SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY
ShipGives was May 5 and 6. Thank you to all who made a gift or shared social media messages in support of ShipGives!
MAGAZINE
Be sure to check out our facebook page and our website, SUFoundation.org, for ShipGives results.
WE MISS YOU ALREADY JEANE! The SU Foundation was saddened to learn of the recent passing of our good friend, volunteer, long-time donor, and Ship family member, Jeane Eschenmann. Jeane volunteered many hours and many years for the SU Foundation and the Luhrs Performing Arts Center. She was a longstanding member of the SU Foundation’s Honor Society and participated in our Honor Society trips. She loved Ship athletics and attended many football and men’s and women’s basketball games. Jeane and her late husband established the Dick and Jeane Eschenmann Athletic Scholarship Fund to support scholarships for women’s basketball players. In lieu of flowers, her family has asked that gifts in her memory be made to the SU Foundation sufoundation.org/give-now or to support their scholarship fund, go to tinyurl.com/ForJeane.
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Jeane Eschenmann
SHIP STUDENTS NEED OUR HELP! Ship students are now transitioning to virtual delivery of their academic coursework away from the university for the remainder of the spring semester. However, some Ship students don’t have access to laptops, iPads, or even Internet access at home. The SU Foundation has established the Emergency Technology Fund to help students challenged with affording basic needs and accessing necessary resources for remote learning or other unforeseen personal difficulties. Faculty have similar equipment needs. They also are serving as “fellows” who are providing online training and remote learning support to faculty who need technical assistance.
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In these uncertain times, one thing we do know is that our Ship family comes together to support one another. If you are in a position to help these students financially, please consider making a gift today at tinyurl.com/ SUFEmergencyTechFund. Thank you in advance for helping us reinforce our support for the students and what it means to be a part of the Ship family.
features 20 COMMUNITY OVER CRISIS
How the Shippensburg University community pivoted from its traditional classroom setting to remote learning during a pandemic.
TO 24 RECOMMITTING CLIMATE ACTION A major movement sparked environmental change during the first Earth Day celebration fifty years ago, and Ship is ready to build off that momentum for a greener, more sustainable future.
ship’s log
28 ALUMNI PROFILE 35 PHOTO ALBUM Shippensburg University Foundation 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: (717) 477-1377 • Fax: (717) 477-4060 Visit us on the web at sufoundation.org. Like us on The SU Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is the official gift-receiving entity for Shippensburg University.
FRONT COVER, You can have it all, if you’re willing to work for it! Ship’s ROTC cadets prove that academics, athletics, and service to country are possible with discipline and communication. Read more on page 12.
from the president
Flexibility, Grace, Resilience, Community
recognized the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day by making a strong commitment to climate action. Shippensburg has a solid history of celebrating Earth Day, advocating for change, and choosing sustainable practices. Although this year’s celebration looked a little different, I was happy to collaborate with students, faculty, staff and alumni who strive to make a difference on our campus and in our world. Read more about our efforts in the feature on page 24. As always, our students are accomplishing amazing feats. Our studentathletes lead a stellar athletics program, but more importantly, balance their workload to achieve outstanding academic accomplishments. They outpace the NCAA Division II national four-year graduation rate by more than 10 percent! A growing number of Ship’s ROTC cadets also have committed to our athletics program, showing that time management and dedication make it possible to succeed in athletics and academics while also serving our country. Our students’ talents and abilities are second to none. This spring, we continued to work on our four priorities—student success, telling our story, community engagement, and quality—as we collaborate with the State System in the redesign process. I am ever appreciative of our university community working together to creatively develop the tools and resources that allow us to grow in the future. For more on the redesign, visit passhe.edu/systemredesign. While we are staying at home to protect the health of our community, there will come a day when we will once again be able to interact with one another and enjoy the blooms of life after the pandemic. Thank you for all you do for Ship. I hope that you and your families stay safe as we move into the summer.
That is how a university campus deals with a global crisis. My friends, this spring turned out quite differently than any of us expected. I had hoped to share with you all of the life and activity that spring at Ship brings. Instead, like the rest of the world, we found ourselves combating an ongoing global pandemic that abruptly pulled us from our normal daily lives on campus.
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hether students, faculty, staff, alumni, or friends, I recognize the stress and anxiety you all are facing. Yet, you have shown your flexibility from the first day as you were forced to shift to home workspaces, work untraditional hours, communicate through different channels, and illustrate tremendous creativity while often taking on new roles at home to carry out daily life during this pandemic. I am thankful for the countless ways our university family dedicated their time, talents, and expertise to our students as we quickly moved off campus and into remote learning. Our university community provides incredible support to those who need it, both on and off campus. I am so proud of many of you who went above and beyond to care for others at the university and in your hometowns. From providing meals to making masks to sharing fitness videos and
mental health tips online, our Ship family continues to make headlines for all that they do for others. Read more about these efforts in the feature on page 20. And, because we are in this together, you all have shown so much grace and empathy for each other. Our Ship family is working so hard, facing unusual and mounting obstacles. But each of you continue to check in with each other, support each other, and care for each other. Sometimes, that moment to stop and ask, “Are you OK today?” is all it takes to make another person’s day. While the pandemic has changed so much of life, Shippensburg University resiliently carries on. We have forged through the spring semester, celebrated student research, shared professional expertise, cheered with the SU Marching Band, and so much more. And, outside of this pandemic, there are many things to celebrate! This April, we
President Laurie A. Carter Turn it up! Members of the SU Marching Band joined forces via Zoom to amp up school spirit, wherever Raiders tuned in!
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UNIVERSITY AWARDED MORE THAN $150,000 IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS Shippensburg University is gearing up efforts to support high school students in low-income communities. Thirty students and their families in Title I high schools will receive services to better prepare for postsecondary education. Shippensburg was awarded a $154,000 Pennsylvania GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant to carry out the program through spring 2021. “Shippensburg University is excited to partner with the Harrisburg, Allentown, and Norristown Area school districts and their students. We’re ready to welcome these students to campus and support them as
U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E VOL. 17, NO. 1 SPRING 2020 Published by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Cynthia Shapira, Chair, Board of Governors Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor LAURIE A. CARTER President, Shippensburg University
they work toward educational success,” said Dr. B. Donta Truss, vice president for enrollment management, student affairs, and student success. Shippensburg will connect with students in these districts during the spring 2020 semester. The students, accepted to Shippensburg University, will receive the funding and attend the Summer Bridge Program. The five-week Summer Bridge Program is an extended orientation to college roles and expectations, as well as an assessment of college readiness. Following successful completion, students will continue their enrollment and grant funding into the fall semester.
KIM GARRIS Vice President, External Relations and Communications EDITOR IN CHIEF
Liz Kemmery ’04 Director of Creative Services ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Anne M. Detter Schaffner Director of Marketing, SU Foundation William Morgal ’07-’10m, Sports Information Director Lori Smith ’95-’07m Director, Alumni Relations
AN EVENING FOR HOPE < Poet, educator, writer, and activist Nikki Giovanni visited with students on campus in February before her lecture at the Luhrs Center. Named one of Oprah’s 25 “Living Legends,” Giovanni is one of the world’s bestknown African-American poets who has won numerous awards. The annual program supports the HOPE Diversity Scholarship, which provides a quality education to academically talented and financially deserving minority students.
CLASS NOTES EDITOR
Stephanie Swanger, Alumni Relations PHOTOGRAPHER
William J. Smith INTERNS
Michaela Vallonio ’20 DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Kimberly Hess, Creative Services Coordinator Shippensburg University Magazine is published three times a year for alumni, parents, friends, and associates of Shippensburg University. Portions of the magazine may be reprinted without permission if Shippensburg University Magazine is credited. For change of address, please e-mail alumni@ship.edu. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, in compliance with federal and state laws and university policy, is committed to human understanding and provides equal educational, employment, and economic opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Direct requests for disability accommodations and other inquiries to the Office of Accessibility Resources, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299, (717) 477-1364, oar@ship.edu.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE > Earlier this year, crews worked to transform the university’s former steam plant into a cuttingedge lab space for the School of Engineering.
HOW TO CONTACT SU MAG BY MAIL:
BY FAX:
Ship Letters Box 35 Shippensburg University 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 (717) 477-1253
BY TELEPHONE: (717) 477-1201 BY E-MAIL:
sumag@ship.edu
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campus BY THE NUMBERS 〉 THE
CUB AND ACTIVITIES PROGRAM BOARD (APB)
1992 and 2011 TWO MAJOR RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONS
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CUMBERLAND UNION AND CEDDIA UNION BUILDING
Can I ge t the key to the office?
EVENT (XPERIENCE SPRING CONCERT)
Thanks to a generous donor, Seth Grove Stadium will see an expansion and renovations similar to the rendering above.
FOOD OPTIONS
< MOST ASKED QUESTION AT THE INFO DESK
100—APB EVENTS HELD ANNUALLY 1,350—LARGEST TURNOUT FOR AN
3 MOST POPULAR EVENT FOR STUDENTS
$2 MILLION GIFT WILL IMPROVE ATHLETIC FACILITIES
President Laurie A. Carter announced a gift of $2 million for the construction of a new Shippensburg University football locker room. The gift is part of a larger project that will improve facilities for student-athletes and faculty coaches from seven teams. The new football facility, to be built at the rear of Seth Grove Stadium, also will include upgrades to the stadium tunnel. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, made the investment specifying it be used to build the locker rooms. “Athletics is a proven instrument for student success, as evidenced by our studentathletes. In spring of 2019, more than half of our athletes earned a 3.0 or higher, and thirtyeight of our athletes maintained a 4.0. I am so appreciative of this generous contributor who is supporting quality education at Shippensburg University in this way,” Carter said. The new locker rooms will connect to the stadium by extending the tunnel currently adjoining Student Association Field. The new construction will provide additional space and much needed improvements including new, larger lockers, twenty showers, and additional restroom facilities. The $2 million gift is in addition to a $3.6 million new locker room facility to be built in the rear of Henderson Gymnasium. The 7,688-square-foot addition will provide state-of-the-art facilities for women studentathletes playing field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, and softball, as well as the men’s and women’s soccer teams. The project is currently in the planning phase. The projects were developed based upon the findings of a comprehensive study of university athletics locker rooms. The combined estimated cost of the project is $5.6 million.
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MARCH TODAY, FOR TOMORROW > The campus community gathered in celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and life in January. The thirty-third annual MLK March for Humanity featured a talk by Keshia Hannam, co-founder of Camel Assembly, which is a global collective of activities and artists. The talk ended with the annual march around campus.
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I hope tonight that you remember perspective… I learned, and I believe, that we should learn from (adverse) stories, and as you leave here tonight, you’re going to be writing your next chapter in your story.
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—Heather Warner ’14m, President and CEO of H. Warner Marketing, LLC
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Our winter grads closed one chapter and opened another, ready to take on the world at the start of a new decade! Congratulations to our graduates! We are proud of all you’ve accomplished in your time at Ship, and can’t wait to see what you do next. Best of luck in your new endeavors!
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degrees awarded to doctoral students
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degrees awarded to graduate students
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degrees awarded to undergraduate students
You are the American Dream—the hope, the purpose, the passion. You have to be able to wear that as badge of honor and do something about this society and this world. —Dr. Khalid Mumin ’95, Superintendent of Reading Area School District
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AROUND CAMPUS
SU Student-athletes Outpace National Graduation Rate Shippensburg University student-athletes are standing out in the classroom and on the field. In 2019, SU student-athletes surpassed the NCAA Division II national four-year graduation rate by more than ten percent.
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he Shippensburg University Raiders boasted a 69 percent graduation rate for student-athletes who received athletic aid. The national fouryear graduation rate for Division II athletes was 58 percent. With a strong focus on student success, the university understands that the needs of student-athletes are unique, so it has created programs in recent years to meet those needs. In the fall of 2019, the university opened the Kathryn Hughes Seaber Raiders Academic Center for Student-Athletes. Located in the Lehman Library, the center is a one-stop-shop for student-athletes to receive academic support. Director Madeline Mulhall ’18-’19m, acts as a liaison and
activist for students, helping them navigate and balance their course load with the demands of their athletic seasons. The Faculty-Athletic Mentor (FAM) program, under the direction and leadership of Dr. Rich Zumkhawala-Cook, partners a faculty member with each athletic team. The faculty members attend as many games and practices as possible and are resources for team members, recruits, parents, and anyone else associated with the team. The Shippensburg University Raiders are members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), featuring eleven women’s and nine men’s programs that compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
GEOGRAPHY/EARTH SCIENCE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE WORK IN ACTION During the fall semester, several geography/ earth science majors traveled to on-site visits of the National Weather Service (NWS) and a working mine. In November, Dr. Tim Hawkins, professor of geography/earth science, and his meteorology students visited State College to tour the NWS and Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center offices. During their trip, students climbed a tower that took them into a Doppler radar unit. The unit is one of 158 operated by the NWS and is a key component in the agency's severe weather warning operation. The river forecast center, one of thirteen operated by the NWS, provides daily river forecasts that support agriculture, emergency management, and water supply operations. Students met with forecasters and learned about the work they do at the center. Shippensburg geography/earth science students also gained hands-on experience by surveying an active mine in Mapleton. The US Silica mine is over 100 years old, and students are assisting with the surveying of Orsika sandstone—a white sandstone that will be mined into glass products.
