The ArtsFest Committee at Wilson College has opened the call for submissions for ArtsFest 2027, scheduled for April 5 through 9, 2027.
This year, ArtsFest will explore the theme “ART IS... PRESENCE.” The committee is seeking visual, performing, and literary artists and arts educators from Chambersburg and surrounding communities interested in sharing their work and expertise during the weeklong event. Proposed activities may include presentations, readings, performances, projects, workshops, exhibitions, immersive experiences, or other arts-based formats.
Individuals or groups interested in submitting a proposal should do so by Nov. 15, 2026, through the ArtsFest webpage at www.wilson.edu/artsfest. All ideas are welcome, and the committee is available to assist applicants in developing their concepts. While proposals should be self-supported financially, limited funding may be available on a case-by-case basis.
ArtsFest is a dynamic, multi-day celebration of creativity and community that evolved from Wilson College's traditional Arts Day. Since its reimagining in 2023, the festival has showcased remarkable artists, artwork, and creative opportunities while becoming a signature event for Franklin County and the surrounding region.
In 2025 and 2026, ArtsFest expanded to engage campus and community audiences with international artists, art, and artmaking opportunities that reach across disciplines, subject matter, and boundaries, fostering relationships, connections, and ideas that inspire positive change through the arts.
Written by Parker Knepper '27
Camden Sterner ‘27 is a health and physical education major at Wilson College, as well as being a libero on the men’s volleyball team. Sterner shares what his time at Wilson has meant to him,
“To me, Wilson College means community. I love how close-knit everyone is. It feels like one big friend group where everyone knows and supports each other. Wilson feels less like just a college and more like a home, with all the friendships and connections I have made along the way.”
His time playing volleyball at Wilson College has also been impactful in a multitude of ways,
“Volleyball has had a really positive impact on my experience at Wilson. Being part of a team has taught me the importance of hard work, commitment, and always pushing myself to improve. My teammates have also played a huge role in my experience. We support and encourage each other, hold each other accountable, and celebrate each other’s successes. Volleyball has helped me build strong relationships and become more confident both on and off the court. Overall, Wilson Athletics has taught me that putting in the work, working together, and having a positive attitude can make a big difference, and those are lessons I’ll carry with me beyond volleyball.”
Wilson College has continued its multi-year trend of intentional growth, reaching its highest-ever point-in-time enrollment for the start of the Fall 2026 semester with 2,089 students enrolled across all programs. This reflects an 11% increase over Fall 2025 enrollment and marks a historic milestone as Wilson surpassed its highest traditional, in-person enrollment, since in 1968, and achieved its largest residential student population since 1970.
This total includes all traditional undergraduate, graduate, online, and professional programs. By expanding online and hybrid learning opportunities while maintaining a strong residential experience, Wilson has diversified its enrollment base and reduced reliance on any single student population.
"Wilson is reaching more students than ever before as we continue to invest in programs and services that help students access higher education and persist through graduation," said President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. "We are investing in the programs students want, providing the support they need to succeed, and ensuring that a Wilson education remains affordable and accessible.”
The official fall enrollment will be finalized in October after enrollments for the Fall 2 term have commenced. However, early indicators suggest strong demand continues across many of Wilson's signature academic areas, including animal studies, veterinary nursing, health sciences, business, education, psychology, biology, art and design, and the rapidly growing computer science and cybersecurity programs.
Education programs remain among Wilson’s greatest strengths. The College's Teacher Certification Program serves more than 487 students and, when combined with undergraduate and graduate education programs, more than half of Wilson students are preparing for careers in education.
Wilson has also strengthened its commitment to student success through investments in advising, retention, and support services. The College established the RISE Center (Resources Inspiring Student Excellence), bringing together tutoring, accessibility services, success coaching, testing services, and personal librarians in one centralized location. Wilson also added a Dean of Student Success and expanded coaching services to support student retention and degree completion. As a result of these initiatives, the College recorded increases in undergraduate student persistence year to year—8 percentage points from second to third year, and 6 percentage points from third to fourth year.
Additionally, the College recently expanded its graduate and professional offerings with the launch of its Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Wilson's King of Prussia campus. Additional healthcare programs, including a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, will begin classes in 2027, supporting regional workforce needs while creating new pathways for student enrollment and career advancement.
On Wednesday, September 16 we had the pleasure of hosting artist Marcia Wolfson Ray and her work “The Ten Thousand Things” in the Cooley Gallery. Wolfson Ray showcased two- and three-dimensional artwork which reflects her deep affection for nature. The displayed sculptures are composed of burnt and bleached wood that were gathered from marshes in Maryland, as well as willow dowels tied together intersecting the wood stumps. Wolfson Ray describes her asymmetrical artwork as having a progress of evolution and being totally random, giving her a sense of content. She shared with her audience “The importance of art is to explore”.
