York College Magazine 2022 Vol. 2

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

MAJOR OPTIONS

STUDENTS EXPLORE NUMEROUS CHOICES

2022 WHITE ROSE MUSIC FEST

featuring Jamey Johnson and Grace Potter

October 7 and 8

PeoplesBank Park

The festival’s debut will also feature The Wood Brothers, Margo Price, Lucero, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Langhorne Slim, Brittney Spencer, and Madeline Edwards.

Presented by Tickets are available through the event’s website: www.whiterosemusicfest.com

Jamey Johnson Grace Potter

VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

At my inauguration in 2013, I spoke of what I viewed as the present and future of York College. In my remarks titled “Time and Place” I said that “to successfully educate the next generation of students and to prepare them for life, great institutions must adapt and change as the landscape changes with time.” Shortly thereafter, York College embarked on a campuswide strategic planning effort to define the innovative updates and enhancements required to ensure students are prepared to succeed after graduation. The process resulted in the 2016-2021 Strategic Plan for a Greater York College—the culmination of one-and-a-half years of intentional planning by the campus community—that challenged York College to move from “Great to Greater.” 1

The College accomplished many of the key objectives of the 2016-2021 plan. However, the plan was never meant to be finished, but just one of many steps in the College’s continuing movement toward greater. Indeed, we learned a great deal during that time and of course who could have anticipated a pandemic that would occur and cause such disruption?

In May 2022, the Board of Trustees approved the current strategic plan. It is simply titled Strategic Plan 2.0 (SP2.0) 2 as it expands and builds upon the work that began with the Strategic Plan for a Greater York College. SP2.0 also was an effort marked by collaboration from the beginning, with students, staff, and faculty contributing BIG IDEAS unbound by time and resources for consideration. Feedback was solicited along the way so that all constituent groups had an opportunity to be heard.

SP2.0 allows the College to pivot to meet the needs of future students through three areas of focus: 1) Experiential learning and high-impact practices; providing community- and project-based learning opportunities, internships, and co-ops to ALL students through an infrastructure of cooperating offices and divisions 2) Enrollment and student success: recognizing that not all students come to college as traditional undergraduates, increasing marketing and communication so that more people are aware of what makes our college distinctive, and focusing on student wellness as a major driver and predictor of student success and 3) Organizational Resilience: positioning York College to succeed financially while ensuring the College remains flexible and nimble, and able to invest in its people.

SP2.0 acknowledges that times have changed and that the College must evolve to a different place to ensure that our graduates are prepared for an uncertain future. As it was with its predecessor, SP2.0 will not be a means to an end, but just another step along our continuing path toward being “greater.”

YORK COLLEGE

President

Pamela Gunter-Smith, Ph.D.

Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

Patrice DiQuinzio, Ph.D.

Vice President, Development

Troy M. Miller

Chief Communications Officer

Mary Dolheimer

Vice President, Enrollment Management

Brian Hazlett, M.A.

Assistant to the President for Capital Projects and Facilities Utilization

Kenneth Martin, Ph.D.

Dean of Student Development and Campus Life

Rick Satterlee, Ph.D.

Vice President, Finance and Campus Operations

Anthony DeCocinis, MBA

Dean, Center for Community Engagement

Dominic DelliCarpini, Ph.D.

Head of School, York Country Day School

Christine Heine, Ed.D.

YORK COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Director of Editorial Services

Gail R. Huganir

Director of Creative Services

Lance A. Snyder ’05

Graphic Designer Ryan Kidd ’13

Design Consultant

Skelton Sprouls

Photographer

Emily Rund

Writer

Sarah Smith ’22

Senior Administrative Assistant

Colleen M. Adamy

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Send address label along with new address to: Division of College Advancement York College of Pennsylvania York, PA 17403-3651 717-815-1410 or email yorkmag@ycp.edu

York College Magazine is published three times a year (May, August, December) by the Division of College Advancement, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17403-3651. Periodicals postage paid at York, PA, and additional mailing offices. Permit No. 174. © 2022 York College of Pennsylvania. Printed in U.S.A.

Pamela Gunter-Smith, Ph.D. President, York College of Pennsylvania

1 www.ycp.edu/great-to-greater 2 www.ycp.edu/strategic-plan-2

We welcome your news and comments at yorkmag@ycp.edu. York College of Pennsylvania does not discriminate because of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, sex, or age in employment or in recruitment and acceptance of students.

HOW CAN WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD?

Dominic DelliCarpini, Ph.D. Dean of the Center for Community Engagement

This question captures the challenge faced currently by higher education, and the essence of what we do well at York College. Preparing students for careers likely to be very different as they progress within them—means focusing upon transferable skills and practices. Learning theorists have long known that the way we progress as individuals and as human beings is by applying problem-solving techniques from one situation to other similar situations. In our project-based classes, rather than giving students knowledge and asking them to recite it back, we challenge students with real-world problems and help them to apply critical thinking skills and prior strategies to these tasks. In this way, students do more than solve one problem; they learn to confront new problems by applying a combination of the techniques

Alex B. Hernández-Siegel, M.Ed. Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion

When I speak with students about their ability to be ready for life beyond Commencement, I think of cultural humility and resiliency. Liberal arts courses which students take here are necessary to solidify the foundation of our civilization in learning about humanity. Cultural humility, the ability to exercise our own versions of appreciative inquiry in learning about the experiences of others and reflect on our own, is a hallmark of what we mean by cultural humility and leadership development.

I also feel that we should reflect on what we mean by resiliency. Life is unpredictable, and we should thrive and absorb the good experiences which give us strength in the positivity of those experiences. We should use that very strength to help us pivot in both personal and professional ways when

Kia Kuresman, M.Ed. Director of Academic Advising

As educators, I agree with S. Pharr, A.S. Sengupta, and Y.I. Upton that it is our obligation to create learning environments that treat each of our students as a whole person who matters, is curious, asks questions, and learns to create a more authentic self. We need to help them learn how to develop trustful relationships with people whose identities are different than their own. We need to help them feel comfortable with the unknown, teach them how to work through feelings of unease, and stay present in the moment when learning something new. Finally, developing the skills to ask questions and truly listen to the answers allows students to increase their capacity for learning on the job and in the classroom and interacting with others in an ever-changing world.

“Developing the skills to ask questions and truly listen to the answers allows students to increase their capacity for learning on the job and in the classroom and interacting with others in an ever-changing world.”

— KIA KURESMAN, M.E d.

LITTLE EXPLORERZ

Despite the mud, there were smiles everywhere, and that meant Taylere Green ’23 had done her job.

A Sociology major and mother of two, Taylere founded the nonprofit outdoor play group Little Explorerz in 2021.

Taylere, who grew up in Alaska, wanted to help her kids and others love the outdoors as much as she did. So, as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted, she formed a plan for Little Explorerz.

ESPORTS EXPERT

Roger Casado Sanchez ’26 is among the top .05% of League of Legends players in the world. His gaming journey started with his sister Rocio’s death.

When Rocio was young, a tumor was found. Despite the family’s best efforts to get her treatment in the United States, she suffered a stroke on the way to treatment and died in February 2012 at the age of 18. Roger was 10 years old. After Rocio’s death, he became sullen and isolated, but when he switched on his Game Boy Color, he found the relief and escape he needed.

A few years ago, his cousins introduced him to League of Legends. Roger learned English through the game. He was then able to understand YouTube streams and become a better player.

What are you most looking forward to for Fall Semester?

Now a first-year Psychology student at York College, Roger is a different person than his 10-year-old self.

A classmate introduced him to YCP’s esports team. Coach Kyle Rosen says, “It’s extremely rare to find a player like Roger through someone you know. A lot of colleges don’t have a player of Roger’s caliber.”

What’s special about the College’s team is the focus on education, not only gaming. “Students get books to read about psychology and strategy,” Rosen says. “I don’t know another college trying to inter twine education with their program.”

