ALUMNI e-Bulletin . . . .
Highlights in this issue:
- Messiah Community Response to Katrina
- Presidential Inauguration Schedule Announced
- Ray Crist, 105, Passes Away
- 2005 Alumni Award Recipients Named
- Homecoming Highlights
- Wanted: Health & Science Alumni Profiles
- & More!
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
But it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
- Proverbs 19:21
In the days following the hurricane, the campus community began offering prayers, collecting funds, and opening its doors to victims. For a complete overview of the College’s immediate response and future plans to provide assistance, see http://www.messiah.edu/katrina/.
To help encourage the healing process, the College has established an online prayer request page for alumni and friends to post prayer requests and to pray for others. Please visit http://www.messiah.edu/katrina/alumni.html.
The Office of Alumni & Parents Relations has begun conversations with The Agape Center about sending alumni & parent service teams to help with disaster relief during Christmas and/or Spring breaks. We are especially interested in identifying projects that may help a family, church or community of Messiah alumni or family members. If you are aware of this type of need and/or have an interest in serving on a team and wish to be kept informed, please contact us at parents@messiah.edu.
Kim S. Phipps will be inaugurated as the 8th President of Messiah College at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 14. A wide variety of activities have been planned throughout the week to help celebrate, including:
• Guest lecture by Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist
• Inauguration Chapel
• Inauguration Community Luncheon
• “An Evening with Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood,” Improv comedy show
We heartily invite alumni to participate in the festivities. For more information about President Phipps and the Presidential Inauguration week, please visit http://www.messiah.edu/offices/president/inauguration/.
September 20, 2005
The Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan Studies is hosting this special study conference designed for pastors and lay people to reflect upon and discuss how to provide effective care to parishioners as well as nurture caregivers. For more program and registration information, visit http://www.messiah.edu/siderinstitute/events.html.
Messiah College bade farewell to friend and colleague, Dr. Ray Crist, who passed away on July 23. After “retiring” from another institution in 1971, he spent the next 33 years as visiting professor of environmental science at Messiah working alongside and advising many Messiah students in research. He was featured in numerous media stories and was named “America’s Oldest Worker” in 2002. For a profile story, see
http://www.messiah.edu/news/2005/MC-078-05.html.
The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations is pleased to announce the following recipients, who will be honored at the annual Alumni Awards Luncheon, to be held at Noon on Homecoming Saturday, October 15, in The Grantham Church Fellowship Hall.
• Distinguished Alumni Award - Dr. Robert Snyder ’72
Physician & Founder of International Health Services
• Young Alumni Achievement Award - Mr. Peter Greer ’97
President, HOPE International
• Alumni Christian Service Award - Mr. David ’46 & Florence (Sisco ’46) Carlson
Missionaries with Trans World Radio International
• Alumni Appreciation Award - Dr. Paul & Mrs. Laura Nisly*
Faithful servants and benefactors to Messiah College
(* Special News Bulletin: We are deeply saddened to report that Laura Nisly passed away just last week. Funeral Services were held Sunday, September 11. Please keep the Nisly family in your prayers at this time. Condolences may be sent to Dr. Paul Nisly, c/o Messiah College, Box 3017, Grantham, Pa. 17027.)
Saturday, October 15
Special features this year include:
- Open house at President Phipps residence
- Reception for Health & Natural Sciences alumni
- Student Clubs & Organizations Sidewalk Fair
- Nursing Department 20-year Anniversary Luncheon
- Nutrition Reception-honoring retiring professor Mary Ann Mihok
- Alumni Powder-Puff Football
- Class Reunions – ’05, ’00 ,’95, ’90, ’85, ’80
All of this and much more is planned. For a complete Homecoming schedule go to www.messiah.edu/alumni/ .
As part of the celebration of the School of Health & Natural Sciences during Homecoming, we are compiling and will be displaying stories and photos of alumni who graduated with majors in biological sciences, chemistry, health & human performance, nursing, and nutrition & dietetics areas. Send your name, class year, major, a current photo, and 1-2 paragraphs summarizing your vocational journey since college to the Office of Alumni & Parent Relations at alumni@messiah.edu or to our snail mail address as listed at the end of this newsletter.
Last month, we completely redesigned the online alumni hub page to provide more information and to make it easier to navigate. If you haven’t visited in a while, check it out at http://www.messiah.edu/alumni/.
In mid-July, the College migrated all of its constituent records, including alumni data, into a new administrative data system, called Banner. Now, our data technicians must create a new interface between Banner and the current online alumni community. As a result, updates in alumni records will be delayed in posting to the online alumni community. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Occasionally, current students seek career advice from Messiah alumni. Over the next year, on a case-by-case basis, Career Center counselors will contact alumni via e-mail seeking permission to be put in contact with an interested student. If you are contacted, we encourage your participation.
If you know high school age persons who are bright, achievers, servant-leaders, and spiritually curious, please tell them about Messiah College. You can also tell us about them and we’ll send helpful information by using the convenient online student referral form at http://www.messiah.edu/offices/alumni/support_messiah/student_referral.html.
Assistant director of alumni & parent relations, Paula Bongiorno ’93, married Chad Hunsberger ’97 on Saturday, July 9. Paula and Chad met while serving in youth ministry at West Shore Evangelical Free Church and now reside in Camp Hill, Pa.
Please share any information about what is new in your life including personal, professional, church, community accomplishments or experiences via this convenient link - http://www.messiah.edu/offices/alumni/news/send_news.html.
Information will be considered for inclusion in the Alumni Notes section of “The Bridge.” Your information may also be shared with the Admissions Office and College faculty and staff who may share your stories with current and prospective students and parents who are eager to hear about our alumni -- the proof of Messiah’s quality education.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or you wish to be excluded from receiving e-bulletins from the College, please contact the Office of Alumni & Parent Relations, Messiah College, One College Avenue, Box 3023, Grantham, PA 17027, (717) 796-5252, or via e-mail at alumni@messiah.edu.
Randy Ness ’77, director
Paula Bongiorno Hunsberger ’93, assistant director
Michelle Blackford, coordinator for regional leadership programs
Renee Thomas ’04, administrative assistant
Kristin Nealy ’07, student assistant
Erica Smittle ’06, student assistant
Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.