Alongside Wolfson Ray’s presentation of artwork there was an incorporated message of self-improvement and exploration. She highlighted the importance of how peer feedback from college professors and even a physical therapist helped improve her artwork for the better. “Compliments are great…but do they help you push your work further?”. Wolfson Ray encourages people to explore new directions within their work, leading to new places they wouldn't have thought they could reach.
“The art is very beautiful and so different, especially with the natural materials used. Very interesting and different from what Wilson typically shows” - Riley Braswell ’28
“When you’re an artist a part of the great thing is getting your work out for people to see.”- Marcia Wolfson Ray
Wilson College Director of Choral Activities and Chair of Music Dillon Beede enjoyed a summer of professional accomplishments. In May, Beede earned a Doctor of Education degree in music and music education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Then, in July, he was selected by his peers to serve as panel chair for presentations at the 37th International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference.
While Beede has presented internationally before, this was his first time chairing a panel discussion on a stage of this scale. He set the stage for discussion and drew connections between five different presentations across diverse music education contexts.
“Experiences like this allow me not only to contribute to international conversations in music education, but also to bring new perspectives back into my teaching, research, and artistic work at Wilson.” said Beede.
The panel discussion, Building Bridges or Walls? Diverse Perspectives on Policy Work Across Music Education Landscapes, explored how educational policy shapes music education across a variety of contexts, from collegiate marching bands and rural music education to music education perspectives from female leaders of the Global South and DeleuzoGuattarian reconceptualization of policy development.
Beede said, “We were joined by one of the preeminent policy scholars in music education, who served as a respondent to our work. It was a highlight for me as a young scholar to be chairing a music education policy panel that was well attended by leading researchers in music education.”
For Beede, the achievements represent both personal accomplishment and the support of a campus community that has encouraged his development as a scholar and musician.
He added, “I am so thankful for Wilson College and its support during this critical point in my scholarly development.”
For Beede, the summer’s accomplishments also reflect the institutional support that accompanied the final stages of his doctoral work and continued development as a scholar and musician.
“I am deeply grateful to Wilson College for its support during such an important period in my scholarly development,” he said.
Wilson College will present its award-winning Drone Show on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 8 p.m. during Wilson Weekend, the College's annual homecoming and parents’ weekend. Free and open to the public, the show will feature 300 synchronized drones forming illuminated images above campus that celebrate the nation, Chambersburg, Franklin County, and Wilson College. Community members and visitors of all ages are invited to attend this memorable event.
“Wilson Weekend is a time to bring together alumnae, alumni, families, students and our neighbors throughout the region,” said Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. “We are delighted to once again share this award-winning event with the community and welcome guests to campus for a memorable evening. Through the Drone Show, we celebrate not only Wilson's legacy, but also the people and communities of Chambersburg and Franklin County that continue to shape our future.”
The 15-minute show will feature hundreds of synchronized drones illuminating the night sky with stunning imagery that pays tribute to America, Franklin County, and Wilson College. The show will include a symbolic flight of the phoenix and other captivating visuals, accompanied by a custom soundtrack and narration accessible via smartphone.
Event Details:
This event is made possible through the generous support of Wilson College, Cherry Knoll Farm, and the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
For more information visit www.wilson.edu/drone.
Wilson College will open an art exhibit featuring artwork by Baltimore visual artist Marcia Wolfson Ray on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in the Cooley Gallery, located on the second floor of the John Stewart Memorial Library (JSML). The exhibition will run through Dec. 11, 2026, and is open to the public at no cost. Wolfson Ray will deliver a public talk on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. in the Cooley Gallery, and a reception will follow.
The exhibition will showcase two- and three-dimensional work by Wolfson Ray, primarily a sculptor, who investigates processes of transformation and evolution in materials. Wolfson Ray collects pine wood, willow, and a variety of marsh grasses from Maryland’s Eastern Shore and then arranges them into complex forms exploring modular units, patterns, and the repetition and variety of forms.
Each winter, the Eastern Shore marshes are burned. This controlled burn allows for healthy spring growth, increases plant variety, and enhances wildlife habitat. The patterns of nature created by the process act as a catalyst for her ideas. Wolfson Ray builds pine scaffolding with willow dowels, then weaves, ties, and glues smaller sticks and grasses to the structure. She writes: “With each work I create, I take a journey in a very physical sense with a destination that reveals itself step by step. The initiation of this process, which begins when I am out in the landscape, allows me an intimacy with the natural world, which helps me feel connected to the very thing that makes my existence possible.”
