Nine students from the Lycoming College Theatre program participated in this year’s Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). The College sends a group of students to the festival each year to provide them with the opportunity to showcase their talents, compete with students from over 50 other universities and colleges, and attend workshops led by theatre professionals.

This year’s student attendees included: Sara Altieri ’21, Nick Auletti ’20, Gabriela Burch ’18, Danielle Headley ’18, Cody Losinger ’18, Taylor O’Brien ’19, A’feyah Smith ’20, Jennifer Spencer ’20, and Ahlyah Williams ’19. Also in attendance was recent graduate Victoria Ashmore ’17. 

The group of Lycoming students returned from the festival with three awards. Burch received the KCACTF Honorable Mention Award for Allied Design Excellence for Puppet Design, Smith received the KCACTF Design Technology and Management Legacy Award for Costume Design, and Ashmore received the KCACTF Regional Award for Theatrical Design for Costume Design.  

Jay Innerarity, department chair and professor of theatre at Lycoming College, also received recognition at the festival, earning the Gold Medallion Award for his outstanding service to the organization during his term as a regional chair of Design, Technology, and Management. Gold Medallion Awards are given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre, and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the KCACTF. It is the most prestigious regional award given by the KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre education.

The KCACTF is a national theatre program involving 20,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide annually, and a network of more than 700 academic institutions throughout the country. KCACTF encourages, recognizes, and celebrates the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theatre programs.

Lycoming welcomes guest lecturer Peter John Brobst, Ph.D., to discuss the significance of maritime security, drawing from his ongoing book about sea power, globalism and the Anglo-American alliance during the Cold War, on April 4 on the Lycoming College campus. The lecture is free and open to the public, and begins at 7:30 p.m., in the Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall.

The lecture, “Two Navies, One Highway: Britain, America, and Global Sea Power since 1968,” is part of the Robert H. Ewing Lecture Series. “One highway” was a phrase used by former British Vice-Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly, a prominent figure during the Cold War who emphasized the significance of maritime concerns as part of Western security. The lecture draws on extensive research, including a review of Le Bailly’s papers at Cambridge University.

Peter John Brobst is an associate professor of modern European history at Ohio University, where he teaches courses on the British Empire, geopolitics and naval history. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, and his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. Brobst has written and spoken widely on contemporary issues of defense and foreign policy as well as historical problems of strategy and diplomacy. He is the author of The Future of the Great Game: Sir Olaf Caroe, India’s Independence, and the Defense of Asia, and is currently completing a book about British and American sea power in the Indian Ocean during the Cold War.

The Robert H. Ewing Lecture Series was established in 1973 to celebrate Robert H. Ewing, whose passion for history and strong devotion to liberal arts education touched the lives of many throughout his twenty-seven years of service at Lycoming College.

“For over four decades, we have been honored to present lectures by distinguished historians to our own academic community,” said Laura Seddelmeyer, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Lycoming. “I am proud and excited to continue that tradition this year with Dr. Brobst’s lecture.”

Lycoming College student club, Colleges Against Cancer, will once again organize its annual Relay For Life event to celebrate cancer survivors from the College community, as well as to raise funds to help take action against cancer. This year, the College is partnering with the students to host the event in the Keiper Recreation Center, March 23-24, and have made some changes to the program that they hope will boost participation to 300+.

Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, where participants take turns walking around a track non-stop to signify that cancer never sleeps. At Lycoming, individuals and teams of students, faculty, and staff from across campus raise money for cancer research by selling treats and providing fun activities for participants for a full 12 hours.

Business major and event organizer, Jena Hampton ’18, is passionate about the event. “After participating in Relay For Life as a freshman, I became very interested in how to generate additional interest on campus to raise more awareness and funds for this wonderful cause,” she said. “I’ve stuck with the group throughout my college career and am now serving as president of Lycoming’s Colleges Against Cancer for the third year in a row.

The Survivor Dinner kicks off the event at 5 p.m. in the Keiper Recreation Center atrium with a meal donated by campus dining provider, Parkhurst Dining Services. Following the dinner, the Opening Ceremony sees participants take a lap around the recreation center track, and from there move onto fun events and snacks that keep students, faculty, and staff nourished, entertained, and ready to burn the midnight oil to see the event through until morning, such as:
• Frozen shirt contest to see who can thaw out a shirt the quickest
• Basket raffle
• Mr. & Mrs. Relay, where two participants venture outside of the rec center and compete the raise the most amount of money in 20 minutes
• Hair cutting

Perhaps the most special time of the events comes at 10 p.m. when all participants remember loved ones who have passed away from cancer during the Luminaria Ceremony. A slide show set to music pays a loving tribute to those lost while all in attendance pause for a moment of silence and take a lap around the track holding luminaries.

“I’m thankful to the College for working with us to make this year’s Relay a success,” said Hampton. “The event is near and dear to my heart, and despite some hurdles that threatened to upend our plans, I was pleasantly surprised when everything came together.”

Lycoming’s first Relay was held in the spring of 2005 when student Lindsay (Martin) Courteau ’07, passionate about finding a cure for cancer, was instrumental in establishing the event. Martin’s father had a diagnosis of cancer and her interest the American Cancer Society was both altruistic and personal. Now in its 13th year, the event has become a cornerstone of student efforts to raise both awareness of and money for a terrible non-discriminating disease.

