Westminster Magazine Spring/Summer 2021

Westminster SPRING/SUMMER 2021 VOLUME XXXIX, ISSUE 2

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Made it toMAY

Westminster COLLEGE MAGAZINE

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 Volume XXXIX, Issue 2

EDITORIAL STAFF Elizabeth Fontaine Hildebrand ’92 Editor & Designer OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT 724.946.7364 Kara H. Montgomery Nicole Crumbacher Hunter ’12 Linda Wilson ALUMNI COUNCIL Sara Surgenor Arblaster ’02 President (current and past) PRINTER Printing Concepts, Inc., Erie, PA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Robin Willoughby Gooch ’75 Chair, Board of Trustees Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson President Dr. Jamie G. McMinn Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of the College James E. Dafler Director of Athletics Gina M. Vance Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students The Rev. James R. Mohr II College Chaplain Kenneth J. Romig ’85 Vice President for Finance & Management Services Dr. Karen H. Schedin Vice President for Enrollment Management Erin T. Smith Chief Information Officer & Associate Dean for Library and Information Services Photography credits: Derek Buck, Taylor Carson, Nicole Crumbacher Hunter ’12, Elizabeth Fontaine Hildebrand ’92, Kendall Graham ‘19, Jack Karson ’22, Nathan LaRiccia, Nemah Saylor ’23, Erin Smith, Brian Bornes, Jason Kapusta, Lauren Carter, Dillon Murphy Studio, Chapel Hill Public Library Mailing address: Westminster College 319 S. Market St. New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001 ATTN: Westminster Magazine Editor For Admissions inquiries, call: 724-946-7100

Westminster’s campus basks in beauty any time of the day, but perhaps the most lovely are those moments in the early hours when the sun rises over Patterson Hall.

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, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, handicap or disability, marital status, veteran status, genetics or any other protected class as those terms are defined under applicable state or federal law, in the administration of any of its educational programs, activities, or with respect to admissions and employment. In its employment practices the College may, however, consider the individual’s support of the philosophy and purposes of Westminster College as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. 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.

Senior Kaylee Brosius answers questions about her research poster “Does History Repeat Itself?: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Inaugural Address of Joseph Biden” at the 2021 Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration in April.

contents

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 | Volume XXXIX, Issue 2

2

Message from the President

3

Look to the Titans

8

Campus News

22

A Titan Season Like No Other

26

Ten Things Titan

28

Spring Commencement 2021

30

Honorary Degree Recipient Anna L. Richards ’72

33

Barbara Ellsworth Everett ’72: The Accidental Artist

36

Class Notes

42

National Connections & Alumni Events

44

Their Own Words: Chris Buckley ’99

48

From the Archives

STAY CONNECTED

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 1

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca

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s we complete the 2020-2021 academic year, we have so much to celebrate and to be proud of, even as we acknowledge the challenges that the pandemic posed.

Being masked and distanced did not prevent our students from demonstrating their intellect, creativity and resilience in classrooms, performances, competitions and organizations throughout the year. The April 2021 URAC, the annual celebration of undergraduate research and the arts, sparkled with great presentations and performances. The Student Government Association implemented its new strategic plan with updated bylaws and procedures, and the Campus Programming Council provided activities for students that were engaging and safe. Titans from all 22 varsity teams demonstrated excellence in sports from baseball to track and field, winning six team championships and a host of individual awards in diving and track and field.

Similarly, faculty and staff offered their best while using technology in new and different ways to guide learning, provide support, participate in conferences and professional development, and conduct College governance. Our alumni participated in a variety of virtual events, from Homecoming to trivia nights. The College’s strong efforts at stabilizing the budget resulted in it being recognized as a Top 10 Achiever by Forbes, and key construction projects resulted in the completion of the addition to the Hoyt Science Center, three new athletic fields, and an enhanced technology infrastructure. Add to that two positive accreditation virtual visits, and you’ll understand why we end the year admittedly weary, but that weariness is tempered with pride in all that was completed. The “We in Westminster” has sustained our community, and we were able to thrive, despite the unexpected challenge.

And now, it’s time for a new beginning. We will host some day camps on campus during the summer and a commuter New Wilmington Mission Conference in July. In late August, we will welcome the Class of 2025 and our returning students to campus, and we anticipate a return to a more normal Westminster experience. We look forward to the joy of dedicating the new Hoyt Science Center addition and the Huey Heritage Center in Memorial Field House—and a resumption of fall athletics, another great Professional Network Symposium, and more traditional Homecoming activities.

So—with gratitude and pride for what has been and with faith and hope for what comes next, we look to begin the new academic year as Titans together and to celebrating the College’s 170th birthday in January 2022. As always, it’s a great time to be a Titan!

Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson President of Westminster College

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LOOK TO THE

Titans

Mother Fair’s children find ways to be the helpers

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By ELIZABETH FONTAINE HILDEBRAND ’92

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red Rogers, whether speaking to children through the television set from his Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood studio

or in interviews with adults, often mentioned that in times of tragedy or uncertainty, we should “always look for the helpers.” As the coronavirus pandemic has shown, the past year we’ve seen more than our fair share of tragedy and uncertainty. The year 2020 will be remembered as a bleak year of turmoil, sadness and anxiety as we faced unimaginable personal loss, financial hardship and the great fight to stay protected against a virus that knows no boundaries. But even in some of our darkest times, there have been moments of brightness.

Moments of hope. Moments of selflessness. In many cases, as we’ve looked for helpers to care for and inspire us, we really needed to look no further than our own Titan nation.

“

WHEN I WAS A BOY AND I WOULD SEE SCARY THINGS IN THE NEWS, MY MOTHER WOULD SAY TO ME, 'LOOK FOR THE HELPERS. YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING.'

FRED ROGERS

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estminster students and alumni approach the world with care and compassion, and this past year has been no exception. We’ve heard stories of frontline heroes, mask makers, food bank workers, virus tracers, pharmacy technicians—when uncertainty and tragedy struck, the people of Westminster stepped in. They were ready to be the helpers. They were ready to offer hope.

Claudia Kamenski ’21, a student in Westminster’s nursing program, was in the middle of her junior year and getting ready to graduate from the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing when the COVID crisis began. After isolating like everyone else and finishing up her coursework virtually, Kamenski took her nursing boards in June 2020 and shortly after began working as an operating room nurse at UPMC Jameson.

As a freshly minted registered nurse, jumping from clinicals straight into a hospital operating room in the middle of an unpredictable pandemic was a bit trial by fire.

It has been a scary time to work in such a vulnerable environment. But I

“I never expected that a global pandemic would impact am grateful for the my career, especially when experience of helping just starting in this position,” said Kamenski, who earned her those who are sick Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Westminster and vulnerable in May. “We are reminded constantly in nursing school CLAUDIA KAMENSKI '21 that nurses must be flexible, and this was the perfect example of that and a reminder to remember why we chose to work in this field.”

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But Kamenski hit the ground running. She felt prepared, safe and healthy—and even understanding the potential for COVID exposure as a frontline healthcare worker, she knew helping was more important. It was what she was born to do.

“It has been a scary time to work in such a vulnerable environment,” she said, admitting that working daily with COVID patients has add extra stress to her job. “But I am grateful for the experience of helping those who are sick and vulnerable. Ultimately, I am a young and healthy person and I have no problem putting myself at risk over an older coworker or a coworker who has at-risk family members at home.”

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r. Bobby Campbell ’03 also recognized the risks brought on by the pandemic, but as a physiatrist, he knew that caring for his patients at the Pain Care Center in Lander, Wyo., took precedence. His patients’ pain didn’t stop just because of coronavirus, and he knew he needed to help.

“Our patients have acute and chronic pain and a majority of them are debilitated by their symptoms,” said Campbell, who performs interventional procedures such as spinal nerve root blocks, spinal cord stimulator trials and joint injections. “Their pain and medical concerns affect them functionally, emotionally and spiritually on a daily basis. I wanted to give them some form of hope that at least I could still provide some relief to them.”

Campbell said while some providers elected to stay home in the pandemic’s early days and urged patients to utilize telehealth services instead, his office never took a day off. Instead, he took proper safety precautions and continued to serve patients and perform procedures on a daily basis.

“My patients, numerous times, thanked me for being there ‘in person,’ whether it be to do a procedure, talk about issues or just to sit and talk to face to face,” he said. “I was a little taken aback because helping is such a basic thing that I do on a daily basis.”

“If I can make one patient smile or laugh and actually enjoy their visit with me and for a brief moment help them forget about depressing issues that are out of their control, then I consider that to be a success,” he said.

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he coronavirus did more than just infect people, it also impacted our mental health. Mental health crises such as stress, anxiety and depression surged during the months of the pandemic. Triggered by illness, social isolation, financial strain, job loss and simple fear, the impact on mental health was real— on both adults and children.

Children with behavioral disabilities were especially vulnerable and people like Julie Blechman Angstadt ’13 were there to offer support to those who were struggling.

“For typical children, remote learning can be hard on the kids and the family, but it’s especially hard when you add a disability into the mix,” said Angstadt, owner of Hummingbird ABA Therapy in State College, Pa., that serves children and young adults with autism or other behavioral disorders. “You can imagine the frustration and heartbreak some of these families experienced when schools were closed and many of their therapies or services were put on hold. I found that the families needed support and having another JULIE BLECHMAN ANGSTADT '21 adult to talk with was so incredibly helpful for them.”

I reminded myself, as well as the families we support, that this is just a small part of our lives, that it will get better, and that right now we can only commit to changing the things that are within our control.

Angstadt’s patients weren’t the only ones impacted by the pandemic. Isolating for months with two children under age 5, Angstadt found herself looking for ways to cope with the situation.

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“I felt stuck, too,” she said. “I used a lot of mindfulness and acceptance techniques in our daily life. I reminded myself, as well as the families we support, that this is just a small part of our lives, that it will get better, and that right now we can only commit to changing the things that are within our control.”

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ur country’s active duty military personnel have been at the forefront of the pandemic distributing N95 masks and ventilators, working food banks, conducting contact tracing, caring for COVID patients, manning testing sites and providing vaccination support.

Public health physician and U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps Cmdr. Jaime Vega ’01 has been making sure that these helpers stay healthy.

As the public health emergency officer for three Naval installations—Naval Air Station Lemoore and Naval Support Activity Monterey, both in California, and Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada—Vega was tasked with finding the best ways to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID on his bases.

And when a COVID vaccine was ready to be rolled out, Vega also coordinated the vaccinations of 32,000 active duty service members, their families, eligible government employees and military retirees.

His efforts did not go unnoticed—he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for providing timely and evidence-based public health guidance and medical support.

Vega said as a physician and director of public health at the Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, keeping Lemoore service members “in the fight” and safe from the virus has been both rewarding and challenging.

“I’ve been able to remain optimistic by trusting in my public health training and the scientific achievements we’ve made as a society, such as the development COVID-19 vaccines,” he said. “To me, those are signs we are headed in the right direction in our fight against COVID-19.”

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he helpers of the pandemic weren’t just limited to the healthcare industry. While the lens was focused many times on medical frontline workers, others were helping people deal with food insecurity, education or housing issues.