Dr. Sean Cornell, geography/earth science professor, supervised the project. Cornell and his students studied the geophysics and geophysical properties of the rock, which will lead to more efficient and effective decisionmaking with the sandstone mine. “This is real geography applied, so it’s a great opportunity for our students to see the full spectrum of geoscience problems in action,” Cornell said. The Mapleton Plant is approximately forty miles northwest of Harrisburg.
Collecting first-hand data, Ship’s geography/ earth science students worked on site at the National Weather Service in State College.
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ACHIEVE MORE— TOGETHER < With the State System redesign underway, Chancellor Dan Greenstein continued his campus listening tours earlier this year to meet with students, faculty, and staff and plan for the future. For the latest on the system redesign visit passhe. edu/systemredesign.
Getting a peek into their future professions, Ship students stepped out of the classroom and into their potential careers for a day over winter break thanks to the job shadow program offered through the Career, Mentoring, and Professional Development Center. Students engaged with regional employers while gaining a better understanding of their future careers.
A LITTLE DIRT AND A LOT OF LEARNING went into faculty and students’ experiences at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg this January. The Geography/Earth Science Department and the Center for Land Use and Sustainability used an interactive display to promote sustainable farming practices and teach participants about soil testing and types, vertical potato growing, and hydroponics.
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SHIPPENSBURG COMMUNITY RESOURCE COALITION AWARDED OVER $150K Shippensburg University received two grants supporting the Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition (SCRC). SCRC is a community-university partnership based in Ship’s Social Work and Gerontology Department that provides services to the community and learning experiences to Ship students. “The SCRC is unique, as the only community-university social service agency in the State System where community members can access services and students gain learning experiences. These grants provide critical support to meet the SCRC mission to provide quality social services and youth programs that are accessible and safe and that recognize the dignity and worth of each person,” said Dr. Liz Fisher, SCRC chair and professor of social work. The first grant, totaling $103,839, was awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and will aid SCRC to continue its work in establishing a Communities that Care (CTC) site in Shippensburg. CTC uses a coalition, evidencebased model to prevent problem behaviors among youth and increase protective factors. “We’re bringing together people from across the community who care about youth in the Shippensburg area with goals of increasing positive outcomes for children and building healthier futures for families," said Laura Masgalas, community youth mobilizer. The second grant, awarded by the Partnership for Better Health, via the Shippensburg University Foundation, provides $64,200 to support the Healthy Shippensburg project. Healthy Shippensburg is another coalition-based project that focuses on social determinants of health and building a healthier community.
“By bringing together people from all walks of life and agencies, we hope to bridge divides and break down barriers increasing community member’s well-being, helping them to reach their highest potential,” said Sonja Payne, SCRC community health mobilizer. The two grants not only provide important services for the greater Shippensburg community, but provide significant opportunities for university students preparing for careers as social workers. The grants fund the community youth mobilizer and community health mobilizer, both supported by SU interns and SU service-learning volunteers. A well-established resource in the community, SCRC operates several programs including youth food security programs (Summer Lunch Program and Hound Packs) and middle and high school clubs and groups. It also conducts ongoing research to assess community needs and evaluate programs and services.
A stronger community commitment is possible thanks to two grants supporting the Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition.
1970 FROM THE VAULT
Campuses nationwide had one focus on April 22, 1970—the inaugural Earth Day. Private or public, big or small, colleges and universities turned their attention to the needs of Mother Earth. More than 20 million people celebrated this milestone. What did that look like at Ship? On April 22, the morning began with a panel discussion about pollution in the Cumberland Valley. There were film screenings and a slide presentation on local conservation, a demo against the Penn Central Railroad, and a meeting to launch an ecology action group.
AROUND CAMPUS Other events at the time included: • A nationwide environmental teach-in on April 8 included demonstrations against Penn Central Railroad and smoke-belching from the Domestic Pump factory. The Art Department also organized painting a wooden fence that enclosed the burned out lot on East King Street.
FORTY-THREE YEARS OF SUB-FIVE-MINUTE MILES is a feat only Steve Spence, SU’s cross-country head coach, can claim. His impressive streak ended at the close of 2019 due to summer knee surgery, but Spence said don’t count him out. He hopes to pick up where he left off soon.
• The Slate invited students on April 15 to participate in the “snap a photo of environmental destruction” contest for a chance to win cash prizes.
• Earth Week was celebrated on campus from April 17–23. • The Ship community volunteered to clean up Burd Run on April 22. • On Thursday, April 23, afternoon classes were canceled to encourage students to visit the mountains and experience the clean environment. • Inauguration was held for President Gilmore B. Seavers as ninth president of Shippensburg University on April 23.
ONCE A RAIDER, NOW A COWBOY! Rob Davis ’92, Shippensburg University Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and football All-American defensive lineman, has been hired by the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant head coach. The first modern Raider to play in the NFL and make it to the Super Bowl in 1998, Davis takes on this new opportunity with plenty of experience.
NEW MEMBER JOINS SU COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES The Pennsylvania Senate confirmed an appointment for a new member of the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees: George McElwee ’98. Douglas Harbach ’82 and Glen R. Grell were reappointed. McElwee (right) begins his first six-year term. He is a founding member and managing partner of Commonwealth Strategic Partners (CSP), a bipartisan public policy firm. Prior to forming CSP, McElwee served as chief lobbyist to the Organization for International Investment and as chief of staff to US Representative Charles W. Dent (R-PA). He spent five years as director of Federal Government Affairs for the American Financial Services Association (AFSA), a national trade association representing the consumer credit and finance industry, and on the staff of US Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA). A commissioned officer in the US Navy Reserve, Lt. Cmdr. McElwee is a public affairs officer assigned to the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO). Among other training and schooling, he holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies from National Defense University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Shippensburg University. Harbach begins his fourth term as a trustee and serves as vice chair. Harbach has worked in both public and private industry. Since 2006, he has served as
director of communications of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board where he is responsible for media and public relations, along with ensuring that the board’s business in overseeing legal gambling in Pennsylvania is visible to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Harbach holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Shippensburg University. Grell begins his fifth consecutive term as a trustee, serving on the council since 1995. He served as deputy counsel to Gov. Tom Ridge and then as solicitor of Hampden Township before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2004. He dutifully represented the 87th district until 2015, when he became executive director of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). Grell earned a Bachelor of Arts from The Johns Hopkins University in 1978 as well as a JD from the Dickinson School of Law in 1981. The three will serve alongside Council of Trustees Chairman L. Michael Ross, Secretary William Gindlesperger, Andrew Alosi, Charles Black, Bryan Lowe, Antoinette Marchowsky, and Matthew Steck.
THE STAR OF THE NIGHT WAS THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS during the fourth Ship Caucus hosted at the Martin House in January. Over 100 students attended the event, held just days ahead of the Iowa Caucus, the first major contest of the primary election season. Students debated and discussed as they formed preference groups to show support for one of the presidential candidates.
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student snapshot
Humble But Mighty SSWAM FOUNDER RECOGNIZED BY MICHAELA VALLONIO ’20
To Rachael Rudis, the cause was personal. Launching a new campus organization is exciting, especially when it helps others. And in this case, the senior history major had the opportunity to serve and impact the US Military.
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udis’ stepfather had served in the US Navy, so the military was always something she cared about growing up. In high school, she hosted an annual after-school event during the holidays to organize cards and care packages from students for troops who were away from their families. When Rudis came to Shippensburg University, she was surprised to find out there wasn’t something similar in place. She made it her mission to do the same at Ship. Building off her high school effort, Rudis established Ship Stands with America’s Military (SSWAM), which unites the Shippensburg community to send letters and care packages to troops overseas. She officially started the organization in the fall of 2018. Her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Last November, as part of the university’s Veterans Day ceremony, the US Army officially recognized Rudis for her work. “I was very surprised, and it’s what I am most proud of in my time at Shippensburg,” she said. “I think it made me realize how much of a difference SSWAM made.” 10
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Lt. Col. Chris Morton chose Rudis for the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service— a rare recognition as a civilian—to honor her work with SSWAM. “When you’re deployed, it’s important for people to know they are supported,” Morton said. “It’s not the stuff in the packages, it’s them knowing they are cared about.”
SSWAM is a student-run organization, and Rudis said the dedication of the students involved is impressive. “It is a very bottom-up, grassroots kind of organization, in the sense that everything we did was done by students. When it came down to it, it was a small group of students who were trying their best at every turn to grow the organization and do what we could to help out.” She noted that SSWAM is particularly significant because of the large presence of ROTC on campus as well as other military families. Although SSWAM is lean at just fifteen members, it has gained support and resources from other campus and local organizations. The organization now collaborates with Entrepreneurship Action Us (Enactus), which only strengthens and enhances its success. Ship Dining Services and a local church also contribute. “We were able to connect the university and the downtown community of Shippensburg at a time when a lot of people were pushing to build better relationships between the two.” Organizing and sending letters and packages was something members of the group loved to do together. At meetings, they penned personal letters and cards for troops. They also hosted tables in the dining halls and CUB that provided other students the opportunity to send messages to soldiers overseas. The organization made it a mission to fundraise for care package materials. “Whether it was a dining hall fundraiser, a spaghetti dinner at the local church, or,
Just a couple of people, however small it may be, can still make a difference.
Serving those who serve, students in SSWAM prepare care packages to troops overseas.
one of our members who is a great artist even painted canvases to sell and raise money.” The group also received donations from businesses and local grocery stores for the care packages. Members then carpooled to Giant or Walmart to tackle their lists. Around the holidays, they contributed seasonal items as well. “It might be Easter, so let’s send some candy you can only get around this time, or Girl Scout cookies are a huge item to send.” Rudis expressed her realization that a small effort can make a big difference in the community. “We were a small group of Shippensburg students, but we made a large impact,” Rudis said. “Just a couple of people, however small it may be, can still make a difference.”
When Rudis received her award in November, she shared with the audience her experience during a conference the weekend before Veterans Day. She spoke with veterans about some of their negative experiences returning home. “It’s so important to thank our veterans and those who are currently serving as often as we can,” Rudis said. “It made me remember the whole point of SSWAM in the first place, which was to make sure no one feels like that when they come home ever again. “Just being able to serve more soldiers overseas is where I hope SSWAM continues to go.” Michaela Vallonio ’20 is an intern for SU Magazine.
spotlight on JICIANA KNIGHT ’20
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Hometown: Philadelphia Major: Management and Marketing, HR Concentration Year: Senior Sounds like you had a great opportunity over Christmas break! Why were you interested in the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program? I wanted to study abroad, and I needed funding to study abroad. I basically went to Mary Burnett, director of International Programs, and we talked about my options to study abroad. She said I could go through Gilman. What were your goals? I wanted to travel abroad, get new experiences, see how life is outside the US, because I already know that it’s different than other places. I was originally supposed to go to China, but they canceled it… Then, Barcelona presented itself. I wanted to get a new experience. I wanted to work on my Chinese, but I actually learned some new Spanish words. That’s one of my goals from leaving Spain. Everyone there speaks a minimum of two languages—mostly it was three to four languages I heard people speaking, and I was like, it’s crazy how we don’t have that here in America! What did you do for the scholarship application? First, you have to read their guidelines, saying what you want to do, talk to your study abroad advisor, find a program that meets their guidelines. With Gilman, you have to have a twenty-one-day J term program, and this was twenty-one days exactly. I was so happy I found that program. They give you a list of questions to answer. I basically said I was a self-supported student, and that I want to study abroad because I want to learn about different aspects of life in other places.
What class did you take? It was international marketing. We had to do three or four case studies, a midterm, and a final presentation. We had to come up with a product for the Spanish market. Our topic was frozen foods, so we came up with a frozen soup.
deserve the opportunity like everyone else. I know a lot of people don’t have the resources. I think it’s mostly resources, and sometimes fear… As far as Barcelona, everyone was very welcoming to me, very nice. I didn’t feel out of place at all.
How big was your class? There were about twenty or thirty people in the classroom. People were coming from all over the US— Boston, Chicago, Houston, Iowa, Ohio. There were a lot of juniors. I was one of the only seniors.
Where can students go for resources? Google study abroad scholarships, and research different terms and options. Gilman is a great one, and there are plenty of other ones, too. There’s money out there! A lot of people don’t know about it. I want to bring awareness that there are options for us.