“As a student-run event, it is moving to see peers encourage and challenge one another in raising funds, but more importantly providing emotional support to the many that know loved ones who have experienced cancer,” said Dan Miller, vice president for student life and dean of students at Lycoming College. “ ‘Relay,’ as it is known on campus, epitomizes the care, concern and willingness of Lycoming College students to take action to address a significant issue. Like Lindsay, for many the issue is personal, yet at the same time they feel compelled to be a part of the solution.”

The Film and Video Arts Department at Lycoming College is pleased to announce the 11th year of its Student Film and Video Festival.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 27th, 2018 by midnight.

The screening will take place in October, 2018 at the AMC Movie Theater, downtown, Williamsport, Pa. (exact date confirmation will be sent).

Eligibility and Submission Criteria
• Films must have been made by an undergraduate student(s) at any Pennsylvania school enrolled during the 2017-2018 academic year.
• Categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental (includes music videos), and Animation. Awards will be given to the best film in each category. The Tom Woodruff Jr. Grand Jury Prize will be awarded to the best submission by a Lycoming College student. All other category awards are open to any student enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university.
• Run time: 12 minutes or less.
• Work must have been completed within the last two academic years.
• Acceptable preview format: Playable link (please include necessary passwords).
• Accepted films submission format: Downloadable Quicktime files (see below).
• Each student may submit up to two works.
• All music used must have copyright permissions.
• There is no submission fee.
• Submissions from previous years are not accepted.

Submission Instructions
Please send the following information to Peterson@lycoming.edu. Please include all information in the body of your email, not as an attachment.

1. Personal information: Name, phone number, mailing address, email, school, year of study, major field of study.
2. Film information: Title, director, year of completion, run time, category, and film synopsis between 50-100 words. Please include this information in the body of your email, not as an attachment. Please attach a film still and a headshot (jpegs no greater than 2MB).
3. Email Subject Line: "Student submission to the Lycoming College Film and Video Festival"
4. When submitting your file: Playable links are required for submission. Should your film be accepted, be prepared to make your file downloadable on Vimeo or share your file via Dropbox, www.wetransfer.com, or googledrive. Do not send your film as an attachment.

Jessica Munson, assistant professor of archaeology and anthropology at Lycoming College, received the 2018 Best Poster Award from the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) at their annual meeting held Jan. 4-7, in Boston. Each year, the AIA presents awards to archaeologists, authors, educators and others whose work has positively affected the field of archaeology. The awards recognize the excellence of individuals and groups engaged in the pursuit of knowledge through archaeology or other related disciplines.

The poster, entitled “Measuring Quality of Life Changes in an Ancient Maya Community: Longitudinal Perspectives from Altar de Sacrificios, Guatemala,” tracks changes in wealth inequality over a 2000 year period by examining burial data from previous research and the 2016 and 2017 field seasons. Jonathan Scholnick, part time instructor of archaeology and anthropology at Lycoming College and a co-author on the poster, contributed to the statistical analysis. Lycoming students Jackie Croteau ’17, Jazmin Jones ’20 and Michaela Thode ’20 assisted with the data collection for the project.

The Altar de Sacrificios Archaeological Project is an international team of researchers, students and local community members working together to better understand the everyday experiences of ancient Maya people. Support for the project is provided by the AIA, the Rust Family Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation and Lycoming College.

“It is a great honor to receive this award from the AIA,” stated Munson. “We are just starting to generate some preliminary results from our first two field seasons at Altar de Sacrificios, so this recognition is very encouraging for our future research.”

The Lycoming College archaeology program allows students to analyze the physical remains of the past in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of human culture. Students majoring in archaeology receive a solid foundation in the theories, methods, and diverse approaches that archaeologists use to answer important questions about cultural diversity and social change through time and across vast geographic regions. For more information on the archaeology program, please visit: https://www.lycoming.edu/archaeology/

Hosted by Lycoming College, Pennsylvania College of Technology and AIDS Resource, Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church, will share her story of self-discovery along with her unique insights on the need for understanding and compassion toward others during her presentation, “Empathy for the Other Side: Dialogue that Overcomes Hate, Makes Connections, and Changes Minds.” The presentation will take place on March 29, at 7 p.m. at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. This event is free and open to the public. 

Phelps-Roper was raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, a group that has gained national attention for its intolerance and public protests against members of the LGBTQ community, the military, and countless other groups. She is the granddaughter of the late Fred Phelps Sr., former pastor and founder of the church, and the daughter of Shirley Phelps, one of the church’s more prominent and outspoken figures.

Phelps-Roper’s journey toward self-discovery started in 2009 when she began running the church’s Twitter account, which eventually led to her decision to leave the church in 2012. Since then, she has championed the importance of empathetic dialogue, citing understanding and compassion as the key elements that can transform lives and transcend the widest of ideological gulfs.

Phelps-Roper’s TED Talk, titled “I grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church. Here’s why I left.” was one of the top ten most popular talks of 2017. Her message of hope continues to resonate with and challenge audiences nationwide.

Jeff LeCrone, director of spiritual life and community service at Lycoming College, believes that Phelps-Roper’s speech will benefit students and community members alike, and that her message could not have come at a better time. “Her experience, while dealing with a very specific issue, has broad implications for public discourse that are particularly timely. In today’s highly polarized political and social climate, she represents the hope that people can still connect across enormous ideological differences to recognize the humanity of ‘the other.’ I encourage anyone who finds it difficult to engage on ‘hot topics’ to come out and hear her.” 