Take, for example, Dr. Mallory Strickland Ciuksza ’08: an internist at St. Clair Hospital by day and super neighbor by night. She and her husband, both active with their neighborhood farmers’ market, realized in the early days of the pandemic that many people were going to struggle with finding the means to put food on their tables.

Motivated to help, the Ciukszas gathered chefs, restaurateurs and friends and organized the Feeding Neighbors Program to combat food insecurity. With the help of more than 200 volunteers, the Ciukszas were able to serve 30,000 meals to hundreds of people in their Bellevue, Pa., community hit hardest financially by the pandemic.

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ther alumni were moved to help others outside of their local community, as well.

As executive director of Dream Big Honduras (DBH), Bethany Grubbs Wentz ’05 had already been helping the people of Pinalejo, a small village in northern Honduras, for 10 years. Based in Pittsburgh, the non-profit organization— established

by Wentz and Bethany Grubbs Wentz ’05 and her husband, her husband— Bradley, with children of Pinalejo during a preprovides COVID Honduras trip. educational programming, infrastructure and support services to villagers tucked away in the hilly jungle region of

northwestern Honduras. When COVID hit, Wentz was determined the pandemic wouldn’t quash her efforts. The impoverished children of Pinalejo would continue to get the educational services they needed—even at 3,000 miles away.

Wentz communicated regularly from the States with on-site teachers and together they developed at-home learning models. Teachers were able to stay connected with their students and their families through WhatsApp and weekly home visits. Once a month, teachers held meetings at the school to distribute educational materials to families. But the misery of COVID was compounded when hurricanes Eta and Iota hit in early November, devastating Honduras and straining the already meager resources available in Pinalejo.

More than four million Hondurans were affected by the storms and 95,000 were forced to take refuge in shelters. When many of the DBH families became displaced, DBH swiftly stepped in to arrange shelter in vacant school buildings and began raising funds to build 13 new homes for the families.

“We continue to serve and help the Hondurans and are reminded daily that although there have been hard times in America, we are very blessed to still have the comfort of our homes,” Wentz said.

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hen we think of frontline workers, we picture the people we often depend on in emergencies: first responders, doctors, nurses and grocery store employees who make it possible for the rest of us to get toilet paper and Lysol. But one profession is often overlooked: the news media.

Journalists didn’t get a break when COVID outbreak began. Not only were reporters, videographers, photographers and producers informing the public of health and safety developments and telling the stories of the pandemic, they were still covering non-COVID news: the U.S. presidential election, the murder of George Floyd, and, yes, murder hornets.

While most of us spent months safely indoors during the lockdown, many journalists were

Ashley Bishop Arick ’12 follows safety protocols while conducting an interview for WPXI.

out in the field, putting their own lives at risk to gather the news we depended upon. Ashley Bishop Arick ’12, an investigative and special projects producer with WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, is one of those journalists. During the first couple of months of the pandemic, Arick did work from home, searching out stories and doing Zoom interviews. But by June she was masked up and back in the field, taking proper safety precautions and telling the stories to help keep the public informed.

“As a journalist, it is my job to take the latest information from officials and get that to the public. The pandemic showed us how important our local news and journalists are. We worked to make sure people knew what our local numbers were and what hospitals were dealing with,” she said. “Whether it be a pandemic or severe weather or man-made issues like a shooting, we are here day in and day out documenting what happens in our communities and giving people information they need to make decisions for their families.”

During the first few months of the pandemic, roughly 22 million Americans lost their jobs. People needed financial help, but the antiquated unemployment systems across the country were simply overwhelmed with the tidal wave of claims. When the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program was unveiled, the public had even more questions and Arick saw a story—and a way she might be able to help.

Armed with WPXI tip line questions, Arick attended weekly Department of Labor and Industry virtual press conferences and posed many of the pointed questions submitted by WPXI viewers.

From there she was able to craft stories to help the many jobless Pennsylvanians looking for ways to feed their families.

“I can recall turning in a daily story about the top five mistakes people were making when filing for unemployment and thinking to myself, ‘I hope this helps just one person.’” S

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CAMPUS NEWS | Titan news on and beyond campus

In-person instruction will continue in fall 2021 “We feel confident, especially based on the commitment of the campus community this year, that we can safely continue in-person instruction next fall.”

KATHY BRITTAIN RICHARDSON College President

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estminster will resume full inperson instruction for the fall 2021 semester while anticipating a return to a more normal campus experience for students.

President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson announced the plans to continue in-person learning and on-campus residency, citing the College’s strong preparedness plan that enabled students and employees to successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic on campus this academic year.

“Through good planning and hard work, we have been able offer our students an in-person, residential educational experience since their return to campus last August.

Our students’ and employees’ dedication to mask wearing, physical distancing and handwashing have helped keep our community safe,” said Richardson.

After shifting to online instruction on March 19, 2020, the College reopened for

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the fall 2020 semester with an adjusted calendar and three different learning formats—face-to-face, hybrid and online.

While many colleges across the nation suspended on-campus learning last fall— or had to temporarily switch to all virtual learning—because of COVID outbreaks, Westminster remained in-person all year.

“We feel confident, especially based on the commitment of the campus community this year, that we can safely continue inperson instruction next fall,” she said.

While officials are hopeful for a more normal college setting next year, they remain committed to following state and federal coronavirus protocols. Students and employees are being urged to get vaccinated in preparation for the fall semester.

This fall, orientation for first-year and transfer students will be held from Aug. 27-29. Classes resume for all students on Monday, Aug. 30.

Trustees elect four new members

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our new members were elected to the Westminster College Board of Trustees in February.

Anthony Brown ’84, the Rev. Dr. Randall Bush, Leslie Cox Pemberton ’82 and Patrick Sentner ’90 were each elected to serve four-year terms.

Brown is the chief talent officer at Fisher Phillips, one of the largest U.S. law firms representing management in the areas of labor, civil rights, employee benefits and immigration law. Brown previously served as a principal at JAB Resources, chief human resource officer at Thompson Hine LLP, vice president for human recourses at the National Interstate Insurance Company and executive director of human resources at Sara Lee. He is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional.

Brown

Bush

where he has served since 2006. Before that he was pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Racine, Wis., and earlier served at Lomagundi Presbyterian Church in Zimbabwe.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Bush earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Marquette University.

He has served on several boards in the Cleveland area, including Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, the Commission on Economic Inclusion, and Karamu House, the oldest African-American theater in the United States.

Pemberton has been the head of operational excellence at Kennametal since 2020. She retired as vice president of global equality of Sonoco Inc., where she previously had been director of global quality.

Bush is senior pastor of East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh,

Pemberton, who is a past member of the Susquehanna University Board of Trustees,

Pemberton

Sentner

holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.

Sentner, who has more than 25 years of experience in the corporate real estate industry, is executive vice president within the Advisory & Transaction Services division of CBRE, Inc.’s Occupier Services Group. Previously he was a founding principal at Colliers International, Pittsburgh, and NAI Pittsburgh Commercial. He also served as vice president at Oxford Development Co. He is the global president-elect of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, is a member of the Pastoral Council for the St. Louise DeMarilac Parish and is a board representative for the Pittsburgh YMCA.

Westminster is a place where students can learn, grow, succeed

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olleges of Distinction, a unique guide for collegebound students, has recognized Westminster for its commitment to providing students with an engaged, experiential education.

Westminster was also listed as a Pennsylvania College of Distinction and was cited for excellence in its business, education and nursing programs.

Colleges of Distinction lists institutions that meet four criteria: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. While other ranking systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, test scores, endowment and alumni salaries, Colleges of Distinction looks for schools that support the entire student experience and provides a place where students can learn, grow and succeed.

Westminster was noted for its first-year program, service learning, alternative spring break , diversity and global learning, collaborative learning, undergraduate research, living-learning communities, capstone projects and internship opportunities.

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WHY I GIVE

Low tuition increase for 2021-2022 year

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estminster College, a nationally recognized “best bang for your buck” school, will again keep cost increases low for the upcoming academic year.

Approved by the Board of Trustees, the College will implement a less than 1.4% increase for tuition and room and board costs—with no increases to student fees—for the 2021-2022 year. The tuition rate of $18,815 per semester marks an increase of only $277.50 per semester, with room and board costs at $5,835 per semester. Activity fees will remain unchanged at $300 per semester.

Brian ’12 & Caitie fleckenstein chinchilla ’13

Psychology/Education Home:

Avalon, Pennsylvania

Professions:

Brian is a research developer with Psychology Software Tools and Caitie is a third grade teacher at Freedom Elementary School.

Side Story:

Westminster College—or, perhaps Student Affairs’ Gina Vance—brought Caitie and Brian together at RA training in 2011. Brian popped the question to Caitie outside of the cafeteria, the same location where he asked her out for their first date. The rest is history!

Why the Chinchillas Give:

“We give to Westminster because it was our home for four years and still feels that way to this day. We have so many great friends from our time on campus. We wish to provide future generations with cherished memories and the amazing education that we gained.”

In the three academic years since 2018, overall costs have increased by 4%, and yet students have benefited from significantly upgraded residence halls and student programming, an expanded science center with new facilities for nursing and chemistry to strengthen STEM education, and new soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball fields that build on Westminster’s winning traditions in athletics.

“As we look ahead to the upcoming academic year, we continue to focus on controlling the costs of attendance,

Richardson attributed the College’s ability to provide additional financial support through the fundraising campaign Bring Back the Titans, which raised $1.8 million to assist students who faced financial hardship due to the pandemic.

“This year, the College invested more than $27 million of its funds in financial aid, with the average student paying less than half the total cost of tuition, fees and boarding, and we distributed more than $632,000 in additional emergency federal aid last summer,” Richardson said.

Additionally, students are supported through 310 endowed scholarships, including nine new or in progress scholarships that are being endowed by Westminster donors.

Austin selected to lead TRIO program

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rik Austin was recently tapped to lead the College’s new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to benefit underrepresented students.

Austin, who worked with the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford’s TRIO SSS program, oversees efforts to provide services and resources to first-generation, income eligible students and students with disabilities.

Of the 2020-2021 enrolled students, 38% identified as low income, 17% were first-generation college students and 7% had a declared disability.

“The impact that a program like TRIO SSS can have on a student is impossible to overstate and I look forward to helping our very first TRIO cohort meet and exceed

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even as we work diligently to expand the deep educational experiences for students,” said President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “We take very seriously our mission to prepare our students for lives of accomplishment and service after graduation with the highest quality education possible, while making it as affordable as possible.”

their goals,” said Austin.

He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and a master’s from Purdue University.

Supported by the Austin U.S. Department of Education, the program offers eligible students resources that promote retention, good academic standing, completion and placement in graduate schools and/or careers.

Westminster received a $1.3 million grant to support this new program for the next five years, with the possibility of renewal.

WHY I GIVE

leadership dinner Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Kara Montgomery, left, drops by Ferguson Hall to deliver a meal to senior Yiannoula Katsadas for the annual Leadership Dinner held virtually this year. Successful alumni spoke to campus student leaders about “Finding the Leader in You.” Participating alumni were Chris Carmody ’96, senior vice president, enterprise infrastructure, UPMC, and president of ClinicalConnect Health Information Exchange; Beth Trimble Davis ’99, CEO of the Lewellen Group, and Alexis Shellow ’15, contract specialist for the U.S. Department of Interior. The annual event is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement.

