Wilson College's Single Parent Scholar Program was included in an article by newamerica.org about providing housing for student parent scholars. "Wilson College’s Single Parent Scholar Program supports up to twelve students annually who are pursuing a bachelor's degree full-time while raising up to two children Starting in 2020, the program began awarding grants to cover on-campus housing for all students accepted to the SPS program."
Read more here: https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/leading-the-way-c…
Fall 2023 Enrollment Is Second Highest in College’s History
Wilson College announced today that it has reached the second highest total enrollment in its history, with 1,555 enrolled students at the Fall 2023 Census. The figure represents a 14 percent increase over Fall 2022 enrollment and the highest enrollment since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are delighted that an increased number of students will receive a transformative Wilson College education,” President Wes Fugate said. “Students and their families are responding to the College’s focus on affordability while delivering a career-oriented education with a strong liberal-arts foundation to ensure that our graduates can navigate the ever-changing world—truly the best of both worlds. We are proud to deliver that education to students from all over the world as a result of our programs in Chambersburg, at various sites around Pennsylvania, and through our robust online offerings.”
Four populations of students contributed to this positive uptick in total enrollment year over year. New first-time-in-college, traditional-age undergraduates increased by 32 percent compared to Fall 2022. In addition, the Teacher Certification Program saw an increase of 66 students, followed by a net increase of 34 Wilson College Online graduate degree seekers and 12 non-degree high school/dual enrollment students.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson College was considered the 25th fastest growing higher-education institution in the country. Like other colleges and universities, Wilson experienced a downturn in enrollment as a result of the pandemic and unprecedented upheaval in the educational environment. As a result of its latest strategic plan, the College has expanded programming and launched Wilson College Online, to make a Wilson education more accessible.
Veterinary nursing major Ariel Noel ‘24 shares, “From a young age, I have always had an interest in veterinary medicine. When I saw Wilson College at a high school college fair, I knew it was right for me. The table was covered in information about the animals on campus and the different clubs/programs you could participate in. The veterinary nursing program here at Wilson has clarified how I want to pursue my veterinary career. The program has wonderful staff who are super personable and always ready to help at any time of the day. This really is a great program, and I believe that it has set me up for success in my future career.”
Faculty and staff at Wilson College are presenting some of the latest and most interesting topics at the event known as Common Hour.
This year, Melodie Hoff and Ronda Ranalli are in charge of creating and scheduling these events. Melodie Hoff stated , “The Common Hour events are particularly meaningful to schedule because they create a sense of community among faculty, staff, and students. Planning Common Hour events is not stressful because presenters are always eager and excited to participate and share their research, and attendees enjoy the fellowship. The fresh baked pizza and cookies are also a delicious bonus.”
What is Common Hour?
Common Hour’s goal is to highlight Wilson College’s professors, faculty, and students who have conducted research in their specific fields of study. Common Hour events are scheduled each semester with new speakers presenting their research. Professor Julie Raulli shares her excitement on the upcoming Common Hour in October, “I am excited that several recipients of the Earthwatch Award, myself included, will be able to share their "citizen science" experiences with the Wilson community. I'm also excited that Joan Thuebel, Class of '52, who generously supports this opportunity, and Denise McDowell, Director of Major Gifts, will be present to discuss the history of the Earthwatch Award at Wilson.”
Truly, Common Hour sessions are not to just share the research, but also to encourage curiosity, questioning, and further research. Dr. Michael Cornelius says that, “Events like these are, in some ways, the purest form of that – an audience listening to a passionate speaker talk on a matter they have been very recently researching, and then asking questions and sharing their own thoughts on the subject as well.”
When is Common Hour Held?
Common Hour is open to the public to come listen and enjoy learning. The next Common Hour dates are October 10th and November 14th. The talks are held on the ground floor of the John Stewart Memorial Library from 11 a.m. till Noon. The faculty senate, Melodie Hoff, Ronda Ranalli, and Dr. Michael Cornelius believe that “knowledge and learning are at the heart of everything we do.”
Common Hour does just that.
Why should I attend Common Hour?
Common Hour strives to encourage further knowledge, learning, and growth.
Though life may get overwhelming at times and students are constantly on the move here at Wilson College, Common Hours may be just the perfect break to walk away from the busy schedule, listen, and take in new, fascinating ideas and information about our world. Common Hour aims to always remind Wilson faculty, staff, and students that learning, gaining knowledge, and encouraging curiosity is at the heart of growth, spreading ideas, and making impossible dreams become a reality.
