allin thefamilyfor most college students, having their father go tothe same school and attend classes with them wouldbe a nightmare. But not sophomore accountingstudent Caitlynn Albright. When her stepfather, John Hillen,was forced to change careers and wanted to study accounting,Caitlynn let him know he only had one choice."I forced him to go here," she says. "I actually got mad whenI heard he was considering other schools. I told him that ifhe wanted to do accounting, RMU was his only choice."Last year Caitlynn and John took managerial accountingtogether. On the first day of class, Caitlynn and her friendssat up front and John sat way in the back row. Caitlynn didn'tapprove. "I told him, 'Dad! Get up here!'" she says. Turnsout that dad was just trying to give his daughter some space."I didn't want to bother her or ruin her college experience,"says John, who's in his junior year and considering RMU'sintegrated M.B.A.the veterans office have been especially helpful. They'll giveyou anything you need." The students have accepted himas one of their own, too. "They call me Pops. I have a blastwith them."Caitlynn also suffers from an injury – reflex neurovasculardystrophy, a condition caused by a slip on the ice when shewas 13. Her muscles sometimes constrict suddenly, pullingbones apart and causing her hip to dislocate. It happensabout once a week, and she often needs to use crutches. Sheplays E-flat clarinet in the band, but instead of marching,Caitlynn is the announcer introducing the band when it's onthe field. As for traversing campus, Caitlynn says she dealswith it. "I'm late a lot, but the teachers are all understanding."Her goal is to get her C.P.A. license, then maybe an M.B.A.from <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>. "My dad wants to be more on theauditing side of things," she says. "So I'll do the work,and he can check it."fathers and daughters share a special bond. andwhen they end up attending the same university, thatbond grows even stronger. the following are threetales of fathers and their daughters, and theircommon connection to <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> <strong>University</strong>. in twoof these stories, the connection spans generations; inthe other, the story's still being written. for each ofthese Colonials, RMU is truly a family affair."He's like my little brother," she says. "When I got mytattoo, he got his tattoo. When I said I was going to get intoaccounting, he said, 'That sounds like fun!' We joke about it,so it's all good."A retired Air Force aircraft mechanic, John was injured whilein service and reaggravated the injury working as an automechanic. "My doctor told me to get a new vocation," he says.Around that time he got letter in the mail from the VA aboutthe Post-911 G.I. Bill, which enables qualified veterans toattend college free of charge. "I was a little nervous aboutgoing back to school after 15 years," he says. It wasn't long,however, before John found his groove. "They really workwith you here," he says. "Heather Jericho and Dan Rota in1 2 . R M U . e d U / f o U n d a t i o n sR o b e R t M o R R i s U n i v e R s i t y f o U n d a t i o n s . 1 3
When he first found out his daughter wouldbe attending his alma mater, Alvin Smith '86,was overjoyed. "I'm dating myself here,"he says, "but I was like Gene Kelly in 'Singin' in the Rain,'dance steps and all."Imagine how many puddles he splashed in whenBriana Smith '11 was named the 2011recipient of RMU's Rising Star Award.The honor is given to a graduating seniorwho demonstrates academic success,individuality, determination, passion, andand potential. potential. Briana Briana graduated graduated in December inDecember with a degree with in a communication degree in andcommunication information systems, and information and is now systems, aand business is now technology a business analyst technology at PNC analyst bank,at where PNC she bank, had where been an she intern had been for two anintern summers. for two summers.Briana is one of the first graduates whocame to college through the Pittsburgh Promise, a scholarshipprogram started in 2008 to help city public school studentsafford higher education. She was vice president of events andprogramming and programming for Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh Promise Promise students students at RMU, at RMU,organizing community service efforts and planning events forher for her cohort. cohort. Even Even though though she she has has her her diploma, diploma, Briana Briana will willcontinue helping with similar RMU events this spring. "I wantto make sure those that follow know how to run things andthat the program’s program's in good hands," she says.An active volunteer, Briana helped raise money to provide amonth's worth of rice for 600 families in the African country ofGhana, of Ghana, and and she she also also volunteered with with Girls Girls Hope Hope in inCoraopolis, which provides support to at-risk girls. "Byimpacting the lives of these girls, I realized that I wanted tostrive to be an even better person," she says. "Changing livesmotivates me to do better."Alvin, a graduate of <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>'s business informationsystems program, was happy that Briana got a chance toexperience college campus life. "As an evening student at thedowntown campus, my experience was geared more towardsthe working adult experience," he says. "It's a parent's dreamhaving your children achieve and do even more."After 22 years in management at UPS, Alvin retired as anoperations business manager. He