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Valley Views

from The Valley Magazine: Fall 2022

by Lebanon Valley College

from The Valley Magazine: Fall 2022, page 36

Article from: The Valley Magazine: Fall 2022

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The Valley’s 153rd Commencement

**Students celebrate after the Commencement Ceremony in May.**

Nearly 330 students in the Class of 2022 celebrated their educational and personal accomplishments during a morning Commencement Ceremony. Another 110 graduate-level students participated in a separate afternoon ceremony.

Michael Pittari, professor of creative arts, was the morning’s featured Commencement speaker after receiving the College’s top teaching award, The Thomas Rhys Vickroy Distinguished Teaching Award (Vickroy Award), during the 2021 Commencement Celebration. Dr. Si M. Pham ’79, H’22, professor of surgery and chair of the department of cardiothoracic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., delivered the afternoon Commencement speech. During the morning ceremony, Dr. Pham received an honorary doctor of science degree from LVC. Giovanni Ferrero H’22, an author, entrepreneur, and the executive chairman of the Ferrero Group, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters. In 1980, he spent six months studying at Lebanon Valley College with several legendary professors.

Dr. Kristen Boeshore, associate professor of biology and director of pre-health professions, presented the top student award, the H. Anthony Neidig Award, to Erica Werner ’22, a neuroscience major with a minor in applied Spanish for healthcare professionals. Werner, one of the College’s distinguished Allwein Scholars, scored in the 97th percentile on the MCATs—achieving one of the highest scores achieved by an LVC student—and was accepted into the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, where she is continuing to conduct research while pursuing her M.D.

Minutes later, in a moment of serendipity, Dr. Boeshore was announced as the 2022 Vickroy Award recipient.

Theodora “Teddi” Sakellarides ’12, adjunct instructor in English and sociology, received the Nevelyn J. Knisley Award, annually bestowed on a part-time or adjunct member of the College faculty.

**Dr. Mukunda Ghimire and Erica Werner ’22**

Dr. Mukunda Ghimire, assistant professor of chemistry, received the Educator of the Year Award from Julia Resele ’22, president of Student Government, on behalf of the student body during Dutchmen Day on May 6. This honor is given annually to a member of the full-time faculty who embodies the transformative power of the LVC experience, in and out of the classroom.

Dr. Colleen Marshall Joins LVC as Founding Chair of Nursing

President James M. MacLaren, Ph.D., announced that Dr. Colleen Marshall, Ph.D., FNP-C, was selected as the chair of the College’s new nursing program, which welcomed its first class this fall. Marshall, who also is LVC’s first associate professor of nursing, was the director of graduate programs, The Stabler Department of Nursing, at York College of Pennsylvania.

“I am honored and excited to lead Lebanon Valley College’s new nursing program from the ground up and beyond,” said Marshall. “I look forward to creating a suite of nursing programs, including accelerated options, so we can graduate nurses at all levels to help meet the region’s and country’s nursing shortage and to make an impact throughout their communities.”

Marshall brings extensive academic, clinical, and research experience to her new role after three decades in nursing education and clinical practice. After earning her RN, BSN, and MSN degrees, she received her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and served a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health T32.

Marshall received several research grants, including those from the University of Pennsylvania (The Prevalence of Insomnia in Perimenopausal Women Progressing to Menopause) and Pennsylvania State University (The Insomnia Trajectory in Perimenopausal Women). Her research has led to numerous national presentations, refereed journal publications, refereed poster presentations, and a book chapter (The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology).

Mathematical Physics Research Group Published—Twice

**(l. to r.) Dr. David Lyons, Ashely Swogger ’23, and Jesse Arnold ’23**

“Finite-Function-Encoding Quantum States,” the results of work done by LVC Mathematical Physics Research Group (MPRG) members Alex Heilman ’19 (physics), Ezekiel Wertz ’18 (physics), and Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, was published in the prestigious peerreviewed science journal Quantum. This article is a joint project with an Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna research group.

Summer 2021 MPRG members Ashley Swogger ’23 and Jesse Arnold ’23, both mathematics majors, also coauthored a paper with Dr. Lyons. Their article, “Local unitary classes of states invariant under permutation subgroups,” was published in the top-tier research journal Physical Review A.

