geneva magazine summer 2012
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The Summer 2012 issue of the Geneva Magazine.TRANSCRIPT
non-ProfitorganizationU.S. Postage
PAIDBeaver Falls, PAPermit no. 16 G
GENEVAMAGAZIne
SUMMER 2012
My Father ’s Business
Barbara McNees ’87 President, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
T O D A Y
Thomas E. Grahek ’61After first hearing a presentation about the benefits
of planned giving nearly a decade ago, Tom recently
decided to give Geneva a charitable gift annuity.
“I figured this would be a good way to help young
people of the future,” he says. “First and foremost,
I want them to be disciples for Christ.”
As a public school teacher, Tom shared his love of
languages with thousands of students. Graduating
from Geneva College with degrees in english and latin,
he continued his education by studying German while
completing graduate work. Tom then went on to teach
all three subjects in a career that spanned 42 years.
Throughout that time, Tom always made sure his
students gained firsthand experience with the material
by taking them on trips to europe: “They got to
see what they learned about in the classroom and
understand how the threadwork of their studies
has made its way to the modern world.”
With many study abroad offerings, internship
opportunities and community outreach programs,
Tom notes that this type of hands-on approach is one
of the greatest strengths of a Geneva education today.
“I think those things are all good because they make
the students more outward,” he explains. “nobody
can see the world as it is. We see it as we are.
So the more outward someone becomes, he or
she becomes a better, more complete person.”
Tom’s desire is to continue helping students develop an
outward perspective; that’s why he keeps giving back
through a charitable gift annuity. For more information
about how you, too, can help today’s students through
planned giving, visit geneva.edu/give or contact
the office of Planned Giving at 724.847.6516.
IN THIS ISSUE IN EVERY ISSUE10
12
14
17
2
3
6
30
31
36
From the President
In Brief
In Motion
In Service
Class Notes
In Conclusion
Helping Others
Help Themselves
From the Ground Up
Monday Morning Reassurance
Business as Usual, God’s Way
A
She Built This City
Service Through Soccer
Jolly Good Fellows
Following the Leader
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24
26
28
GSUMMER 2012
EDITOR GreG Wise ’95DESIGNER Kristen LanG
Geneva Magazine is published two times per year for Geneva College alumni, donors, students and parents. It showcases the college and its constituencies as they strive to fulfill the college’s mission. Opinions expressed in Geneva Magazine are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial review board or the official position of the college.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Please send your correspondence to [email protected] or Geneva Magazine Geneva College 3200 College Ave. Beaver Falls, PA 15010
EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARDann BurKhead ’91
dr. Ken Carson ’79
dr. Byron Curtis ’76
Larry Griffith ’85
CheryL Johnston
Jeff Jones
dave Layton ’88
Missy nyehoLt
reBeCCa (Carson ’85) PhiLLiPs
dr. Gordon riChards
toM stein ’86
van ZaniC ’93
THIS ISSUE: “And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV)
CONTENTS
24 26 36
My Father ’s Business
G“Commit to the Lord whatever you
do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3
For some vocations, such as being a
pastor or a missionary, the integration
of work with biblical principles is easy
to identify. For others, however, this
harmony may not be so readily obvious.
And in some cases, the aims of a job
and the tenets of faith may even seem
contradictory. But at Geneva College, we
teach students that no matter what field
they study—education, political science,
biology, engineering, psychology—they
are called to glorify the Lord as they go
about their daily work.
For example, the stated aim of our
Department of Business, Accounting,
and Management is to produce graduates
“who are grounded in biblical principles
and business knowledge, and equipped
to serve Jesus Christ in the business
world.” Contrary to the commonly held
perception that greed is the prime
motivator in this profession, our students
are taught to reflect Christian values
in their work ethic, model responsible
stewardship of their resources, and
endeavor to advance the kingdom
of God in the business field. So what
do these graduates do when they go
into the marketplace? As Jesus said,
“Didn’t you know that I had to be
about my Father’s business?” There
is no separation between
work and work for the Lord.
Business is an integral part
of society, providing necessary products
and services, developing economic
stability, and strengthening our
communities. Because of this wide-
reaching influence, Geneva is committed
to providing students a biblical
foundation on which to build ethical
business principles. Their Christian
values should inform their relationships
with coworkers, managers, employees,
and customers.
Many of our business alumni have
become leaders in their organizations.
And the members of the business faculty
possess a wealth of industry experience,
enabling them to offer students relevant
workplace insights and innovative
curriculum. Graduates and professors
alike use their business knowledge
and skills to do excellent work while
witnessing for Jesus Christ through both
their words and actions. We are pleased
to share some of their stories with you
in this issue of Geneva Magazine,
“My Father’s Business.”
In His Service,
Kenneth A. Smith ’80
President
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from the president
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Gin brief
Pennsylvania State Senator elder vogel Jr. (R-47), representing citizens from portions of Allegheny, Beaver and lawrence counties, came to the Geneva College campus recently to listen to faculty and students express their concerns over PA Senate Bill 922. Professor Stephanie Schindel, along with undergraduate students Aaron Williams, Joshua Donath and Rachael Holden, opposed changes for the social work industry proposed by the bill.
“our students are very dedicated to this field and they want to be a part of the solution,” explained Schindel.
Senate Bill 922, which proposes to create practice protection for licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors, actually limits licensure to only Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates.
licensure is currently based on meeting competency standards, not completing a specific course of study. Donath noted, “Geneva College students have consistently demonstrated these competencies as evidenced by internship evaluations by assigned supervisors in the field.”
“Many academic programs other than social work could and do allow students the ability to meet current competency standards for various forms of direct practice such as case management,” argued Schindel. These programs include majors in behavioral science, child development, counseling, human services, psychology, social welfare and sociology.
“Currently, Senate Bill 922 has been framed as a mechanism for improving the quality of direct practice services,” said Williams.
But “offering licensure exclusively to Bachelor of Social Work graduates” would raise the problem of “high caseloads.”
Holden agreed, saying that “by reducing the number of eligible professionals, there would be fewer workers available. Hence, there will be a decrease in services and an increase in need.”
Senator vogel said that it may be a long time before S.B. 922 comes out of committee, if ever. “This bill might never make it to a vote in the Senate,” he said.
However, he did agree that the cause is worthwhile, and he encouraged those in attendance to contact the senators from their districts. “obviously, you brought up some great points,” he said to the presenters. “The older population is going to be crying out for more and more social workers.”
Students and faculty voice concern over Senate bill
CAMPUS NEWS
Professor Schindel organized the event which brought Senator Vogel to campus.
Senator Vogel (above) addressed the community following presentations by students Williams, Donath and Holden (l-r).
Kudos
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DR. ToDD Allen, Professor of Communications, co-edited Working in Groups, 6th edition (Pearson, 2012). He also presented “King on Stage: Humanizing or Humiliating an Icon?” at the “Transitions” Conference of the 103rd Annual Convention of the eastern Communication Association (eCA), and “eyes Forward, looking Back: Designing a Travel Course on the American Civil Rights Movement” at the 10th Annual Hawaii International Conference on the Arts & Humanities.
DR. noRMAn CARSon, Professor emeritus of english, recently published Precious Son: The Impact of AIDS on an Evangelical Christian Family (outskirts Press, 2012). See “Class notes” page 31.
DR. DAvID CHe, Professor of engineering, presented the paper “lessons learned from Starting an SAe Baja Program at a Small liberal Arts College,” which was co-authored with Dave Clark, Dr. David Shaw and Dr. James Gidley, at the 2012 American Society of engineering education (ASee) Annual Conference & exposition.
DR. RoBeRT and PRoFeSSoR loUISe CoPelAnD were inducted into the Beaver County Musicians Union’s Hall of Fame. They were acknowledged for their contributions to musical life in Beaver County for 31 years and for their work administering the Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards program for its entire 18-year history.
DR. THoMAS CoPelAnD spoke at the navy league of Central Pennsylvania on his book, Drawing a Line in the Sea: The 2010 Gaza Flotilla Incident and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (lexington Books, 2011). His review of Thomas Graham Jr. and Keith A. Hansen’s book, Preventing Catastrophe: The Use and Misuse of Intelligence in Efforts to Halt the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, is to be published in the journal Intelligence and National Security.
PRoFeSSoR MATTHeW FUSS, Assistant Professor of Business, presented “An ongian Perspective: ong’s Rhetoric of Technology and Its Implications for the Practice of Integrated Marketing Communication” at the 2011 national Communication Association (nCA) Annual Convention, and “Buber: An ethic Born out of Responsibility” at the 2012 Communications ethics Conference.
DR. JAMeS MATTA, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Counseling and Human Services, along with graduate students Alexandria Jones, Monica Monismith and lisa Myers, presented “The Black Dog, Puff the Magic Dragon, and other Sordid Tales of Adolescents: effectively Treating Adolescent Comorbidity” at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Annual Conference & exposition.
DR. eRIC MIlleR, Associate Professor of History, gave Covenant College’s annual Women in the Church lecture on “The Public Intellectual and American life.” A book he co-edited, Confessing History: Explorations in Christian Faith and the Historian’s Vocation (notre Dame, 2010) was the cover story of the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Books and Culture, which also featured a symposium on the book.
JeFF SAnTARSIeRo, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, received the national Christian College Athletic Association (nCCAA) Meritorious Service Award for serving as a Regional Chair for 10 years.
DR. MAUReen vAnTeRPool, Professor of leadership Studies, was appointed to the City of Beaver Falls Planning Commission by the City Council. The commission is in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan for land use within the city, which should serve as a catalyst for future economic development.
DR. JonATHAn WATT, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, authored the chapter “Religion as a Domain of Intercultural Discourse” in the newly released Handbook of Intercultural Discourse and Communication (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012).
The road less traveled: an overlooked approach to economicsGeneva economics professor Dr. Ralph Ancil’s Pennsylvania Economic Review-published paper, “Questioning the margin: Using averages and an extended break-even analysis to find optimal solutions,” argues that, for many cases, simple algebra is an elegant alternative to the heavily mathematized methods popular with the economic mainstream.
“By making this case,” Ancil states, “I am showing that entrepreneurs who use rules of thumb for their decisions may be using methods that have a sound, theoretical foundation.” To build this case, he explores two examples in detail.
The first is a problem proposed by an Austrian economist, von Wieser, whose solution used the mainstream approach of marginal analysis. Wieser found the least valued good (or “marginal” good) from different industries determines the value of the particular input from which all the goods are composed. Ancil approaches Wieser’s equation with a method that uses a simple averaging technique to arrive at the input value.
