HOLD DEBT IN CHECK
The Helmans recognized from the start that working toward a healthy financial future is impossible if you’re constantly paying down what you owe from the past. Accounting major Regan Hershey ’17 is learning this lesson in real time. When Hershey graduates in December, he estimates he’ll have about $65,000 in student loans – a deliberate choice by his parents, who are providing for his living expenses and food but relying on him to pay his tuition. “They definitely have the means to pay for all of it, but my dad is a banker by trade and has said that he thinks it’s important for us to learn how to pay off debt,” said the 22-yearold, “which, although I might not like, is a really good thing.” That type of forced responsibility, when
taken seriously, can jump-start a life of careful budgeting and spending. Hershey says he saved half his summer internship salary to put toward his loans and plans to continue that level of commitment in the future. KEEP A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE
Working toward a financial goal can sometimes feel like a slog, as you make sacrifices while watching others enjoy lavish vacations or new cars. It’s important to stop and honor how far you’ve come, instead of focusing on how far you’ve yet to go. “Once we were done (paying off the loans) we looked back and said, ‘Wow, that was kind of a big deal,’” said Dave Helman. Zigarelli says, to stay grounded, focus on those who are less fortunate. “Go on a mission trip periodically to a destitute area. It will change everything, whether it’s to Africa or Allison Hill. My trips to Sao Paulo and Panama City illuminated for me about how lavishly I’m blessed,” Zigarelli said. “Prudence and stewardship are the natural outgrowths of that fresh perspective.” Finally, keep in mind that just as your money isn’t truly yours alone, neither is your financial journey. Remembering that God is actively giving you, this day, your daily bread, can help you to recognize and reach for the dreams He has laid out for you. “(Working toward financial independence) has transformed my faith because I feel like all these things that seemed out of reach—God-sized dreams that I could never accomplish on my own—suddenly somehow seem more possible,” Wade said. “I have a new vision for how God might be able to use my gifts and skills in the future.” B
50% of Regan Hershey’s summer internship salary is put toward his loans
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2017-2018 SEASON
Susquehanna Chorale Holiday Concert Friday, Dec. 15, 2017
Messiah College
PROJECT Trio Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
Kathryn Lewek Friday, Feb. 9, 2018
Calvin and Janet
Mendelssohn Piano Trio and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017
Music for Piano Times Two II Friday, Feb. 23, 2018
invites you to the
HIGH CENTER for WORSHIP and PERFORMING ARTS
Taylor Branch Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 Jon Meacham Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 Messiah College Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 Tim Warfield’s All-Star Jazzy Christmas Friday, Dec. 8, 2017
Edwidge Danticat Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018
Tromba Mundi Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Friday, April 13, 2018 Joey Tartell Friday, April 20, 2018 Saturday, April 21, 2018 GiViM Dance Performance Ensemble Friday, May 4, 2018 Saturday, May 5, 2018 Susquehanna Chorale Spring Concert Saturday, May 12, 2018
For more information: Additional details on the 2017–2018 season of the Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts may be found at messiah.edu/highcenterseason.
OUR
MELISSA HESS Æ05
ALUMNI NEWS
Finding no children’s books about women of the Bible on the market, Rachel Spier Weaver ’99 decided to write one.
Alumna writes kids’ Bible lit
“I WANTED TO SHOW MY DAUGHTER— AND NOW MY SON, AS WELL—HOW RACHEL SPIER WEAVER ’99 CREATES ‘CALLED AND THE WOMEN OF THE BIBLE FACE COURAGEOUS GIRLS’ SERIES OF BOOKS OVERWHELMING ODDS AND FIND overwhelming odds and find Searching for books about brave, strength, faith and courage to join STRENGTH, FAITH AND COURAGE biblical women for her then-3year-old, Rachel Spier Weaver ’99 God’s story,” she said. TO JOIN GOD’S STORY.” The two women ended up writfound a gap in children’s literature. Where were all the stories about women who are disciples, prophets, evangelists and spiritual leaders? A human development and family science grad who works in recruitment and retention at HOPE International in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she pitched an idea to her friend Anna Haggard (a former executive writer at HOPE): Let’s write the type of books we want our children to read. “I wanted to show my daughter—and now my son, as well— how the women of the Bible face
ing an entire series called “Called and Courageous Girls.” Geared toward children ages 3-8, the books highlight often overlooked stories of the Bible—dramas of dynamic women who risked everything for the Kingdom. “The books reaffirm God has called both girls and boys, created in God’s image … to use their gifts, talents and skills to bring God glory,” said Weaver. Colleagues at HOPE—one of whom is CEO Peter Greer ’97—connected the women with Wolgemuth and Associates, a
— Rachel Spier Weaver ’99
literary agency that promotes Christian authors. After the agency sent the series proposal to several publishers, Harvest House signed the women for four books. The first book, “A Brave Big Sister: A Bible Story About Miriam,” will be released Oct. 1. She credits her time at Messiah with encouraging her to explore and deepen her faith. “The relationships that were formed at Messiah have been
some of the most important in my life,” said Weaver. “And now I get to work with many, many Messiah graduates at HOPE. God’s leading to Messiah was undoubtedly one of the most determinative points in my personal and professional life.” — Anna Seip TO ORDER WEAVER’S BOOK, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/MIRIAM
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 27
OUR
ALUMNI PROFILES
DAV I D L AY S E R ’ 1 0
PASTOR JOINS FELLOW ALUM TO CREATE MUSIC COLLECTIVE Not only is David Layser ’10 the associate pastor of Halifax United Church, he also plays in an indie folk rock collective called October Wedding.
