Wilson College business students received some real-world business knowledge during their classes on entrepreneurship and management. Rodney Salvadia and Liz Ortiz, representatives of Fastenal, a distributor of wide-ranging industrial and construction products, recently visited campus to share skills and knowledge for developing a good sales pitch and an understanding of career competencies, or how a person’s knowledge and behaviors lead them to be successful in a career. Director of Business & Assistant Professor of Business Lance Cain’s entrepreneurship and small business management classes welcomed Salvadia and Ortiz for several days in October.
In the entrepreneurship class, students work throughout the semester to create business and marketing plans for fictional businesses they develop as groups. The Fastenal representatives walked the students through what an elevator pitch was — a brief introduction to a product or service that takes as long as an elevator ride—and explained the components of a successful pitch during their guest lecture. Each student developed a pitch for their group’s fictional business, presented them, and their peers ranked them. The winning pitches went to Vu Nguyen ’27 and Alexis Shreiner ‘26.
Adding an element of competition allowed Cain to introduce the concept of writing and presenting an elevator pitch while also having some fun. “Having Fastenal in the classroom was 100 percent a practical approach. They provided real-life examples from the real world,” Cain said. “It also created the opportunity for the students to connect with professionals and build their networks.”
The Fastenal representatives also visited Cain’s introduction to management class. This class took a career readiness assessment to evaluate each student’s career competencies, such as critical thinking, communication, and leadership. The students also researched and made presentations based on the different competencies—what they are and how they impact an individual’s career.
As a bonus, members of the class also received their individual assessment results. The assessment revealed a personalized strengths and weaknesses report, along with an explanation of how to build upon or improve each. For example, if a student needed to strengthen their leadership skills, the results suggested they take on a leadership role in a club.
“[The visit from Fastenal] helps students think like a professional versus as a student. It helps them answer, ‘Why is being a professional different from my part-time jobs or my work as a student’,” Linda Boeckman, director of Career Development said. “The more exposure we can provide students to people doing the work, day-in and day-out, the better. They validate what faculty say from an exterior source.”
Wilson College is now accepting applications for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy’s inaugural cohort expected to start classes in January 2026 with the first graduating class to receive diplomas in December 2027. Prospective students can apply through December 5, 2025, through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).
The new hybrid accelerated Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is the first online doctorate to be offered by Wilson College. The OTD educational model will include flexible online learning, in-person lab immersion experiences, and fieldwork opportunities, culminating in a capstone project and preparation for board examination. Wilson’s accelerated OTD program allows students to complete the program in two years rather than the average three or more years in a traditional OTD program. The condensed timeline allows graduates to enter the workforce sooner and with less debt. Evidence In Motion (EIM), a leading provider of online and hybrid healthcare education, provides the unique hybrid program structure and curriculum.
Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate said, “We are excited to welcome the first OTD cohort to Wilson. The addition of this program furthers our mission to innovatively provide high quality, affordable education while providing students access to a high-demand program that will ultimately benefit them and their communities.”
The hybrid structure of the program makes it accessible to students in areas beyond the state or region who want to remain in their own communities for the online and fieldwork portions of the program. Travel to the Philadelphia metropolitan area is required eight times during the two-year program for hands-on lab immersions. The Wilson College faculty, with decades of combined expertise in occupational therapy, developed the course curriculum. The program coursework involves innovative educational methods, current research, cutting-edge software, and personalized support that will empower future generations of leaders in occupational therapy.
Wilson OTD Program Director Michael Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, said, "Wilson College’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation has provided the foundation for a curriculum that not only prepares students for clinical success but also inspires them to become transformative leaders in the field of occupational therapy. I eagerly anticipate welcoming students from both the local region and across the country, fostering a diverse and dynamic learning community."
Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people across the lifespan, focusing on occupational tasks, daily skills and personal goals that promote independence. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for occupational therapists in 2023 was $96,370, and the profession is expected to grow by 11% (faster than average) through 2033.
For more information visit: https://www.wilson.edu/doctor-occupational-therapy.
The Ten Tones have returned! This much-loved a cappella ensemble originated in the late 1950s and provided entertainment through musical performances on campus and regionally for several decades. According to its former and current members, the group embodies the core of what Wilson is: a welcoming mixture of ages, abilities, and interests that inspire, encourage, and support each other through music.
Congratulations to all the students who made the Wilson College Dean's List for Fall 2024.
