The Haven Magazine Fall 2017

A Message From the President 

I 

am excited to be under way with a new academic year, which 

will also commence my seventh year at Lock Haven University. 

Pam and I were met with a warm and welcoming arrival in 

2011, which I believe is one of the University’s first and foremost 

Haven Advantages. While I relied on my 40 years of experience in 

education to begin my tenure as president, I was impressed by the 

way the University community came together to make our campus 

stronger, to develop new programming, and institute change where 

needed. 

We maintained a sound fiscal footing despite a historic decline 

in state appropriations and enrollments and significant increases 

in health care and retirement costs. All of this took courage and 

perseverance from everyone, and I am happy to say that we have 

succeeded in shaping Lock Haven University as an institute of higher 

education that genuinely serves the needs of our students and the 

Commonwealth for the future. The recent NCHEMS study calls for 

bold reformation of the System and how we look at developing 

and delivering education. Their recommendations represent a 

critical crossroad that must be seen as an opportunity to sustain the 

System for years to come. I truly believe that Lock Haven University 

is sufficiently poised to take on these challenges and continue to 

develop new Haven Advantages. 

It is with many mixed emotions that Pam and I announce that we 

will be retiring from Lock Haven University in March, 2018. It is 

time for us to shift our focus to spending more time with cherished 

friends and family and to enjoy the time for new adventures that 

retirement provides. We have truly appreciated all this region has 

to offer and will always consider Lock Haven home. Over the next 

seven months I pledge to work each day to continue to move our 

University forward, developing new advocates and continuing our 

focus on enrolling students who will be successful and will continue 

the proud tradition of our Haven alumni. Thank you for allowing me 

the privilege to lead this great higher education community. 

Michael Fiorentino, Jr. 

President

CAMPUS VIEW 

Students gather after the 2017 

Colorsplash. 

LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY THE HAVEN FALL 2017 

Bill Crowell 

1 

Bill Crowell

Lock Haven University’s Alumni Magazine 

PENNSYLVANIA’S STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION 

Interim Chancellor—Karen Whitney 

Board of Governors—Cynthia Shapira, Chair 

contents 

LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Dr. Michael Fiorentino, Jr., President 

Dr. Donna Wilson, Provost and Executive Vice President 

Mr. William Hanelly, Chief Operating Officer 

and Senior Vice President 

Dr. Tyana Lange, Vice President for Enrollment Management 

and Student Affairs 

COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES 

Dr. George Durrwachter ’61, Chair 

Daniel Elby ’71, Vice Chair 

Mary Coploff, Secretary 

Thomas Bates 

Krystjan Callahan ’02 

Margery Brown Dosey ’66 

Guy Graham ’63 

James Gregory 

Michael Hanna, Jr. BA ’05, MA ’08 

Deborah Suder ’81 

Karen Whitney, ex-officio 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Christopher Raup ‘90, President 

Joseph Koehler ‘84, Past-President 

Meghan Hepler ’05, Secretary 

Elected Members: Jennifer Bell ’03, Ronald Brehm ’67, Anita Chesek 

’80, Robert Cooper ’90, Malarie Hastings ’09, Michael Heck ’95, Julie 

Love ’96, James Manser ’01, George Rusczyk ’03, Edward Shifflett ’96, 

Robert Smith ’04, Shannon Walker ’04, Edward Wright ’71 

Ex-Officio Members: 

Michael Fiorentino, Jr., President 

Ashley Koser, Director of Alumni Relations 

LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION 

Robert Maguire, Foundation Board President 

Carl Poff, Executive Director 

THE HAVEN MAGAZINE STAFF: 

Editors: Elizabeth Arnold, Ashley Koser 

Writers: Elizabeth Arnold, Ashley Koser, 

Doug Spatafore, Jr., Joby Topper, Tyler Rumsey, 

Ashley Conrad, Tara Remick 

Photography: Josh Grimes, Elizabeth Arnold, Bill Crowell, 

Tim Barnhart 

Design: PennyHouse Creative, Kayla Waldron 

The Haven (ISSN-2474-932X) is published biannually by 

the Lock Haven University Office of University Relations in 

partnership with the Lock Haven University Foundation, free 

of charge, for alumni, supporters, and friends of Lock Haven 

University. Alumni news items should be identified by class 

year and may be sent to the Lock Haven University Office of 

Alumni Relations, 10 Susquehanna Ave, Durrwachter Alumni 

Conference Center, Lock Haven, PA 17745. You may email 

news items to lhualum@lockhaven.edu. Please contact us by 

phone at 570.484.2586 

The Haven Magazine connects alumni, parents, and donors 

with Lock Haven University. The magazine aims to support, 

enhance, and advance the University’s image with its target 

audiences by publishing news and stories about LHU alumni, 

students, faculty, and stakeholders. The magazine’s feature 

stories intend to motivate, inspire, and inform readers about 

issues relevant to LHU through content that is both entertaining 

and intellectually engaging. Lock Haven University accepts 

news submissions from alumni and the broader community but 

reserves the right to edit or decline to 

print materials at its discretion. 

Lock Haven University is an equal opportunity/affirmative 

action employer committed to excellence through diversity. 

on the cover 

Alumnus Doug 

Oliver shares his 

journey from the 

Milton Hershey 

School to LHU 

and beyond. 

Dean Kyoko Aman 

Value of 

Can’t get enough of 

The Haven? 

Visit www.lockhaven.edu/thehaven 

for extended content. 

2 FALL 2017 THE HAVEN LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY

14 

o Amano Discusses the 

alue of the Liberal Arts 

Departments 

5 

17 

19 

22 

haven happenings 

Alumni News 

Sports Corner 

news & Notes 

The Haven Online 

You can enjoy the most recent 

copy of The Haven online. The 

Haven is available electronically 

on the LHU website so that 

you can catch up with fellow 

alumni, read about current 

LHU happenings, and stay 

connected to your alma mater 

from anywhere! If you did not 

receive a print copy and would 

like to request one, please let 

us know by emailing LHUalum@ 

lockhaven.edu, or by calling 

570.484.ALUM (2586). 

connect with us 

letter From the editors 

Creating opportunity—that’s what we’re all about 

at The Haven. Our Fall issue looks at the many 

ways that happens on our campus and, for 

some students, how it happens before they 

ever arrive at The Haven. The Milton Hershey School is 

among the top K-12 private schools in the nation. They 

provide a high-level, free education to income eligible 

students. We look at the stories of several LHU alumni who 

now work for the Milton Hershey School as well as several 

dual alumni. 

It is our pleasure to bring you another issue of The 

Haven because this is our chance to share a selection 

of the fantastic stories unfolding as a result of an LHU 

education. Many of the same themes echo across our 

alumni’s stories in these pages—themes of perseverance, 

shifting perceptions, and personal growth. We learn about 

how the LHU experience altered alumnus Doug Oliver’s 

definition of diversity and how alumna Annette Cole-Gill 

drew on her LHU education when teaching in Harlem, 

New York. 

We learn about the exciting activities our students are 

involved in, from archery, to internships, to travels abroad. 

Find out how our students and alumni are impacting the 

world for the better. And don’t miss the heartwarming 

story of Bill and Twila Sote in this issue’s donor profile. 

Many changes have taken place on campus recently and 

our students share their favorites in this issue’s Heard 

at The Haven. Plus, we have all of the highlights from 

Homecoming 2017. From the block party to the pep rally, 

alumni golf tournament, sporting events, and more—this 

year’s event was a hit for all involved. Mark your calendar 

now for next year’s fun—October 15-21. 

Our Haven family never ceases to amaze us—we think 

you’ll be impressed too. Enjoy their stories and be sure to 

check out our expanded content online at 

www.lockhaven.edu/thehaven. 

@lhualumni @LHUalumni @Lock Haven 

University Alumni 

Elizabeth Arnold 

Executive Director of Communications and 

Community Relations 

Ashley Koser 

Director of Alumni Relations 


3

heard at the haven 

has a new modern look that 

makes it an even more 

enjoyable place to hang out. 

–Ryan ’19 

Brand new treadmills in 

the Student 

- Kristyn ’18 

are open now and 

the pavilions provide a 

place to relax on campus 

that we didn’t have before. 

–Mitch ’18 

Communication major Erin Leiby recently interned with Geisinger Corporate 

Communications. 

entrance; I spend a lot of time there 

and the new doors are great. 

- Ra’eese ’18 

The sidewalk on 

is wider and now a safer way 

to get up the hill. 

- Maria ’19 

has great aesthetic appeal and adds to the 

overall campus experience. 

- Anthony ‘20 

LHU Senior Earns Valuable 

Communication Experience with 

Geisinger Internship 

Communication major 

Erin Leiby recently 

completed an internship 

with Geisinger Corporate 

Communications. Leiby 

wrote collateral material for 

the health system, including 

newsletters, press releases, 

and feature stories. She 

shares, “At Geisinger, I 

worked closely with doctors, 

created brochures, and 

attended meetings with 

the communications team 

for multiple projects. I 

also wrote newsletters, 

press releases, and many 

collateral materials, as well 

as interviewed the vice 

president for a lead story.” 

Leiby shares, “The 

internship with Geisinger 

was a great fit for me, 

and I’m grateful for my 

experiences at LHU because 

I was able to apply my course 

work directly to the tasks 

I undertook at Geisinger.” 

