Anticipating the influx of local, national, and international journalists and photographers, Messiah College staff transformed Hitchcock Arena into a media filing center and message room where reporters could view a live broadcast of the Forum, interview faculty and student spokespeople as well as politicians and leaders from national faith-based organizations, and upload photos and stories to their respective newspapers and magazines through a wireless Internet connection.

Kathie Shafer, Messiah College vice president for operations (left), and her assistant Lisa Snyder (right), coordinated a wide range of functions — dining services, safety, printing, facilities, sound and lighting, and grounds — all of which had to perform at full capacity for weeks prior to the actual event. Shafer says, “I have never been more proud of my team.”