Roger hopes others can see the possibilities of gaming. “It frustrates me,” he says, “that people think gaming makes you a violent person. People need to give it a try and see how cool and fun it can be.”

She didn’t work alone. The York College Changemakers played a role in the development and success of Little Explorerz, along with teachers, community members, social workers, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Free to all, programs are offered every two weeks, with varying levels and curriculums to accommodate all age groups. The meetup locations vary,

LAUREN FINCH

Year: Fifth-Year student

Major: Human Services

Hometown: Mount Wolf, PA

“I am most excited to be back in-person on campus this fall, especially being able to see all the familiar and smiling faces!”

OPEOLUWA

DANIEL ADESOLA

Year: Sophomore

Major: Biological Sciences

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

“I am most looking forward to the continuation of my antibiotics research in the fall.”

so kids across York County can attend. Family members are also invited to join in. “There’s a sense of community and a sense of family when you come to our sessions,” Taylere says.

She felt that York College had her back every step of the way. As the program grows, she’s working toward sustainability, with the hopes of attaching it to a stable nonprofit.

“It has really changed my life for the positive,” she says, “and I can’t wait to keep making positive impacts on the community.”

Find meetup information for kids and parents plus volunteer information for York College students in the Little Explorerz Facebook group.

DRONE CHAMPION

Victor “Alex” Suarez ’24 took third place in the 2022 Collegiate Drone Racing Championship (CDRC). His engineering coursework helps him to create, innovate, and race at a higher level.

Alex was in elementary school in Frederick, Maryland, when he began disassembling his toys and tinkering to make them better.

“I may not have always been able to put them back together,” he says, “but I could sure take them apart.”

Now a sophomore Electrical and Mechanical Engineering student, he’s focused on improving more complicated machinery: drones.

Alex is a globally ranked athlete. He achieved success at the Collegiate Drone Racing Championship at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when he piloted a custom frame that he designed.

MEET JERRY ALBERTS

Director

of Alumni Relations

JACOB WINGARD Sophomore

York, PA

“I look forward to continuing research and presenting at the Society for the Advancement of Chicano/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).”

What does your job as Director of Alumni Relations involve?

We are focused on getting alumni reengaged with the College, our schools, and programs in addition to continuing to build strong connections and friendships. Encouraging alumni to bring their experiences, expertise, and lessons learned to our YCP students is extremely valuable not only to students, but also for the future of the College.

In your view, what roles do alumni play in the health of York College?

Alumni engagement as well as alumni donorship is extremely important for the future of York College. When outside funding sources are looking to provide financial support to YCP, they always ask how our alumni are supporting the College. If our alumni participation numbers are weak or low, funding agencies will shy away from supporting YCP.

What is your vision for Alumni Relations?

My vision is to move toward offering our alumni meaningful opportunities in which they can take a more active role in engaging our students and faculty. I also want this office to be a valuable resource for every program here at YCP. We want to be a good partner with all areas of the College campus. What are you most passionate about and why?

Stay connected to YCP by visiting the alumni pages on the college website at ► ycp.edu/alumni

I am very passionate about the College reengaging with alumni. At the other universities I have served, alumni engagement was the centerpiece and focus of all my efforts. I have seen wonderful things accomplished when alumni re-engage with their programs, departments, schools, colleges, or universities. I am excited to see the results of what we can accomplish when YCP reengages with more of our alumni.  — S.S.

“Alumni engagement as well as alumni donorship is extremely important for the future of York College.”

— JERRY ALBERTS

As President of YCP Hillel, Julianna wants to “facilitate helping my e-board members build connections with community members and develop a Shabbat service deeply meaningful to everyone.” She appreciates events with Hillel, such as attending “Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars” in Maryland with fellow members and helping set up for Shabbat. She considers her work with Hillel to be one of the things she is most proud of in her time at YCP.

York College works with Engaged Scholars and Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows

From Day One to help them form their dreams into a personal mission, which is supported with financial and other assistance. They leave York College with a record of achievement that will gain the attention of employers, graduate schools, or others who provide entry into the next step in the extraordinary lives they imagine for themselves.

YCP classes help him understand the theories and mechanics of how drones work and improve his ability to create, innovate, and race at a higher level. “Understanding the actual theory behind why everything is doing what it’s doing and putting that side together has been very insightful,” he says.

For Alex, the threat of a crash is worth the risk for the thrill of the race. “It’s an adrenaline rush,” he says. “It gets you moving, gets your blood flowing.”

He wants to invent drone-related products to improve the industry. While Alex is an accomplished drone racer, in the end, he’s still a tinkerer, disassembling his toys and trying to make them even better.

What are you most looking forward to for Fall Semester?

Recreational Therapy

campus, to see my friends, and to take advantage of all of the wonderful things YCP has to offer. I cannot wait to make the most of my senior year!”

SUSTAINABILITY SPARTANGREEN ORGANIZER

Sarah Martin ’24 founded SpartanGreen to help her fellow York College of Pennsylvania students get involved in sustainability activities on and off campus.

As a recipient of the Eisenhart Community Scholarship, Sarah must complete 30 hours of community service each semester. Her longtime passion for the environment led her to organize SpartanGreen, a one-day event.

On Earth Day, Sarah launched the effort in conjunction with the twoweek campuswide Sustainability Awareness Campaign.

SpartanGreen included activities on campus and in the community that encouraged students to become involved in local environmental endeavors. Dozens of students turned out to participate.

“I wanted to spark something (that I hope will continue) to show students can do this,” Sarah says. She derived the idea for SpartanGreen from SpartanServe, a fall event where YCP students, faculty, alumni, and staff volunteer for service projects throughout York City.

York College joined the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) in November 2020. In May, Sarah and fellow student Reginald Sullivan ’22 were recognized as Campus Sustainability Champions by PERC. (Faculty members Dr. Perri Druen, Associate Professor of Psychology, and

Dr. Josh Wyrick, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, were also honored).

“No difference is too small,” Sarah says. “Start early, be passionate, have fun, and try to be more conscientious of what you do every day and how it affects the Earth. Anyone can make a difference.”

ALEX MERRITT

Year: Junior

Major: Professional

Writing with minors in Communications and Music

Hometown: Nutley, NJ

“In the upcoming semester, I am looking forward to learning more about the publishing industry in a few of my related classes.”

ALEXIS STEWART

Year: Senior

Major: Professional Writing/ Creative Writing Minor

Hometown: Bear, DE

“Since it’s my senior year, I’m most looking forward to having classes with my favorite professors and my friends in the major!”

“Try to be more conscientious of what you do every day and how it affects the Earth.”

— SARAH MARTIN

Sarah Martin ’24 on campus and below, helping to plant trees.

OVERHEARD

“The American flag can represent life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and it can represent colonization and systematic racism; both are fitting descriptions. However, Larry Elder may select the former and deflect the latter, whereas Colin Kaepernick would select the latter and deflect the former.”

Erec Smith, Associate Professor of Rhetoric, York College, was featured on a Heterodox: The Blog post titled, “On The Crisis of Trust in Higher Education: A Pre-Conference Roundtable,” April 28, 2022.

Dr. Nicole Hesson, Assistant Professor of Education, and Dr. Kimberly Kode, Associate Professor of Education, York College, wrote an article for the website of the AMLE (Association for Middle Level Education) titled, “Middle School Mental Health: 6 Steps Educators Can Take to Address Student Needs.”

“Although Ukrainian was acknowledged as a language of the USSR, Russian was largely used in Ukraine. Those who spoke Ukrainian were often ridiculed. Viewing Ukrainian as an obstacle to full unification of all Soviet citizens, the Soviet Government ‘Russianized’ Ukrainian language by introducing Russian words and changing Ukrainian to reflect a stronger

Charles Kauffman, Adjunct Professor of World Languages, York College, wrote an opinion piece for the York Dispatch on April 18, 2022, titled, “This war is partly about Russian vs. Ukrainian language.”

