Further Preparation. More Accomplishments.

Time and again, alumni say that because of their LVC experience, they’ve gone further in their careers and achieved more in life than they ever thought possible.

Dr. Andrew Pipkin ’08, D’11

Physical Therapy, Psychology Minor

Medical Director | Toronto Blue Jays | Toronto, Canada

LVC’s Physical Therapy Program instilled in me the values of continuing to learn and improve myself. I have sought out these opportunities as a professional after graduation, and plan to continue to do so for the rest of my career.

From Foster Care to Medical School

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Terrence Habiyaremye ’17 entered foster care with his younger sister, Alice, when he was just four years old. Life in the system was uncertain and unstable—he attended three different schools in second grade alone—until a family from Harrisburg adopted him. Habiyaremye’s parents, Rwandan refugees who wanted to “pay forward” the opportunity they had been given to succeed in the U.S., supported their son as he excelled academically and athletically in Lebanon Valley College’s biology and pre-medical programs and with the track & field and cross country teams. But they were unacquainted with American higher education’s demands and complexities,, and Habiyaremye needed some guidance in navigating the unfamiliar environment.

Habiyaremye found a mentor in Dr. Erica Unger ’98, assistant professor of biology and director of LVC’s Neuroscience Program. She, herself, had been a first-generation college student at LVC. With Dr. Unger’s mentorship and the support of many across LVC’s campus, Habiyaremye thrived. Today, he attends Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine with the goal of returning to the Harrisburg area to practice emergency medicine.

Peyton Carper ’16

Neuroscience

Associate | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPand Affiliates | Wilmington, Del.

Darryl Sweeper ’15

Psychology

Psychology Doctoral Student | William James College | Mass.

Darryl attributes much of his grad school success to LVC’s Multicultural Fellowship Program.

“This experience taught me how to build community. It exhibited the importance of fellowship in the construction of one’s identity. The foundation that this program provided was central to my triumph.”

Sweeper plans to open a private practice to provide equitable care for underserved communities, and develop an art studio and create a non-profit organization dedicated to healing through collectivism for BIPOC cancer survivors.

Neal Rose ’17

Global Studies, Spanish, and Criminal Justice

Foreign Affairs Officer | U.S. Department of State | Washington, D.C.

Tighe Sheldon ’07

Audio & Music Production

Recording Engineer | DreamWorks Animation | Los Angeles, Calif.

Nicole Files ’18

Accounting, Business Administration, and Spanish

KPMG, Audit Senior Associate | Harrisburg, Pa.

Several internship experiences, including one at KPMG, enriched my education outside the classroom and ultimately helped me secure a fulltime position.

Sophia Lunt ’05, Ph.D.

ACS Chemistry

Assistant Professor, Cancer Researcher | Michigan State University | East Lansing, Mich.

Small Town Titans

As the 2018 holiday season gained momentum, the Small Town Titans noticed something happening on social media. The numbers of views, shares, and comments kept going higher and higher on posts featuring the rock band’s cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” By the end of the season, the band’s social media followers had grown from 8,000 to 235,000—and with that increase, a new, international fan base for the baritone voice of Phillip Freeman ’11 [bass and vocals], and hard-rock stylings of Jonny (O’Neill) Ross ’12 [drums], and Ben Guiles [guitar].

The seemingly sudden overnight fame did not, it turns out, happen by chance. The band’s first couple of years follow a familiar garage band story of local gigs and little money. Then, Freeman, Ross, and Guiles (who also attended LVC) decided to apply their educational training in music business, voice, and digital communications to take the band farther. Supported by donations, they recorded and released their own music online, including the now famous holiday cover.

“Now when we go out on the road, people know us and our music,” says Freeman, who credits his training in digital communications and visual design and Ross’s business acumen for the Small Town Titans’ growing success. “Everything we learned at LVC is integral to what we’re doing now.”

Mike Rhoades ’95

History

Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, Va.

Nate Wilson ’14

Music Recording Technology and Physics

First Lieutenant | United States Space Force | Colorado Springs, Colo.

When I was growing up, I was very introverted and never really left my safety ‘bubble’ until I went to LVC. It was a major stepping-stone for discovering just how many amazing things are out there if you’re willing to be open to them.

Kara Strack ’17

Biology

Registered Nurse | University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center | Glen Burnie, Md.