Ancil’s second, more modern, example finds the maximum difference between a total revenue curve and total cost curve (i.e., maximum profit) using what he calls the “extended” version of break-even analysis, again highlighting the more accessible approach.
As Dr. Ancil explains, “entrepreneurs may not always be interested in chasing down every single little variance in their costs and revenues, but may in fact be more interested in looking for stable averages.” In the end, Ancil again arrives at the same answer that a calculus-based approach finds, but through a different pathway.
Ancil’s main concept, his “message in the method,” is simplicity and constancy, as opposed to infinitesimally small changes focused on by the mainstream method. This path may be more classical in nature, which today is a road less traveled, but Ancil’s peer-reviewed paper points out that it is just as satisfactory.
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Alumni Council updateThe Geneva Alumni Council (GAC) welcomes fresh faces this year, as it bids farewell to two members while greeting three new ones. Janet (Wherry) Wise, a 1964 graduate and the past President of the Geneva Women, together with Trudi Dunlap ’99, have completed their terms and will be replaced by Holly (Paine ’02) Magnuson and Crystal (Harris ’86) Arrington, who are each serving three year terms. Adam Schaffer, a 2011 grad, will also join the GAC, in order to finish another member’s unexpired term.
“Geneva, as a unique Christian college, was a stepping stone for me to realize that keeping God first in anything that I do is the key to life,” Arrington says. “Geneva has come a long way since I graduated 26 years ago, but the memories of my life on campus, friends and some very special teachers sparked my interest in reconnecting and playing a part in the continual growth of my alma mater.”
Magnuson is similarly pleased to offer her services on the Alumni Council, saying, “The entirety of Geneva College—the staff, professors and students—provided such a significant investment that I’m still reaping benefits of that transformative time in my life.”
in brief
Dr. Paul Smith’s Native American literature collection benefits tribal college
Geneva Professor emeritus of english Dr. Paul e. Smith went to be with the lord in 2011, but one of his enduring legacies is his extensive native American book collection, a large portion of which now resides at the tribally-controlled Fort Berthold Community College (FBCC) in north Dakota. In accord with the will of Dr. Smith, the books will benefit the native American tribes that the college represents.
of his collection, over a thousand books are now housed at FBCC. Smith’s widow, education professor Dr. Romaine Jesky-Smith ’74, chose FBCC as the collection’s home following an impromptu visit.
“As you can imagine, they were quite surprised when I appeared at the school,” Jesky-Smith says. “I knew right away that this was a good place for the books. The tribal college is small but has a nice space and values education. They were just approved for a four-year program in native American studies. Quincee Baker, the librarian and a member of the tribe, was sponsored at Clarion University where she got her librarian degree so she could return to the tribal college.”
“one of FBCC’s core tenets is constructivist teaching and inquiry-based learning,” Baker states, adding that “the native American literature collection assembled by the late Dr. Smith will actively contribute to student learning in all of our new baccalaureate degrees.”
In addition, a selection of 150 books was donated to Geneva College. english professor Dr. Paul Kilpatrick ’71 praises Dr. Smith’s love of native American literature, evident in the “incredible care” with which Smith chose his titles.
“In my literature of the Desert course, I focus on cowboy poetry and native American women’s poetry, and Dr. Smith had a good many titles that deal directly with that,” says Kilpatrick. These were generously offered to him by Jesky-Smith. Smith often guest lectured in Kilpatrick’s north American literature courses, even after his retirement.
The Paul e. Smith Collection will be used extensively by both students and faculty engaged in native American literary research at FBCC, spreading Dr. Paul Smith’s love for the subject.
Wise was one of the original members of the GAC when it was re-established in 2004. She served many of the first years as the secretary and historian, and served most recently as chairperson of the Awards Committee. During her time on the Council, Wise was able to connect with both alumni and current students: “This has been a very rewarding experience and has hopefully helped to strengthen the relationships between alumni and Geneva College.”
This focus on strengthening relationships is the main goal of the GAC, a volunteer group that works with the alumni office at Geneva. They meet on campus several times a year. The Council recently approved a strategic plan for alumni, which, in part, consists of forming four committees: Alumni engagement, Student engagement, Alumni enrichment and Student enrichment.
Trudi Dunlap held the position of secretary for the GAC, and is being replaced by GAC member Mark Sampson ’93 (ADCP #023). The new president will be Chaplain G. Barry Davis Jr. ’75. Davis is moving up from vice President, a position that is being filled by Kaitlin Rhodes ’07.
“The community of Geneva College doesn’t begin and end during one’s student years,” Magnuson says, “just as the community of Christ will continue to connect and grow throughout time.”
Dr. Romaine Jesky-Smith (center) with Library Services Director Quincee Baker and FBCC President Russell D. Mason Jr.
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Gin motionBY VAN ZANIC ’93
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10. Live video streaming A new era of Geneva College athletics started this past year with the introduction of live video streaming on the college’s website for football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and softball.
9. New Member of the 1000-Point Club Dave Phillips became the 35th member of the Men’s Basketball 1000-Point Club. He reached this milestone while the Golden Tornadoes were in California at the Cal lutheran tournament on December 30. Phillips ended his career with 1,255 career points, which ranks him 22nd on the all-time list.
8. PAC Tennis Finals Julie Kline advanced to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championship in #4 singles. Kline defeated players from Bethany and Saint vincent to advance into the finals before falling in the championship. She finished her sophomore season with an overall record of 8-5.
7. PAC Cross Country Meet nick edinger continues to rewrite the Geneva record books. In the first year of eligibility in the PAC cross country meet, edinger finished in ninth place with a time of 27:50, which was good enough for a second team All-Conference selection.
6. Academic Excellence Fifty student-athletes received the Geneva College Athletic Director Scholar-Athlete Award, and 82 student-athletes made the PAC Honor Roll.
5. The Geneva Award Jake McCracken was selected to receive the Geneva
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ATHLETIC NEWS
T o P T e n GoLdEN TorNAdoEs
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T o P T e n GoLdEN TorNAdoEs
1. PAC Championships Geneva’s softball and volleyball teams claimed PAC championships in their first year of nCAA Division III eligibility. Geneva’s softball team rolled through the PAC tournament with a perfect 3-0 record and advanced to the nCAA Division III regional, finishing the season with a record of 30-19. The volleyball team set a single season record for victories, finishing the 2011 campaign with a mark of 27-9, which included a 17-1 record in conference play.
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Award at the 2012 Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. McCracken helped lead the Geneva men’s soccer team to a second place finish at both the PAC conference tournament and the national Christian College Athletic Association (nCCAA) national tournament. He was awarded first team All-PAC honors along with first team nCCAA All-American honors and a second team national Collegiate Athletic Association (nCAA) Division III All-Region award. McCracken’s 15 goals in 2011 was the third highest single season total, and he finished his career with 34 goals.
4. NCAA National Track and Field Meet liz Michalak became the first Geneva student-athlete to qualify for the nCAA Division III national track and field meet. Michalak finished 21st in the country in the heptathlon in just her second year competing in the event. equally as impressive was her second place finish in the heptathlon at the nCCAA nationals earlier in the year.
3 PAC Players of the Year Julie Dilonardo and Deanna Briody were named PAC players of the year in softball and volleyball. Dilonardo set school records for wins, eRA, innings pitched and strikeouts, and she finished fifth in Division III with 279 strikeouts. Briody broke the Geneva single season record for assists with 1,434.
2. Men’s soccer Tournament Play Geneva’s men’s soccer team finished as the runner-up in the PAC and at the nCCAA national tournament. The Golden Tornadoes were the only non-scholarship team competing at the nCCAA national tournament and defeated second seed Palm Beach Atlantic University and third seed Judson College.
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BY VAN ZANIC ’93
ATHLETIC NEWSGin motion
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Hooked on SuccessFor Wendy Smith, one of the most cherished additions to Geneva’s Metheny Fieldhouse was a simple hook in the women’s restroom so that she could hang up her clothes while making one of many required wardrobe changes during her busy days. Wendy is finding a way to master not only her challenging time schedule, but two very different jobs at Geneva.
“Dr. Kim Gall, Geneva College’s Athletic Director, was gracious enough to add a hook to the door inside of the restroom outside of my office,” Wendy explains. “You have no idea how helpful that is for a change of clothes on the run.” Such changes have become a necessary part of the job for Wendy, who splits her time between being the Co-Head Coach for the women’s volleyball team and a Planned Giving officer in the office of Institutional Advancement. While on the surface, the two jobs may seem as though they are worlds apart, a closer investigation into her daily activities reveals a very clear similarity between coaching a women’s varsity sport and seeking donors to support the college.
“What exactly does a Planned Giving officer do at Geneva College?” Wendy quips. “It’s an awful lot like athletic recruiting. Dealing with people and telling the Geneva story is what I have always done as a coach when recruiting student-athletes to campus. I can tell those same success stories to our alumni to give them a clear picture of Geneva College and its mission.”
Wendy began her career at Geneva College as an assistant volleyball coach in 1999. Wendy and former assistant coach Curt Conser have been on the Geneva sidelines together for 12 years, with the past five as co-head coaches. To say the duo has been successful may be a drastic understatement. Geneva’s volleyball team is coming off its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championship that coincided with a school record 27 victories last fall. Those 27 wins came one year after a record 26 victories were posted in 2010. During their five-year tenure as co-head coaches, Wendy and Curt have compiled an overall record of 111-55 and a winning percentage of .669. As if helping to run one of Geneva’s most successful athletic programs wasn’t enough, Wendy felt the need to expand her role on campus and took a new challenge in the advancement office in the spring of 2011.
As a Planned Giving officer, Wendy travels often to her main territories of Florida, north Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
on the road, this graduate of University of Pittsburgh School of law and former practicing attorney relies on her experience in estate and family law to talk with folks about how they can best support the college through their will, life insurance, annuities and charitable giving. “While the goals of recruiting
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“It is all about ... giving people a glimpse of what makes this place so special.”
student-athletes and asking for donations may be different, the approach is really quite similar,” says Wendy. “It is all about relaying the amazing message of Geneva College and giving people a glimpse of what makes this place so special.”
There are challenges to being a woman on the move, and Wendy takes most of it in stride. While she may have a meeting on campus in the morning with a potential donor, she may have to make a quick change and teach a physical education class in the afternoon. In the next hour, she could be back in her office making phone calls before heading back to the fieldhouse to prepare for an afternoon volleyball practice.