Dr. McEvoy’s Students Present in Puerto Rico

**(l. to r.) Julia Resele ’22, Grace Parks ’21, D’23, and Dr. Gabriella McEvoy**

Dr. Gabriella McEvoy, chair of languages and professor of Spanish, joined two students in Puerto Rico during spring break to present their research at the XXIX Congreso Internacional de Literatura y Estudios Hispánicos in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Julia Resele (early childhood, special education, and Spanish) presented “Mercedes Gallagher de Parks: A Hidden Gem in the Peruvian Feminist Movement,” and Grace Parks ’21, D’23 (exercise science, physical therapy, and Spanish) presented “Effects of World War II through the perspective of the Peruvian intellectual, Mercedes Gallagher de Parks.” Their projects were developed with Dr. McEvoy as part of her research and work done in her Latin American Cultures Class and will be published as a book next year.

Buia ’25 and Collevechio ’25 Receive State Award

Biology majors Ainsley Buia ’25 and Sara Collevechio ’25 were awarded Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences Undergraduate Research Project recognition for their student-faculty research, “The molecular effects of alcohol sensitivity post-traumatic brain injury in Drosophila melanogaster.” They and fellow researcher Raegan Laszcyk ’25 will present their research at the 2023 Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences Conference. The trio conduct their research under the faculty mentorship of Dr. Bona Hoxha, assistant professor of biology.

Dr. Tomomi “T” Horning Named Breen Lead

Dr. Tomomi “T” Horning joined LVC as executive director of The Edward and Lynn Breen Center for Career and Professional Development in June. She was most recently vice president of hospital and healthsystem infrastructure at the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

Horning will lead and oversee the Breen Center’s professional staff and a team of student Career Peers. The group supports students with career readiness through coaching, personal branding, degree exploration, graduate school planning, interview preparation, professional development, networking and job searching, résumé and cover letter writing, and LinkedIn and online presence guidance. Staff also assist alumni seeking new employment or career options.

She earned her bachelor’s in managerial economics from Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., master’s in health administration from The Pennsylvania State University School of Public Affairs in Harrisburg, Pa., and doctor of business administration from the Walden University College of Management and Technology. Horning also has Lean Six Sigma certification (Johns Hopkins Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care, Baltimore, Md.), a master’s certificate in long-term care (The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Pa.), and a certificate in online teaching (The Sloan Consortium, Newburyport, Mass.).

Alumni Honored during Homecoming

Six distinguished alumni/ae were recognized for their careers, community service, and dedication to their alma mater during Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 14–16.

Dr. Raymond Shaak ’98, DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry at Penn State’s Eberly College of Science: Distinguished Alumnus Award

Mariah Rackley ’01, director of curriculum and instruction, Cornwall Lebanon School District: June Herr Outstanding Educator of the Year Award

Alex Reber ’07, M’17, CPA, managing partner, Miller Dixon Drake: Young Alumni Award

Cristabelle Braden ’15, singer/songwriter, national advocate for brain injury, and founder of Hope After Head Injury: Creative Achievement Award

The Hon. Bryan D. Cutler, Esq., ’01, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and

Shila Williams Ulrich ’05, executive director of the Caring Cupboard: Alumni Citations

Medical Humanities Major Added

LVC faculty from various disciplines created a new medical humanities major to meet employer and graduate program needs and requirements. The major welcomed its first students this fall and will prepare them to contribute to holistic healthcare experiences.

Two of the major’s sponsors, Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala, professor of Spanish, and Dr. John Hinshaw, professor of history, presented a poster and talk, respectively, at the inaugural Medical Humanities Conference this past spring. LVC co-sponsored the conference with the Humanities Department of the Penn State Medical School and other colleges. Fellow medical humanities sponsors Dr. Robert Carey, professor of biology and director of biochemistry & molecular biology, and Dr. Matthew Sayers, professor of religion and director of religion and philosophy, attended the event.

$5 Million Gift to Establish Katherine J. Bishop Fund for Global Study

President James M. MacLaren, Ph.D., announced that LVC will receive one of the largest gifts in its history to establish in perpetuity the Katherine J. Bishop Fund for Global Study. Established through a donor-advised fund at Vanguard Charitable, the grant will create a $4.5 million endowed fund and will provide $500,000 in current-use funds that began assisting students this semester.