What else did you do while abroad? I went to the beach, because who can say they put their feet in the Mediterranean! I put my feet in the cold water. For fun, I went to the Picasso museum and Montserrat, with beautiful mountain views. We also went to Girona where Game of Thrones was filmed, and we went to the Dali museum (pictured right). I loved the Dali museum. When I went to Amsterdam, I went to the Anne Frank House. That was an experience! You will cry. It’s at the house where she stayed—people book two months ahead of time… I got into the museum, and it was beautiful. I was in there for two hours. What highlights will you hold onto from the trip? Their way of life. I’ll hold onto that. They are very free. And Spanish—I’ll use that. What would you say to other students? I want to encourage other students of color to study abroad. There was another Black student there, but I was reading online that the study abroad Black population is less than four percent, and that’s sad. I think we
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Representing School and Country
ROTC STUDENT-ATHLETES EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE BY MACI THORNTON ’21M
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articipating in college athletics requires intense commitment, but playing a college sport as an officer-in-training adds another dimension. ROTC student-athletes represent both their school and their country in the classroom and on the field. They work to achieve peak academic and physical excellence as future officers in the US Military. This commitment to the pursuit of excellence creates a common misconception: cadets cannot successfully navigate academics, athletics, and ROTC. “When I first came here as the department chair, we had zero cadets who were NCAA athletes, and it was really important to me to build our partnerships with athletics,” said Lt. Col. Chris Morton. “Athletes make great Army officers.” Plus, he said, having ROTC student-athletes benefits the university, the Athletic Department, the ROTC program, and the students individually. In fact, Shippensburg University has graduated successful ROTC studentathletes in the past. In 2012, starting football kicker
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Michael Lloyd set a school record with 80 points by kicking in a single season. Nichole Capozzi earned All-America honors in swimming during the 2010-2011 season and graduated as a second lieutenant in 2012. Shippensburg University currently has the largest group of ROTC student-athletes in school history. Nine members of the Raider Battalion prove participating in college sports and ROTC is not only possible, but beneficial.
Motivation to Participate
Most students interested in both ROTC and playing a college sport anticipate a major level of commitment. The Raider Battalion student-athletes provided insight toward their motivation to join ROTC and compete for SU Athletics.
ROTC forces you to get out of your comfort zone and be comfortable being uncomfortable. That translates into athletics as well. Savannah Mower
RAIDER SPORTS The Future in Focus
Savannah Mower, a firstyear track and field athlete, said she joined both because of “the passion for athletics— for competing.” In fact, she believes the Army is like a sports team. “I felt like ROTC was something different—something to get me out of my comfort zone,” added Kayla Brooks, another first-year track and field athlete. First-year student-athlete, Fiona Rowan, made history as the first member of the women’s basketball team to also participate in ROTC. “After I committed here to play basketball, I was told I couldn’t do ROTC. I definitely want to show people that you can do it, too, that you’re not limited because of other activities you are involved in,” she said.
A Demanding Schedule
Most cadets expect a busy schedule coming into the program, especially those aspiring to also play a college sport. Laron Woody, a first-year student-athlete, explained a typical day for an ROTC cadet during football season: “We have morning meeting at 6:00am, 8:00am class for ROTC, and after that, we would go to any other classes we have for the day. I take four to five classes a semester. We have lifting anywhere from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Then, we have football practice from 3:15 to 6:15pm. We go home to do homework and study hall, which starts right after practice.” Woody joked that they squeeze in time to eat and sleep as well. He stressed the importance of time management and communication. Regular communication with ROTC superiors, coaches, and professors is essential to managing rigorous schedules. First-year swimmer Matthew Bochansky praised his professors for their communication and consideration of his schedule.
Several parallels exist between the lessons learned from ROTC and college athletics. These cadets are self-motivated due to their numerous obligations, but Mower lists confidence as her main takeaway. “ROTC forces you to get out of your comfort zone and be comfortable being uncomfortable. That translates into athletics as well.” Lake Lloyd, a sophomore baseball student-athlete, said participating in ROTC and athletics taught him to hold himself to a higher standard. ROTC student-athletes represent their school and their country, meaning, “they don’t just see me as No. 34—they see me as a cadet,” which he does not take lightly. Rowan articulated the humility she experienced as a first-year member of the women’s basketball team. “I was very humbled as a leader with basketball and listening to older players who are more experienced than I am.” This translated into ROTC by learning to respect people in higher positions, she said, which is an important skill moving forward. The Raider Battalion student-athletes plan to use all they have gleaned from their experiences toward their future goals as officers and professionals in their desired career. William Humphrey, a first-year member on the football team, intends to commission after graduation. As someone who grew up in a military town in North Carolina, he said that becoming an officer and retiring out of the military has been his main goal. Katelyn Nalesnik, a first-year field hockey player, majors in biology and hopes to become a nurse. She believes her Army training will benefit her tremendously in her nursing career. Participating in ROTC and college athletics provides these cadets with an “edge,” as Lloyd mentioned. While challenging, they believe both experiences better equip them for a future in service and leadership. The Raider Battalion student-athletes prove the misconception false, demonstrating ROTC and college athletics can work together and benefit each other.
“They’re usually pretty understanding of what I have going on and the schedule I have to work with,” he said. Rowan agreed, adding, “In addition to basketball and ROTC, I’m also in the Honors College, so that comes with a lot of extra work in certain classes I have to take. The director of the Honors College, Dr. Kim Klein, is very good about understanding my work load.”
Rigorous Training
On top of ROTC physical training, these student-athletes manage practices and competitions in their sport. However, the cadets believe training in their sport improves their athleticism, thus benefitting them in ROTC physical training. Mower provided insight on the new ROTC physical training test, “It is more geared toward athleticism versus endurance and how many push-ups and sit-ups you can do in a couple minutes. I think that being in a sport will better prepare us for the new Army combat fitness test.” In fact, training in their sport may replace ROTC training sessions depending on scheduling or the nature of the training. Firstyear student-athlete Tyler Simon revealed his pre-season football schedule of running two mornings a week and lifting four times a week. “It’s a little too much to do both,” said Simon, and the cadets see little benefit to exhausting themselves.
Maci Thornton ’21m is a graduate assistant in SU’s Office of Communication and Marketing.
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sport shorts FOOTBALL // Shippensburg finished with a 4-7
record, ending a streak of eight consecutive winning seasons. The Raiders went 4-3 against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opponents. Redshirt-sophomore tight end David Balint III (right) was named to the 2019 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Football Second Team. Balint III is the first Raider named to an AllAmerica Team since Sheldon Mayer earned Associated Press (AP) Little All-America Third Team honors in 2015. Balint III set single-season school records for receptions by a tight end (64) and receiving yards by a tight end (755), averaging 11.8 yards per reception and 68.6 receiving yards per game. He became the first SU tight end in more than forty years to finish a season as the team’s leader in receptions. SU had two players earn Google Cloud Academic All-District honors: senior linebacker Tig Spinelli and sophomore return specialist/ wide receiver Sean Judge. Spinelli, a two-time honoree, is a double-major in supply chain management and management information systems who held a 3.86 GPA at the time of his award. Judge, a biology major, held a 3.45 GPA. Four players earned All-PSAC East honors: junior wide receiver Winston Eubanks was named to the First Team, while graduate fullback Luke Durkin, redshirt-junior defensive lineman Tim Bradley, and Spinelli were named to the All-PSAC East Second Team. FIELD HOCKEY // Shippensburg finished with
a 12-6 overall record and reached the PSAC Tournament for the nineteenth consecutive season, but the third-seeded Raiders were eliminated from the postseason after suffering an overtime loss to Millersville in the PSAC Quarterfinals. Three players were named National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) AllAmericans: junior midfielder Jazmin Petrantonio and senior defender Mikayla Cheney were First Team selections, while senior midfielder Rosalia Cappadora was a Second Team Selection.
Shippensburg went 26-7 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last eight seasons under head coach Leanne Piscotty. The Raiders qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the thirteenth consecutive season, reaching the semifinals before falling to eventual league champion East Stroudsburg. VOLLEYBALL //
(Top row, from left) David Balint III, Tig Spinelli, and Sean Judge. (Bottom row, from left) Winston Eubanks, Luke Durkin, and Tim Bradley.
Five players were named to the All-PSAC teams: Cheney and Petrantonio were First Team picks, while Cappadora, sophomore forward Jenna Sluymer, and junior midfielder Sarah Womer were named to the Second Team. Petrantonio (below) led the nation this year with a single-season career high of twenty-nine goals—seven more than any other player. She also led the nation with 66 points, and led the Raiders with eight assists.
(Top row, from left) Jazmin Petrantonio, Mikayla Cheney, and Rosalia Cappadora. (Bottom row, from left) Jenna Sluymer and Sarah Womer.
Follow Raiders sports on shipraiders.com
G ShipAthletics Ö ShipURaiders e ShipRaiders
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Junior setter Emily Hangen (above) and senior middle Samantha Webber were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) AllAtlantic Region Teams. It marked the third consecutive year that each woman earned an All-Region classification. Five players were selected to the 2019 AllPennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Team, marking the most All-PSAC honorees for the Raiders in twelve years. Hangen and Webber were First Team picks. Senior outside hitter Gabriella Johnson was named to the Second Team, while senior libero Megan Forstburg and senior middle Kendall Johnson were named to the Third Team. Shippensburg’s senior class (Forstburg, G. Johnson, K. Johnson, Faith Loehle, and Webber) features three of SU’s all-time Top 10 in career kills, two of SU’s all-time Top 6 in career digs, and two of SU’s all-time Top 4 in career block assists. The senior class achieved a 98-35 career record.
(Top row, from left) Emily Hangen, Samantha Webber, and Gabriella Johnson. (Bottom row, from left) Megan Forstburg and Kendall Johnson.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY // Shippensburg finished
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY // Shippensburg
eighth at the PSAC Championships and tenth at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. Freshman Isabelle Gulgert (left, and right) and sophomore Kyra Gerber (bottom left) paced the Raiders all season long. Gulgert was the team’s No. 1 runner in all six races, and Gerber was the team’s No. 2 runner in the final five races. At the PSAC Championships, Gulgert placed eleventh overall and was the third-fastest freshman on the field. She earned All-PSAC First Team honors with a time of 23:09, posting the highest place-finish by an SU freshman at the conference meet since Reynah Spence was seventh in 2013. Gerber posted an All-PSAC Second Team finish of twenty-ninth place (23:44), improving her finish by seventy-six places and her time by nearly four full minutes from her 2018 debut. At the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships, Gulgert earned US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) AllAtlantic Region honors by placing twenty-first in 22:30. Gerber narrowly missed out on an All-Region performance, placing twenty-eighth in 22:42.
finished third at the PSAC Championships and seventh at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. The Raiders have been one of the Top 3 teams at the PSAC Championships for seven consecutive years. At the PSAC Championships, three men earned All-PSAC honors. Chayce Macknair was the top freshman in the field and served as SU’s No. 1 runner, finishing eleventh in 26:04 for AllPSAC First Team accolades. It is the best finish by an SU freshman at the PSAC Championships in ten years, since Matt Gillette placed ninth in 2009. Freshman Andrew Foster (19th) and redshirt-sophomore Nate Kaplon (25th) earned All-PSAC Second Team classifications. At the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships, freshman Drew Dailey paced the Raiders with a thirty-fifth place finish in 32:51. Macknair was SU’s No. 2 runner with a thirty-eighth place finish.
Chayce Macknair, Andrew Foster, and Nate Kaplon.
MEN’S SOCCER // Shippensburg finished with a
WOMEN’S SOCCER // Shippensburg finished with
2-10-3 record and a 2-9-1 record in the PSAC Eastern Division. Senior Colin Marks was named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Second team. Marks started all fifteen games and tied for the team lead with ten points. He posted a career-high four goals to complement two assists.
an 8-10 overall record and a 6-10 record in the PSAC Eastern Division. Senior forward Izzy Weigel (top right) was named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Atlantic Region Third Team after finishing as one of just seven players in the PSAC with eleven or more goals during the regular season. She ranked sixth in the league with twenty-eight points by posting single-season career highs of eleven goals and six assists. It’s the most goals in a single season by a Raider in ten years (Gayle Kuntzmann, 11 (2009)) and the most points in a single season by a Raider in eleven years (Kuntzmann, 34 (2008)). Both Weigel and sophomore midfielder K.K. O’Donnell (bottom right) were named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team. O’Donnell ranked second on the team with four assists while ranking third on the squad with three goals and ten points.
JANE GOSS MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT //
Mark your calendar for the annual Jane Goss Memorial Golf Tournament rescheduled to Monday, September 28, at the Chambersburg Country Club. Named in honor of former Shippensburg University athletics administrator/ coach/educator, Jane Goss, this event is historically the largest fundraiser for women’s athletics at Shippensburg University. Proceeds are used by Raider athletic teams to provide scholarship opportunities and financial support for young women to participate in and gain valuable experience through athletics. More information is available at shipraiders.com/jgmemorialgolf.