The internship also provided 

Leiby the opportunity 

to work on numerous 

communications projects and 

perform research editing. 

She adds, “Interning 

for Geisinger Corporate 

Communications meant that 

I could work with top-notch 

PR professionals in the health 

field. I was able receive the 

best experience available to 

me so that I can be the best 

communications professional 

when I graduate from LHU 

this December.” 


HAVEN HAPPENINGS 

LHU Opens Academic Year with 

Convocation Ceremony 

LHU President Fiorentino stands with Peer Choice Award winners 

Regan Garey, Lisa Reide, and Alyce Baker. 

Lock Haven University held 

its annual Founder’s Day 

Convocation Sunday, August 27 

in Thomas Field House, marking 

the beginning of the 2017-2018 

academic year. 

Five faculty members were 

recognized for their outstanding 

commitment to scholarship, 

service, and fostering student 

success. Dr. Heather Bechtold 

of the biology department 

received the University Award 

for Outstanding Scholarship. The 

University Award for Outstanding 

Service was awarded to Dr. Erin 

Kennedy of the psychology 

department. 

The University’s Peer Choice 

Awards were presented by Dr. 

James Bean on behalf of the 

Linda J. Emanuel Teaching 

and Learning Center. The award for 

Teaching Excellence was awarded 

to Dr. Regan Garey of the business 

and computer science department. 

The Award for Mentoring Excellence 

was awarded to Dr. Lisa Reide of 

the communication and philosophy 

department. Dr. Alyce Baker of the 

English department earned the award 

for Advising Excellence. 

Doug Oliver ’98 served as 

Convocation speaker. In a lively 

address, he encouraged students to 

work hard and focus on their goals, 

but to also embrace opportunities 

to meet new people with different 

backgrounds and experiences. He 

went on to urge students to allow their 

curiosity to push them beyond their 

current understanding of the world 

and to allow learning to take place 

both in and outside the classroom. 

Students Travel to Italy to Study Galileo 

During the summer of 2017 

eighteen Lock Haven University 

students from various majors 

traveled to Italy to study Galileo and 

walk in the famed scientist’s own 

footsteps. Professor of physics Mike 

Cullin led the trip. “We traveled to 

Rome, Siena, Pisa, and Florence, 

and visited many places relevant 

to Galileo’s life and work. The 

students learned about Galileo’s 

many scientific discoveries and 

inventions. They also learned about 

the controversy with the church 

over his support of the Copernican 

Heliocentric Theory of the Solar 

System that resulted in Galileo 

being, “vehemently suspected of 

heresy” and held under house arrest 

for the remainder of his life. 

Highlights of the students’ journey 

include visiting the Church of Santa 

Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome where 

the trial of Galileo was held, visiting 

St. Peters Basilica in Rome where 

Galileo visited Pope Paul V and Pope 

Urban VIII who both played roles 

in the controversy, and visiting Villa 

Medici in Rome (the Tuscan Embassy 

in Galileo’s day) where Galileo was 

held under house arrest for a time. 

In addition to those landmarks, the 

group climbed the Leaning Tower of 

Pisa and toured the National Central 

Library of Florence to view a number 

of Galileo’s manuscripts and letters 

from his daughter. In Cullin’s view, 

the trip not only provided students 

a tremendous opportunity to learn 

A group of LHU students stand on the porch overlooking the 

courtyard at Villa Il Gioiello in Italy. 

about the renaissance through the lens of 

Galileo’s life and contributions to science, but 

they also gained exposure to other cultures and 

widened their view of the world. 


5

Wyeth Gallagher and 

Gage Munro with 

their Sumo Robot 

LHU ROBOTICS 

CAMP INTRODUCES 

STUDENTS TO 

GROWING FIELD OF 

COMPUTER SCIENCE 

The Lock Haven University 

Business and Computer 

Science department held 

a weeklong Robotics 

Camp for middle school 

students from June 26-30. 

Seventeen students from 

Keystone Central School 

District took part in the 

camp that provided handson 

experience in building 

and programming simple 

functional robots. 

“Robots today work all day 

building cars, smelting iron, 

baking cookies, shipping 

mail orders, and even 

making sandwiches at fast 

food restaurants, among 

other things. In this age of 

hard-automation, robots 

are becoming an essential 

part of manufacturing,” says 

Dr. Krish Pillai, Associate 

Professor of Computer 

Science. 

The Robotics Camp was a 

joint effort by Lock Haven 

University, Penn State 

Extension’s Clinton County 

4-H Program, the Ross 

Library, and the Lock Haven 

Area YMCA. The Ross 

Library provided the EV3 

Robots, and Lock Haven 

University provided the lab 

and instructional resources 

to make this workshop 

possible. The students were 

enrolled in the school-age 

summer program offered 

by the YMCA. 

As an introduction to 

problem solving, each 

team built a robot and 

programmed it to complete 

specific challenges. 

The tasks involved the 

simulation of traffic 

patterns in a school zone, 

running laps in the fastest 

possible way, and a Sumo 

Wrestling contest. 

The University plans to 

provide this camp to the 

Lock Haven community 

every summer by 

continuing to partner with 

the YMCA and Penn State 

Extension’s 4-H Program. 

The camp is designed to 

provide participants with 

a unique perspective on 

computer science. They 

also receive an introduction 

to what it would be like 

to pursue a college major 

and a career in computer 

science. 

“Modern industry needs a 

workforce that can build 

and instruct machines 

to do certain traditional 

jobs faster and better 

than any human ever 

could, making computer 

science a growing field,” 

says Pillai. The University 

currently has a Robotics 

Club and offers courses 

in artificial intelligence 

and machine learning at 

the undergraduate level, 

including opportunities for 

independent study in this 

area. 

Leeah Eisenhower and Jocelyn Sproat programming their Sumo Robot, with help 

from LHU student Caroline Rublein 


students in the spotlight 

Students in the 

Spotlight: LHU Archery 

Club Earns Top Placings 

in National Competition 

The Lock Haven University 

Archery Club recently 

earned top honors at USA 

Archery’s Outdoor College 

Nationals held May 17-21, 

in Chula Vista, California. 

Students Bryce Bason, Ryan 

Eckel, Austin Phillips, and 

Brandon Perelli represented 

LHU in competition. The 

group qualified for nationals 

by first competing at 

College Indoor Nationals 

and an Outdoor Regional 

Shoot. 

Archery operates as 

a club sport at LHU with 

twelve competing members. 

Bason, a senior business 

major, formed the club in 

2014. “Archery was a huge 

part of my life growing up,” 

says Bason. “My family owns 

Miller’s Gun Shop in Lamar, 

PA, and I spent a lot of time 

in the archery shop; I’ve 

been shooting since I was 

three.” 

Bason competed 

throughout his youth and 

high-school years. When he 

began coursework at LHU he 

learned about USA Archery’s 

college division. “In 2014 I 

decided to start an archery 

club with the help of my 

friends Brandon Hanley and 

Austin Phillips. Stacey Davis 

and Jodi Smith in Student 

Activities were instrumental 

in the process.” 

Teams from 85 colleges 

and universities across the 

country competed in four 

different divisions at the 

2017 Outdoor Nationals 

event. Archers compete 

in recurve, barebow, 

compound, and bowhunter 

divisions. Outdoor shooting 

takes place at 55 yards 

with bullseye targets. 

LHU sent the four highest 

ranking shooters, based 

on their scores from Indoor 

Nationals held in Lancaster, 

PA in February, to Outdoor 

Nationals. 

Bason and Phillips 

competed in the Open 

Compound division with 

Bason placing 4th and 

Phillips placing 18th. Eckel 

and Perelli represented LHU 

in the bowhunter division 

earning 1st and 41st honors. 

Both Bason and Eckel 

also earned All-American 

honors. Bason was named a 

back-up for the USA Team 

at World competition in 

the compound division. At 

the end of the season, LHU 

Archery brought home an 

impressive list of titles. They 

include: Bryce Bason-Indoor 

National Champion and 

4th place finish at Outdoor 

Nationals; Ryan Eckel- 2nd 

place Bowhunter Outdoor 

National Champion. 

Bason shared his 

thoughts on the club’s 

growth and success, “The 

growth of the archery club 

over the past three years 

has been amazing. We 

have gone from a group 

of students that enjoyed 

shooting for fun into a 

team that is competing and 

Left: Bryce Bason earned 4th place in the Open 

Compound Division at USA Archery’s Outdoor 

Nationals. Right: Four LHU students recently competed 

at USA Archery’s Outdoor Nationals. L-R: Brandon 

Perelli, Ryan Eckle, Bryce Bason, Austin Phillips. 

being successful on the 

national level. Every year 

we get a little bit better, so 

with the wins we had this 

year it’s exciting to think 

about what next season 

has in store.” 


7

COVER STORY 

CREATING 

OPPORTUNITY 

LHU and the 

Milton Hershey 

School 

It’s impossible to dream about 

something you’ve never seen. Haven 

alumnus Doug Oliver ‘98 began 

seeing the world in new ways when 

he arrived at the Milton Hershey School 

as an independent, smart, and unruly 

14-year-old from Philadelphia. “I grew up in 

Philadelphia, in a low-income household,” 

says Oliver. “While I was short on money, I 

was rich with family. I had a mom who would 

have done anything for me. She wanted a 

different outcome for my life than she’d had 

for hers.” 