It seems like a rigorous schedule, but for Wendy, it is all in a day’s work. “I love Geneva College,” she says. “I love the people that I work with and I love the student-athletes that I get the chance to teach and coach in the volleyball program. I know that God has put me in this place for a reason and has entrusted me with the lives of student-athletes on the volleyball court and with the responsibility of reaching out to alumni across the country. When I meet with a potential donor somewhere in the country, I am the face of Geneva College and, as a result, I want to make the best impression I can because that is what I owe this place and God who has given me this opportunity.”
In a recent letter to potential donors, Wendy used a story about one of her graduating volleyball players as an example of how wonderful a Geneva experience can be. She explained how this student-athlete was so successful on the court and in the classroom, and that these are the types of men and women that Geneva College is producing every year. “I feel as though I have somewhat of an advantage because I have access to all of this material,” Wendy explains. “I never have a shortage of stories to share with people on the road and I never am caught speechless with our players. It is a perfect fit.”
What may be a perfect fit for Wendy has also evolved into a perfect fit for Geneva College. Wendy exudes excellence in all that she does. She has helped make Geneva’s volleyball program a perennial powerhouse and has brought excellence into her new challenge in the advancement office. If the success that has already been achieved by Wendy is any indication, Geneva College will be blessed by her new calling. That is, as long as the hook holds out in the restroom across from her fieldhouse office.
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As with many Geneva students who participate
in short-term mission trips, junior Elizabeth Jabco
fell in love with the people, places and culture she
encountered while abroad. In the spring of 2011,
Elizabeth travelled to Haiti on a Geneva-sponsored
trip and returned from her work with a strong
desire to help on a more long-term basis. “I realized
that as much as I love being there with the people,
there was something I could do to help them once
I returned home.”
While in Haiti, Elizabeth was struck by the pro-
found effect of poverty on the families living there.
Common sicknesses like diarrhea and the flu have
the power to kill children and adults who do not
have the resources to obtain proper care. In some
families, parents cannot even afford to send all of
their children to school and must choose only one
of their children to receive an education.
In witnessing these hardships, she was particularly
moved by those that women face in providing for
their families: “I saw women who worked from
before the sun rose until long after it set to cook for
their families and wash their clothes.” So Elizabeth,
who is an independent major in student ministries,
global development and restorative studies, began
a project to assist women in Haiti through small
microeconomic businesses with the help of her
advisor, Professor Doug Bradbury ’87 (MAHE ’99).
Elizabeth is combining her efforts with Haitian
native Jeanne Touloute. “International development
is best implemented on the micro level,” says Elizabeth.
“In partnering with Jeanne, I am assisting an indig-
enous woman who has both the vision and the skill
to create a financial opportunity for women in
her community.”
“I am an economic partner in an enterprise that will sustain many families.”Jeanne and her husband Paul, who is a pastor, are
both from Les Cayes, Haiti. Although the couple
lived in the United States for several years, they
moved back to Haiti 10 years ago to minister in their
home country once again. Jeanne’s initiative to help
the women in local villages began with traveling to
Plaine Martin, a village located high in the moun-
tains. She spoke to the women of a local church
about the possibility of opening a savings account
from which they would be able to draw money
in order to start their own small businesses.
The money they raised would help with family
expenses such as taking their children to receive
medical attention and buying medicine.
helping Others help theMselvesBY MoNICA MIller ’12
My Father ’s Business
THe HAITIAn eConoMY • 2010 GDP per capita of US$671 (the poorest in the Western Hemisphere)
•Over half live on less than US$1 per day
• 2010 earthquake— $7.8 billion in damage; GDP contracted 5.4%
Data Source:
CIA World
Factbook: Haiti
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With no funds of their own to start an account,
however, the women harnessed their resources
and began raising money. Locally grown guava
fruit from the mountain was used to make jam.
The money that was earned then generated an
initial income to begin saving. And the
momentum grew from there.
In partnership with Jeanne, who has attended
conferences on the benefits of microfinance in
developing countries, Elizabeth works toward
implementing this idea among women in several
local communities of Haiti. Through research of
sustainable models for microenterprise, she also
helped to develop and perform a community asset
inventory in order to discover what strengths the
women could use to support their families. This
led Elizabeth to focus her efforts on a collection
of recipes, The Talent of Haitian Women
Captured in a Cookbook.
The money raised through sales of this cookbook
will go directly to the continuing development of
the microfinance program. The book contains the
authentic recipes of the Haitian women from
the villages that will be impacted by the sales.
Elizabeth recorded the recipes from the women
directly and included the stories of them and their
families, along with photos and cultural information.
Elizabeth notes that Haitian women take great pride
in their work: “Haitian cooking is deeply personal
and profoundly expressive of the Haitian community.”
She adds, “This might seem like a little thing, but it
has the potential to change lives. I took something
the women in Haiti are good at—cooking—and
turned it into an opportunity for them.”
If you are interested in purchasing The Talent of
Haitian Women Captured in a Cookbook, contact
Elizabeth at [email protected]. The cost is $15 and
all funds go toward the microfinancing work that
Jeanne Touloute is organizing in Haiti.
Elizabeth (opposite page) partners with Jeanne Touloute (above) to initiate microeconomic business opportunities in Haiti.
The Plaine Martin microfinancing group.
Approximately 80% of Haitians live on less than US$2 per day.
1911
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“God’s providence put Geneva College in my blood, since I virtually grew up on campus,”
explains Robert “Bob” Clarke ’67. And one needs
only to take a look around the school’s grounds to
see that this former healthcare executive’s deep
connection with the institution extends to the
bricks and mortar of its buildings. The construction
of iconic locations such as Johnston Gym, McCartney
Library, McKee Hall and Reeves Field can all be
attributed to the tireless efforts of Bob’s grandfather
and namesake, a Reformed Presbyterian minister
who served Geneva in many capacities, including
Director of Development, from 1909-1958. In addition,
Bob’s father Edwin was Geneva’s 15th president
from 1956-1980. One of the hallmarks of his admin-
istration was the overall physical expansion of the
campus, including Clarke Hall, which was named
in memory of the elder Robert.
So naturally, the decision of where to pursue his
degree wasn’t a difficult one: “I never really considered
going anywhere else for college. God’s direction
for me seemed clear.”
But God’s direction for Bob’s career wasn’t quite so
readily apparent. With a love of science and biology
that can be traced to his days as a student at Beaver
Falls High School, he initially planned on becoming
a physician, choosing to major in biology with a
pre-med focus: “The sciences opened the wonder
of God’s creation to me.”
Bob is grateful for the outstanding academic
preparation he received at Geneva, and for the
many caring professors who “took particular
interest in helping me prepare for medical school.”
However, he says, “God’s plan for my life took a
different path.” During his senior year, Bob was in
the middle of taking, and greatly enjoying, elective
courses in business law and economics when he
happened to notice a flier about graduate programs in
hospital administration. He thought, “What a wonderful
opportunity to serve and use my biology background
while switching to business administration.”
That was the first step down the path of a long and
successful business career. After graduating, Bob
continued his education, earning a master’s degree
from the top-ranked hospital administration program
at the University of Michigan where, he says, “I
found that Geneva had provided me with an excellent
academic foundation for my graduate work.”
Following his completion of graduate school
in 1969, Bob’s career in healthcare administration
began at an 800-bed community hospital in Indianapolis.
Through God’s providence, he moved up the corporate
ladder over the years to the point of being named
President and CEO of Memorial Health System in
Springfield, IL. This large system includes a teaching
hospital affiliated with Southern Illinois University
School of Medicine, two rural hospitals, multi-discipline
medical practices and other healthcare services. He
served in this position for 24 years until retiring in 2007.
In addition to preparing Bob academically, Geneva
also provided him a strong spiritual foundation that
informed his entire career: “Geneva’s Christian
FrOM the grOund upBY GreG WIse ’95
My Father ’s Business
HIGHlIGHTS oFTHe ClARKeS’ CAMPUS exPAnSIon • Johnston Gym 1911
• McKee Hall 1921
• Reeves Field 1925
• McCartney library 1930
• Memorial Hall 1952
• Clarke Hall 1961
• Metheny Fieldhouse 1961
• Pearce Hall 1961
• Student Center 1965
• S & E Expansion 1969
• Alexander Hall 1971
13
G
worldview supported my faith. While I was at Memorial
Health System, our Values Statement was based on
the word SERVICE—Service to humanity, Excellence
in performance, Respect for the individual, Value of
employees, Integrity in relationships, Community
responsibility, Equal access. Although Memorial is a
secular organization, Geneva prepares servant-leaders,
so an important additional principle is ‘To His glory.’”
Those strong foundations established at Geneva have
also inspired him to find many ways to serve others
and glorify the Lord throughout his life. During the
time he was with Memorial Health System, Bob was
the Vice Chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Com-
merce, Board Member of the Council of Teaching
Hospitals of the Association of American Medical
Colleges, President of the Association of Community
Cancer Centers, Chairman of the Illinois Hospital
Association and Chairman of the Greater Springfield
United Way Campaign.
And Bob’s service hasn’t been limited to just his local
community, either. His reach was extended inter-
nationally through a teaching affiliation between
Memorial Health System and Sun Yat-Sen University of
Medical Sciences in Guangzhou, China. He arranged
educational conferences at Memorial Health System
for visiting Chinese hospital administrators and was
named Visiting Professor of Health Services Admin-
istration at Sun Yat-Sen University. The Vice Minister
of the Ministry of Health in China appointed Bob as
Consultant for International Medical Exchanges at
the university, and the Chinese Medical Society
even awarded him an honorary, lifetime membership.
“I have dear friends in China,” he notes.
Even in retirement, Bob currently serves on the Board
of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of IL, TX, NM and OK
and the Board of the Scottsdale Institute, a national
healthcare informatics collaborative. He and his wife
MaryLynn are also active members of their church,
The Gathering, in Sandestin, FL. Bob adds, “The Bible
verse that gives direction to my life now is Colossians
3:27: ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or in
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.’”
Although his path eventually led him as far as the
People’s Republic of China, Bob never forgot that it
began in the very basements of Geneva’s buildings.
He continues to actively contribute to the college as a
member of the Advisory Council to the Department of
Business, Accounting and Management (see page 21).
As Bob looks to the future of the institution, he says,
“Now, as I pray for Geneva College’s continuing
success, the words of Ephesians 1:16 come to mind:
‘I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering
you in my prayers.’”
Geneva College won’t soon forget Bob Clarke and his
family, either.