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Calculating the Cost of War
PROFESSOR APPLIES GRANT TO STUDY OF NAZI-SOVIET WAR BY KATIE (PAXSON) HAMMAKER ’93
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nowledge and education. These are the keys, said Dr. David Wildermuth, associate professor of German, to understanding the root causes of war and conflict, with the hope for ending world violence. Wildermuth is on a year-long sabbatical in Germany, researching material for the book Ordinary Soldiers? A Case Study of the Nazi-Soviet War of Annihilation. He received a grant from The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation to complete the study. The foundation awards grants to support scientific research on the causes and control of violence and aggression in the modern world. Often described as a “war of annihilation,” the Nazi-Soviet War (1941-1945) was an effort by Nazi Germany to destroy the former Soviet Union and take control of its food, oil, and other natural resources. “The war is today largely understood as the most brutal of all wars fought between two modern, industrialized states,” Wildermuth said. His study focuses on the German Army’s 35th Infantry Division, deployed without pause on the Eastern Front from 1941 until its surrender in 1945. Specifically, he is researching the “ordinary men” who fought this war, and the lack of controls of extreme violence against the enemy. “One surprising fact I’ve learned is the extent to which the division had become dependent on ‘the enemy,’ that is the Soviet civilian population and prisoners-of-war, to maintain its ability to fight.”
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The German Army entered the campaign with instructions to “live off the land,” thereby minimizing wartime sacrifices of the German homefront. But, the army faced difficult terrain, harsh winters, and immobilizing shortages of food and men.
German infantry in Russia, June 1943. (Wikipedia)
FACULTY FOCUS Promoting peace first comes from understanding the causes of war, which is what Dr. David Wildermuth is researching while on sabbatical this semester.
“Both Soviet prisoners-of-war and civilians were regularly forcibly drafted into the German war effort,” Wildermuth said. “Clearing roads of snow, building defensive fortifications, and burying the dead were some of the main tasks.” This hard labor was generally performed by old men, women, and children. For many, it was the only way to access minimal rations of food. Wildermuth uses his fluency in both German and Russian to find and study
Nonetheless, it is clear to Wildermuth based on his research that most German soldiers believed in the righteousness of their cause, and their ultimate victory. “Questions such as how different societies have constructed and dehumanized the ‘other’ have long fascinated me,” Wildermuth said. “This is often a necessary step on the path to war. Nazi Germany is the bestknown example, first dehumanizing and then exterminating the ‘other,’ European Jewry.” Although the global pandemic has impacted his ability to travel, Wildermuth continues to write while in Germany. He will complete his research when he returns to the US. He seeks to provide more than a historical account in his book. “Through this case study, I continue to think about how states can better strategize for more peaceful outcomes.” “We need to start with how wars are portrayed, from history books to war films, to take into account the true costs of war,” he said. “In some areas like war films, the current trend is toward greater realism. On the other hand, warring governments and militaries have increasingly limited the access of an independent media to objectively report on the true costs of war. That is an alarming development.” Wildermuth also advocates international exchange programs, such as Fulbright scholarships, as a way of promoting peace. Decreased funding for such programs is a step backward, and a cause for great concern. “Above all, I’d like the book to offer an important example of how accompanying every state’s decision for war is a miscalculation, namely that it can be won,” Wildermuth said. The perceived winner still incurs considerable costs in both human and financial resources. There also is the opportunity cost of what the warring parties could have accomplished with the resources expended. “In war, there are no winners, only varying degrees of loss,” Wildermuth said.
sources that have long been neglected by other historians. He intentionally sought both German and Soviet sources of information to provide a more balanced historical account. Previous research has relied heavily on the more available German records. His research has taken him to remote corners of Russia and Belarus to gather eyewitness accounts from Soviet civilians who had contact with the 35th. He also has scoured the extensive German military archive, including numerous letters from the front written by members of the 35th. According to Wildermuth, the soldiers wrote about both the mundane and horrific things they had seen and experienced. The lack of food was a common theme. Another theme is the effect that the war, even in its early years, was having on them. In the words of one soldier, “…this battle is hard and savage. Everyone here, according to his nature, has been transformed into another person.” The letter was dated March 1942.
Katie (Paxson) Hammaker ‘93 is the director of development and marketing for the Susquehanna Chorale and is a freelance writer based in Mechanicsburg.
We need to start with how wars are portrayed, from history books to war films, to take into account the true costs of wars.
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faculty briefs DRS. DARA BOURASSA and JAYLEEN GALARZA, professor and associate professor in social work and gerontology, respectively, presented at the Council on Social Work Education’s annual program meeting in Denver, Colorado, in October. The title of their paper session was Fostering Inclusive Partnerships within TransAging Research. DRS. SCOTT DRZYZGA and CLAIRE JANTZ, professors of geography/earth science, received the Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association’s 2019 Watershed Partner of the Year Award for their work with The Center for Land Use and Sustainability. Drzyzga and Jantz, with staff members David Oliver and Antonia Price, and alumna Courtney Malott worked with the CCWA to develop “Conodoguinet Creek—A Long Way with Many Bends,” which tells the story of the Conodoguinet Creek and the people who work to protect it via interactive maps, videos, drone photography, and educational narrative. Many Ship alumni are featured. DR. NICOLE SANTALUCIA, associate professor of English, released her latest book The Book of Dirt. The book is described as timely poems of resistance that celebrate marriage, sobriety, and survival where lesbians crawl out of the grave that America has been digging since its inception. The book published in February. DR. HAN LIU, associate professor of teacher education, published the book, Evaluation and Integration of Digital Media in the Early Childhood Classroom, 2nd edition, in November. In Memoriam: CAROL ANN DESANTIS, professor of music, November 15, 2018 DR. W. KEITH KRAUS, retired English professor, January 2020 AGNES RAGONE, retired professor of French and Spanish, February 2020
IN THE WORDS OF…
DR. MATT FETZER With a background and research interest in hate crimes in America, Dr. Matthew Fetzer, associate professor of criminal justice, works with students to recognize and understand their biases. Fetzer is on sabbatical this semester working on a research book with his colleague that measures hate crimes in the US. For many students, his class is an eye opener. What led you to teach a course on hate crimes? I’ve been doing the class for two to three years, and I developed it for our program because it is necessary. If you pay any attention to the media, there are a lot of issues with hate crimes in our society. They are becoming more prevalent—there is an increase. There are a lot of questions about why that is, and what’s going on with our environment when you’d expect that hate crimes should actually be decreasing. What is your experience with this topic? Before I came here to the university I worked in New York State for the Division of Criminal Justice Services as a policy analyst. One of the things I did for DCS was an annual hate crime report. The FBI uses our data… for their annual reports. It was my job to do the localized reports in terms of New York State. I’m currently on sabbatical with a colleague of mine. We’re writing a book together on how to measure hate crime in the United States. It just works out that the publication with research I’ve been doing in the field, why not bring that to the classroom? The students seem to really like it. They end up learning a lot and really seem to enjoy the class. What does the class cover? The way the course is laid out, we look at all aspects of hate crime. We start out talking about what it is, conceptualize it, and we talk about legislation—the fact that it exists and doesn’t exist in some parts of the country. Then we get into talking about who measures it at a national level and what are the patterns and trends. After that, we break into more specific topics, like offending hate groups and how to fight or combat hate. As part of the course, you have students complete the Harvard University Implicit Association Test (IAT), which measures stereotypes and biases. Why do you use this? We, as a department, use this IAT in our Race, Ethnicity, and Crime course.
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I teach Hate and Crime, and we look at (four tests): disability, Arab/Muslim, sexuality, and race. …There’s been a lot of research on the IAT test in terms of its reliability and validity. I’m not too concerned with it, because I’m not using it as a tool to actually measure my students’ bias or discriminatory practices. We use it as a self-reflection. …I don’t judge them. They screenshot the results and submit it with a one-page synopsis that talks about what were they, do you agree with them, and are you surprised by the results? Then I ask them what they think about the assessment itself. Is it fair, is it accurate? Can you really assess somebody’s bias by clicking (keyboard buttons)? Could you take it again and score differently? Are students reflective about the results? Some people might be surprised. …If they did show any implicit bias, we talk about where do you think that comes from, or what contributes to it? People talk about their upbringing or their parents, or maybe they grew up in a hometown where there weren’t a lot of minorities or they didn’t have friends who were gay. We talk about that lack of exposure to groups. We also talk about if a bias is set in stone. Can they change it? And if they are going to change it, how are they going to do that? That brings it full circle, that’s the whole point of the exercise—to self-reflect and look deeper, and realize if you have this bias you can change, work on it, and be cognizant of it. We are teaching them about it, and they are learning how to educate themselves on it. Teaching acceptance is very important. The other thing is to dig deeper. Look at yourself, do a self-assessment and selfreflection.
How is APB adjusting to going online for the rest of spring semester? They were pretty bummed. We have seniors who have been part of APB for 3.5 years, so this last semester was going to be the completion of their hard work... I think they handled it well, and know there is still work to be done, however, for my seniors it is a challenging time.
BY MICHAELA VALLONIO ’20
How will they stay engaged with students? They approved funding to help support online programming and, as a group, they assisted in building of trivia, online bingo, and other events. The CUB, with a few other offices, also incorporated top picks for Netflix, books, podcast, Ted Talks, etc., plus social media contests. The CUB provided a weekly e-mail called “On the Horizon,” which will talk about important updates, programs, and services for students. This is also a time that CUB staff will provide remote plans that incorporate zoom meetings for our various student groups.
Executive Director for Campus Life and University Union
It’s like a bustling little city within campus— families absorb the sounds, scents, and spaces when they visit; students chat, catch a bite to eat, attend meetings, or shoot pool; staff and faculty host speakers, tout research, and organize professional workshops. The CUB is a busy place, and Michael Duignan is the one tasked with keeping all the parts moving smoothly. As the executive director for campus life and university union, he coordinates programs in the CUB and acts as the advisor for the Activities Program Board (APB), working with students to enhance campus events.
Q/
What were you most excited about when coming to Ship? I was excited about working with the students. The students I met during my interview were very candid and honest about the things they loved and the way they connected to the campus. I like being able to be part of something that will make an impact. What is the best thing about your job? Every day is a different and wild day. You think your day will start one way, and then it might go somewhere else. Even in those challenging moments, you can always learn and have people rooting for you. There are challenges everywhere, but there are people willing to tackle those challenges with you.
What is your advice to students who are preparing to stay home? Create a plan/schedule. It is important to provide time to focus on your studies, while also making sure you take this time to try a new hobby, focus on yourself, or just catch up on some rest. In the end, though, make sure you keep up with meaningful connections and engage in your communities. Just because we might not see each other every day does not me we stop being a community.
AMINUTEWITH…
MICHAEL DUIGNAN
How would your wife and kids describe you? I would say my wife describes me as very dedicated, and I always try to do what’s right. She would also say I’m highly opinionated, challenging, and educational. My daughter would say that I am a conversationalist, and that I am a great dad and horrible dad at the same time. My daughter and I are the most alike, so I really motivate her to empower others and be community focused. My son would say that I am a “goofy daddy,” and that I am always there to help. Every family has ups and downs, but we are always there for each other. One thing my kids always tell me is “you say you love me way too much,” but I am able to do the job I have because I have a strong support system at home. Michaela Vallonio ’20 is an intern for SU Magazine.
What is a hobby you enjoy outside of work? Honestly, I like building LEGOS. It’s one of those things where my kids are also into LEGOS. It’s always good for fine motor skills and for thinking about how I can do something creatively or differently. If you could choose anyone to speak or perform at Ship, who would you choose? Someone I would love to hear speak is Denzel Washington. He would have a unique story about his process and evolution coming into Hollywood, and he has a son who also is in show business. It would be great to see how you go from the mentor to mentee relationship. If I chose a performer, I think someone who is fun and interesting and would also be a great concert is Lizzo. She appeals to multiple audiences, but in a way that is self-empowering.
You think your day will start one way, and then it might go somewhere else… There are challenges everywhere, but there are people willing to tackle those challenges with you.
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community over crisis HOW SHIP NAVIGATED COVID-19 No one wanted to figure out how to shift from in-person classes to remote education in two weeks, but COVID-19 didn’t provide another option. Like every college and university nationwide—really, worldwide—a global pandemic abruptly pushed Shippensburg University faculty, staff, and students into uncomfortable and unknown territory. With the state announcing new changes and restrictions seemingly by the minute, students left campus for spring break March 6 and returned to a much different scenario. It was time to pack up for the semester and finish classes through remote learning.
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As the global pandemic took its hold across the country, students shifted their studies home to complete the spring semester through remote learning.
About two weeks before spring break, Justin Sentz, deputy chief information technology officer, and the IT team discussed the impact of the pandemic on the university and how they needed to prepare for the potential of moving online. All of a sudden it was reality—Zoom and D2L training with faculty, gathering technology and resources for students, and determining how to get staff the tools they needed for remote working. Many long days and sleepless nights later, Sentz came up for air to reflect. “It went as well as it could,” he said. “Now, it’s about how to make every day a little better than the last.” That was the unofficial mantra of the spring semester: make every day a little better than the last. Shippensburg University, much like the rest of the country, is a beautiful but barren campus this spring. But the life that drives campus is not gone—it’s simply shifted to a new space. Students learned, researched, socialized, volunteered, and amazed. Faculty taught, mentored, cared, problem solved, and encouraged. Staff pivoted, worked, collaborated, supported, and accomplished. No one wanted to figure this out. No one wanted the messy, abrupt good-byes mid-semester. But, every member of the university came together to make it happen.