“We are honored to be a part of this community initiative and are inspired by Megan’s courageous spirit,” said Katie Mackey, director of campus and community engagement at Pennsylvania College of Technology. “She is an individual who shares hope through her personal story and allows us to examine the powerful attributes that unite us.”

“Megan has said that we must extend empathy and compassion to those who show us hostility and contempt,” noted Kirsten Burkhart, executive director of AIDS Resource. “Given the state of our increasingly polarized society, Megan has much to teach us about answering hatred with compassion.”

Phelps-Roper has been featured in several publications including the The New Yorker, The Guardian, VICE, The Globe and Mail, and NPR. She recently appeared on the National Geographic series, “The Story of Us,” and on Sarah Silverman’s Hulu series, “I Love you, America.” Her story is the subject of an upcoming memoir, titled “This Above All,” which is also being made into a feature film.

The fifth annual Lycoming College Music Department Gala will showcase select music ensembles on Friday, April 6, at 7 p.m. at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. The event is free and open to the public.

Included in this year’s Gala will be the Lycoming College Chamber Choir, consisting of 25 select students, and the Concert Choir, the College’s full choir, both under the direction of Daniel J. Hall, assistant professor of music at Lycoming College. Additionally, the Gala will feature the College’s Concert Band, comprised of approximately 55 woodwind, brass and percussion students, as well as the Lycoming College Community Orchestra, featuring students, faculty and other professional musicians from the region. Both ensembles are under the direction of William Ciabattari, associate professor of music and chair of the department.

A diverse selection of repertoire for this year’s event will include a performance of John Rutter’s “Gloria,” with special guest, The Williamsport Chamber Choir and Orchestra, joining the music department for this performance. The Williamsport Chamber Choir and Orchestra is also under the direction of Hall.

“The strength of this concert is in the variety of ensembles and repertoire,” said Ciabattari. “We are so pleased to be able to offer this concert again, featuring the many different things that our department produces.”

Lycoming College will recognize a number of students, faculty, and staff for their outstanding academic, service, and athletic achievements at Lycoming College Honors Convocation, April 22, 2 p.m., at the Community Arts Center (220 West Fourth Street) in downtown Williamsport. Family and friends are invited to attend and no tickets are needed for guests.

Students receiving awards are notified ahead of time and have reserved seating at the event. They are encouraged to arrive at the Community Arts Center by 1:30 p.m. to pick up their tickets in the lobby. All are welcome at a reception immediately following the ceremony.

On-street and off-street parking meters in downtown Williamsport are not enforced on Sundays. Additionally, a River Valley Transit bus will shuttle guests on a continuous loop from the Keiper Recreation Center entrance at Lycoming College to the Community Arts Center from 1-5 p.m.

Questions can be directed to Lisa Mendler at 570-321-4102, mendler@lycoming.edu, or Barb Eldred at 570-321-4039, eldred@lycoming.edu.

Lycoming College is pleased to present the Film and Video Arts Senior Film Screening at the AMC Classic Williamsport 11, 300 W. Fourth St., on April 12 beginning promptly at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Theater seating is limited. Free tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis to Lycoming students, staff, faculty and the general public. Tickets (limit two per person) may be obtained at Lycoming College in the Student Affairs office located on the third floor of the Wertz Student Center from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday. Please call 570-321-4118 for directions.

Six graduating film and video arts seniors will be screening their films which include narrative and documentary genres. Students decide on the genre and content of their films under the guidance of their thesis professor. They write, film, edit and produce their films over the course of the academic year.

The communications department at Lycoming offers majors in corporate communication and film and video arts, with minors in corporate communication, film and video arts, film studies, and media writing. Students balance theory and practice as they study the way media interacts with society and are introduced to a variety of media in their courses, extracurricular activities, independent projects and internships.

The film and video arts seniors are proud to share their work with the community on the big screen at the local cinema theatre. “This is bound to be an enjoyable evening this year and we hope you will join us in supporting and celebrating their hard work,” says Leah Bedrosian Peterson, associate professor of film and video arts and director of the film and video arts program. “We are grateful for the support of our campus and local communities and are pleased to share these films with you.”

The films that will be screened include:

“English Hobbies,” a documentary film by Alexandra George
The creation of model trains and the process of making them from start to finish at English Hobbies train store is the focus of this documentary. Lee English talks about his life as the owner and what he does alongside some of his employees, including his 97 year-old mother. 

“No Limit No Boundaries,” a documentary by Kaitlin Lunger
A recovering addict, an addict’s daughter and a city police officer in Lycoming County exemplify the effects of addiction in everyday life through their diverse perspectives.

“Unclaimed,” a documentary film by Mary Radel
“Unclaimed” follows the Lycoming County coroner as he discusses his goal to create permanent housing for unclaimed remains.

“The Caregiver,” a narrative film by Andrew Vinogradsky
A husband received news that he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The struggles that he and his wife face as the disease progresses puts a strain on their relationship.

“Faking It,” a narrative film by Emily Webb
In a small town, Amy finds difficulty looking for a guy who can really make her happy. One evening, while talking to her mom on the phone, she ends up in an unpredictable lie, forcing her to fake her relationship.

“Ink Slinger,” a documentary by John Wright
The stigma against tattoos in the workplace and society is diminishing. Follow the stories of the artists, customers and tattoo removers in this documentary film.

The Lycoming College Campus Activities Board (CAB) has announced Jidenna will headline the spring concert scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at 8 p.m. in the Recreation Center. The opening act will be announced soon.

