TO REACH THE ALUMNI HOUSE: 610 861-1366 OR WWW.MORAVIAN.EDU/ALUMNI
Photos by john kish iv
alumninews
Alumni and student award-winners shine
Top: Award recipients and their presenters: Front row: Bill Trub ’03, Joyce Hinnefeld, Katelyn Cohen ’14, Michael O’Gorman ’13, Kathleen Figlear Malu ’73, Helen Churko. Middle row: Bertie Francis Knisely ’69, Betsey Tait Puth ’51, Alicia Altemose ’14 Back row: David Vasily ’71, Cathleen Lavelle Williams ’05, Scott Williams ’04 . Above: Comenius Alumni Award Recipient David Vasily M.D. ’71 and his wife Ida Vasily.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Alumni Association Awards. To nominate an alumna or alumnus, visit www. moravian.edu/alumni and click on Alumni Recognition. Or call the Alumni Relations office at 610 625-7874 for a paper form. Nominations will be accepted until April 30.
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MORAVIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Moravian College’s Twelfth Annual Alumni Awards ceremony, held December 8 in Peter Hall, honored five alumni and three current students for their exceptional achievements and dedication to Moravian. Kelly Rindock ’03, president of the Alumni Association, welcomed everyone and introduced President Christopher Thomforde, who gave opening remarks. Thomforde remarked on the beauty of Peter Hall, and pointed out the gorgeous stained glass windows, saying that the light which often shines through them is related to the College’s motto, Via Lucis, which means the way of light. He said that Moravian students “have been like bright shining lights in a confounding world.” Turning to the award recipients seated on the stage, he finished, “Thank you for shining brightly.” The Alumni Fellows Awards for academic excellence and service to the College and community were presented to three students, Alicia Altemose ’14, Katelyn Cohen ’14, and Michael O’Gorman ’13, by Alyson Remsing ’03. O’Gorman also was presented with an award for his outstanding Honors project, which focused on social media and politics. This year, two Young Alumni Achievement Awards were presented. The first went to Bill Trub ’03, who majored in English, went on to be an English
professor, published poet and Peace Corps volunteer, and now teaches at a program for low-income teenagers in Brooklyn. Scott Williams ’04 received the second award. He was introduced by his wife, Cathleen Lavelle Williams ’05, who said, “Moravian instilled in Scott the desire to learn passionately and live passionately.” In his acceptance remarks, Williams said, “My parents always taught me to follow my heart and follow my passion, and Moravian reinforced that for me.” The 2012 Benigna Education Award was presented to Kathleen Figlear Malu ’73, who has taught in many settings over the years, including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressed gratitude for those who taught her: “The Moravian faculty inspired me, supported me, and helped mold me into the award recipient I am today.” The Medallion of Merit was presented to Betsey Tait Puth ’51, a graduate of the original Moravian College for Women. Bertie Francis Knisely ’69, who introduced Puth, instructed the audience to “imagine this room without the windows,” and described how the exquisite stained glass windows were covered for 20 years before Puth initiated their restoration. “Peter Hall has always meant so much to me,” said Puth, as she described her memories of visits to “the chapel,” as it was known then. Lastly, the Comenius Alumni Award was presented to David B. Vasily M.D. ’71 for his extensive medical work in the field of dermatology and laser surgeries. Knisely also introduced Vasily. His enthusiasm for Moravian was apparent as he recalled his college days where his classes were “so exciting and stimulating that I couldn’t wait to go to my next class!” Vasily then turned to President Thomforde’s initial theme of light. “Light is my world,” he stated as he described his cutting-edge research and development of lasers, and he is thankful to have a part of “the light that leaves Moravian with every student.” —Karen Purkey ’13
SPRING 2013