’78 grad talks about entrepreneurial journey

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ick Cesari ’78 was named the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year at the virtual 2021 Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC) Symposium in March.

Video Persuasion: Grow Your Brand, Increase Sales and Build Your Business, Cesari has helped take companies like GoPro from a start-up to over a billion dollars in sales in just a few short years.

Cesari, a pioneer in the direct response advertising industry, has used brand response strategies to help build many iconic brands such as The George Foreman Grill, OxiClean and Rug Doctor.

Cesari spoke to WEC students about his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting his experiences and achievements.

Cesari

The author of Buy Now: Creative Marketing that Gets Customers to Respond to You and Your Product, Building Billion Dollar Brands and

Cesari said three fundamentals he learned as a football player while at Westminster helped guide him through the years: the importance of having a winning attitude, discipline and the benefit of teamwork.

ALAN HEMPHILL ’64 POLITICAL SCIENCE Home:

Saxonburg, Pennsylvania

Profession:

Retired service officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture

World Traveler Remains Connected to Westminster:

Alan Hemphill has lived in and traveled to dozens of countries across the globe, but Westminster is where Alan got his start.

He donates regularly to the Delber McKee Scholarship Fund and the 1964 Intern Scholarship Fund. This year he also made a contribution to the Wellness Center to aid in Westminster’s COVID response.

Why Alan Gives:

Alan believes giving back to his alma mater not only supports the health of the College, but it ensures Westminster’s future of providing a quality education for the next generation of students.

The symposium also recognized School of Business scholarship recipients and offered opportunities for WEC students to network with more than 50 industry professionals in Zoom breakout rooms.

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College picks up trio of prestigious CASE awards

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estminster was awarded two prestigious gold awards—one for fundraising, the other for special events—in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Accolades Awards. The College also earned a silver award in a competitive annual giving category.

In the Fundraising Improvement category, CASE judges said Westminster’s Clash of the Titans 2020 campaign had a “solid strategy and strong performance metrics, and showed evidence of increased support, growth and broad participation from constituents who were not active previously.”

The one-week Clash of the Titans crowdfunding campaign raised $218,147 to benefit Titan athletics and the marching band.

The Clash of the Titans campaign also picked up a silver award in the Annual Giving category and the College was recognized for capitalizing on strong alumni connections to their former teams and coaches.

In the Events on a Shoestring category, judges praised the Professional Networking Symposium—cosponsored by the Professional Development Center and the Office of Alumni Engagement—and its commitment to students and alumni.

Westminster was also named a CASE Platinum Award finalist in the Best Practices in Fundraising category for the Bring Back the Titans campaign. Bring Back the Titans, developed to aid students financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, raised $1.8 million. Other finalists for the award include Swarthmore College, Johns Hopkins University, Syracuse University, Drexel University and New York University.

The winner will be announced in June.

CASE is a global association for professionals working in the advancement field—alumni relations, communications, development and marketing. District II is the largest of CASE’s eight districts with more than 700 participating institutions.

thank you A special thank you

to our CLASH OF THE TITANS donors who showed up big for our Titan athletics teams during this unconventional competition season. Your support has a significant impact on the success and health of their program and we are grateful for your continued dedication.

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Faculty granted promotions, tenure

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aculty promotions and tenure were approved by the Board of Trustees at its February meeting.

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e wanted our outstanding Bring Back the Titan donors to know that you are STILL helping current students through the generosity you showed last spring with our online crowdfunding campaign.

Faculty members earning the rank of full professor are Dr. Karen Resendes, biology, and Dr. Pamela Richardson, mathematics. Promoted to associate professor was Dr. Robert Badowski, business, who was—along with Dr. Kristen Amick, biology—granted Resendes Richardson tenure.

Resendes, who joined the Westminster faculty in 2009, earned an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her Ph.D. in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry from Brown University. She performed post-doctoral research at the University of California, San Diego.

Efforts like this make a difference.

12% of our student body has received financial assistance from these gifts and we continue to meet their needs. Thank you for supporting our students during an unprecedented time of need and helping them to complete and continue their educational journey.

Richardson earned her undergraduate in mathematics from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Virginia. Badowski Amick She joined the Westminster faculty in 2006.

Badowski, a member of the Westminster since 2016, earned an undergraduate degree in business education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. in instructional management and leadership from Robert Morris University.

Amick joined the Westminster faculty in 2018. She received her undergraduate in biology from Penn State Behrend and her Ph.D. in molecular evolution and bioinformatics from George Washington University.

Thank you!

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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 13

JOURNEY Washington Student leads march, encourages dialogue

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ourney Washington wasn’t sure how many people would turn out. She would have been satisfied with just a few, but was hoping that a number closer to 50 would join her in the Black Lives Matter march she had been planning since the fall semester.

“Based on the amount of support I got from my friends, peers and some faculty and staff members, I knew I would have enough people to be able to try to share knowledge with them,” said sophomore Washington.

“My motto during the entire planning process was ‘if only one person showed Journey Washington, left, leads the Black Lives up, that’s one Matter peaceful march through Westminster’s campus in March. more person who is trying to learn and fight for change.’”

But people did show up. Nearly 150 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at the Anderson Amphitheater on a warm and sunny March day to help Washington spark an honest conversation about systemic racism and finding unity.

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The peaceful march—fueled by the countless stories of the killings of people of color like George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more—weaved through Westminster’s campus and the streets of New Wilmington and concluded with a solemn candlelight vigil.

“When I look around, I see myself and my friends in the features of those killed as a result of racism. But sitting around and just watching only meant that I, too, was a part of the problem. I needed to take action and be part of the change,” she said. “Having this march meant that I was given a chance to be heard, that I could speak for those living and dead who will not or cannot speak for themselves.”

While Washington felt the support that day and viewed it as an important first step toward education, hope and impactful change, she understands that no place—even Westminster—is immune to racism or implicit bias. In order to combat that, it begins with establishing a dialogue, identifying advocates and creating a unified voice.

Washington said she hopes the march will help spark conversations and reflection about racism and racial justice and encourage others on campus to speak up and stand up for what they believe is right.

“Most importantly, if people want to be an ally—a true ally, not just a social media ally—people can show minorities that they stand with us with their words and their actions." S Journey is a rising junior from Beaver Falls, Pa., majoring in business administration. A graduate of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Journey competes in women's volleyball and is a long- and triple-jumper in track and field. She has been elected vice president of the Black Student Union for the 2021-2022 academic year.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

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ne thing that’s been in short supply during the pandemic? Live music. But while COVID may have wiped out in-person concerts for more than a year, Westminster’s School of Music vocal and instrumental ensembles have been livestreaming performances, sharing their art and giving us that cultural fix many of us have craved.

Although virtual performances can’t replace the exhilaration of live concerts, the alternative has been a welcome one—and we’re happy knowing our student musicians are getting a chance to make music.

Counterclockwise from top, Dr. R. Tad Greig conducts the Wind Ensemble’s performance of “Today is the Gift” at the their spring concert. // The Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Withington, livestreams their April concert from Wallace Memorial Chapel. // First-year student Hunter Hoag prepares to perform with the Wind Ensemble. // The Men’s Chorus also sings in the chapel to record their concert “Travelling Around,” also directed by Withington.

You can watch some of the School of Music’s archived performances, recitals and videos on YouTube. Simply go to www.youtube.com and search for “Westminster College School of Music.”

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 15

Distinguished Faculty Award

Webster, Rennie announce retirements

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wo retiring faculty members were granted emeritus status by Westminster’s Board of Trustees this spring.

Dr. Sandra K. Webster was named professor of psychology emerita at the February board meeting, while Dr. Bryan S. Rennie was named professor of religion and philosophy emeritus at the board’s May meeting.

Webster, a member of Westminster’s faculty since 1983, has specialized in research design and statistics and Webster Rennie conducted studies in the areas of emotion, technology and metacognition. During her tenure at Westminster, her work has been supported by two Fulbright Scholar awards, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State—the first in 1989 to research and lecture at the University of Jos in Nigeria, the second in 2000, when she spent a year conducting research and teaching at Korea University and Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea.

Webster earned the Westminster College Distinguished Faculty Award in 2012. She earned her undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Rennie, who also earned this year’s Distinguished Faculty Award (see sidebar), joined the Westminster faculty in 1992.

He offered courses on the history and philosophy of religions, method and theory in religious studies and the study of religion and art. For 15 years through his tenure as the Vira I. Heinz Chair of Religion—an endowed chair funded by the Heinz Foundation— Rennie brought leading scholars, literary figures, musicians and Buddhist monks to Westminster’s campus. He also chaired the organizing committee of Westminster’s Bridges to Israel Conference in 2011.

Rennie is recognized as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of 20th century Romanian philosopher Mircea Eliade, who helped establish the comparative study of religion.

His scholarly research on Eliade led to authoring many articles and four books. Rennie’s latest book, An Ethology of Religion and Art: Belief as Behavior, was published in 2020.

Rennie earned his undergraduate degree, master’s and doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

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BRYAN RENNIE

Professor of Religion & Philosophy

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rresistible passion, intellectual hospitality, restless mind. These traits provide the contours of a consummate professor, an accomplished scholar, and a tireless friend and colleague.”

These are words used by Westminster’s Dean of the College Dr. Jamie McMinn to describe the 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award recipient, Dr. Bryan Rennie. His sentiments are echoed and repeated throughout a series of nomination letters in support of Rennie: Challenging and compassionate teacher.

Passionate world-class scholar. Inspirational and generous colleague.

Each letter from a former student maps a similar path, one guided and encouraged by Rennie. Many of his pupils recall their experiences with Rennie as enlightening and transformative.

“His teachings would prove to be an eye-opening and exciting growth period for me.”

“Dr. Rennie did not just teach me how to think about religious studies, but how to think about thinking itself.”

“His classes and the many conversations I had with him over my four years continually pushed my curiosity and helped to shape the person I am today.”

Within his circle of colleagues, he is recognized for his devotion to his students, his interdisciplinary and intellectual rigor and for championing the role of religious studies in the liberal arts.

His intellectual breadth is prevalent in his research and writings of Mircea Eliade, 20th century Romanian philosopher and about whom Rennie is internationally regarded as a leading authority.

“Bryan is without doubt the leading and most highly respected advocate for Eliade’s approach to the study of religion in the Anglophone world.”

His restless and creative mind goes beyond Eliade, however.

His most recent research interests lie in the study of the relationship between religion and art. As one colleague stated, he is a “true scholar-teacher whose research fuels his teaching and whose teaching informs his research.”

Rennie retired from teaching at the close of the 2020-2021 academic year, but his passion and quest for knowledge will undoubtedly continue—as will his masterful ability to inspire and instill intellectual curiosity.

$136,541

440 DONORS | 16 DAYS | 31 STATES

Giving Tuesday participation goal surpassed

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lumni and friends of responded to the nationwide Giving Tuesday challenge this winter by generously donating to the College and surpassing last year’s successful campaign.