With an origin story that spans continents and coasts, Jidenna’s man about town swagger and global appeal balances the debonair edge of James Bond with the consciousness of Muhammad Ali. Jidenna moves with poise and purpose on stage and off, delivering personal narratives and commentary on the world’s state of affairs. A natural born leader, he embodies the role of a chief— the African version of a don. 

Jidenna’s buoyant sound and sharp lyrics will make you turn up and tune in, romanticizing the universal themes of love, war, and humanity. His music can only be described as Swank— a cosmopolitan and funky take on hip-hop that is all his own. With his "party and ponder" anthems and thrilling stage presence, Jidenna is setting the bar for excellence while making it cool to have fun(k) again.

“We are very excited to have Jidenna perform on our campus,” said Tara Leigh Sands, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Involvement, “CAB feels that Jidenna will really energize and interact with the crowd, making it an unforgettable and exciting experience with a great new artist.”

As always, CAB will offer one free ticket to each Lycoming student who has paid the student activity fee, a practice that remains unique among colleges and universities that host major campus concerts. This concert is funded by the Student Senate of Lycoming College.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased soon on campus at the Office of Student Engagement, Wertz Student Center; by phone on the College’s ticket hotline at 570-321-4056; at www.lycoming.edu/concert; or by visiting the Dairy Queen in South Williamsport. Please check back for the ticket release date.

Previous concerts at the College have included Mike Posner and The Legendary Mike Posner Band, Scotty McCreery, AWOLNATION, Mac Miller, Maroon 5, Ke$ha, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Good Charlotte.

Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected four-year liberal arts and sciences colleges. Today, our community of 1,300 active learners from 29 states and territories and 24 countries work with our renowned scholars to craft customized, market-driven majors, minors and concentrations across our 60+ academic programs. These students also compete in 17 NCAA Division III sports and study abroad in more than a dozen countries. Lycoming College has one of the highest endowment-per-student ratios among Pennsylvania colleges and is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more at http://www.lycoming.edu.

Lycoming College’s Jazz Ensemble will join forces with the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, April 7, 7: 30 p.m, at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased at caclive.com or by calling (570) 326-2424.

The Lycoming College Jazz Ensemble will open the show, and then the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra will perform. The two ensembles will join forces for a selection to end the concert. Together, they will bring a variety of arrangements for big band to the stage, including favorites such as “Moon River,” “That’s Life,” “Summertime,” “Night and Day” and more. Suzie Cioffi will join the ensembles as guest vocalist for the evening.

“The Lycoming College Jazz Ensemble has been performing music in the lobby of the CAC for a variety of other acts for the last couple of years,” said William Ciabattari, associate professor of music and chair of the department. “We have made it to the stage for the first time, and we are sharing that opportunity with our mentors and friends, Williamsport’s own professional big band, the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra.”

Lycoming College students will receive a visit from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) on March 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the East Hall Coffee House on the College’s campus. The College has partnered with ATD to bring certified therapy dogs to the school several times a semester, and strategically schedules the visits to occur around naturally stressful times during the academic year.

A growing number of colleges nationwide now offer pet therapy programs to students that need a break from the pressures of school. Many students are living away from home for the first time and appreciate the comfort offered by the therapy dogs. Several members of the Lycoming campus community believed so strongly in the benefits of pet therapy that they formed their own group, the College Canine Committee (CCC), to organize and oversee the program. The CCC was formed during the fall 2016 semester, with the primary goal of helping students to combat stress and deal with anxiety in healthy ways. In addition to spending time with the dogs during each visit, students are given a handout on ways to manage anxiety and stress, and are presented with the opportunity to take part in an act of kindness — such as participating in Love Your Melon’s campaign to write notes of encouragement to pediatric cancer patients.

Andrew Kilpatrick, associate dean of student success and academic services, and founder of the CCC, believes in the long-term positive effect of therapy dogs on Lycoming students. “Having therapy dogs visit campus throughout the semester not only provides opportunities for students to take a break from their studies, but it also engrains in them the importance of finding ways to de-stress,” explained Kilpatrick. “When push comes to shove, a key ingredient for academic success, successful careers, and happy lives is having hobbies and activities that help us to relax.”

Students look forward to the visits from ATD, and seize the opportunity to take a break from their busy schedules.

“It makes our evening when we can play with them, and it’s nice to take a little time out of my stressful schedule to hug a dog,” said Jordan Lynn ’20. “I also miss spending time at home with my own dogs, so visiting with the therapy dogs here is a nice replacement.”

“I always get excited when I hear that the therapy dogs are visiting,” said Matthew Dobrosky ’21. “The dogs provide me with a lot of joy and contentment, even if I’m having a rough day because of tests, homework or personal matters.”

Students received visits from the therapy dogs twice already since the beginning of the spring semester, and will receive three more visits before their summer break.

Lycoming College invites the community to visit its 2018 Senior Art Show, an annual juried exhibition featuring the thesis work of Lycoming senior art students. The exhibition is open from April 6 through May 12, 2018, in Lycoming College Art Gallery, at 25 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA. Reception is on April 6 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with an artist talk starting at 6:00 p.m.

Every year at Lycoming College, senior studio art students work on a year-long thesis project and develop individual bodies of artwork. Feedback is regularly given by art faculty members and fellow students, making this both an independent pursuit and a collective creative process. The works are then juried by a guest expert, and those chosen are presented to the public in the spring semester’s Senior Art Show.

