An everlasting gift Space dedicated to the Harmses to be housed in Hoyt addition
S
ince 1983, Dr. Clarence Harms—who joined Westminster’s biology faculty in 1969—has kept a watchful eye over the College’s Field Station, the 50-acre plot of land extending east from Brittain Lake to Fayette-New Wilmington Road. He has enthusiastically provided environmental education to hundreds of students and community members over the years, extolling the virtues of composting, recycling and solar energy. And now, Harms—who, after 50 years with the College, is entering into full-time retirement—will continue to be remembered for his commitment to the environment and Westminster with the naming of a prominent space in the Hoyt Science Center addition. The future space in the Center for the Environment, which will honor Harms and his late wife, Mary Ann Harms ’79, is made possible through a lead gift from Dave and Kappy (Jackson) Sarver, both class of 1973. “With the renovation and expansion of Hoyt coinciding with his retirement from the Field Station, and after 50 years serving Westminster, this is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and
honor his impact by having a space named for him and his late wife, Mary Ann,” the Sarvers said. Additionally, the Sarvers are inviting more people to join them in honoring Dr. and Mrs. Harms through a challenge gift. The Sarvers will match up to $25,000 in additional gifts made in honor of Harms towards the Hoyt project. For more information about how you can contribute, please contact Andrew Youtz at 724-946-7009 or youtzaj@westminster.edu. The love and appreciation for Harms and his wife don’t end there, however. Richard ‘70 and Barbara (Smith) ’68 McKee have also established the Clarence and Mary Ann (Wall) ’79 Harms Scholarship for Excellence in Environmental Studies.
Dr. Clarence Harms, professor of biology emeritus, retired from the classroom in 2003 and continued his duties as director of the Field Station until this year. A special open house celebration honoring Harms for his 50 years of service was held during Homecoming Weekend.
“Excellent teachers are a bedrock of our society. Dr. Clarence Harms has been an outstanding teacher, professor and mentor to generations of Westminster students since 1969. With the renovation and expansion of Hoyt coinciding with his retirement from the Field Station, and after 50 years serving Westminster, this is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and honor his impact by having a space named for him and his late wife, Mary Ann. We are making this challenge grant believing there are many former students, colleagues and friends who may wish to join us in making this well-deserved recognition happen.”
Dave and Kappy (Jackson) Sarver, Class of 1973 W e s t m i n s t e r C o ll e g e M a g a z i n e 7