In a two-week challenge ending on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, donors were offered six different student-impact projects or funds to support through the crowdfunding platform GiveCampus.

By the end of Giving Tuesday, a total of 440 individuals—alumni, parents, students, employees and friends—had come together to support Westminster, surpassing the 370-donor goal, and raising $136,541, an increase of more than $76,000 from 2019’s campaign.

Participation goals were exceeded for each of the six projects, with the majority of donors contributing to the unrestricted Wherever Needed Most Fund, which can help anywhere, including the Westminster Scholarship Fund.

Other funding options included the Internship Fund, the Student Emergency Fund, the Student Food Pantry Fund, the Hoyt Science Lab Equipment Fund and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming Fund.

Of the 440 donors, 86% were alumni. The GiveCampus platform allowed alumni to cheer on their alma mater by offering challenges and matches for classmates and other donors. Top alumni classes represented, based on participation, included the Class of 2017 in first place, the Class of 2012 in second place and the Class of 1973 in third place.

“We are so thankful for the generosity of those who contributed to our Giving Tuesday campaign,” said Kara Montgomery, senior director of alumni engagement. “These gifts have a direct impact on our students and help Westminster thrive. The fact that they were made during such a challenging time, globally, is even more encouraging and speaks to the dedication of our alumni and friends.”

Biology professor tapped to pen piece on DEI in education

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r. Diana Ortiz, associate professor of biology, has been selected as one of the first contributors to a National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported blog that explores ways educators can create systemic change that advances diversity.

The blog “Disruptor”—an initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (AAAS-IUSE) Program—was launched in January 2021 and will feature monthly posts on the theme of “leveraging this moment of disruption to empower evidence-based systemic change.”

Ortiz—a member of Westminster’s Equity and Justice Strategic Group and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Faculty Working Group— will introduce readers to strategies used in her epidemiology course that incorporate DEI-related topics and explain how they have impacted her students.

“As a biology and public health educator, writing this blog presents a great opportunity to highlight how we can develop strategies that integrate issues of diversity, equity and inclusion into our courses. In my experience, incorporating these topics into my courses has provided students with wider perspectives

Dr. Diana Ortiz at work in her lab. which, in some cases, have impacted their future career paths in meaningful ways,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz’ post will appear in fall 2021. Ortiz, a member of the faculty since 2014, earned an undergraduate degree from the Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico, a master’s from Jackson State University and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.

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 17

senior sail-off Graduating students were invited to a casual outdoor gathering at the home of President Richardson on May 6—a final farewell and warm send-off into the alumni family. At the event, students shared their post-graduation plans and staff members from the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Professional Development Center explained the resources available to them after graduation. Nyna Hess ‘21, representing the Class Giving Committee, presented Dr. Richardson with a board of donors from this spring’s Campus that Built Me campaign, an fundraising effort that called on students and alumni to donate to a program of their choice in honor of a faculty or staff member who helped build them during their time at Westminster.

Influence-based ranking says Westminster among the best

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estminster is one of the best schools in Pennsylvania, according to an innovative new ranking that gauges the College’s influence and its overall academic quality and value.

Westminster is ranked seventh among the top 25 institutions by AcademicInfluence.com, which uses a trademarked “concentrated influence” metric to evaluate colleges and universities as an indicator of academic excellence.

Westminster ranked number four in “Pennsylvania’s Best Liberal Arts

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categories for Keystone State schools.

“The strength of our academic programs and faculty and the success of our alumni demonstrate the value of the deeply experiential and collaborative education Westminster provides,” said President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson.

Colleges of 2021” list. Additionally, Westminster also received high marks in the “Best Private Colleges” (number 6) and “Best Small Colleges” (number four)

Using the concentrated influence method, AcademicInfluence.com takes the combined influence score of a college’s top academic influencers such as faculty and alumni and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.

One good deed deserves another.

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ecause of the worldwide pandemic and related restrictions, your donations are needed more than ever this year. With charitable donations to Westminster College, your generosity will be rewarded— in the form of a tax deduction. This year, Americans who donate to a charity will receive a charitable tax deduction whether they itemize or take the standard deduction.

For the 2021 tax year, people who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $300 of cash donations to charity. If you’re married and filing a joint return, you can deduct a total of $600 on your 2021 tax return.

For individuals who itemize their deductions and have the resources and desire to contribute to charitable organizations they support, an individual may deduct any qualified cash contribution so long as the contribution does not exceed 100% of the individual’s adjusted gross income.

For more information, please consult your tax adviser.

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 19

Honors students defend research

Pictured top from left, Morgan Shine, Elaina Chapnell, Brandon Williams; middle from left, Timothy Hering, Kailey Costabile, Jessica Booher; bottom from left, Lexi Koslosky, Emily Cornman, Nyna Hess. (Not pictured are Hannah Hunter, Jessica Nelson and Julia Strobel)

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ven for the best of students, an invitation to the All-College Honors Program isn’t something to be considered lightly. The interdisciplinary course load is rigorous and challenging, yet students find the immersive experience intellectually rewarding and great preparation for life beyond Westminster.

This spring, senior honors scholars publicly defended their capstone research projects—a program requirement and a culmination of two years of high-level academic exploration.

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“While every student at Westminster experiences capstone, students in the AllCollege Honors Program begin working on their capstone research early in the junior year, developing and proposing a project to their honors board of three faculty,” said All-College Honors Program Director Dr. Kristianne Kalata.

Each scholar conducts research under the mentorship of three faculty members—two experts in the major field of study and one faculty member from another department. Once a project has been approved, students work closely with their lead honors board adviser to conduct innovative, rigorous hands-on research.

During the final semester of study, each student submits a final thesis to the honors board and holds a public defense—which includes a presentation followed by a questionand-answer session with faculty and attendees— of their honors research.

“Participating in an honors capstone project was extremely beneficial because it gave me the ability to investigate my project on a much deeper level than I would have otherwise,” said Elaina Chapnell, a senior mathematics major.

“I was able to explore different directions my project could have taken and ultimately decide on something I am passionate about while still having time to fully explore the topic.”

ALL-COLLEGE HONORS SCHOLARS & PROJECTS • Jessica Booher, mathematics. “Recommender Systems in Python.” Lead adviser: Dr. Natacha Fontes-Merz, mathematics.

• Elaina Chapnell, mathematics. “Using Machine Learning to Identify Diabetic Retinopathy.” Lead adviser: Dr. Natacha FontesMerz, mathematics.

• Emily Cornman, biology and sociology. “Evaluating Wine to Water Ceramic Silver-Impregnated Pot and Candle Filters as a Sustainable Solution for the Global Water Crisis” (biology) and “The Unique Experiences of the Sandwich Generation” (sociology).

Lead advisers: Dr. Joseph Balczon, biology, and Dr. Jamie Chapman, sociology.

• Kailey Costabile, business administration. “Developing a Strategic Planning Model for Faculty/Staff Mental Health Awareness Training at Westminster College.” Lead adviser: Dr. Robert Badowski, business administration.

• Timothy Hering, English and music. “Jammin’ with Langston Hughes: A Symphony of Truth in Black America.” Lead adviser: Dr. Deborah Mitchell, English.

• Nyna Hess, English. “Miracle Writers: Evolution, Influence, and Purpose of Magical Realism.” Lead adviser: Dr. Trisha Cowen, English.

• Hannah Hunter, biochemistry. “Purification of Alpha-Synuclein for Membrane Binding Studies.” Lead adviser: Dr. Jessica Sarver, chemistry.

This year’s senior honors scholars span eight academic departments across six schools of study. In many cases, Kalata said, these scholars’ research questions developed from major coursework and were expanded to achieve breadth, depth and interdisciplinarity. In other cases, students used honors research as an opportunity to explore ideas and topics not available to them in existing classes.

• Lexi Koslosky, biochemistry. “Combining Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surfaces and Quorum Sensing Inhibition to Reduce Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.” Lead adviser: Dr. Erin Wilson, chemistry.

“Honors research has challenged me in ways that I never expected and I truly believe that this process, and the honors program, has prepared me for the academic rigor of a graduate education,” said Kaley Costabile, a business administration major who will pursue a master’s in student affairs in higher education. S

• Morgan Shine, biochemistry. “Uridylation of the Histone mRNA Stem-Loop and Dephosphorylation of the Stem-Loop Binding Protein Maintain the Cytoplasmic Histone mRNA-Protein Complex.”

Lead adviser: Dr. Patrick Lackey, chemistry.

To learn more about Westminster’s All-College Honors Program, please visit www.westminster.edu/honors.

• Jessica Nelson, physics and mathematics. “Exploring Track Trigger Parameters for Exotic and Long Lived Particle Searches” (physics) and “Modeling Uncontrolled and Controlled Covid-19 Spread Using Graph Theory” (mathematics). Lead adviser for both: Dr. Natacha Fontes-Merz, mathematics.

• Julia Strobel, molecular biology. “PCID2 Regulates Nuclear Export of BARD1 mRNA.” Lead adviser: Dr. Karen Resendes, biology.

• Brandon Williams, biochemistry. “Distinguishing Different Conformations of Membrane-Bound Alpha-Synuclein through Computational and Biochemical Methods.” Lead adviser: Dr. Jessica Sarver, chemistry.

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 2 1

A titan season

like no other The pandemic’s effect on Westminster athletics

BY NATHAN LARICCIA | SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to publication deadlines, the following story was written in early April, prior to the completion of the spring sports season. In the end, Westminster Titans collected six Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship trophies in 2020-2021: men's basketball, volleyball, football, women's outdoor track, men’s golf and women’s golf.

S

top whatever you are doing, leave and come back to New Wilmington.

Wilmington.

Westminster College All-American pole vault hopefuls Morgan Gossard and Emma Rudolph—who Rudolph —who were in North Carolina preparing to compete at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships—packed up their poles, leaving behind the

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opportunity to compete for their first-ever All-American honor and not knowing if they would ever have this chance again. The Titan baseball and softball teams, both competing in Florida, left the fields immediately with a surplus of questions that not many people in the world even knew how to answer. Other spring sports received the same gut-wrenching

news. Seasons were canceled.

Playing careers ended. Dreams were crushed. Unknowns awaited.

The day was Friday, March 13, 2020—the day people, especially student-athletes, will remember where they were when they heard the news. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic changed the world, sports and Titan Athletics as everyone knew it.

There was a period of time when no one knew if playing sports was going to be possible amidst the pandemic.

Teams held practices and workouts­­— either in pods or socially distanced settings—with the uncertainty of what the season would hold. About half the Westminster student population is made up of student-athletes, so half the student body wanted to know when they would be able to don their navy and white colors again.

September came and went and Memorial Field inside Harold Burry Stadium still sat vacant. The Westminster football team had just come off a season winning its third Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Bowl Championship. The biggest roster on campus had to stay safe, while keeping everyone together with a positive attitude that there would be a season. Even while learning that other conferences and schools cancelled or postponed their respective seasons, the Titans remained hopeful that there would be a season.

“Having older guys, having some leaders in this program that have been here for more than a couple of years, has really helped,” seventh-year Head Football Coach Scott Benzel said when asked how the Titans were able to remain focused during the pandemic.