TRADING SPACES As the COVID-19 pandemic closed campuses nationwide, it opened up new opportunities for Ship to charge on with remote learning. Students stayed positive about the transition to successfully complete the spring
I plan to stay positive and successful by making a schedule, but also allowing time to relax and keep my mental health strong. semester. “This was a difficult and unplanned occurrence to happen to all of us,” said Madison Raeburn, a first-year international business major from Phoenixville Area High School. Raeburn knew it was important to create a schedule early and check D2L frequently to stay focused during the semester. For senior marketing major Gavin George, finding success this spring meant finding balance. “I plan to stay positive and successful by making a schedule, but also allowing time to relax and keep my mental health strong.” Dreux Stamford, a graduate student in the organizational development and leadership program, said he missed many things about the Shippensburg community, such as engaging with other students during class and coaching the track and field team. Despite these losses, Stamford recognized a brighter side to this new normal. “Online classes were slightly easier for me because it allowed me to choose when I got work done versus meeting every week at a specific time for a lecture. It obviously wasn’t as engaging as face-to-face courses, but the time we had to learn on our own, for me, made it easier.” The adjustment has been challenging, said Dr. Matthew Shupp, associate professor for the Department of Counseling and College Student Personnel. But, he added, “I am continually impressed with our faculty’s ability to pivot—abruptly—and figure out the best ways to move student learning online with the least amount of disruption as possible.” “We couldn’t predict at the beginning of the semester that these changes would
be thrust upon us, or that we’d have about a week to feel as prepared as we possibly could to move forward,” Shupp said. Yet, faculty, students, and staff rallied together to make this an invaluable educational experience. Dr. Lynn Baynum, associate professor of teacher education, worked hard to create a learning environment as interactive as in-person courses. She continued her discussions and group-based classes through special assignments for her students. “It is my hope that these ongoing interactions support students while they complete the assignments, but perhaps more importantly, provide them with an opportunity to remain part of a classroom community.” Dr. Mohammad Rahman, associate professor of marketing, looked at the positive aspects of remote learning. “My approach was taking this new venture as a learning experience for students and myself,” he said. “There will be some mishaps and missed deadlines, but when we work together in these learning experiences, we learn as well as know that other students and faculty are going through the same experiences as everyone.” Ship’s IT Department played a crucial role in the transition to virtual courses by holding informative training sessions that helped integrate D2L and Zoom into professors’ daily instruction. Jamie Rhine, director of technology support services, was impressed by the faculty turnout for training sessions. “Faculty from all levels— whether they were new to the technology or used it frequently—attended. Those
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Ship cares! Jen Milburn, assistant director of resident life (right) has sewn hundreds of community masks and scrub caps, and studentathletes Dah’Naija Barnes and Kryshell Gordy donated free meals to families in their hometown.
who were comfortable with the university’s online programs helped faculty who needed it,” he said. The Career, Mentoring, and Professional Development Center (CMPD) also made a quick switch to virtual services, ensuring students didn’t miss a beat when preparing for internships or jobs. Making connections now is key for students preparing to launch their careers in the midst of a global pandemic, said Lorie Davis, executive director of the CMPD. “Instead of having students postpone their job search, we thought it was important to keep the networking connections with employers open,” Davis said. For the CMPD, that means offering all normal services, including resume appointments, coordinating a virtual career fair, conducting job searches, and more. Senior biology major Nicholas Cristoforo said, skills like time management, organization, communication, and effective scheduling were only enhanced by working virtually with the career center. “I have found working virtually, although necessitating some alterations, has proven to be more than an adequate substitution for meeting in person. Much of what we’ve been doing in an office translated easily to an online setting.” Davis said it’s admirable to witness the resilient nature of Ship students, especially 22
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graduating seniors. She encourages students to reach out and work with the career center to establish connections that will help when the job market returns to normal. “Let us help them now during this time,” she said.
SHIP SERVES One realization of the pandemic is that everyone is experiencing it—at the university, in the state, across the country, and worldwide. The Ship campus always exhibits a strong sense of community, but that was even more evident as the physical community became broken and dispersed. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni continue to show the university’s true colors through their care, empathy, and service to others. Days after the university transitioned online and students returned home, two student-athletes made headlines in their hometown of Chester for providing free lunches to those in need. Dah’Naija Barnes, a sophomore psychology major, and Kryshell Gordy, a junior communication/ journalism major, both on the women’s basketball team, provided 100 free lunches “made with love,” and planned to continue their efforts as long as they received donations. Also that week, Dr. Mark Leidy ’93-’97m, superintendent of Mechanicsburg Area School District, was pictured on
ABC27 News as he distributed meals to families of the school district. As Jennifer Milburn, assistant director of residential life, followed CDC recommendations, she recognized a lack of personal protective equipment and realized there was an immediate need to help others in her community. “It made sense, there was no question. I was going to do this.” Milburn spent countless hours sewing masks and scrub caps for her community. A skill passed down from generations, she has sewn a variety of items since she was a child. Her bright and playful home stockpile of fabrics and some additional donations from small local businesses allowed her to create masks of all different patterns. Milburn also is teaching friends and family how to make their own masks. “It’s been fun to help other people reach their goals of helping the community,” she said. “I love seeing others picking up this hobby for a good cause.” For first-year student Rebecca Fickel, the inspiration to sew masks came from a side gig selling headbands to friends. While finishing the spring semester and working at Sheetz, she still found time to devote her sewing skills to a bigger cause. Fickel shifted from headbands to masks, and her orders quickly piled up. She doesn’t charge, instead, she provides any donations she receives to another worthy cause— the PAW Pack, which feeds kids and families in need of meals in her Newville community. Fickel’s incredible efforts were featured in the Washington Examiner. Kole Cornman, another first-year student and former wrestler for Shippensburg Area High School, shared his time and talents with area youth by developing regular fitness videos for the Chambersburg and Shippensburg Boys and Girls Club (BGCCS). When the BGCCS stepped up its game to encourage virtual healthy living for children, Cornman, a regular volunteer, quickly joined the effort. “My favorite part about encouraging fitness virtually is that I can show children and their families that you don’t need to go to the gym to be active. All you need is a small space to move around.” He ultimately hopes his videos inspire children and their families to stay active,
“not only through this pandemic, but just in their overall life.” An interest in vlogging led Robyn Swayne on a new mission to help Ship students. The graduate student in the College Student Personnel program relied on her video skills for a class project with Ship’s Counseling Center, where she works as a graduate assistant. She suggested developing videos on coping skills. “When COVID-19 hit and we all had to start getting creative with how to reach out to students, I knew videos were going to be a natural fit for me.” She hopes her video tips are helpful to anyone who wants to use them. “It’s cool because I can help the students who are here at Shippensburg now, but these are resources that can be used well beyond my time here as a graduate student and can be shared beyond the confines of only Ship students.”
MOVING FORWARD As data-driven decisions slowly allow states to reopen some services, the nation waits to determine what comes next. The world is straddling between a green light to some kind of normalcy and planning ahead for the possibility of another wave in the pandemic.
Masks, fitness tips, mental health videos—students like Rebecca Fickel and Kole Cornman, both first-years, went above and beyond by dedicating time to their communities.
When Dr. Barbara Denison, graduate professor and head of the organizational development and leadership program, planned her online coursework, she knew it also was important to consider what students are facing at home. “Students have had their routines and lives at their schools abruptly ended, and may be scrambling for new jobs, or to find food and shelter, or to help out as their families are trying to shelter in place,” she said. Denison carefully considered ways to make coursework meaningful, “but simultaneously less stressful, less demanding, and more supportive of where students find themselves in this crisis moment.”
While many immediate issues have been creatively resolved, other take their place. There remain many unknowns. What is known, however, is that the Ship community is resilient and ready to support each other in crisis and change. Moving forward, Stamford believes this time will teach us all “to not take things for granted.” He hopes that students, faculty, and staff find a new appreciation for the Shippensburg community. Baynum’s advice during the days ahead: “Be patient, be kind, be sensitive, be encouraging, be reflective, be a change agent.”
ENGINEERING STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER, APART Turning problems into opportunities is what engineers do, so it made perfect sense that Dr. Carol Wellington’s software engineering students seamlessly pivoted online while working with Deloitte this semester. The class was in the midst of developing software features for Deloitte when the remainder of the spring semester went to remote learning. Fortunately, Deloitte wanted to continue the work and coordinated meetings via Zoom. “This class in itself is teaching us a lot about what it is to work as a developer,” said Michael Permyashkin, a junior software engineering major. “Knowing Deloitte valued what we’re building and valued what we were learning, too—even with the setbacks—was awesome as they continue to work and build a system they liked.” Every two weeks this spring, a nine-member team of developers met with a Deloitte representative to plan customer visible features to existing software. During the meetings, students discussed projects and setbacks with the rep, then broke into smaller groups to code. Moving the project to Zoom initially presented some challenges, but Permyashkin, a graduate of Lewisburg Area High School, said the transition proved beneficial. “I found that our progress surpassed that which we made when meeting in person. We were forced to communicate and make
intentional efforts to ask questions and help each other when roadblocks arose,” he said. Wellington said it was a shift in thinking about how students work as a team. When coding, students don’t need to be face-to-face in the same space—but they do need to work together. The rule was that students never code alone. Through paired programming, students worked in pairs or small teams, shared their screens, or jumped into another person’s project. “Our students are particularly comfortable with this way of communication,” she said. “We’re giving the students experience that’s becoming all too common in our field.” Junior software engineering major Ian Leiby appreciated how Deloitte has handled the project. “They treated us like an actual company that was working for them, and they were treating us like professionals. We were able to work remotely, so they expected us to continue to work, which was realistic.” As remote developing becomes more common, Leiby said this experience with Deloitte further prepared him for the future. “This helped us develop remote working skills because some of us will get jobs that allow us to do that,” he said. “I may be in that position one day.”
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Recommitting to Climate
n t o c i a EARTH DAY CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS
The year was 1970. Bell bottoms, crop tops, and go-go boots were in. Mustard yellow was trending. Psychedelic rock was groovy. And climate change had peaked as a public concern. l This spring marks fifty years since the birth of an environmental movement across college campuses and the nation as a whole. The connection between pollution and public health had become abundantly clear, as battles against oil spills, toxic waste, freeways, pesticides, and more came to the forefront. To capitalize on the energy of the student anti-war movement, US Senator Gaylord Nelson pitched a national teach-in day—nestled between spring break and final exams—that highlighted these growing public concerns. His gamble paid off. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans mobilized across the country in support of environmental change. 24
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“My dad was a student at the University of Michigan in 1970—one of the first planners of Earth Day,” said Dr. Russ Hedberg, assistant professor of geography/earth science and sustainability coordinator. “To create that momentum set the trajectory of environmentalism. In America, it’s a day of demonstrations and teach-ins. We wanted to try to capitalize on some of that this year.”
Campuses nationwide held environmentally focused activities on the inaugural Earth Day in 1970. At Ship, students participated in film screenings and presentations, demonstrations, trips, and contests.
Shippensburg University celebrated Earth Week in 1970 with its own teach-ins, contests, demonstrations, and field trips. Although the events and activities have changed over the years, students continue to hold a week in April focused on sustainability and stewardship on campus. This year—even though the platform was different—they did so with renewed energy under the newly organized Green League, which encompasses three environmentally focused student groups. “I wanted this year’s Earth Day to be a celebration of hope,” said Paige Steffy, a senior geoenvironmental major and Green League president. “We should remember how far we’ve come and what we can do now. We want to reinvigorate students.”
Keeping the Momentum
Fifty years ago, people united from coast to coast for rallies, demonstrations, and teach-ins that protested against and educated on our deteriorating environment. Their efforts led to major change through the formation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passing of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. This new legislation called on states and the EPA to solve environmental problems through science and technology.
Now, the international Earth Day Network strives to activate and educate a worldwide environmental movement. The initial event made great strides. In 2020, new challenges and opportunities require a renewed energy around climate action, which was the theme of Earth Day 2020. EarthDay.org states, “As an individual, you yield real power and influence as a consumer, a voter, and a member of a community that can unite for change. Don’t underestimate your power.” And that is exactly what the Ship community drove home during StewardSHIP Week. “The biggest thing is awareness—what does it mean to us as a student body?” said Becky Hansen, a senior geography/earth science major and outgoing coordinator of SEAS. Students for Environmental Action and Sustainability (SEAS), one of the organizations under Green League, is an advocating body for environmental change and sustainable practices on campus. SEAS organizes the annual StewardSHIP Week and Earth Day recognition. This was the first year that Ship celebrated Earth Day virtually. In line with state and federal guidelines, the university made the difficult decision to close campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resume
activities through remote learning. But climate action can't take a break, so neither did Ship. The day continued in a virtual setting. Events included recorded and live talks, Earth Day challenges, at-home tips, and more. From the Geography/Earth Science Department, faculty shared videos on gardening tips, the significance of bees, container gardening, and water quality. Another piece of the newly formed Green League is the Geography/Earth Science Organization (GESO), a group that focuses on action and stewardship more than advocacy. Although much of the work between the two groups overlaps, GESO commits to stream and trail cleanups, tree plantings, and education. The third arm of the league is the SU Farm Club. “Last year, the decision was made to bring together these organizations under the umbrella of the Green League,” said Dr. Sean Cornell, professor of geography/ earth science. “They still have separate
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missions and activities. GESO is hands on, feet wet stewardship. SEAS is advocating for policies and movement.” Under this new structure, the groups collaborate and support each other’s agenda, making the effort stronger overall. These three committees, organized into one, allow students to join to advocate, educate, and take action for environmental change. “We want the fiftieth anniversary to be a recharge. We have to look back and look forward,” Cornell said. “We need to start teaching our students why what they do is important, why perspective matters, and how that integrates into what they do today.”
