Continuing King's Mission of Building Bridges
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fall 2013 McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program: Continuing King’s Mission of Building Bridges President’s Message Dear Alumni, The College recently finalized its new strategic plan for 2013 – 2018: Engaged Minds. Inspired Hearts. Purposeful Lives. The plan respects and preserves our rich traditions while challenging us to adapt to the changing realities of higher education and our world. Visit kings.edu/PRIDE to review the entire strategic plan. The words of our founding President, Fr. James Connerton, C.S.C., are part of our enduring legacy: “King’s teaches students not only how to make a living, but how to live.” Making a living and making a life are themes rooted in the enduring truths of the past and the evolving realities of the present. Social and political commentator David Brooks recently used the words “résumé” and “eulogy” to capture the difference between making a living and making a life. A résumé speaks to the skills, abilities, capabilities, and professional achievements one has demonstrated through education and work. A King’s College education has done, and will continue to do, an outstanding job in preparing women and men for their career aspirations. A eulogy captures the history of one’s caring, faithfulness, wisdom, courage, and truthfulness. The liberal arts education at King’s College in a special way helps cultivate, refine, and inspire our deepest hopes, desires, and loves; it helps women and men make a life worthy of praise. Since its founding in 1946 to educate the sons of coal miners, King’s has always worked hard to help those struggling for access to higher education. This issue of Pride features a story on our McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program. The program continues our tradition of providing affordable access to a great education. May God bless you and your family and may God continue to bless King’s College. Sincerely, Fr. Jack Ryan, C.S.C. President Contents Fall 2013 PRESIDENT Rev. John Ryan, C.S.C., Ph.D. SENIOR STAFF Director of Campus Ministry 1 President’s Message Rev. Thomas Looney, C.S.C. Vice President for Student Affairs Janet Mercincavage, C.P.A. Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer 2 News on Campus John Loyack ’85 F History Faculty and Students Contribute to Securing Vice President for Academic Affairs Historical Marker Nicholas A. Holodick, Ed.D. Vice President for Institutional Advancement F Commencement Frederick Pettit, Esquire ’96 F Revisiting the Class of ’13 EDITOR Director of Public Relations John McAndrew ’84 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 6 King’s Feature Assistant Director of Public Relations Joseph Giomboni ’03, M.S. ’07 F McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program: Continuing Public Relations Office Coordinator King’s Mission of Building Bridges Nora Conway Intern Michael Ruth ’13 SPORTS 10 Faculty Profile Director of Sports Information F Brother George Schmitz, C.S.C. Robert Ziadie Assistant Director of Sports Information Craig Butler ALUMNI 11 Monarch Sports Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Patrice Persico F Winter Sports Review Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving F Lisa Gigliello Profile Rose Gryskevicz ’96 F Sweeney Signs Major League Baseball Contract Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Stewardship Coordinator Charlene Brojakowski F Fall Sports Schedule Alumni Office Coordinator Maggie Height ’12 DESIGN Nanette Bozentka, Llewellyn & McKane, Inc. 16 Staff Profile PHOTOGRAPHY F Cheryl Ish Photography by Andy (cover (bottom), 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 19 (right and bottom), 20 (bottom),21 (bottom right), 22, 23), King’s College Archives (cover (top)), Luzerne County Historical Society (2), Jason Clark (7), Frank Lauri (11 (left), 12), Mike Touey (11 (right), 16), Bob Ziadie (14 (bottom)), Hub Wilson Photography 17 Faculty Update (inside back cover). PRINTING Llewellyn & McKane, Inc. 18 Alumni Events & Gatherings Pride is published twice a year by the King’s College Public Relations Office. It is distributed to alumni, parents of students, donors, and other friends of the College. Comments should be addressed to John McAndrew, Director of Public Relations, [email protected], (570) 208-5958. Write: PRIDE, King’s 23 -24 Alumni Profiles College, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 F Neil Grimes ’05 and Michael Ward ’07 ON THE COVER: F John D. ‘Jack’ McCarthy, Sr. ’57 King’s was established in 1946 to educate the sons of coal miners, a population not served by existing educational institutions. Through a grant from the McGowan 25 Alumni News & Notes Charitable Fund, the College has developed programs which now also address the needs of the fastest growing segment of the Luzerne County population. 