Rachael Finley, Director of Campus Recreation, Athletics, was quoted regarding the Sprint 8 program at York College in the CampusRec article, “3 Types of Technology to Invest In,” March 4, 2022.

Dr. Jay Azriel, Retired Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, York College, was quoted in an article from Fox43 titled, “Tips for entrepreneurial success,” on February 25, 2022.

“Our motto is campus rec is for ‘every body.’ It doesn’t matter where you’re at in your fitness journey, Sprint 8 is for you.”

“The mindset is looking at problems as opportunities. Having a growth view so that when you make a mistake, you learn from the mistake. It’s a way of running your life.”

sense of Russian.”

“It is a sad fact that in any classroom of thirty middle school students, approximately six might be experiencing some form of mental illness. Adolescence is a particularly important time, as physical, social, and emotional changes combined with exposure to risk factors can put young people at risk.”

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GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

SUSTAINABILITY YCP HOSTS SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Students participated in two weeks of events that explored the theme in April York College of Pennsylvania hosted its second annual Sustainability Awareness Campaign during a period that encompassed Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day on April 29, 2022. Students from an array of disciplines took part in events across campus and in the community that included a guest lecture by Professor Richard Russo from Frostburg State University of Maryland, planting trees at Horn Farm, picking up trash, and other hands-on activities.

One of the most meaningful projects, says Dr. Jennifer Pomeroy, Associate Professor of Geography, who chairs the President’s Task Force for Campus Sustainability (PTFCS), was the 2022 Student Research Showcase that also featured 13 posters focused on sustainability.

In the poster contest, Breah Kaliszak ’22, (York, Pennsylvania) a Biology major, won first place for “Effect of Land Use on Microplastic Concentration and Characteristics in Freshwater Ecosystems of York County, PA.”

Second place went to Caleb Keller ’22, (Glenville, Pennsylvania) a Biology major, for “The Detection of SARSCoV-2 RNA in Wastewater to Estimate COVID-19 Occurrence at York College of Pennsylvania.”

Ian Miller ’22, (Littlestown, Pennsylvania) a dual Chemistry and History major, won third place for “Forgotten Losses: Nature and Agriculture at the Battle of Gettysburg.”

The low-carbon-impact food display at Johnson Dining Hall was a big hit with students, Dr. Pomeroy says.

“Compared to last year, I feel a lot more students expressed interest and there was a lot more excitement about what can be done at a local level to make not only campus more sustainable

but also make broader connections to pressing environmental issues like climate change, extreme weather events, and marine health,” she says.

Environmental Science major Jennifer Campbell ’24, (Somers, New York) presented her research project “Assessing Water Quality Across Pennsylvania” at the Student Research Showcase.

“What stood out to me the most,” she says, “was the amount of effort York College put into raising awareness about what sustainability is and how YCP can achieve it! It was great to see how much students, faculty, and YCP as a whole care about sustainability.”

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

The idea for a campus-wide Sustainability Awareness Campaign arose in 2019, when Dr. Pamela GunterSmith formed the PTFCS. The task force has 22 members who represent campus stakeholders including faculty, staff, administrators, and students, as well as community residents. The campaign aims to provide sustainability education and inspire involvement on campus and in the community.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put the inaugural campaign on hold until 2021. The offerings grew in 2022 to include more on- and off-campus events, which were more interdisciplinary in nature.

Dr. Pomeroy, who is a geographer, sees the priority of incorporating sustainability into every field of study. For example, Psychology might provide a unique window through which to study the issues, and Geography, Civil Engineering, Political Science, and the Humanities could help provide various perspectives and help communities to reach solutions.

A cleanup campaign along Tyler Run, a stream that cuts through campus, and at the Codorus Creek, as well as a trash pickup on nearby Jackson Street offered an opportunity for students to see how major environmental problems can start at the local level.

“Students are able to draw that connection between where we are in a regional context and global issues,” Dr. Pomeroy says.

Students also powered a human hamster wheel shaved-ice maker, made wildflower seed bombs and bee hotel installations, and planned a community garden.

“It is so important for YCP to offer educational activities about sustainability because decreasing our negative impact on the local, regional, and even global environment is a necessity at this point,” Jennifer says. “Inspiring students to be more green can greatly improve the quality of campus life while also supporting the environment in things like biodiversity and habitat conditions.”

BEYOND THE CAMPAIGN

“Each discipline has a different conceptual lens and methods,” Dr. Pomeroy says, “but they all have a part to play to collectively reach a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we are facing. Sustainability means interdisciplinary because figuring out solutions is the ultimate goal, and to do so we need collaboration from a diverse array of academic disciplines.”

Beyond the two-week campaign, Dr. Pomeroy envisions the York College campus becoming a living laboratory where students from many disciplines can come together to study sustainability issues and find solutions.

“This kind of action on the ground I feel is a true manifestation of thinking globally, acting locally, and helping the whole campus move toward sustainability,” she says.

“Inspiring students to be more green can greatly improve the quality of campus life while also supporting the environment in things like biodiversity and habitat conditions.”

— DR. JENNIFER POMEROY

LEFT TO RIGHT: Terrence Drakeford ’25, Abby Wurzbach ’23, Sarah Martin ’24, Olivia Brown ’25, Rachel Stahlman, York Countywide Action Plan Coordinator, with Cindy Pissiketti (kneeling) of Horn Farm. Students helped plant tree seedlings at the farm.

ZAC CLARK ’09 VISITS YCP

College students are dying daily from suicide and drug overdoses tied to mental illness. Those statistics prompted Zac Clark to host the Keep Going tour. The 2009 York College of Pennsylvania alumnus is a mental health and addiction recovery advocate and the founder of Release Recovery, a New York-based addiction recovery program. He is also a former contestant on ABC’s The Bachelorette

Clark and his team at the Release Re covery Foundation arranged a college tour to mark Mental Health Awareness Month in May. From April 25-30, he visited five East Coast colleges, including YCP.

The tour included a short communitybuilding exercise followed by Clark sharing the story of his own recovery, joined by other influential voices on panel discussions. It helped raise awareness for the troubling issues college students are facing and gave students an opportunity to share what they are personally experiencing.

The visit marked the first time Clark had returned to campus since starting his sobriety journey over a decade ago.

He said, “today’s college students have lived a remote life and forget how to connect with human beings.”

Counseling centers are invaluable and resources such as Clark’s Release Recovery Program, which benefits those working through addiction.

Clark’s dream is to see peer ambassadors on every college campus. “I just wish as a college athlete,” he said, looking back, “there was some level of education that I knew where to go.”

He believes anything is possible. “Dream big,” he said. “It’s cliché, but keep going, keep seeking, keep up the pursuit. You’re worth it.”

WEARABLE TECH

BRIAN GROSS HIRED FOR WRESTLING PROGRAM

York College Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation Paul Saikia and Wrestling Head Coach

Duane Bastress are pleased to announce the hiring of Brian Gross as the Wrestling program’s first-ever fulltime Assistant Coach. Gross will be primarily responsible for leading the newly minted Women’s Wrestling team at York, which is set to begin competition in the 20232024 school year.

“I am super-excited to be coaching wrestling at York College. My passion and love for the sport of wrestling is what drew me to the position, especially women’s wrestling,” said Gross. “Having raised three daughters that are in college and one that is wrestling in college, I have experienced firsthand what women’s wrestling does for a young lady.”

Gross has over 20 years’ worth of experience mentoring and developing youth through the sport of wrestling. For the past 15 years, he has served as the Head Wrestling Coach at West York Area High School.

Gross is also no stranger to the Spartan Wrestling program as he donned the York singlet from 1989-1993.

“I am excited to bring Brian on board. As a fellow alumnus of the Spartan Wrestling program, I know he is personally invested in the success of both our men’s and women’s programs,” said Bastress. “From day one, I could tell he is passionate about the sport of wrestling and will help take both programs to national prominence.”