Wilson CollegeOffice of the RegistrarFall 2024 Dean’s List
Hope AdamsJill AhlgrenAdesewami AjirotutuHannah AkerManal Hamdan S AlanaziPaige AlbrightRusbelly AlmonteEsteban Alvarez MaganaKelley ApplebyEric ArbogastSydney BabicekBarbara BakerBrady BaknerAcadia BanisJennifer BannonRachel BardsleySydney BarkerKaley BarnhartEmmy BaschoffAveri BassettHana BellowsPayton BennettRachel BieseckerJulie BinderMichaela BlackJade BlaggKaitlyn BlizzardJason BoakEliza BoehmerMadison BootieHannah BostShelby BowmanKayli BradyEmily BrechbielLaura BreighnerMadison BriggsMatt BrowningMia BrunetLexi BuckleyMadelyn BushSarah BusheyYasmin CalderonSophia CallahanEdrick CartagenaJustine CastroCinthya ChavarriaAllison ClaytonJamie ClendeningWynter CooleyElizabeth CordonJorge CortezTyler CottoneFaith CrawfordSarah CroweKatelyn CrupAllie CullisonKaren CutlerColin DavidsonCrystal DavisMaddie DavisSara DawsonAdaira DeckerEmma DelicatoJordan DevincentIsabella Di TroiaAutumn DicandiloGrace DickinsonSarah DiehlOlivia DingzonKassandra DottererMadison EbersoleZoie EcholsJulia ElliottOlivia EwingSadie FikeAnna FlennerPatty FlookMadeline FloresAngelina Flores RosaChelcie ForresterRebecca FoxRaegan FranzDanica FrushourClaudia FumagalliLyssa GableTrinity GandyKylie GardinerDanielle GarmanEmily GarnerHamida GawhariHomaira GawhariOlivia GelbaughAndrew GervasiMary GingrichLainnie GlennErin GoheganShannon GougeMargaret GreeleyGrace GregoryJasmine GruverNessa HakeHaley HamrickMadison HamrickTaylor HardestyMiranda HardyShelby HarmonAndrew HarnerSydney HartleElysabeth HaughElla HawbeckerCarrie HeberligAddie HebertOlivia HeidrichAlyvia HennemanNikki HockenberryOlivia HoffmanEmily HollandAbigail Howard GoisJenna HowellLexie HubbardSusan HubbardAce HudnellKyra HuebnerSamantha HutchinsonJada JenkinsEmily JohnsonCasey KauffmanChloe KelleyBreaunna KelsoStacy KerrTrea KeysElivia KipeMaria KleinRyan KoontzAlexa KosofskySage LagueElizabeth LandonAudrey LekeRiley LeMayMichael LightMatthew LineKarlee LisinskiEmma LivelsbergerKalyna LloydEthan LocklearAliya LockmanKendi LongElena LotruglioJeremiah LoyerAdrian LugoSavanna MackieCarleigh MagersKinsey MancillAmanda MargesonElaina MarkerDanielle MartinEmily MartinSydney MarzaNevaeh MatlackChloe MaurerPayton McCauleyGaberiella McConnellJacob MccoyMadelyn MccoyChristine MckayJordan McKenzieCadence McmahonCarley McNewDrue MealsAndrea MedinaDeah MenedisGianna MenziettiBenjamin MetzTori MeyerKlarissa MileyEmily MillerMadison MillerNadia MitrovichSummer MoffettWaverly MoffettSkylar MolnarMackenzie MonnAbby MorelandLia MortKiaya MouerNatalie MullenAlayna MyattVincent NataleRachel NewswangerPaige NeyMarianne Ngo Bapa Ba BoumtjeAmanda NussTyler O'BrienKiera O'BrineAriatna OchoaCaitlin OlivieroMara ParisAnya ParkolayIttai PayneKalea PechartLiam PepolJalen PierceRylee PiperCaden PollardKaylee PomfretRosa PortillaBrooklyn PresleyLexi Ramirez-TeoEmily RandallsTobias ReeseJosie ReinhardtMakayla ReiterKayla RichardsIsaiah RifeAshley RingquistMichael RiosKris RobinsonLesley RodriguezPiper RohrbaughAbby RosenberryEmma RosetErin RoszkowiakMimi RubioReilly RyanSam RybackiNicole SadlowskiOlalla SanchezLynn SariskyLeila SchreinerNiki SchusslerKatelynn ScottSavanah SeablomAlycia SemancoKate SeymourHalley ShafferMadison ShanholtzMegan ShankSophie ShatzerAlysa SheatsKayla ShepardConnor ShopeHannah ShultzKristina SlattAlea SmithAnna SmithJamie SmithKim SnodgrassLindsey SnyderRegina SnyderBianca SommersCassidy SowersBrynn SpangenbergerSkyler SpeigleElla SponheimerEmily StamperJessica StartzelHailey SteeleKayla SteinmetzCamden SternerAshley StevensBarry StocksAbigail StonerCheyenne StrenskiAdrianna StricekHennessy StrineHayden SturgeonChase SupenskyIsabella SwanKatie SweigartJade SytoKayla TalbertAlexis ThomasAlyssa ThomasDiana ThomasMegan ThompsonElley ThorntonJustin TimmonsJewels TorresRyan TorresWinter TrammellSenta TrateRebekah TuckeyGretchen TurnerShawn TurnerJulie UhlerFinley VandevanderJenesis VegaAmayah WalkerErin WalshGillian WaltersJulie WarnickQuincey WarrenAllison WatkinsSierra WaylandBella WeaverXavier WebberAlex WeberLaci WeinholdRachael WestonHelena WestraZoey WhitmoreLea WilhelmJulia WilkesPaige WilkinsCourtney WilliamsJace WilliamsJudi WolfJackson WolfeJade WolfeAnne WolfrumMarissa WoodwardTristan WorlockHannah YaiderLiam YeatmanDylan YoumansEmily D. YoungJade YoungEmily ZavadakOlivia ZieglerEllen ZimmermanAnthony ZinziHunter Zittle
Wilson's Muhibbah Club held a sampler dinner where the members talked with students, faculty, and staff about their home countries, customs, and cultures. They offered small tastings of international candies, hot sauces, breakfast foods, beverages, and more.