Looking Forward
Steffy started her undergraduate career at Shippensburg as a computer science major. After taking a geology class, she said, “everything opened up.” “What really drew me to it was getting other people more involved and sharing a campus vision. That’s what I like about it—I think everyone generally has the same spirit.” There’s no doubt that geoenvironmental and sustainability majors are passionate about the climate and environment. And Steffy and Hansen are encouraged by the positive actions of their classmates. But, Steffy said there is plenty of ground to cover, even through simple action like recycling or composting waste instead of trashing it. “I went to the (university’s) Environmental Steering Committee and
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Students selected climate change as the No. 1 topic they want to learn about. Young people get it. discussed how to shift things in the future,” she said. “Sustainability needs to be a reinforced theme. We forget that if we just use less in general, we do a lot of good.” Ava Franklin, a sustainability major and incoming SEAS coordinator, aspires to fill her late grandmother’s role as an advocate for the environment. Franklin said her grandmother founded the New Hope Recycling Center and, as an avid traveler, showed great respect for the land. “Today, we’re influenced a lot by what we see in the media and in politics. It’s a touchy subject, but students know what it means to be and live a greener lifestyle,” Franklin said. “It requires a lot of self-awareness,” Hansen added. “As a campus, there’s a lot more we can do with our waste facilities.” Cornell feels students are hungry for change. He takes a survey at the start of his Intro to Geology classes—a diverse gen ed—asking students to rank the topics they want to cover in class. “Students selected climate change as the No. 1 topic they want to learn about. Young people get it. I think they understand the challenges, but don’t always know how to address them. “The goal is to give them something to work for.”
Making the Commitment
To commemorate fifty years of the inaugural Earth Day’s impactful changes, Shippensburg University made a special pledge. On April 22, Earth Day’s anniversary, President Laurie Carter virtually pledged a climate action commitment for the university. This commitment will push the development of a climate action plan to reach carbon neutrality on campus. This effort will involve interdisciplinary curriculum and community partnerships. “We are proud to begin our climate commitment in partnership with the South Mountain Partnership, Michaux State forest and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,” said Carter, adding that the university is committed to assisting the region in doing the work of sustainability. “Together, we commit to taking leadership in our community, to create a more sustainable and positive future.” The university already sets high standards for sustainable leadership. Ship is a leader among the State System universities in its efforts to consume the least energy. In 2016, a $49,000 National Science Foundation grant provided Ship with the tools to bolster its StewardSHIP Week
FACTS and Figures 1 billion people mobilize for Earth Day annually. More than 190 countries participate in Earth Day. Earth Day became a global phenomenon in 1990.
and to carry sustainable education through interdisciplinary courses. The Center for Land Use and Sustainability tackles sustainable solutions for the community. Investments in campus infrastructure have decreased energy consumption and increased savings. “I’m really excited to see Shippensburg make this commitment,” Hedberg said. “For the president to sign a national commitment for climate leadership will set the trajectory for carbon neutrality. We’re essentially making this pledge for another fifty years.”
Multiplying Our Efforts
The Earth Day Network is very clear— each individual’s efforts multiplied over nearly 200 countries will make a positive impact on climate action worldwide. And the Ship community is ready to do its part.
More than half of Americans agree that the president and Congress should make it a priority to focus on global climate change.
“We have to reduce, reuse, and recycle; consume less; use less fast fashion; choose your electric sources; reduce waste,” Steffy said. Cornell added, “We have to give students hands-on projects to learn concrete ways to be more sustainable, but also do this regardless of discipline.” There are still many obstacles to overcome, Hedberg said. Politics and the economy present some of the same and new environmental problems experienced over the last fifty years nationally and internationally. “Sustainability has to be with everyone, we have to build solidarity,” he said. “But, if everybody stands up and yells and acts, we can make a difference. I’m optimistic about the future.”
More than 40 million tons of food waste was generated in 2017. From 1995 to 2015, residential water use decreased in thirty-five states, and Washington, DC, had the most drastic reduction, decreasing residential water use by 61 percent. Sixty-eight percent of Americans believe the federal government isn’t doing enough to protect the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams. Sixty-seven percent of Americans want the federal government to do more to improve air quality and reduce the effects of global climate change. (according to EarthDay.org and PewResearch.org)
For the president to sign a national commitment for climate leadership will set the trajectory for carbon neutrality.
This is the year to recommit to climate action. In April, the campus celebrated, educated, and advocated for climate action during its annual StewardSHIP week through a new virtual setting.
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alumni
‘Small Town, Small Budget, Big Impact’
DREW’S HOPE STANDS AS A COMMUNITY MODEL
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most significant impact. Drew Michael Taylor was only three when a tragic auto accident in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, claimed his life in 2006. Just one year later, his parents, Marcie ’92-’97m and Randy ’93-’00m Taylor, sought to extend his impact on the world far beyond his three-and-a-half years, by creating a foundation in his name. The Taylors soon realized a dire need in their Shippensburg community for child and teen grief support and education—and Drew’s Hope was born.
T
oday, Drew’s Hope and the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation (DMTF) serve as a model for other small communities and organizations across the country. The foundation is a community resource for grief education and support when a child, teen, or adult is grieving the death of a loved one. Drew’s Hope, one of five support programs currently run by the foundation, offers support specifically designed for children and teens. As members of the National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC), Marcie
Taylor and several DMTF staffers attend the NAGC symposium each year to learn from grief centers around the country. While attending the symposiums, Taylor noticed a pattern. These robust, awardwinning organizations told stories about hosting successful fundraising campaigns to back their multi-million-dollar budgets in major cities. Taylor wasn’t in Denver or Orlando or Philadelphia. She begged and borrowed to get the resources she had. She was meeting a need in a small community that had no other
From grief comes hope. Marci ’92-’97m (right) and Randy ’93-’00m Taylor continue impacting local communities with Drew’s Hope and the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation—a grief support and education group for children and teens.
resources. “That was not our reality. We were serving a vast area in a rural community.” When she and SU Counseling Deparment graduates Allie Mahon and Bethany Gardner were invited to present at the symposium last year, they found the perfect opportunity to share the foundation’s narrative, challenges, and successes with other small organizations. As the first presenter on the first day last year, they received positive feedback and had plenty of interaction with other attendees after their discussion, “Small Town, Small Budget, Big Impact.” For DMTF, the key was collaborating with Shippensburg University. “We are extremely blessed to live in a university town. We hope to inspire others who might not have a place,” she said. “If you’re not in a big town, and you don’t have a big budget, you can still do what we do.” DMTF began in an effort to fill an immediate need. “My daughter was six when her brother died. She tried to talk about Drew, but her friends changed the subject,” Taylor said. “Just like we needed support, who does a kid talk to?” After the accident, the Taylors found that the most appropriate organizations to support their daughter were in Lemoyne and York. They were told the south-central Pennsylvania area was a black hole for children’s grieving services. “So we created the foundation,” Taylor said. “This was how we’d save the world in Drew’s name. And Drew’s Hope was a natural extension of that. We knew that grieving children in our area needed support that, at the time, was not being offered by anyone.”
ALUMNI RELATIONS STAFF 〉 Lori Smith ’95-’07m, director; Lauren Hill, coordinator, alumni events; Stephanie Swanger, clerk typist ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS 〉
Caryn Earl ’98, president, director, Bureau of Food Distribution, Department of Agriculture; Robert Sisock ’05-’06m, president-elect, deputy court administrator, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts; Mark Bodenhorn ’84, past-president, director of marketing, Carlisle Events; Paula Alcock ’92, fiscal contract supervisor, PA Key; Tim Bream ’87, IT compliance lead, Spark Therapeutics; Joe Carothers ’76, retired director sales and marketing; Lynne Daley ’83-‘84m, senior vice president business solutions, Bank of America; DeAngelo Harris-Rosa ’13, policy paralegal, Philadelphia District Attorney; Johanna Jones ’92-’00m, counselor, Carlisle Area School District; Josh Lang ’13, county commissioner, Bedford County; Stephen Latanishen ’12, liaison for boards and commissions, Office of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf; Michele Legge ’88, owner, Magnolia Heights Marketing; Holly Lubart ’99, director of government affairs, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association; Tim MacBain ’03, educator, Upper Dublin School District; Kenneth Minefield ’87, intake supervisor, Allegheny County Child, Youth, & Families; Melissa Morgan ’06-’08m, legislative policy analyst, PA State Association of Township Supervisors; Julie Perez ’91, educator, Washington County Schools, Maryland; Luke Perry ’14, medical resident, Inspira General Surgery Residency; Stephanie Ponnett ’93, admin support coordinator, PSU Harrisburg; Hayden Rigo ’16-’17m, government relations associate, Greenlee Partners; Keith Russell ’17, financial advisor, UFinancial/MassMutual; Steve Thomas ’04, planning director, Franklin County of Pennsylvania; Dave Thompson ’69, retired copy editor; Carol Verish ’99, attorney, Schiffman, Sheridan & Brown, P.C.; Daniel Wise ’95, Cpl. Officer in charge, Millersburg Police Department.
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SHIP’S LOG Grief eduation and support was not in Over nearly fifteen years, DMTF has specific events can be a huge grief trigger. the Taylors’ wheelhouse. Both were teachers. continued to shift and expand to meet The Butterfly Ball is our alternative to But their determination to address the black community needs. In the beginning, Taylor these type of events. Families should be hole for service helped them confront each found she was receiving increased requests celebrated in whatever way, shape, or form challenge they faced. As a three-time grad from adults to participate in Drew’s Hope— they are,” she said. of Shippensburg University, Marcie Taylor but the program was designed for children The event is meant to bring awareness knew the university offered a wealth of ages eighteen years and younger. “We’d have to different family dynamics and celebrate resources to get them off the ground and to refer them elsewhere,” she said. whatever family structure children running. So naturally, they experience. This past year at The Orchards in “As teachers, we developed and offered Chambersburg, DMTF welcomed families needed to log so many more adult support to dance, play, and celebrate together. “We’re hours. We thought, do groups. DMTF has arts learning how to tell a family’s narrative.” counseling majors need and crafts groups, teen Taylor, Mahon, and Gardner were hours? We need help weekend workshops, again invited to present at the NAGC creating this program, and programs for symposium this year, and plan to share can they help us do it?” university students. Last their programs with other organizations to In the fall of 2008, year, Taylor organized show how these events can benefit small Drew’s Hope started a simple memorial communities nationwide. They hope the as a small, sevenornament decorating symposium continues, but understand that, session grief support event at the university like events worldwide, the current COVIDDREWMICHAELTAYLOR.ORG program on campus CUB. With little time 19 pandemic might impact their plans. in Shippen Hall that worked within the to advertise, she assumed the turnout would In the meantime, Taylor has worked semester timeframe. By the second session, be low. To her surprise, two dozen students hard to deliver support to their families in they outgrew their space in Shippen and attended to design ornaments in memory of new ways. They have used Zoom for their moved to the Grace B. Luhrs University family members and pets. small group grief meetings, and Taylor Elementary School. The program always One of the foundation’s most recent has sent grief activity books and journals will have a place on campus, Taylor said, successes has been its Blue Butterfly to Drew’s Hope families via Amazon so because of its flexible space, connection to Ball. “The blue butterfly is the symbol of they can continue their grieving at home. the counseling and social work programs, children’s grief awareness,” Taylor said. As Through all things, the message remains and convenience for the community. schools celebrate events like annual daddy the same—big city or small, big budget or Taylor initially found help through SU daughter dances, the nontraditional family is borrowed resources, these programs can counseling professors, Drs. Bill McHenry overlooked. This event aims to change that. meet those most in need in any community. and Shirley Hess. Today, Dr. Marcy “Daddy daughter dances are great— “Drew needed to make an impact in this Douglass, associate professor of counseling except when they’re not. For grieving world, and he needed to do that through and college student personnel, acts as the families, like those served in our grief us,” Taylor said. “In the midst of this program liaison to the DMTF. Douglass support programs, these relationshiptragedy, what an incredible blessing.” steers students to volunteer hours with the foundation, which is a win-win for DMTF We are extremely blessed to live in a university town. and the university. The foundation gets a If you’re not in a big town, and you don’t have a big budget, solid volunteer force, while Ship students you can still do what we do. gain an incredible experience working with grieving families. Taylor also partners with social work students, offering volunteer hours for students who serve as grief buddies. Many of these students stay connected to DMTF, continuing to volunteer after graduation. Two former student volunteers now work for DMTF. Others become local counselors, which Taylor can confidently refer families to for grief and loss counseling. “We couldn’t do what we do without the collaboration of Shippensburg University,” she said. “I keep telling (small organizations) if you have a local university, reach out.”