For more information on Common Hour visit https://www.wilson.edu/common-hour or our social media pages.
Written by Morgan Faith for ENG 309 Social Media/Web Content Practicum class
Relaunched choir revives campus music tradition with emphasis on inclusion.
Music at Wilson College invites the community to join students, faculty, and staff in the Cumberland Valley Chorale at Wilson College for its 2023-24 season.
Rehearsals take place on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Alumnae Chapel in Thomson Hall, Wilson College, beginning September 10. All voice parts are welcome, and no audition is required.
The Chorale will present a Christmas Vespers concert on December 10, 2023, and a spring concert on April 28, 2024. The ensemble is under the direction of Dillon Beede, Wilson College’s Director of Choral Activities.
Formerly the Wilson College Choir, the Cumberland Valley Chorale at Wilson College expands on the tradition of choral music at Wilson College to include the greater Chambersburg community.
“Music is a way to build connections with our community across beliefs, identity, age, and more,” Beede said. “The Chorale is a space for every voice to come together and create moments of transcendence, beauty, and peace.”
Wilson College Master of Organizational Leadership student, Rebecca "Becky" Whigham spent four weeks in Uganda this summer studying food security and education from a global perspective. She did it as part of her guided study class called Studies in Global Food Security.
The experience, called Teach Ag Uganda, was a USDE Fulbright-Hays funded trip coordinated between Global Teach Ag Network (GTAN) and Penn State. Daniel Foster and Melanie Miller Foster, the founders of GTAN led the trip with partnership from Field of Hope. The goal was to pair educator teams from the United States with five schools in Uganda to develop a project focused on combatting food insecurity in that local area.
Agriculture teacher Okello Bonny, Becky, Entrepreneurship teacher Ateng Rachel, Penn Manor Agriculture teacher Mary Wurzbach, and Agriculture teacher Oluma Tom Richard.
Becky explained, "I had the privilege of traveling with other amazing educators from across the country and we collaborated with Field of Hope, a US based nonprofit that support agriculture programs in Uganda. We worked with agriculture teachers in Uganda on a poultry program that supported project -based learning related to agriculture."
The team of educators worked with St. Katherine Secondary School, an all-girls boarding school in Boroboro, Lira District, Uganda, to create a poultry project. It was facilitated by the school's poultry club and they will be raising four hundred egg laying hens using a deep litter system.
One day-hatchlings arriving for the poultry project.
Becky teaches middle school family and consumer science at Big Spring Middle School, and obtained her teaching certification in English after completing the Teacher Certification Pathways (TCP) program at Wilson College in 2010. (Fun fact - Becky even met her husband in a TCP class at Wilson.) As a Master of Organizational Leadership student, Becky is developing the skills to be an effective leader in her career and community. Part of the MOL mission is to develop honorable leaders, effective communicators, and agents of justice. The Teach Ag Uganda trip met all these objectives.
Becky added, "It was an incredible experience, and I was so grateful to pursue graduate credit for the time spent. I have always had a passion for agriculture and there is a natural collaboration between FCS and Agriculture education—they need each other."
The team also went on a safari, an exciting opportunity to see animals in the wild!
Jen Nickle Banzhof ’94 assumed the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Wilson College on July 1, replacing retiring Chair Barbara Tenney ’67, M.D. “Jen Banzhof is an alumna, the mother of an alumna, and has served on the Board of Trustees for nine years,” said Tenney, who has served on the Board for 21 years in total, including two stints as Chair. “She has come back on the Board as Chair, and I know she will do an outstanding job.”
“Wilson is such a huge part of who I am, and the Board’s vote of confidence in electing me as Chair seems a testament to the value of my Wilson education,” Banzhof said. “I’m truly honored and very excited to be returning to the Board.”
Banzhof is the co-owner of BHA Consulting LLC — an employee benefits consulting and actuarial firm. There she specializes in self-funded health benefits provided through collective bargaining. She plans to leverage decades of organizational and negotiating experience in service to the College. “We are facing a pivotal time in higher education, particularly for small private colleges, and I want to do my part to help Wilson rise to the challenge,” Banzhof said.
For Banzhof, attending Wilson College was life-changing. She entered a shy and quiet woman who wanted to be a veterinarian. By the time she graduated, she had discovered a love of statistics and developed the interpersonal and public speaking skills and confidence to be a leader. Her daughter Delaney also attended Wilson and graduated in 2022. Delaney’s success at the College inspired Banzhof to make a large gift to help other students attend Wilson. “There are so many students out there that would thrive in Wilson’s supportive, close-knit community that would (otherwise) struggle or just get by in other environments,” Banzhof explained.
