Westminster Magazine Spring/Summer 2024

Westminster

Senior biochemistry major Natalie Rose ’24 receives her honors medallion at the annual Honors Convocation ceremony in April.

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

Volume XLII, Issue 2

EDITORIAL STAFF

Elizabeth Fontaine Hildebrand ’92

Editor & Designer

Kristen Aleprete

Staff Writer

OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

724.946.7364

Kara H. Montgomery

Pamela Marlowe Zackal ’08

ALUMNI COUNCIL

Dr. Nanci Kleese Hosick ’95, M’03 President

PRINTER

Printing Concepts, Inc. Erie, PA

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Jeffrey A. McCandless ’80 Chair, Board of Trustees

Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson

President

Dr. Jamie G. McMinn

Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College

Kenneth J. Romig ’85

Vice President for Finance & Management Services

Dr. Gina M. Vance

Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Jason A. Lener ’93

Director of Athletics

The Rev. James R. Mohr II

College Chaplain

Erin T. Smith

Chief Information Officer & Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management

On the cover: Jordan Fore ’24, biology, walks through the faculty gauntlet following commencement exercises.

Photography credits: Derek Buck, Colleen Dreyer ’24, Kevin Fenstermacher, Elizabeth Hildebrand ’92, Jason Kapusta, Alex Marinski ’24, Kara Montgomery, Pamela Zackal ’08, Robert Hayes

Mailing address:

Westminster College, 319 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001 ATTN: Westminster Magazine Editor

Email address: wcmagazine@westminster.edu

For Admissions inquiries, call: 724-946-7100

Westminster Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing & Communications. Westminster College does not discriminate, and will not tolerate discrimination, on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran’s status, religion (except for those positions where religious affiliation is a necessary qualification), or any other classification protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities, or with respect to admission and employment. Westminster College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and acts in accordance with applicable laws in all of our hiring and employment practices. Inquiries may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Officer, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001, 724-946-7247. Westminster College is related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Synod of the Trinity.

Students, employees and community members gathered on the Quad to witness the total solar eclipse on April 8.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Ioften use the phrase the “We in Westminster” to describe the College’s collaborative and supportive culture. One key aspect of this culture is the commitment to excellence that springs from and enriches the connections and support found here. Each academic year offers multiple opportunities to recognize excellence in our community. During the annual Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration more than 300 students share their knowledge and talents through posters, presentations and performances. At Honors Convocation, scholarship recipients are recognized and participants in the All-College Honors Program who have successfully defended their research receive their medallions. Students earning at least a 3.6 grade point average each term are named to the Dean’s List. The WESPY Award ceremony salutes the most valuable players on each athletic team, along with those who’ve earned other athletic honors, and the top female and male student athletes receive awards. At Commencement, we recognize those who are graduating with the high grade point averages necessary for Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude), and we also announce the recipient of the annual Distinguished Faculty Award. We do more than aspire to excellence—we cultivate it.

The commitment to excellence is led by our faculty and staff, and their engagement builds and sustains the “We.” Annually, faculty are awarded research grants and sabbatical leaves in recognition of their scholarship. Several coaches each year are elected as the Conference Coach of the Year. College employees gather at a luncheon each May where we thank those who have reached career milestones at Westminster and salute those who are retiring. And, monthly, we recognize an employee or employees who have excelled with the Titan Above & Beyond Award.

Each year, notable alumni receive Citations in October in recognition of their personal and professional achievements— and so often, they credit the experiences they had as Westminster students as the key foundation for their success. Similar stories are heard from the alumni who return to campus to participate in the Professional Networking Symposium, to give guest lectures, to help students polish their resumes and interview skills, to serve on Alumni Council or academic advisory committees, and to mentor the current generation of Titans. They learned to practice excellence while here at Mother Fair.

And, that excellence often prompts exceptional generosity. We witnessed this in April when we named the atrium in the Hoyt Science Center chemistry wing in honor of Bill ’53 and C.J. Maurer ’62 in recognition of their more than $1 million gift to Westminster. That gift has been designated by the Board of Trustees to help kickstart the last phase of the renovation and expansion of this key classroom and research facility, and it is the Maurers’ hope that their example will spur other exceptional giving to the College. The Maurers’ generosity will be remembered for years to come as students, faculty, staff and guests gather in the beautiful atrium now named for them, and generations of Titans will join in celebrating the Maurers’ commitment to Westminster students.

Excellence sparks excellence. It’s true in the classroom, labs and studios where excellent teaching sparks exceptional learning, and strong coaching sparks outstanding athletic performance. It’s true when alumni donate and volunteer to support our students. At Westminster, we continue to be inspired by and thankful for the excellence demonstrated by our students, faculty, staff and alumni and are delighted when we can celebrate their achievements.

It’s a great day to be a Titan!

Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson President of Westminster College

| Titan news on and beyond campus CAMPUS NEWS

‘Be

kind to Westminster’

College gifted $1 million from alumni couple

At the April dedication ceremony of the Maurer Atrium, an elegantly modern gathering space in the expanded wing of Hoyt Science Center, Will “Bill” Maurer ’53 had one request of those in attendance: “Be kind to Westminster.”

Maurer and his wife, Carol Jean “C.J.” Young Maurer ’62, have been exceedingly kind to Westminster, and this year, the couple initiated a $1 million lead challenge gift to inspire additional contributions toward the final phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project.

To honor the Maurers’ kindness and generosity, the College named the multiuse atrium for them.

“The Maurers’ transformative gift is a true example of Titan-sized generosity, and we are truly grateful for their support of their alma mater,” said Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “For years to come, the students, faculty, staff and guests who study, teach, research and meet in this beautiful atrium will recognize their generosity and their vision.”

The Maurers both earned Bachelor of Science degrees from Westminster College—Mr. Maurer in 1953 with a degree in economics and Mrs. Maurer in 1962 with a degree in business administration.

The Maurers’ gift, along with additional challenge gifts received, will be used to complete the fourth and final phase of the Hoyt renovation project, which includes the creation of a high-fidelity nursing simulation lab, the Harms Center for the Environment and an exercise science lab. Major mechanical updates are planned as well as updates to the labs, classrooms and office spaces for the computer science, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience and physics departments.

The Maurers have been longtime supporters of Westminster and have provided significant contributions to various campus projects, including the construction of the Berlin Village townhouses, renovations to Burry Stadium and the creation of the Class of 1953 Reunion Fund.

“One of Mr. Maurer’s most enduring legacies is found in his dedication to providing students the opportunity

Elizabeth Forward High School and a recipient of the Maurer Scholarship.

toSprepare for meaningful and impactful lives with a major portion of his gifts directed to the endowed Maurer Scholarship, ensuring that future generations have access to opportunities he once cherished,” said Richardson.

The Will R. Maurer II ‘53 and Carol Jean (Young) Maurer ‘62 Scholarship provides financial assistance to incoming first-year students from Belle Vernon Area High School or Elizabeth Forward High School.

Above, the Maurers with Maddy McClain '27, a graduate of

Resendes tapped for CUR role

Dr. Karen Resendes, associate dean of assessment and the First-Year Experience and professor of biology, has been elected to serve as the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Board of Directors’ treasurer for the membership year 2024-2025.

Resendes will then enter a three-year cycle through the president ladder, serving as CUR Board of Directors’ president for the 2026-2027 membership year.

Resendes has held various leadership roles within CUR, including serving on CUR’s previous executive board from 2017 to 2023.

In her new role, which begins this summer, Resendes will oversee the process of academic program review and work closely with Middle States on accreditation matters.

Resendes, who joined Westminster’s faculty in 2009, holds an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. from Brown University. She performed post-doctoral research at the University of California, San Diego.

Titan travelers pose with a rock sculpture on Floreana Island, Galápagos. Pictured are Dr. Joe Balczon, Dr. Marosh Furimsky, Alayna Moore, Max Furimsky, James Sentz, Jordan Fore, Christian Pasquarello, Savannah Weller, Amber Cepec, Raina Vilsack, Jonathan Bates, Karson Hahn, Quinnlyn Reaver, Nicholas Pasquarello, Aidan Johnston and Joshua Butcher.

Students explore natural wonders of Ecuador, Galápagos

Over winter break, biology faculty Dr. Joseph Balczon and Dr. Marosh Furimsky led 14 students on a trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions in the world.

During the two-week trip, students from the fall semester’s Biology Travel Course were able to experience the Amazon rain forest, a cloud forest, the Andes Mountains and the Galápagos Islands—the volcanic archipelago located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador and home to some of Earth's rarest life forms.

A Westminster staple for many decades, the educational travel course was originally led by Dr. Clarence Harms, professor of biology emeritus. Harms, according to Furimsky, would often joke that biologists “lacked credibility” if they had not visited the Galápagos Islands.

On the trip, students explored a variety of islands, beaches and volcanoes and witnessed different cultures and biodiversity firsthand. They visited the Charles Darwin

Research Station, watched giant tortoises at Rancho Primicias, walked through a lava tunnel and hiked on natural rock formations in the Asilo de la Paz.

“Every time I’ve done this trip, students have told me that it was one of the highlights of their life. I believe as an educator that there is no better way to learn than through experience. I think students learn and retain more information through these experiences than any lecture-based course could ever achieve,” said Balczon, who has been leading the travel course since 1999.

International travel provides a different perspective about the world, and Balczon and Furimsky continually see the influence this experience has had on their students.

“I love to see the students leave their comfort zones, overcome their anxiety about foreign travel, interact with the indigenous people and come away with an expanded worldview,” said Balczon. “Seeing students so engaged in their learning is rewarding. I hope to foster a love of lifelong learning and travel.”

College names Curtis Sprouse ’87 Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year

The 2024 Westminster College Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Curtis Sprouse ’87, founder, president and CEO of the behavioral science company EurekaConnect, at the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) Symposium in February.

Sprouse, who earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Westminster, founded EurekaConnect in 2008. He developed the proprietary EurekaConnect Behavioral Dynamics program that assesses individuals, teams and organizations to objectively and measurably impact efficiency and effectiveness.

In 2017 he co-founded the Institute for Biomedical Entrepreneurship with leading scientists, academics and investors from around the world. The program has been adopted by top academic and healthcare delivery institutions and Fortune 100 biomedical corporations.

Sprouse is also the co-founder of Boston Market Strategies Inc., an international healthcare consulting firm developing thirdparty payer strategy and clinical trial process efficiency models for Fortune 100 biomedical

companies and top academic medical centers.

He coauthored the book Drug Formularies and the Pharmaceutical Industry, which was the foundation for industry strategy on price optimization and navigating the managed care market.

Henderson Award goes to art professor

He has also taught graduate-level programs at the Drexel School of Medicine and serves as an adviser to dozens of academic institutions, biomedical companies and venture firms. Sprouse is on the board of directors for 48Hour Discovery as well as a partner at Formation Venture Engineering. He provides guest lectures and conducts training programs in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

The symposium also recognized School of Business scholarship recipients and offered networking opportunities for WEC students.

New chair of nursing named

Dr. Maria Sapienza has been selected to chair Westminster's Department of Nursing.

Sapienza, assistant professor of nursing, joined the College in January 2023.

Sapienza completed her R.N. at St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Slippery Rock University and her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Waynesburg University. She also is a certified nurse educator.

Prior to joining Westminster, she served as the associate dean of the School of Health Sciences at the Community College of Beaver County, where she also taught numerous nursing courses.

Summer Zickefoose, associate professor of art, was named the winner of the 2024-2025 Henderson Lectureship Award.

Zickefoose’s lecture, which will be presented in October, will focus on a contemporary art historical exploration of how acts of care inform and are expressed through visual art.

Zickefoose, who joined the faculty in 2010, teaches a wide range of courses, such as ceramics, sculpture, contemporary crafts, two and three-dimensional foundations, environmental art, art appreciation and art history.

She earned undergraduate degrees in art history and studio art from the University of Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts degree in multimedia art and ceramics from the University of Florida.

The Henderson Lecture was founded by the late Dr. Joseph R. Henderson, professor of education emeritus, and his wife, Elizabeth, to encourage and recognize original and continuing research and scholarship among Westminster faculty.

Dr. Maria Sapienza presenting at the 2024 BSN pinning ceremony.

Honors seniors defend capstone projects

Several Westminster honors students defended their capstone research projects this spring, marking the end of nearly two years of high-level academic exploration.

Under the mentorship of three faculty members—two experts in the students’ major field of study and one faculty member from another department—the students worked closely with their lead honors board faculty adviser to conduct innovative, rigorous hands-on research.

This year’s scholars include:

Joseph Armstrong, biology and history, presented “Examining the Health of Lawrence County PA Immigrants.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Diana Ortiz, biology; Dr. Russell Martin, history; and Dr. Heather Muchowski, mathematics.

Abigail Cannon, business administration, presented “Examining How History and the Psychology of Social Media Impact Financial Decisions Made in the Wedding and Events Industry.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser John Geidner, accounting; Eric Gaber, Westminster Entrepreneurship Center; and Dr. Kristianne Kalata, English.

Caroline Fox, biology, presented “Exposure to Parabens Results in Developmental Abnormalities in Zebrafish.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Marosh Furimsky, biology; Dr. Joseph Balczon, biology; and Dr. Joel Postema, Spanish.