This feature came about through article recommendations
submitted by business grads. We want to hear from
you, too! Email your news and story ideas to
16
My Father ’s Business
BY DANIel MAssAro ’12
MOnday MOrning reassurance
20 public accounting firm in Western PennsylvaniaTOP
CoTTrill, ArbuTinA & AssoCiATes
Pittsburgh Business Times
A
15
Everette with the Watkins Award Class of 2010.
I loved that atmosphere that I grew up with in my
youth group, and I wanted to surround myself with
Christian friends,” says Tiffany.
She visited a number of Christian schools all over
the region, and much like her perfect placement
at Cottrill, Arbutina & Associates, she knew right
away that the college on the hill in Beaver Falls was
the place she was meant to be. “I looked into many
Christian colleges, but Geneva was the only one
that felt like home.”
“I remember coming to a recruiting day and I loved the business department faculty. You just knew that they truly cared about their students.”
Tiffany mentions that many of her professors were
helpful, but she is especially grateful for Accounting
Professor Amy Russin’s positive influence and guid-
ance. Tiffany says that Professor Russin encouraged
her students with both spiritual and professional
growth. “Professor Russin would tell us a lot of
stories of the challenges that she encountered in the
business world with her faith. It was the stories like
those and the constant discussions of Scripture and
ethics that really prepared me for business in the
real world.”
Tiffany is also appreciative for the Christ-centered
focus found in all of her classes: “Faith in the class-
room at Geneva meant a lot to me. It was so nice
to go into a classroom, sit down and open up your
heart to God before your day would begin. I admire
how my professors would relate their faith with
their professional work experience.”
Speaking of work experience, Tiffany is equally
positive about the way Geneva College equipped
her professionally. Her high praise ranges from
Along with the rest of corporate America, Tiffany
(Smith ’11) Bowser sits down at her desk every
Monday to begin a new work week. What makes
the routine unique for her and her co-workers at
Cottrill, Arbutina & Associates is how they start
their day—with a Scripture-based devotional
emailed from the company’s founder.
For Tiffany, this is just another reassurance that she
is at her ideal job. This position is the perfect fit for
a God-fearing, small town girl from New Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania—a place that she describes as “a small
country town where everyone knows your name.”
Tiffany is a staff accountant in the auditing department
at Cottrill, Arbutina & Associates. The accounting/
business finance double major began her trek to
full-time employment with her current company as
a summer intern, before being hired as a part-time
employee upon completion of her internship. She
then worked throughout the next year while still
attending Geneva full-time. Following graduation,
the company invited her on board full-time.
She feels humbled by her immediate hire, and is
grateful for Geneva’s guidance in that direction.
“Geneva was actually the way that I found out about
my internship,” she says. “One of my professors
told me about the opportunity and sent a recom-
mendation and my resume to the company. Geneva’s
business department also helped me with all of the
paperwork and stipulations that go along with
documenting my internship as a college credit.”
Her professors’ help took very little time to come
to fruition. And similarly, as a high school senior
looking for the right fit for her higher education,
it did not take very much time for her to realize
that Geneva was the perfect choice. “When I
graduated from Redbank Valley High School,
I knew that I wanted to go to a Christian college.
Co-workers with a lot in common (l-r): Tom Helsing ’77 (partner), Joel Martin ’96 (partner), Debbie Circle ’00, Chad Agnew ’94, John Rizzo ’63, Tiffany (Smith ’11) Bowser, Kait Vukich ’11
CoTTRIll, ARBUTInA & ASSoCIATeS • Founded in 1984
• 3 locations— Beaver, Pittsburgh, Peters Twp.
• Over 45 employees
• Access to a global network of more than 15,000 CPAs and consultants
public accounting firm in Western PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Business Times
16
classroom learning, to advice and mentoring
from her professors, to the immediate impact
that her Geneva education is having on her
current profession. “I entered my freshman
year as an accounting major, but Professor
Russin immediately encouraged me to double
major with accounting and business finance
because of how the two fields relate. She told
me that it would be beneficial in the long
run to double major. She was right.”
Four years later, that double major did come in
handy. But although stacking a double major’s
class load wasn’t simple for Tiffany, she says
the result was worth the effort. “The business
classes were very challenging. I think because
of the smaller classes, though, I could learn
quicker and advance further than at some
other colleges. And everything that I learned,
I am using today in my career.”
Tiffany just completed her first month of
full-time employment at Cottrill, Arbutina
& Associates and was also recently married.
She and her husband, Jake, who have been
together since their freshman year of high
school, currently reside on College Hill,
less than a mile from Geneva’s campus.
She is confident in her work as a staff
accountant and determined to do her best.
She is also grateful for the opportunities her
employer provides her, both as a professional
and a Christian. “The firm has a priority list
of God first, family second and work third.
Working for a Christian organization has
truly been a blessing.”
Some days run smoother than others at the
firm; that’s just the way life works. But Tiffany
experiences great joy knowing that no matter
how difficult a day may be, there will always
be Monday morning—the time she sits at her
desk, opens up her email and reads a devotional
straight from the heart of her employer.
And once again, she’ll be reassured that she’s
where God wants her to be.
“The business classes were very challenging. I think because of the smaller classes, though, I could learn quicker and advance further than at some other colleges. And every- thing that I learned, I am using today in my career.”
G
17
In a field as competitive as business, hands-on learning paired with relevant theory is vital.Students in Geneva’s business program learn from
people who’ve been there; but most importantly,
they are learning from professors who are committed
to serving Christ in the business world.
Just walk into the office of business Department Chair
Dr. Gordy Richards and you’ll see how his experience
in the industry and his commitment to Christ impact
who he is and how he teaches. Richards spent 28
years serving in the United States Air Force before
joining the business faculty on a full-time basis in
2011. He had been a part-time instructor for the
department for 13 years prior to that. The American
flag and Scripture references hold prominent places
on his office walls, along with plaques and
recognitions of service.
Richards’ position was equivalent to that of a corporate
chief information officer (CIO), so he dealt with many
of the same things that a corporate CIO would. “We spend
our days doing the business of the United States much
like any corporation does its business,” he says. “The
big difference was that I wore a uniform and had to be
able to do what I did under life-threatening conditions.”
Richards taught as a business and information systems
instructor for years before transitioning out of military
life, and the skills he developed provided an easy
segue into his teaching career at Geneva, where he
joined a team of experienced Christian educators.
Geneva’s nine full-time business faculty members
have a combined total of nearly 200 years of industry
experience, and that number rises still higher with
the inclusion of part-time faculty members. Their
experience covers a wide range of public and private
sectors, including international marketing, government
service, accounting, personal and corporate taxes,
human resources management, and law. “Our faculty
have lived through the challenges of making a pay-
roll, budgeting and planning strategies that actually
influenced the success or failure of an organization,”
Richards says.
BY JeNNY (BoWer ’05) P IChur A
Business as usual, gOd’s Way
My Father ’s Business
18
With their years of experience, expertise in theory
and passion for teaching, department members have a
wealth of knowledge to pour into the lives of students.
And when students see the willingness of their
teachers to invest in them, they are more likely to
reciprocate—in their studies, relationships and future
endeavors. “The dedication of the faculty, students
and all those with whom we have business relationships
makes Geneva’s program one of a kind,” says Accounting
Professor Amy Russin.
A business alumnus seeking licensure as a certified
public accountant recently contacted Russin to say,
“I am currently studying for my third CPA exam, and
I realized that you had already taught most of the
exam topics in your various classes. This also held
true for the first two exams, which I passed with
excellent grades on the first attempt.”
But Geneva’s business faculty brings more to the
table than excellent preparation and practical strategies
for moving up the corporate ladder.
“We believe strongly in the concept that business is a
calling from God,” says Associate Professor Dan Raver,
who has been teaching finance at Geneva for 32 years.
“Geneva encourages students to develop a sincere
desire to work and serve to glorify God—not just talk
about it, but really wrestle with what that means and
how to live that out.”
Students are challenged to look for God’s way of doing
business. It’s a practice that won’t always make sense
to the world, especially when it means making decisions
based on pure trust in God’s promises.
“Ultimately, behavior is values-driven,” Raver says,
referencing the book Joy at Work by founder of The
AES Corporation and former Geneva College trustee
Dennis Bakke. “Not only does God tell us to do certain
things, but also to look at our motives—why we operate.
Organizations that tend to be distinctive and high-
performing ultimately have a deep sense of the values
they emphasize. We get students to think about and
analyze their own values systems, and our hope is
that they will be trusting the Lord to direct their
paths to make an impact.”
Working in the field of business is a sacred call from
God, and the business department works hard to convey
this powerful message to students. It’s the message
that they don’t have to be pastors or missionaries or
even work in a Christian organization to be serving
God and building his kingdom.
“One of the biggest things we can do is break down
the artificially perceived wall between Old Main and
Northwood,” Richards says. “Students may take their
Bible classes in Old Main then walk over to North-
wood and take their business classes, often without
realizing the vital link that exists between them. You
take the Bible classes so you can bring that knowledge
and worldview into everything else that you’re doing.”
BUSIneSS PRoGRAMSACCoUnTInGTrack one: Private or Corporate AccountingTrack Two: Public Accounting
BUSIneSS ADMInISTRATIon, with concentrations in:economicsFinanceHuman Resource ManagementInternational BusinessManagement & entrepreneurshipManagement of Information SystemsMarketingSport Management
BUSIneSS/AvIATIon (dual major offered in partner-
ship with the Community College of Beaver County)
MUSIC BUSIneSS (offered through the Department
of Music)
SPoRT MAnAGeMenT
Geneva also offers a master’s in business administration (MBA). Both the undergraduate and graduate programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
97%
19
In order for students to figure out how to apply
faith and business theory in real life, internships
are a must. Associate Professor Dr. Denise Murphy-
Gerber manages and advises for the department’s
internship program. Prior to teaching at Geneva,
she spent 20 years as an international audit man-
ager and program and portfolio manager for a
number of Fortune 500 companies, then moved
on to marketing and sales for State Farm.
“Internships provide the necessary business
and office experience that students need
in order for them to walk into an interview
with not only the education that comes
with a completed college degree, but also
with contextualized experience in their
emphasis area,” she says. “Our program
G
PoInTS oF exCellenCe
• 70%— Geneva students completing internships
• 93%— Geneva students working or in grad school within six months after graduation, on average in the past four years
geneva.edu/excellence97%Placement rate of 2010 accounting graduates
also allows students to get college elective
credit above and beyond the business
experience gained from the internship.”