What’s a collective? Layser says it differs from a band in that the group has no lead singer. Friends come together, take turns in the spotlight and highlight various songwriters. The name comes from his connection to fellow alum Kyle Werts ’10. The two musicians
played music at each other’s weddings. “A wedding is the kind of thing we all live for and long for,” said Layser. “It’s a defiant celebration and passionate proclamation in the midst of the world’s present yet passing chaos. Weddings bring together all that is beautiful and important in life.” A biblical and religious studies grad who minored in music, he says faith and music are
Preschool – 4 years old
COURTESY OF DAVID LAYSER ’10
OCTOBER WEDDING PLAYS INDIE FOLK ROCK
Associate pastor David Layser ’10 (center) sings in the indie folk rock collective October Wedding with fellow alum Kyle Werts ’10.
YOUR LEGACY... THEIR FUTURE Creating a legacy at Messiah College – Planning a gift through your will or trust is a simple way to make a difference for a lifetime. A gift in your will does not affect your current cash flow or assets, but you will have the benefit of knowing your legacy gift will provide a lasting impact to future students. How can I make a legacy gift to Messiah College? • Make a provision through your will or trust • Add a codicil to an existing will • Name Messiah as beneficiary in a qualified retirement plan • Designate Messiah College as beneficiary of a life insurance policy • Sample language to add Messiah to your will: I, [name], of [city, state, zip] give, devise and bequeath to Messiah College, situated in Grantham, Pennsylvania [written amount, description of property or percentage of the estate] for its unrestricted use and purposes.
MEGAN HESS ’18 Public relations
28 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
Visit messiah.edu/createalegacy for more information or email heritagesociety@messiah.edu.
— Sarah Fertsch ’19 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OCTOBER WEDDING VISIT OCTOBERWEDDINGMUSIC.COM
“Music has always been a prayer language for me.” – David Layser ’10
REBEK AH BOLLINGER ’06
Chem grad finds niche at Hershey Co.
ALUMNA KEEPS REESE’S FDA COMPLIANT Imagine going to work each day surrounded by the scent of chocolate. That’s all in a day’s work for Rebekah Bollinger ’06, the food safety compliance specialist at the sweetest place on Earth: the Hershey Company. Graduating from Messiah with a degree in chemistry, Bollinger administers several different tasks to ensure all products manufactured at the Reese plant meet the quality and safety standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “I had the unexpected opportunity to fill in as quality assurance manager for a few months,” said Bollinger. “During this challenging experience, I learned the importance of listening to the needs of others, better understanding processes and elevating issues to find resolution, which built trust with fellow employees and created a more collaborative work environment.” During her time at Messiah, Bollinger says she appreciated the writing-intensive courses, which improved her communication and interpersonal skills needed to take on the various responsibilities of her career today. Each day, Hershey produces approximately 500,000 pounds of quality peanut butter cups, but Bollinger aims for an even greater goal: product development for children with malnutrition, such as ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF). While earning her master’s in food science, Bollinger studied RUTF as part of her seminar research. Hershey’s RUTF product,
JORDAN LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHY
longtime passions of his. While at Messiah, he minored in music, played in the Powerhouse band (also with Werts) and studied abroad in Thailand. Those experiences solidified his calling to lead in the church and the local music industry. “Music has always been a prayer language for me,” he explained. “As soon as I started to personally engage God and feel God’s calling upon my life, music was a way for me to commune with Him in the secret place. I would spend hours alone in my room just singing out songs of prayer and worship with my guitar. To this day, it’s often where I feel most intimate with God.” The band released their first album this year, titled “Sabbath,” while also promoting their music online through NoiseTrade, a platform that helps artists build their audiences. “The fact that we were able to even release our first recording was something we felt God was behind and truly a dream realized,” said Layser. “We walked forward with that plan through prayer and discernment, but it was completely contingent on the support that came in. The same goes for future endeavors. We’ll have to trust and discern about the provision and the vision, and enjoy the ride!”