This year’s juror is Doreen Bolgen, Ph.D., who served as director of the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) until retiring in 2015. Prior to joining the BMA, she held positions as Director of the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design in Providence; as Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, TX; and as Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Bolger earned her bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, her master’s from the University of Delaware, and her doctorate from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. A scholar on 19th and early 20th century American art, she has published extensively on American painting, drawings, and decorative arts.

After visiting the senior studio, Bolger remarked: “It was amazing to encounter so many talented students in your department! I momentarily wondered if I was at RISD or MICA, two awesome art schools where I have worked with graduate students in the past—I had to remind myself that I was jurying undergraduates at a liberal arts college. Wow! Congratulations to all, both the students and the faculty who have nurtured this astounding creativity! I look forward to seeing more work by all of you.” 

Lycoming College’s 2018 Senior Art Show will feature work by the following students:

Erin Briggs, Caitlin Chaffee, Lindsay Darrow, Nam Do, Jauzzle France, Holley Fuller, Cayla Gray, Kaitlin Hallabuk, Marissa Loner, Donnell Reid-Ellis, Camisha Taylor, Mackenzie Thomson, Travis Fernandez, Monica Serafini, and Brittni Smith.

Additional information about the gallery is available at: https://www.lycoming.edu/art/gallery.html.

The department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Lycoming College will host a talk by April Bernard, Ph.D., for its Strauser Lecture Series, 5:30 p.m., April 6, in room G-11 of the Heim Building on the Lycoming College Campus. Bernard’s talk will focus on transformative justice as a potential solution to the failed wars on crime and social exclusion. The event is free and open to the public.

The lecture is just one of several events that comprise Lycoming College’s annual Criminal Justice-Criminology Day, providing a chance for students to learn about graduate school opportunities, network with alumni in the field, and consider different viewpoints on issues that could impact their studies and career paths. The day will also see Bernard visit and speak with women at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy, 9:30am.

Bernard’s presentation, “Transformative Justice: Envisioning a Greater America,” will discuss the interdependency of structure, community and agency, as a framework for understanding the potential of transformative justice as a viable and emerging alternative to counterproductive punitive measures.

Having received her doctorate in human development and social policy from Northwestern University, Bernard is now the senior director of research and analysis at Safer Foundation, a leading reentry services provider in Chicago, and an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to having worked as a consultant for national and international organizations on criminal and juvenile justice system reform initiatives, she has published research in professional and peer reviewed journals, including Feminist Criminology and the Journal of the Institute of Justice and International Studies. Bernard is also the author of “Transforming Justice, Transforming Lives: Women’s Pathways to Desistance from Crime,” a timely analysis of how ten women with deep criminal histories turned their lives around through community support and engagement.

“Dr. Bernard’s insight into transformative justice and the war on crime will complement very well the studies of criminal justice students at Lycoming College,” said Kerry Richmond, associate professor of criminal justice at Lycoming College. “Her participation in the Strauser Lecture Series builds on what is already a distinguished list of speakers. We’re honored to have her here on campus.”

Each year the department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Lycoming College invites a prominent figure within the fields of criminal justice and criminology to deliver a lecture on campus as part of the Strauser Lecture Series. The lectureship began in 2000 as a tribute to Larry Strauser, professor of criminal justice at Lycoming. Himself a 1959 graduate of Lycoming College, he returned to join the faculty after earning his Masters of Public Administration from University of Arizona and having amassed considerable criminal justice field experience. Strauser founded the interdisciplinary Criminal Justice Program in 1977 and then coordinated the program for nearly a quarter of a century until his death in 1999. His vision of broadly educating criminal justice students within the context of the liberal arts remains a cornerstone of Lycoming College’s approach today.

The final talk of Lycoming College’s Center for Energy and the Future (CEF) 2017-18 lecture series will bring two experts from the Energy Access Foundation (EAF) to campus to present “Solar Technology In Developing Countries: Sustainable Energy for All.” The talk, slated for Tuesday, April 10 at 7 p.m., will be held in the Jane Schultz room of the Wertz Student Center, and is free and open to the public.

EAF works to accelerate access to sustainable energy in developing countries, alleviating energy poverty without destroying the environment, and giving people the opportunity to develop their human potential. EAF programs help assure that everyone can gain access to sustainable energy. Richard Hansen, executive director at EAF, and Williana Aquino, program manager at EAF, hope their talk will help the audience learn more about the advances of solar PV in developing countries and its contribution to the global transition to a sustainable energy system.

Lycoming College’s positioning near a gateway to the Marcellus Shale region puts students at a unique advantage to examine complex issues related to modern energy systems. The CEF seeks to engage the College community in the nation’s ongoing conversation about energy through its energy science and energy studies curriculum, student-faculty research, field experiences and internships.

Hansen is a pioneer in the application of PV technology combined with micro-finance to increase access to electricity in developing countries. Starting in 1984, he led a non-profit program to introduce PV technology with micro-finance in the Dominican Republic. He then replicated this model in Honduras in 1989 under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy. This work led to significant replication globally. In 1993 Richard founded Soluz Inc. with a mission to assist the global transition to sustainable energy. In Honduras, Soluz’s subsidiary, Soluz Honduras, supplies PV products and related micro-finance products. Through Soluz, Hansen has provided advisory services for major institutions including USAID, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines and elsewhere. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and a master's degree in business administration from Boston University.