“I am excited to collaborate with Jen to help Wilson achieve our mission and reach for new heights,” said President Wes Fugate. “Uniquely, she shares the perspective of not only being an alumna of Wilson but a parent of a recent graduate. She has a keen intellect and valuable life experience that will be instrumental to the Board and the College as we seek to offer a transformative education to our students.”
I graduated in 2017 with degrees in both Film and Spanish. Right away, I started working in entertainment. I moved to Los Angeles in 2018 and ended up falling into reality television when I landed a job working for Survivor. After some time working in the office, I had the incredible opportunity to work on location in Fiji for four seasons! It was beautiful and despite the occasional long days, it sometimes felt like a vacation!
My working with Survivor opened the door to work for another CBS reality show, Big Brother, which I have also done for quite a few seasons now.
Although I have loved my time in entertainment, work is not always steady or stable. During 2020, this was especially true. It made me reevaluate career options. I thought about what I could see myself doing long term and teaching came to mind. My mother taught for many years and I've always thought that if I wasn't in entertainment, I'd follow in her footsteps!
Because my whole family is in PA, I plan on relocating back when I start teaching full time. For this reason, I started looking for PA schools with great education programs. Finding the Teacher Certification Pathways (TCP) program at Wilson College was almost too good to be true since it allowed me to stay living and working in Los Angeles while taking my classes. It's been such an incredible experience!
I hope to teach Spanish at the elementary school level because I strongly believe it's vital to start learning a second language as a child and, in my opinion, Spanish is one of the most important languages to learn! I also hope to be a shining light for all students, especially those who may need a positive or comforting presence in their lives.
Congratulations to all the students who made the Wilson College Dean's List for Spring 2023.
Hannah Faith Aker Chloe Elizabeth Antalek Hannah Anastasia Aument Brady C. Bakner Taylor Noelle Barker Kaley Margaret Barnhart Georgia Lynn Barry Averi Joan Bassett Annmarie Batey Natalie Olivia Beckner Jenna C. Benke Hannah Rae Berrier Rachel M. Biesecker Connor Michael Bowers Madison Katherine Briggs Haiden Lynn Brookens Mia Nicole Brunet Alexis P. Buckley Madelyn Teresa Bush Reagan Faith Bush Sarah Elizabeth Bushey Sophia Gianna Callahan Elisabeth M. Camplese Ayanna Yalaina Cannon Jayce A. Carr Briar Dwight Castellow Hailey Nicole Chaney Seongyeon Cho Victoria Joy Cooper Caryn Rebecca Cordell Jorge Mariano Cortez Geneva Luree Dardick Colin Lee Davidson Hannah Alysabeth Deline Isabella Di Troia Tabytha Elizabeth DiGiosio Kassandra Lynn Dotterer Anika Eigen-Zucchi Marissa Hope Eisenhauer Julia Leigh Elliott Olivia R. Ewing Teaghan Elise Ewing Anaida Fahradyan Morgan M. Faith Alexandra Christine Fishel Shannon L. Flaharty Patricia Gene Flook Raegan Helene Franz Delaney Madison Fulfer Claudia Abigail Fumagalli Marie Carmela Gallagher Mary J. Gantt Kelsey Lee Gaphardt Emily Jean Garner Olivia Barbara Gelbaugh Jarrett H. Gelsinger Efelomo Vanessa George Andrew Stephen Gervasi Anna C. Gibson Pheonix S. Gilbert Lainnie Sharon Glenn Erin C. Gohegan Lexie Saige Goshorn Shannon Renee Gouge Ryan Walton Green Miranda Rose Griffiths Elizabeth R. Grim Jasmine Marie Alexia Gruver Alecia Marie Hamilton Dino Hamzabegovic Naomi Alexa Hanton Shelby L. Harmon Mia Deanne Harris Jordan Faith Hastie Ella Kathryn Hawbecker Ramona Simone Hawkins Mary Elizabeth Heaton Linette Marie Hernandez Haden M. Hoff Eleni Makella Houck Anna M. Householder Jadzia Taylor Hoy Tashema C. Huffman Daeshaun Cortez Johnson Julia Melissa Johnson Mingyo Jung Simone Alaire Karustis Rebecca Fay Keenan Catarina M. Keifman Breaunna R. Kelso Everyn Connor Kenney Mariah Kiefer Krystal Lynn