A native of Baltimore, Wolfson Ray earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Maryland Institute College of Art and taught in Baltimore City public schools for more than 25 years. She has exhibited widely on the Atlantic coast at venues including Coastal Carolina University, College of Southern Maryland, University of Connecticut, Hillyer Art Space in Washington, D.C., Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in Asheville, N.C., among others.
The exhibition is opening during JSM Library’s regular hours, Sunday 3-11 p.m., Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m.-11 p.m., and Friday 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. The Library is closed on Saturday.
By Faith Crawford ’26
Thanks to the generous donation of alumna Joan Thuebel ’52, students at Wilson have the opportunity to pursue education outside of the classroom through Earthwatch research expeditions around the world. Students can submit a proposal for the expedition of their choice and pursue this uniquely hands-on experience that takes learning to a new level.
In December 2025, Alyvia “Lyv” Henneman ’27 traveled to Sarasota, Florida, to participate in shark research at Mote Marine Laboratory. The expedition, focused on tracking sharks and rays, gave Henneman the opportunity to gain firsthand experience conducting marine research in the field.
Henneman is pursuing a double major in biology and veterinary nursing and hopes to enter the field of animal research. During her Earthwatch expedition, she participated in shark surveys, assisting researchers in immobilizing and tagging sharks, measuring them, and collecting fin samples for genetic testing. The research helps scientists better understand shark populations and supports ongoing conservation efforts for these important marine species.
Measuring the shark
Because of the medical knowledge and training she has gained through Wilson’s veterinary nursing program, Henneman was also able to draw blood from a shark, a unique learning experience in the field of animal medicine. In addition, she participated in both laboratory and field research, helping test shark repellent strategies with baby sandbar sharks.
Taking a blood sample from a shark
Through the Joan M. Thuebel ’52 Earthwatch Prize, Henneman was able to contribute to meaningful scientific research while gaining experiences she never imagined, including swimming with the baby sandbar sharks in the lab.
Swimming with a baby shark
Henneman described the experience as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and said she made valuable connections with researchers in the field. Those connections may lead to an internship opportunity and help provide valuable guidance as she pursues her career in animal research.
Wilson College supporters contributed nearly $7 million during fiscal year 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to the College's mission and helping create new opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. The total includes more than $2 million raised through the Wilson Fund, the College's annual giving program, which is the highest amount raised for the Fund in the College’s history. The year was marked not only by significant financial contributions but also by broad participation from the Wilson community, including 747 first-time donors.
"Every gift to the College, regardless of size, strengthens the Wilson experience and creates opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and succeed," said Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. "We are deeply grateful to our alumnae, alumni, families, friends, and supporters whose generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students."
During the fiscal year, the Wilson Fund expanded to allow donors to direct their gifts to areas that reflect their interests and passions, including academic excellence, athletics, scholarships, the arts, campus beautification, animal-related programs, and unrestricted support. In addition, a new athletics-focused fundraising initiative generated more than $52,000 in support of Wilson's 13 varsity athletic programs, providing resources that enhance the student-athlete experience both on and off the field.
“The generosity to Wilson this year is an amazing vote of confidence in the next generations of students who choose to call Wilson home,” said Lisa Tiffin, D.E.L., G.P.C., vice president for institutional advancement.
Wilson College is pleased to announce the opening of “Life, Death, and Objects That Move Us: Three-Dimensional Art,” a new exhibition showcasing the work of five women artists whose practices span ceramics, enamel, metal, mixed media, and sculptural assemblage. The exhibition is on view through September 5, 2026, in the Sue Davison Cooley Gallery of the Wilson College John Stewart Memorial Library. Admission is free and open to the public.
Curated in collaboration with graduate students enrolled in Wilson College’s Master of Fine Arts summer residency program, the exhibition explores the relationships among material, memory, transformation, and human experience. While each artist approaches her work through distinct materials and personal concerns, unexpected conversations emerge across the exhibition.
The artists are:
“The exhibition's title, Life, Death, and Objects That Move Us, invites multiple readings,” said Joshua Legg, co-curator and professor of interdisciplinary practice. “It speaks not only to movement through physical space, but to the emotional, psychological, and spiritual movement that art makes possible.”
The exhibition emerged from the MFA summer residency course Curation and Dramaturgy, a four-week intensive in which students examined the role of the curator as a facilitator of dialogue. Throughout the course, students considered what it means to curate not simply by arranging objects within a gallery, but by creating meaningful relationships among artists, artworks, and ideas.