Aquino was born in the Puerto Plata area of Dominican Republic and lived in a PV-powered house until she was ten years old, when she immigrated to the Boston area. Quickly becoming bilingual and bi-cultural, she studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in environmental science. Later, Aquino worked as a home energy advisor, helping homeowners in Massachusetts, many of them emigrants from various countries, to reduce their energy consumption. This background has given her an excellent cross-cultural understanding of the energy-climate nexus and prepared her to manage EAF's international collaborations to advance energy access.

“Having Richard and Williana on campus to talk about the advances in solar PV is the perfect way to cap off this year’s successful CEF lecture series that touched on a variety of perspectives surrounding shale gas production, energy policy development and implementation, renewable energy development, and the world’s energy future,” said Jonathan Williamson, CEF director and associate professor of political science. “It’s also a great send off for Lycoming students who will soon put learning into practice by traveling to the Dominican Republic in May to gain field experience with the implementation of solar solutions in remote areas of the country.”

The CEF speaker series is sponsored, in part, by the Atlantic Sunrise Community Grant program, established by Williams, a natural gas transmissions pipeline company committed to being a good community neighbor and environmental steward.

Victoria White ’18, a psychology major pursuing certifications in elementary and special education at Lycoming College, has created a teacher’s guide for the children’s book, “Uncle Axie’s Ugly Tie,” by Judy Nordstrom. White and Nordstrom worked together on the guide for several months, and have collaborated to present it in local classrooms.

The pair was first introduced in the spring of 2017 by Rachel Hickoff-Cresko, assistant professor of education at Lycoming College. “When Judy mentioned she would like to create a teacher’s guide, I immediately thought it would be a great opportunity for one of my teacher candidates,” said Hickoff-Cresko. “Teachers often create learning activities to support literature, and in my classes we study how to make these activities cognitively engaging and educationally valuable. Victoria has always shown herself to be creative, hardworking, and capable of outstanding work, and I thought they would make a good match.”

After several meetings to review and edit ideas, White began to build a manual around the concepts that they wanted to incorporate from Nordstrom’s book. The guide includes lesson plans and learning activities for elementary age students in every grade, and coincides with the main theme presented in the book — kindness.

Nordstrom was inspired to write her book after hearing numerous accounts of the kindness shown by her late Uncle Axie throughout his lifetime. She hopes that the book’s message of kindness will resonate with all who read it. “Together, we are presenting the book and guide to elementary students, parents, administrators and guidance counselors, hoping to tie into the kindness and anti-bullying movement,” explained Nordstrom. 

The experience of writing and presenting the guide has proven invaluable to White. “Through this experience, I was able to practice my ideas on my own students and get feedback on how the manual would work in a real classroom setting,” said White. “The project has also helped me grow as a teacher, and it will be a great tool to use in an interview.”

“Uncle Axie’s Ugly Tie” is available on Amazon, and White’s guide will soon be available on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

The Cornerstone of Building a Greater Lycoming

At its March meeting, the faculty approved a new major in biochemistry and a minor in entrepreneurship. These actions were the latest steps in a multi-year plan to enhance the College’s curriculum and to position the institution to enroll an even more outstanding student body. As a result, the design of the College’s general education program and the breadth of its academic programs now compare more favorably to the best of the national liberal arts and sciences colleges.

As has been the case for decades, the current general education requirements (which all students must complete) include courses in science, humanities, the arts, and social sciences. In 2014, however, the faculty added the innovative category of an “enhanced academic experience” to the graduation requirements. While a broad array of experiences satisfies this requirement, we have chosen to emphasize internships, research, and international study. In addition, we have opened a Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences to coordinate the offerings.

By requiring enhanced academic experiences, the College has embraced the idea of experiential learning and placed it at the center of the student experience. We have connected material taught in the classroom with experience beyond the physical campus. As a consequence, we expect that our graduates will become even more capable of using their Lycoming education to make a difference in their professions and act upon the world.

The department of astronomy and physics took the lead in introducing what has been a stunning array of new programs. They added a major in astrophysics, which now has more than forty majors and uses the state-of-the-art Detwiler Planetarium in the Lynn Science Center as its principal classroom. More recently, that department also added a major track in engineering physics that will serve as an excellent preparation for graduate study in engineering.

New majors in the fields of neuroscience and biochemistry have also been established. The former will allow students to engage with the rapidly expanding and revolutionary knowledge about how the brain functions. The latter focuses on the molecular level and intersects with genetics, microbiology, forensics, plant science, and medicine. The addition of both majors will enhance the preparation of students interested in healthcare. Lycoming’s science programs now include three fields — astrophysics, neuroscience, and biochemistry — that are found at nearly all of the top 100 national liberal arts colleges.

As stated in our Strategic Plan, the College has also developed programs that explore 21^st-century energy issues. The first class of energy scholars will be enrolled in the fall of 2018. Students majoring in science can now pursue a minor in energy policy, while others can minor in energy science. In both cases, the minors provide knowledge about the science, politics, and economics of energy that builds on the disciplinary content acquired through the major.

Curricular innovation has not been limited to the sciences. With the addition of a Mesoamerican specialist, the program in archaeology has added a major track in Latin America and redefined its existing areas of specialization as ancient Near East and classical Mediterranean. In a related change, a major in anthropology has been added to the curriculum offered by the department of sociology and anthropology.