While each of the programs contained in the
business department focuses on a specialized area,
students are given a holistic understanding of the
entire field. “We try to interconnect our courses in
the field so that students see the detail of
their area as connected to a larger whole,”
says Raver, who teaches primarily in
the areas of strategic management and
finance. “They are not just doing a
particular function but thinking
about how it interconnects with
the roles of others.”
As students build their business expertise
in and out of the classroom, all the while
trusting and operating under biblical
principles, they are preparing for much
more than a job. Geneva’s business
graduates are launching into a world
that desperately needs the redeeming
truth of the gospel. And as these young
professionals combat greed and self-
interest with integrity and excellence,
they shine the light of Christ Himself.
The Department of Business, Accounting and Management, represented here by some of its members, connects the business curriculum to the Christian worldview.
20
“The dedication of the faculty, students and all those with whom we have business relationships makes Geneva’s program one of a kind.”
BUSIneSS ClUBS
• In addition to the Accounting Club, which has
been active for a number of years, sophomore
Justin Fink recently did the legwork to start a
nationally affiliated business club as well—
a chapter of the Future Business leaders of
America-Phi Beta lambda (FBlA-PBl). “It’s a
good year for membership, and we’ve had
several area business leaders come in as guest
speakers and participated in a leaders Serving
Beaver County (lSBC) networking opportunity
with our entrepreneurship class. We’re excited
and looking forward to increasing opportunities,”
says Richards.
• Geneva students have the opportunity to
participate in the Pittsburgh Fellows program,
which enables graduates to launch their careers
through a nine-month paid internship while further
developing their Christian leadership skills.
• Delta Mu Delta is the business honors society
for the top 20% of business students. Three grad
and 23 undergrad students were inducted in 2012.
• The department has reinstated a student
chapter of the Society of Human Resources
Managers (SHRM) designed to connect interested
students to the premier HR organizations in the
country. The club is advised by Professor Matt
Fuss, who recently joined Geneva’s business
department after 13 years of HR management in
the private corporate sector. He says, “The club
will expose students to the essential information
and knowledge base necessary for a successful
career in the industry, as well as provide insight
and direction to those considering a career in HR.”
21
ADviSOrY COuNCil In many ways, the Advisory Council to the
Department of Business, Accounting and Manage-
ment functions as a shock-absorber, wielding its
knowledge base in order to smooth out the bumps
on the department’s road to academic excellence.
The Advisory Council assembles a representative
cross section of the commercial business world,
and the group’s twice-annual meetings include
discussions with members of the administration,
department faculty and student body. The Council
provides insight on the current market, advice on
infrastructure adjustments and challenges the
department to strive for outstanding performance.
The Advisory Council has been providing a guiding
hand to the business department since the fall of
1994, when the late Dr. J. Randall Nutter formed the
group to meet requirements set by the Accreditation
Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
THE 2012 ADVISORY COUNCIL:
John Mandeville ’65, Chairman
Treasurer and Administrator of Calvary Church
Robert Clarke ’67
Retired CEO of Memorial Hospital System
David Hutton ’78
Zone Financial Officer of Siemens Healthcare
David Jordan
Consultant and former Geneva business professor
Andrew Marcinko
Retired Independent Representative for technical
manufacturing equipment and former Geneva
College Trustee
Brian Panichelle ’97
President of BP Insurance, Inc.
George Tannehill ’46
Retired Controller of Koppers Company
Craig Waller ’98
Intellectual Property Attorney at Ference & Assoc.
A lASTiNg imPACTGeorge Tannehill ’46 joined the Advisory Council
as a charter member in 1994, the same year he was
awarded the Life G. Today, at the age of 90, he’s still
serving in that role. And even after his tenure on the
council ends, the legacy left by him and his wife
Beverly will continue for years to come through
their estate plan.
“I strongly believe in providing education for students
in perpetuity,” George says, “and that’s exactly what
our estate plan will do.”
Geneva sincerely thanks George and Beverly, members
of the Tower and Heritage Societies, for the difference
they make in the lives of our students.
22
Some of life’s most important lessons
are learned the earliest and stay with us the
longest. Barbara McNees ’87 can trace one such
lesson from her current position as President of
the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
back to her first job as a 16-year-old sales clerk at
Mary’s Bride & Formal in downtown Beaver Falls.
“The customer is always right,” she says. It’s
a simple concept, but an important one—the
people you serve matter the most.
“If you don’t take care of your customers, you’re
not going to be successful,” Barbara says. That
goes for any business, but don’t just take her
word for it.
As former Executive Director of the Beaver
County Chamber of Commerce, Barbara earned
the reputation of being a tireless promoter of
businesses. Under Governors Bob Casey and
Tom Ridge, she led state economic development
projects to clean up contaminated brownfields
and redevelop riverfront sites—the first steps
that would help transform Pittsburgh from a dying
steel town into America’s “Most Livable City.”
The city had been in a state of decline since the
late 1970s. Hundreds of thousands of workers lost
their jobs through the collapse of the steel industry,
the heart that had steadily pumped life into the
region for nearly a century. The challenge was in
building a new Pittsburgh that no longer relied on
the strength of one industry. “There was a crisis,
and nobody was going to fix it but us,”
Barbara recalls.
By 2009, President Obama was welcoming world
leaders to the transformed city for the G-20 Summit,
held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center,
with these words:
As a city that has transformed itself from
the city of steel to a center for high-tech
innovation—including green technology,
education and training, and research and
development—Pittsburgh will provide
both a beautiful backdrop and a powerful
example for our work.
That transformation took over 20 years, and
Barbara was involved every step of the way.
Going forward, she’s looking forward to seeing
even more positive changes.
“Our population is increasing, we’re seeing more
growth and we employ more people now in the
10-county Pittsburgh region than we did at the
height of the steel industry. Most people don’t realize
that. We’ve come a long way back,” Barbara says.
Barbara has come a long way, herself. She made
headlines in 1997 as the first woman president
of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
in its 132-year history. This was an honor she had
never imagined. “Nobody grows up saying they
want to be a Chamber of Commerce executive,”
Barbara laughs.
Life’s path takes many twists and turns, and hers
began at Geneva College in 1965. Although Barbara
grew up in a Christian home, it wasn’t simply
Geneva’s faith commitment that drew her to the
college. She was also impressed by the institution’s
“excellent reputation for education.”
She gives credit to the brilliant minds that were
present at Geneva, such as former economics
department head Dr. Stewart Lee, who set the standard
of excellence for future professors. “Some of the
professors who have been here probably could have
taught anywhere, but because of their faith and
their commitment stayed and made Geneva a good
academic school, and I think that’s still the case,”
she says.
After two years at Geneva, Barbara followed
her path to New York City to fulfill her dream of
working in the fashion industry. She was a suc-
cessful executive for Macy’s for several years, but
when she moved back to Pittsburgh in 1980, it
BY AMANDA (K AsK Al AVICh ’06) FlINNershe Built this city
My Father ’s Business
THe GReATeR PITTSBURGH CHAMBeR oF CoMMeRCe, an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, represents over 600 businesses with more than one million employees across 10 counties.
>1,000,000
23
was apparent she would need to complete
her degree. She thought, “Why not finish
where I started?”
There was one problem—at the time, Geneva
didn’t have an Adult Degree Completion Program.
But instead of throwing up their hands in the face
of the issue, Barbara’s former professors rolled
up their shirtsleeves and got to work.
They took credits from her basic education at Geneva,
from the Tobe-Coburn Institute and from a University
of Delaware Organizational Management degree in
order to create a curriculum to suit her needs.
Still, for Barbara, it was an adjustment getting
back into the classroom. “Calculus and chemistry
weren’t great fun after all those years,” she
laughs. “But thanks to some good mentoring,
I made it through.”
Barbara was able to earn her degree in independent
studies while working as Executive Director for
the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce.
She graduated in 1987, just three weeks before
her eldest son graduated from high school. And
Geneva’s official Adult Degree Completion
Program (ADCP) was launched the following
year by Dr. Robert Hough.
“Without that support, I wouldn’t be in the
position I am had I not been able to successfully
complete my degree and move on to other
opportunities. I’ve always been thankful
for that,” Barbara says.
As Barbara learned all those years ago at Mary’s
Bride & Formal, people are more important than
profits—both the people you serve and the people
who serve you.
“I didn’t do this by myself,” she says of her
successful career. “It took a lot of people, a lot
of strong people to help me along the way, and
a lot of faith.” For that, she is forever grateful.
“I wouldn’t be in the position I am had I not been able to successfully complete my degree…. I’ve always been thankful for that.”
G>1,000,000 employees
Just as sports fans are committed to their home teams,
teams are committed to their hometowns. From making
appearances at community events to running sports clinics
for kids, professional sports organizations create many ways
to give back to their communities. But the Philadelphia
Union, a Major League Soccer team based in Chester,
Pennsylvania, has taken that commitment to the next level.
Rob Smith ’83 is the Union’s Vice President of Soccer
Development and Community Relations. He came on board
as director of operations in 2008 to assist in the start up of
the new Major League Soccer franchise. Then in the fall of
2009, he and the Philadelphia Union turned their attention
to the team’s hometown. For a full year, the Union sent Rob
on “executive loan” to the Chester-Upland School District.
In 1994, around the same time that Major League Soccer
came into existence, the Chester Upland School District was
named the worst-performing district in Pennsylvania. It was
also the only PIAA - 4A school in the state without a soccer
program. In the fall of 2009 Rob got to work, partnering with
the superintendent to develop sustainable programming for
the students and reintroduce soccer to the district.
“We started after- school programs in soccer, character building, lifestyle education, resume building and mentoring for students who want to go to college,” Rob says.
“It was a first for me, and I hadn’t really seen this model
anywhere else. It’s a testament to the ownership group and our
CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. They wanted to have
an impact in the community—to develop sustainable programs
that would have a lasting impact and long-term effect.”
Rob worked with students at every grade level. He formed
a partnership with Starfinder, a nonprofit organization that
pairs athletic instruction with educational and enrichment
programs, and started character-based after-school programs
for first through sixth grades at three different elementary
BY JeNNY (BoWer ’05) P IChur Aservice thrOugh sOccer
My Father ’s Business
PHIlADelPHIA UnIon
named after the Union of the Thirteen Colonies, of which Phila- delphia was the first capital
18,5
00
number of seats at the Union’s state-of-the-art PPl Park
24
25
schools. At the middle school level, he mentored 40 boys
with behavioral issues through a decision-making class.
And at the high school, he taught physical education during
the soccer portion of the curriculum. Every student in the
high school participated in his class.
Rob worked with the teachers, as well. He led professional
development classes for every physical education teacher
in the school district and helped them rethink and redesign
their curriculum.