As a child, Oliver says he had a lot 

invested in him that had nothing to do with 

money. “I had aunts and uncles, a large 

family network, all of whom cared about 

what happened to me.” After bouncing 

around six different schools in eight years of 

education, Oliver’s mother knew something 

needed to change if her son was to have a 

shot at a better life. 

“Friends of our family had three kids 

enrolled at Milton Hershey. At 12 years old 

I was enrolled in a dangerous school and 

my mother sat me down and had an honest 

conversation with me about whether or not I 

wanted to go. We knew it would provide the 

stability we couldn’t find in Philly. I met the 

social and economic demographics and in 

1989 I enrolled in the Milton Hershey School 

and never looked back.” 

Oliver’s story is similar to many of the 

children and young adults that enroll in the 

Milton Hershey School (MHS). Founded 

in 1909 by Milton and Catherine Hershey, 

the Hershey, PA school provides a positive, 

structured home life and state-of-the-art 

educational experience—cost free—to more 

than 2,000 students. 

Today, MHS is among the best private 

schools in the nation. Students live on 

campus in a student home with house 

parents and a group of 8-12 peers of the 

same age and gender. One of the school’s 

main goals is to provide students the 

opportunity to develop life skills for future 

success. The educational experience offers 

students in pre-kindergarten through 12th 

grade a wealth of academic opportunities 

through small class sizes and highly 

individualized attention. The numerous 

extracurricular options support a variety 

of interests and range from athletics to 

agricultural, academic, and religious 

programs. 

“For me, arriving at MHS, changed my 

perspective,” says Oliver. And he’s not just 

referring to the cornfields or the sound of 

crickets at night. “I was used to urban life, 

so coming to a place of open sky and open 

fields was like coming to a new country.” 

He says that for the first time in his life, his 


perspective changed. “I realized early on 

at MHS that different points of view existed 

and there were other ways of thinking 

than those I’d previously known. I realize 

now that the core of diversity is difference 

and being exposed to a diverse set of 

experiences at that point in my life was huge 

for me.” 

Oliver credits the rigors MHS follows with 

molding him into the man he is today. “At 

14 I was not a grown man yet, but I kind of 

felt like it. MHS provided me a discipline 

my mom couldn’t. Through discipline and 

character building, the structure of the 

school doubled down on the home family’s 

efforts and gave me the skills of integrity 

and character—of doing what you say you’ll 

do—that I still have today.” 

It’s an all-hands-on-deck culture for 

student success in Oliver’s view. He says, 

“The function of MHS, as I see it and 

experienced it, is to prepare kids for lives 

of meaning and self-sufficiency. I always felt 

that no matter what door I turned to, coach, 

teacher, house parent, they all had the same 

mission. That culture wasn’t’ unique to me. 

Every MHS kid gets that.” 

With strong skills on the basketball court 

and a desire to teach secondary math, LHU 

stood out to Oliver for a variety of reasons. 

After arriving on campus, Oliver developed 

an interest in communications fueled by 

his proclivity for writing and admiration for 

Professor Karen Kline—who Oliver says 

once kicked him out of class for arriving 

unprepared with the assignment. “I have 

never shown up to a room unprepared 

since,” says Oliver. He changed his career 

aspirations and hasn’t looked back. 

Oliver excelled on the court as a member 

Doug Oliver during his LHU men’s basketball playing days 

“I realize now that the core of diversity is 

difference and being exposed to a diverse 

set of experiences at that point in my life 

was huge for me.” -Doug Oliver 

of the men’s basketball team and still holds 

a place in the LHU record books—ranking 

ninth for all-time career rebounds. 

After graduating with a degree in Mass 

Communications in 1998, he went on to 

earn a master’s from LaSalle University and 

an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. 

Oliver has spent his career in PR in 

Philadelphia, working for ad agencies, 

nonprofits and eventually serving as press 

secretary for Mayor Michael Nutter. In 2015, 

he ran for Philadelphia mayor. During his 

campaign, he gained widespread respect 

for his idea-based, high energy, grassroots 

campaign. Through the campaign, Oliver 

established himself as a creative thinker, 

a problem solver, and a symbol of a new 

generation of thought leadership. 

Today he serves as Director of 

Communications for PECO, the largest 

electric and gas distribution company 

in Pennsylvania. Looking back, Oliver 

believes the combination of his educational 

experiences opened his eyes to a new 

definition of diversity. “Before arriving in 

Lock Haven, I didn’t realize that poverty 

existed outside of Philadelphia. It seemed 

like the rest of the world had it figured 

out. Driving across the state, I realized that 

people everywhere struggle. It was the first 

time I became cognizant of that fact, and 

that has really shaped my understanding of 

diversity in important ways.” 

Barb Nichols ’84 is one of several 

Lock Haven University alumni 

currently employed at MHS. She 

earned a degree in psychology 

and sees the work she does at MHS as an 

opportunity to pay forward the education 

she received at LHU. As Director of Staff 

Recruiting, Nichols and her staff work hard 

to find the best possible candidates to work 

with MHS students. She shares, “At the end 

of the day, I need to feel that we’ve done 

our utmost to find the right persons for 

the roles we fill which include residential, 

education, administration, trades, and 

more.” 

Work doesn’t feel like work to Nichols 

who believes wholeheartedly in the MHS 

mission. “The fact that Milton Hershey 

School is for lower income children and is 

working to break the cycle of poverty in 

their lives makes it an incredibly fulfilling 

place to contribute.” She adds, “It’ a game 

changing organization for the students that 

enroll. They receive a home, food, clothing, 

pre-K through 12th grade education, and 

can earn college funding. Everything is 

paid for including their extra-curricular 

experiences.” 

Funding for the school continues to 

come from the Hershey Company and 

Hershey Entertainment. Nichols says she 

encourages people to support the school by 

eating Hershey’s chocolate. 

Nichols career path started at LHU when 

she was hired as a freshman to work in the 

admissions office. “Working in admissions 

at LHU directly led to my career today. I 

worked all four years in the admissions 

office, including breaks and summer. Once 

I graduated, I was hired by the department 

in an interim role between my bachelor’s 

degree and starting my master’s at IUP. The 

other members of the team provided me 

opportunities to learn and do new things. 

The experiences and guidance I received 

there led to my career today. And now, I get 

to pay it forward. Milton Hershey School 

encourages all staff to be involved with 

and support students personally. I have the 

opportunity to mentor students and I love 

that I can do that. They are our future,” says 

Nichols. 

Funding for the school 

continues to come from the 

Hershey Company and Hershey 

Entertainment. Nichols says she 

encourages people to support 

the school by eating Hershey’s 

chocolate. 


9

Preparing students for the future 

rests at the heart of 1986 alumna 

Annette Cole-Gill’s job. As the 

Head of the Elementary Division at 

MHS, her mission is to nurture and educate 

children. She says, “We want to make sure 

our students develop relationships in which 

they feel cared about and loved. They can’t 

develop from an educational standpoint 

without that.” 

Cole-Gill credits the education she 

received at LHU with providing the strong 

academic foundation that prepared her 

for career success, as well as a diversity 

of experiences and perspectives that 

fundamentally impacted her world view. 

“LHU gave me a tremendous classroom 

learning experience. As an education 

major, LHU got me into the local schools 

immediately. Many universities don’t offer 

that until it’s time to student teach. Having 

those early classroom experiences stuck with 

me,” she notes. 

Just like at MHS, Cole-Gill acknowledges 

that much of the learning at LHU took 

place outside the classroom. “Many of my 

friends at LHU were international students. 

One was from Cameroon and one was from 

Malta. LHU also gave me the opportunity 

to study abroad and complete my student 

teaching in Nottingham, England. Being in 

classrooms and living with people different 

from me, both in Lock Haven and abroad, 

opened my eyes to other values and 

perspectives. It not only broadened my 

view of the world, it prepared me to expose 

students to a wider understanding.” 

After earning her degree in elementary 

Annete Cole-Gill ‘86 

“We don’t make excuses because our 

kids come from poverty. Anyone can 

excel to high levels and we want them 

to find their niche and discover what 

they’ll be happy doing. But we also 

want to see them contribute and give 

back to their communities.” -Annette Cole-Gill 

education, Cole-Gill went on to earn a 

master’s in international education global 

studies from NYU. After five years teaching 

in New York at Harlem PS92, she began 

working at MHS. Those early New York 

teaching experiences influenced her work 

at MHS, and gave her an appreciation 

for the resources available through the 

generosity of the school’s founders. “I 

learned a lot working in Harlem,” she says. 

“I was so equipped from a formal instruction 

perspective. But nothing can prepare you to 

face a room full of students who didn’t eat 

the night before, or didn’t get a full night’s 

rest, or are pulling cockroaches out of their 

book-bags.” 

For students at MHS, those hardships 

don’t exist. According to Cole-Gill, “MHS 

offers the whole package. Students get a 

top-notch education, but their basic needs 

are also provided for and they’re learning 

emotional skills. We don’t make excuses 

because our kids come from poverty. 

Anyone can excel to high levels and we 

want them to find their niche and discover 

what they’ll be happy doing. But we also 

want to see them contribute and give back 

to their communities. Our teachers are 

equipped with resources and professional 

development that put them in a position to 

help kids to do all of those things.” 