Katherine J. Bishop, CEO, president, and chairperson of Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, has been a member of the College’s Board of Trustees since 1988 and has served several terms as vicechair of the board.

Once fully endowed, the Katherine J. Bishop Fund for Global Study will support four College initiatives, leading to greater global exposure for LVC students. The Bishop Fund will:

1. Provide grants to students, especially those from higher-need families, to help mitigate travel costs and other barriers associated with studying abroad.

2. Allow the College to increase the number of short-term, study-abroad courses offered over summer and winter break.

3. Enable the College to increase its one-week study abroad opportunities that augment semester-long courses.

4. Enhance and expand cultural exchanges through global university partnerships like the College’s existing collaboration with Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“My two study abroad experiences were very impactful parts of my undergraduate education,” said Bishop. “I learned that not everyone does things as we do in the United States. It doesn’t make either culture right or wrong, just different. That understanding of differences has continued to inform my interactions with other people throughout my adult life. I am happy to provide that learning opportunity to future generations of Lebanon Valley College students through this endowed fund.”

Three New Fulbrights

Lexi Kerstetter ’21, Robbie Moul ’22, and Julia Resele ’22 were named Fulbright Finalists in the spring. Twentyfour LVC students have received Fulbright awards, including 14 since 2016. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.

Kerstetter (biology), who graduated in December 2021 in just 3.5 years, is an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan this year. Moul (ACS chemistry and neuroscience) is conducting research in Hungary with the chemical biology group at Budapest’s Research Centre for Natural Sciences. Resele (early childhood education, special education, and Spanish), one of the College’s prestigious John Bowman Allwein Scholars, is an English Teaching Assistant in Spain.

Four Allwein Scholars Join LVC

Strong academics, leadership, and service are the traits exemplified by LVC’s newest John Bowman Allwein Scholars. Abriana Ferrari ’26, Angeles Magana- Espinoza ’26, Roman Schelhorn ’26, and Laicie Terry ’26 represent the College’s Class of 2026.

The Allwein Scholarship, established in 2014 through a gift from Dr. John “Jack” Bowman Allwein ’56, provides full tuition to LVC and three $2,500 stipends for academic purposes, such as studying abroad, experiencing internships, or conducting research.

Ferrari, a biology major from Bethlehem, would like to pursue biotechnology in graduate school to further sustainability initiatives and discover new ways to minimize the harmful impacts of humans on our planet. Magana-Espinoza, a nursing major from Chambersburg, is a graduate of the Chambersburg Career Magnet School who volunteers at Diaper Depot and as a Spanish translator.

Schelhorn, a business administration major who was class valedictorian at Palmyra Area High School, wants to be a business owner. Terry, a neuroscience major and pre-med student from Millsboro, Del., is passionate about promoting equitable access to health care as a future physician interested in neurosurgery, dermatology, and trauma.

JAKE! Named VALE Artist of the Year

JAKE! (Jake Nguyen ’25), music education, was signed as the ’22 VALE Records Artist of the Year. VALE Records, the LVC Music Business Program’s student-run record label, enables students from all majors to gain real-world business experience applicable to almost any industry. As the VALE Artist, Jake recorded and released an EP, Catawissa, named after the Pennsylvania township. He opened for the band Royals at the annual LVC Valley Fest concert and has been performing across the mid-state. He will be the featured artist for various upcoming events, including the 18th Annual VALE Media Industries Conference on Nov. 19. Go to valemusicgroup.com to learn more about VALE and JAKE!

Spring Student-Athletes Shine

Baseball—The team ended their year in the NCAAs after a record-breaking 30-win season and their first MAC conference title in 20 years. The players excelled academically as well, receiving the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award for the third time in four years under head coach Jonas Fester.

Golf (men’s)—Brandon Staniszewski ’25 finished tied for fifth overall at the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championships to earn All-MAC Commonwealth First Team honors.

Golf (women’s)—Emma Dissinger ’24 tied the program record for the lowest round at the MAC Championships to lead the squad to its third-lowest score in program history in the event. She tied the record set by Dr. Megan Kimmel ’17 in 2014.

Lacrosse (men’s)—Alex Kiviniemi ’23, who led the team with 37 goals, was a first-team selection to the All-MAC Commonwealth Team. He was an honorable mention last season. This summer, he competed as a member of Finland’s National Team in the European Box Lacrosse Championship.