In addition to in-school programs, Rob and the Union
worked with the district to create community initiatives
for boys and girls. “We found groups in the city who were
playing already but weren’t working together, so we started
a collaborative organization called Chester City United,”explains
Rob. “Now 350 kids go through that program each year.”
Last but not least, Rob and the Philadelphia Union made sure
that every child involved in the school and community soccer
programs had the opportunity to go to a professional game.
Rob has been working with kids since his days as an
accounting/business student and member of the soccer team
at Geneva. Then-soccer coach Bob Fortosis required all his
players to give back to the community, and Rob worked as a
volunteer coach and referee at the YMCA in New Brighton.
Within six months of graduation, he was coaching a youth soccer
team, and he’s been involved with youth soccer ever since.
Ask Rob why he chose Geneva, and he’ll tell you he
didn’t. He was led here. There was no rhyme or reason to
his choice—only that he was recruited to play soccer and
had a friend on the team. In fact, Rob wouldn’t understand
why God wanted him at Geneva until he decided to leave.
He transferred to nearby Slippery Rock University after
his sophomore year, but found himself going back to visit
Geneva every weekend. Rob liked Slippery Rock, but says
that he wouldn’t have graduated if he had stayed there.
“The education at Geneva was great. I knew it did not get
any better than that,” he says. “The professors are unbelievable.
I could have gone to other schools—I could have gotten a degree
and spent less money—but I needed a disciplined environment,
and I needed to be around people I cared about and who
genuinely cared about me.”
Rob returned to Geneva after a meeting with then-Dean of
Students Karl Cunningham, where he expressed that he had no
desire to play soccer again. Coach Fortosis would have none of
it. Not just for the sake of the team, but because he cared about
the young player’s future. “He asked questions, pumped me up,
challenged me and convinced me to come back,” Rob says. “It was
probably the best thing that ever could have happened. I had given
up something I really loved and that got me where I am today.”
Rob is grateful for the investment that Geneva made in his
life. He is thankful for the people who didn’t let him give
up, and for the opportunity to pass that on to the students
of Chester-Upland and others he has coached. Now, even
though he’s back in his office at the Philadelphia Union,
the programs he helped initiate will continue to impact
lives and transform the Chester community.
JOhn shipley: Philadelphia Union internAs the summer Community Relations Intern for the Phila-
delphia Union, Geneva College junior John Shipley assists
in coordinating community outreach efforts of the Union
and the organization’s recently formed Foundation, which
seeks to provide area youth with activities and opportunities.
Outreach is a flexible term, and so John has found himself
helping create community engagement events, writing
spreadsheets and flyers, and even selecting the Hometown
Hero—a person who has served ‘above and beyond’ in
the community to be recognized at a home game.
“Current projects that I’ve been working on with Rob and
the Foundation include planning a playground built in and
for the city of Chester,” John explains. The lively environment
of the internship has also boosted John’s skills in new ways.
He adds: “I’ve improved my confidence in public speaking,
as I have had to make phone calls and give presentations to
important people in the front office and in the community.”
Saying that Rob has been helpful “would be a huge under-
statement,” according to John. “He went out of his way to
show me around and introduce me to people in the front
office, administrators at the stadium, and even to a few players
whom he knows fairly well. He has shown me grace,
patience and treated me with the greatest respect.”
One of John’s next tasks: exploring possible fundraising
options for the Philadelphia Union Foundation.
G
John at “Design Day,” where children in Chester, PA, took part in designing their dream playground.
1826
Continuing the Christ- centered approach that is the hallmark of Geneva College academics,a number of recent graduates have been integrating
their faith in the workplace through the support of the
Pittsburgh Fellows. The purpose of this post-undergraduate
program is to provide practical and spiritual training for
young adults who desire to fully integrate their faith and
vocation. During a paid nine-month internship, participants
have the opportunity to grow spiritually while living
together in a community and supporting each other
through the challenging transition from college
student to professional.
The Pittsburgh Fellows program connects participants,
known as Fellows, with Christian business leaders in the
Pittsburgh area. The Fellows work four days a week at
companies that are specific to their interests. On Fridays,
they attend classes that focus on spiritual discipline and
leadership at Trinity Seminary. Many of them continue
their employment following the internship, and all
receive valuable work experience and make important
connections with area business people.
Both Adam Shaffer and Alex Winger are 2011 business
graduates who launched careers because of the Christian
leadership training and hands-on experience provided
by the Pittsburgh Fellows, which Adam describes as a
“hybrid program that marries real-world business with
classes and the community of a small college environment.”
Through the program, Adam was connected with
the CEO of Trib Total Media, one of Pittsburgh’s largest
media companies. He was subsequently offered a position
in their marketing department and has been working
on various projects ever since.
My Father ’s Business
JOlly gOOd FellOWsBY MoNICA MIller ’12
The 2012 Fellows include four Geneva grads. Beginning fourth from left, they are Jenn White ’11, Emily Jensen ’09, Alex Winger ’11 and Adam Shaffer ’11.
57
27
Alex is employed at PGT Trucking, where he completed
his internship. “I would never have gotten the job if the
Pittsburgh Fellows had not given me face time with the
company,” he says. “It has been a wonderful experience.”
Emily Jensen, a 2009 business administration graduate
with a concentration in economics, has found that
participating as a Fellow has provided her with
great opportunities as well.
“My experience with the Pittsburgh Fellows program
has been phenomenal,” says Emily. “I have been so
encouraged by how much Becca Chapman (MSOL ’04),
the Director of the Pittsburgh Fellows, cares about each
of us in the program as individuals and how many business
leaders in Pittsburgh have bought into the vision.”
Designed to be an effective gateway to move from
student to worker, Adam explains that one of the main
benefits of the program is that Fellows don’t have to
face this transition alone. “You get to be best friends
with other like-minded young professionals in the same
city, going through the same changes and trials that you
are,” he says. “I’ve seen wonderful friendships blossom.
From Bible studies to downtown hangouts to road trips,
the extracurricular Fellows activities are worth the
journey alone.”
Emily adds that past Fellows participants often
provide additional support: “The Fellows program
really is a great way to not only get immersed in business,
but in the Christian community as well. I was placed at
a company where there are already three other Fellows
program alumni employed. It has been great to come in
to a place where there are like-minded individuals
to offer me daily encouragement.”
So, what do these Fellows have to say to other recent
graduates and those about to finish their degrees?
“I would highly recommend that Geneva College students
contact the Pittsburgh Fellows program and see if it’s
the right fit for them,” says Adam. “If there is a better
program out there that provides a better transition from
college life to the professional world for young Christians,
I have certainly never heard of it.”
“I encourage anyone who is unsure of what they want
to do after college to look into the program—it may
help you discover where you need to be in life,” says
Alex. “The experiences you get from the employment
and interactions with other Fellows make it well worth it.”
“I would absolutely recommend the Fellows to Geneva
students,” says Emily. “It is a great way to break out of the
proverbial ‘college bubble’ in a way that allows one to
have Christian community while learning how to be a
light in the business world.”
For more information on the Pittsburgh Fellows
program, visit pittsburghfellows.com.
PITTSBURGH FelloWS • Est. 2006 • Fellows take four courses: Apologetics, engaging Contemporary Culture, Urban leadership, Business leadership
• Fellows receive 12 graduate credits
• Fellows give two to four hours of service a week to their church
• The Fellows program provides rental housing, including rent, furnishings and utilities, at two locations— Sewickley and Highland Park
57 students have been a part of the program
42 Pittsburgh-area employers hiring Fellows and Fellows alumni
1028
BY AMANDA (K AsK Al AVICh ’06) FlINNerFOllOWing the leader
My Father ’s Business
Nobody would have blamed Lutitia “Tish” (Myles ’75)
Clipper (MSOL ’00) if she felt overwhelmed when
she came to Geneva College in the early ’70s. The
engineering major was entering a field still
dominated by men, and few other women were
going with her. She could have felt out of place.
She could have felt pressured to try a different
major. She could have felt lost even on
a small campus.
She could have, but she didn’t. One of the first
lessons she learned at Geneva was that, through
God, all things are possible. “It was never considered
impossible for me to earn an engineering degree,”
she remembers. “The professors wanted me to
succeed, wanted to encourage me to move forward.”
And that’s exactly what she did—so much so
that Tish has made a career out of helping others
discover new possibilities. As an engineer for
Peoples Natural Gas, she persuades consumers
to consider alternate, environmentally-friendly
resources. And, as a professor in Geneva’s Masters
of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL)
program, she encourages students to explore
ideas and strategies to become innovative
servant-leaders.
In 2008, Tish began teaching in Geneva’s MSOL
program, which is designed to teach leadership
skills through a combination of theory and field-
based application. In classes like Professional
Development, Leadership and Communication,
and Research Methods, students learn to navigate
issues they will face in the complex and ever-
changing workplace.
“It’s a master’s that relates to the heartbeat of
what is happening in this society today, being
that so many corporate cultures are experiencing
dynamic change. It enables students to be able to
understand how to best utilize their strengths
and market them to the employment opportunities
that are available and also, if necessary, redirect
those strengths and talents to adapt to the changes
they are seeing happen right before their eyes,”
Tish explains.
Geneva’s program is unique among organizational
leadership programs because of its faith-based
foundation and goal to produce responsible
servant-leaders. “I think that’s what makes the
difference at Geneva. It’s not just an institution
for education. It’s an institution that encourages
people to grow into who they are and who they
can be in Christ,”
Tish says.
MSol PRoGRAM
• Five cohorts start per year with an average group size of 15 students • Six locations— Beaver Falls, Butler, Johnstown, Monroeville, Pittsburgh, South Hills
• Earn a master’s degree in two years, meeting one night a week>900
29
G
Tish carried that encouragement with her for
years as she worked toward her engineering
degree as an undergraduate, returned to Geneva
to earn her master’s in the MSOL program and
earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Now, she hopes to give it back. “I’m trying to
encourage and inspire students in the way that
I was encouraged and inspired,” she says.
While Tish is teaching students how to use their
individual God-given resources, she’s also showing
consumers how to use natural resources responsibly
through her job at Peoples Natural Gas.
Over 359,000 residential, commercial and industrial
customers throughout 16 counties in Western
Pennsylvania rely on service from Peoples Natural
Gas. The company’s concerns go beyond how
customers heat their homes and businesses, but
also how they fuel their vehicles. That’s where
Tish comes in.