29 Donor Profile F Claire DeFazio ’77 Scan the code with your smart phone or tablet for immediate electronic access to this issue of Pride. (Or go to http://www.kings.edu/PRIDE) NEWS ON CAMPUS History Faculty and Students Help Secure Historical Marker t was a catastrophic event in Wilkes-Barre and the second According to reports, the morning of June 5, 1919, a train worst industrial disaster in Pennsylvania history. The legacy containing approximately 150 miners and a cargo of blasting of the 92 miners killed in the 1919 Baltimore Mine Tunnel powder exploded and burned in the Baltimore No. 2 tunnel of Disaster will not fade, but will be commemorated due to the the Delaware and Hudson Coal Co. Most of the miners died persistent efforts of History Department faculty and students from burns and inhalation of gases. who teamed with the city and family members of deceased An investigation of the mine disaster led to improvements in miners to secure a historical marker at the site of the long-closed the enforcement of mining regulations, including prohibiting mine. transporting miners on the same trains with explosive powder. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The marker will be placed near the site. A marker dedication recently approved an application submitted by members of the ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the fall semester. King’s History Department to memorialize the Baltimore No. 2 Clasby and Mackaman said they were elated. “I’m very tunnel of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Co. in Wilkes-Barre’s pleased that the commission awarded a marker,” said East End. The Commission approved only 12 applications Mackaman. “I think it’s a testament to the dimensions of this from the almost 50 under consideration. tragedy, to the memory of the miners who died, and the scores Eight students, under the direction of History Department of wives and children left behind.” faculty members Daniel Clasby and Thomas Mackaman, “The students understood the magnitude of the event and conducted extensive research on the Baltimore Mine Disaster. worked to do right by its victims and their families,” Clasby The research effort was undertaken in response to a request added. “The marker will keep the memory of this event alive for for assistance from the office of Wilkes-Barre Mayor Thomas generations to come.” Leighton ’82. Jen Momenzadeh was one of the students who worked on the The Mayor’s office was contacted by Katie Lavery, a local research. resident whose two uncles, Michael Harris, 24, and Victor Harris, 21, were among the miners killed in the incident. “It was incredibly frustrating and fun at the same time,” she Michael Harris left a wife and two daughters, with one more on said. the way. One of the memories that stays with Momenzadeh was a Lavery’s mother, Rose Harris, was only 11 years old, and the photo of the Baltimore tunnel when the bodies of the miners death of her two older brothers traumatized her. were being removed, with a sign, “Safety First, Avoid Accidents” “She never fully recovered from the horrors she saw that day,” painted above it. Lavery told The Citizens’ Voice newspaper. “It was a striking juxtaposition,” Momenzadeh said. The research included information directly related to the King’s student researchers were Anthony Cardone, Michael incident as well as general information about 1919 Wilkes- Deangelo, Debra Gross, Jennifer Momenzadeh, Tiffani Barre. The group completed an application for a state historical Prescott, Kevin Prior, Patricia Streeter and Emily Winters. marker and presented their findings at the annual conference of the State Historical Society. 2 Pride F Fall 2013 Almost 500 Students Join Alumni Ranks Following Commencement nne Thompson of NBC News addressed the Class of “Most lives zigzag like a water bug, and a lot of those zigs A 2013 at the College’s 64th Annual Commencement in and zags involve failure,” she later said. “Aside from the May at which 498 students received bachelor’s, master’s or fathers of the Holy Cross and my parents, I believe failure has associate degrees. been my life’s best teacher.” A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Thompson Ian Oakley, president of the Class of 2013, recounted with began her address by describing an experience she shared his fellow graduates some of the life lessons they have learned with the graduates. “We are bonded together by an amazing at King’s, from being evacuated during Tropical Storm Lee, force – an education by the Holy Cross Fathers. From my and “breaking in” the gymnasium expansion, to moving into own experience, I’m here to tell you that the development off-campus housing. “We had to clean our own bathrooms nurtured at King’s the last four years will not end when you and kitchens and found out that electricity and water are not leave today. This education is the foundation that will shape free.” Pausing a moment to look across the sea of smiling who and what you will become. It will be a wellspring of faces, Oakley added: “People often say that your college years confidence that you can draw on for the rest of your life and are the best.