Sophia Galietta, fine art and psychology, presented “The Effect of Nature Therapy on Mood and Cognition Among Individuals

Reporting ADHD-like Symptoms.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Jessica Rhodes, psychology; Summer Zickefoose, art; and Dr. Patrick Krantz, environmental science.

Chloe Hankey, biology, presented “The Effects Aflatoxin B1 on Neural Development and Behavior of Zebrafish.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Furimsky; Dr. John Robertson, biology; and Postema.

Victoria Harden, history and culture, presented “The Religion of American Nationalism: The Culture Roots of Nationalism in American Politics.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Timothy Grieve-Carlson, religion and interfaith studies; Dr. Michael Aleprete, political science; and Martin.

Taylor Harman, neuroscience, presented “Does Stimulant History Affect the Ability of Nicotine to Cause an Anxiety-Like Response in Male and Female Rats?” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Deanne Buffalari, neuroscience; Dr. Eric Fields, cognitive neuroscience; and Kalata.

Emma Parker, a biochemistry, presented “Continuous Wave—Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Structural Analysis of Alpha-Synuclein in Its Disordered and Membrane-Bound Forms.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Jessica Sarver, chemistry; Dr. Patrick Lackey, chemistry; and Dr. Adam Blumenthal, computer science and mathematics.

Grace Phillips, English, presented “Bad Girl: Examining the Portrayal of Deviant

Female Characters in Contemporary Novels.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Trisha Cowen, English; Dr. David Swerdlow, English; and Dr. Patrick Krantz, associate professor of environmental science.

Hannah Piccirilli, neuroscience and international studies, presented “Is the Late Positive Potential (LPP) a Marker of Emotional Memory Encoding and Consolidation?” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Fields, Buffalari and Postema.

Zion Posey, philosophy, presented “Education Left Behind: An Analysis of Education in America.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Dr. Patricia Clark, history; Dr. Loreen Huffman, psychology; and Grieve-Carlson.

Samantha Reed, psychology, presented “The Effects of Caffeine on Emotional Memory.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Fields; Dr. Randy Richardson, communication; and Buffalari.

Natalie Rose, biochemistry, presented “Examining the Binding of 3’hExo to Histone mRNA Stem-Loop Degradation Intermediates.” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Lackey; Dr. Erin Wilson, chemistry; and Dr. Karen Resendes, biology.

Jacob Steinbeck, biology, presented “The Effects of Lead (Pb2+) on the Morphology of the Skeletal System and Swim Bladder of Embryonic Zebrafish (Danio rerio).” Faculty mentors included lead adviser Furimsky, Balczon and Lackey.

Honors students presenting their capstone projects. From left are Hannah Piccirilli, Zion Posey and Jacob Steinbeck.

Juniors earn leadership awards

Three Westminster juniors were awarded prestigious leadership and service awards during the annual Honors Convocation in April.

Accounting majors Gabrielle DiDolce and Jonas Clark were each awarded the McQuiston Outstanding Service Award, while Ella Hildebrand, a neuroscience major, was presented with the Allen P. Splete Leadership and Service Award. The McQuiston awards are each valued at $12,000, while the Splete award is a $500 prize. All funds are used to offset the students’ tuition for next year.

DiDolce serves as president and senator of the Student Government Association and is an Alumni Council student representative. She is vice president of recruitment and events for Alpha Gamma Delta and president of Chemistry Club. She has participated in the Model United Nations conferences in Chicago and is a student ambassador for the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The captain of the men's lacrosse team, Clark serves as president of Westminster’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity and is a peer tutor in the Academic Success

Center. He is philanthropy assistant for his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, and has participated in the service-learning trip, Experience Alaska.

Hildebrand is historian of the PreHealth Society and is an Academic Success Center peer tutor for psychology and biology. A member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, she currently serves as vice president for new membership. As the sorority’s philanthropy chair, she helped raise $1,000 for breast cancer education and awareness. She was recently selected to serve as a student associate trustee on the Westminster College Board of Trustees for the 20242025 academic year.

The McQuiston Outstanding Service Awards were endowed by W. James McQuiston ’29 and his wife in 1979 and are given to a rising senior man and woman for service to the Westminster community.

The Allen P. Splete Leadership and Service Award, named in honor of Westminster's 11th president, is awarded to a student who has provided leadership and volunteerism to the curricular and co-curricular life on campus.

Richardson earns community award

Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain

Richardson was recognized as the 2024 Civic Leader of the Year by the Forward Lawrence Chamber and Economic Alliance's annual Impact Awards.

Forward Lawrence is a united community and economic development team designed to support Lawrence County businesses through the promotion of leadership development, partnership collaboration and business development activities.

TRIO student selected for travel abroad opportunity

Emma Sukal, a rising senior, will study in the Netherlands this summer after being selected to participate in the international Keith Sherin Global Leaders: Study Abroad Program, organized by The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE).

As of one 20 students in the nation handpicked for this opportunity, Sukal—a participant in Westminster’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program—will attend the Global Citizenship: A Summer Study Tour for TRIO College Students from June 21July 13 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Sukal, an individual interdisciplinary law and society major from Pittsburgh, will work with student leaders from other institutions while attending courses focused on the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Courses will concentrate on solving global issues by connecting the public and private sectors.

The program is sponsored by COE, The Hague University of Applied Sciences and ECHO, the Center for Diversity Policy.

President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson and Dr. Randy Richardson

The Westminster College TRIO SSS program is a federally funded office committed to helping first-generation scholars, scholars with financial needs and scholars with disabilities. This program provides coaching and mentorship, with all the tools and materials that will improve student’s knowledge and topic mastery. TRIO aides to success in college and the transition into the world.

DiDolce Clark Hildebrand

FACULTY FOCUS

Westminster College is rooted in the classical tradition of education, and over the course of the past 170 years, the curriculum has evolved to serve today's students who have broad interests but are often seeking very specific career paths. Unchanged, however, is Westminster’s goal of providing students with the skills and minds necessary to be curious, wellrounded and purposeful humans, thanks in large part to the cornerstone of the institution—the faculty.

Westminster is proud to be host to a diverse community of accomplished scholars dedicated to guiding Mother Fair’s students on their academic journeys. Our faculty members hold degrees from more than 100 colleges and universities, both in the U.S. and abroad. The richness of their educational experiences is felt in their influence at Westminster.

Whether teaching the skills of critical thinking, igniting intellectual

curiosity or encouraging integrity and compassion, Westminster’s faculty are committed to the College’s mission of helping students develop competencies, commitments and characteristics that have distinguished human beings at their best.

Westminster’s faculty members are acclaimed researchers, published authors, poets, analytical thinkers, accomplished musicians and composers, successful entrepreneurs

and talented artists who bring their extensive experiences and knowledge to the classroom. They present papers at conferences, author peer-reviewed journal articles and monographs and provide insight as experts in their fields. Their scholarly achievements are vast. They are inspirational role models and collaborating mentors. They are compassionate educators who care about their students. They are Westminster's foundation.

scholarly activity

Keith Bittel, assistant professor of business, presented “The Accounting Pipeline Issue from a College Perspective” and was a panel moderator for “Goal Setting in Leadership” at the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Western Pennsylvania IMPACT summit in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Robert Craven, assistant professor of English, penned “Pittsburgh—A Portrait,” which was published in Northern Appalachia Review. Craven also presented “Art vs. Habit: The Craft of Diction” at the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA) at Saint Francis University.

Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of cognitive neuroscience, presented “Is the Late Positive Potential (LPP) a Marker of Emotional Memory Encoding and Consolidation?” at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Toronto.

Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor of biology, presented “The Effect of Bisphenol F on Development and Gene Expression in Zebrafish” at the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy in San Diego, Calif. The paper was co-authored with senior biochemistry major Emily Huff and Dr. Patrick Lackey, associate professor of chemistry.

p Dr. Timothy Grieve-Carlson, assistant professor of interfaith studies, presented “The Built Thicket: Preservation Ethics, Ecology, and Aesthetic Value in Southeast Texas” at the Third Annual Greater Gulf Symposium, Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast at Lamar University.

Kandice Hartner, lecturer in communication, presented “Extreme Deadlines? Nurturing Today’s PostPandemic Students in the World of High-Pressure Deadlines” at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) 2024 Convention in Las Vegas. Bradley Weaver, lecturer, served as panel organizer and moderator.

Dr. Loreen Huffman, lecturer in psychology, co-authored the article “Age Differences in Emotional Reactions to Ageist Memes and Changes in Age of One’s Best Self,” which was published in the Journal of Aging Studies.

Dr. David Horst Lehman, assistant professor of history, presented a paper, “Glacier Erasure: Stories, Speculation, Surveys, and Soil Science in Potawatomi Homelands,” at the American Society for Environmental History in Denver.

p Dr. Matteo Luisi, assistant professor physics, co-authored the article “The GBT Diffuse Ionized Gas Survey (GDIGS): Discrete Sources,” which was published in the December 2023 issue of The Astrophysical Journal

Martha McGrath-Brown, instructor of sports management, presented “One Nation, One Team: Discussing the USWNT Equal Pay Victory in the Classroom” at the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) Conference in New Orleans.

Dr. Sherri Pataki, professor of psychology, presented “Some American Women May Perceive Us as Terrorists: Education and the Breaking of Stereotypes” at the Educational Research Association of Singapore (ERAS) conference and World Education Research Association (WERA) Focal Meeting, National Institute of Education, Singapore.

p Dr. Melinda Crawford Perttu, professor of music, presented “Bad Bowing Diagnostics; Treat the Problem, Not the Symptom” at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Conference in Erie, Pa.

Dr. Karen Resendes, associate dean of assessment and the First-Year Experience, presented “Results of the Support for Undergraduate Research Mentoring (SURM) Survey: A National Perspective” at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Annual Meeting.

Dr. Jessica Rhodes, associate professor of psychology, presented “An Examination of the Role of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in the Relationship between ADHD Symptoms and Emotional Impulsivity and Attentional Control” at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Long Beach, Calif. Rhodes also presented “The Effect of Nature Therapy on Mood and Cognition Among Individuals Reporting ADHDlike Symptoms” at the annual Penn State Behrend-Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference in Erie, Pa.

Bradley Weaver, lecturer of broadcast communication, presented “Cross Campus Collaboration: Partnering with Environmental Science for The Green Team, Exploring the Green Scene” at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) 2024 Convention in Las Vegas.

JESSE LIGO ’82 | ACCOUNTING

Bringing life experiences into the classroom

By KRISTEN ALEPRETE

Jesse Ligo ’82 had early career aspirations of becoming an athletic coach, but when he was an undergrad at Westminster, an economics class sparked his interest in finance. From that point, he refocused his goals on becoming an accountant.

After earning his M.B.A. and becoming a certified accountant, however, he found himself back in the classroom, this time on the other side of the podium hoping to generate a similar spark in others and help them find success.

Ligo’s professional experiences—coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit—translate into his classroom and offer students real-world knowledge of what their degrees in business can accomplish.

Teaching for more than 40 years—Ligo joined Westminster’s faculty in 2008 and previously spent 24 years on the business faculty at Thiel College—has afforded him the opportunity to work closely with students as a professor. It’s also given him the chance to coach students, so to speak.

“I have had the extreme privilege to witness many of my former students make significant and meaningful impacts because of their financial and business expertise. It is an inspiration after ‘coaching’ them during their college days to see them become leaders in their workspaces and beyond,” said Ligo.

Outside of the classroom, Ligo operates and maintains a commercial 300-acre crop and beef farm— Drove Pasture Farm in Mercer, Pa.—which has impacted his teaching and his students in countless ways.

Drawing on his experiences producing corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, hay, spelt and cattle, Ligo has plenty of fodder for classroom discussion.

“The business experiences from the farm impact my teaching every day. It provides me with a wealth of emotional words, pictures and situations which I can use to draw

LIVING A PURPOSEFUL LIFE LOVING GOD THROUGH SERVING OTHERS...I WANT TO USE WHAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO HELP OTHERS ACHIEVE A BETTER LIFE.

students into the discussion and help them understand the real world of business at a deeper level,” said Ligo.

Over the years, Ligo and his family—including wife Amy Klipa Ligo ’84—have hosted elementary children, Westminster students and post-doc Ph.D. students to promote the agriculture industry and sustainable agricultural practices. He has had the opportunity to share his experiences of a working American farm with international visitors from places such as Singapore, Russia, Korea and Poland.

Back in the classroom, Ligo credits his colleagues in the School of Business with creating an atmosphere of support and productivity that benefits students and the Westminster College community.

“My favorite aspect of being a professor is really getting to know students personally. Using what I learned and experienced as a Westminster student, my goal is to help them realize their potential, understand their opportunities and get the most out of this special time at Westminster,” said Ligo.

Ligo has a distinct perspective on what guides him personally and as a member of the Titan community.

“Living a purposeful life loving God through serving others, whether it’s my students, customers or my community, I want to use what I have been given to help others achieve a better life,” said Ligo. S

ANGELA LAHR | HISTORY Learning and growing through research

By KRISTEN ALEPRETE

Dr. Angela Lahr has an active research agenda that brings the process of investigating, developing and writing to her students through example.