Kienast Gracen Lorraine Kreider Sage N. Lague Rachel Marie Laidlaw Elizabeth Reynolds Landon Aura Kathryn Langley Kayleigh Nicole Layfield Shannon Blaine Little Aliya Corynne Lockman Kendi Delgado Long Emma G. Lowman Adrian Lugo Olivia S. Martin Michael R. McGee Sierra Haven Mckimmy Carley Rae McNew McKenzie Lee Meiser Deahnirah Ranee Menedis Klarissa L. Miley Bailey A. Miller Madison E. Miller Shalyn D. Miller Julia Marie Mohler Skylar Morgan Molnar Breauna Mae Myers Vincent Michael Natale Madeline Rachel Neway Ariel Kathleen Noel Michaela G. Oberholzer Kaitlyn Jade O'Shea Isabelle Michele Passmore Blake E. Perry Alexis M. Pflumm Rosa Marie Portilla Lexanda A. Ramirez-Teo Carolyn Alice Randolph Tachae Evette Marie Range Kassie Sierra Reeves Taylor Jade Reikie Aaron Rein Ryan Joseph Reinhardt Makayla Rae Reiter Rachael Irene Rementer Elizabeth Lan Yu Rentsch Kayla Richards Katie N. Riley Gary Magic Robertson Lesley Rodriguez Rachel A. Rodriguez Abigail C. Rosenberry Erin Rebecca Roszkowiak Timothy Joshua Royal Emma Morgan Rubey Julie Ann Ruggiero Nicole Sadlowski Eryka Nicole Sager Andrea Sandoval Katelynn A. Scott Abby Zoe Sentz Halley Grace Shaffer Megan Grace Shank Kenna R. Shearer Allyson Lynne Shindler Megan Nicole Simms Kaeten Isaiah Sipes Dylan David Skeele Madison Smarsh Amanda P. Smida Jamie D. Smith Regina A. Snyder Bianca Joy Sommers Skyler Autumn Speigle Hailey Mckenna Steele Mazie G. Sterner Ashley Mae Stevens Lydia Jane Story Hennessy Jordan Strine Hayden Leena Sturgeon Adrianna Rose Swanson Alexandria Grace Swanson Alexis Nicole Swanson Ava M. Swartz Raina Catherine Sylvestre Peyton W. Taylor Alexus Nicole Testerman Megan O. Thompson Benjamin Alexander Tunnell Gretchen Alissa Turner Elizabeth Claire Vuxta Jakob Robert Wallauer Gillian G. Walters Julie Marie Warnick Janae Leigh Watkins Laiken Jade Welsh Alyssa Corin Wenger Melissa Kay West Rachael Annette Weston Noah Mark Wickenheiser Lea Rylee Wilhelm Madison Elizabeth Williard Amanda Marie Wilson Danielle Marie Wilson Morgan Patricia Wineburg Judith Arlene Wolf Jade A. Wolfe Hannah M. Woodward Kylie C. Wright Jungin Yang Jordan Nicole Yeager Liam R. Yeatman Emily Doris Young
* Recent grad, Victor Ortiz '23 who is finishing up his time at Wilson with a class in social media and web writing, shares his perspective on Reunion 2023.
As a student who goes home after the last day of class, I never heard of Reunion before. This year I attended Reunion to cover the event for social media as part of my ENG 309 practicum class. It's my first year as an alum, so I had no expectations of the event.
At the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester I realized that when it was over, my time at Wilson College would be done. I was in my last few months of college and had a limited amount of time. This was it, my last chance to create memories to share with family and friends.
This Reunion made me realize that I can still create more memories of college. I never expected to have such a good time as I did at Reunion. I had an amazing time and I created more unforgettable moments. I thought my chapter in college was coming to an end but I see that Reunion can open doors to create more memories and there is still a lot left to do for Wilson as an alum.
Throughout the whole weekend full of activities, I talked with alums from different classes. Sharing stories of Wilson, it was amazing to see how much I had in common with them. Especially with these two alumnae, Judy Kreutz Young '63 and Anne Yerkes Barton '63, who were best friends and roommates, just as I am best friends with my roommate.
The State of the College with President Fugate held my attention longer than any lecture, class, presentation, or movie. I got to see a point of view of Wilson that without attending the event I would have never learned about.
I wish and want more alums to come to Reunion in the future. I want current students, future students, and our most recent alums to know that after graduation, there is still a lot of Wilson to enjoy by being engaged with the college.