Muhibbah is an international, intercultural group that represents diverse populations of students. The club comes together to create eclectic dinners, cultural evenings, and other activities to promote cultural awareness.
On the road proudly supporting Pennsylvania educators!
Faculty and staff from Wilson College’s education programs recently attended the PACTE - The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators' Education Assembly where they discussed critical topics facing educators across the commonwealth and how to better connect with Gen Z.
Pictured left to right: Beth Byers, Director of Teacher Certification Pathways, Khalid N. Mumin, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Janet Foor, Assistant Professor of Special Education, and Amy Fetterhoff, Education Office Manager.
Learn more about Wilson’s undergraduate and graduate education degree programs and Teacher Certification Pathways at https://www.wilson.edu/education-offerings
Check it off the bucket list!
That's what Wilson's international students are doing. The group packed their semester with serving the community, exploring the South Central Pennsylvania area, and, of course, attending classes and being involved on campus.
At the end of the semester, these were just some of the items the students could check off their "must-experience" lists:
✅ Experience “Hersheypark Happy”
✅ Explore Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns
✅ Participate in Trunk-or-Treat
✅ Attend a classic holiday theater production
✅ Hop on board a yellow school bus
✅ Make scarecrows at Wilson Weekend
✅ Ride on the Wilson College float in the Chambersburg Christmas parade
✅ Volunteer on campus
Meet Vincent “Vinny” Natale ’26, a health and physical education major and participant in the Phoenix Leaders Program, which encourages students to explore their potential and develop the confidence to be leaders.
Natale serves as vice president of the Fighting Phoenix and the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), captain of the men’s volleyball team, and a member of the men’s soccer team, along with President for the Class of 2026 and a resident assistant.
Read more about the Phoenix Leaders Program in the latest edition of the Wilson Magazine or in our digital edition, https://mag.wilson.edu/empowering-students-to-rise-as-future-leaders
Spotlight on Erin Roszkowiak ’25, the President for the Class of 2025 and Phoenix Leader!
Roszkowiak uses her leadership skills learned from the Phoenix Leaders Program to empower others as Pre-Vet Club president, Women's Soccer Team Academic Captain, and Omicron Delta Kappa Vice President.
Learn more about Erin's journey and the Phoenix Leaders Program in the latest Wilson Magazine: https://mag.wilson.edu/empowering-students-to-rise-as-future-leaders
The annual Wilson College Creative Writing Colloquium welcomes writers of all levels to a day of immersive learning, insightful discussions, and inspiring connections. Hosted by the Wilson College English and Master’s in Humanities programs, this event will be held on Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Harry R. Brooks Complex for Science, Mathematics and Technology Center. The Colloquium is free and includes lunch. All attendees are required to register by February 7 at https://www.wilson.edu/CWC-registration
This year, Alicia Drumgoole, , will present the keynote address. Writing under the pen name Agnes Jayne, she is the author of two novels, “The Problem with Power” and “Premonition,” and short stories published in the anthologies “Last Writes: Haunting Tales from the Mountain Scribes” and “The Appalachian Compilation.”
Morning sessions will feature workshops in fiction and poetry on the following topics:
Action and Emotion: Balancing Intensity and Introspection in Writing
Explore how to craft powerful action scenes that balance physical tension with emotional depth. Presented by author and entrepreneur Kirsten Hubbard, who published her debut novel “Milwaukee Deep: An Ambrose Nobel Novel” in 2023 under her pen name Kirstie Croga. She will release the audiobook and sequel “One White Mule” later this year.
The Fiction of Jeffrey Bardwell
A look at selections from the work of the late Jeffrey Bardwell, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at Wilson, who presented a session on newsletters at the 2024 colloquium. Bardwell was the author of several epic fantasy novels with elements of darkness, steampunk, and romance. Sherri Buerdsell, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at Wilson College and a good friend of Bardwell, will share insights on his work and she encourages attendees to bring samples of their own writing for the discussion.
Public Health as Muse
The subtle but powerful approaches to creative writing that incorporate public health. Presented by Katy Giebenhain, author of “Sharps Cabaret” from Mercer University Press, who also co-hosts the First Friday poetry series at The Ragged Edge Coffeehouse in Gettysburg.
Revision in Theory and Practice
A session to address reasons the revision process can be challenging and several techniques to help. Presented by Noel Sloboda, Ph.D., professor of English and creative writing at Penn State York and the author of two poetry collections, seven chapbooks, and published works in journals, edited volumes, and periodicals.
The Wilson College Creative Writing Colloquium receives support from the Arts for All grant opportunity of the Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation, a regional foundation of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.
For more information, visit https://www.wilson.edu/CWC