“My research invigorates me. It feeds my passion for studying the past and my intellectual curiosity. I hope this translates to my classes,” said Lahr, associate professor of history. “While I can draw on my own research to help guide students along their own research paths, I also learn a lot from my students’ research as well.”

Lahr believes the research skills that students learn and develop during their time at Westminster are an asset to their future employers and will also benefit those seeking advanced degrees. She and her colleagues in the Department of History value the importance of research and consistently demonstrate through example how it can broaden minds and develop communication skills.

“Not only does research contribute to an expanding body of knowledge, but the skills students learn doing

research are skills that employers value. Even if students never write another historical research paper after graduating, they have learned the importance of asking questions, developing ways to answer those questions and communicating to different audiences,” said Lahr.

While Lahr has done extensive work in women’s history and the Cold War, her primary research area is 20th-century U.S. religious history and how personal value systems and beliefs have affected the worldviews and actions of individuals and groups. Her current research project investigates the way certain 19th- and 20th-century women drew on religious and secular understandings of conscience in their social activism.

Her research has led to published works, and her article—”Christian Nationalism and Millennialism in the United States”—was included as a chapter in The Cambridge Companion to Religion and War published in 2023. In 2007 she authored the book Millennial Dreams and Apocalyptic Nightmares: The Cold War Origins of Political Evangelicalism, which examines the ways that beliefs about the end times influenced evangelicalism during the Cold War.

Just as Lahr hopes to instill the love of research and impart her skills, she finds that she, too, is continuously learning and growing in her approach to educating her students. She appreciates how deeply her fellow professors care about teaching and how they often prioritize the exchange of ideas between one another in hopes of continuously improving their skills.

“One of the things that I deeply appreciate about Westminster College is that I can, and do, continue to learn about teaching from my colleagues,” Lahr said. “Examples of what I have learned from other professors are too numerous to describe, but I’m proud to be part of a faculty that is so dedicated to student success.” S

JOEL POSTEMA | SPANISH

A man on a mission

By KRISTEN ALEPRETE

When Dr. Joel Postema, associate professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Modern Languages, visited Mexico in 1992, he fell in love with the culture and the thrill of traveling to a new region. He returned to the States, inspired to better learn the Spanish language and customs so he could fully comprehend the Spanish stories he was reading in class.

“I greatly enjoyed reading stories, poems, plays and essays from different countries and different times,” said Postema. Poets like Pablo Neruda of Chile and Federico García Lorca of Spain inspire readers like Postema to see the beauty of the world through their words and a desire to share that inspiration with others.

As a professor, Postema aims to inspire his students by sharing the excitement of international travel and mission work through an annual medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

For the past several years, Postema—who joined the Westminster faculty in 2005—has taken small groups of students to Sabaneta de Yásica, a small town in the Caribbean island country, through a mission partnership between area churches and the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana (Evangelical Dominican Church).

There, students shadow and assist professionals and translators and are immersed in the culture and customs of the region.

“That mission partnership works in areas of medicine, construction and education and it is an absolutely ideal classroom for our students who are working towards careers in medicine while also studying Spanish,” said Postema.

While traveling to the Dominican Republic gives students a unique experiential learning opportunity, it has also become a significant part of Postema’s life as a professor at Westminster.

“It has been deeply rewarding to see my students making good use of the language that they work so hard to perfect in the classroom while also working alongside professionals in the careers that they are considering,” said Postema.

Through the program’s development, Postema found that taking smaller groups of students on mission trips provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures and languages, leaving them with lasting memories and a real connection to the importance of mission work.

The group has evolved over the years and now includes alumni who like to join current students and offer their mentorship and professional skills to the mission work. Some former students found work with different organizations and humanitarian groups in the developing world after being inspired by their travel experiences with Westminster.

“The fact that we are seeing our graduates using their time and talent to bring better health care to people who lack access to basic medical care—it is the central mission of Westminster, to develop the competencies, commitments and characteristics that have distinguished human beings at their best. It is humbling to be a part of that,” said Postema. S

THE FACT THAT WE ARE SEEING OUR GRADUATES USING THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO BRING BETTER HEALTH CARE TO PEOPLE WHO LACK ACCESS TO BASIC MEDICAL CARE—IT IS THE CENTRAL MISSION OF WESTMINSTER.

Grounded in the liberal arts DEANNE BUFFALARI | NEUROSCIENCE

By KRISTEN ALEPRETE

Astrong foundation in the liberal arts has been essential in Dr. Deanne Buffalari’s career as an educator, mentor and scientist.

Buffalari, associate professor and chair of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and a graduate of nearby Allegheny College, uses her background in a small, supportive environment to foster those kinds of relationships with her own students.

“During my college education, departments felt small, like a community that was invested in and willing to

support my success. I had meaningful relationships with fellow students and professors. I appreciate being able to try and create similar educational experiences for my students,” said Buffalari, who began her career at Westminster in 2014.

Buffalari’s interest in neuroscience stemmed from the fascination that one organ can control much of what we do and how we experience life. She appreciates the constant exploration of the brain and how much we continue to learn from evolving research. Sharing the love of neuroscience

with students and supporting them by learning their interests and talents gives Buffalari the chance to help them set future goals and find out what inspires them.

“I so enjoy working with students and then getting to see the end result when they are professionals in graduate and medical school—and when they are working in their eventual career,” said Buffalari.

and understanding that others have generated through their research,” said Buffalari.

She consistently teaches her students how individual abilities and critical thinking will help them in the future. Buffalari likes to show students how to harness the skills they’ve learned in unique ways that help them grow into themselves as individuals. For example, in March she traveled to San Antonio, Texas, with four students who

Buffalari’s research centers on how the brain produces very adaptive responses in a variety of circumstances, especially looking at stressful situations and how the brain signals rewards like food so that it remembers to eat. These responses can result in maladaptive behaviors that contribute to anxiety and excessive worry and can play a role in addiction. Her current research focuses on what happens when these functional and important systems go wrong. Students help her study those scenarios in her lab and research on campus.

“I think of research as the work that we do to acquire knowledge, so to me, that’s synonymous with education. That’s what I try to communicate to students—in education, you are relying on information

formed from her own college experience. She enjoys taking writing classes, creating original stories and doing volunteer grant writing.

“I see those same things in our students—neuroscientists who are artists, biologists and amazing public speakers—it reinforces my belief in the liberal arts approach,” said Buffalari. She recently edited an e-book about alternative grading and was appointed to the Society for

presented research on substance abuse and addiction at the 16th annual Behavior, Biology and Chemistry: Translational Research in Substance Use Disorders Conference.

The combination of studying the brain with educating students is what drives Buffalari’s personal approach to teaching. Seeing their love of neuroscience, or other specialty areas, form into a career is rewarding to her. Buffalari enjoys watching students grow into themselves through accomplishments that encourage them to find success in their future as they leave Westminster.

Buffalari’s interests reach beyond her dedication to science. Part of the reason she advocates for a liberal arts education is her exposure to literature and writing,

Teaching Psychology midcareer committee and presented at their conference.

Buffalari’s connections with her students don’t end once they’ve graduated. In fact, Buffalari and three Westminster alumni— Jensine Coudriet ’20, currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the Yale School of Medicine, Sam Accordino ’22, a medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University, and Hattie Shrock ’22, a patient care technician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.—are currently working on a manuscript that explores how nicotine may impact behavioral processes related to stress and possibility of relapse. Working with former students illustrates how dedicated Buffalari is to her role as a Westminster professor and lifelong mentor. S

At left, Dr. Michael Aleprete, chair of the faculty, proudly carries the ceremonial mace. Center, Paul Trokhan '68 is hooded by Dean of the College Dr. Jamie McMinn and Board Chair Jeffrey McCandless '80. At right, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Pomerville provides the Baccalaureate message.

COMMENCEMENT 2024

Westminster College’s 170th Commencement ceremony marked the graduation of students whose first year on campus was anything but normal. Often labeled the “COVID class,” the Class of 2024 began their college careers in the fall of 2020, masked and socially distanced just five months after the world shut down due to the pandemic.

“Class of 2024, we know you have learned many life lessons while here at Westminster,” said Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “You have gained confidence in your abilities and in your vision. You have demonstrated to us you are more resilient and stronger than you perhaps thought you could be when you first arrived on campus in those challenging days of August 2020 when we were masked, separated and concerned about the pandemic. But you have succeeded.”

The graduating class also faced another challenge this year with the loss of a classmate, Gage Hendrickson. The biology major, who passed away in January following a December 2023 automobile accident, was awarded a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree during the ceremony that presented degrees to 231 undergraduate and graduate students.

An honorary Doctor of Science degree was awarded to alumnus Paul Trokhan ’68, retired senior inventor at Procter & Gamble (P&G). Trokhan is recognized as the leading mind behind the unique technology that resulted in high-quality paper products, such as Bounty paper towels, Charmin toilet paper and Puffs tissues.

Trokhan, who earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Westminster and a master’s in chemical engineering from Lehigh University, developed photopolymer molding templates for use in high-speed through-air-dried (TAD) tissue-making processes, which significantly changed the way tissue products are made. His photopolymer technology is utilized on virtually all of P&G’s global bath tissue and paper towel products.

Peyton Aujay, a music education and instrumental music performance double major, offered the senior address during Commencement exercises.

“As we venture forth into the unknown, let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela, who said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Armed with our education and the lessons learned within these hallowed halls, we have the power to effect positive change, to challenge the status quo, and to leave an indelible mark on society,” he said.

Prior to the conferring of degrees, the prestigious Distinguished Faculty Award was presented to retiring faculty member Dr. R. Tad Greig, professor of music and director of instrumental activities (see more on page 20).

The day’s ceremonies began with a morning baccalaureate service, with the Rev. Dr. Andrew Pomerville, president of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, providing the message, “Continuance, Gratitude and Joy.”

The morning service also featured a special memorial tribute in remembrance of Hendrickson.

R. TAD GREIG

2024 Distinguished Faculty Award

Retiring professor strikes a high note with prestigious award

HHe has been referred to as a compassionate leader, a remarkable educator, a gifted musician and a legend among the halls of the School of Music. The numerous letters written by colleagues, alumni, students and fellow musicians in support of Dr. R. Tad Greig, this year’s winner of the prestigious Distinguished Faculty Award, all tell a similar story: his impact and commitment to students are significant and undeniable.

“Over the years, Dr. Greig has inspired countless Westminster College students, both music majors and music lovers, to become the best versions of themselves,” wrote one alumna. “During my four years and for every year since, I have tried to mirror his masterful balancing act of high expectations and compassion. He was the type of educator I wanted to become and he is still my guiding mentor throughout my career.”

Greig, who retired as professor of music and director of instrumental activities after the 2023-2024 academic year, was presented with the award during Westminster’s 170th Commencement ceremony. While Greig may have concluded his time at Westminster, his legacy lives on in the success of the programs he created and the students he mentored.

“His vision not only shaped the music program but also inspired countless students and colleagues. Through his unwavering commitment to excellence, he elevated the reputation of our institution both regionally and nationally,” wrote one colleague.

“Dr. Greig is a master educator, conductor and musician. His work as director of the Westminster College Bands will go down in history as nothing short of legendary,” wrote another alumnus about Greig’s work with the Symphonic Band and the acclaimed Wind Ensemble, which he founded, as well as the Titan Marching Band.

The Wind Ensemble received accolades this year after being one of six ensembles invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Eastern Regional Conference at Cornell University in February. The ensembles represented Penn State University, University of Delaware, Dartmouth College, Cornell University and Montclair University.

“In case you are unaware of the vastness of his influence, there is also the small matter of the Alumni Wind Ensemble,” wrote an alum. “This is an ensemble of musicians who eagerly respond to the call when Dr. Greig asks. This includes musicians in all walks of life who are willing to return to Westminster for a weekend solely to play with him as their conductor again.”

The Alumni Wind Ensemble performed at Greig’s final concert, the Gala Concert, which featured the world premiere of “Journey” by internationally acclaimed composer Dana Wilson. The piece, which was performed by the 70-member alumni group, was composed in honor of Greig and commissioned by several Westminster alumni and former students of Greig’s. S

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TRANSFORMATIONAL SUPPORT Creates Opportunities

ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

On April 12, Westminster College proudly announced a $1 million lead challenge gift from loyal Titan supporters Will ’53 and Carol Jean Young Maurer ’62 designated to encourage additional contributions toward the last phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project.

Along with additional challenge gifts received, funds will be used to develop a high-fidelity nursing simulation lab, establish the Harms Center for the Environment and create an exercise science lab. Additionally, the building will see major mechanical fixes and the classrooms, labs and offices for the neuroscience, psychology, physics, mathematics and computer science departments will be updated.

The Hoyt Science Center Expansion and Renovation Project began in 2017. Phases one and two created the College’s nursing and neuroscience facilities and the Dietz Sullivan Lecture Hall as well as other structural and aesthetic renovations and upgrades. Fall 2021 marked the completion of the third phase—the construction of a 27,000-square-foot expansion wing that now houses the chemistry and biochemistry departments. The original Hoyt building was constructed in 1974 with an addition built in the 1980s.