Maintaining FDA standards for the Hershey Company, chemistry grad Rebekah Bollinger ’06 works as a food safety compliance specialist, ensuring the 500,000 pounds of Reese’s cups produced daily are just right.
“ALWAYS KEEP A HUNGER TO LEARN CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. A LIFELONG LEARNER THRIVES ON NEW EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES BY MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND A HEART FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.” — Rebekah Bollinger ’06
Vivi, is a peanut-based nutritional bar. These products are used already by World Vision and other aid organizations to help improve global health. As Bollinger reaches for her career goals, she also shares a challenge for current students: “Always keep a hunger to learn close to your heart. A lifelong learner thrives on new
experiences and challenges by maintaining a positive attitude and a heart for the needs of others. Most importantly, keep Christ at the center of your life to gain wisdom and a desire to serve those around you.” — Livia Ungurean ’16
MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 29
OUR
BECCA DU DEK ’ 13
PR GRAD FINDS DREAM JOB, LOVE OF OUTDOORS IN MONTANA FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR TRAVELS ACROSS STATE FOR CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK $5 billion. That’s how much Children’s Miracle Network raised this year, and public relations grad Becca (Albus) Dudek ’13 played a big role in its success.
Two years ago, Dudek began working as a fundraising coordinator at Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena, Montana, which is an affiliate of the Children’s Miracle Network. Originally from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, Dudek moved 2,136 miles away from her home for a fresh start. She travels all over Big Sky Country to work with corporate
sponsors to raise money for the hospital. “It’s so rewarding to help children,” said Dudek. “I get to walk by those kids and see them playing on the hospital playground on the way to my office, and I just know I am giving them better lives.” Outside the office, Dudek has embraced the great outdoors. She and her husband Ben ’09 often hike their favorite spot, Glacier National Park, with the long-term goal of exploring all of its trails eventually. “It’s really hard to live in Montana and not be an outdoorsy person,”
said Dudek. The couple also took up kayaking, shoving off in the late afternoon then watching the sunset around a campfire. “The Missouri River is my favorite place to kayak, because the river does all the hard work for you. You don’t have to paddle, so you can just sit back and take in the beautiful scenery around you,” she said. She says Messiah prepared her well for her career, specifically through professor-student mentorships. “Nance McCown [co-chair of the communication department; associate professor of communication], my advisor, helped me with every aspect of my career, from crisis communication to building relationships with key publics,” she said. Dudek says she loves the
ALUM PUBLISHES ART BOOK AMANDA SHERIFF ’07 DISCUSSES POSTERS While poster art remains a staple of dorm room décor, these mass-printed pieces also attract art collectors. After all, French painters such as Henri Toulouse-Lautrec combined art and advertisement in poster form as early as the 1890s. For those looking to delve into this hobby that highlights travel, cinema and music, Amanda Sheriff ’07 wrote the book on the subject. In fact, she wrote two: “The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Concert Posters” and “The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Movie Posters” through her employer Gemstone Publishing, based in Timonium, Maryland. We asked Sheriff to share her expertise on how to care for your poster art collection. FIVE TIPS FOR STORING AND FRAMING POSTERS:
1. For short-term storage, roll posters individually in an acid-free plastic tube then in a heavy cardboard tube. 2. If storing posters flat, avoid stacking more than 10. The weight will cause the posters to ripple. 3. For framing, avoid glass, because it can trap moisture and 30 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
stick to the posters. Use high grade, acid-free plexiglass with ultraviolet protection. 4. Back posters with acid-free foam core or art board. Avoid cardboard. The poster will absorb the acid in the cardboard, causing yellowing and brittleness. 5. Polish plexiglass with antistatic cream to repel dirt. —Anna Seip
COURTESY OF BECCA DUDEK ’13
CLASS NOTES
Becca Dudek ’13 works as a fundraising coordinator for Shodair Children’s Hospital, part of Children’s Miracle Network, in Helena, Montana.
healthcare industry and is thankful for her education and career. “I am living a life I’m proud of,” she said. — Sarah Fertsch ’19
1970s Nevin Werron ’79 works as an interim pastor at North Wales Baptist Church in North Wales, Pa.