Fonati Ward-Abrowka is one of 

those kids that received help and 

a strong education at MHS. She 

went on to graduate from LHU 

in 2006 and now works as a Home Life 

Administrator at MHS. In many ways, her 

life has come full circle. “I enrolled in 

MHS in 1991 as a 3rd grader,” says Ward- 

Abrokwa. “I was the youngest of five girls 

from Trenton, New Jersey. Attending MHS 

was the best opportunity for me to get a 

great education.” Ward-Abrwoka’s family 

embraced the MHS experience knowing 

their daughter was receiving the best of 

both worlds with a supportive family behind 

her and a high-level education at her 

fingertips. 

“At MHS, I was heavily involved from an 

early age. I ran track and field and played 

field hockey and basketball. I just loved 

that I had so many opportunities.” Her love 

for athletics eventually led Ward-Abrowka 

to LHU where she played field hockey 

and ran for the track team. As an athlete, 

she excelled on multiple fields. In 2002, 

she made history as a member of three 

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 

(PSAC) championship teams in one year. 

Ward-Abrowka competed on the 2001 

PSAC championship field hockey team and 

was a member of both championship indoor 

and outdoor track and field squads 

Just like at MHS, she got involved in 

numerous campus activities from the black 

student union, to serving as an admissions 

ambassador and clubs associated with her 

health and physical education major. “I was 

fortunate to transition from MHS to the 

same supportive environment at LHU. All 

of my professors had an open door policy 

and were always helpful. I felt incredibly 

supported during my time at The Haven.” 

For her, the real-world experience 

of leaving home prepared her to serve 

students in the future. She shares, “Coming 

to Lock Haven was a bit of a culture 


Barb Nichols ‘84 and Fonati Ward-Abrowka ‘06 

“That exposure 

to diverse 

experiences in 

and outside the 

classroom— it 

changes and 

enriches kids’ 

lives. I know 

because it 

changed mine 

and it changes 

the lives of the 

students I work 

with every day.” 

-Fonati Ward-Abrowka 

shock for me. I learned quickly that you 

won’t always be in an environment where 

everyone has had the same experiences. 

People come from different places and 

different cultures and they may see the 

world differently than you do. It’s up to you 

to form your own culture and LHU really 

allowed me to spread my wings in that way. 

Now it’s a message I share with students at 

MHS.” 

Upon earning her degree from LHU, It 

was an easy choice to want to give back 

to the school that had given her so much. 

Today, Ward-Abrowka has been with 

MHS for ten years. She and her husband 

Kwasi Abrwoka ‘06, also a dual MHS and 

LHU alumnus, live on the MHS campus. 

Her role as a Home Life Administrator 

involves supervising house parents that 

work in student homes with elementary 

age students. “We are the wrap-around for 

student needs and home-life,” she shares. 

“If they are in a crisis, they (the house 

parents) call me. If they need assistance, 

they call me. My role is also supportive of 

academics, so if a house parent sees that a 

student needs additional support, I will aid 

in getting those additional services.” 

Reflecting back on her MHS experience, 

she says that access to those additional 

services truly enriched her life. “Growing 

up in the inner city, my parents did the best 

they could with what they had. But, I was 

able to experience things through MHS that 

wouldn’t have been possible in Trenton, 

New Jersey. In Hershey, I often went out in 

nature, hiking, fishing, and deer spotting. 

Fonati Ward Abrowka during her LHU track days 

I took a trip to Maine and grew up with 

kids from all over the country. Even playing 

field hockey is something I many not have 

had an opportunity to do without MHS. 

That exposure to diverse experiences in 

and outside the classroom—it changes 

and enriches kids’ lives. I know because it 

changed mine and it changes the lives of 

the students I work with every day.” 


11


President Fiorentino addresses the graduates at Friday 

evening’s ceremony. 

commencement 2017 

This spring, Lock Haven University celebrated 

the achievements of 743 graduates during its 

commencement ceremonies. 113 students 

earned graduate degrees on the evening of 

Friday, May 12th in Price Performance Center. 

Despite the dreary weather, the mood in 

Thomas Field House was jubilant as degrees 

were conferred upon 630 graduates on 

Saturday, May 13th. The joy and excitement 

of honoring high achievement and ushering in 

new beginnings was evident on the faces of all 

in attendance. 


13

faculty feature 

The Value of the 

Liberal Arts: A 

conversation with 

Dean Kyoko Amano 

In July, Dr. Kyoko Amano joined 

the Lock Haven University family 

as Dean of the College of Liberal 

Arts and Education. We sat down 

with her to talk about her new 

role, the journey that led her 

to LHU, as well as her thoughts 

on the importance of the liberal 

arts in today’s higher education 

landscape. 

“Do you want to go to a doctor 

who’s never taken an ethics class?” 

Most would likely answer no to 

this question. And Dean Amano 

believes that’s a critical reason 

why a foundation in the liberal 

arts is essential to the college 

experience. She says, “I want 

students to have a strong basis 

in the humanities, because that is 

how we learn to understand each 

other. It’s important for students to 

gain broad-based skills. But, not 

all of those skills should be taskoriented 

or analytical. By studying 

the humanities, students learn how 

to understand other people.” 

by the work of post-civil war 

authors like Louisa May Alcott who 

were working to create a unified 

America,” says Amano. 

Prior to arriving at LHU, Amano 

spent 14 years in the English 

department at the University of 

Indianapolis. “Teaching is a lot 

of fun,” she says. Her literature 

classes often focused on American 

literature and modernism. “I 

enjoyed reading and teaching 

texts that use a lot of literary 

technique. It’s rewarding to read 

the text and enjoy it and then 

go back and see how things are 

working together. Every time 

you read something it’s a new 

experience.” 

in today’s higher education 

environment. That really drove 

me to make the move from the 

classroom to the administrative 

side. For me, Lock Haven 

University is the place where I 

can grow in my profession. The 

faculty bring great enthusiasm 

to all they do and I believe 

wholeheartedly in LHU’s 

mission.” 

For Amano, it’s important for 

students to understand that 

earning a college education is 

about more than earning the 

skills that will lead them into 

their profession. Exposure to 

the liberal arts teaches students 

how to learn and provides 

“I want students to have 

a strong basis in the 

humanities, because that is 

how we learn to understand 

each other.” 

Amano knew early in her academic 

career that she wanted to focus 

her studies on English, particularly 

American literature. Amano 

completed both a bachelor’s 

and master’s degree in English 

at Aoyama Gakuin University in 

Tokyo. She earned a Ph.D. in 

English from the State University 

of New York at Binghamton where 

she focused on early American 

literature. “I became fascinated 

“I noticed,” says Amano, “That 

books like Colleges That Change 

Lives began taking up a lot more 

room on my shelf. I became very 

interested in the way colleges 

work and how they help students 

prepare for our new technologydriven 

environment. With that, 

I was also curious about why 

some universities face challenges 

crucial critical thinking skills that 

will equip students to excel in 

a range of professional arenas. 

Plus, she offers, “Our lives are 

not completely filled with work. I 

believe that having music and art 

and literature make our lives more 

interesting and enjoyable.” 



15

Welcome Home 

HOMECOMING 2017 

Celebrating our alumni, students, 

and community is what coming home 

to the Haven is all about, and the 

LHU campus as well as downtown 

Lock Haven shared in the excitement 

with homecoming traditions and 

events during the week of September 

18 – 23, 2017. Save the date, and 

don’t miss next year’s homecoming 

at the Haven, October 15-20, 2018. 

Clockwise from Left: The Olympic Games golf cart is 

piloted by Dean Scott Carnicom and Rosana Campbell 

during the “Game On” golf cart parade.; The 

LHU Color Guard representing the crimson and white 

during the homecoming week festivities.; Members 

of the women’s basketball team show their support in 

downtown Lock Haven.; There was a great turn out 

for the Lawn Party at the Commons. 


ALUMNI news 

Getting to Know Incoming Alumni 

Board President Ed Wright 

By Edward M. Wright ‘71 

It is both an honor and a privilege to serve 

as your Board President. The journey to 

arrive at this positon hopefully afforded me 

the skills necessary to follow successfully in 

the footsteps of my predecessors who have 

done such an outstanding job of leading 

this organization. 

I never dreamed how valuable the education 

I received at Lock Haven University 

would be. From the time I was in 10th 

grade, I knew I wanted to work with children. 

I wanted to make a difference in the 

world and the best place to do it would be 

in the classroom. As a first generation college 

student, I chose to major in elementary 

education. The four years on campus 

afforded me many opportunities to grow 

intellectually as well as a human being. 

Playing sports, joining various organizations, 

and sitting on numerous committees 

helped shape my vision of what things I 

could do to follow my dreams. As I moved 

forward with my career, I maintained a close 

connection with my Lock Haven family and 

friends. 

I began my teaching career in a district 

where many of the students were the 

children of migrant farm workers and were 

impoverished. My determination to provide 

the best education possible for these 

children grew. A few years later, I became 

a middle school teacher in an urban district 

where diversity and needs were even greater 

and my determination to help all children 

grew even stronger. I decided to go 

into administration where I could be part 

of the decision-making process. I began 

as a middle school assistant principal, then 

became an elementary principal for several 

years. I then moved into the district office 

as an assistant superintendent of curriculum 

and instruction, always working in districts 

with diversity and high levels of poverty. 