“They have done a nice job in motivating and reassuring the younger players, telling them to just keep with the program and make sure that we are doing the little things that we need to do.”

Little things. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Avoid large group gatherings. Be socially distanced.

Everyone had to hold themselves accountable if there was even a chance to play again.

Those 300-plus days with no intercollegiate competition were not wasted just waiting around to see how everything was going to pan out.

Working groups were established.

Zoom meetings were scheduled.

Remote learning and working from home were being practiced. If

Westminster, the NCAA and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) were going to get back to playing and competing, safety was first priority for all involved.

Challenges, however, were inevitable.

“Making and continually revising Adelman plans to be in compliance with the CDC, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, NCAA, PAC and Westminster health, safety, COVID testing and return-toplay mandates and recommendations has been the most challenging,” said Director of Athletics Jim Dafler.

“The most challenging part of this season was getting my schedule to work out,” said junior volleyball player Becky Adelman. “With volleyball usually being in the fall, I already had my classes planned around practice

Opposite page: Senior Isaac Stamatiades embraces sophomore Austin O’Hara after clinching the PAC Men’s Basketball Championship title. // Below, volleyball players, from left, juniors Samantha Kelly, Becky Adelman, Maya Steward and senior Megan Steele display the PAC Volleyball Championship trophy.

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 2 3

Men’s lacrosse teammates, above, gather on the new field. // At left, softball players sophomore Alexis Yates, left, and senior Victoria Pezzuolo toss a high five. the team benches were socially distanced, the scene was welcomed and an encouraging sign that sports had returned to Westminster—a small taste of normalcy.

While the traditional winter sports were finally back in season, other Westminster sports were practicing and gearing up with for their respective seasons. Practice never felt so good.

“Excited probably is not the word,” said the reigning PAC Volleyball Coach of the Year Tammy Swearingen when asked how excited the team was to finally play after the delayed start due to the pandemic.

TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE TITAN ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, CHECK OUT www.westminster.edu/athletics

times, so that was something I had to readjust to.”

Following 320 long awaited days, Westminster played its first intercollegiate varsity game on Jan. 27, 2021, with the men’s basketball team winning their highly anticipated season-opener, 99-77, over Franciscan University. Though fan cut-outs replaced real parents, family and friends cheering on the Titans and

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“They were ready to go. They wanted to play. We took advantage of every time, every opportunity we had to get on the court and to practice together. We really looked forward to those opportunities to compete. Excited to let the athletes come together and play again. Let them do their thing and be the athletes that they are and see the excitement that they have on the court,” she said.

Sports are not the end all be all. Sports are not bigger or more important than a pandemic. Lives were changed. Lives were lost. However, sports do provide an escape, an outlet.

Sports allow togetherness and teamwork to thrive and

Above from left: Sophomore Stephanie Cimini (women’s lacrosse). // Senior Nick Iregui (men’s soccer). // Junior Camille Holzschuh (women’s soccer). // Below, the baseball team lines up for the national anthem. flourish—different people with different backgrounds coming together for one goal. Be safe and play.

“Long time waiting,” said senior basketball guard Isaac Stamatiades while proudly wearing his PAC Championship T-shirt after leading the Titans to their first conference title in 17 years.

“Just relief,” Stamatiades said when asked how it felt when cutting down the nets with his teammates inside Buzz Ridl Gymnasium in front of their home crowd.

“The hard work we put in, night in and night out, not even knowing if we were going to have a season this year, this feeling was just amazing. Everybody just came together and we just got it done,” he said.

The scene may be different. Masks covered the smiles of jubilation from friends and family watching excitedly and proudly as our teams hoisted their PAC Championship trophies (six of them this season). But

the moments are just as special. Sure, the players might remember being tested several days a week or that their parents had to watch their games through the livestream.

But for our Titan athletes, the memory of the joy of competing despite the challenges will remain. And for Stamatiades and his teammates, cutting down the nets while Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions” plays will be a memory they won’t forget.

Stamatiades

We are the champions. The athletic trainers, the professors, the administrators, the support staff, the students, the coaches, the parents, the community, the fans, the student-athletes. We came together and we got it done. S

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 2 5

TEN10THINGS TITAN things making us pretty Titan proud right now Made it to May

1.

To the students of the 2020-2021 academic year: We see you. It’s been a long, exhausting and confusing year, and COVID fatigue is real. But we are so proud of the steps and sacrifices you’ve made along the way. From masking up, staying socially distant and quarantining when necessary, you made Westminster’s year a success story. We remained in person because of YOU. We kept our COVID numbers low because of YOU. We’re not going to lie, it’s been hard. But you’ve shown us what it means to be TITAN STRONG—and we’re so proud of you.

A well-deserved honor

3.

The coronavirus pandemic certainly added more to Wellness Center Director Melissa Baron’s plate.

Day in and day out, Missy has been making sure Westminster is doing its best to keep its community safe and healthy—which is why we can’t think of a more deserving person to receive an award honoring nursing talents. Missy, who joined Westminster in 2011, was recently awarded the American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Ollie B. Moten Award, presented to those ACHA members who have made a significant impact on the institution of higher education in which they work. It goes without saying, Missy is well-deserving of this honor.

Top 10 Achiever

2.

In a time when many colleges and universities are experiencing unprecedented financial stress, Westminster has been recognized by Forbes magazine for improving its fiscal well being. In its 2021 Financial Health Grade report, Westminster was named to Forbes’ Top 10 Achievers list for making a strong financial comeback since receiving a C- minus grade in 2016. This year, Westminster earned a financially healthy B grade. Westminter’s leadership has worked hard to improve our financial status through strategic fiscal decisions and careful planning, so we’re pretty proud of this recognition.

The Write

STUFF

4.

Dr. Russell Martin, history, has released a new book, The Tsar’s Happy Occasion: Ritual and Dynasty in the Weddings of Russia’s Rulers, 1495-1745, that takes a look at the ornate affairs of Russian royal weddings. We’re so proud of our faculty authors who shine a light on the intellectual caliber of our academic community.

Making a statement

5.

Kudos to Dr. Pete Smith, chemistry, for being tapped to lead a writing team to develop a water treatment and conservation policy statement for the American Chemical Society (ACS). The statement will be used by ACS’s government affairs staff to encourage Congress to base legislation—such as the Clean Water Act—on scientific principles and data. This comes on the heels of Smith leading a team to write a similar statement regarding critical materials.

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Year of the TITAN

6.

The Year of the Titan. PAC attack.

Whatever you want to call it, one thing is clear: Westminster dominated the Presidents’ Athletic Conference this year. Let’s just take a quick run-through of our championship titles, shall we? Football (first ever). Volleyball. Men’s basketball. Women’s outdoor track & field.

Men’s golf. Women’s golf. Yeah, they don’t call us Titans for no reason.

Fields of Dreams 7. 8. & 9.

If you haven’t been to Westminster lately, you need to get here and check out the south end of campus. With the new UPMC Sports Complex for soccer and lacrosse and new fields for baseball and softball (not to mention the refreshed recreational tennis courts behind Old 77), that side of campus—the Titan Corridor—has a brand new energy that you can’t help getting excited about. It sure is a great day to be a Titan.

LET'S CHALK ABOUT IT

10.

In a year when most conversations turned to the pandemic, it was a breath of fresh, COVID-free air watching junior Jack Karson in his weekly YouTube program “Chalk ’N Talk.” Karson kept the laughter going while also keeping us informed about campus issues, as he chatted weekly with three people about everything from academic majors to diversity and inclusion to the campus squirrels—all while creating chalkboard drawings. We chalk this show up to a win. You can catch all of this year’s episodes on YouTube by going to www.youtube.com/westminsterpa and searching “chalk n talk.”

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 2 7

2021

Commencement N THE 1942 BETTE DAVIS FILM “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Jimmy Durante

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famously sings “Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go when you still had the feeling that you wanted to stay?” This often sums up the feelings of many

college seniors who are yearning for life’s next chapter, but still want to hold on just a bit longer to their college days.

CHECK OUT OUR COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHT REEL ONLINE AT bit.ly/3hkqbAT

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Westminster’s seniors—the Class of 2021—clearly were experiencing that bittersweet conflict at dual commencement ceremonies on May 8. Hugs and tearful goodbyes to classmates, professors and friends were plentiful. But after spending an entire year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, the day also came with a sense of relief and readiness to leave the past behind. The 2020-2021 academic year was an exhausting one.

“I don’t think any of us anticipated that we would face challenges because of a global pandemic,” President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson told the nearly 300 graduating students during the 167th spring commencement exercises. “Yet, in spite of that challenge, we faculty and staff have had the great joy of watching you grow in knowledge, leadership and service. You have offered your best—day after day after day.”

Anna Richards ’72, past president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro (N.C.) branch of the NAACP, earned an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the day’s first ceremony (see page 26 for more on Richards).

Richards recounted her experiences as a Black undergraduate at Westminster in the 1960s and 1970s and highlighted the challenges she and the nation have faced since. She reminded students that life is not without challenge and tragedy, and their responses will be key.

“You’ve already shown your ability to be tenacious, strong and creative,” Richards said.

“The question I have for you today is this: How will you go forward? How will you choose to make a difference in a world always on the edge of disaster or greatness?”

Alec Rich, an accounting major who graduated summa cum laude, served as senior class speaker and urged his classmates to seek shared experiences in life.

A total of 241 bachelor’s degrees were conferred on 240 students—one student receiving both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree. This year also marked the graduation of Westminster’s first class of nursing students, with 10 earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. The students received their registered nursing licenses in 2020 (see center photo below).

An additional 38 students earned master’s degrees—24 Master of Education degrees, seven Master of Arts degrees in clinical mental health counseling and eight Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Like nursing, this marked the first cohort of students seeking MBA degrees.

Above center: Senior class speaker Alec Rich. // At right, second from top: President Richardson with Anna Richards '72. // Below, the College's first class of nursing students.

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 2 9

Chapel Hill Public Library

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2021 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT

ANNA RICHARDS '72 A

nna Richards’ name joins a list of pioneering and influential women who have been awarded honorary degrees by Westminster College. Fortyfive women comprise that illustrious list, with names such as Sarah McMichael, who became Westminster’s first female graduate in 1857 and the first woman to be awarded an honorary degree in 1868; Leah Rabin, peacemaker and wife of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin; and Gerda Lerner, a pioneer in women’s and gender history.

As the 2021 recipient of a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, Richards is now also included in another catalog of esteemed names. As the third Black woman to receive such an honor from Westminster, Richards shares company with 1994 recipient the Rev. Joan Salmon Campbell, the first Black female moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and famed poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, a 1995 honoree.

Richards, a 1972 alumna, has spent her life committed to creating a just society and promoting positive change. Her family was part of the Great Migration of the 20th century and relocated from rural Mississippi to Farrell, Pa., There she was raised by her parents, Henry and Martha Richards, who instilled in her a commitment to organizing and advocacy

work. At age 10, she joined the local NAACP Youth Council and remained active with the organization throughout adulthood.