The generous gifts made to the Hoyt Science Center will enhance the educational opportunities for Westminster students for years to come.

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR SUCCESS

Establishing an endowed scholarship creates perpetual resources and educational opportunities for Westminster College students.

Westminster College alumnus John Hepler ’77 wanted to give back to his alma mater and provide assistance to aid students active with the Westminster Entrepreneurial Center (WEC). His Entrepreneurial Values Scholarship is given to a student who embodies the traits and characteristics that lead to success as an entrepreneur.

For nearly 30 years, Hepler was in marketing, strategy and brand promotions at MillerCoors and found his own entrepreneurial spirit benefited his career.

SUPPORTING THE TRADITION OF TITAN ATHLETICS & STUDENT SUPPORT

Bill Rankin ’60 was unwavering in his support of Westminster’s scholars and student-athletes. As a golfer, Rankin saw a need for Westminster’s golf program and took steps to create an indoor training facility. As the lead donor and fundraiser, Rankin was responsible for creating the Bill Rankin Golf Center located in the lower level of Eichenauer Hall. The facility features two GC2 simulators, a chipping and putting green, and locker rooms for the Titan men’s and women’s golf teams.

He was also an ardent supporter of the men’s and women’s tennis teams—often traveling to Hilton Head, S.C., to cheer on the players during their spring break training—and donated Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship rings to the women’s tennis and golf teams as well as men’s golf.

Rankin’s philanthropy was not just reserved for athletics. He was committed to support students in areas critical to their academic success and career opportunities. He established two endowed scholarships—one for students interested in pursuing careers in human resources and the other for those who are members of the Valencia Presbyterian Church or other churches in the Beaver-Butler Presbytery.

HONORING THE LEGACY OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Experiential learning—learning by doing—is one of the hallmarks of a Westminster education. And thanks to grant funding and donor gifts, students enrolled in the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will soon have more on-campus training opportunities, giving them an even greater edge in the job market after graduation.

A new state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation nursing lab is underway and it will be equipped with five lifelike manikins, including a mother that can give birth, a newborn and an infant. The lab will also be outfitted with standard medical equipment, such as beds and crash carts, an observation room with recording equipment, and threedimensional anatomy and physiology tables.

Westminster received a $93,000 grant from the Buhl Regional Health Foundation and a $437,351 federal grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The project also received $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, approved by the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners.

WOMEN’S ATHLETICS SHINE IN 2023-2024

For the Westminster women’s athletic program, 20232024 was a banner year. Women’s sports shone this year, securing four Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championships—indoor track and field, golf, softball and outdoor track and field—along with one runner-up and one third-place finish.

This was just the third time Westminster’s women’s teams hoisted four PAC championship trophies in a year: soccer, basketball, softball and golf in 2004-2005, and swimming and diving, indoor track and field, golf and lacrosse in 2018-2019

It was one of the best fall-to-spring finishes in the history of Westminster women’s athletics, dating back to Nov. 2, 2002, when the women’s volleyball program captured the school’s first-ever PAC title with a three-set sweep over twotime defending conference champion Grove City College.

Since entering the PAC 22 years ago, women’s programs have won a combined 46 conference titles and claimed the

SOPHIA GALIETTA & CHLOE LAROSA SOCCER

Recent graduate Sophia Galietta was named PAC Defensive Player of the Year and rising sophomore Chloe LaRosa was named PAC Newcomer of the Year. Galietta was the program’s first Player of the Year selection since Mallory Bugel ’08 earned the honors in 2005 and 2006. LaRosa is the third-straight Titan to earn PAC Newcomer of the Year. Morgan Murphy claimed the award in 2022 and Brooke Horvath was honored in 2021.

conference’s All-Sports Trophy, awarded annually to the school which performs the best across the board in league competition, 11 times.

“Athletics continues to serve as the front porch of the College. We’re very visible, and it’s what many people— affiliated and unaffiliated—with the school see most often,” said Jason Lener ’93, director of athletics. “So, I’m very proud of the success of our women’s programs. It is a credit to our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the the entire Titan family that we’ve been able to have this kind of success. It’s been great experiencing the excitement, enjoyment and celebrations throughout the year with so many of our women’s programs reaching significant milestones and achievements while drawing attention to Westminster.”

Keep reading for more of the women's highlights from the 2023-2024 year.

GIA FRANCISCO TENNIS

Rising senior Gia Francisco earned First Team All-PAC at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles last November. She owns a career 28-13 singles record. Francisco and rising junior Christine Rossi finished the season 12-4, which included a 6-2 record against conference opposition. Francisco has been a first or second team all-conference selection in both singles and doubles play since 2021.

MALIA DUFFY VOLLEYBALL

Recent graduate Malia Duffy’s 1,842 career digs rank fourth in the volleyball program history. Named the PAC’s Defensive Player of the Week pick three times last fall, she ranked second in the league in total digs with 605 and digs per set (5.76) in 2023. Duffy, a four-time all-conference pick, earned First Team All-PAC last season.

NATALIE MURRIO BASKETBALL

Recent graduate Natalie Murrio became the program’s all-time leading scorer on Jan. 3 with a 20-point effort in a victory over PAC Championship Tournament runner-up Geneva College. This season she averaged 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. A four-time All-PAC selection (1st team in 2022, 2nd team in 2021, 2023, 2024), Murrio was voted the league’s Player of the Year after the 2021-2022 season.

CHRISTINA LOEWE & MADDY McCLAIN SWIMMING

Rising senior Christina Loewe and rising sophomore Maddy McClain earned First Team All-PAC honors in March. Loewe finished as the runner-up in the 200 backstroke and was third in the 100 backstroke, while McClain was the runnerup in the 1650 freestyle and finished third in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

BREANNDA DAVIS & JESS FATIGATI INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Recent graduates Breannda Davis and Jess Fatigati were feted at the PAC Indoor Championships in February, garnering a trio of superlative awards. Davis was honored as the PAC’s Most Outstanding Performer in addition to securing the league’s Most Outstanding Track Performer title, becoming the first in women’s program history to earn overall MOP honors at the indoor championships. It was Fatigati’s first superlative award at the indoor championships.

PAC champions clockwise from top left are indoor track and field, golf, outdoor track and field and softball

SIERRA RICHARD GOLF

Recent graduate Sierra Richard earned PAC Player of the Year honors in April after posting a 72-hole score of 313 during this year’s PAC Championship. She is Westminster’s fifth-straight winner of the conference’s Player of the Year Award.

SYDNEY LOKAY SOFTBALL

Rising senior Sydney Lokay was named to the Division III Championship Angola, Ind. Regional All-Tournament Team. She hit .571 with three RBIs, a double and a triple at the regional championship and drove in the winning run in a 2-1 elimination game victory over the University of WisconsinStevens Point. Lokay, a Second Team AllPAC choice, also claimed a spot on this year’s PAC All-Tournament Team.

KATIE ROSE RANKIN GOLF

Katie Rose Rankin had a successful first year and was the recipient of PAC’s Newcomer of the Year Award. She registered a third-place finish at the four-round PAC Championship with a score of 329, also earning First Team All-PAC honors. During the Grove City College Fall Invitational, she highlighted the round with a hole-in-one on No. 5 (151 yds.) using a nine iron. She went on to earn medalist honors after firing a 78 at the event.

BREANNDA DAVIS OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Breannda Davis was recognized as the Overall Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) as well as the league’s MOP on the track at the PAC Outdoor Championships. The first woman to win PAC indoor and outdoor Overall MOP honors in the same season since Chatham University’s Rebecca Pennington in 2019, Davis is the fourth in program history to earn overall MOP distinction at the outdoor championships.

JADE HROMANIK LACROSSE

Rising senior Jade Hromanik claimed the PAC’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and First Team All-PAC honors. Her 12.44 saves per game ranked No. 1 in the league. She stopped 14 or more shots in four games this season, including a career-high 22 against Thiel College. Hromanik’s 298 career saves rank No. 2 among the program’s all-time leaders.

JENNA ZENDRON OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Rising sophomore Jenna Zendron ran to a first-place finish in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 59.17 seconds at the PAC Outdoor Championships. She also anchored Westminster’s first-place 4x400meter relay, which posted a winning time of 4:04.17. Zendron was recognized as the PAC’s Newcomer of the Year, the program’s first since Jess Fatigati in 2021.

MACKENZIE LATESS & JAN REDDINGER SOFTBALL

Recent graduate Mackenzie Latess was honored as PAC’s Player of the Year and Jan Reddinger, head softball coach, earned her third PAC Coach of the Year Award (2004, 2007). A two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-Region selection and four-time First Team All-PAC pick, Latess finished the year hitting .473 with 14 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 41 RBIs. Her 194 RBIs currently rank second on Division III’s active career leaders list while her 61 doubles rank fourth—both are program records. She also holds program records in career hits (210) and career home runs (28).

TITAN STRONG

HAT TRICK OF HONORS

Senior soccer player Sophia Galietta was named an Academic All-America Second Team selection Dec. 20. A defender, she was recognized as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year on Nov. 7 before claiming a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region VII Second Team Nov. 28. Galietta is the fourth Westminster women’s soccer player to earn Academic AllAmerica honors. She made starts in all 57 career matches played and helped the program post 31 shutouts—18 in league play—between 2020 to 2023.

Setting the high bar

Emma Rudolph, left, and Maddie Conley, right, pictured with Assistant Track Coach Bradi Rhoades, captured All-America honors at the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships March 8 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va. Rudolph finished in fifth place and Conley was seventh in the 19-competitor field. Rudolph entered the event as the No. 3 seed and cleared 3.82 meters (12-06.25) on her second attempt at the height. Conley, the No. 20 seed, tied her personal best by clearing 3.77 meters (12-04.50) on her first attempt at the height.

COACHES’ PICK

Rudolph, Rhoades and Conley

Sophomore Morgan Murphy earned United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America honors Nov. 30. A goalkeeper, she started all 18 matches for the Titans last season, going 13-4. Her .707 goals-against average (GAA) and .876 save percentage ranked second in the PAC while her 78 saves were fourth in the league. Murphy had three shutouts—four combined—last fall. She was named a United Soccer Coaches All-Region VII First Team pick on Nov. 28. Murphy has started 38-straight matches and has 10 career shutouts. Her 0.70 career GAA currently ranks 23rd among active Division III leaders.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Tim McNeil ’96 was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Women’s Coach of the Year on March 6. Now in his 17th year as the head coach at Westminster, McNeil led the women’s indoor program to the PAC title on Feb. 22. It marked the Titans’ first women’s indoor championship since winning back-toback titles in 2019 and 2020. The Westminster women’s outdoor program captured the PAC outdoor title on April 26. It was Westminster’s sixth outdoor title in program history and is the first time the women’s program won the league’s indoor and outdoor titles in the same year.

Murphy

Seniors

700 Club

Softball Head Coach Jan Reddinger, pictured with dad Dale, won the 700th game of her career on April 25 against Chatham. She is the 16th active Division III coach to reach 700 career victories and is just the 40th softball coach in Division III history to secure 700 all-time wins. Of her victories, 644 have come during her 28-year career at Westminster.

Record breakers

Junior midfielder Gavin Jones and senior attack Payton Waight broke a bevy of lacrosse program records this spring. A two-time First Team All-PAC selection, Jones posted single-season program records in goals, with 58, and points, with 83, while becoming the program’s all-time goals leader in a win over Thiel on April 13. He has 125 goals 50 career games played. Waight, a Second Team AllPAC selection this season, finished the year with 34 goals and a single-season program record 40 assists. He eclipsed 100 career goals in this year’s win at Thiel. Waight’s 187 points and 78 assists both rank second on the program’s all-time leaders’ chart, while his 109 career goals rank third.

CHANGE WAR

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised $4,425 for its longtime area partner, Special Olympics Lawrence County, during the College’s annual Division III Week celebration. For the fourth-straight year, Westminster led all participating schools in the weeklong Change War initiative, a friendly philanthropic competition with its 10 PAC rivals as well as the nine schools from the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).

Hitting 1,000

Senior Reese Leone scored his 1,000th career point on Feb. 7 against Franciscan, becoming the 41st player in basketball program history to hit the milestone. A starter in 83 of 84 career games played, he finished with 1,026 career points. Leone also earned Academic All-District honors by the College Sports Communicators for the second-straight year.

DIVER ZONE

Senior Sean Perrone was recognized as the PAC’s Diver of Year Feb. 17 after prevailing in the 11-dive, 1-meter event with a score of 389.45 points and the 11-dive, 3-meter event night with a score of 381.15.

GOLF GURU

Eleventh-year head golf coach Matt Torrence ’93 was named the PAC’s Coach of the Year for the sixth-straight year after helping the Titans erase an eight-stroke deficit after the fall’s two championship rounds to earn a onestroke win over Washington & Jefferson College on April 20. Westminster secured its sixth-straight PAC team title and will make its fifth appearance in the Division III Championship in the last six years.