Gross began his duties in May 2022.

Head Coach Evan Scheffey ’09, a Spartan Hall of Fame defender during his career spanning 2005-2008, is no stranger to leading the Spartans to victory. As a new approach to motivating his team, Scheffey started utilizing wearable technology during the 2021 season to measure the athletic performance of individual players.

The data produce information critical to helping to reduce injury, speed recovery, and optimize team training sessions.

The team dons GPS-enabled vests, infused with technology created by a company called Catapult, during training sessions and games. After a game or practice, the coaching staff uploads the data gathered to the Catapult software for analysis. Athletes can view their individual stats using Catapult’s mobile application.

The system measures top speed, total distance covered, and the work ratio for each athlete. Using the measurements, Scheffey can keep an eye on players who are pushing themselves to their fullest and make strategic decisions based on their athletic profiles.

The statistics offer coaches insight about when to pressure players and when to throttle back. The technology has helped reduce the risk of preventable injuries, and athletic trainers use the data when recommending recovery time.

“We want to give our players the best opportunity to play at their maximum level,” Scheffey says. “Using our film analysis system and Catapult technology, we can motivate each player to push themselves to their highest individual potential. Ultimately, this will improve the overall performance and athleticism of our team.”

SPARTAN SPORTS

“The new wearable technology will help our team by enforcing the standard for players to give maximum effort each day.”

— BRETT JOYNER ’22

HISTORIC SEASON FOR MEN’S LACROSSE

The York College Men’s Lacrosse squad just wrapped up a historic 2022 season. The Spartans finished the year 20-3 as they advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four for the first time in school history.

The Spartans set a program record with an 18-game win streak and earned their second straight MAC Commonwealth Tournament Championship after going 8-0 in the league regular season. The 20 wins for the Spartans also set a new school record. York is now 36-5 in their last two years with all five losses coming to nationally ranked squads.

The Green and White were recognized for their outstanding season with a

slew of postseason accolades. In the Commonwealth, Head Coach Brandon Childs was named the conference Coach of the Year while graduate defenseman

Ryan Kennedy ’20 was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. First-year attack Ben Mayer was named the league Rookie of the Year. York placed eight players on the first team while three others earned second-team honors and one received honorable mention accolades.

York placed a school record 10 players on the USILA All-American teams. Kennedy was a first-team pick for the second straight year. Senior Dylan Wolf graduate student Ethan Greene team picks while seven other Spartans picked up honorable mention honors.

NATIONAL ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS

For the second consecutive year, senior Baseball player Austin Denlinger and senior Women’s Lacrosse and Soccer standJenna Cholowinski have both been selected as CoSIDA National Academic All-America honors. Denlinger was a second-team pick while Cholowinski made her second appearance on the first-team.

The duo are now the fifth and sixth Spartans to earn the prestigious academic award twice in their York College careers. They join Men’s Basketball Hall of Famer Brandon Bushey ’06 (2005 and 2006), Women’s Soccer All-American goalie Melanie Glessner ’15 (2012 and 2013), Cross Country and Track & Field multiple time All-American Tim Hartung ’14 (2013 and 2014), and Men’s Lacrosse All-American Tyler Hutson ’15 (2014 and 2015).

Denlinger completed his outstanding Spartan career in May as he led the Spartans to their second straight appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Championship series as York won 24 games against one of the toughest schedules in Division III.

Academically, Denlinger is a Civil Engineering major who will graduate in August. He owns a 3.71 GPA and is a five-time member of the York College Dean’s List.

Cholowinski was one of 16 studentathletes to earn first-team All-American honors for 2022. She was one of four Women’s Lacrosse players to be selected to the team. The national At-Large team includes student-athletes from the sports of lacrosse, swimming, golf, tennis, and field hockey.

Cholowinski finished her Spartan career with a 3.97 GPA and she was a member of the Dean’s List in all eight of her collegiate semesters. She graduated with dual degrees in Intelligence Analysis and History. She also earned the MAC Senior Women’s Lacrosse Senior Scholar Athlete in May.

On May 27, Cholowinski was named the Georgia Heathcote Stallman Award winner, signifying the outstanding female York College senior student-athlete for the year.

TOP: Austin Denlinger

ABOVE: Jenna Cholowinski

PURSUITS

FORGOTTEN LOSSES

York College of Pennsylvania senior Ian Miller’s ’22 research took him back to the Civil War era and made him wonder how the Battle of Gettysburg had affected the environment.

Miller didn’t need to spend hours walking around the Gettysburg battlefield to gather information for his project, “Forgotten Losses: Nature and Agriculture at the Battle of Gettysburg.”

Initially, he planned to investigate soil and water contamination as a result of the Civil War as it is a topic often discussed in reference to modern wars, but not historical ones. However, a lack of sources pivoted his focus to Gettysburg.

Miller graduated in May as a dual Chemistry and History major, focusing on environmental chemistry and history in particular. History and a passion for the environment are deeply ingrained in him. “I spent my time before college in Boy Scouts, where I earned the Eagle Scout rank, which is where I developed a deep respect for nature and an interest in environmental history and science.”

The Department of History and Political Science greatly assisted him with his project. Beyond that, he says several professors, led by Dr. Corey Brooks and Dr. Peter Levy, advised him as he conducted research.

Going into his research, Miller’s focus was initially to be on the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg and its impacts on farms, agriculture, and the general landscape, partnered with a discussion of epidemic disease as a result of war.

The first hurdle, he says, was a lack of sources that discussed epidemics. “Because it seemed the people of Gettysburg employed extensive precautionary practices, my focus had to shift to investigating why Gettysburg avoided epidemics unlike the mass illness often seen in southern theatres.”

There were many challenges, especially with finding primary sources in a setting where facilities and archives were just beginning

COVID-19 IN WASTEWATER

Biology major Caleb Keller ’22 presented his research, “The Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater to Estimate COVID-19 Occurrence at York College of Pennsylvania” at the 2022 Undergraduate Research Showcase. His work involved sampling wastewater around all three York College of Pennsylvania campuses (West, Main, and North). “SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the disease COVID-19. Virus RNA is excreted into the stool of infected individuals, so Dr. [Meda] Higa and I were able to isolate SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples to detect COVID-19 presence in our college community,” he says.

to open after COVID. This meant the civilian accounts Miller pulled had to be found in other works, but large enough to be considerable and significant for his needs.

“Ian offers a fresh look at the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg.” Dr. Brooks says.

After all these challenges, Miller is most proud of being able to complete an extensive research project on something so close to where he grew up and involving nature.

In the future, he would like to become a tour guide at Gettysburg, or somewhere else with historical significance. Currently, he has a position as a Product Development Chemist working in an R&D lab at Adhesives Research. “History will still remain a huge hobby of mine, and something I hope to be able to bring into a career eventually,” he says.

According to Keller, this method can be used in the future to detect viruses present at the College. He wanted to complete this research due to his keen interest in virology.

“Although this research may be regarded as ‘dirty’ work, it was important that it was performed, because there was no access to COVID-19 detection methods during the beginning of the pandemic,” he says.

Upon graduation, Keller would like to work in healthcare. He sees disease prevention as being a big part of his future career. “Being able to implement wastewater-based epidemiology into cities would help hospitals to prepare for the next disease surge,” he says.

“I spent my time before college in Boy Scouts, where I earned the Eagle Scout rank, which is where I developed a deep respect for nature and an interest in environmental history and science.”

— IAN MILLER ’22

Keller was surprised that he did not detect influenza on campus. However, he partly expected it since it was during a time of social distancing and mask wearing.

“I was also surprised at how heavy manhole covers are!”

With his research, Keller encountered some challenges. Starting without a clear hypothesis, he asked the question, “Can we do this?” Extra steps had to be taken in order to make sure the RNA did not degrade, but with this he found improvements to his protocol.