Upon graduating from Farrell High School in 1968, Richards matriculated to Westminster, where she excelled as an English major. An active member of the student body, Richards held the office of president for the College’s Black Student Union and served on the Black Recruitment Committee as well as the Admissions Committee. As a selfproclaimed “1970s activist, a civil rights advocate and a liberated woman,” she encouraged a diverse campus community at Westminster. She belonged to various student groups and committees such as Task Force, Peace Inc., Panhellenic Council, the English honorary society Scroll, the cheerleading squad and the Sigma Kappa sorority, for which she served as president.

She completed her course requirements a semester early and departed Westminster in December 1971, but—as the first person in her family to graduate from college— she returned in spring 1972 to claim her diploma.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Richards spent 42 years working in the corporate sector, retiring in 2013 from Boeing, where she provided enterprise leadership of finance operations including

payroll, payment services and supply chain financial analysis. She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in St. Louis, Mo. Following her retirement, Richards relocated from Seattle, Wash., to Chapel Hill, N.C., where she quickly became a major organizing force for equality and a member of the area’s NAACP chapter.

After being elected branch president of the NAACP, she led the organization through a period of reorganization and engagement. Richards advocated for education equality, police reform, voter education and a number of other issues affecting marginalized groups in her region. Under her leadership, the NAACP Chapel Hill-Carrboro earned several awards, including the North Carolina NAACP Branch of the Year in 2017 and 2018, as well as a prestigious national NAACP Thalheimer Award in 2019 for branch programming and membership growth.

In 2019, Richards was recognized as the North Carolina NAACP Branch President of the Year. Most recently, in recognition of her leadership and service to her community, Richards earned the 2020 Citizen of the Year Award from the Chamber for a Greater Chapel HillCarrboro.

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 3 1

We’re saving a seat for you.

While the curtain came down on the 2020-2021 Celebrity Series season, we are happy to announce that we have been busy making plans for an exciting 2021-2022 season!

We have missed you and are looking forward to welcoming you back when it is safe to do so. We will be announcing our plans soon, so please stay tuned!

Keep up with the latest Celebrity Series news at www.westminster.edu/celebrity

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TITANSPOTLIGHT

The Accidental

Artist

THERAPEUTIC HOBBY EVOLVES INTO NEWFOUND PASSION

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 3 3

By VALENTINE BRKICH ’97

F

OR SOME PEOPLE, CREATING ART IS A HOBBY, A WAY TO PASS THE TIME. BUT FOR BARBARA ELLSWORTH EVERETT ’72, ART IS MUCH MORE THAN A DIVERSION. IT IS A WAY OF LIFE. “I paint everyday,” she says. “If I’m not working on a painting, I’m practicing skills, researching new techniques, entering shows, finding galleries and businesses to promote my work, or learning some new technology to sell my paintings. It really is my passion.”

It wasn’t always this way for Everett, however.

Painting was something that seemed to find her later in life.

“I guess you can me an accidental artist,” she says.

When she first came to Westminster College from Weirton, W. Va., Everett started out studying accounting. Then, during her sophomore year, she got sick and ended up missing an entire semester.

“Math was definitely not my strong suit,” she says, “and I got way behind. After that I decided to switch my major to education, and I’ve never regretted it.”

Everett’s first job after graduation was teaching kindergarten back home in Weirton, where she had to make house visitations to students.

“That was a real eye-opener,” she says. “Some houses had dirt floors, and there were ducklings walking around. Seeing where these kids were coming from made me want to help them in any way I could.”

Eventually Everett and her husband moved to the Cleveland, Ohio, area, where she taught 7th and 8th grade science and literature. After returning home to raise her three children until they reached school age, she worked as a substitute teacher at their school for the equivalent of five full years.

As her teaching career wound down, Everett began to shift her focus to her grandchildren. It was around this time when her best friend, a portrait artist and teacher at the local senior center, invited her to try a painting class. Eventually after some convincing, she agreed to go with a group of friends, mainly for the social aspect of it.

CATCH A FALLING STAR—Oil paint, metallic foil, palette knife

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“Honestly,” says Everett, “I had never even thought of painting before. I was just looking forward to doing lunch.”

I CELEBRATE LIFE AND BEAUTY BY PAINTING. THERE IS SO MUCH BEAUTY AROUND US EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.

That first class Everett started out working with colored pencils, which she says helped her get layering and color recognition. Next she tried pastels before moving on to oils. Eventually she began watching YouTube videos to learn new techniques and started having success. After she completed a pastel of her granddaughters beside a lake, someone suggested she enter it in a show.

“That was the first time I started thinking, ‘You know, I can do this,’” she says.

Over time, Everett, who suffers from a neurological disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking, developed her own distinctive style, one that’s not impeded by her disability.

“I can barely write my name at times,” Everett says.

“Using a pallet knife has really worked for me, and it helped me develop a unique style that has a lot of detail overall, just without the little bitty details.

“I don’t like to render a painting,” she adds. “I like to exaggerate color, size or shape in order to tell my story. Not being so concerned with accuracy or rules gives me a little more freedom to paint what I feel is important.”

Today Everett, who lives just outside of Cleveland, displays her work at coffee shops, local art shows and in galleries such as Imagery in Chagrin Falls and Artisan’s Corner Gallery in Newbury. She also shares and sells her paintings through her website, CelebrationPainting.com.

“I celebrate life and beauty by painting,” she says. “There is so much beauty around us everywhere you look, why wouldn’t you want to focus on that?”

Despite her success, Everett still paints with her class at the senior center. She says the encouragement she receives pushes her to paint more and better. She also takes classes at the Venice Art Center in Venice, Fla., every year, although not this past year due to the pandemic.

As for her memories of Westminster College, Everett says her experience was one centered on growth and learning, which is something she tries to incorporate into her art still today.

“Westminster always encouraged a thirst for learning and questioning,” says Everett. “It’s the perfect school for

PRIDE II—Acrylic, cheesecloth students who truly want to learn, experience, change and grow.”

Whether it’s your education, your career, or your individual passions, Everett believes that the most important trait of intelligence and success is a questioning mind.

“You have to be open to change,” Everett says.

“After all, we never know where our life is going to take us. Look where it’s taken me.” S

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 3 5

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

MAIL Westminster College Office of Alumni Engagement 319 S. Market St. New Wilmington, PA 16172

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CLASS NOTES | Titans doing incredible things.

1960

TOM MAROUKIS has published a book on Native American history, We Are Not a Vanishing People: The Society of American Indians, 1911-1923.

Published by University of Arizona Press, the book reveals the roots of Indigenous activism in the early 20th century.

Tom, a longtime history professor at Capital University, is now retired and living in Venice, Fla.

1967

JACK RIDL was one of seven poets selected to have his work displayed throughout South Lyon, Mich., during National Poetry Month (April).

He was invited to the National Wellspring Poetry Festival and will be reading with Alison Swan for the launch of her new book and with Dennis Hinrichson for the premier of his new collection. He has been invited to be Poet in Residence for this year’s national Big Read featuring U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.

1971

PAM RYDSTROM LATTA retired after 32 years with the State of Oregon Aging and People with Disabilities, assisting residents of eastern Oregon with access to financial, medical and social services. She was then appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to the Commission on Senior Services. She was elected to the commission’s executive committee, where she continues to advocate strongly for seniors and people with disabilities.

1970s

RADIO DAYS WKPS radio alumni met virtually to ring in the 2020 Christmas season. Participants included Kevin Boyd ’77, Bruce Haines ’77, Kim Eubanks Kaso ’77, Marty Travis Rogers ’77, Charlie Weisel ’77, Jan Morrow Pate ’78, Ann Alexander Shansky ’78, Jeff Tobin ’78, Jim Adams ’79, Jim Boyd ’79, Bill Jones ’79, Jeannette Ford Peters ’79, Dan Wolfe ’79, Teresa Savocchia Mazzocco ’80, Bill McWreath ’80, Bruce Weber ’80, Linda Drumm ’81, Gary Miles ’81, Will Griffith ’82, and Erin Dowling Middleton ’82. A special appearance was made by former director of broadcasting, Mark Klinger ’66. For many it was the first time they had been in the same “room” at the same time since graduation.

1973

THE REV. JOHN HOPKINS accepted a full-time pastorate at Murrells Inlet (S.C.) Presbyterian Church, PC (USA). He and his wife, Glenda, and son, Jacob, make their home in Blacksburg, S.C.

1974

ROBERT BRAUNLICH of Simsbury, Conn., retired from the Walt Disney Company after 38 years at ABC Television Network and ESPN.

TreasureS of Italy Including The Passion Play of Oberammergau

11 days: July 7–17, 2022*

Hosted by Westminster College Chaplain the Rev. Jim Mohr and his wife Jill

Rome

• Assisi • Florence • Venice • Salzburg • Munich

Make plans to join us on a summer 2022 journey that will begin in Rome and culminate with a visit to the Passion Play of Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany.* For nearly 400 years, the villagers of Oberammergau have fulfilled a promise to present a play depicting the last week of the life of Christ—a promise that was made in 1633 to give thanks to God for sparing their village from the Black Plague. Every 10 years the villagers present a performance featuring vivid and amazing music, sets and costumes.

For more information visit www.westminster.edu/european-tour or call the Office of Faith and Spirituality at 724.946.7117. * This event was originally scheduled for summer 2020 but rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 3 7

1976

DAN MULARSKI,left, and JACK EWIG, right, and another friend completed the Trans America Bicycle Trail, leaving Astoria, Ore., and arriving in Yorktown, Va., 70 days and more than 4,200 miles later. Dan is writing Pedaling on Purpose: An Inspirational Trans America Journey That Transcends the Typical Adventure Memoir based on the experience.

1978

RICK CESARI and co-author Jason Boyce have published The Amazon Jungle: The Truth about Amazon, the Seller’s Survival Guide for Thriving on the World’s Most E-Commerce Marketplace.

JOHN WEISEL, former chair of Westminster’s Board of Trustees, has joined ZRG, an executive search firm, as the global leader of its Professional and Technology Services Practice. He plans to expand the company domestically and globally.

1979

KEVIN HAFFICS was named director of financial planning in addition to his role as a financial advisor for Grandview Wealth Management in Bridgeville.

1981

DEBORAH SPENCER LUCKETT, a doctoral candidate in Duquesne University’s School of Education, was selected by her peers as one of three recipients of the Mind, Heart and Spirit of Educational Leadership Award for 2020. Awardees are selected because they exemplify educational leadership impact that engages the mind, heart and spirit in the moment of action.

1991

DR. SUSAN MILLER DONAT was promoted to Messiah University’s accreditation liaison officer. Her team was awarded the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment’s Excellence in Assessment designation.

She resides in Mechanicsburg.

DR. JULIA SAMPSON FRANKLAND is a co-developer of the economics and personal finance online class for high school students in Virginia in partnership with Virtual Virginia, the Virginia Council for Economic Education and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

DANIEL JOHNSTON, CPA and owner of DJCPA Enterprises in DuBois, was elected the 101st president of the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association.

VICTORIA CLAVELLI LANCASTER has been appointed assistant vice chancellor of operational excellence at the University of Pittsburgh. She is responsible for providing leadership and enhancing the performance of the business and operations units and will support the university in the development and implementation of workforce strategies, performance improvement and value creation.

