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Alumna follows passion for language overseas to teach English in South Korea

July 21st, 2014

For Abby Long ’12, following her dreams meant going far – all the way from Waynesboro, Pa., to Deokso, South Korea.

Long, who graduated with a degree in English, started learning Korean as a hobby after graduation, simply because she had an interest in Korean pop culture. During the same period, she took an online course to earn Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification.

“I realized I could learn Korean and teach English by finding a teaching job in South Korea,” said Long, who applied at the Connexus Language Institute, a school associated with the Korean Anabaptist Center. Read the rest of this entry »

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Alumni show their love for their alma mater … 520 times!

July 3rd, 2014

We ♥ Messiah is more than a slogan! It represents a deep affection our alumni feel for their experiences at Messiah College. We often hear how much their time at Messiah meant and how profoundly it impacted their spiritual and intellectual development. We hear the friendships they made at Messiah remain some of the most meaningful relationships in their lives and many have been sustained long past their Messiah days. We hear how much they care that Messiah remains true to its Christian roots and firm in its theological traditions. We know how much they love Messiah because they tell us.

The We ♥ Messiah appeal echoes alumni sentiments about their Messiah experience.  Understanding the life-changing opportunities a Messiah education offers, two generous alumni, Steve Rice ’80 and Todd Witmer ’91, graciously offered a challenge gift of $20,000. They and the College challenged 500 alumni to renew their annual financial support by June 30.  In turn, their $20,000 challenge gift would be given to the Messiah Annual Fund, which supports student scholarship aid.  Although a lofty goal for a short appeal, our alumni enthusiastically accepted the challenge and not only achieved the goal, but exceeded it with a final count of 520 new* alumni donors!

We are beyond grateful for the love alumni showed their alma mater by supporting Messiah College during the last days of our fiscal year. Their gifts continue our ongoing tradition of providing scholarship aid for students and making it possible for us to offer a high quality Christian education to students who may otherwise not have the means to afford it. Part of the legacy of Messiah College is our alumni, employees, parents and friends who have sacrificially given financial support from the first days of Messiah through today. Without the investment of these people, Messiah would not be the College our alums have grown to love.  We ♥ our Alumni and their commitment to continue the traditions of their alma mater!

*refers to those who have not given July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014

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Student film illuminates challenges experienced by people with disabilities in Ghana

June 24th, 2014

People with disabilities are often overlooked or left behind in discussions about global humanitarian relief aid and advocacy. But the number of vulnerable disabled people living in poverty and suffering in poor health is staggering in many communities. Eighty-two percent of people with disabilities live in poverty and more than 90% of children with disabilities do not receive education.

A new, short documentary film, Beyond the Margins, tells the stories of several unlikely heroes in Ghana—people with disabilities. Behind the cameras was Messiah College senior Derick Esch ‘14 who undertook the film as part of a graduation project. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kay Boyer’s memoir remembers faith, family and public service of Ernest L. Boyer ‘48

May 30th, 2014

The life of Ernest L. Boyer ‘48, a man whose career in public service has had a profound effect on quality education in America at every level, is now honored in his wife’s memoir, “Many Mansions: Lessons of Faith, Family, and Public Service.” Kathyrn Boyer’s memoir was released May 29 at a private reception attended by the Boyer family and hosted at Messiah College by President Kim Phipps and the Ernest L. Boyer Center.

“Ernie’s dedication and accomplishments on behalf of the education of our world’s children was enriched by Kay’s significant influence and imprint,” said President Phipps. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ian Gallo ’14 will spend summer as fellow at Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies

May 27th, 2014

Sometimes, it takes a natural disaster to find one’s calling. After Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, Ian Gallo ’14 traveled to the ravaged country on a medical mission trip. “That was my first time out of the country,” said Gallo, “and it was a little bit of a shock from my white, suburban upbringing. After seeing the great disparity between the life I was accustomed to and what I saw in Haiti, I began to question many of the systems that enabled my life to be different from those in Haiti.”

Messiah College provided the environment in which he could explore exactly those questions he brought back from Haiti. As a sustainability studies major with a minor in peace and conflict studies, he signed up for the first-year seminar course, “In the Pursuit of Green,” an examination of issues that result from an insatiable consumerist culture and how Christians are called to respond to them. “The class was a wonderful and entirely overwhelming critique of the state of creation care,” said Gallo. “The social and environmental destruction that came about as a result of the exploitation of our neighbors around the world deeply inspired me to change part of the systems that enabled these crimes against God and humanity.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Messiah College celebrates Commencement with 734 undergraduate and graduate students

May 17th, 2014

More than 5,000 people gathered May 17 to celebrate the 72 graduate students and 662 undergraduate students receiving their diplomas at Messiah College’s 105th annual Commencement ceremony. In his Commencement address, Richard Mouw, former president of Fuller Theological Seminary, challenged the graduates, “When it’s all said and done, it’s all about Jesus. So my charge to you is simply this: Be faithful to Jesus.”