The highlight of my educational career 

was having our district chosen as a model 

district for success by the United States 

Department of Education. I never forgot 

the educational foundation provided to me 

at LHU. 

Not yet ready to retire and still determined 

to make a difference in the educational system, 

I was hired by McGraw-Hill Publishers 

to oversee a literacy program for students 

with reading deficiencies, and develop a 

partnership with the National Alliance of 

Black School Educators (NABSE) in Washington, 

DC. This afforded me an opportunity 

to work in schools in NYC, Chicago, 

Detroit, Miami, Las Vegas, Harrisburg, and 

Philadelphia. Over time, I became the 

Northeast Regional Vice President of sales 

and eventually, the Northeast District Manager 

of sales of all intervention products for 

children at risk. After a decade, I retired; 

however, I continue to be an educational 

consultant in two urban school districts 

facing low performance issues. 

I have been married to Gay, a fellow Lock 

Haven graduate ‘70, for 45 years. We have 

four children, one of which is also a Lock 

Haven graduate ‘99. Our seven grandchildren 

keep us very busy. 

Being a member of the Alumni Board has 

allowed me to become acquainted with 

the financial and enrollment stressors with 

which the University and most of the Pennsylvania 

State College Systems are dealing. 

More than ever, we need our alumni to 

get on board in supporting our University. 

Throughout the years, my fraternity brothers 

have gathered annually to raise money 

to support students and athletics. We are 

reaching out to all our brothers to help us 

raise $100,000 over the next few years to 

support the University. Please join us in 

giving back. Contact your friends, members 

of campus organizations, sororities, and 

fraternities to organize ways to support 

meaningfully. It is time for all of us to give 

back to the place that started us on the 

pathway to success. 

Philadelphia Soul 

With the help of the Philadelphia 

Soul, the Lock Haven University 

Alumni Association hosted a 

gathering at Chickie’s & Pete’s in 

Philadelphia, where 35 alumni, 

staff, and friends of The Haven met 

to indulge in appetizers, catch up 

with old friends, and grow their 

professional network. The group then 

headed to the Wells Fargo Center 

for the Philadelphia Soul game. 

Thanks to the Philadelphia Soul, 

especially President, John Adams ’01, 

for a great evening with our Haven 

Alumni. 

-Contributed by Jaimee Kester ‘16 


17

ALUMNI news 

Alumni Ed Wright, Hugh McNelis, Mike Crossman and Bruce Parkhill 

enjoying the great weather during the alumni golf tournament. 

Alumni Golf Tournament & 

Homecoming 

This year was our 23rd Annual Alumni 

Golf Classic held at the Clinton County 

Country Club. We had a great turn out 

with 18 foursomes. There were prizes for 

the top 10 place winners. The first place 

winners were Paul Stover, Tom Matisak, 

Rich Johnson, and Dick Johnson. We 

had a Sip and Dip painting class for the 

individuals who did not participate in the 

golf tournament. Included in the day’s 

festivities were raffles, 50/50, putting 

contest, closest to the pin, and longest 

drive contest. 

The University was excited to welcome 

alumni, current students, parents and the 

community to the 2017 Homecoming 

festivities. The Haven had numerous 

events including a student Golf Cart 

Parade, the 23rd Alumni Golf Classic, 

Block Party, Pep Rally, Pre-Game Party, 

Homecoming Football Game, and 

numerous other sporting events. We 

were excited to have your participation 

and school sprit with us this weekend. We 

hope to see you all back at The Haven for 

Homecoming 2018. Mark your calendar 

for October 15th-21st! 

Crosscutters Community Night 

The Lock Haven University Alumni 

Association took part in Clinton County 

Night at a Williamsport Crosscutters 

game on June 28, 2017. The event 

yielded numerous alumni, staff, and 

friends of The Haven. This event grows 

each year within our alumni base, giving 

many alumni the opportunity to catch 

up with old friends, and a chance to 

grow their professional network. Head 

baseball coach Jim Chester threw out 

the opening pitch. LHU’s Talon enjoyed 

greeting the crowd and cutting up with 

Crosscutters mascot, Boomer. The folks 

Talon greets young fans at Clinton County Night at the Crosscutters game. 

at BB&T Stadium, especially Director of 

Client Services, Nate Schneider ’09, do 

a fantastic job in creating a fan-friendly 

experience. 

Coach Jim Chester throws out the game’s first pitch. 

Alumni Reunite at 

Homecoming After Almost 

70 Years 

Richard Spisak ’52 (left) and 

Derry Michael ’49 (right) 

have not seen each other 

since Derry graduated. Both 

Richard and Derry played 

football together under 

Coach Hubert Jack. Richard’s 

wife Edna ‘54 (far left) is 

also a graduate and former Field 

Hockey player at The Haven. 

Bulletin Board 

Center for Career & Professional Development Files 

All alumni credential files, which have not been updated 

or had any activity within the last seven years, will be 

shredded this winter. 

Please note: These files contain recommendations 

and letters of reference. They do not contain official 

transcripts of grades. 

If we do not hear from you before December 1st, the 

files will be shredded. Please contact our office if you 

would like to retrieve your file. 

Thank you! 

LHU Center for Career & Professional 

Development 

570-484-2181 

careerservices@lockhaven.edu 


SPORTS CORNER 

GOING PRO: THREE BALD EAGLES ENTER 

PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL RANKS 

For the LHU baseball program, 

the summer of 2017 will go 

down as a special one as three 

former Bald Eagles reached the 

professional ranks. 

The 2017 season proved a 

special one for the Lock Haven 

University baseball program. 

The Bald Eagles historic run 

last spring ended with 32 wins, 

the most ever for a single season. 

LHU’s 16 Pennsylvania State 

Athletic Conference (PSAC) East 

wins marked a school record 

and the team finished with the 

program’s first winning season 

in 15 years. The remarkable run 

ended at the PSAC Tournament, 

Lock Haven’s first playoff 

appearance since 2009. 

For the Bald Eagle trio of Nick 

Hornbaker, Jacob Belinda, and 

Mike Anthony, the historic run of 

success for LHU baseball in 2017 

ended with them all realizing 

their dream of playing in the 

pros. Even more special, all three 

are pitchers, and all three played 

a vital role in the rotation that 

led Lock Haven to unparalleled 

success on the field during the 

spring of 2017. 

To have three players from 

the same team all head to the 

pros in such a short span is a big 

deal and an accomplishment that 

means a lot to LHU head coach 

Jim Chester. 

“I could not be more proud 

of Nick, Jacob and Mike,” said 

Chester. “They all have a separate 

story and one that should motivate 

young players. They put the time 

in and are being rewarded for their 

efforts by reaching the ultimate 

goal. From a coaching standpoint, 

pitching coach Heath Stover 

deserves a ton of credit.” 

In May, Hornbaker became the 

first of the three to reach the pro 

ranks after signing with the Santa 

Fe Fuego, an independent minor 

league team in the Pecos League. 

In early June, Belinda made 

history after being selected by the 

Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of 

the 2017 Major League Baseball 

draft. Belinda became just the 

second player in school history to 

be drafted and the first ever in the 

top-10 rounds. 

Last, but certainly not least, 

Anthony signed a pro contract 

with the Florence Freedom of the 

Frontier League in late July. 

Hornbaker, a 6-foot-2-inch lefthander 

quickly established himself 

and earned a spot in the Pecos 

League All-Star game. While in 

Santa Fe, Hornbaker recorded a 

3.20 ERA, which was one of the 

top marks on the team. 

Hornbaker quickly learned 

that the professional baseball 

landscape can change rapidly. 

Following his all-star game 

appearance he was signed by the 

Lincoln Saltdogs of the American 

Association. After a short 

stint with Lincoln, Hornbaker 

moved on to the Windy City 

Thunderbolts of the Frontier 

League. His third and final stop 

was where he capped his first 

season of professional baseball. 

“Professional baseball was an 

eye-opening experience,” said 

Hornbaker. “It took some time 

for it all to set in that my dreams 

had come true as it all happened 

so quickly. I was in 25 different 

states this summer and now that 

I can look back, I’m so proud, but 

looking forward to improving.” 

Belinda left little doubt that 

he was worth his 10th round draft 

pick by the Braves after turning 

in a sensational summer with 

the Danville Braves. He finished 

the season 6-0, the best record 

on the team, and the six wins 

marked the most on the team, 

and the second most among all 

pitchers in the entire Appalachian 

League. 

Flashing back to draft day, it 

was a long, but special day for 

Belinda, who saw his childhood 

dreams come true. “It had been 

a dream of mine to play pro 

baseball since I was five years 

old,” said Belinda, who added, 

“It had been a long process 

leading up to the draft, but after 

getting the call from the Braves, 

my dream was realized.” 

Belinda describes his first 

summer in the pros with one 

word: Tremendous. Tremendous 

it was. On August 9, 2017, 

Belinda made history as he was 

part of a trio of Danville pitchers 

that threw a combined no-hitter. It 

marked Danville’s first no-hitter since 

2009. Belinda entered in the third 

inning and was perfect over the next 

four as he retired 12 of 12 batters he 

faced. He was credited with the win. 

Known as a strikeout pitcher with 

dominating command, Anthony took 

his skills to Florence and looked 

quite comfortable. He was a key 

part of a rotation that carried the 

Freedom all the way to the Frontier 

League championship series. He 

made 19 appearances with 19 

strikeouts and just six walks in 19 

total innings of relief work. 