Even through the challenges, he was able to achieve what he set out to do and is proud of that. “We tried to provide the College with a protocol to use for future disease outbreaks, and we did,” he says.

Carla Strassle Ph.D. Director of Experiential Learning, Internships, and Practica for the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education

Keller credits all of his Biology courses and Dr. Higa for preparing him for his research.

“Caleb submitted an abstract to the American Society for Microbiology and was accepted to present his research at the Annual Microbe Conference held in Washington, D.C., in June,” says Dr. Higa.

Apart from his community research, Keller serves as a Resident Assistant (RA) and is a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and TriBeta National Biological Honor Society. He also works in drug/alcohol rehabilitation as a Behavioral Health Technician.

In the future, he plans to apply to medical school, and expresses interest in becoming a nurse anesthesiologist, physician assistant, or earning a Ph.D. “No matter what, I would love to work in healthcare or research.”

Psychology faculty member Carla Strassle knows the value of hands-on learning and working in the field.

Dr. Strassle is a trained clinical psychologist specializing in adults. She recently completed her 20th year at York College. She finds internships particularly rewarding—both for herself and students. The amount of work completed on-site (120 out of 135 hours) gives students real-world experience that complements their classroom learning. There are so many opportunities; we have Criminal Justice students interning with police departments, Human Service, Psychology, and Sociology students placed in case management and therapeutic settings, and Recreation Leadership students implementing programming with children and elders.

In one case, Dr. Strassle has a student interning for EquiTeam Support Services, a horse therapy farm in Dallastown, PA.

For her, seeing students become paraprofessionals is the most rewarding, as

she observes students transition from the classroom to the real world. “I always tell my interns because I personally run the firsttime internship class for the Psychology Department, specifically, that I’ve got the best job out of all the faculty,” she says.

According to Dr. Strassle, York College is in its 2.0 phase of its strategic plan, with a heavy emphasis on high-impact practices, such as internships. However, other types of hands-on learning, such as service learning, which teaches students to apply the concepts they learn in the classroom to their communities, are also part of this vision.

“The School of Behavioral Sciences and Education really does a great job of making sure that students can try it out before they commit full time to it,” she says.  — S.S.

“I always tell my interns because I personally run the first-time internship class for the Psychology Department, specifically, that I’ve got the best job out of all the faculty.”

— CARLA STRASSLE, PH.D.

“Being able to implement wastewater-based epidemiology into cities would help hospitals to prepare for the next disease surge.”

— CALEB KELLER ’22

Dr. Strassle is pictured here with Psychology major Karah Stevenson ’24 at EquiTeam Support Services with

COURSE CHANGING

BY BREANNA HOFFNER ’22 AND SARAH SMITH ’22

MARISSA BOYLES ’22 Accounting to Business Analytics

“I was still able to work with numbers the way I wanted to, without the focus on taxes and public accounting, and I was able to keep Accounting as my minor.”

Switching majors is not uncommon at York College of Pennsylvania, with the most recent data showing 33.4% of bachelor-degree seeking students (including new first-time and transfer students, full-time and part-time students) having their bachelor degrees in a different major than their starting major.

The College offers more than 70 majors and minors to help aid students who may be considering changing their majors, and also equips advisors with the tools and understanding needed to help students through this process.

Portraits by Howard Korn

THE BENEFITS OF CHANGING MAJORS

Marissa Boyles ’22 reflected on her time at the College and how transitioning from an Accounting major to a Business Analytics major was a positive process for her. Upon entering college, she wanted to go into Forensic Accounting. However, after a few years in the program, she realized that she did not want to work in public accounting or be responsible for taxes.

“I still enjoyed learning about financial statements and working with numbers, but felt that an accounting degree was geared toward preparing me for the CPA exam, which at this point in time I was unsure about. After taking an Intro to Analytics course, I started thinking about switching my major,” she says.

Boyles began looking into the Business Analytics major. “I was still able to work with numbers the way I wanted to, without the focus on taxes and public accounting, and I was able to keep Accounting as my minor.”

For her, the process of switching majors was simple. Many of the general business courses overlapped with each other, so she was not far behind. When planning the switch, she met with her academic advisor Karen Robinson and discussed her intentions.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Marissa and assisting with her matriculation,” said Robinson, who is an Assistant Professor of Accounting in the Graham School of Business. “As much as I love accounting I do realize that it is not a fit for everyone, and I am very happy when a student (especially a good student like Marissa) finds a major and potential career that is the perfect fit.”

Then, Boyles filled in the proper paperwork and took it to the Academic Advising Center.

She says, “My new advisor, Wei Chen, has been super helpful, too, seeing as I came in late. He always made sure I was taking the right classes and staying on track, which I really appreciated, since my undergraduate catalog looked a little different compared to the new one.”

“Marissa is an enthusiastic student,” says Chen, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Analytics. “Her curiosity always motivated her to seek new challenges.”

Boyles credits her academic advisors and the College for making her switch so seamless.

“Switching to my new major opened a world of possibilities post-graduation. I will be working at Ernst and Young as a Technology Risk Consultant, combining the skills I learned from accounting and business analytics to achieve this.”

Jalil Dixon ’23, enrolled at York College as a Philosophy major. He now studies Professional Writing, and is currently being advised by Dr. Emily Murphy Cope.“Coming into college, I disliked the idea of being enrolled as ‘Undecided,’ and since I had some interest in philosophy, I decided to major in Philosophy and minor in Creative Writing,” he says.

At first, he did not know of the Professional Writing major offered at the College. However, after hearing York College President Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith talk on his first day about all of the College’s newer programs, she mentioned the major, and his interest was piqued.

“A few days later, I grabbed a Professional Writing major pamphlet and changed my major—all before even attending a single class.”

He has always enjoyed writing, and it has become a part of who he is. “I’ve always cherished the idea of turning a passion into a career; for me, that’s writing.”

The process of switching majors was also easy for Jalil. Since he switched before even starting classes, he did not have to think about what classes would count toward a new major.

Changing majors has impacted him in a big way. Enrolling in the Professional Writing program has allowed him to see that he can have a successful career in the field of writing.

“Entering college, the people around me weren’t sure that attending college for a degree in the arts would be a good decision,” Jalil says. “Being a Professional Writing major has meant so much to me, as I have been provided so many opportunities to incorporate my skills, learn new skills, communicate with established people in the field, and just be in a conducive and open avenue for me to exercise my passion.”

Dr. Cope loves advising students just like Jalil. She says it’s normal for undergraduates to go through multiple major changes. “It’s important to take a wide range of classes your first two years,” she says. This helps students find their interests and what works for them.

JALIL DIXON ’23 Philosophy to Professional Writing

“I’ve always cherished the idea of turning a passion into a career; for me, that’s writing.”

THE BENEFITS OF CHANGING MAJORS

Kathryn “Kat” Goedeke, who graduates in December 2022, originally planned on graduating with a degree in Psychology. She chose the major because she had enjoyed psychology in high school.

After speaking with professors and her grandmother, she realized that she may need to stay in school longer to achieve a lucrative career in the field. “I personally wanted to find my career without going to graduate school,” she says.

She chose to change her major to Criminal Justice after discussions with a police officer. “He persuaded me to switch into criminal justice by teaching me all of the benefits and different details about his field,” she says. Her former advisor, Dr. Carla Strassle, Director of Experiential Learning, Internships, and Practica for the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, helped her with this move and her current advisor, Dr. Barbara Hanbury, has also offered guidance.

“Academic advising can be so rewarding, especially when you have advisees like Kathryn Goedeke,” Dr. Hanbury says, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Over the last few years, we have had numerous conversations and meetings related to her academic goals and degree requirements, her aspirations, the various types of internships available in Criminal Justice and [her] career plans.”

When it came time to change majors, Kat also went to the Career Development Center for assistance.