Lacrosse (women’s)—Veronica Venezia ’21, M’23 continued her record-shattering career, being named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) 2022 Division III All-Region Metro Second Team after breaking two program records. She earned her third consecutive MAC All-MAC Commonwealth First Team selection after leading the team in points, goals, and assists. Venezia led the conference in assists and assists per game. Teammates Brittany Hathaway ’22 (Second Team, third consecutive year) and Julia Abendschoen ’23 (Honorable Mention) also earned All-MAC recognition.

**Kylie Balthaser ’22 and Morgan Comfort ’21, M’22**

Softball—The team won 26 games on its way to its first MAC Commonwealth Championship final since 2017. Kylie Balthaser ’22 and Morgan Comfort ’21, M’22 were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Second Team, the first to achieve the honor since Dr. Sammy Bost ’17, D’19 and Lexi Windsor ’19 in 2017.

Balthaser and Comfort also were named to the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team. Teammates Jordan Walter ’24, Julia Craig ’24, Lindsey McCurdy ’24, and Jordan Hess ’25 were selected to the second team, and Anna Marie Hockman ’23 was an honorable mention selection. Head coach Scot Adams was named Coach of the Year.

Tennis (men’s)—The team earned an automatic bid to the NCAAs after a MAC Commonwealth-winning 16 victories. A record five players earned All-MAC Commonwealth recognition, and head coach Dave Remsburg was selected as Coach of the Year. Justin Schuetz ’22 was voted Player of the Year. Jeffrey Bauer ’23 joined him as a first-team selection. Brendan Byler ’23, Brady McLucas ’24, and Adam Warren ’25 were second-team honorees. McLucas tied the school record for singles wins in a year and was named MAC Commonwealth Tournament MVP.

Tennis (women’s)—After winning the program’s third MAC Commonwealth Championship, Nicole Honrade ’23 won in singles and doubles to give the team its first-ever wins in an NCAA Tournament match. Jacquelyn McBride ’24 paired with Honrade at #1 doubles to win 8-0 and earn the historic victory. Honrade was named the MAC Commonwealth Tournament MVP.

The team had a program-record five selections to the All-MAC Commonwealth Team, with Honrade and McBride earning first-team honors for the second consecutive year. Meredith Haas ’24, Madison Poladian ’23, and Eliana Shenk ’25 were second-team selections. Head coach Joy Graeff was voted Coach of the Year for the third time at LVC after leading the squad to an undefeated 7-0 record in conference play.

Track & Field (men’s)—Owen Buhr ’22 completed his college career with All-America honors after a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles in the NCAAs in Ohio. He also was named Mid-Atlantic Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, the latter after winning three gold medals and a silver medal at the MAC Outdoor Championships. Noah Griffin ’22 defended his MAC title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to earn First-Team honors and Eddie Myers ’22 finished second in the long jump to merit Second Team honors.

**James O'Brien and Lauren Wick ’21, D’23**

Track & Field (women’s)—Lauren Wick ’21, D’23 capped her historic athletic career with college sports’ most prestigious academic honor when she was selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District® Women’s Track & Field/ Cross Country Team for the second consecutive year. She earned first-team honors in NCAA Division III District 4, which covers Pennsylvania colleges and universities.

**Robert "Bob" Loughney Jr. ’89 and McKenna Loughney ’21, M’23**

Teammates McKenna Loughney ’21, M’23 and Ashley Bartels ’23 were recognized as All-Region honorees in the hammer throw by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Loughney had a season-best mark of 46.40 meters (152’3”) at the Paul Kaiser Classic, while Bartels threw 42.45 meters (139’3”) at the Messiah Invitational. Melena Koutch ’25 earned All-MAC Third Team honors at the 2022 MAC Outdoor Championships. McKenna’s father, Robert “Bob” Loughney Jr. ’89, played football at LVC.

Chloe Glass ’22 Signs with German Contract

Chloe Glass ’22, a forward on the women’sice hockey team, signed a contract with EC Bergkamen Bären, which competes in the German Women’s Ice Hockey League, or Bundesliga, the highest professional tier in the country. Holder of the program’s records for career assists and games played, Glass holds the single-season record for assists and is second on the all-time list for points, shots on goal, and goals (tied).