When asked about the feeling 

of signing with the Freedom, 

Anthony responded with four simple 

words – “A dream come true.” The 

whole experience this summer has 

given me a new perspective and 

appreciation for the game, added 

Anthony. 

For Hornbaker, Belinda and 

Anthony, all their success this 

summer was rooted in Lock Haven 

as part of the 2017 LHU baseball 

team and its remarkable run last 

spring. “The 2017 LHU baseball 

team meant more to me than 

anyone could possibly understand,” 

said Hornbaker. “From the players 

to the coaches, it was a special 

group and I’m proud of what we 

accomplished.” 

Belinda agreed with Hornbaker, 

saying that the team meant the 

world to him. “If it wasn’t for those 

teammates and coaches, I wouldn’t 

be where I am today.” 


19

SPORTS CORNER 

Two-Sport Trio: Three Lady Bald Eagles 

Excel in Multiple Arenas 

Going to college and earning your 

degree is not easy. It requires hard 

work, commitment, and excellent time 

management. For student athletes, 

the rigors of balancing their sport, 

schoolwork, and social life can be even 

more exhausting. Three young women at 

LHU go above and beyond what it means 

to be busy by competing in two sports for 

The Haven. Below you will find a Q&A of 

these three women who don’t know what 

the words “free time” mean. 

Annie Dombrowski 

(volleyball and women’s basketball) 

Major: Athletic Training 

Year: Senior 

Future plans: Graduate and get my 

masters, and work as a certified ATC in 

college athletics. 

Why did you choose LHU? 

The coaching staff and the team made me 

feel at home. 

What is it like being a two-sport athlete 

in college? 

It is time consuming and keeps me busy, 

but I love it. 

What is the best part about being a two 

sport athlete at LHU? 

I have two separate families. I love both 

and am lucky to be a part of them. 

Kayla Brathwaite 

(field hockey and track & field) 

Major: Health and Physical Education 

Minor: Psychology 

Year: Junior 


I was recruited by my field hockey coach 

and I had previous knowledge of LHU 

because my friends from Trinidad and 

Tobago were also part of the team. 

What is it like being a two-sport athlete in 

college? 

Doing two sports is physically and mentally 

difficult, and you are placed in situations 

where time management is crucial. 

What is the hardest thing about being a 

two-sport athlete at LHU? 

Time management is the most difficult for 

me being able to manipulate both sports 

and school simultaneously. 



The best part about being a dual sport 

student athlete is the exposure to new 

surroundings and people, and the ability to 

build new relationships. 

Bree Hilty 

(women’s soccer and softball) 

MAJOR: Health and P.E. 

YEAR: Junior 

FUTURE PLANS: Graduate and go to 

graduate school, possibly travel a little bit. 


With Lock Haven being my hometown, I 

couldn’t think of any reason why I would 

want to leave it. The campus is beautiful and 

the professors genuinely care about your 

wellbeing and want to see you succeed. I 

fell in love with Lock Haven a long time ago 

growing up as a kid watching it evolve, and 

I’m glad I can finally be a part of The Haven. 

What is it like being a two-sport athlete in 

college? 

It has its challenges, but to be able to play 

two sports that I love, and to play them with 

such amazing girls that I can now call family. 

I wouldn’t change it for the world. We make 

sure to hold each other to high standards 

to strive to do well on the field but to also 

excel in the classroom. 

What is the hardest thing about being a 

two-sport athlete at LHU? 

I think managing my time and spacing 

enough out for all of my work, my 

teammates and the little extra things that 

will go a long way. 



Having two amazing families with my 

teammates, and coaches that always push 

me the extra step is something that I will 

always be grateful for. 


ATHLETIC NEWS & NOTES 

In September, LHU head 

field hockey coach Pat 

Rudy was inducted into 

the National Field Hockey 

Coaches Association Hall 

of Fame. Rudy ’77 is in her 

22nd season as the head 

coach at LHU, her alma 

mater. In all, she’s won three 

national championships as 

a coach including the 2000 

NCAA Division II national 

championships at Lock 

Haven. Rudy entered the 

2017 season with 583 career 

wins. 

Trent Fielding of the 

LHU football team was 

named a 2017 Preseason 

All-American. The redshirtsenior 

offensive lineman led 

the way for the Bald Eagles 

in 2016 on an offensive 

unit that turned in a recordbreaking 

season. Entering 

the 2017 season, Fielding 

ranked among leaders in the 

entire PSAC in career starts. 

He was nominated for the 

2016 Division II Lineman of 

the Year award. 

Former LHU men’s 

basketball player Doug 

Oliver ’98 served as fall 

convocation speaker. Oliver 

still ranks ninth all-time in 

career rebounds. 

A total of 59 LHU studentathletes 

earned a spot 

on the 2016-17 Athletic 

Directors Association 

Division II Academic 

Achievement awards 

list. The Pennsylvania State 

Athletic Conference, with 

help from Lock Haven, led 

all NCAA DII conferences. 

It marked the fifth straight 

year where the PSAC led the 

way. To earn a spot on this 

prestigious list a studentathlete 

must have achieved 

a cumulative GPA of 3.5 

or higher, and have had a 

minimum of four semesters in 

college. 

A total of 154 LHU studentathletes 

were named 2016-17 

PSAC Scholar-Athletes as the 

conference set a new record 

with 2,901 total scholarathletes 

for the academic year. 

In August, Phil Hurley was 

named the new LHU head 

swimming coach. Hurley 

comes to Lock Haven with 

over 15 years of collegiate 

coaching experience. Prior to 

The Haven, he spent 13 years 

as the men’s and women’s 

swimming & diving assistant 

coach at Division I South 

Dakota State University. 

LHU finished 10th in the final 

2016-17 PSAC Dixon Trophy 

standings. The Dixon Trophy 

is awarded by the PSAC 

to the member institution 

whose athletic program 

earns the best overall finish 

in conference championships 

and/or regular-season play. 

The Bald Eagles have claimed 

the Dixon Trophy three times. 

Lindsay (Walbrandt) Caprio, 

a 2015 LHU graduate and 

former LHU lacrosse standout 

was named the team’s new 

assistant coach. She spent 

the 2017 season serving as 

a volunteer assistant coach. 

During her four-year playing 

career at LHU from 2011-2014, 

Caprio was a four-year starter. 

She led the Bald Eagles to 

a pair of PSAC tournament 

titles, and after her senior 

season in 2014 she was named 

a First-Team All-Conference 

selection and an All-American. 

Donor Profile— 

William and 

Twila ’25 Sote 

In 1924 a young and starryeyed 

German immigrant 

named William Sote made his 

way from the harbors of New 

York to West Salem, Ohio. 

Headed toward a horse farm 

and the home of his uncle 

Casper, William had little 

more than a few dollars and 

the hope of the American 

dream to his name. On his 

uncle’s farm, William worked 

long days caring for the 

Percheron draft horses they 

raised and sold. After several 

years in Ohio he moved on to 

farm work in Michigan where 

he broke and trained western 

range horses for farm work. 

While in Michigan, a relative 

of William’s employer living in 

Reading, Pennsylvania visited 

the farm. Impressed with 

William’s skill and work ethic, 

he encouraged the young 

man to move to Reading and 

pursue factory work. Having 

lost all of his savings to the 

great depression—$2,700, 

a considerable amount in 

1930—William moved again 

to Reading and got into the 

real estate business, buying, 

fixing-up and then selling 

houses for profit. 

After serving during World 

War II in the Army, William 

found work at Luden’s, 

a Reading candy factory. 

During his time in the service, 

William met Maurice Matthew 

of Clearfield whose parents 

and sister were all teachers. 

In 1947, during a fateful 

weekend trip to visit his army 

buddy, William met Twila 

Matthew. 

DONOR PROFILE 

Their affection grew with time 

and the exchange of letters, 

along with William’s occasional 

visits to Clearfield. They 

married May 16th, 1953. The 

coupled moved to William’s 

home in Reading and began a 

comfortable, quiet life together 

as Twila taught school and 

William worked in the candy 

factory. Twila’s fourth graders 

often visited their home in the 

evenings and on Saturdays. 

Though they had none of their 

own, children were no strangers 

to the couple’s home. 

Marked by the earlier loss of 

his savings, William became a 

prudent and steady investor. The 

couple lived on William’s earnings 

and saved and invested Twila’s. 

William retired in 1969 and Twila 

followed in 1971. In 1998 they 

placed their assets in a bank 

managed trust and committed 

financial support for deserving 

and needful high school 

graduates of their respective 

communities. 

Their trust provides Clearfield 

and Reading high school 

graduates the opportunity to 

attend Lock Haven University, 

where Twila attended the Central 

State Normal School, as well 

as Albright College in Reading 

where the couple attended many 

cultural events over the years. 

William’s early life in America 

impressed on him the need for 

knowledge and skills to progress 

in life. That paired with Twila’s 

lifelong dedication to education 

made their gift to future 

generations a clear choice. The 

Sotes wished their scholarship 

recipients to know that their 

gift was the hard-won product 

of their steady labor and careful 

stewardship—the product of a 

life well lived.

News & notes 

Campus News 

You Are Welcome Here 

LHU recently joined the national 

#YouAreWelcomeHere campaign. 