1980s Susan Kanode ’80 and Dennis Teets married April 22, 2017. She is a licensed massage therapist in Mount Joy, Pa. Maria (Martinez) Lippart ’85 works as counselor/assistant to the provost at Trinity Valley Community College in Palestine, Texas. She completed an M.A. degree in professional development from Amberton University in Garland, Texas. John Oliphant ’87 completed a Ph.D. in leadership and policy from Niagara University. He received the Rev. Dr. Steven J. Denig, C.M. Memorial Award for Doctoral Research.
Elizabeth (Dunham) Toner ’88 works as the senior communications officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She completed an MSN from Eastern Mennonite University in April.
2000s Erin (Black) Neilson ’07 and her husband Phil announce the birth of Caleb Arthur, May 3, 2017. Megan (Miller) Noel ’01 and her husband Bryan
announce the birth of twins Garrett Lee and Landon Lee, May 15, 2017. Rachel Brady ’06 graduated from the University of California-Davis with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May. She is interning at North Carolina State University of Veterinary Medicine. Elisia (Bidwell) Cannaday ’06 and her husband Dan announce the birth of Sylvie Joy, Oct. 11, 2016.
Heather Hummel ’07 works as an emergency services dispatcher at the Fresno Police Department in California. She and husband Michael Gordon announce the birth of Marcus Samuel, July 30, 2016.
the birth of Tucker, Jan, 11, 2014. Kate is a women’s health registered nurse at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Tiffany Billings ’17 and Cameron Murphy married May 27, 2017. She is a guest services retail lead at Sight and Sound Theatre in Ronks, Pa.
Derek Forster ’10 and Lara Sullenberger married April 8, 2017.
Service notes
Amy (Keyser) Murimi ’07 works as a reading specialist for Central Dauphin School District in Harrisburg, Pa.
Rachel Peterson ’15 and Jonathan Redding ’15 married June 26, 2016.
Kate Adams ’09 and Aaron Friedman married, June 14, 2012. They announce
Charles Sagaser ’15 works as a strategic account representative at High Industries.
Jillian (Lewis) Johnson ’10 is serving as a missionary for the Anglican Church of Uganda in Kisoro, Uganda.
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MESSIAH COLLEGE • THE BRIDGE • SUMMER 2017 | 31
OUR
FROM THE ARCHIVES
In 1970s, baseball players asked Pres. Hostetter to save program TEAMMATES POWERED THROUGH ‘LEAN YEARS’ In 1976, Messiah College’s baseball needed a coach. With no one on the faculty stepping up to the plate, so to speak, Larry Sollenberger ’76—a senior student—volunteered to coach for one year until graduation. After Sollenberger received his degree, however, the problem remained: no coach. According to “Messiah College Baseball Encyclopedia” by Kenneth R. Dunn, “the college was actually considering the possibility of dropping baseball from its sports program.” That’s when baseball players Charles “Chip” Herrmann ’77 and Randy Rhoad ’78 paid a visit to President D. Ray Hostetter. “All I remember about the conversation is being extremely nervous,” said Herrmann of talking to the college president. “We talked about the strong bond of the 25 guys that had worked so hard together and had all become very close to one another. We loved the game so much and most—if not all—of us came to Messiah College because we wanted a Christian College that we could also play baseball for.” While his friend did most of the talking, Rhoad added a personal anecdote. “I do recall discussing with [D. Ray Hostetter] that his father C.N. Hostetter, prior long-term president of Messiah College, was the previous pastor at the church where my family
Teammates Randy Rhoad ’78 and Chip Herrmann ’77 recall their playing days.
and I attended, Palmyra Brethren in Christ church, and that he had performed my believer’s baptism after I accepted Christ. I would like to believe that the personal connection may have helped save the baseball team from extinction.” Whether or not the pleas of two young baseball players tipped the scales in a college president’s decision, no one will ever know. But, the baseball program named Ron Hopkins as the new coach and continued for the 1978 season—and for every year since. —Anna Seip
“We loved the game so much and most—if not all—of us came to Messiah College because we wanted a Christian college that we could also play baseball for.” — Charles Herrmann ’77 32 | SUMMER 2017 • THE BRIDGE • MESSIAH COLLEGE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS HOMECOMING 2017
OCT. 20 Class of 1967 Reunion
FRI.