Jones

Waight

Perrone

Torrence with PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko ’00

Leone

Philanthropy celebration brings together donors and students Celebration

OF PHILANTHROPY

Countless student lives have been impacted by the generosity of those who believe in a Westminster education. On April 12, 150 benefactors, students and College leaders attended the second annual Celebration of Philanthropy at The Avalon at Buhl Park in Hermitage, Pa. Together they celebrated the impact of our key contributors who, through selfless generosity, ensure that Westminster continues to thrive as a place where students develop the competencies, commitments and characteristics that distinguish human beings at their best.

Karen Swartzentruber ’24, Theresa Schneider ’24 and Ella Hildebrand ’25; and back row from left, Jocelyn Whalen ’26, Elliott Wentzel ’26, Kent Dunn ’24, Lillian Hefner ’25, Gia Francisco ’25, Krysta Germanoski ’24, Alexandra Coker ’24 and Shawn Redmond ’25.

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Many smiles and heartfelt stories were shared at the Celebration of Philanthropy event. 1) President Kathy Brittain Richardson. 2) Kristin Mezmar Kaiser ’86 and husband Tim Kaiser ’85. 3) Joe McCaw ’73. 4) Junior Gia Francisco ’25. 5) Seniors Kent Dunn ’24 and Krysta Germanoski ’24. 6) Glenn Thompson ’68. 7) Student violinist Hayne Webster ’26. 8) Vocalist Alexandra Webster ’26. 9) Student representatives, in front from left, Gabrielle DiDolce ’24, Morgan Byers ’24, Alyjah McHugh ’24 and Aubrey Suttelle ’25; middle row from left, Lyddia Rougeux ’25, Cameron Stahl ’24,

MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI OFFICE

Greetings, Alumni Community,

Ihope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits as the summer season sets in. As we reflect on the successful fiscal year to date, it is evident that our alumni’s contributions, engagement and volunteerism have positively impacted Westminster. As with many of the impactful things done as an alumni community, quite a bit of that influence has derived from the efforts of the collective group. As the adage goes, “many hands make light work.” And it is this concept by which our Office of Alumni Engagement leans heavily into when it comes to the donations and time shared by alumni in the interest of our precious alma mater. In particular, over the last few years, you have likely heard about or participated in our crowdfunding efforts, but if you haven’t, I trust that the summation of this letter helps to outline the many ways in which this tactic has proven monumental for our students, programs, athletes and the institution in recent years.

Alumni support is the heartbeat of any thriving educational institution. A shared commitment to the values instilled in you during the time spent at Westminster College binds the group together, creating a network of individuals who have not only excelled in their respective fields, but who also understand the importance of giving back. It is this sense of responsibility and gratitude that propels you all to contribute to the growth and success of the institution that played a pivotal role in shaping your lives. Crowdfunding has emerged as a dynamic force, enabling communities like Westminster to come together and make a significant impact on projects that matter through participatory sized gifts from a large group—that add up to an impressive total. By leveraging the strength of our alumni network through crowdfunding, we have addressed pressing needs and created opportunities for current and future students. Due to the nature of crowdfunding being so reliant on immediate impact, results and influence, the bulk of the efforts take place online or on social media via peer to peer contacts, but that doesn’t mean that those who don’t indulge in these avenues should be left out. We welcome all alumni to join us during future crowdfunding campaigns by calling our office and asking ‘how can I participate?’ We’ll be certain to have an option for you.

In its time being utilized at Westminster (five years and counting), we’ve processed over $400,000 dollars in support and managed nearly 4,500 gifts on our crowdfunding platform, gifts that immediately influenced specific studentfocused projects such as: scholarships, internship supplemental support, training equipment, storage facilities, travel trips that complement students’ education, career-wear for students and much more. It’s exciting, it’s fun and it’s meaningful when we see our alumni community pitch in to see these projects to fruition. Each person is providing a gift that works for their personal budget, but collectively reaching a goal that makes a change or brings about a campus enhancement. This past November’s campaign, specifically, helped further along a new Titan mascot costume, installation of a gas fire pit on campus, assisted in funding the students’ attendance on the international choir tour, supported our Speech and Debate Society to their national tournament and provided supplemental funding for internships and our scholarship programs, cumulating in $87,261 dollars of support. THANK YOU DONORS—you made a difference!

During our next crowdfunding effort, which will take place in November, we invite you to be part of the movement. Contact my office and see how you can participate, even if social media isn’t your preference, we can help you be part of something special because when all of us are involved, the work is always lighter.

Thank you for your passion, energy and generosity!

Kara Montgomery Senior Director of Alumni Engagement

i SHARE YOUR TITAN STORY

Everyone has a story—and we want to hear yours! We want to know all about you—your career, your family and your many adventures. Westminster Magazine’s Class Notes section is a wonderful way to share your story and keep up with old friends and classmates. Send us your news today! ONLINE FORM westminster.edu/classnotes EMAIL alumni@westminster.edu

Westminster College Office of Alumni Engagement

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CLASS NOTES | Titans doing incredible things.

1968

MARY MAZZONI REAMES was awarded the Boomtown Eagle Award by the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce in November 2023 for her extraordinary efforts to promote Greenville.

1969

BEVERLY MICHAEL-HIGGINS and CAROLE WOODS CLELAND ’68, both Sigma Kappa sisters, had fun reconnecting in Sedona, Ariz., after not seeing each other for 55 years. Beverly lives in Cheswick, Pa., and Carole resides in Sedona.

1973

Fall of 1969 marked the beginning of a lasting friendship when JOHN JOHNSTON, JOHN VOELP and LARRY HOUSHOLDER, pictured above from left, were introduced on the third floor of Jeffers Hall. The three became and have remained best friends ever since. The trio reunites at least once a year. Last spring they gathered in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., where Voelp resides with his wife, Holly Edwards Voelp ’74

1975

Delta Zeta sisters from the class of 1975 met in May 2023 to celebrate their 70th birthdays. Attending were AMY COOK CARROLL, NANCY AIKMAN MARTIN, CAROLE LEATHER WALTERS, CINDY LESTER LAROCQUE, DONNA BERGMARK LOPER and NANCY COOPER MUSSELMAN

1976

CHRIS SHOVLIN was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in April. Chris has served for over 37 seasons as the play-byplay “Voice” of the Robert Morris University (RMU) Colonials Basketball team, calling more than 1,100 NCAA Division I games. Chris also serves as CEO of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, Pa.

1977

THE REV. R. CAMERON MALCOLM IV retired from a 30-year pastorate at Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church in 2017. Since then, he has written 10 books: Mary Magdalene: New Testament Eve, The Nativity of Jesus Christ: Everything You Wanted to Know About Jesus’ Birth but Didn’t Know to Ask, Youth Groups My Way: Philosophy, Application, Anthology, A Unique History of Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church and a six-book series of novellas, A Divine Christmas Ghost Story

Titan earns posthumous hall of fame honor

LOU SKURCENSKI ’64, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 55, was posthumously inducted into the Bartlesville (Okla.) Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2023. Lou, the 6-foot-6 AllAmerican athlete and starting center for Westminster’s basketball team, was a member of the legendary 1961-1962 team that was runner-up in the 1962 NAIA men’s basketball tournament.

The 1961-62 Titans were selected by the U.S. State Department as one of two teams to be represented on a goodwill exhibition tour of South America during the summer of 1962. Lou made the trip for Westminster, along with head coach Buzz Ridl ’42, assistant coach and tour manager Cleve Oliver and fellow players Ron Galbreath ’62, Bill Douds ’62, Bob Douds ’62, Warren Sallade ’63, Bob Oravetz ’65 and Dave Schrecengost ’64. The tour included visits to Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil.

In 1964, Lou was one of 40 players nationwide invited by the NAIA to try out for one of the 12 spots on the NAIA’s team set to compete in the U.S. Olympic Basketball Trials. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1964 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, an opportunity he rejected to join the Phillips 66ers, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) men’s basketball team based in Bartlesville. Several AAU teams were sponsored by corporations that provided careers to the players on their teams, and such was the case with Lou. The Phillips Petroleum Company—which sponsored and ran the Phillips 66ers—employed Lou in its Chemical Research Division for 34 years before his retirement.

Attending the fall induction ceremony were Lou’s family—including his widow Stephanie Solomon Skurcenski ’64 and children Jason and Amy—and Westminster friends Mimi Watt ’65 and husband Jim Davison ’65. A video presentation during the ceremony featured Jack Ridl ’67. After Lou’s death in 1998, the Louis Skurcenski ’64 Scholarship was established to benefit junior or senior chemistry majors at Westminster.

1979

THOMAS CORRY was appointed to the Virginia Board of Medicine by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. In November 2023 he was sworn in by Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Gee. He is the managing director of Corry Advisors.

1973

THE REV. DR. HAROLD “HAL” HARTLEY III retired in January 2023 as senior vice president of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) after 18 years with the national association of more than 650 private colleges—including Westminster— which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Among his many responsibilities, Hal directed the largest annual meeting of college presidents in the country. He

also helped develop and oversee CIC’s Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, which supported hundreds of campus programs, including at Westminster, thanks to more than $30 million in funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. A former Westminster trustee, Hal received the Career Achievement Award from the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities of which Westminster is a member. In June, Hal and his wife Donna relocated to Chesterfield, Va..

1980

JEFF LONG was named the first-place winner of the 2023 Missouri Press Foundation award for best local business coverage in the state. Jeff retired Nov. 1, 2023, as business editor of the Southeast

Missourian, a general circulation daily newspaper. He and his wife, Lois Ford Long ’80, reside in Jackson, Mo., and have two adult daughters and many dogs and cats. They also maintain a residence in Chautauqua, NY.

1989

ROBYN ZENZINGER is the first assistant district attorney in Pennsylvania’s Northumberland County where she has served

as a prosecutor for seven years. Robyn recently was the Republican nominee in the district attorney race in Union County. She graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 2010.

ALUM SPOTLIGHT

PATRICK SENTNER ’90 | B.S., FINANCE

Building Dreams

By PAMELA MARLOWE ZACKAL ’08

As a first-generation college student, Patrick Sentner ’90 knew he would have to work hard at Westminster to make it through school. Academics didn’t come naturally to this active and involved finance major, but he did what he could during his four years in New Wilmington to help market himself for success post-graduation, not knowing what the real world had in store for him.

Today, as executive vice president of Colliers International, the world’s third largest commercial real estate (CRE) firm, Sentner is generous with his time in serving Mother Fair and her students. Providing professional development support, networking connections and career direction for undergrads, Sentner’s volunteer service impacts students facing the same challenges and uncertainties he did more than three decades ago.

“One of my goals in my current role is to bring young people into our industry and train them so that they can be successful long term. I realized there was zero reason that we shouldn’t be doing this with students from Westminster, where I was already committing a lot of time and energy,” Sentner said.

Westminster’s Analyst Program has become one of Sentner’s most rewarding volunteer experiences and one of the best ways to build a pipeline for young talent interested in the industry. For more than a decade, the Analyst Program has operated in partnership with the

School of Business, the History Alumni Advisory Council and regional businesses and organizations. The program and events associated with its professional development benefits have drawn on myriad alumni to serve as mentors, speakers, subject-matter experts, organizers and more. Sentner served as subject matter expert for the most recent case study and helped guide students’ experiential exploration. The topic was in Sentner’s wheelhouse: commercial real estate.

“Commercial real estate is a difficult industry to break into, and so providing a current glimpse into the challenging, but rewarding field, plus connecting them with a network of alumni professionals, is an opportunity I wish I could’ve had when I was an undergrad,” he said.

Working with students through the Analyst Program and other careerrelated programming, like the annual Professional Development Symposium, has given him a new perspective on his own mentorship abilities.

“In a strange and amazing way, Westminster has continued to educate, inspire and develop me into my 50s,” Sentner said. “What I’ve personally gained from participating in the Analyst Program I have put into practice in my professional life. I am much more cognizant of listening and understanding what members of my team need and providing guidance tailored to give them the opportunity to succeed.”

Sentner remains engaged with Westminster in other ways, too. When his brother, Rich Sentner ’91, an allAmerican diver at Westminster, passed away from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2013, he created the Richard “Rich” Sentner ’91 Memorial Fund to celebrate his brother’s life and memorialize his legacy. In 2021, he joined the Westminster College Board of Trustees for a four-year term. And to this day, Sentner is one of 12 Sigma Nu brothers from the early ’90s who communicate and support each other via a text message chain.

As Sentner embarks on year 28 as a CRE professional, he remains true to his roots as a competitor, mentor and master multi-tasker. In addition to his service to Westminster as a trustee and a dedicated professional development mentor, he also serves on the board of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) Global, recently took home three honors from SIOR’s Western Pennsylvania Chapter 2024 Top Deal Awards and was named a 2024 LinkedIn Top Influencer by CREi.

“When I was an undergrad, I had no clue how my future was going to unravel,” he said. “I got where I am today with a ton of help and much support from Westminster. If I can help others in any way, shape or form, I absolutely want to do that.” S

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21, 2024

FRIDAY, NOV. 1, 2024

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 2024

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2025

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025

1992

DR. JILL PFEUFER

FANDRICH has authored six books: Elevate Your Mind to Success, Success Is Ele-MENTAL, Who Connects Your Dots?, Medically Speaking, Who Connects Your Dots?, COVID-19 and Other Disease Prevention and Parents: COVID-19 for Kids Disease Prevention With a career as director of pharmacy and other pharmaceutical venues, Jill enjoys writing in the genres of self-help, critical thinking, disease prevention, detoxification, natural pharmacy, adult fiction and children’s stories.