Tish works in Peoples’ Vehicle Marketing
Development program, making natural gas
vehicles more accessible to consumers and
businesses by being fully immersed in every
aspect of the business. Whether it’s networking
with others to create more natural gas refilling
stations, communicating with companies who
manufacture conversion equipment, or test
driving the natural gas-powered Honda Civic
GX through the Fort Pitt Tunnel, it’s all a part
of the job.
And that job is a part of something even bigger.
“Everything I do in my life is driven to
bring glory and honor to the Lord in all of
my actions and my attitudes, and I believe
that as a Christian, it is imperative that we
would be responsible and that we would be
concerned about how we deal with the
resources that the Lord has given us,”
she says.
Before we can be responsible in using
our God-given resources, we have to first
discover what they are and how we can
use them. As an engineer, Tish discusses
environmental resources, pointing out that
natural gas is a cleaner, greener fuel choice
than gasoline and diesel, and is abundant
in the Western Pennsylvania region. As a
professor, Tish focuses on personal resources,
helping students to discover and understand
their unique skill sets that they can later use
as leaders in the workplace—and they can
all be leaders.
“Anybody can still be a leader within an
organization by virtue of how well they
understand themselves, their skill sets
and their positioning in the organization,”
she says.
Anything is possible.
leaders have graduated since the MSol program began in 1996>900
“I’m trying to encourage and inspire students in the way that I was encouraged and inspired.”
30
Gin service
Tax returns. To some, the phrase evokes a hectic rush to complete paperwork before a government deadline. To a select few Geneva College students led by business professor Dr. Gary vander Plaats, however, the phrase simply reminds them of a recent service opportunity.
This spring vander Plaats oversaw the IRS volunteer Income Tax Assistance (vITA) Program at Geneva, which filed free basic tax forms on behalf of members of the Beaver Falls community. From February 1 until April 15, a team of four business majors staffed the program, completing tax forms for the participants.
The program, which is aimed at the poor, the elderly and anyone hard pressed to fill out their own forms, has several restrictions. only those who make below $45,000 a year or are above the age of 62 are eligible and certain information must be provided.
The success of the program relied heavily on the students, according to vander Plaats. He was the initiator, but stepped back once the wheels of the program began to spin. “I was the site coordinator, but I did not do the tax returns,” vander Plaats relates. As a general rule, he says, one student did the tax return, and then allowed another to review it. When the IRS needed to contact the program, vander Plaats would relay emails. An IRS agent located in Pittsburgh fact-checked all the tax forms.
A major in business isn’t required in order to volunteer, but this year, business majors composed the entirety of the group. The students, all of whom took vander Plaats’ Taxation course last fall, were well equipped to deal with their clients. All the vITA volunteers will graduate before the 2013 tax season, but hope to see other students step up and continue the service next year.
The vITA program, to vander Plaats’ eyes, is a clear application of Geneva’s mission to mentor students who will glorify God with all
areas of their lives. even taxes can be turned into serving opportunities. The program fits well with “who we are as an institution and the kind of things that we try to teach our students,” states vander Plaats, who first brought the program to Geneva during the ’90s. not only is the volunteer service a hands-on application of the accounting skills that students learn in the classroom, but it’s a practical application of the godly worldview that is promoted at Geneva.
“God milks the cows through those called to that work,” vander Plaats says, quoting Martin luther. Cow-milkers and accountants alike are called to their vocations by God. Providing a free tax service for those in need employs the biblical tenet of helping others within the field of accounting.
“The overall teaching of Reformation thinkers is that our work matters to God, and no matter how so-called mundane those tasks may be, it matters,” vander Plaats says. “We try to teach that.”
The community responded. Diverse individuals from a breadth of unique backgrounds turned out for the tax service, and all were thankful. “We did enjoy getting to know them a bit,” says student volunteer Jessica Hall. “They were always extremely grateful.”
Just like those who benefited from the tax service, Jessica also found the experience to be a rewarding one: “We did get the chance to pray with one client and I corresponded with the individual throughout the tax season.”
vITA’s goal was “to build goodwill between the college and the community,” says vander Plaats, “and I think that was accomplished.”
BY ADA M roWe ’14
Dr. Gary Vander Plaats
Class notes are avai- lable on geneva.edu. visit the site to learn about fellow class-mates. Submit an update so they can stay connected with you.
31
Gclass notes
1947 dr. Norman Carson, Professor emeritus of english, recently published Precious Son: The Impact of AIDS on an Evangelical Christian Family. The book chronicles the life of the Carsons’ eldest son, Mark (’76), who died in 1994, and reveals the overwhelming sorrow his death caused. Furthermore, it celebrates the Carsons’ recovery through the lord’s blessing. It is available in two formats: paper and e-book. 1971 Chuck Milliken decided to hang up his ranger hat at the end of 2011 for the last time after 42 years of working for the U.S. national Park Service (nPS). After working two summers in Yellowstone national Park while attending Geneva College in the late 1960s, the ‘call of the wild’ drew Chuck away from his planned career major in the accounting and business world. Since that time, he and his wife Marjorie (dennison ’73) traveled extensively across the United States during nine transfers from one unit of the nPS system to another. Chuck’s last 10 years with the nPS were in Salt lake City, UT, where he worked with multiple partnership organizations developing site plans and a variety of interpretive media for four of the nation’s long distance national historic trails. Chuck and Marjorie will remain in the Salt lake valley, at least for the foreseeable future. Their immediate plans are to relax, travel to the many national park areas they have not yet visited, and return to some of the locations where they lived and worked to catch up with the lives of the many friends and acquaintances they made in the communities bordering the parks where Chuck was assigned. Chuck plans to remain active with several of the volunteer organizations that labor to preserve the remnants of the historic roads taken by those daring adventurers who settled the west over 170 years ago. 1972 Bob Carlsen was elected to the Woodland Park, Colorado City Council on April 3, 2012. 1973 Marjorie (dennison) Milliken —See Milliken 1971
1979 Tim davies began working at ohio University in April of 2012 as the Senior Budget Analyst. Tim graduated with a Master of Public Administration from oU in June 2011 and was recognized as an overall outstanding Student by the voinovich School of leadership and Public Affairs. Tom Nagy was inducted into the Allegheny-Kiski valley Sports Hall of Fame on May 19, 2012. Tom set many records while playing football for the Golden Tornadoes. 1981 Martha (McNally) rowe was recently promoted to the senior government grade (GGD) 13 by the national Security Agency (nSA). Martha has worked at the nSA for 25 years. She currently serves as a Senior Staff officer in its Information Assurance Directorate.
1983 Joyce (McBurney) and Michael deFont celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on october 11, 2011. Joyce is an Adjunct Instructor at Mount Saint Mary College, new York, in the physical education department. She is also teaching American Red Cross courses at a local high school and runs the pool at the local YMCA summer camp. 1985 Louis Petolicchio is currently serving as the head of the education team for the Constitutional organization of liberty in lebanon, PA.
1988 Becky Weliczko is working at Citicorp in Tampa, Fl, as a Capital Project Sourcing Manager. She is instrumental in reducing contract costs by contributing to operational goals and personnel relationships for the company. 1994
Theodore Lai married vanessa Szeto on December 31, 2011. The newlyweds are living in Duarte, CA.
1998
Michelle (McCoy) married Martin Hubenthal on october 16, 2010 at Calvary orthodox Presbyterian Church in Harrisville, PA, where they are members. The ceremony was attended by Karl A. Hubenthal ’68, Johannes Hubenthal ’00, Connie (Lora ’99) Troyer, Andrew Close ’99 and deborah (Kuenzel ’98) Close. Michelle and Martin’s daughter, Mara Anne, was born november 9, 2011. Michelle enjoys being a full-time mom. The Hubenthals reside near emlenton, PA.
1999 Todd and Joy (Pipping ’00) Eckstein announce the birth of their son, liam John, on September 12, 2011. liam is well loved by his older siblings Seth, Zoie and Hope.
Karen (schockey) spain received a Master of education from Chowan University in May 2012. Recently inducted into Alpha Chi and Kappa Delta Pi, she was awarded Best Paper Presentation at the Graduate level during the Chowan University Student Research Conference for the paper, “out of Balance: STeM education vs. President obama’s educational Agenda.” She presented the same paper in poster format at the north Carolina Association of Colleges and Teacher educators annual spring forum.
Photos appear within or before the corresponding class note.
2832
2000 Joy (Pipping) Eckstein —See eckstein 1999
Jeremiah Johnson was recently honored as the 2012 neiderhoffer Fellowship recipient at John Jay College. The award is given to a doctoral candidate in memory of Professor Arthur niederhoffer, who was a distinguished policing practitioner and scholar. Jeremiah is pictured receiving the award from Arthur’s son, Roy. In April, Jeremiah was reassigned to the position of Detective Sergeant with the Darien Police Department (CT).
2003
Michael and Julie Barton (MAHE ’07) announce the birth of their third child, luke Daniel Barton, on January 2, 2012. He is the grandson of russell Klicker ’78 and Patricia (McManaway ’78) Klicker.
sarah (snyder) and Thomas S. Bird III announce the birth of their second child, elizabeth Ann Bird. elizabeth joins her older brother, Thomas Sheldon Bird Iv. The Bird family is living in Beaver, PA.
Jessica (Kravits) and George Gardner proudly announce the birth of their daughter, emily Garnet Gardner, on September 2, 2011. emily joins big brother Guerin Stephen Gardner. The Gardners reside in north Franklin Township, PA.
Julie (snyder) and Matthew runkle announce the birth of their son, lyric James. He is much loved by older sister emi. 2004 Chris Kissel and his wife, Jessica, announce the birth of their son, Benjamin. The Kissel family resides in Pittsburgh, where Chris works for Apple, Inc. Keats (MAHE) and April (MAHE) McGonigal celebrate the birth of their son, Clark Ryan. Clark joins big sister ella Joy. The McGonigal family is living in Bend, oR.
2005 Audrey Ann Irons (MAHE ’08) and Zachary Tyler Feldkamp were married July 18 on the beach at the Amelia Island, Florida, Ritz-Carlton. Audrey is employed by the local school district in Baltimore, MD.
Joshua and Natalie (Vidnovic) Janov announce the birth of their son, Samuel Kennedy Janov, born on July 13, 2011. The Janov family resides in north versailles, PA.
Justin and randi (spaulding) Lambright announce the birth of their daughter, Abijah Jane, in november 2011.
rachel (sproul, MsoL) and John Michalko welcomed Alexis luanna on March 21, 2012. Rachel resigned her position as webmaster at Geneva to stay at home with lexi. They reside in Houston, PA.