This initiative is a welcome message 

from U.S. higher education 

to international students who 

have, or hope to, come to our 

universities to study. Participating 

institutions are communicating the 

#YouAreWelcomeHere message 

in statements, photos, and videos 

that feature students, faculty, 

and staff. The repetition of the 

statement, by a broad array of 

people from different backgrounds— 

from senior administrators to 

exchange students—is powerful 

and demonstrates that we support 

internationalization across our 

campus communities and care about 

the students. We are proud of our 

international population; honored 

to be members of this important 

campaign, and will continue to 

convey the message that everyone 

is welcome at The Haven. To find 

out more about the campaign and 

watch the video, visit http://www. 

lockhaven.edu/havenadvantage 

Elizabeth Arnold Named 

Executive Director of 

Communications and Community 

Relations 

Elizabeth Arnold 

has been named 

Executive 

Director of 

Communications 

and Community 

Relations at Lock 

Haven University. 

Arnold, a Lock 

Haven native, began her duties 

August 23rd after previously serving 

as the University’s marketing and 

communications associate. An 

experienced writer, editor, and 

communicator with a background in 

journalism, higher education, and 

community outreach, Arnold says 

she looks forward to sharing LHU’s 

story across a variety of platforms. 

“I’m eager to tell the LHU story 

in fresh and exciting ways and to 

share the great things happening 

at The Haven with a wide audience. 

As a lifelong Lock Haven resident, 

I’m thrilled to have the opportunity 

to continue my career in the 

community that built me and that I 

care deeply about,” she says. 

Before joining University Relations, 

Arnold served as a faculty member 

in the English department at LHU. 

She has also worked extensively in 

digital and print publications. Her 

nonfiction essays have garnered 

multiple awards, including being 

listed as notable in the Best 

American Essays series. 

Arnold holds a bachelor’s in English 

from Messiah College, a master’s 

in English from Arcadia University, 

and an MFA in creative writing 

from The Rainier Writing Workshop 

at Pacific Lutheran University. 

During her time in University 

Relations, Arnold oversaw 

a complete redesign of the 

university’s alumni magazine-The 

Haven. She also coordinated news 

and media relations, directed the 

creation of written content for the 

University’s recently redesigned 

website, and created a Universitywide 

brand and identity guide. 

As the University’s communications 

center, University Relations 

oversees internal and external 

communications and is the official 

liaison for news media. As the 

University’s publications resource, 

the office produces a variety of 

printed material, including the 

University’s alumni publication— 

The Haven Magazine, the LHU 

newsletter, special publications, 

and collateral material. The office 

also manages web and electronic 

publications, multimedia projects, 

and takes creative lead in the 

design and content management 

of the University’s website. 


LHU Awards Dr. Betty 

Baird Schantz Honorary 

Doctorate 

In a small ceremony held 

Saturday, June 24, 2017, Lock 

Haven University awarded 

Dr. Betty Baird Schantz 

an honorary doctorate of 

public service. Lock Haven 

University President Michael 

Fiorentino, Jr., and Council of 

Trustee members Dr. George 

Durrwachter, Ms. Margery 

Dosey, and Mr. James Gregory, 

were on hand to bestow the 

honor in recognition of Dr. 

Schantz’s significant support of 

Lock Haven University. 

In his remarks, Dr. Fiorentino 

acknowledged Dr. Schantz’s 

life-long dedication to helping 

students accomplish their 

educational goals. Early in her 

career, Dr. Schantz worked with 

Philadelphia at-risk high school 

students through summer 

programs and became a 

consultant and advocate for the 

12th and Oxford Street Gang, 

establishing tutorial programs 

leading to a GED program at 

Temple University. 

In 1986 Dr. Schantz, a ’59 

alumna, returned to her alma 

mater to serve in the College of 

Education and Human Resources. 

For six years she was associate 

dean, and served on the LHU 

Foundation Board where she 

chaired the last comprehensive 

capital campaign. She also 

established the Dr. Betty Baird 

Schantz Scholarship for pre- 

K-Middle Level majors from 

Clearfield or Clinton County and, 

in 2008, established the Betty 

B. Schantz Tutorial Center at the 

Stevenson Library. 

Dr. Schantz’s contributions 

to higher education and her 

community have previously been 

recognized with the Eberly Medal 

for Philanthropy & Volunteerism 

for support of Higher Education 

state and nation-wide, the 1975 

LHU Distinguished Alumni Award, 

Friend of the Year for Ross 

Library, and the 2016 Wagner 

LHU Achievement Award for an 

alumnus who has impacted others 

in a positive way. 

Upon receiving the award, Dr. 

Schantz thanked Dr. Fiorentino 

and the University for providing 

the honorable distinction, 

which has been awarded to 

only 26 others in the history 

of the University. She shared, 

“While it is often said that it 

takes a village to raise a child, 

it takes a community to make 

sure those children are provided 

opportunities to reach their 

potential.” 

Dr. Schantz credited former 

administrators Drs. Craig Willis 

and Ira Masemore for their 

support in allowing her to 

initiate programs to provide 

those opportunities, and further 

acknowledged the assistance 

of Mrs. Donna Wells, Mrs. 

Kathy Ryan, and Mrs. Donna 

Barton in those endeavors. 

Dr. Schantz was surrounded 

by family and friends, and the 

ceremony concluded with warm 

remembrances shared about her 

dedication and hard work in the 

community. 

New Scholarship Programs Offer 

LHU Students Nearly $50,000 in 

Funding 

Lock Haven University students now 

have numerous opportunities to fund 

the research and internship experiences 

that serve as a vital component of their 

education. In 2016, Lock Haven University 

received a donation that supports 

undergraduate research and internships 

in both science and business with up to 

$45,000 in available funding. In addition, 

the Bechdel Family Internship Stipend 

Scholarship awards two students who have 

secured an unpaid or low paid internship in 

the sciences with $2,000 each per summer. 

The SOAR (Summer Opportunity Award for 

Research) Scholars Stipend provides five 

$5,000 awards annually to support full-time 

summer research (laboratory or clinical) 

to students in STEM-HP majors (Science, 

Technology, Engineering, Math, Computer 

Science, or Health Professions). 

Four similar awards of $5,000 each are 

available to students majoring in business 

management or accounting through 

The Haven Business Internship Program 

to support paid internships. The highly 

competitive awards are designed to help 

students gain a valuable “real-world” 

perspective on what they learn in the 

classroom. 

Each of the awards is designed to support 

students embarking on summer research 

or professional experiences. In each case, 

the students must have already secured 

a university-approved research, clinical, 

internship, or professional experience. 

Selection of awardees is based on the 

student’s academic profile, presentation 

of academic merits of the experience, 

faculty recommendation, and, in some 

cases, financial need. According to Lock 

Haven University’s Dean for the College of 

Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 

Dr. Scott Carnicom, “The University is 

pleased to use this donation to provide 

students with support of summer research 

and internships. We plan to continue the 

program every summer for at least five 

years.” 

LHU Clearfield Physician Assistant 

Students Offer Mini Health Fair 

Six members of the Physician Assistant 

cohort at LHU Clearfield offered a mini- 

Health Fair for the campus community 

on Thursday, September 21, 2017. The 

team offered blood pressure checks and 

spoke about healthy eating habits. 

Pictured are: 

L to R: Taylor Talasky, Lauren Gress, 

Mallory Tomaschik, Reily Kemmerling, 

Laura Lawson, James Perhach 


23

news & notes 

Class Notes 

60’s 

Margery Krevesky-Dosey 

’66, Founder and CEO of 

Productions Plus-The Talent 

Shop and member of the 

Council of Trustees for 

the Lock Haven University, 

recently received a distinguished 

recognition. Productions Plus-The 

Talent Shop has been named to the 

2017 list of “Metropolitan Detroit’s 

101 Best and Brightest Companies to 

Work For®.” The award is given by 

the National Association for Business 

Resources and recognizes organizations 

that demonstrate exceptional human 

resources and employee enrichment 

practices. 

The Best and Brightest Companies 

to Work For® is a program that 

provides the business community with 

the opportunity to gain recognition, 

showcase their best practices and 

demonstrate why they are an ideal 

place for employees to work. 

Organizations are assessed based 

on categories such as communication, 

work-life balance, employee education, 

diversity, recognition, retention and 

more. The winning companies were 

invited to a breakfast and awards 

ceremony on Friday, September 22, at 

the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance 

Center. 

“It’s an honor to receive this 

recognition,” says Krevesky-Dosey, 

“We’ve always strived to create an 

extraordinary environment where 

our employees can truly flourish and 

excel. As a national leader in brand 

representation, we must attract and 

retain highly creative and talented 

individuals who expect an exceptional 

In Memoriam 

workplace. It is gratifying when your 

efforts are recognized and supported 

by an organization such as the National 

Association for Business Resources.” 

In addition to heading an awardwinning 

organization, Krevesky- 

Dosey is a supporter of Lock Haven 

University’s schools arts program which 

provides a scholarship each year to 

an arts major. Additionally, Krevesky- 

Dosey has funded the All-Steinway 

School program at LHU and supports 

an annual concert in the spring. 