1999

LEE PEINDL is the general counsel of Wolfgramm Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in hospitality properties. Lee lives in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife and daughter.

2000

JOE ONDERKO, commissioner of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), was appointed to serve a four-year term on the NCAA Division III Strategic Planning and Finance Committee in January. Joe is in his 18th year as the PAC’s chief administrator.

2001

COURTNEY BEHM was named vice president for Gilbane Building Company. Courtney is a director in Gilbane’s Global Sales & Marketing Services department based in New York City.

2002

GREG MARQUIS earned his Doctor of Education degree from Point Park University. His dissertation was a qualitative study that focused on the perspectives of elementary principals on school-based mental health programming in Pennsylvania. He is the principal at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in the Peters Township School District.

WENDY MOORE was named executive director of the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Museum. She is also a fulltime teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools District.

2004

KIMBERLY KLAPPERT SPEAD

launched Wild & Blume, a floral studio and flower truck in a 1967 Volkswagen Transporter, in 2021. In 2022, she opened a small flower shop and today she is a full-service floral designer. She resides in Castle Rock, Colo.

ALICIA RICHIE QUINN was appointed deputy executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism by New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way in September 2023.

2005

LAURA KRUTSCHNITT was promoted to regional continuity director at iHeartMedia, where she has worked in various roles since 2005. Laura now oversees a team of 10 commercial content managers in 23 markets.

2008

DR. BRYAN BISCHOF coauthored the book, Building Recommendation Systems in Python and JAX, which illustrates the core concepts and examples necessary to create a recommendation system for any industry or scale. Bryan is the head of data science at Weights and Biases and also teaches data science in Rutgers’ Master of Business and Analytics program.

2010

MICHELLE BISTRICA SHELMAN, also known by her professional name Michelle Heart, received a 2024 Gracie Award in March. The Gracie Awards are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation. Michelle hosts a morning drive show, “Michelle in the Morning,” and is brand manager at KXLT/107.9 LITE-FM in Boise, Idaho.

2012

KATE ELLISON, senior manager for government advocacy and communications for UPMC, earned a spot on City & State Pennsylvania’s Forty Under 40 list.

NATHAN CARLIN ’01 | B.A., HISTORY

From Chance to Transformation ALUM SPOTLIGHT

By PAMELA MARLOWE ZACKAL ’08

It’s fair to say that Nathan Carlin ’01 wasn’t intending to stick around Westminster College long. After all, he only found his way to New Wilmington because his dream school—the only college he was really considering—didn’t accept him.

“Wheaton College was the only college I applied to. And then I said, ‘Well, I’ll try Westminster.’ And they not only let me in, but I also received a significant scholarship, which made a Westminster education possible for me. Still, I enrolled at Westminster with the intention of eventually transferring.”

His “dream school” recommended he attend a liberal arts college for two years and then re-apply to Wheaton. But thanks to some deep conversations, great

professors and delicious wings, the Rev. Dr. Nathan Carlin never resubmitted his application to Wheaton. He had found his dream school at Westminster.

With thoughts of that other college well in the past, Carlin fondly recalls his undergrad years at Westminster as some of the best and most formative of his life.

“I fell in love with Westminster when I was there. Especially time shared with Drs. Russ Martin, Jeff Kripol, Kang Na, Dwight Castro, Brian Rennie. All of those professors took a very personal interest in me and my cohort,” Carlin said.

The history major found himself captivated by the stimulating discussions among professors and peers at the College. Conversations about philosophy, religion and current readings were a revelation, sparking a newfound passion for learning and intellectual exploration. Westminster’s environment was lifechanging for Carlin, opening his eyes to the depth of the academic world.

“I was just a young kid at the time, sitting around with four or five professors on a regular basis. They would have us over to their houses or we’d go to Edwards and enjoy wings and conversation,” he said. “It was a very, very personal relationship of investment.”

As a professor and the director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Carlin can trace the foundation of the important work he does today back to experiences of his alma mater.

In addition to his religion, philosophy and history assignments, he also worked as a proctor for Dr. Nancy Macky’s Intro to Writing course where he learned simple tricks to writing more concisely. He said he learned one of the most profound,

yet basic, teachings from Macky: it was OK—even encouraged—for Carlin to write in, underline and draw in his books. Carlin also proudly recalls transforming First West in Russell Hall residence hall into a designated Christian men’s faith hall during his senior year.

“The spirit of the liberal arts as a whole became a part of who I am,” Carlin said. “And in a way that is the kind of work we do here in the McGovern Center. It’s a humanities-oriented approach for medical students, in contrast to a lot of other ethics-oriented centers around the country,” he said. “I try not to talk too much in my classes now, but rather pose deep and impactful questions with students—that made the difference to me when I was a student.”

After Westminster, Carlin went on to Princeton Theological Seminary and then to Rice University for his doctorate, all the while growing, learning and publishing articles based on the research he did as an undergrad.

“The Honors Program was another opportunity provided by Westminster that really put me ahead of my class at Princeton,” he said. “Early in seminary, a professor gave me advice on publishing my first journal article based on the work from my honors thesis, which I worked on with Dr. Russ Martin. None of my colleagues at seminary were publishing articles.”

Carlin’s research has broadened beyond his early focus on religion, evolving his career as a humanities scholar with a keen interest in psychoanalysis. Currently, Carlin is working on his 10th book in the medical humanities field.

To those who happen to read a hard copy of any of his published books, he invites them, drawing on his undergrad experience, to actively engage with his works by writing in them. S

2013

TRICIA GLORIOSO MACK has authored a murder mystery novel, A Wild Mother Goose Chase. Tricia owns Mack Music Studio in Coraopolis, Pa., where she resides with her husband, Brian Mack ’12 and their daughter

2014

ROCKY RADEFF was recently elected mayor of Sheffield Lake, Ohio. Rocky also serves as and assistant law director and prosecutor for the city of Lorain, Ohio.

2019

JACOB KAYLOR was named the head coach for men’s and women’s track and field at Juniata College.

He previously served as an assistant coach at Westminster, specializing in sprints and hurdles.

2020

EMILY GRIMES was appointed as a volunteer leader for Phi Mu Fraternity this year. She is an area membership director supervising four collegiate Phi Mu chapters in membership and community relations across the Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York regions. Emily also served as a facilitator at Phi Mu’s national officer training in January.

2021

TAYLOR GALASKA has written a third book, Black Gold: Boomtowns, Prominent Men, and Grand Farmhouses of Hickory Township. This history book takes readers on a trip through a critical period in Mercer County history—the

WEDDINGS | Love always.

2020 | HEATHER ZEITLER and SAM SHERLOCK, Oct. 21, 2023, in Boardman, Ohio. Several members of the Westminster community were in attendance, including Sam’s Phi Kappa Tau brothers, Heather’s Kappa Delta sisters and Robert Antonucci, a member of the School of Music faculty. The wedding party included Brittany Reed Wilson ’20 as maid of honor and Kyle Youmans ’21 as best man. Melanie Zeitler, M.Ed. ’24, Cassie Zimmerman ’21 and Emily LaMark ’22 were bridesmaids and Aaron Wilson ’17 was a groomsman. Helen Kanaitis ’21 and Maeve Wonderly ’24 were musicians. Sam’s father and former Westminster employee Rick Sherlock was photographer.

coal boom. Taylor is the guesthouse supervisor and marketing manager for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa in Sharon, Pa., as well as the president of the Sharon Historical Society. All proceeds from the book’s sales go directly to the society.

HALEY MOORE, a certified physician assistant, joined the medical staff of Penn Highlands Healthcare Neurosurgery in Monongahela, Pa., and Greensburg, Pa.

Do you have news to

share?

Send it our way to include in the Class Notes section! Simply send us a quick email at alumni@westminster.edu or go to www.westminster.edu/classnotes

We love a wedding!

Did you recently tie the knot?

Be sure to send us your wedding announcement and a photo. Do you have a big Westminster group photo? Send it along! We love to show those Titan connections! Email your high-resolution picture to alumni@westminster.edu or use the online form at www.westminster.edu/classnotes.

NEW ADDITIONS | Welcome, Tiny Titans.

SCOTT FROELICH

and his wife, Simone: a daughter, Scotlynn Jane, on Aug. 31, 2023. The family resides in Canfield, Ohio

2009 | THE REV. BETHANY

OLSON JESSOP and her husband, Dan: a son, Barrett Raymond, on Nov. 29, 2023. The family lives in Williamsburg, Iowa, where Bethany is the director of Christian education at First Presbyterian Church.

2013 | JORDYN WILLIAMS

PARK and her husband, CAMERON PARK ’14: a son, Maxwell Alan, on March 30, 2023. The family lives in Zanesville, Ohio.

2013 | COURTNEY

HEMMELGARN WINDSOR and her husband, DAVID WINDSOR ’19: a daughter, Arissa Jane, on Jan. 31, 2023. They live in Louisville, Ky.

2005 | ANDREA CEPLECCI

HALL and her husband, Sean: a daughter, Cara Jean, on July 1, 2023. She joins big sister, Hannah Lee. The family lives in Greenville, Pa.

2010 | HEATHER MERRY

LEISTER and her husband, Timothy: a son, James Daniel, on Oct. 20, 2023. He joins big sister, Emma, at home in Pittsburgh.

2016 | TIFFANY JACKSON

GREENE and her husband, CARL HARRISON GREENE: a daughter, Evelyn Grace, on Dec. 16, 2023. The family resides in West Middlesex, Pa.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD, TINY TITANS!

Westminster Magazine is happy to include the news of your latest arrival. Birth announcements and photos can be emailed to alumni@westminster.edu or submitted through the online form at westminster.edu/classnotes. Digital photos must be high resolution and 300 dpi. If emailing, please do not embed photos in the body of your email, but instead attach your high-resolution image.

Join the Club! Join the Club!

Brewing a Brighter Future for Westminster Students: Join the Coffee Club

Recurring Gift Program

Greetings from Westminster College!

As we savor the spirit of giving, we invite you to fill up your mug with your favorite drink and a purpose as special as the years you spent on campus

The Westminster Coffee Club is a community of compassionate individuals united by a shared dedication to the success of our students

The club is a recurring gift program designed to create a lasting impact through your ongoing support In appreciation for the monthly commitment you make when signing up, we ’ re thrilled to offer you a custom Westminster mug for each year you ’ re enrolled in the Coffee Club These mugs aren’t just vessels for your favorite brew, they symbolize the positive change you ’ re bringing to students’ lives through the Westminster Fund

Sign up now to receive a special custom-made mug once per each year you’re enrolled!

Follow these 3 Simple Steps to join the Westminster College Coffee Club:

1. SCAN the code to join the Coffee Club OR CALL us at 724-946-6995 and we’ll help you join the club!

2. SELECT your amount to show your monthly support for Westminster students!

CLASS REUNION CELEBRATIONS

5th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 2018, 2019 & 2020

20th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 2003, 2004 & 2005

25th Reunion: Class of 1999

40th Reunion Cluster: Classes of 1983, 1984 & 1985

50th Reunion: Class of 1974

55th Reunion: Class of 1969

60th Reunion: Class of 1964

65th Reunion: Class of 1959

QUESTIONS? Contact Institutional

724-946-6995

3. START sipping with us, knowing you are making an impact on campus. Each summer, in celebration of your monthly commitment, you’ll receive your custom mug.

& NATIONAL CONNECTIONS ALUMNI EVENTS

FALL 2023

Regional Gatherings

Doug McKinney ‘80, regional representative for the Harrisburg area, welcomed alumni in the area for an evening gathering at the beautiful SpringGate Vineyard. The group enjoys this meeting location, but also added a few game watches at alumni homes to their line-up of offerings this season. In a similar vein, Skip Winter ’73 welcomed alumni in his area of the country, New Jersey. The group returned to The Garlic Rose for their second annual Titan afternoon gathering.

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Football Reunion

Westminster Athletics hosted a Titan-sized gathering for former football players prior to the Westminster vs. Allegheny game on Oct. 21. A welcome tent in the corner of the end zone served as the perfect spot for the group to gather and garner the best view for the match-up.

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Titan Tidbits

The beloved lunch-time gathering, Titan Tidbits, returned in October. Alumni who work in the higher education and nonprofit fields were encouraged to come together for an afternoon lunch at Wyndham University Place, strategically placed amidst a variety of higher education institutions in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. Alumni hosts Sarah McMullen ’02, E.J. Milarski ’02 and Jordan Hinds ’06 helped welcome guests and encouraged productive and timely conversation about the challenges and successes of non-profits. Dr. Jamie McMinn, vice president for academic affairs, provided opening remarks.

JANUARY 2024

Titan Exclusives

The Titan Exclusive series kicked off in January with host Dr. Dave Barner, who led interview-style questioning to members of Westminster’s Leadership Team. The series offers opportunities for key Westminster supporters and contributors to learn more about how the College is meeting the challenges in today’s higher education landscape.