“As students explore and experience more coursework and co-curricular opportunities, they often realize their initial major choice was not as well-informed as it could have been, or perhaps that they were focused on the long-term outcomes of a major and not the specific coursework and steps needed to get there,” says Beverly Evans, Assistant Dean for Career Development. “Career Development professionals are a key resource for students (and alumni) since we are

DO YOUR HOMEWORK SO YOU MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

1.

Reflect and understand why you are considering a change.

2. Review the Catalog to understand what’s coming and how it will impact your courses and graduation date.

3.

Understand the Major to Career connections. Resources like What Can I Do with a Major and O*NET OnLine are good places to start.

4.

Utilize your resources: Career Development Center, faculty and students in new major and employers will all provide different information and perspectives.

one of the few places on campus that understand the academic requirements of all of our programs, how those correlate to a variety of career paths, and can help students see the connections and steps to take.”

“I was lucky, and realized I did not belong in the major I initially picked during my very first semester as a first-year at YCP,” Kat says. “I have settled into my new major very well, and can still graduate a semester early.”

The College makes it easy for students to switch majors, with several saying this ease helped with their decision process.

Dr. Gabriel Cutrufello, Associate Professor and Chair for the Department of Communication and Writing, School of the Arts, Communication, and Global Studies, says that there are several ways that a student can go about exploring majors.

“They can sit down with their current Academic Advisor, which is a good idea. We know all of the faculty members (or can find them) at the school and know about most of the majors. We can also guide students to do some career pathway exploration to see what majors fit their interests,” he says.

KAT GOEDEKE ’22 Psychology to Criminal Justice

“I have settled into my new major very well, and can still graduate a semester early.”

Sometimes students choose to switch to majors in different schools. In that case, advisors can introduce students to faculty members in that school.

Switching majors has become a common practice, and the College offers many avenues and resources for students to make the switch less stressful than they anticipated.

2022 SPRING COMMENCEMENT

On May 14, York College held its annual Spring Commencement for the Class of 2022, the first in-person commencement since spring of 2019. The ceremony, led by Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, College President, recognized nearly 700 graduates, who earned associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Tiffany Nguyen ’22 was the student speaker. Joseph McGinty Nichol, a renowned Hollywood producer and director, gave the commencement speech, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also received an Honorary Doctorate. The ceremony marked the return of an important tradition.

Photo by Emily Rund

PLAN YOUR PLAYBOOK

ow do we prepare our students to be refined professionals at the point of graduation through this program?”

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Sport Management students at York College connected with alumni mentors in their field of interest after the Sport Management advisory board noticed a need among new graduates to have connections in their career field.

When six Sport Management students returned to campus after visiting Super Bowl LIV in 2020, each had a class that they got to work with, says Mentorship Program Coordinator Donna Grove. “They discussed what they saw at the Super Bowl, connecting theory to practice.”

“Being a mentor to someone I can relate to has made it easier to give advice and influence in ways I wish I was able to benefit from as a student,” says Evan Andariese ’17, who mentored Sport Management major Andrew Burget ’24. Andariese is the Hoop

A PROGRAM EMERGES

Students were excited about the idea of mentorship due to what they had learned from their peers in the peer mentorship that was conducted during the Super Bowl experience. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, travel was halted and experiencing the Super Bowl was postponed. At the same time, the Sport Management advisory board saw the value of mentorship and the growing need for graduates to have connections in their career field before leaving school. The Sport Management Alumni/Student Mentorship Program grew out of this need. For the last two years, students have connected one-onone with alumni to learn the ins and outs of working in sport management.

Group Girls Event Director as well as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Ocean County College in New Jersey. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, four students and mentors participated in the program. Besides Andrew and Andariese, the program included Cody Ross ’23 mentored by Christopher Meegan ’13, Maycee Collison ’24 mentored by Whitney Marks ’12, and Zackary Mentzer ’23 mentored by Colbe Herr ’14.

“We talked to students before placing them; talked about what their goals were and found mentors for them who were doing what they want to do,” says Grove.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER

For Andrew, the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“When I graduate, I want to look back on my four years at York and firmly say that I’m ready for the next chapter,” he says. “Having this opportunity to look back and reflect on this experience I am partaking [in], I can [use] the valuable insights given and use them as guidance to be successful in the industry.”

The mentors and mentees, often separated by hundreds of miles, met via

Director for Advancement at Penn State University; and Heather Lyke, Athletic Director at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I had great in-depth conversations with all three of these professionals and they provided me with valuable insight on what their career has looked like over the years and how they got to where they are now,” Andrew says. “If it wasn’t for Evan giving me the advice to reach out to professionals, I may not have reached out to any of these individuals or any professionals in my designated field, and perhaps I would not have gained

video calls throughout the fall and spring semesters. Others met in-person. The mentors had the students create goals that they explored in their meetings. They also discussed résumés, networking, and how to connect with professionals in the field.

“I think the purpose of the program was, ‘How do we prepare our students to be refined professionals at the point of graduation through this program? ’ ” says Grove.

One of the tasks Andariese assigned Andrew was to connect with as many professionals in his areas of interest as possible. Because of his desire to become an athletic director, Andrew reached out to Josh Azer, Director of Athletic Development at Lafayette College; Joseph Foley, Senior Associate Athletic

the insight that I did from them.”

The next round of the Mentorship Program will launch in September 2022 and continue through May 2023. Grove hopes that the conversations started through the program will continue long after it ends. She says the Graham School of Business intends to launch a Mentorship Program for other majors and the Graham School of Business as a whole.

“Speaking to professionals in your field really sets you apart,” Grove says. “Students have access to information that, even though we, as professors, talk about it in class and in other programs, the professionals can actually show the students and their understanding increases and so does their marketability.”

WHITNEY MARKS ’12 COLBE HERR ’14 MAYCEE COLLISON ’24 ZACKARY MENTZER ’23

CONNECTIONS

TRUSTEE SCHOLARSHIPS

Supporting scholarships has been the most popular way for York College friends and family to participate in the EVOLVE Campaign. That holds true for two relatively new trustees who are both alumni of the College. But they have added a twist to recognize something that is characteristic of York College. They are funding scholarships for students who give back to the community.

“VP of Development Troy Miller recognized what is important to us,” said Kevin Jackson MBA ’99, Chief Experience Officer at Wolf Home Products. “He helped pull it all together—family, education, community involvement.”

The Jackson Community Hope Scholarship supports a student who has shown a commitment to exemplary community service, especially as relates to equity in education. The recipient, chosen as a rising sophomore from among the York College Changemakers, will receive a three-year scholarship in the amount of $2,000 per year. Students will apply for the Jackson Hope Scholarship in their second semester of their first year, and from among those applicants, the Center for Community Engagement staff will choose one exemplary applicant to receive the scholarship. It will recognize their engagement in this work, their positivity and its influence upon the youth of our community, and as a demonstration of the recipient’s future leadership potential.

“This is also my way to give back to the community that helped bring me along,” said Jackson, who grew up blocks away from York College on West Maple Street. As a young kid, he spent a lot of time on campus, playing basketball and arcade machines in the Student Union. “I always had a love for York College growing up. This scholarship is one of the ways that my wife and I could put the Jackson name on it, have some legacy, and give back.”

Jackson’s wife, Anika, is Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Family First Health in York. As a couple, they are very committed to lifting up those from their commu-

nity. Anika serves as a Her Traditions Advisory Board Member for York Traditions Bank; as a board member of the Memorial Health Fund for the York County Community Foundation; as a board member of the York Academy Regional Charter School; and as an inclass volunteer for Junior Achievement of South-Central PA.

Kevin Jackson is also a popular speaker at schools, colleges, and businesses. His speaking engagement fees are used to give back to the community, to purchase things like school supplies. His family—Anika and his son—participate when he offers talks.

“I am one of first guys in the neighborhood to go to college, come out, and get a good job,” Jackson said. “I did the right things, came back, and lived in the community. I now have a responsibility on my shoulders to be a mentor to those who look up to me and inspire them to do the right thing, too.”