The humanities, meanwhile, have seen the recent addition of a major in film and video arts where students explore the use of digital technology to create, manipulate, and communicate information. An interdisciplinary opportunity to study the medieval period is also now in place.

Finally, we are very excited about the minor in entrepreneurship. It is intended to connect to and enhance all majors at the College. It recognizes that a prospective entrepreneur’s passion emerges from their major field of study, whether in the sciences, social sciences, arts, or humanities. We expect that students completing the minor will learn to identify and act upon opportunities for innovation while also becoming more competitive in the job market and better equipped to advance in a career.

The faculty at Lycoming College are engaged in a continuous process of refining the College’s curriculum so that it reflects the most recent advances in all areas of the liberal arts and sciences. I am grateful to them for their diligence and commitment to the type of curricular innovation that is the foundation of our efforts to build an even greater Lycoming.

Kent C. Trachte, Ph.D., is the 15th president of Lycoming College.

Olivia Heckroth, a junior creative writing and corporate communications double major at Lycoming College, recently had five poems selected for publication in the 2018-2019 edition of The Allegheny Review. Now entering its 32nd year of publication, The Allegheny Review is one of America’s few nationwide literary magazines dedicated exclusively to undergraduate works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and artwork. Undergraduate students may submit up to five poems for consideration.

“To be accepted (for publication) is an honor; to have all five submissions taken is genuinely remarkable and speaks loudly to her gifts,” said Sascha Feinstein, professor and co-director of the College’s creative writing department.

“I really wasn’t expecting to have any of them published, so I was blown away when I found out they were all selected,” said Heckroth. “I started really getting into poetry as a kid. I kept a journal of poetry throughout high school, but I never really honed in on and improved my skills until coming to Lycoming.”

This is Heckroth’s first major publication in a literary journal (outside of Lycoming’s own, The Tributary). Many of the poems, written during her sophomore and junior year poetry workshops at Lycoming, are based on personal experiences and narratives but go beyond a mere “retelling” of events.

“Olivia understands that all lasting poems must have some kind of tension at the core. She knows how to amplify scenes to make her poems more complicated and engaging. I’m very proud of her,” said Feinstein.

After graduation, Heckroth hopes to pursue a career in copywriting and a postgraduate degree. She plans to continue writing and submitting pieces for publication with the hopes of eventually having an entire collection of poetry published.

“I love writing poetry because it allows me to explore my own (and others’) reactions toward memories and experiences,” said Heckroth. “Lycoming’s writing program and faculty are absolutely amazing and have pushed me to my full potential. I wouldn’t trade my experience here for the world.”

Jay Ducote, runner-up on the 11th season of Food Network Star, will address the Lycoming College and Williamsport communities as the inaugural speaker of the College’s entrepreneurship lecture series. The event will take place April 24, 7 p.m., at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport.

Since the program’s debut less than one year ago, Lycoming College’s entrepreneurship classes have become a sought-after, valued addition to many students’ class schedules. The program is built on the notion that any student’s core education, regardless of their academic major, can be augmented with the practical knowledge and skills necessary to take a business idea to fruition, such as innovation, digital marketing, intellectual property and financial skills.

Himself an entrepreneur, Ducote left behind a grant-writing job to pursue a career in the food and beverage industry. In addition to his stint on “Food Network Star,” Ducote has hosted the “Bite and Booze Radio Show” since 2011, and made appearances on a number of TV shows, including “Masterchef,” “Cutthroat Kitchen,” “Chopped,” “Ginormous Food,” and many others. Additionally, he established the Jay D’s line of sauces and single origin coffee, which he sources from Lycoming College, and will soon launch his first restaurant, Gov’t Taco, inside White Star Market in Baton Rouge, La. As a food and drink entrepreneur, it’s Ducote’s personal mission to celebrate culinary culture. Ducote also hosted a TEDx talk in 2017 on the topic of coffee and conscious capitalism.

“Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve found ways to create a career out of my passions,” said Ducote. “I know from my work with Warrior Coffee Project, and from traveling to the Dominican Republic with faculty and students in the program, that Lycoming students are passionate about a lot of things. Lycoming has played a key role in my own entrepreneurial aspirations, and I’m eager to share my insights with the College community.”

“Lycoming is resolute in its mission to offer students a 21st-century education, and I believe our entrepreneurship offerings are an important part of that charge. Thinking deeply and making bold decisions to do something the world has never seen, while also staying true to your passions, accurately describes the students at this institution — a truth that also closely aligns with the principles of entrepreneurship,” said Marshall D. Welch III, the Sloter Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship at Lycoming College. “Jay pursued his interests with creativity and dogged determination, and his story will be inspiration to a lot of young people who are discovering their own paths to success.”

Lycoming College’s entrepreneurship field of study was established through the vision and generosity of Joey (Hall) ’80 and Stanley Sloter ’80, chair of the board of trustees, who endowed a faculty position to help bring focused entrepreneurial education to the College.

The words “spring break” often conjure images of young people lazing on a sunny beach, or perhaps headed home for a relaxing week with family. Not so for 20 Lycoming College students, who instead headed to Lucedale, Miss., to participate in the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge.

Habitat for Humanity partners with people all over the world to help them build or improve a place they can call home. Homeowners, who pay an affordable and interest-free mortgage, build right alongside volunteers. Lycoming College has participated in the Collegiate Challenge for 26 years, and the College’s Habitat chapter regularly helps with local builds, as well as builds across the country.