Five to be Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame

Five distinguished alumni were inducted into the LVC Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2022. The annual induction ceremony, was on Oct. 14, during Homecoming Weekend.

The inductees represent five sports: Brian Cottone ’09 (football), Ted Kemmerling ’00 (wrestling), Jocelyn Novak Masotti ’12 (field hockey), Wayne Perry ’78 (women’s volleyball), and Johanna Walker ’12 (women’s track & field). The school will also recognize two Teams of Honor: the 2002 LVC baseball team, which competed in the NCAA’s after winning the program’s first MAC Championship, and the 2012 women’s indoor track & field team, which won the program’s first MAC Championship, then proceeded to win three consecutive MAC Championships.

Eight Earn Spring Academic All-MAC Honors

Eight student-athletes were voted onto the 2022 Spring Academic All-MAC Teams in recognition of their classroom and athletic success: Mike Bulgia ’22 (baseball, physical therapy), Morgan Comfort ’21, M’22 (softball, athletic training), Emma Dissinger ’24 (women’s golf, physical therapy), Alex Kiviniemi ’23 (men’s lacrosse, exercise science), Justin Schuetz ’22 (men’s tennis, business administration), Nicole Honrade ’23 (women’s tennis, exercise science), Owen Buhr ’22 (men’s outdoor track & field, accounting), and Zach Reed ’23 (men’s outdoor track & field, international business).

Carrozza Leading Women’s Soccer

Frank Carrozza was named just the sixth head coach in women’s soccer history this summer. He spent the previous 12 years leading the King’s College program, where he was named MAC Freedom Coach of the Year in 2013. In 2021, he earned the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Mid-Atlantic Region Staff of the Year Award. Carrozza ended his time at King’s as the program’s all-time wins leader.

Four LVC spring coaches were named Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year for their respective sport:

Duo Join College Staff

Dr. Felicia Brown-Haywood, LPC, NCC, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence, announced that Annesha Edwards-Carter and Giovanni Negron-Garcia recently joined her team. Edwards-Carter was named director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in February, and Negron- Garcia became associate director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in June.

Edwards-Carter previously was at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she was coordinator of diversity initiatives, civic engagement, and LGBTQ+ student services, and an adjunct professor in career and networking navigation. She earned dual bachelor’s degree (political science, with honors, and sociology) at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and her master’s in higher education at Temple University.

Negron-Garcia was a graduate assistant in the graduate admissions department of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania before coming to LVC. He earned his bachelor’s in communications studies from Kutztown University.

Exercise Science Achieves Initial Accreditation

Dr. Claudia Gazsi, chair of exercisescience, graduate program director, and associate professor of physical therapy, announced that the Exercise Science Department achieved initial accreditation for the College’s undergraduate exercise science major and graduate clinical exercise physiology program by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in May. The programs remain under Initial Accreditation for five years and will be reviewed for full accreditation in 2027.

Board Welcomes New Trustees and Student Representatives

Tracey A. Stover ’91, chair of the Board of Trustees, and her fellow board members welcomed six new trustees and a student representative during their May meetings. Six honorees were elected to three-year terms: Allison A. Abayasekara ’07, managing consultant, THRUUE; Dr. Joel A. Kline ’89, LVC professor of design, media, and technology; Alex Reber ’07, M’17, CPA, managing partner, Miller Dixon Drake; Dr. John R. Schol, Bishop of Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church; David J. Stewart ’93, chief executive officer, The Stewart Companies; and Karick E. Stober ’97, chief financial officer, Post Acute Medical LLC. Sydney C. Lelit ’24, a neuroscience major, was elected to a two-year term as a student representative.

Nursing Facility Going Up

After breaking ground in May, constructionon LVC’s new Nursing & Interdisciplinary Health Education Facility proceeded on pace this summer, with the building’s opening anticipated in time for the opening of the fall 2023 semester.

Fundraising continues for the project, with the College receiving federal and state support to help meet the region’s growing need for nurses. LVC was approved for $2.7 million in PA Department of Community and Economic Development RACP funding and $1 million in Community Project Funding from the Federal Government. Several opportunities for naming a space are still available. Please contact development@lvc.edu to learn more about naming a space in honor or memory of a loved one, beloved professor, or family member.

This article is from:

The Valley Magazine: Fall 2022

by Lebanon Valley College