1985

1992

1984

DAVID FARNER, executive vice president and chief strategic and transformation officer at UPMC, was included in Pittsburgh Business Times’ 2021 Power 100 list, a guide to the region’s most influential business leaders.

MELINDA KUTCHENREITER SUZENSKY has published a children’s book I Fit In With the Skin I’m In, a story about a biracial girl struggling to find a way to fit in.

Suzensky resides in Pittsburgh.

Are you receiving the Wake Up with Wiley e-newsletter? It’s an encapsulation of what’s happening in the Westminster and alumni communities. Email alumni@westminster.edu with your most up-to-date email address if you want added to the list!

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Campus visit days

ARE BACK.

We have several opportunities for you to visit Westminster this summer!

Do you know someone who would be a perfect fit at Westminster?

Checking out the campus first hand is a great introduction to the people and places that are uniquely Westminster—and we're back offering in-person visits and tours.

We can’t wait to see you!

To schedule a visit or learn more about Westminster, go to www.westminster.edu/visit or email us at visitwc@westminster.edu.

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 3 9

1997

JOHN PETROCELLI, professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, published his first book, The LifeChanging Science of Detecting Bullshit. He and his family live in Cornelius, N.C. DR. KINH VU, assistant professor of music in the School of Music at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, had a virtual book launch of My Body Was Left on the Street: Music Education and Displacement.

1998

REBECCA ZEITLER FARRELL was promoted to vice president, group manager in the Health Innovation and Wellness

Practice at Ketchum Public Relations.

She and her husband, Christian, and son, Ronan, live in Atlanta.

1999

ROBB DIETRICH earned the chartered advisor in philanthropy designation from The American College of Financial Services.

Robb is the senior director of major and planned gifts at Lycoming College. He and his wife, Emily Boyle Dietrich, live in Montoursville.

2002

HOLLY DAUGHERTY GLEASON was promoted to assistant vice president for human resources and risk management at Muskingum University, where she is also the university’s Title IX coordinator. She and her husband, Jacob Gleason, and three children live in Zanesville, Ohio.

2012

KATELYN MOGA GESING was named one of the “Top Twenty in 20” by The Advocacy Association. The award

recognizes advocacy practitioners who have excelled in the practice of their profession during the past year. Katelyn is the senior manager of national advocacy at Nurse-Family Partnership. She resides in Lakewood, Colo.

2019

KEVIN HART was named assistant director of sports information at Thiel College.

Go online for upcoming national & regional events!

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

Get ready to celebrate with us!

O

ver the past few months, Westminster College has welcomed a few new and exciting elements and spaces because of your generosity. New athletic fields, the Dar Huey Heritage Center, renovations to the Field House and the addition to the Hoyt Science Center are just a few of the projects we look

forward to introducing you to when it’s safe to do so. Please keep a lookout for when we will meet again to commemorate all of the new developments at Westminster that are being used on campus today.

Looking forward to celebrating with you!

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WEDDING | Love always.

2008

BARRY UNIS and Tom Swanson, Sept. 7, 2019, in Chicago.

Attendees included David Dean III ’09, Dave Davis, Amanda Milich Davis, Andrew Olphin, Aidan Mewha ’07, Michael Henninger ’07, Sara Lucente McConkey and Jared McConkey.

The couple lives in Chicago.

Thank you!

A special thanks to all Westminster alumni (like Marqus Koranteng '15, above), students, faculty and staff who participated in our Instagram Titan Takeover each week, showing @wctitanalumni followers what it looks like to be you for a day!

NEW ADDITIONS | Welcome, Tiny Titans.

1998

MANDY SNYDER CORBETT and her husband, Jeff: a son, Jeffrey David II, on Sept. 23, 2020. He joins siblings Annie, Austin, Samuel, Caedon, Justus, Daniel, Jackson, Maelie and Ruby Jane at home in Bloomington, Ind.

2010

MINDY ELIAS GROBE and her husband, Matthew: a daughter, Madison Ann, on June 20, 2020.

The family lives in Bozeman, Mont.

2012

ALYSSA HANNA FALARSKI and her husband, Tim: a son, Jack Timothy, on March 14, 2020. He joins big brother Jameson at home in Glenshaw.

2004

KRISTY STOCKDILL DODD and her husband, Jacob: a son, Emmett Francis, on Sept. 29, 2019.

He joins big brothers Miles and Preston at home in Oswego, N.Y.

2011

DEANNA OWENS-BRICKER and her husband, Kyle: a son, Henry, on June 10, 2020. The family lives in Kittanning.

2012

LEANNA JULIAN LULLA and her husband, RYAN LULLA ’11: a son, Grayson Alec, on Nov. 10, 2020.

The family lives in Steubenville, Ohio.

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 41

&

NATIONAL CONNECTIONS ALUMNI EVENTS

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!

MONTHLY IN 2020-2021 Titan Trivia Night Alumni Council’s Young Alumni Committee have hosted monthly Titan Trivia Nights for our young—and young at heart—alumni! Many thanks to Jim Beaudry ’12 and Dr. Christie Grewe Nelson ’06, both members of the Alumni Council Young Alumni Committee, Tiffany Jackson Greene ’16 and Ben Nelson ’06 for their roles in coordinating this event. Westminster College alumni-owned business owners have been featured during the event and round winners have been gifted prizes from those special businesses.

DECEMBER 2020 Holiday Market More than 25 alumni businesses were featured in our virtual marketplace for the 2020 holiday season. Alumni were able to visit the College website to obtain special discounts and products from fellow alumni-owned businesses in recognition of the holiday season. Businesses featured items ranging from accessories and clothing to art and photography.

DECEMBER 3, 2020 Just Mercy Book Discussion Professors Shannon Smithey (political science) and David Swerdlow (English) led an in-depth discussion of Just Mercy, the book studied by first-year students for the past two years. Alumni were invited to read the book and join in a discussion. Titans tuned in to answer thought-provoking prompts and discuss themes from the book.

JANUARY 13 & MARCH 16, 2021 Alumni Council Bingo Alumni Council President Sara Surgenor Arblaster ’00 arranged two interactive virtual Bingo events to help familiarize the greater alumni community with members of the Alumni Council. The events featured five rounds of traditional Bingo with themed prizes. Assistant hosts for January were Alexis Shellow ‘15 and Marissa Cozza ‘14, while Janice Jeletic ’80 and Katie Gray Kelley ‘11 stepped in for the March game.

FEBRUARY 2021 WE in Westminster Game Box During February and in celebration of Valentine’s Day, the alumni office gave alumni couples the opportunity to plan a virtual game night with their Westminster couple friends. A digital game box featured Newlywed Game-like questions, some customized to their time at WC. Questions included such inquiries like, “What WC professor would your partner pick to be stuck on a desert island with?” Congratulations to Zack ’10 and Athena Ablog Wahal ’12 for being the top couple in their game group!

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5 INSIDE THE HUDDLE — Because the COVID pandemic restricted Titan Athletic fan participation on campus, the alumni office got fans to the games in a more creative way. Alumni were able to register for the Inside the Huddle series of events to receive game day alerts and access to exclusive pre-game huddle happenings. Additionally, alumni could opt to purchase a cut-out of themselves to place in the stands at the game to support their favorite Titan teams. Here sophomore Baylee Horvath, who coordinated this project for her marketing practicum, catches a men’s basketball game with a few other Titan fans.

4 BEHIND THE LENS — Alumna Kandice Hartner ’12 and lecturer in Westminster’s School of Communication conducted a mini-course in Digital Photography for students (in-person) and alumni (virtually). Using Brittain Lake and its surroundings as her subject, Hartner explored concepts like angle, light and texture with the audience. Alumni enjoyed the opportunity to brush up on their personal photography skills.

We made a podcast!

“Something Real” features people of Westminster talking about one unique prompt and their processes to problem solve to create their “shared truth.” It’s an authentic and unfiltered conversation.

Listen on Anchor or anywhere that supports podcasts. https://anchor.fm/westminstercollege

WEAR WESTMINSTER DAY Thanks to all who participated in this year’s Wear Westminster Day on Jan. 21! Titans from across the country celebrated Westminster’s founding by sporting their blue and white. Our Titan pride is strong! Ray Cebula ’66, above, was recognized for “Best Throwback Gear.” Here are the rest of this year’s #WWD21 winners!

Best Group: Audra Adams Meehan ’10, pictured with Ande Saporito ’09, Jenn Byers Feltenberger ’09, Jordan Reinhart ’11, Connor Meehan (Future Titan), Julie Kepins Fikejs ’08, and Kylie Hadley ’17

Best Titan Pride: Future student Krysta Germanoski already sporting her Titan pride

Best Wearing Westminster While Doing Good: Christine Paolini Lazzara ’98 and Laurel Scaff Alexander ’97 with Sarah Marks

Best Expression of WC Gratitude: Andy Borts ’10

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 4 3

THEIROWNWORDS

ALUMNI Q&A CHRIS BUCKLEY ’99 B.S., CHEMISTRY WASHINGTON, D.C.

C

OL. CHRIS BUCKLEY EARNED A B.S. FROM WESTMINSTER IN 1999,

and since then, he has only moved up in the world. Literally. The chemistry graduate was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and he earned his wings at the Navy Flight School at Pensacola Naval Air Station. As a navigator and bombardier assigned to the B-52 Stratofortress, he flew through many combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2008, he was selected to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and spent the next decade—with several deployments to the Middle East—researching and developmenting new aircraft, software and weapons at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Air Force has offered him many challenges and opportunities, as well as the privilege to lead—whether small teams in combat, large aircraft formations or an entire squadron. See how Westminster College helped shape this accomplished man of service.

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Q

What’s been the proudest accomplishment or moment that you’ve ever experienced?

There is no one particular moment. For the past 30 years, I got to walk in the footsteps of legends.

Those legends trusted me to take the work and move it further down the road. It has been an honor to lead teams that have literally changed the world. Over the years I have had the privilege to lead—be it small teams in combat, large aircraft formations, or an entire squadron. The Air Force keeps challenging me.

Q

Looking back at all that you’ve done, what are you still in awe of that many people haven’t had the opportunity to experience?

The rest of the world. You would be surprised at how many people stay where they are placed or relocate to things very similar to what they grew up knowing. The real world is vast and incredibly different from everything you know. In my opinion, travel destroys ignorance. The more you can experience different ways of life, the more likely you are to accept differences in all mankind. This experience breaks down the barriers that build racism, sexism and the hateful way lots of people see other people. Those things are born in ignorance, travel destroys that. See as much of the world as you can and experience it from a local’s perspective.

Q

What quality about yourself have you leaned on the most throughout the various roles that you’ve had in your life?

Curiosity. My job has been to find a way to do things that have never been done. I love the challenge. Nothing is impossible. Sometimes you just need billions of taxpayer dollars, unlimited resources, and a literal army behind you to get it done.

Q

What is your advice about how to stay grounded in the midst of change and pressure?

First, learn to love failure. I have failed at more things in more time zones than anyone I know. Failure is not losing, it is learning. But you must learn from it. There is a world of difference between failure and defeat. No one moves up without a healthy dose of failure to build their foundation. Second, understand that leadership is service. Some people mistakenly believe subordinates are there to serve the leader. This is wrong. Leadership is a responsibility to serve your subordinates. My job is to serve my troops. Pressure and change forge great leaders. Avoiding challenges means you will never really make a difference in the world.