also had the opportunity torepresent the company as the district loan executive for theUnited Way. "<strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> helped make it it possible by makingme willing to take on challenges and take chances," he says."Failure is 100-percent guaranteed if you never take the shot.""RMU genuinely pursues excellence in the development of itsstudents to help them become the future leaders of tomorrow,"he adds. "I'm proud to see that Briana's become part of thechange here.">> see Photos from february's Legacy Luncheon at RMu.edu/foundationsWhen Ellen Langas '79 was five years old, her familyRita studied secretarial sciences at <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> andlived in a house that stood where the Sewall Centereventually got a bachelor's degree in business administration.lower parking lot is today. "Back then the campusShe came back in 1995 to earn her teaching certificate, andwas much different," she says. "There were stables and appletoday she is a creative writing and English teacher and tennisorchards and everything. It was a real country experience."coach at West Allegheny High School. Before that, she taughtThey moved there when <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> hired her father,marketing and communications part-time at RMU for over 12George Langas, to be director of maintenance in 1963. "Dadyears. "Teaching in RMU's business program, combined withcame over from Greece and taught himself to speak and writethe knowledge I gained from the teacher education program,English. It was impressive that he was given this opportunity."really prepared me for the classroom -- – not just academicallybut also as a classroom manager," she says.Once she was attending classes, having her father on campusdid present some challenges. "He kept us right under his"Growing up on campus, I could never have known howsurveillance," she says. "It was tough having this strict Greekmuch of an impact the college would have on my life," shedad and his entiresays. "Not only did Icrew keeping anlive there, receive myeye on you at alleducation there, andtimes. It certainlywork there, but I alsowasn't the typicalmet my husbandcollege experience."there. It's like onestopshopping at its"I loved growingbest!" its best!" John John M.up with the entireWilson '77 studiedcampus as mycommunicationsbackyard," saysmanagement andRita LangasWilsontransportation at'77 Wilson , Ellen's '77, sister. Ellen's<strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>. His"My sister. father "My father wasbrother, His brother, Matt Matt G.respected was respected and>> Matt Wilson '85, nicholas Wilson '06 M'09,Wilson '85, studiedadmired and admired by byellen Langas '79 (pictured), John Wilson '77,marketing andstudents and peersRita Langas Wilson '77, George Langas (pictured).businessalike. He wouldadministration, andcoordinate facultytheir and their mother, mother,and staff picnicsMargaret E. Wilson Wilson '44,and freeze over the old tennis courts so that students and kids '44, attended attended classes classes at the at the William William Penn Penn Hotel Hotel downtown. downtown.from the neighborhood could go ice-skating. He really wentabove and beyond in his job."John and Rita were married in the Rudolph Family Gardens in1978. in 1978. Their Their son, son, Nicholas Nicholas Wilson Wilson '06, '06 M'09, M'09, got got his his degree degree inEllen earned a degree in marketing from <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> in just sport in sport management and and followed followed it up it up with with a master's a master's in inthree just three years, years, graduating graduating summa summa cum cum laude. laude. She helped She helped foundinstructional leadership. Like his mother, Nicholas now worksthe found Students the Students In Free In Enterprise Free Enterprise team, and, team, in and 1978, in led 1978, it to led a at works a high at school a high tennis school coach tennis and coach teacher and teacher at Moon at Area Moon Highnational it to a national championship. championship. Now she Now is the she founder is the founder and president and School. Area High School.of president NouSoma of NouSoma Communications Communications Inc., a Philadelphia Inc., a Philadelphia marketing,publishing, marketing, publishing, and public relations and public company. relations Before company. that, Before sheToday John and Rita stay connected with the university byworked that, she at worked the shopping at the shopping channel QVC channel Inc. QVC where Inc., she where handled sheattending RMU basketball games and through the alumnipublic handled relations public relations and was also and was one of also the one company's of the company's first on-airassociation. "The education and people that I have connectedhosts. first on-air She is hosts. also the She author is also of the the author Girls of Know the How Girls book Know series, Howwith since my first day at <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> continues to grow,"which book series, encourages which young encourages girls to young pursue girls the to careers pursue of the theirJohn says, "and I look forward to seeing the universitydreams. careers of their dreams.expand."WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. J. BRKICH PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL WILL ‘081 4 . R M U . e d U / f o U n d a t i o n sR o b e R t M o R R i s U n i v e R s i t y f o U n d a t i o n s . 1 514 • RMU.EDU/FOUNDATIONS ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIONS • 15