SPRING 2024

Pittsburgh Gatherings

This spring, members of our Pittsburgh Regional Alumni Committee worked to host casual happy hours throughout Steel City. Hosts Alyssa Hanna Falarski ’12, Andrew Anthony ’11, Stephen Crowe ’14, Allisyn Shields ’14 and Mandie Zoller Giambroni ’09 selected fun locations to welcome their peers for fellowship and to maintain their engagement with Westminster.

Alumni events are open to all alumni and friends of Westminster College. The Office of Alumni Engagement works with volunteers to plan events in cities and regions across the country— or virtual online events. Get connected with alumni in your area!

RIDL RECOGNITION | On Nov. 9, members of the Baun-Ridl family returned to campus for a special recognition ceremony prior to the 32nd annual Buzz Ridl Classic held at the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium. From left to right are Head Men’s Basketball Coach Kevin Siroki ’93; Athletic Director Jason Lener ’93; President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson; Betsy Ridl Baun ’70, daughter of Charles “Buzz” Ridl ’42 and Elizabeth Rogers Ridl ’42; Elizabeth Baun; and John Baun. Attendees enjoyed a reception in the Chet and Hilda Claire Student Athlete Lounge inside Memorial Field House.

SOFTBALL REUNION | Members of the 1983 championship softball team returned to their alma mater on Oct. 21 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the team’s trip to the NAIA national tournament. Kneeling in front from left are Dawn Fenlock Milby ’86, Ellen Ferree Zissis ’86, Brenda Rodgers Briggs ’86 and Tracy Ess ’86. Standing from left are Sue Wilson McNeese ’83, Joan Minarcin Flinko ’84, Kate Dydo ’86, reunion organizer Katy Killmer DeMedal ’84, Jill Bates Smedley ’86, Tracy Elder Sarel ’84, Lisa Dueringer ’85, Kathy Doverspike ’86, Kathy Travers Fehrs ’85 and Brenda Kordish DeVincentis ’85. The group met with current players and Head Softball Coach Jan Reddinger, took in a football game, enjoyed a tour of the Huey Heritage Center led by Dar Huey ’74 and visited old Westminster stomping grounds.

TITAN TOURS | President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson and her husband, Dr. Randy Richardson, embarked on a Titan Tour this spring, visiting alumni and friends in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida sharing the news of the College. Some of the stops included 1.) Florida’s Bradenton and Sarasota region with hosts Bruce ’86 and Lyndsey Price Bartoo ’88, 2.) Atlanta, Ga., with hosts Bill Eavenson ‘73 and his wife, Wendy, and 3.) Charlotte, N.C., with host Cindy Duncan ’85.

CHRISTMAS AT KRAYNAK’S | This beloved alumni event at the local all-season store, Kraynak’s, has become one of our best attended programs. More than 200 alumni from near and far made the trek to Hermitage, Pa., for early Titan access to the store’s eclectic Christmas Lane. Karen Campman Emmett ’75, regional representative, works cooperatively with store owners George and Penny Rice Kraynak ’75 to arrange for the VIP entrance time.

Upcoming Events

August 8

Coffee Club Sip & Share

October 18-19

Homecoming Weekend

Stay connected with your classmates and other Titan alumni through in-person or virtual events. We’re frequently updating our events calendar, so please check back often!

www.westminster.edu/events

Regional representative training

Alumni Council's National Connections Committee hosted alumni from across the country for regional representative training on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The virtual session helped new and existing reps to meet one another, share ideas and learn more about the resources available to them as representatives for their geographic areas. Benchmarking ideas were shared along with practical tips on how to manage data lists. The groups also discussed common challenges they encounter with outreach. To view the alumni representative from your area or for more information about how to become a regional representative, please visit westminster.edu/ nationalconnections

| Titans we will miss. IN MEMORIAM

Word has reached us of the passing of the following alumni and friends of Westminster College. To submit information for the In Memoriam section, please provide a complete obituary notice (if available) to the Office of Alumni Engagement.

ALUMNI

MARY McLAUGHLIN CASE ’43 of Washington, Iowa, Jan. 2, 2024.

NANCY McMILLIN WHARTON ’45 of Naples, Fla., June 25, 2018.

DOROTHY ROESSING WINNER ’46 of Gibsonia, Pa., March 29, 2023.

RUTH WRIGHT WING ’46 of West Palm Beach, Fla., July 21, 2019.

ANNA CRILL BURBRIDGE ’47 of Schertz, Texas, Jan. 24, 2021.

RALPH FLAUGHER ’48 of Allison Park, Pa., Nov. 17, 2023.

SHIRLEY PARKS BROOKS ’48 of Trumbull, Conn., April 28, 2023.

MARGARET TREVITT BOYD ’48 of Sandy Lake, Pa., Oct. 15, 2022.

THE REV. W. ROSS BYERS ’49 of New Castle, Pa., Dec. 31, 2023.

EDWIN DOTTEN JR. ’49 of Reno, Nev., Aug. 12, 2023.

MARJORIE IRWIN WEYEL ’49 of Conneaut Lake, Pa., Dec. 9, 2023.

CHAROLETTE AKINS HAWKINS ’50 of Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 3, 2024.

JANET CUTHBERT SESLER ’50 of State College, Pa., Feb. 12, 2024.

GLORIA JENZER DiCOCCO ’50 of Ocean City, N.J., Sept. 13, 2023.

BLODWEN “BEE” JONES BUCKEL ’50 of Silver Spring, Md., Jan. 17, 2024.

GLORIA LORENTZ PAVUK ’50 of Oakmont, Pa., Nov. 13, 2023.

CORAL McWILLIAMS McMUNN ’50 of McCandless, Pa., Oct. 3, 2019.

SUE BROWN YEANEY ’51 of Scotts Valley, Calif., Jan. 26, 2024.

CAROLINE COX RUTH ’51 of Mansfield, Ohio, March 17, 2024.

ROBERT CULLISON ’51 of Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2020.

R. RICHARD FOLK ’51 of Delmar, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2023.

HENRY “HOOVER” YOUNT ’51 of York, Pa., Jan. 25, 2022.

LOIS BAUM VIDT ’52 of San Jose, Calif., Nov. 9, 2020.

DR. DONALD BOGDON ’52 of Glendale, Calif., Feb. 23, 2023.

JANE BRUGGEMAN CADMAN ’52 of Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 5, 2022.

WILLIAM SHANNON ’52 of Concord, Calif., Feb. 22, 2020.

ELINOR WALLS METZ ’52 of Punxsutawney, Pa., June 5, 2022.

ELEEN ZAHARIOU GILKEY ’52 of Grove City, Pa., Nov. 2, 2023.

DR. WILLIAM BRADLEY JR. ’53 of Waverly, Ohio, Jan. 31, 2024.

HAROLD BUFF M’53 of Sheakleyville, Pa., May 1, 2020.

JANET GITTINGS CLARK ’53 of Carlisle, Pa., Jan. 18, 2024.

GERALDINE PRUETT SHAPIRO ’53 of Irvington, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2020.

JO ANNE RANDALL BERGMAN ’53 of Morrison, Ill., Sept. 25, 2021.

EARL STIVER ’53 of Warren, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2023.

JANE CARBINES TOPLEY ’54 of Saint Paul, Minn., Oct. 6, 2021.

THE REV. CREA CLARK ’54 of Carlisle, Pa., Jan. 7, 2023.

PHYLLIS GEORGE PITZER CRAWFORD ’54 of Hilton Head, S.C., Nov. 21, 2020.

THOMAS CRAWFORD ’54 of Hilton Head, S.C., Nov. 28, 2021.

THE REV. REID STEWART ’54 of Lower Burrell, Pa., July 3, 2023.

FREDERICK SUPPES JR. ’54 of Johnstown, Pa., Feb. 4, 2020.

CLARENCE BEALL ’55 of Annapolis, Md., Dec. 25, 2023.

WILLIAM LOMBARDO M’55 of Hermitage, Pa., Oct. 12, 2023.

THOMAS SEIDNER ’55 of Crystal, Minn., Nov. 18, 2019.

DR. LYLE WILCOX ’55 of Kuna, Idaho, Nov. 19, 2023.

PAUL BOHACH ’56 of Port Charlotte, Fla., Feb. 12, 2022.

JOHN STEWART ’56 of Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 7, 2023.

RONALD TRANTER ’56 of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Sept. 18, 2022.

FREDERICK WAGNER ’56 of Melrose, Mass., July 18, 2023.

E. JEAN FRAREY BLAKE ’57 of Canandaigua, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2023.

SANDRA KEELEY BAGINSKI ’57 of Westminster, Md., Dec. 23, 2022.

WALTER YOUNG ’57 of Derwood, Md., Dec. 21, 2020.

RALPH BENSON ’58 of New Hartford, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2023.

DALE GARVER ’58 of Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 16, 2023.

DR. JAMES McCREEDY ’58 of Great Falls, Mont., Dec. 15, 2023.

JUDITH NEFF PILLO ’58 of Roanoke, Va., Dec. 14, 2018.

KENNETH WESSEL ’58 of Ocala, Fla., June 11, 2023.

HELEN “JANE” KIRKPATRICK AURANDT ’59 of Doylestown, Pa., formerly of Hilton Head, S.C., Oct. 22, 2023.

TONYA STANFAR ’59 of Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 8, 2022.

RICHARD AUGHENBAUGH ’60 of Hightstown, N.J., Dec. 25, 2022.

ROBERT BLEGGI ’60 of New Wilmington, Oct. 21, 2021.

JANET DUNKLIN BROOKS ’60 of Hamburg, N.Y., July 24, 2022.

JOHN KOLVER ’60 of Kingsville, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2021.

LILLIAN SMOCK KENNEDY M’60 of Portersville, Pa., Feb. 8, 2024.

THOMAS STILLEY ’60 of Pittsburgh, Pa., Feb. 9, 2024.

JOHN HOUSTON ’61 of Butler, Pa., Nov. 27, 2023.

FAY AMBILL WHITFIELD ’61 of Norwalk, Conn., Jan. 1, 2023.

BARBARA TILLEY M’61 of Davie, Fla., Oct. 27, 2023.

CARL KOSAK ’62 of Greensburg, Pa., March 23, 2023.

JUDITH LESTER ROBERTSON ’62 of Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 25, 2022.

DR. MELVA McCRORY BURKE ’62 of Greenville, N.C., Dec. 15, 2023.

WILLIAM TURNER ’62 of Matthews, N.C., Jan. 5, 2022.

EDWARD BAUM ’63 of Wallingford, Pa., March 26, 2019.

DR. ROGER BOUGHTON ’63 of Austin, Minn., Feb. 5, 2024.

DIANE HALL ZINSNER ’63, M’67 of Sewickley, Pa., March 8, 2024.

VERN McKISSICK JR. M’63 of Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 18, 2023.

DR. JUANITA RODERICK LATHAM M’63 of Sunset Beach, N.C., Feb. 25, 2024.

PHILIP COX III ’64 of McDonald, Pa., Oct. 17, 2023.

C. HERBERT ELLIS JR. ’64 of Bethel Park, Pa., Feb. 5, 2024.

ANTHONY GRENEK JR. ’64 of Butler, Pa., March 30, 2023.

G. EVERETT McCOLLUM M’64 of Matthews, N.C., April 13, 2020.

HARRIET ALLEN DOKKEN ’66 of Tega Cay, S.C., Feb. 1, 2023.

RONALD BLYSTONE ’66 of Easley, S.C., Feb. 16, 2022.

KENNETH LAUDERDALE JR. ’66 of Savannah, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2023.

ROGER PAROZ M’66 of Brookfield, Ohio, March 22, 2024.

FRANCES TREISBACH ’66 of West Norriton, Pa., Dec. 15, 2023.

PATRICIA ALCORN PRUTZ M’67 of The Villages, Fla., Jan. 22, 2024.

DONALD COCHRAN ’67 of Las Vegas, Nev., July 30, 2021.

DR. JOHN GRIFFITH M’67 of Warren, Ohio, Oct. 9, 2023.

GARY HUGHES ’67 of Far Hills, N.J., Sept. 29, 2023.

RICHARD KALOSKY M’67 of Canfield, Ohio, Feb. 17, 2024.

JUDITH LINAMEN CULLEN ’67 of Doylestown, Pa., Nov. 11, 2020.

DR. ROBERT STARK ’67 of Marana, Ariz., Nov. 27, 2023.

E. JANE WALKER ’67 of Butler, Pa., Sept. 28, 2023.

STEPHEN GORDY ’68 of Irwin, Pa., Jan. 28, 2024.

THE REV. CARL GRAY ’68 of Geneva, Ill., Nov. 27, 2023.

THOMAS MITCHELL M’68 of Carrollton, Ohio, Feb. 9, 2024.

JOHN ZBIEGIAN M’68 of New Castle, Pa., Feb. 18, 2024.

JOHN BLILEY ’69 of The Villages, Fla., Oct. 2, 2023.

BRENT CARRIGAN ’69 of Jacksonville, N.C., Dec. 24, 2023.