Q

Which of your qualities do you feel were sharpened during your time at Westminster College?

Westminster introduced me to several key attributes that have served me well. The first is the concept of a liberal arts education. In my experience, the more focused a person is in their field, the less likely they are to see anything else. A broader understanding opens possibilities. The second is public speaking. Chemistry majors had a weekly seminar where getting up in front of a crowd and talking was a regular occurrence. Those who fear public speaking will always have a limitation to how far they can rise. The last one is leadership. I was privileged to learn how to lead others while at Westminster, under the guidance of some great mentors. Those three things made Westminster worth every penny.

Q

Why do you find it important to support things you’re most passionate about, particularly to Westminster?

When you find a place that does good things and is run by and filled with good people, you have to support it with whatever you can. The world that we need is not going to be easy to build, and some people are going to try to stop us from building it. Places like Westminster produce the people who are willing to fight to build it. ~ Nicole Crumbacher Hunter '12

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 4 5

IN MEMORIAM | Titans we will miss.

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 BETTY ERICHSON TWINING ’44 of Glenside, Sept. 30, 2019.

DONALD SAXE M’60 of Hermitage, Jan. 7, 2020.

GEORGE FREAS JR. ’44 of Pittsburgh, Feb. 12, 2021.

DR. RONALD “RON” WALKER ’62 M’68 of Ashland, Ohio,

IRMA JEAN KRAMER TOOKE ’44 of Chesterfield, Mo., July 6, 2020.

MARY LOU McCALMONT LORIMER ’45 of Pasadena, Calif., May 7, 2017.

GEORGE MUNN ’45 of Hockessin, Del., Dec. 10, 2019.

ANNA “RUSTY” FITZSIMMONS GUNST ’46 of Orange City, Fla., Feb. 21, 2021.

Dec. 27, 2020.

FRANCES “FRAN” HARALAMBIE HACKETT ’64 of Danville, Calif., formerly of Boardman, Ohio, Feb. 17, 2021.

GAY McNAUGHTON SHIRLEY ’64 of St. Petersburg, Fla., Jan. 17, 2021.

CHARLES BENNEHOOF M’66 of Boardman, Ohio, Nov. 26, 2019.

MATTHEW “MATT” HOSIE ’49 of New Wilmington, Dec. 31, 2020.

AUGUSTUS MYERS ’66 of Murrells Inlet, S.C., Jan. 27, 2021.

MARY LOU HUBBARD SULLIVAN ’49 of Upper St. Clair, Feb. 3, 2021.

CATALDO “CHUCK” BURRELLI JR. M’67 of Youngstown, Ohio,

CAROLYN MULLIN BROWN ’49 of West Brandywine Township, Dec. 19, 2020.

MARILYN BARTHELS MITCHELL ’50 of Connellsville, Dec. 10, 2020.

Jan. 28, 2021.

JANET CHISHOLM SHANNON ’67 of New Wilmington, Oct. 12, 2020.

JAMES GRIFFITH SR. ’50 of New Castle, Feb. 13, 2021.

NANCY WICKLINE WILSON ’67 of Silver Lake, N.Y., Dec. 21, 2020.

ALLEN McCULLOUGH ’50 of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, March 13, 2021.

PHILIP CONTI M’68 of New Castle, Dec. 16, 2020.

JOAN BOVARD GRIFFITH ’52 of Glenshaw, Oct. 23, 2020.

NANCY HERMAN GORDON ’68 of Asheville, N.C., Dec. 23, 2019.

IDA “VICTORIA” GIZZI BEYNON ’52 of Warren, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2020.

JAMES “JIM” ITTS M’68 of Canfield, Ohio, April 2, 2020.

MARJORIE JONES NORD ’52 of Neshannock Township, Feb. 6, 2021.

LT. COL. EDMUND “TERRY” VAN KEUREN ’68 of Castle Rock,

PATRICIA REINHEIMER MARION ’52 of Brighton Township, Aug. 7, 2020.

Colo., Sept. 15, 2019.

PATRICIA DRUSCHEL GEORGE ’70 of New Castle, Dec. 19, 2020.

ELLA ARMSTRONG SALOWE ’53 of Carlisle, Jan. 6, 2021.

WILLIAM KRIZNIK ’70 of Pittsburgh, Sept. 18, 2020.

ROBERT ROOF ’54 of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan. 24, 2021.

ANN MARTINKO POPE ’70 of New Bedford, Dec. 30, 2020.

THE REV. DR. JAMES BIGLEY SR. ’55 of Lakeland, Fla., Jan. 9, 2021.

LEOLA ROWE BALIK ’72 of Darlington, formerly of Wampum,

PHILLIP BLAKE ’56 of Chesapeake, Va., Sept. 30, 2020.

BETTY WALKER RICHARDSON ’57 of Neshannock Township, Jan. 10, 2021.

Jan. 19, 2021.

THEODORE “TED” BOGGS JR. M’73 of Austintown, Ohio, Dec. 10, 2020.

ALAN ELLIS ’58 of Honey Brook, March 19, 2021.

LARRY BARR ’75 of Scituate, Mass., Oct. 25, 2020.

THE REV. JOHN HICKS ’58 of Allison Park, Nov. 19, 2020.

GEORGE CHOMOS M’75 of Brookfield, Ohio, Dec. 22, 2020.

GARY McKISSICK ’58 of New Wilmington, Dec. 22, 2020.

CHRISTOPHER YAHN ’75 of Ellwood City, Jan. 4, 2021.

REBECCA WIMER ROSS ’58 of Pittsburgh, formerly of Sharon,

CARL LANDIS II ’76 of New Waterford, Ohio, Nov. 9, 2020.

Jan. 5, 2021.

CHARLES “CHUCK” GREGG ’59 of Plymouth, Mass., Dec. 24, 2020.

MARGARET PRINGLE RISTVEY M’59 of Muncie, Ind., March 29, 2020.

WYNETTA SCHMIDT PERROTTA ’59 of Burghill, Ohio, Dec. 13, 2020.

CAROLYN BROWN McMAHEN ’60 of Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 11, 2021.

WILLIAM “BILL” PEIRCE ’60 of Silver Spring, Md., Sept. 2, 2020.

4 6 w w w.w e s t m i n s t e r. e d u

KURT FEHRS ’90 of Neshannock Township, Nov. 21, 2020.

RYAN PONTIUS ’98 of Austin, Texas, Dec. 26, 2020.

FRIENDS & CAMPUS FAMILY

CAROLYN BYRD COMBS

WENDELL WAGNER ’55

DAVID HAWBAKER ’52

OCT. 6, 2020

NOV. 24, 2020

JAN. 31, 2021

WENDELL WAGNER was a familiar face, not only on the Westminster campus but also throughout Lawrence County. The lifelong New Wilmington resident and U.S. Army veteran served as a county commissioner and New Wilmington mayor with a smile, a handshake and a warm greeting for everyone. His legacy of service to the broader community was shown in his appointment to the boards of directors of many civic and charitable organizations. He was preceded in death by his wife, PHYLLIS DECKER WAGNER ’55, in 2005.

DAVID HAWBAKER, who played on Westminster’s tennis and basketball teams and was president of his fraternity, served in the U.S. Navy and founded Hawbaker & Partners, an advertising firm that focused on industrial advertising in the Pittsburgh area. Committed to a lifetime of service, he helped prisoners with their transition to postprison life, worked with the Salvation Army and was a member of Westminster’s Board of Trustees from 1984-1992 and served on its development, enrollment and long-range planning committees. He was preceded in death by his wife, JOANNE “JODY” TURNER HAWBAKER ’52, in 2000.

CAROLYN COMBS of Mobile, Ala., taught speech and communications at Westminster from 1971-1986.

Born in Kentucky, the avid traveler visited all 50 United States, all the Canadian provinces and a number of other countries.

MICHAEL MAUS FEB. 23, 2021 MICHAEL “MIKE” MAUS served on Westminster’s Board of Trustees, elected in 1988 and reappointed in 1995, and received an honorary degree in 1988. His radio and television broadcast career included serving as chief political correspondent for NBC News’ coverage of the presidential campaigns and elections of 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984. He also spent four years at CBS News and concluded his broadcast career with three years at Minnesota Public Radio as producer and host of “Worldview,” a daily international affairs program.

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 4 7

FROM THE ARCHIVES | A trip down memory lane.

1921

One hundred years ago A

century ago, the Class of 1921 may have been small in number, but the members were “valiant in their labors” for Westminster College. Age may have prevented these students from entering the Great War, but like many of their era, they were no strangers to loss and grief. These were dark days for Americans of the early 20th century, with 116,000 casualties suffered as a result of World War I coupled with the 675,000 who fell victim to the 1918 flu pandemic. Yet these Westminster students persevered, flourished and prevailed.

“True to the spirit of our class, we have had our share of triumphs, we have tasted of defeat, and still we press on.

It is with love and pride for Westminster that we pass from her sacred halls to take up the strenuous responsibilities of life. So now with the characteristic spirit of the Westminster grad we will endeavor to render due service.”

(Westminster College Argo)

The commonalities between the two Classes of ’21 are undeniable. The coronavirus pandemic of the 21st century, which has claimed more than 570,000 American lives, has radically transformed how Westminster College students have lived and learned—and yet, just like their college forebearers, they persist.

We’re curious.

4 8 w w w.w e s t m i n s t e r. e d u

Does anyone recognize any of the members of the Class of 1921? Are any of our Westminster alumni descendents of these early Titans? Let us know and we’ll share details in the next Westminster Magazine. Email: wcmagazine@westminster.edu.

TH E

L A ST I N G

LEG ACY

OF

DR. DEWEY

DEWITT THE HOYT EXPANSION PROJECT has been a focus of growth for

Hoyt labs service

Westminster College in an effort to enhance the resources available for nearly 1/3 of

ALL

the student population who major in one of the STEM areas of study. The plans to

our undergraduate students.

make this area more suited for learning focus on these student-centered core elements: collaboration and experiential, with a more modern appearance. Help support the expansion project by making a gift to enhance new learning spaces.

DR. H. DEWEY DeWITT, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2013, LEFT AN IMPRINT ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MANY STUDENTS.

“

I am very fortunate in that I graduated from Westminster in 1961 with a degree in chemistry. During my four years at Westminster I had the great fortune to have Dr. Dewey DeWitt as my most significant professor. He left a lifelong impression on me, both as a chemist and as a person.

Dick White ’61

”

The College looks forward to bonds like those between Dr. DeWitt and his students happening in our new laboratory spaces in the expanded Hoyt Science Center. We hope you’ll consider supporting the expansion project by helping us equip these vital learning areas with necessary tools­­—glassware, glassware, balances, hotplates, chemical storage, data-collection devices, ovens and more—so more— that each lab may become a place of collaboration, experimentation and discovery.

DOUBLE THE IMPACT A special thank you to Board of Trustee Member Glenn Thompson ’68 who matched $20,000 in donations to this important project.

Join him in helping by making a gift online today. Simply denote Hoyt Labs in the designation line.

www.westminster.edu/give.

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