Messiah Homepage News Archive

“Enterprising Women” magazine recognized Debra Pierson `89 as a 2008 Enterprising Woman of the Year finalist for her position as founder and president of the successful Pierson Consulting Company and for her role in motivating and mentoring other women in business.

Alumnus Susan Biondo-Hench’s passion for helping her Carlisle High School students understand and appreciate Shakespeare has earned her the Folger Shakespeare Library’s inaugural Shakespeare Steward Award for outstanding contributions to the innovative teaching of the bard in the classroom.

Besides having his first children’s book on Publisher’s Weekly list of the “Best of 2007,” alumnus Jonathan Bean `01 is also enjoying being named one of the magazine’s “Four Fresh Children’s Book Talents.”

Bean’s book, “At Night,” is about a restless girl who finally finds slumber on the rooftop of her city home. Bean also illustrated three other recently released children’s books: “The Apple Pie that Papa Baked,” by Lauren Thompson; “Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat,” by Lynne Jonell; and “Mokie and Bik,” by Wendy Orr.

Trustee Andrew Samuel and alums Eric Clancy `83 and Debra Pierson `89 have been named “Movers and Shakers” by “Central Penn Business Journal” for being local, influential business leaders who make major commitments to the community through time and charitable giving.

The 77 “Movers and Shakers of 2007″ include local leaders in law, real estate, health care, manufacturing, and travel and tourism. Samuel is president and CEO of Graystone Financial Corp.; Clancy is executive vice president of Delta Development Group Inc.; and Pierson is president of information technology company, Pierson Consulting Company, Inc.

Alumnus Mitch Baum `91, a guidance counselor at Elmwood Elementary School, was recognized by the Patriot-News for creating a peer recognition program that, according to the newspaper, is “finding a way to make kids realize it’s cool to study and follow the rules.”

A third place finish in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was enough to earn alumnus Brian Sell a trip to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Sell ran the 26.2 miles in an impressive 2:11:40.

An annual list by Publisher’s Weekly includes books by faculty member David Weaver-Zercher and alumnus Jonathan Bean `01 as among the best of 2007. The list of only 150 books includes Weaver-Zercher’s “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” and Bean’s children’s book, “At Night.”

Authored and illustrated by alumnus Jonathan Bean `01, “At Night” is the whimsical tale of a young girl who ventures to the rooftop of her city apartment building one night when she can’t sleep.

Tina Prins `93, president of Stratega Marketing, is one of central PA’s “Top Forty Under 40” according to Central Penn Business Journal. The award is based on commitment to the community and professional excellence.