33
2006 Alison (Tripp) Agnew was married to Joseph Agnew on June 10, 2011. Alison is working at River Pediatric Therapies as a Speech-language Pathologist.
Tiana (sebastian) and Michael Proudfoot gratefully announce the adoption of their daughter, nadia Joy Kabahumuza Proudfoot. nadia was born in Uganda on July 5, 2009. After spending a month in her home country with her new parents, she arrived home in the U.S. on February 25, 2012.
Jeff robinson has had a very exciting year. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with his Master of Divinity in 2011. He became a member of Wycliffe in December 2011, married Holly Higgins in February 2012 and hopes to head out for their first assignment in Musoma, Tanzania in the summer of 2012.
Amelia (Ward) and Kihei Takiura announce the birth of their son, Kanta, on october 25, 2011. 2007 Lauren (sarvis) Cunningham— See Cunningham 2009
stephen and Tammy (Kish) stouffer, after five years of marriage, are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, eva Grace Stouffer, born on January 5, 2012. Megan (Espenschied) Tritt was married to Brent Tritt on September 27, 2009. She received her MSW from the University of Pittsburgh. She is now working at Magee Women’s Hospital as a Hospital Social Worker MSW, lSW. 2009
Justin and Lauren (sarvis ’07) Cunningham were married on october 15, 2011 in Akron, oH. lauren is currently employed with Manitowoc Cranes in Shady Grove, PA, while Justin is employed by Federal energy Regulatory Commission in Hagerstown, MD. They currently reside in Hagerstown, MD.
2010 Christina (Jarzenske) Griffin (dCP #238) was married to William Griffin on February 13, 2010. Christina is working for PennDoT as an Accounting Assistant.
2011
Tiffany (smith) and Jake Bowser were married on May 12, 2012. Tiffany is working as a Staff Accountant at Cottrill, Arbutina and Associates in Beaver, PA. See “Monday Morning Reassurance” on page 14.
Zacharias and Kathryn (Edmonds) Watt were united in marriage on August 20, 2011.
To share your news, visit geneva.edu/class_notes and click on “Update Form.” High-resolution pictures of at least three megapixels in size may be submitted in JPeG format. You may also mail your news and photos to: GenevA ColleGe office of Alumni Relations 3200 College Avenue Beaver Falls, PA 15010
34
In MemoriamGclass notes
30s
dr. Thomas M. Baldwin sr. ’33 on May 2, 2012
delos d. duff ’33 on november 28, 2011
Laura r. Grabman ’35 on February 9, 2012
Eugene F. Jannuzi ’36 on December 4, 2011
Norman d. Thomashefsky ’36 on April 22, 2012
Grace Winifred (Coleman ’38) Elliott on March 4, 2012
Kathryn B. (reynolds ’39) Bream on January 15, 2012
sophia P. (Polovina ’39) White on December 5, 2011
40s
Gladys F. (Fond ’46) durland on May 20, 2012
Charles “Ed” Murphy ’46 on February 26, 2012
richard L. Gaugler ’47 on April 25, 2012
Maryanne (Hurley ’48) stinson on April 13, 2012
Helen L. (Henderson ’49) davis on April 23, 2012
robert C. doerr ’49 on March 7, 2012
donald E. Powell ’49 on April 23, 2012
50s
Frank H. Batchelor ’50 on March 29, 2012
Gust E. Cantakis ’50 on April 25, 2012
rudolph V. Massa ’50 on March 22, 2012
Fred A. Nahas ’50 on March 2, 2012
Harry E. snedeker ’51 on March 11, 2012
richard L. shafer ’52 on May 19, 2012
Gilbert d. Flocker ’54 on February 13, 2011
Neil H. Thomas ’55 on october 26, 2011
Virginia C. (James ’56) McCauley on December 2, 2011
Frank C. Miskow ’57 on December 1, 2011
Gerald L. Angle ’58 on May 5, 2012
Philip E. dalbey ’58 on April 18, 2012
William A. Frankland ’58 on February 18, 2012
William C. snyder ’59 on May 23, 2012
Norma (Woods ’59) White on May 7, 2012. See “In Conclusion” on page 36.
60s
donald E. Alexander ’60 on February 21, 2012
Leroy F. ‘skip’ stewart ’60 on February 8, 2012
Ambassador Eugene L. scassa ’61 on March 22, 2012 Patricia A. Covert ’62 on May 20, 2012
James B. durbin ’62 on May 16, 2012
Margaret V. (Beglin ’63) Howarth on november 28, 2011
randolph M. Kelley ’65 on April 16, 2012
Vincent F. ricci ’65 on April 16, 2012
Jeanne A. shore ’69 on February 16, 2012
70s
Bonny s. (Avery ’70) Hemphill on november 27, 2011
Alison d. (Gennari ’72) stright on november 28, 2011
donald E. Gallagher ’74 on April 8, 2012 90s
Patricia J. (Edmiston ’90) skorupan on March 17, 2012
Colleen (Breckenridge ’92) Corbin on March 7, 2012
Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ M. (Minehart ’96) Larnino (dCP #059) on December 10, 2011
Janet E. Konchar (MsoL ’99) on April 12, 2010 00s Carie Ann (shenesky ’00) Harris on December 11, 2011
dr. Jerome A. stevenson ’03 (dCP #16) on January 25, 2012 Friends
Charles “Chuck” W. Colson on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Chuck was Special Counsel to President nixon and the first member of his administration to go to prison for Watergate-related charges. Following his conversion to Christianity, Chuck founded the non-profit ministry Prison Fellowship. Geneva awarded Chuck an Honorary Doctor of Public Service in 1987.
dr. W. Joseph McFarland on January 27, 2012. Joe retired as an emeritus president of Geneva College. He served from 1984-1992. See “In Conclusion” on page 36.
dr. J. randall Nutter on December 23, 2011. A member of Geneva’s business faculty from 1992-2008, Randy was the chairman of the Department of Business, Accounting and Finance. He was also named Director of Graduate Business Studies when Geneva introduced its MBA program in 1999. Randy retired as an emeritus professor at Geneva.
Inclusion of all items in Class notes is at the discretion of Geneva College, in accordance with the Community Standards of the institution.
The Genevans’ 75th concert season opens
during Homecoming on october 20.
Retiring after leading the choir in over 725
concerts and more than 40 tours, beloved
director Dr. Bob Copeland has passed the
baton to a new conductor, Professor of
voice Dr. David Kenneth Smith.
As one era comes to a close, Geneva College
salutes Dr. Copeland’s 31 years of faithful
service. And we welcome Dr. Smith as
he ushers in a brand new era during the
choir’s diamond anniversary year, while
continuing the organization’s standard
of choral excellence.
visit geneva.edu throughout the year
for updates on The Genevans’ 75th
anniversary celebration.
75TH
genevansAnniversary
36
Dr. W. Joseph McFarland (1929-2012)
Gin conclusion
In 2012, we bid farewell to two very dear friends of Geneva College: Dr. W. Joseph McFarland, President emeritus; and Mrs. norma (Woods ’59) White, alumna and beloved wife of President emeritus Dr. Jack White ’58. Many in the Geneva community submitted tributes celebrating their service to the institution and the Christ-like example they provided to students, faculty, staff, friends and family throughout their lives.
Visit geneva.edu/memorial to read more tributes, or provide your own, for these and other leaders of Geneva College.
“I was able to work with Dr. McFarland as a member of the Alumni Council during his time as President, and I appreciated very much the use he made of God’s gifts to the benefit of Geneva College.” Elizabeth Scott ’72, former member of Geneva Alumni Council
“I served on the Geneva Board of Trustees when we extended the call to him to serve and lead the College. He loved the College and her students, and was instrumental in extending Geneva’s outreach.” Dee Morris ’59, former member of Board of Trustees
“I appreciated his quiet strength and professionalism that guided faculty and administration from stormy seas to a calm harbor.” Dr. Norman Carson ’47, Professor Emeritus of English
“It was a real privilege to serve as secretary to Joe during his eight years as President of Geneva College. He was an amazing person, always friendly, full of energy and a real joy to all who knew him.” Marian Dunlap, former Secretary to Dr. McFarland
“Dr. McFarland knew the students at Geneva. I was so amazed that he’d say hello to you—by name. I was blessed to have known him and be a part of Geneva College—a place he loved. Thank you, Dr. McFarland, for your love for Geneva and for knowing your students. You were a wonderful example to us.” Rachelle (Abbey ’91) White
“Dr. McFarland’s vision, hospitality, kindness and leadership impacted the college as an institution, and the lives of all those who came to Geneva during his time as President. Many thanks, Dr. McFarland for your service and your example of a joyful life lived for the lord.” Donanne (Parkhurst ’92) Seese
calendarAugust 27
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November 9-1015-16
21-26
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Check the calendar at
geneva.edu
for details and more event listings,
or call 724.847.6520.
Mrs. Norma (Woods ’59) White (1936 -2012)
“Humble in spirit, selfless in service, abounding in love. Those are but a few ways to describe norma. Her college, her church and her community have all been touched by her life.” Sam Siple ’85, former Vice President of Institutional Advancement
“norma was a most gracious lady and had a lively winsome faith. She was also a delight to be with. Her gentle wit was a complement to her. Her selfless support of Jack in their joint ministry was a model and a blessing to see.” Tim Russell ’79, former College Chaplain
“She attended every Geneva College function and always had a warm smile, kind word and gracious demeanor for everyone. She was the epitome of what Geneva is about and was a perfect partner for Dr. Jack White whom I’ve admired for a long time.” Ted Kay ’71, Geneva Alumni Council
“norma was always most gracious and the consummate hostess while serving as ‘The First lady’ at Geneva College.” Jim Pennington ’57
“My clearest memory of norma White was when she and Dr. White hosted a group of honors students at their home. When I think of servant leadership, Christ comes to mind first, followed by Dr. and Mrs. White.” Stephanie (Vesolich ’00) Wilsey
“norma was a gracious hostess, serving Geneva’s family with a true servant’s heart.” Susan (Gantz ’88) Layton, Professor of Communication and department Chair
Fall semester begins
GVALS— We as Freeman:
Plessy v. Ferguson author Keith
Medley and Keith Plessy
Tenth Avenue North concert,
Metheny Fieldhouse
Business Day
Fall Break
Homecoming
GVALS— Nobel-prize winning
chemist Roald Hoffmann
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math Day
Family Weekend
GVALS—Art historian
Elizabeth Kessler
Thanksgiving break
December Graduation Reception
End of fall semester
TobyMac concert, Consol Energy Center
Spring semester begins