After graduating from York College with a bachelor’s degree in English, Katie Leonard ’98 Ed.D, stayed in York and went on to hold multiple positions working with government officials and nonprofit organizations, including serving as the Executive Director of Downtown Inc.

“I had a wonderful experience at York College,” she said. “That positive experience is the main reason I decided to stay in York for several years after graduation. I enjoyed getting involved in the community and saw the College as a big piece of that.”

A desire to maintain and enhance the robust and beneficial relationship between the College and the local community led her to establish The Katie Leonard Community Advancement Scholarship Fund. “For me, this scholarship represents how the College and community are one—how the community can enrich the York College experience for students and how York College students can enhance the York community,” she said.

Currently a Trustee of York College, Leonard is President and CEO of Johnson College, a private, two-year technical college in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She joined Johnson in January 2007 as the Coordinator of Grants and Annual Fund. Her continued success

in fundraising and community outreach led to several positions within the College, leading up to her becoming Executive Vice President and overseeing all campus operations.

Her biography reads, “In her time with the College, Dr. Leonard formed industry relationships, reestablished the alumni program, increased annual giving, and initiated the College’s rebranding in 2011. She executed the College’s first-ever capital campaign in 2013, which raised, comprehensively, over $5 million to build the new Health Science Technology Center on campus, the College’s largest building project to date. After a nationwide search, Dr. Leonard was selected Johnson College’s 8th President and CEO in January of 2018.”

York College and Johnson College signed an articulation agreement in 2022 that allows students to complete their two-year degree at Johnson College and then transfer to York College to complete a bachelor’s degree or transfer credits and continue their education.

The Katie Leonard Community Advancement Scholarship will support a student who has shown a commitment to engaging in research and activities that address an important community need. Students selected will receive either a three-year scholarship for $2,000 per year or a $2,000 stipend to advance a project through work over the summers following their first, sophomore, and junior years. Recipients will be chosen from among students in the Engaged Scholars Honors Community. Students will be invited to apply in the second semester of their first year, and from among those applicants, the Center for Community Engagement staff will choose one exemplary applicant to receive the scholarship or project stipend.

“As an alum of York College, it is important to me that students serve the community in which they are living,” Leonard said. “I am hoping this scholarship encourages a student to immerse themselves in the York community, getting to know the people, and addressing a community need. My goal is that the student feels as if they are having a positive impact on the community and that this impact shapes the student’s worldview for years to come.”

“This is my way to give back to the community that helped bring me along.”

— KEVIN JACKSON MBA ’99

you can’t avoid it. That is why we’re taking this opportunity to have a curriculum that provides a basic education to students about risk management.”

Scott and John Dolmetsch ’85, Business Information Group

While the minor is a natural fit for business majors, students studying other areas would also benefit from learning about risk management. “The program is designed to get students to think about the exposures to loss we all have, and how we should manage risk in a way that allows us to achieve our goals in life,” Campisi said. “If we don’t manage it well, it’s going to impact our ability to achieve our desired goals and enjoy life.”

Scott and John Dolmetsch ’85 majored in the cutting-edge Computer Information Science program when it was in its infancy.

In the early 1980s, York College of Pennsylvania had just launched the Computer Information Science major. John and Scott,who grew up in the area, decided to enroll to find out what it was all about.

“I had no idea what I wanted to major in,” John says. “When I got there I thought, ‘this sounds pretty cool’.”

At the College, both brothers excelled at coding and computer programming, mastering the language of COBOL before MS-DOS was widely used. They spent a lot of time with their professors, helping in the lab and with figuring out each new technology that was introduced.

Colleges the size of York do not typically offer a risk management program as part of their curriculum. “I see this as a way for YCP to step into an opportunity that other colleges of comparable size are just not pursuing,” Campisi said. “This is a very mature industry according to its workforce demographics. We are going to be seeing 50 percent or more of the current workforce retiring in the next decade. Schools are not turning out enough risk management professionals to meet the current and future needs of the insurance industry.”

A lot of their fellow students struggled in the major, but John and Scott excelled, not only in computer programming but in the York College culture.

The brothers made giving back to the York College community a priority. They set up internship programs and have hired several York College students.

“York College gave us the basis to get started,” Scott says.

“We spent a lot of time at Murph’s Study Hall,” John says.

After graduating in 1985, the brothers entered the workforce, programming computers and software. John was one of only two students chosen for an internship at the York Tax Bureau, working to develop a new tax software.

After that internship, the brothers began working for a software development company in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Early in their tenure, they were introduced to the personal computer.

John left the software company to perform computer programming for Fox Pools Corp., where he was in charge of its PC infrastructure.

The time is ripe for York College to offer a risk management minor, and Campisi recognized that as he contemplated how to support his alma mater during its EVOLVE Campaign. He and his wife, Stef, previously established the Campisi Family Scholarship Fund at the College, but he wanted to do more. “I recognized the need for talent in the area of risk management and insurance. There really is nobody in our area that is doing this. Larger colleges that have these curriculums are most often preparing students for an actuarial science career. The industry as a whole, and specifically our South Central Pennsylvania Region, needs a broader and more comprehensive course of study. This minor is a great addition to the curriculum at York College, and a wonderful opportunity for students to be better prepared to manage

John also began serving on the York College Advisory Council for Technology Curriculum Development.

risk and potentially pursue a very challenging and rewarding career in the world of risk management and insurance.”

These experiences, coupled with their training at York College, inspired the brothers to launch their own company.

“The timing was just awesome,” Scott says. “We were walking into companies who said, ‘We don’t have any computers. We keep hearing about this personal computer, and we’d like to know what it can do for us.’”

In 1992, the brothers launched Business Information Group (BIG) from the basement of their York home. They spent their days installing computer systems and software at local companies.

“The 1990s was the birth of the Internet,” John says. “It was fast and it was crazy and everybody wanted to be part of it. It was the heyday of technology.”

“We know the people, we know the businesses. There was plenty of opportunity. There was no reason to leave,” Scott says of staying in York.

“The 1990s was the birth of the Internet. It was fast and it was crazy and everybody wanted to be part of it. It was the heyday of technology.”

— JOHN DOLMETSCH

“We know the people, we know the businesses. There was plenty of opportunity. There was no reason to leave.”

— SCOTT DOLMETSCH

Scott and John Dolmetsch ’85

JOHN KERSHNER ’20

A quiet pursuit that is sure to make big waves is what John Kershner ’20 has been involved in during labs and field work since graduating from York College of Pennsylvania two years ago.

Kershner, 24, a Mechanical Engineering graduate who is now at Lehigh University, has been working with teams researching aeroacoustics to find solutions to noise pollution. Kershner’s quest to create safer sound environments has earned him a spot in a Fulbright Study and Research program

COACH MARCUS TOOMER ’08/M.ED. ’14

A love of sport and a passion for helping others led Marcus Toomer (Tooms if you’re on his team) to a life of coaching, on the court and on campus.

Like every other kid in his New York City neighborhood, Toomer ’08/M.Ed.’14 dreamed of playing in the NBA someday. There was just one thing standing in his way.

“I’m not great at basketball at all,” he says. “I’m pretty bad.” What he is good at is helping others reach their full potential, on the court and in the classroom. Toomer refined those skills as he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management and Master of Education in Educational Leadership at York College of Pennsylvania. He’s now the Bellefonte

Engineering at Brandenburg Technical University (BTU) in Cottbus, Germany. Kershner will work as a research assistant to Dr. Geyer at BTU and DLR, the German counterpart of NASA. Kershner will test theoretical practices of aircraft design to reduce noise.

“Some studies have found that the noise of air passing over the wings—the ‘whooshing’ on the approach to landing—can be similar magnitude as the engines,” Kershner says.