DORIS DeFOREST M’69 of Hermitage, Pa., March 18, 2024.

JUDITH HOFMEISTER BRINCKERHOFF ’69 of East Greenwich, R.I., Oct. 27, 2023.

JOHN CURRY ’70 of Albuquerque, N.M., Jan. 15, 2024.

DANA WATSON ’70 of Conneaut Lake, Pa., Dec. 20, 2023.

ANN COGLEY FULTON ’71 of Goose Creek, S.C., formerly of Bethel Park, Pa., Aug. 13, 2023.

NORA DAUBENSPECK ’72 of Warren, Pa., Nov. 11, 2023.

SUE HEILMAN KRUL ’72, M’80 of Sewickley, Pa., Jan. 30, 2024.

RICHARD HERCHENROETHER ’72 of Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 2, 2023.

JOSEPH SANTANGELO M’72 of Youngstown, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2024.

HAROLD BEERS JR. M’73 of Galion, Ohio, Oct. 13, 2019.

PATRICIA LITWINOWICZ ’73 of New Castle, Pa., Jan. 15, 2024.

ROBERT SCUDDER ’73 of Haddonfield, N.J., Aug. 11, 2020.

RALPH HOPKINS ’74 of Red Lion, Pa., Dec. 21, 2023.

FRANCIS LAURO ’74 of New Castle, Pa., July 6, 2021.

THOMAS MENTGES M’74 of Youngstown, Ohio, Oct. 28, 2023.

DR. DAVID MONTGOMERY ’74 of Essex Junction, Vt., Oct. 2, 2023.

DARRYL WEST ’74 of Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2023.

CYNTHIA FAGAN HESSINGER ’75 of Erie, Pa., Jan. 29, 2024.

KENNETH HRITZ ’75 of Shippenville, Pa., Jan. 15, 2021.

DAVID KIMMEL M’75 of Norcross, Ga., Feb. 23, 2024.

NORA FERRANTE SEIVERT ’76 of Las Cruces, N.M., July 2, 2023.

PATRICIA GANLEY ’76 of Indiana, Pa., Nov. 13, 2023.

DR. ANNE L. PIERCE ’77 of Virginia Beach, Va., Oct. 26, 2023.

DENNIS MITCHELL ’78 of Oviedo, Fla., March 10, 2024.

JEAN MATTHEWS M’79 of Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2022.

DAVID KESTER ’81 of Beloit, Ohio, Feb. 1, 2024.

MARY SORIANO M’81 of New Castle, Pa., Nov. 4, 2023.

LARRY MARK ’82 of Export, Pa., Oct. 6, 2023.

DONALD GARRETT ’84 of New Wilmington, Jan. 2, 2024.

RYAN FLEEGER ’95 of Butler, Pa., Oct. 19, 2023.

CATHY KETTERER ’95 of Wampum, Pa., Dec. 8, 2023.

DR. ANDREW TATUSKO ’96 of Montoursville, Pa., Aug. 26, 2023.

ANDREW SLANE ’09 of Vogt, Germany, April 22, 2024.

JENNIFER VILLANI-TROTT ’99 of New Wilmington, Jan. 15, 2024.

KATIE WEST ’10 of Houston, Pa., Jan. 9, 2024.

GAGE HENDRICKSON ’24 JAN. 6, 2024

GAGE HENDRICKSON ’24, a senior biology/pre-medicine major from Irvine, Pa., passed away on Jan. 6, 2024, from injuries suffered in a Mercer County car accident in December 2023. The son of Carrie and Brian Hendrickson, Gage was a 2020 graduate of Youngsville High School and was class salutatorian. At Westminster, Gage excelled academically and had been named to the dean’s list. Gage was a member of the men’s basketball team during his first two years at Westminster, but chose to focus on his premed studies during his final two years. During his college summer breaks, he was employed as a medical technician at Rouse Suites in Youngsville. The Westminster community gathered in Wallace Memorial Chapel for a memorial worship service at the start of the spring semester on Thursday, Jan. 18. He was awarded a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree at Westminster’s Spring 2024 Commencement.

One of Westminster’s oldest Titans passes away at 105

DONALD “RUSS” DAHLBURG ’40, one of Westminster’s most senior alumni, passed away at the age of 105 on Friday, March 29. Russ was known as one of Westminster’s most ardent supporters, but in addition to bleeding Titan blue and white, he also cherished the red and gray colors of Alpha Sigma Phi, the Westminster fraternity to which he was a founding member.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in business from Westminster—where he met his wife of 54 years, Madeline Blackadore Dahlburg ’40, during a class mixer in Old 77—Russ took a job with U.S. Steel in Homestead, Pa. After the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, Russ was drafted and served with the U.S. Army. He attended Officer Candidate School in Aberdeen, Md., and Chinese Language School in California and spent two years in Shanghai and other Chinese port cities.

After his discharge from active duty in 1947, he served with the Army Reserve until 1971, retiring as lieutenant colonel and battalion commander. Following his discharge, he returned to U.S. Steel as a junior executive in the company’s Manhattan-based

WESTMINSTER FAMILY

DR. THOMAS CARVER (1970-1978) of Rome, Ga., former dean of students, Aug. 29, 2023. Memorial contributions can be made to the Cole Hughes Musser Newcomb Scholarship at Westminster College.

PATRICIA GRANEY (1987-2002) of New Wilmington, retired head cashier, Oct. 11, 2023.

LINDA JOHNSTON (1980-1996) of New Wilmington, retired secretary in the speech and theater department, Oct. 22, 2023.

FRED SULLIVAN, who passed away on Friday, Jan. 19. 2024, was not a graduate of Westminster College, but a generous supporter of his late wife’s alma mater. Following the 2013 death of his wife, biology alumna Carol Dietz Sullivan ’59, he wanted to honor her memory by supporting the institution she held dear to her heart. With a $1 million gift, Fred chose to fund a teaching and learning space in Hoyt Science Center. The widely used 112-seat, state-of-the-art Fred and Carol (Dietz) ’59 Sullivan Lecture Hall was dedicated in April 2019. He also established the Carol Dietz Sullivan Biology Research Scholarship to provide funding opportunities for biology students to travel abroad and study in the field.

export division. After three decades at U.S. Steel, Russ accepted a position with the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. He later did full- and part-time work at a print company well into his 90s until, at age 96, he made the decision to finally retire.

The Dahlburgs established the Madeline Blackadore Dahlburg ‘40 & Lt. Col. Donald Russell Dahlburg Scholarship at Westminster. Russ also left an estate gift to the Westminster chapter of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity to benefit current and future brothers.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Allen Johnston, professor of education emeritus

LOIS LOCKE (1972-1995) of New Castle, Pa., retired financial aid secretary, Nov. 4, 2023. Survivors include granddaughter Jordan Locke ’15

APRIL WILLS (2009-2023) of Farrell, Pa., Sodexo staff member, Nov. 9, 2023.

LOIS HOPKINS, an accomplished musician and educator, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. She served as professor of music theory and ethnomusic at Westminster College for 15 years following her retirement from Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music. Throughout her life she composed and arranged numerous pieces for band, chorus, anthems for choir and works for hornists and pianists. She and her late husband, the Rev. Dr. Joseph M. Hopkins ’40, longtime religion professor at Westminster, were both active within the Westminster and New Wilmington communities. For 45 years, she was involved with music leadership for the New Wilmington Mission Conference, to which she also served as pianist. Survivors include a son, John Hopkins ’73; a daughter, Elaine Hopkins Taylor ’86; and a granddaughter, Alexandra Taylor Schroder ’14

College mourns loss of two former trustees

Two former members of the Westminster College Board of Trustees passed away over the course of the past year.

DR. ROBERT S. GARDNER ’57 and WILLIAM “BILL”

RANKIN ’60, both of whom were granted the designation of trustee emeritus following their final terms on the Board, each provided exemplary leadership and generous support to their alma mater.

Gardner, who passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023, was first appointed to the Board in 1989 and served five terms—including one as chair from 1997-2000. During his terms of service, Gardner remained deeply involved in all facets of the College— helping to spearhead the highly successful Heritage Campaign for Westminster and the beginning stages of the Shared Vision… Uncommon Results facilities development initiative. In 2011 he was elected trustee emeritus, and in 2017, the College granted him an honorary Doctor of Science degree.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Westminster in 1957, Gardner earned his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1961. A highly accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon who also specialized in cardiology and cardiac angiology, Gardner served at the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., the Warren General Hospital in Warren, Pa., and was chief of thoracic surgery at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. He also served as a frontline U.S. Army surgeon during the Vietnam War.

Gardner is survived by his wife, Westminster College Professor of Biology Emerita Dr. Monika Becker

Rankin passed away on Wednesday, March 27. He completed three terms as a trustee, serving as chair of the Enrollment Management and Athletic Advisory committees during his tenure. In 2017 he was elected a trustee emeritus.

In 1960 he graduated magna cum laude from Westminster with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration.

He received a Master of Business Administration from Pace University in New York City.

Rankin held a 33-year career in human resources with Pfizer Inc., working in the New York City headquarters and the European management headquarters in Brussels. He retired as vice president of employee resources for Pfizer Inc. Consumer Health Care Group.

Rankin established two endowed scholarships for Westminster students—one for those interested in pursuing careers in human resources and the other for those who are members of the Valencia Presbyterian Church or other churches in the BeaverButler Presbytery.

Rankin was inducted into the Titan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 for his outstanding performance in tennis as an undergraduate at Westminster. A longtime supporter of Westminster athletics, Rankin is recognized for initiating the design of the Titan Sports Hall of Fame ring available to inductees. He has traveled to Hilton Head, S.C., to support the men’s and women’s tennis teams during their spring break training matches. He has donated Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship rings to the women’s tennis and golf teams as well as men’s golf. He was the lead donor and major fundraiser for Westminster’s Bill Rankin Golf Center, an indoor training facility built in 2016. The men’s tennis and women’s golf trophy cases located in the Huey Heritage Center in Memorial Field House were donated by Rankin.

In recognition of his commitment and service to the College, Rankin was presented with the 2016 Westminster College Alumni Citation Award. In 2022, he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

He is survived by his wife, his two sons, a brother, Robert G. Rankin ’55, and four grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the William W. Rankin Scholarship Fund or the Bill Rankin Scholarship Fund at Westminster College.

Gardner Rankin

MOCK CONVENTION: A TRUE TITAN TRADITION

Every four years for the past 87 years, with the exception of the wartime year of 1944, Westminster College has hosted a campus event designed to increase student knowledge and interest in the American political system: the Westminster College Mock Convention.

Created by former history professor Thomas Mansell ’29, the quadrennial event—complete with heated debates, notable keynote speakers, audience participation and sometimes outlandish costumes—is still going strong and has become a true Westminster tradition.

The inaugural event (see above photo), held in April 1936, brought Pennsylvania Sen. George L. Reed to the keynote podium where he panned Roosevelt’s New Deal programs in a fiery speech.

From politicians to pundits, many notable names have delivered the convention’s keynote address, including journalist Robert Novak, former Massachusetts governor and presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, political consultant and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and current U.S. President Joseph Biden.

DO YOU HAVE ANY MOCK MEMORIES?

Each convention, students, faculty and staff pack the gymnasium floor in Memorial Field House, where many arrive in costumes complete with props and signs that show the mainstream culture of each state. The floor is awash in cowboy hats, Lady Liberty costumes, sports team jerseys and more, while students give heartfelt speeches trying to sway the opinions of their peers to win coveted votes for their candidates. Debate and friendly competition make for a fun way to learn about the election process and the chaos that can go along with it.

During this year’s Republican Mock Convention, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won the nomination, finishing ahead of candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump.

The Westminster College Mock Convention will return in 2027.

Did you represent a region or play a part in one of our past Mock Conventions? Can you spot yourself or any of your classmates in the 1972 photo above? Share your memories with us at wcmagazine@westminster.edu

THE FAN CLUB!

CHAMPION BUILDERS

Westminster College Titan Athletics is proud to introduce you to a recurring gift program providing resources for the athletic department in support of student-athletes

CHAMPION BUILDERS is a community of compassionate individuals united by a shared dedication to the success of Titan student-athletes and is a program designed to be fast, easy and impactful In appreciation for the monthly commitment you make when signing up, we ’ re excited to offer you a unique 12” x 18” Titan Spirit Flag for each year you ’ re enrolled in Champion Builders The flag signifies your unwavering support of Titan Athletics

1. SCAN the code at the left to join our team of Champion Builders OR CALL us at 724-946-6995 and we’ll

2. SELECT your amount to show your monthly support for Westminster Titan Athletics. Digital wallet payment options make signing up quick and easy.

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SING ’N SWING

The sisters of Phi Mu, dancing to the music of Lady Gaga, secured the first place sorority finish for this year’s Sing ’n Swing, the annual Greek Week dance competition, while Theta Chi’s Bruno Mars mashup performance earned the fraternity top prize. Zeta Tau Alpha earned the overall first place Greek Week finish, while all participating Greek organizations showed their dedication to philanthropy by raising over $1,300 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in just four days, while also collecting and donating more than 3,500 items to Lawrence County’s domestic abuse shelter Arise.