10–11:30 a.m., Oakes Museum
Check-in and Golden Grad Luncheon 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Martin Commons
Lecture Series 2–3 p.m., Martin Commons
Women’s Volleyball vs. Gettysburg 6 p.m., Hitchcock Arena
OCT. 21 Homecoming Check-in and Registration
SAT.
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Eisenhower Campus Center Commons
Check-in and Registration for Fun Run/Live Color Run 8:30–10:30 a.m., Starry Athletic Fields Complex (by Falcon Hut)
Men’s Club Soccer Alumni Game 8:30–10:30 a.m., Rec Field #1
Men’s Alumni Tennis Match 9 a.m., Criste Courts
Falcon Fun Run 9 a.m., Lower Starry Athletic Fields
Live Color Run
Story Time at Murray Library
Save the date
10 a.m., 2 p.m., Murray Library
OCT. 20-21
Earthkeepers Nature Walk 10:30 a.m., Departs from Oakes Museum
Celebrating our Multicultural Heritage Brunch 10:30 a.m.–noon, Boyer Hall, Howe Atrium
25-Year Reunion (Class of 1992) 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Martin Common
20-Year Cluster Reunion (Classes of 1996, 1997, 1998) 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Hostetter Chapel
15-Year Cluster Reunion (Classes of 2001, 2002, 2003) 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Eisenhower Upper Lawn, Tent
Alumni Authors’ Spotlight
Student Involvement Showcase
11 a.m.–2 p.m., Eisenhower Campus Center
1–2:30 p.m., Larsen Student Union
Prospective Student Pizza Reception
1–3 p.m., Rafiki House
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Jordan Atrium/ Hollinger Lounge
Alumni Women’s Lacrosse Game Noon–2 p.m., Lacrosse turf
Instrument Petting Zoo Noon, Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts, Sawatsky Lobby
Women’s Alumni Basketball Game Noon, Sawyer Courts
Symphony Orchestra Concert
Men’s Alumni Volleyball Game
11 a.m., Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts, Parmer Hall
Li’l Falcon Zone
Falcon Fitness Center Tour
Alumni Field Hockey Game
11 a.m., 2 p.m., Departs from fitness center lobby
10 a.m., Anderson Field
Alumni Baseball Game
10 a.m.–3 p.m., Archive, Murray Library
2 01
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Oakes Museum
10 a.m., Lower Starry Athletic Fields
Archives Open House
7
Oakes Museum Open House and Children’s Craft
Noon, Hitchcock Arena
12:30–4 p.m., Larsen Student Union, patio and lawn
Campus Tour 1 and 4 p.m., Departs from Eisenhower Campus Center lobby
11 a.m., Starry Baseball Field
Varsity Field Hockey vs. Widener University
Alumni Softball Game
1 p.m., Anderson Field
11 a.m., Starry Softball Field
Sustainability Tour 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. Departs from Eisenhower Campus Center lobby
Macha Reunion 1–2:30 p.m., Kline 108
Rafiki Open House Powderpuff Championship Game 1:30 p.m., Rec Field #1
30-Year Cluster Reunion (Classes of 1986, 1987, 1988) 2–4 p.m., Boyer Hall, Howe Atrium
40-Year Cluster Reunion (Classes of 1976, 1977, 1978) 2–4 p.m., Hostetter Chapel
Women’s Soccer vs. Lebanon Valley College 3 p.m., Shoemaker Field
Young Alumni Reunion (Classes of 2007-2017) 3:30-5:30 p.m., Eisenhower Upper Lawn, tent
Eyas Whiteout March 5 p.m., Hostetter Chapel
Men’s Soccer vs. Lebanon Valley College 6 p.m., Shoemaker Field
SAB Coffeehouse 9 p.m., Brubaker Auditorium
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT MESSIAH.EDU/HOMECOMING.
office of Marketing and COMMUNICATIONS
One College Avenue Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg PA 17055 717.691.6027 www.messiah.edu
Celebrate Homecoming! Tubing the Yellow Breeches, Lottie meals, the midnight scream, that exciting internship, your lifelong friends. So many experiences make Messiah home. Come home to see friends, faculty and staff while reliving your favorite memories! This year, our milestone classes - 2012, 2007, 2002 and 1992 - celebrate reunion gatherings at Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 21. As part of the fun, these classes are competing to see whose class participates the most in giving back. Many of you generously give to your alma mater, and we’re grateful for that! During this special year, will you consider giving a “stretch” gift in honor of your class? Your gift to any campus initiative counts toward this 3-month reunion giving challenge.
The class with the highest participation will have the Alumni Plaza named in their honor for the year! Visit messiah.edu/myreunion for more details and to give.