On Saturday, October 18, 2025, Wilson College invites the community to look to the skies for a breathtaking celebration of history, innovation, and unity. From 8 to 8:15 p.m., the College will host its first-ever drone light show, titled “We Rise: Honoring History. Inspiring Tomorrow.” This free event is open to the public and promises a memorable experience for all ages.
“We are inviting everyone in Franklin County and beyond to join us for this historic event,” said Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. “It will be a powerful way to celebrate Wilson’s history in our community and look to a united vision for tomorrow. Join us for an evening of light, sound, and storytelling as Wilson College lights up the sky and inspires the 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, the Gilmore-Hoerner Endowment, Cherry Knoll Farm, Explore Franklin County PA, and F&M Trust.
For more information visit www.wilson.edu/drone.
Wilson College has reached its highest-ever point-in-time (PIT) enrollment for the start of a fall semester with 1,877 students enrolled across all programs. This reflects a 10% increase over Fall 2024 enrollment and a growth of 38% over the last three years since the College’s lowest post-pandemic enrollment, marking a historic milestone in Wilson’s history.
This remarkable achievement represents growth in first-time-in-college students, Wilson College Online, dual enrollment high school students, and continued success in the Teacher Certification Program (TCP). These gains reflect Wilson’s commitment to access, affordability, and retention, even as colleges and universities nationwide face enrollment challenges.
“The future is truly bright at Wilson, and this historic moment is a testament to the hard work and innovation of our entire community," said President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D. “We expect our enrollment to continue to expand with the inaugural class of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy program beginning classes in January 2026 and new speech language and physical therapy programs expected to start in 2027.”
While the official census will be finalized after the Fall 2 add/drop period, early indicators suggest continued growth across multiple student populations. New undergraduate academic programs in computer science and cybersecurity exceeded expectations in their inaugural year. Programs in Veterinary Nursing, Pre-Vet, and BSN Pre-Licensure demonstrated strong recovery, steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels. The College also welcomed more student-athletes, including competitive equestrian riders and participants in Wilson’s Division III NCAA programs.
To assist with student success and retention, Wilson also hired a Dean of Student Success and restructured its Academic Success Center. Beginning with the Fall 2025 semester, every student is now assigned a Student Success Coach for personalized guidance and a Personal Librarian, further enhancing the College’s already robust academic support services.
By Shelby Bowman '26
Launched in 2016, Sarah’s Cupboard is Wilson College’s on-campus food pantry, dedicated to supporting students facing food insecurity and rising grocery costs. Located in Lower Lenfest and overseen by Andrew Hart, the Nancy A. Besch ’48 and Elisabeth Clarkson ’47 College Chaplain, the pantry provides students with access to essential items.
This fall, Susan “Evie” Hubbard ’28 collaborated with Hart to create an online ordering system for the pantry. Inspired by grocery store pickup services, Hubbard and Hart wanted to create a system that prioritized convenience and confidentiality. Their goal was to make students feel more comfortable using Sarah’s Cupboard, while easing the stigma surrounding food insecurity.
“As part of the Single Parent Scholar program at Wilson, I understand how busy life can get. By adding online ordering, anyone can order from their phone or laptop,” Hubbard said.
Previously, Sarah’s was open for just ten hours per week, but with online ordering students can request food any day of the week. Hart said, “They can order and get their food within 24 hours. All they need to do is pick up their package and go.” All orders are bagged and only identified by the student’s food pantry number.
“My background in food pantries has shown me one of the main factors that drive people away is the stigma associated with seeking assistance,” explained Hubbard. “An online ordering system offers a new layer of privacy to Sarah’s Cupboard and will hopefully encourage more individuals to access the support they need.”
With 23% of undergraduate students in Pennsylvania experiencing food insecurity, Sarah’s Cupboard ensures that no student at Wilson College goes without food.
“I am trying to remove every barrier that I can think of for students who need food,” said Hart. “I want to make sure that Sarah’s is available to them as much as possible, and I don’t want a possible feeling of a stigma to be a barrier.”
If you're interested in donating to Sarah's Cupboard, you can find more information here.
Written by Shelby Bowman '26
In recent years, the Student Center in Lower Lenfest had become an underused space. To change that, the Office of Student Development introduced “Time Out” to encourage students to spend more time there. With simple, fun, and relaxing activities that changed every Monday, Time Out began providing a space for students to decompress in-between classes, and because of its success, it is back again this year.
Time Out is not only revitalizing the Student Center; it also offers something for students seeking solo downtime—an often-overlooked need on campus. “Students can go alone, or they can go with friends,” said Sarah-Jane Flook, coordinator of student engagement and international scholar services, “whether they have a minute, three minutes, or three hours.”