Jack W. Berryman, 

Ph.D. ‘69 professor 

emeritus, University 

of Washington School 

of Medicine, received 

the Citation Award 

from the American 

College of Sports Medicine at their 

64th Annual Meeting in Denver, CO 

for his “significant contributions to 

the literature of the history of sports 

medicine and exercise science” in 

June. In August, Dr. Berryman received 

the Roderick Haig-Brown Award from 

Fly Fishers International at their 52nd 

Annual Meeting in Livingston, MT for 

his “literary works that embody the 

philosophy and spirit of fly fishing 

ethics, conservation, and the rich 

history of the sport.” As a freelance 

author, he has published over 300 

articles and numerous photographs in 

a wide variety of adventure, travel, and 

fishing magazines. 

Claude Darr ‘63 was inducted in 2012 

into the National Wrestling Hall of 

Fame for his contributions to the sport 

of Wrestling. In 2017 he was inducted 

into the Maryland Football Coaches 

Hall of Fame. 

70’s 

Rick Dale ‘77 retired in May as 

an Associate Professor of Special 

Education from the University of Maine 

at Farmington after 38 years of service 

in public schools and universities in 

Pennsylvania and Maine. He spent 

his entire career in special education, 

during which time he has been a 

teacher, administrator, consultant, and 

state-level policy adviser. Rick has lived 

in Maine for 11 years with his partner, 

Crystal. 

90’s 

Kevin J. Fandl ’98 was appointed 

the Academic Director for Global 

Immersion Programs at the Fox School 

of Business, Temple University. Kevin 

has been an Assistant Professor of Law 

& Business at the Fox School since 

2013. He lives in Washington, D.C., 

with his wife and two daughters. 

‘00’s 

Jason Cervone ’05 recently published 

his doctoral dissertation, Corporatizing 

Rural Education, with Palgrave 

Macmillan. 

Alumni Spotlight 

Scott Yoder 

began his career 

at LHU in 1998 

when he entered 

the Physician’s 

Assistant Program. 

After earning a 

master’s degree 

in Health Science and his Physician’s 

Assistant Certification, Yoder started 

his own company, CT Assist, aimed 

to improve staffing levels and 

retention of physician assistants. 

“Early in my career, I saw a lot of 

physician assistants in my specialty 

get burned out due to chronic 

under-staffing,” says Yoder. “LHU’s 

approach to the student as a “whole 

person” with a variety of needs that 

extends well beyond education 

was a good introduction to me on 

how to nurture our employees and 

associates.” Yoder’s time at LHU 

also fueled his passion for service. 

He has spent time volunteering with 

both health care and non-health care 

related organizations, including the 

Mama Project, which aims to strike 

out malnutrition in Honduras. “The 

work being done down there is lifechanging 

for the residents, but it is 

also life-changing for the volunteers 

and it requires no special skills-- 

-anyone can be taught the tools 

necessary to stamp out malnutrition.” 

He credits LHU for not only his 

education, but also how to work with 

and learn from others. “Lock Haven 

University gave me an education 

where I could rise to the top of my 

profession. It gave me knowledge 

but more importantly it taught me 

how to learn, work with others, and 

be a complete person.” 

James Britton ‘74 

Richard Brown ‘57 

Jeanette (Yurkiewicz) 

Cummings ‘65 

Glenn Haugh ‘58 

Patrick Hubman ‘14 

Richard Ishler ‘57 

Charles Mingle ‘56 

Kristin Nicole (Schoenig) 

Thorsen ‘09 

Lucille (Orlin) Yon ‘35 

Emeritus Edward Clawson passed 

away September 22, 2017. Dr. 

Clawson retired from Lock Haven 

University in 1991, serving 30 years 

as a professor in the Foundation 

Studies Department and as APSCUF 

President when he retired. 

Carroll Rhodes ‘73, lost her battle 

with cancer on July 4, 2017. Rhodes 

returned to her alma mater as 

an Instructor in the Academic 

Development and Counseling 

Department for 13 years, retiring in 

2014. She started as the Director 

of the Upward Bound Program, and 

then moved into the TRIO Student 

Support Services Program. She was 

also a frequent contributor to the 

University’s “Hemlock” publication. 

Rhodes was a fearless champion 

of women. She was instrumental 

in organizing the LHSC campus 

Women’s Center and was a founding 

mother and the first executive 

director of the Clinton County 

Women’s Center. Carroll is survived 

by Mary Frances Severino, her partner 

of 23 years and spouse of three years. 

Emeritus Carl Rumbalski, passed 

away on August 19, 2017. He 

was born in Bayonne, N.J., on 

Oct. 27, 1936, a son of the late 

Walter and Sophia (Wondoloski) 

Rumbalski. He attended Orange 

County Community College, 

State University of New York at 

New Paltz, and graduated from 

Rochester Institute of Technology 

where he received a Master of 

Fine Arts. Carl retired in 1993 as a 

professor of fine arts at Lock Haven 

University. He enjoyed gardening, 

fishing, pottery, hunting, and caring 

for his fruit trees. He also enjoyed 

his cats. 


FROM THE ARCHIVES 

Price auditorium through the years 

by Joby Topper, LHU Library Director 

Clockwise from top left: A sketch of the auditorium by architects in 1938; Kids file into Price Auditorium in 1969; The newly renovated interior of the auditorium; 

the renovated lobby of Price Auditorium; Students lounge on the steps of Price Auditorium in 1977 

Built in 1938 and into 1939, Price 

Auditorium was one part of a 

Public Works Administration 

(PWA) construction project that 

also included a new library (Sullivan), 

a new fieldhouse (Thomas), and a new 

power plant. The new auditorium cost 

about $160,000 and could seat about 

600 people. This was a large auditorium 

at a time when our total enrollment 

was around 400. From 1938 to 1952, 

the auditorium was simply called “the 

College Auditorium.” 

In 1952, the Alumni Association voted to 

name the auditorium in honor of Philip M. 

Price (1802-1870), who in 1870 donated 

the land on which the original school 

was built. The new auditorium included 

a stage, a workshop for the theater 

department, storage rooms, dressing 

rooms, and faculty offices on the main 

floor, and classrooms on the second floor. 

During the Cold War period, the sub-level 

was designated as a fallout shelter. 

The first official event in the new 

auditorium was a Vesper Service held by 

President John G. Flowers for all students 

and faculty at 7:30 p.m. on July 26, 

1939. The first Fall Convocation in school 

history was held in the new Auditorium 

on September 16, 1939. The first 

Spring Commencement held in the new 

Auditorium was on May 28, 1940. There 

were 73 graduates. The last Spring 

Commencement held in Price was May 

24, 1959. There were 103 graduates. In 

1960, as enrollment approached 1,000, 

Spring Commencement was moved to 

Thomas Fieldhouse. 

In 2017, Price Auditorium underwent 

a major renovation. Work included 

renovations to the lobby, restrooms, 

auditorium, and stage, as well as new 

walls and floor finishes, acoustical 

wall panels and ceiling clouds, new 

seating, new doors and hardware, new 

HVAC, electrical and lighting. Exterior 

improvements included widening the 

existing roadway along Price, a new ADA 

accessible sidewalk from Glennon to 

Price, new retaining walls, railings, and 

lighting. 


25

University Relations 

Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center 

Lock Haven University 

Lock Haven, PA 17745 

Non-Profit Organization 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Williamsport, PA 17701 

Permit No. 281 

Q&A 

Professor 

Paul Ballat chairs LHU’s Health and Physical 

Education Department. He’s spent over 20 years at 

LHU preparing HPE teachers for the field. 

Q 

: How did you develop an interest 

in teaching Health and PE at the 

collegiate level? 

A 

: I started teaching and coaching 

7th-12th grade students near my 

hometown in Schuylkill County, PA. I did 

this for about ten years. My interest in 

teaching at the college level started after I 

earned my master’s degree in Health and 

Physical Education. I taught at several 

universities before earning my Ph.D. and 

coming to LHU 20 years ago. 

Q 

: What is the most rewarding part 

of your job? 

A 

: I get the opportunity to work with, 

and mentor, many young people 

that share the same passion for teaching 

Health and Physical Education. Many of 

our HPE majors are also student-athletes. 

I stay in touch with our HPE graduates 

and look forward to hearing about their 

accomplishments as they make their marks 

in our teaching and coaching profession. 

Q 

: Why is it more important than 

ever to prepare future health and 

physical education teachers for the 

classroom? 

A 

: LHU has a rich, long, tradition of 

producing quality HPE teachers. 

Now, more than ever, we must continue 

to deliver highly skilled educators to our 

school districts and graduate programs. 

Our majors are needed to cultivate quality 

HPE programs that help students become 

healthy and physically active for a lifetime. 

Q 

: In your view, what are some of 

the primary advantages The Haven 

offers? 

A 

: LHU offers a nationally recognized 

teacher education program that 

helps produce top-notch teachers in 

each academic discipline we offer. Our 

dedicated HPE faculty are highly qualified 

to assist students with any academic 

and research endeavors. We also 

offer many authentic opportunities 

for students to gain teaching 

experience as early as their 

first year in our major. 

Q 

: What pastimes do you 

enjoy in your free time? 

A 

: My hobbies include playing 

most racquet sports (including: 

tennis, badminton, racquetball, and 

pickleball). I also find time to stop at 

yard sales, practice the guitar, manage a 

fantasy football team, follow the Cincinnati 

Bengals, and attend Bald Eagle athletic 

events (especially wrestling).

The Haven Magazine Fall 2017

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