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STEWART HALL REIMAGINED AS NEW WELCOME CENTER Stewart Hall can add a new role to its vast resume—the completely renovated structure is now open as the Alumni and Admissions Welcome Center. Originally constructed over 100 years ago, Stewart has entertained the campus community as a gym, student center, and stage. It has housed classes, art studios, and a dark room. Today, a new open floor plan with ample natural lighting highlights the hall’s best features and leaves the space open for recruitment events, reunion activities, tours, and more.
CLASSNOTES Tell us your latest accomplishments and milestones by submitting your news to Classnotes. Alumni news, which is compiled from your submissions and previously published materials, is arranged in the magazine alphabetically within each class year. In Memoriam is published as a separate column. Please note, Classnotes may take up to six months to appear as a result of the publication schedule. Photo submissions are welcome and are published as space permits. Please submit original, high-resolution photos (300 dpi). There are four ways to submit information below—complete the “Signal Us” form on page 33. We look forward to hearing from you! STANDARD MAIL: Alumni Relations, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 FAX: (717) 477-4071
@ E-MAIL: alumni@ship.edu Historic features of the century-old structure are present in a revamped, open space floor plan. The grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date.
ONLINE: sumag.org and click on “Contact”
50s
70s
ALL IN THE FAMILY # The Fearn Family reunites each year and celebrates their time at Shippensburg University. Lynne (Fearn) Timms ’58 was a teacher who operated and taught in a pre-school and second grade. Albert Timms ’58 earned his master’s degree at Westminster College and his EdD at University of Pittsburgh to become a teacher, building principal, and assistant superintendent. Lynne and Al celebrated sixty years of marriage. Leif Fearn ’61 earned an EdD from Arizona State University, and is a retired professor at San Diego State University. Jan (Fearn) Noble ’65 earned a master’s degree from University of Colorado to become a teacher and building principal.
Janet (Blowers) Brown ’58, Devon, recently mailed a letter to Shippensburg University asking for a 1958 yearbook. Since yearbook staff members Josh and Nathaniel Bream, a senior and junior respectively, live in a nearby city, they personally delivered a 1958 yearbook to Brown while home on Thanksgiving break. Josh and Nathaniel are the sons of Tim ’87 and Tara Bream, Honeybrook. Richard K. Ocker ’59-’64m-’73m, Carlisle, was recognized by the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association for sixty years of Sunday school teaching.
60s Wayne N. Burg ’61, York, is the owner of Casta Fine Cigars in York. The business specializes in rare and aged tobaccos for cigars manufactured in the Dominican Republic. Casta Cigars were smoked exclusively at Gov. Tom Wolf’s two inaugural events.
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Robert J. McCloskey ’61-’67m, Harrisburg, is a historic artist who started his fifty-eighth year of teaching. He is currently a substitute teacher at Central Dauphin and Milton Hershey high schools.
Barbara (King) Walters-Phillips ’71, Winter Park, Florida, received The National Aeronautic Association’s 2019 Katharine Wright Trophy for “… her career and contributions as a pilot, mentor, community advocate, and educator; inspiring countless youth and fellow teachers with her aviation education programs.” While attending the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education in 1986, she was inspired to integrate aerospace education into her fifthgrade classroom curriculum. After receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Grant from the American Association of University Women, she created Aviation Invasion, an aerospace program designed to motivate middle school girls toward math and science careers. Since 1992, she has worked with the Orlando Chapter 74 of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Orlando Youth Aviation Center to teach youth about aviation careers and school subjects needed to attain them. Among her accomplishments, she started
SHIP’S LOG
FROM END TO END 3 With a slightly updated nickname, the “Ends,” formerly known as the “Deadends” held their fiftyfifth annual get together at the Greenfield Inn in Lancaster in September. The group of twelve lived together in McCune Hall, on the third floor dead end hall. (From left) Linda (Taylor) Bauer ’63, Carolyn (Nell) Craft ’64, Janet (Myers) Brunette ’64, Virginia (Stringfellow) Walker ’64, Jean (Bortell) Morris ’64, Barbara (Cordivano) Covington ’64, Barbara (Brown) DeShong ’64, Joanne (McCoy) Baker ’64-’69m. Not attending are Barbie (Croyle) Robertson ’64 and Sally (Osborne) Dunn ’64. Ginny Walker ’64 made special luncheon napkins embroidered with SSC 1964/SU 2019—fifty-five years.
ROOMIE REUNION 3 Sue Schmidt Beeson ’82 hosted a McLean/Seavers/Fort Street roomie reunion in Lewes, Delaware, this past summer. In attendance were Kelly (Carter) Malloy ’82, Beth (Dombroski) Knaub ’82, Judy (Malloy) Ham ’82, Rebecca “Becky” (Chaffee) McKenna ’83, Tammy (Mills) Barber ’82 and Lisa (Angelo) Newsham ’82. Missing was Janet (Christman) Calamaro ’82 who lives in Florida.
CHAMPIONS REUNITE 3 The spring Pennsylvania Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium provided the stage for a mini reunion of Ship track and field throwers from the undefeated 1977 and 1978 team. In attendance were (from left) Dave Crumrine ’79, Terry Walker ’78, and Roger Coleman ’78’84m. Matt Opilo ’80, the 1978 NCAA Division II javelin champion, also appeared at the event, but is absent from the photo. Destination Aviation summer camp for students at the Florida Aviation Museum, is chair of the Sun’n Fun Aerospace Educators’ Workshop, is credited with integrating the Civil Air Patrol’s Aerospace Connections in Education program into the Orange County, Florida school system, and served as director of the 2011 National CAP ACE Lift-off event, inspiring over 750 at-risk youth toward a better future using aviation and STEM. Robert L. Jamelli ’71, Hazleton, published three murder mysteries, The Hannaford Murder, The Sex Tape and the Heiress, and The Punk Rock Murders. Rick Kauffman Jr ’72, Canonsburg, self-published the book Forever in View in January. Previously, he selfpublished A Question a Day: No Need to Google. Edward Dodson ’73, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has taught history and political economy in two senior
adult education programs in the Philadelphia area for more than a decade. The PowerPoint lectures are converted into video and uploaded to YouTube as a resource for teachers. The course for the fall 2019 semester was “State of the US Economy and Society.” The lectures can be accessed by searching “course: state of the US economy and society.” Sandra (Messersmith) Millin ’75m, Confluence, was elected National President of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 18611865, at the National Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia, in July. She received her master’s degree in education/reading from Shippensburg University in 1975, then earned her EdD from West Virginia University in 1996. Millin was involved in education for thirty-five years before retiring from Rockwood
Area School District. She loves traveling with her husband and spending time with grandchildren. Belinda (Bowersox) Tiner ’75, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and her husband, Jim, were inducted in the North Carolina Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Fame. After retiring in 2009, Tiner and her husband became active competitive skeet shooters. They received the Albert S. Tufts Service Award for the countless hours they devoted to organizing and hosting competitive skeet shooting events in North Carolina. They hold about five weekend events each year for up to 100 shooters of all ages. For the second time in five years, they organized and hosted the Junior World Skeet Championships for about 160 youth who attended from twenty-six states and New Zealand. G. Warren Elliott ’76’77m was recognized by the Pennsylvania State Legislature for his eleven years as a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commissioner, including a term as president. Representative Keith Gillespie, left, presented the award. Gregory D. Knox ’76, Hampden Township, was “Shippensburg Proud” when son Benjamin ’13 married Molly Hess ’13 on August 30, 2019. Best man was brother Jonathan ’10. Molly’s parents are Greg ’71m and Donita ’88m Hess. Derek Hess ’05 is Molly’s brother. Over forty-five alumni attended the wedding. Greg, a Temple MSW grad and a Pennsylvania licensed social worker, is now retired after forty-plus years in the field of intellectual disabilities and mental health services. He lives in the Mechanicsburg area with his wife, Shirley, also a Temple MSW grad and former adjunct instructor in Ship’s Social Work Department.
80s Kathleen (Malenky) Bent ’80’86m, Centerville, Massachusetts, is a professor of accounting and information technology and is chair of the Business Department at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Previously, she served as the IT program coordinator. After a fortyyear career as a teacher (eight years at the high school level), she was elected to the Barnstable School Committee and serves as vice chair. Bent’s youngest of four children has an intellectual disability, and she discovered the struggles many parents face trying to ensure children with disabilities, or children who learn differently, are able to receive a good education. She has continued professional development on how the brain works to learn and compensate for deficiencies, methods for improving reading comprehension, and strategies for improving short-term memory deficiencies. Kathy Leedy ’80, Chambersburg, was re-elected to Chambersburg Borough Council in November and will begin her second four-year term in January. Also in November, she received the Outstanding Elected Democratic Woman Award from the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women. She is a past recipient of the Communication/ Journalism Department’s Outstanding Alumna Award. Nancy A. Burke ’81m, Harrisburg, received the F. Laird Evans Outstanding Volunteer Award from The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. As a longtime educator and former principal of Trinity High School in Camp Hill, she received the award for being a dedicated volunteer who has advanced the mission of the Middle States Association to foster
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into Erskine Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry program in January 2020. Mark Schmelz ’98, Eugene, Oregon, relocated in May 2019 to Eugene and assumed the position of associate vice president and chief human resources officer at the University of Oregon. Previously, he was the chief human resources officer for the University of Maine System.
THE GOOD OL’ DAYS 3 Football and baseball alumni recently reunited. Football alumni are (front, from left) Steve Gironda ’90 and Harry Cleveland Chapman IV ’90. Baseball alumni are (standing, from left) John “Doby” Dobrolsky ’92, Doug “Senie” Senott ’90, Jeff Teeter ’90, William “Billy” Dobrolsky ’93, and Stephen “The Kinger” Christman ’90-’95m; (back row) friend of the group and Drexel baseball alumni, Bryan “Boney D” Davis. continuous school improvement through accreditation, so all students receive the highest quality education possible. Volunteers serve on accreditation teams that evaluate schools based on an established set of protocols and standards designed to reflect proven practices in education. Edward M. Taliff ’87m, Mount Union, retired from Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland, where he taught computer coding in a magnet school setting.
90s Curtis A. Whitesel ’90-’02m, Mount Union, is the new superintendent at The Homer-Center School District. Eric S. Lawson ’91m, Bethel Park, retired in 2017 from the US Department of Justice after serving twenty years as a federal parole officer, both in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Previously, he was a juvenile probation supervisor. He is now a police dispatcher for the University of Pittsburgh, and the proud dad of a Metro Nashville, Tennessee, police officer. Rachel (Stine) Mauer ’91, Doylestown, is director of annual giving for Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, where she lives with her husband, Craig, and their two daughters, Emily, fourteen, and Jessica, thirteen.
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SUMMER FUN 3 In July, Kim Lukens ’99-’04m hosted a group of Alpha Phi Sisters at her cabin near Hazelton. (Back, from left) Maggie (Wessel) Takach ’99, Lori (Callahan) McDonald ’99, Caryn (Long) Earl ’98, Rachel (Singer) Corson ’98, Nicole (Dagen) Webber ’00, and Billie Jo (Shellenberger) Keller ’00. (Middle, from left) Holly (Oughton) Lubart ’99, Kim Lukens ’99’04m, Becky (Huegel) McCracken ’99, and Robin (Wherley) Saner. (Front, from left) Michelle Figueras ’99, Amy McCready ’98, and Sara (Graff) Adams ’98. Jennifer (Adelman) Barr ’94, Wayne, recently published a debut middle grade historical fiction novel titled Goodbye, Mr. Spalding. The book was named a 2019 Top 10 Sports books for Youth by the American Library Association—a prestigious honor—as well as a Junior Library Guild Selection. It is being used and read in libraries and schools across the country. The novel can be found on the Penguin/Random House website or on Amazon. Michael Schneider ’94, Jackson, New Jersey, was appointed to serve as secretary of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association in December for the second year in a row. Christine (Lombardo) Zaun ’94, Allentown, was named chair of the Department of Business, Management, and Economics at Cedar Crest College in August 2019 after serving as acting chair since July 2018. Peter M. Gigliotti ’95m, Shippensburg, was elected to a two-year term on the National Alumni Association Board at St. Bonaventure University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism. Gigliotti retired in 2016 as Shippensburg University’s executive director for University Communications and Marketing
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
after serving the university community for twenty-eight years. He is founder and CEO of CrisisComm, a crisis and general communications consulting firm. Jason S. Kirsch ’95, Harrisburg, received the 2019 Ernest R. McDowell Award for Excellence in Public Relations by the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society, which recognizes individuals for sustained excellence in both the public relations field and the community. Kirsch is partner and senior counselor at PRworks, a marketing and public relations firm in Harrisburg. As a mentor, he champions professionals as they pursue the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential and is an instructor for the APR program nationally. In the community, he volunteers with a number of organizations including Shippensburg University, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and United Way of the Capital Region. He also is an adjunct professor at York College, where he teaches media law and ethics. Hollie (Fry) Geitner ’97, Pittsburgh, is director of communications at Duquesne Light Company. Timothy J. Baranoski ’98, Fort Gordon, Georgia, recently was appointed Battalion Chaplain for 442nd Signal Battalion, in Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was accepted
Kate (Bottenfield) Kandrick ’99, recently ran the Philly half marathon with SU roommate Erin (Krug) Fouse ’01. They were roommates in McClean from 1996 to 1997.