From jigsaw puzzles to arts and crafts, the activities each week are meant to appeal to a range of interests, so there is something for everyone. Some weeks follow a theme for that month, like a photo collage for Women’s History Month in March or a quiz for Alcohol Awareness Month, which even included a small prize.“We wanted to have some sort of activity that would change on a weekly basis,” Flook explained. “Something that enabled us to leave out the materials, leave out the instructions, and students could find in the same place every week.”
Suggestions are also welcome. At the end of last semester, Flook placed a sheet in the Center, asking students what they wanted for future Time Out activities. “Someone asked for Legos, so I bought a couple of adult Lego kits,” Flook said. “Those will be going out at some point over the fall semester.”
Wilson College will present an exhibition of work by artist Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. in the Bogigian Gallery, Lortz Hall, from September 18 through November 7, 2025. The College will host an opening reception starting at 4:30 p.m. on September 18.
Titled “Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.: Consider Everything An Experiment,” the exhibition showcases Kennedy’s dynamic approach to letterpress printing, blending traditional techniques with contemporary design sensibilities. Known for his bold, layered compositions and distinctive typographic style, Kennedy’s work invites viewers to engage with language, color, and form in fresh and thought-provoking ways.
Working with handset wood and metal type, Kennedy emphasizes the physical labor and tactile beauty of the traditional printing process. His method of overprinting vibrant colors in dense, rhythmic layers results in visually striking pieces that allow chance and repetition to become part of the message. No two prints are ever the same as each carries its own visual weight and emotional resonance. The Library of Congress, Emory University, and the Newberry Library, among others, house Kennedy’s work, which is recognized for its combination of wit, insight, and craftsmanship.
This exhibition celebrates letterpress printing as a medium of artistic dialogue and cultural expression.
A newly released economic impact report from the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) reveals that Wilson College contributes an estimated $89.9 million to the Pennsylvania economy and supports 820 jobs across the Commonwealth.
The comprehensive 28-page report, conducted by the nationally recognized Parker Strategy Group, highlights the significant role Wilson College and other AICUP member institutions play in driving economic growth, job creation, and public revenue. The analysis considered direct spending on operations, wages, capital projects, and the ripple effects of student and visitor expenditures.
“Wilson College has long been a center of academic excellence, and this report affirms that the College’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. With nearly $90 million contributed to Pennsylvania’s economy and over 800 jobs supported statewide, Wilson is proud to be a vital force in the Commonwealth’s economic sustainability,” said President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.
According to the study, Wilson College supports and sustains 820 jobs throughout the state through direct employment, indirect and induced jobs created by supply and equipment vendors and contractors, and jobs created throughout the state in support of the institution’s faculty, staff, students, and visitors. AICUP schools are among the top employers in Pennsylvania and contribute to the creation of nearly 200,000 jobs overall.
The study also concluded that Wilson College generates about $6.9 million in tax revenues annually for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and for local governments, through sales tax, property tax, personal income tax, and corporate income taxes.
Five Wilson seniors presented their research at this year’s annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (PAS), held April 11-13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa.
Wilson’s senior presenters: (l to r) Cassidy Sowers, Judi Wolf, Hailey Steele, Kylie Wright, and Adrián Lugo.
Kylie Wright“Assessing the correlation between California Mastitis Test results and somatic cell counts in caprine milk.”Advisers: Deborah Austin, Ph.D., and Sherri Buerdsell, Ph.D.
Judi Wolf“The effects of lipid synthesis inhibitor ND-630 on fungal species Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, andCryptococcus neoformans in comparison to fluconazole.”Advisers: Kathryn Sarachan, Ph.D., and Amber Marble, Ph.D.
Cassidy Sowers“Influence of anthelmintic medications on the aerobic bacterial populations of the equid gastrointestinal tract microbiome.”Advisers: Amber Marble, Ph.D., and Sherri Buerdsell, Ph.D.
Adrián Lugo“The effects of serotonin transporter gene variations on major depressive disorder treatment and anxiety.”Advisers: Amber Marble, Ph.D., and Deborah Austin, Ph.D.
Hailey Steele“The cytotoxicity of synthetic dye; Red 40 and its metabolites cresidine-4-sulfonate and 1-amino-2-naphthol-sulfonic acid on the Caco-2 human colon cell line.”Advisers: Kathryn Sarachan, Ph.D., Amber Marble, Ph.D., and Sherri Buerdsell, Ph.D.