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Donald and Anna Zook Alumni Merit Award to senior Hope Johnson. Johnson, an English major and Messiah’s first non-verbal, non-ambulatory graduate, was nominated for her “diligence, perseverance, fortitude and sheer determination” as an excellent writer and scholar. Johnson was lauded by English department chair Matthew Roth for her “hardworking big toe,” which, because of her cerebral palsy, she used to type her drama, memoir, fiction and literary analysis assignments.

Other recognitions included the presentation of the Dr. Robert and Marilyn Smith Awards for Outstanding Teaching and the Class of 2014 Senior Gift.

Provost Randy Basinger recognized Sharon Baker Putt, assistant professor of theology, and Richard Schaeffer ’83, professor of chemistry, as this year’s outstanding teachers, a recognition based on the nominations of senior students.

Julie Fenton, senior class president, presented President Kim Phipps with a $6,421 check for the expansion of the Grantham Community Garden to an acre-lot across the railroad tracks.

Congratulations, Class of 2014!

UPDATE 5/19: Enjoy this brief video recap of today’s ceremony. Watch the full-length video.

UPDATE 5/19: Baccalaureate photo gallery and Commencement photo gallery

UPDATE 5/21: Harrisburg Patriot-News photo gallery

See an album of photos on our Facebook page or peruse the fun content on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #mcgrad14.

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Night Razors “scooter gang” hopes to break a world record

May 13th, 2014

They ride by night. They are lightning fast and throw caution to the wind with every 1 a.m. trip to Sheetz they brave. They are selflessly using their new-found passion to raise money for an incredible organization. They are the Night Razors.

The Night Razors is a group of 25 first-year students who turned a moment of childhood nostalgia at Walmart into a successful fundraising cause for a worthy organization close to their hearts. Read the rest of this entry »

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Messiah alum pursues professional Ultimate Frisbee career

May 6th, 2014

Many people think Frisbee is only a leisurely game to be played outside among friends but for some, Frisbee is a lifelong passion. In the case of Messiah alumnus Chris Schulze ’07, that passion netted him a position as a professional Ultimate Frisbee player for the Philadelphia Phoenix.

Schulze grew up near Amherst, Mass. a place where Ultimate Frisbee is beloved by many people.  Ultimate is fast-paced and dynamic.  The disc can float, providing players with opportunities for diving plays. For Schulze, “Ultimate gives me a chance to fly. There’s nothing quite like chasing down a disc, laying out completely and grabbing it just before it hits the grass.” Another feature which drew Schulze to Ultimate was something called “spirit of the game,” meaning that the game is self-officiated and requires players to be of the highest integrity. Read the rest of this entry »

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Exposing injustice—Messiah College professor to film documentary in Uganda

April 21st, 2014

With a heart for social justice and peace, professor and filmmaker Krista Imbesi ‘09 will collaborate with Phil Wilmot ’12 to voice a story of injustice and hopeful reconciliation in the documentary, “Our Feet are Rooted,” exposing the illegal land grabbing crisis in Northern Uganda.

This June, Imbesi and her husband Christian ’09 will partner with Wilmot and his wife, Suzan, founders of the non-profit organization, Solidarity Uganda to tell the story of the Amuru District residents and their struggle against the corporate government violently stealing their land and selling it to multinational oil and sugarcane companies. Read the rest of this entry »

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From shining in the spotlight to shining the spotlight on social issues: Theatre and Social Change at Messiah

April 14th, 2014

In “The Real Thing: a Play,” Czechoslovakian producer and writer Tom Stoppard wrote, “Words are sacred … If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” Nudging the world toward social change has been the goal of Messiah College’s Theatre and Social Change course since its introduction to the theatre curriculum in 2002. The impetus behind Theatre and Social Change (TASC) came after Messiah College professor Valerie Rae Smith facilitated the student-writing of an original production, “E.D. & Ana,” which studied eating disorders among college students. Smith says, “Students were so responsive to the play and the conversations surrounding “E.D. & Ana” that a general education course was created. By 2002 Theatre and Social Change was a term students used across campus, in the residence halls and in the classrooms.” Read the rest of this entry »

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