00s Greta (Wildasin) Richard ’00, Columbia, Maryland, earned the 2019 Teacher Leader Award by the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Richard is a mathematics instructional support teacher (MIST) at Harper’s Choice Middle School-Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia.
Danielle Mummah ’01-’06m married Shane Zimmerman on October 12, 2019. The couple lives in Port Royal. Ship alumni who attended the wedding are (from left) Jill (Laub) Himmelberger ’01, Dawn Laub ’01, Ronda (Mummah) Ehrenzeller ’03, Danielle (Mummah) Zimmerman ’01-’06m, Angela (Burdge) Bashore ’01, Ruth (Henry) Mummah ’59’71m, and Tara (Curry) Reeder ’99. Richard A. Watkins ’01, Duncanville, Texas, hiked 223 miles on an eighteen-day adventure on the Ouachita Trail that runs between Oklahoma and Arkansas. Watkins is an ROTC alumnus and veteran who is passionate about the outdoors and encourages people to get outside.
SHIP’S LOG Timothy V. Mock ’03, Boswell, was promoted to chief executive officer at Laurel View Village. Rebecca (Hoch) Voss ’03-’16m, Gettysburg, is executive director for Over the Rainbow Children’s Advocacy Center. Voss has served as the forensic interviewer since 2015, and in her new role, she will focus on expanding the programs and services offered to children and families, as well as to community members through prevention education and community engagement. Nicole Davis ’04 married John Clarkin ’05 on November 16, 2019, in Islamorada, Florida. The couple lives in Canonsburg.
Jonathan Santarelli ’10m, Grants Pass, Oregon, recently completed an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. He also finished second in the Grants Pass Half Marathon and summitted the 14,000-foot Mount Shasta.
manager.
Morgan Galdun ’11, Reading, has been working toward a management career at Applebee’s and was promoted to
Catherine Beer ’05 married David Terry on June 29, 2017. The couple lives in Fayetteville, New York. Beer graduated from UNCC with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in August 2018. They welcomed a daughter on November 7, 2019. Jill (Domitrovits) Gardner ’05, Pennsdale, recently joined Bucknell University in Lewisburg, as sponsored projects and research manager in the Office of Sponsored Projects. Gardner and her husband, Josh, live in Pennsdale with their children Stella, seven, and Cody, three. Jesse A. Sayre ‘06 and wife Deserié, Mechanicsburg, welcomed a daughter, Astrid Louise, on September 9, 2019. She joins big brother Francis, five, and big sister Renée, three.
10s James M. D’Annibale ’10, Shippensburg, was promoted to director of educational technology at Wilson College.
…about your change of address, new job or promotion, advanced degrees, marriage, or births/adoptions.
Name_______________________________________ Address_____________________________________ City____________________State______ Zip________ Year of Grad._________________________________
Alyssa Pantalone ’11, Carlisle, joined Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz as a senior audit staff accountant on the insurance team at the Camp Hill office. Benjamin P. Carlucci ’12 married Leeanne Smollen on September 1, 2019. The couple lives in Parkton, North Carolina. Colleen (Mee) Tucciarone ’12 and husband Domenic, of Montgomeryville, welcomed twin boys, John Joseph (JJ) and Dean Grayson, on November 7, 2019.
Rebecca (Howell) Foote ’04, Carlisle, shared a presentation on November 19 as the guest speaker to the SU Women Business Leaders organization titled “Putting Your Feet to the Fire.”
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Kayla (Krebs) Juba ’13, Manchester, was promoted to marketing coordinator at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz in the Camp Hill office. Leah Balliet ’14 married Jeremy Kent on October 4, 2019, in Tucson, Arizona. The couple lives in Tucson. David Beecher ’14m, York, earned his PhD in American Studies from Penn State in December 2019. His dissertation explored the role of horse racing in the Antebellum South. Megan Bichard ’14 married Paul Estes on September 14, 2019. The couple lives in Newville. Bichard has run a seven-bed Personal Care Home in Newville for people with serious mental illness since April 2017.
Phone (H)_________________ (W)________________ Phone (Cell)__________________________________ E-mail_______________________________________ Maiden Name________________________________ Your Occupation______________________________ Name, Address of Employer___________________ ____________________________________________ Recent News for Classnotes____________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Kali Harper ’14 married Nicholas Turner ’17 on October 19, 2019. The couple lives in Lewistown. Many wedding guests were SU alumni, spanning from 1991 to 2017. Harper is working toward her master’s in special education with an anticipated graduation of winter 2020.
Mail: Alumni Relations Shippensburg University 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299 Fax: (717) 477-4071
@ E-mail: alumni@ship.edu
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Ryan D. Leppo ’14, Littlestown, was promoted to supervisor at the Chambersburg Office of Smith Elliott Kearns & Company. Leppo specializes in the preparation of tax and financial statements for medium-sized businesses with a focus on agricultural and construction industries and state and local taxes. He also works on financial institution tax returns and tax accruals, as well as governmental audits for school districts. In addition to his client responsibilities, Leppo is a member of the firm’s State and Local Tax Committee and Young Professionals Committee.
Rebecca Zelner ’16-’18m, Harrisburg, earned the young social worker of the year award in September from NASW-PA. Zelner is a field director for Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania. Marsy’s Law is a proposed constitutional amendment that will elevate crime victims’ rights.
Lloyd H. Heller Jr. ’65-’68m
James L. Batson ’75m
Janet (Day) Greenhoff Bainbridge ’66m
Sherry R. Allison ’77m
Andus G. Hale ’67-’71m
Debra (Bittner) Pritchard ’77
Jack D. Hathaway ’68m
Col. Donald A. Ladner ’77m
Marian (Stine) Benchoff ’69m
Virginia (Parlin) Masland ’78
Virginia (Nye) Burtnett ’69m
Sharon (Enoch) Hester ’79
Manal El Harrak ’17m, Carlisle, was appointed CEO of Sadler Health Center. Harrak joined Sadler Health Center in March 2015 as the director of quality and risk management. From 2016 to 2019, Harrak served as chief operating officer and compliance officer.
Judy (Hull) Friese ’69-’72m
Cindy L. Cressler ’80
Gregory A. Green ’69
Debra R. (Gaugler) Spencer ’82
Carol (Calver) Hoffman ’69
Wendy (Hayes) Lazzara ’84
Phyllis K. (McCoy) Irwin ’69
Tony A. Townsend ’84
Mary Ellen (Wolfe) McAllister ’69m
Paul F. Pekarik ’87
Barry J. Sheeler ’69
Lesa (Calaman) Barwick ’88
Robert B. Snow Jr. ’69
Douglas W. McKnight ’89
John J. Devaney Jr. ’71
Betsy (Gipe) Sheldon ’89
Joseph W. Hartman ’71m
Julie (Eckert) Mentzer ’91
Paul W. Helman ’71-’72m
Robert L. Minick ’91
Dennis J. Spisak ’71-’76m
Bruce J. Hanson ’94m
Jordan Stimeling ’17m married Mark Lentz ’16 on June 29, 2019, at the Two Mile House in Carlisle. The couple lives in Carlisle. Stimeling started as a student success coordinator at Harrisburg University on July 8, 2019.
In Memoriam Lillian G. Ridenour ’40 Nellie (Gardner) Harbold ’44-’66m Chelsey Michael ’14 married Brandon Robinson ’15 on September 7, 2019, with Hayden Rigo ’16-’17m performing the ceremony. The couple lives in Chambersburg. Andrea (Weller) Collins ’16, Camp Hill, joined Saxton & Stump as marketing coordinator. Collins coordinates the firm’s editorial activities including writing and editing articles and communications.
Glenn P. Beichler ’51 Janet (Bernstine) Shuster ’51 Bertha (Stouffer) Feather ’52 Richard J. Kopec ’52 William C. Flick ’53 Frank T. McClelland ’53 Barbara (Gorsuch) Freeman ’54 Helen (McMullen) Hunter ’55
Brian V. Pizzano ’94m
Carole (Ruppert) Oldhouser ’72
Kenneth Scott Allen ’97m
Stephen J. Pierce ’72
Brian S. Tressler ’98
Jean (Holthouse) Smith ’72m
Jose A. Rodriguez ’00
Nancy H. Heil ’73m
Barbara L. Mattison ’02
Susan E. Hoover ’73m
Jodi L. Fike ’12m
Donald E. Bliss ’74m Col. Milton D. Sullivan ’74m Vickie (Earley) Vance ’74 Timothy E. Wood ’74 Nicholas T. Zervos ’74-’84m
Kenneth M. Burkett ’56 Keith A. Waggoner ’56-’66m Harry D. Diamond ’57
Robert K. Greening ’16, Carlisle, was promoted to supervisor at the Chambersburg Office of Smith Elliott Kearns & Company. Greening specializes in business and individual income tax planning and compliance for industries such as farming, retail, construction, and small, closely-held business. He also works in payroll preparation, compliance, and research. In addition to his client responsibilities, he is a member of the firm’s payroll committee.
Paul C. Hafer ’57
Greggory R. Whitcomb ’16, Camp Hill, was promoted to supervisor at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz. Whitcomb specializes in gift tax and trust returns in the Camp Hill office.
Donald V. Royer ’63-’74m
Lloyd S. Lindsey Jr. ’57 Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Shook ’57 Sharon (Snow) Dubs ’60 James F. McDonald Jr. ’60 Dr. Joseph R. Ruff ’60 Eldred W. Atkinson ’61 Samuel R. Brinton ’61-’67m John C. Dulebohn ’61 Vernon W. Ramberger Sr. ’61 Jack E. Watson ’61 James M. Behm ’62-’67m Fredericka (Elliott) Christensen ’64 Lucy (Stoner) Coover ’64-’67m John W. Crum ’64 Edward E. Hunsberger ’64 John A. Edwards ’65-’68m Jennie (Spencer) Green ’65
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Richard F. Lentz ’72
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BEACH RETREAT 3 Alpha Sigma Tau alumni sisters met for their annual girls’ weekend this year at Brigantine Beach. (From left) Kathy (Szlachtianchyn) Dixon, Katie (Gromacki) Broskey ’05, Kristen Brinkman ’04, Megan McCormick ’04, Lauren Frick ’03, Kaileigh (Rostis) Colwell ’04, Morghan (Pratt) Terry ’04, Dana (Artsma) Pietraccini ’04, Lauren (Deitz) Wirth ’04, and Christine (Tucci) Steger ’04.
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b-f Alumni and their families enjoyed an afternoon of cookie decorating and photos with Big Red. b Mitchell and Tucker, boys of Holly (Mitchell) Sherman ’06, pose with Big Red; c Indie, daughter of James ’10 and Shelbi ’11-17m D’Annibale decorates her cookies; d Holly (Mitchell) Sherman ’06 decorates cookies while Tucker gets a peek at Big Red’s entrance; f Avery, son of Sarah (Wentz) ’05 and Tim ’05 Martin, and Tyler, son of Alison (Martin) ’03 and Todd ’05 Turner, pose with Big Red. g-h Alumni in New York City attended a Convo with Carter in September. Attendees included g Ian Rees ’06 and Rebecca Shepler ’13 and h part of the NYC Ship group. I Joe Carothers ’76 and Kenneth Minefield ’87
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from the alumni board of directors co-hosted a Ship tailgate at California University of Pennsylvania. Thank you to everyone who brought food, snacks, and desserts to share, including Joe’s personal oven-baked pizzas! j Kathy (Walker) Bono ’86, third from left, hosted alumni at Chap’s Taproom and Grill, a sports bar in Eagleville she owns with her husband Michael. President Laurie Carter attended for a Convo with Carter that evening. 1)-1! Alumni from the Lehigh Valley enjoy a Ship night at the home of Suzy (Snyder) Feilmeier ’87, pictured third from right 1! in Easton.
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Ronald Hess ’08-’10m, delivering World Geography 101 and Environmental Sustainability 108 from home. When life gets cloudy, sometimes you just have to bring your own sunshine. G /ShippensburgAlumni
We’re in this together and we’ll figure it out together until we land on terra firma (solid ground). Stay home and be safe!
—Dr. Alison Dagnes, professor of Political Science
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