PAS Award Winners were (left) Acadia Banis ’26 and (right) Hailey Steele ’25. Banis received a PAS Undergraduate Research Grant for her work with her adviser Amber Marble, Ph.D., titled “A Systematic Comparison of Traditional Veterinary-grade Topical Tick Preventions Versus Holistic Topical Tick Repellants for Canines.” Steele took Third Place in the PAS Spychala Student Presentation Awards for her oral presentation.
At the end of Wilson’s Fall 2024 semester, four student teams in the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Course (BUS 220), presented their final business plans. Each plan reflected a semester’s worth of collaboration, research, and strategic thinking, pitched to their peers as if to real investors. The purpose of the project was to get students to think through what it takes to start up and run an actual business.
Team Breathe-WellLeft to right: Allie Cullison ’25, Jordan Blizzard ’25, Eunbeen Song, Samuel Martin ’28, Logan Frazier ’27
Unlike popular television shows like “Shark Tank,” where the spotlight is on the product and its profitability, this course focuses on the process of building a business. Business faculty encourage the students to dream big—whether creating a nonprofit that provides pet care for low-income families or by creating a financial advisory service tailored to college students—and walk through every step of making that dream operational.
Team Chambersburg SaddleryLeft to right: Catrin Rumondang, Madelyn McCoy ’27, Anna Flenner ’27, Raegen Franz ’24, Jasmine Gruver ’25, Vu Nguyen
“We’re not asking, ‘Can you sell this tomorrow?’” explained Lance Cain, assistant professor and director of the business program. “We’re asking, ‘Can you plan this from the ground up?’”
This difference in focus allows the students to dive into marketing strategies, operating budgets, supply chains, and resource planning. Students learn to identify their target audience, assess competition, and make tough decisions about what’s feasible and what’s not. They read case studies, analyze failures, and learn that most entrepreneurs aren’t overnight successes. Throughout the semester, students also engage with an online business simulation program, managing a virtual retail shop and responding to dynamic scenarios. The system evaluates their decisions, offering insight into real-world outcomes.
Team EDU FinanceLeft to right: Armani Jones ’28, Sydney Marza ’27, Clare Byomujuni ’27, Halley Shaffer ’26, Ellisa Gamby-Mickey ’27, Sefora Antonino Velasco ’27
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the course is that it offers a risk-free environment for experimentation. The only stakes are academic, which frees students to be creative, bold, and even a little idealistic. For some, it’s a steppingstone to launching a real business. One student used the class to develop a business plan for a horse boarding facility—an idea she is actively pursuing outside of class.
Team Mission ImPawsibleLeft to right: Elena Worthington ’27, Adrianna Stricek ’26, Genieva Pawlowski ’27, Tristan Worlock ’25, Benjamin Tunnel ’25, Alexis Shreiner ’26
For others, it’s a transformative experience that reshapes how they think about work, leadership, and innovation. “Since this is a safe environment to work through issues, it provides students the opportunity to deal with things a little more subjectively,” added Cain.
In the end, the entrepreneurship class isn’t just about writing a business plan. It’s about learning how to see opportunities, solve problems, and build something from nothing.
Shortly before embarking on a January 2025 expedition to Antarctica, Shelby Harmon ’25, an animal studies major with minors in biology and psychology, received a diagnosis of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a severe form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Jeremiah Loyer ’27, a history major, is working with language and history during a 10-week internship at JAARS, Inc. in North Carolina. JAARS, an acronym for Jungle Aviation and Radio Service, is a non-profit organization that provides support to Bible translation and language development efforts worldwide.
Loyer's internship is a testament to the hands-on education he has received at Wilson College. "Wilson College has prepared me well for this internship through the hands-on experience I’ve gained working at the Hankey Center for the History of Women's Education, as well as the continuous support from my history professors,” Loyer shared. His experience in archival work and historical research has given him a foundation for his current role.
Max Wagenhoffer, Ph.D., director of the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education and assistant professor of history, shared, "During the 2024-2025 academic year, Jeremiah worked over 250 hours at the Hankey Center as a research assistant. He grew as a researcher and scholar, and he is further sharpening his skills through his internship at JAARS."
During his time at JAARS, Loyer is working in two areas. He spends time in the Cardenas Building, which serves as a repository for the history of JAARS, and in the Alphabet Museum, a space that explores the history of writing systems and languages from around the world. "My main responsibility is scanning documents, but I also have had the opportunity to work with collections and help with exhibits around the museum." said Loyer. "Interning with JAARS has taught me how to operate in a professional museum environment, and I've developed several skills that will enhance both my academic and future career."
Jeremiah Loyer's summer internship at JAARS shows how a strong academic foundation, coupled with practical experience, can open doors to unique opportunities.