Kershner and his colleagues seek an understanding of how porosity on an airplane wing might make a plane

Area High School Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach and academic advisor for the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State.

Toomer’s zeal for coaching developed when he served as manager of his high school basketball team. When he visited York College, everything clicked. “I just fell in love with the campus,” he says.

He continued to learn about coaching as a manager for the York College Men’s Basketball Team and, in his senior year, as student assistant, sitting on the bench with the coaches. He then went on to become an assistant coach at Dickinson College.

Toomer began his career working in Residence Life at York College. “I really enjoyed student affairs and getting to build relationships with students,” he says. At YCP, he pursued his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Teachers who want to become principals typically earn

quieter, and if its impact could lead to better health for residents near airports and airport employees.

Kershner’s love for German culture has deepened since his first exchange program in Germany during high school. But he cites his engineering studies and York College experience as catalysts in his decision to focus on research through initiatives such as the Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows (formerly the Graham Innovation Scholars), spearheaded by Dr. Dominic DelliCarpini, Dean of the College’s Center for Community Engagement and Interim Executive Director of the Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation.

“I was able to do an internship in Germany my junior year of college that was supported through the Graham Scholars,” Kershner says. “The connections at York and that experience are what helped me get this interest.”

Dr. Justin Jaworski, Kershner’s Ph.D. advisor at Lehigh, echoed Kershner’s sentiments about how the Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows program prepared him. “Naturally, he’s a leader in that sense. He has a way that people want to work with him. He leads by example,” Jaworski says. “That’s great for me as an advisor, to work with someone who wants to get the work done.”

the degree. “I wasn’t either,” Toomer says, laughing.

Despite being competitive, Toomer tries not to pressure his team. “It’s really important that they have fun, that they want to be there,” he says.

As an academic advisor, he’s seen students in their second or third year of college who still rely on their parents. “It’s important to have your own voice and advocate for yourself,” he says.

Toomer remains committed to coaching. “Coaching is my passion,” he says.

“If I could do that every day for the rest of my life, I would do it.”

“Some studies have found that the noise of air passing over the wings can be similar magnitude as the engines.”

— JOHN KERSHNER ’20

“If I could [coach] every day for the rest of my life, I would do it.”

— MARCUS TOOMER ’08/M.ED. ’14

PHOTO BY CHRISTA NEU, LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

EVOLVE CAMPAIGN FOUNTAIN REJUVENATION

THE CAMPAIGN

The Alumni Association is contributing the first $75,000 to the fountain rejuvenation project. And, with a generous investment, Shawn ’21 and Nicole ’20 Halsey are contributing a $25,000 matching gift for other alumni that join them and contribute to the campaign.

donates to the fountain campaign will be recognized in a special and unique way in the central mall. Please complete the card or go to www.giving.ycp.edu to make your gift today. If you would prefer to make your commitment by phone, or if you have questions, please contact York College at (717) 815-6861 or email eburns4@ycp.edu.

This fall, York College of Pennsylvania will begin construction on a new fountain as the centerpiece of the campus mall.

PRIDE AND TRADITION

Through senior class giving, the fountain and the surrounding college mall were constructed in October 1974, and since then the fountain has been a testament to their generosity and love of YCP. For nearly 50 years, the fountain and College mall acted as a central meeting point where students, alumni, and friends have come together.

And now, it is time to rejuvenate this essential space on the campus of your alma mater. This is your opportunity to hearken back to those trailblazers and demonstrate that together WE ARE SPARTANS!

THE FOUNTAIN

With a flat top, attractive knee walls, and the words of the alma mater engraved in the steps, the newly rejuvenated fountain will continue to act as the heart of campus welcoming alumni, new Spartans, and their families.

“The fountain has been a stalwart symbol for thousands of York College alumni,” says Jerry Alberts, Director of Alumni Relations. “Its positive impact is still felt today by all those who pass by. But decades of service to YCP have aged this faithful servant. It is time for a rebirth of the ‘friend’ that has served this college, its students, and its alumni so well for so long. It is our hope that every YCP alum will give to The Fountain Campaign in support of the ‘Spartan’ that has performed so wonderfully for the College and its students for almost 50 years.”

“We support this campaign because the fountain represents a central part of students’ lives at YCP,” said the Halseys. “We hope that this initiative helps to bring friends and classmates together and that the fountain remains an everlasting symbol to all current and future students of their experience at York College of Pennsylvania.”

Recently, you received information about the Fountain Campaign in the mail. This is your opportunity to make an investment in the future of your alma mater, and the first $25,000 in donations will be matched dollar-fordollar through the generosity of the Halseys. In addition, everyone who

“It’s a very important time for our college and for its students and alumni,” said President Pamela Gunter-Smith. “As we celebrate the successful completion of the EVOLVE Campaign and plan for the bright future of the College through strategic planning, it seemed appropriate to beautify one of the icons of our campus…a place where people have been called together for decades.”

“Giving praise, Old York, to thee E’en to eternity”

“The years shall pass, but we shall not forget…”

Training Award program. For two years, she’ll conduct research full-time, focusing on immunology.

Her experience performing independent research at the College helped her stand out to NIH. “It kind of opened that door I never saw myself.” A self-proclaimed science nerd, she loves nothing more than to dig into research. “I want to be a part of asking the questions,” she says.

But whether that help is delivered through direct patient care or research that can improve lives has yet to be determined.

On campus, Nguyen was the President for both TriBeta Biological Honor Society and Pre-Medical

and Allied Health Society. She also volunteered with Dr. Sean Georgi’s Brain Outreach Program at Yorkshire Elementary School and Central Market York to teach children about the brain.

After graduating from York College, Nguyen reflects on how much she’s changed. Interactions with professors

SHARE YOUR UPDATE AND SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE

Throughout the year, York College graduates share milestones and successes from around the world. From wedding, engagement, and birth announcements to job promotions, creative projects, travel, and fun, Class

that probably didn’t register with them led to one door opening, then another, then another. “It kind of became a ripple effect.”

During Commencement, she shared how failures can be a good thing. “Our desire for success should be greater than our fear of failure.”

Notes show what’s happening in the professional and personal lives of alumni.

Class Notes are published three times per year in an electronic format. Submissions are subject to edits and space restrictions. To view Class Notes or to submit your news, please visit www.ycp.edu/alumni. Any questions? Email alumni@ycp.edu.

“Our desire for success should be greater than our fear of failure.”

— TIFFANY NGUYEN ’22

ON THIS SITE: A History of the Campus and the Home of the President

This series will explore the history of the land that is YCP’s main campus and will trace the families who’ve occupied the home of the President on Springettsbury Avenue since its construction in 1906. Our journey starts with the earliest inhabitants of the lower Susquehanna Valley, the Susquehannocks, a tribe of the Iroquois nation.

— Karen Rice-Young ’92

York College’s Archives welcomes donations of college-related materials. Contact Karen RiceYoung ’92 at kriceyou@ ycp.edu, 717-815-1439 for more information.

PART ONE: 1580–1749

1580

The Andastes, a tribe of the Iroquois nation, occupied lands on the east and west banks of the Susquehanna River for centuries. The English called them “Susquehannocks.”

1681

King Charles II granted William Penn 45,000 square miles in the New World to repay a debt. It is called “Pennsylvania.”

1722

Springettsbury Manor was 75,520 acres, named for Penn’s grandson Springett. Penn compensated the Susquehannocks for their lands in 1736.

DIGITAL VERSION: https://issuu.com/yorkcollegepa/docs/ president_s_home_book_v5_single_pages

1749

York County is established, the first county west of the Susquehanna River. Its county seat is Yorktown, today’s York City.

441 Country Club Rd. York, PA 17403-3651

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□ Prepare students for not only a successful career, but also a successful life.

T HAT’S THE SPARTAN COMMONS.

Support current and future students’ opportunity to grow into the changemakers of tomorrow with a gift to Spartan Commons at evolve.ycp.edu