Months before journeying to Mississippi, criminology major Destiny-Ann Schott ’20, treasurer and trip coordinator, worked to identify a destination for spring break. Schott was first introduced to Habitat as a high school student through her church in Abingdon, Md. She quickly developed a love of volunteering. “I learn new things with every build,” said Schott. “This time we mostly hung vinyl siding for the house, and we learned a whole lot about soffits!”

At the build in Mississippi, the students worked on a house for a disabled veteran who had been living in a shed without running water or sewer services. “It was cool to be a part of that,” said Andrew Shelly ’18, president of the College’s Habitat chapter. A biology major hailing from Cochranville, Pa., Shelly has participated in the Collegiate Challenge during all four of his years at Lycoming.

“Habitat has given me a sense of volunteerism and community,” he said. “It was the first club I joined as a freshman at Lycoming College, and it holds an awesome place in my heart. It also showed me how to get involved on campus.” Although he never participated before attending Lycoming College, Shelly plans to continue his involvement in Habitat after he graduates from the College in May.

Although the College chapter has a core group of members that meet and work to raise awareness, as well as critical funds needed to provide suitable housing for those in need, participation is open to the entire campus. Participants are required to pay a small fee, while the Lycoming College Student Senate funds the majority of trip expenses.

Psychology major Kaitlin Clark ’18, from Sunbury, Pa., has been involved with Habitat for the entire four years she’s been at the College. Reflecting back on her experiences, she treasures the memories, as well as the relationships she has made. “Like many others I'm not doing it for myself or to look good on a paper, I do it to sincerely help others, especially those who can't totally help themselves, such as the veteran for whom we were building the house. While his wife can help, he isn't able to, so I volunteer my body and strength to do so,” said Clark. “Habitat is a hand up, not a hand out. I love that model. They don't just want to give you something and say ‘see ya later.’ They work with the homeowners to build responsibility, self-efficiency, independence, safety, and skills that will help improve their lives far beyond a house to live in.”

But it’s not just students who travelled to Lucedale; several advisers accompanied the students, driving vans, and providing mentorship and spiritual guidance throughout the journey. “They lead us in reflection, and the students look up to each of them in various ways,” said Shelly.

Jeff LeCrone, director of spiritual life at Lycoming College, has served as adviser for the Habitat spring break trips since he began at Lycoming. “I have greatly enjoyed all 11 trips I’ve been on. Each group is different with its own dynamic, which makes going on the trips lots of fun,” said LeCrone. “Most importantly, Habitat has introduced me to some really great people, from the staff and volunteers to the homeowners.”

Annie Spencer ’06, chemistry lab manager at Lycoming, participated in Collegiate Challenge Spring Break trips as a student, and enjoys her role as an adviser on the trips now. Spencer, who now serves on the Board of Directors for Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity and as the Family Services Chairperson, has done international Global Village trips with Habitat to El Salvador and Guatemala, and will lead another Global Village trip to Johns Island, SC this August. “I’ve had the opportunity to see first-hand the conditions that people are living in not only in developing countries, but right here in the United States. If there is any way that I can even be a small part of helping a family have a decent place to sleep at night, I want to be a part of it,” she said. “I believe that it is our responsibility to help the communities in which we live. My involvement with Habitat has changed the way I live my life for the better.”

Rounding out the crew from Lycoming was Katherine Wrona of Mobile, Ala., who drove to Lucedale for a day to help with the build. Wrona, a 2014 alumna of Lycoming, was a member of the College’s Habitat chapter during her time on campus.

Despite the daily hard work, the group did manage to find time for a few fun spring break activities, including a side trip to nearby New Orleans, a visit to an alligator farm, and a ride on an airboat. One unexpected perk to participating in this year’s spring break build was the opportunity to learn about different cultures. “Things are slower in the south,” commented Schott. “And the food the volunteers prepared for us was delicious. Every day is like Thanksgiving dinner!”

Participants in Lycoming College’s Habitat for Humanity 2018 Collegiate Challenge included the following students:
Melizabeth Abundis ’21 (Austin, Texas)
Dominick Berardelli ’21 (Montoursville, Pa.)
Sergei Cole ’20 (Montgomery, Pa.)
Kaitlin Clark ’18 (Sunbury, Pa.)
Guillermo Estrada ’20 (Houston, Texas)
Marlen Gallegos ’21 (Houston, Texas)
Brittany Halblieb ’21 (Hummelstown, Pa.)
Olivia Heckroth ’19 (Oakdale, Pa.)
Kathryn Henry ’19 (New Windsor, N.Y.)
Kaitlyn Lovette ’21 (Lewistown, Pa.)
Natalia Puga ’19 (Houston, Texas)
Ericka Reese ’20 (Memphis, Tenn.)
Kelly Rogawski ’19 (Bayville, N.J.)
Bryyan Ruiz ’20 (Ontario, Calif.)
Ansharah Saib ’21 (Phoenix, Mauritius)
Destiny-Ann Schott ’20 (Abingdon, Md.)
Andrew Shelly ’18 (Cochranville, Pa.)
Evelyn Torres ’20 (Round Lake, Il.)
Sheila Whitman ’21 (Lake Ariel, Pa.)
Lyna Worles ’20 (Memphis, Tenn.)

Advisers included:
Jeff LeCrone, Director of Spiritual Life and Community Service, Lycoming College
Annie Spencer ’06, Chemistry Lab Manager, Lycoming College
Casey Spencer ’05, Assistant Pastor, Faith Wesleyan Church