Messiah Homepage News Archive

More than 2,000 guests attended the 22nd annual “Taste of Central Pennsylvania,” held on Nov. 2 at Strawberry Square in Harrisburg. Attendees at the appetizing event enjoy food and beverage tastings prepared by culinary teams from the finest restaurants and dining venues from across Central Pennsylvania—including Messiah College.

Messiah was one of 45 regional restaurants, businesses and organizations that donated food and culinary talent to the fundraiser, which this year raised more than $100,000 to help hungry families in the midstate. (This is Messiah College’s twelfth year to participate in the event.) In addition to revenue from ticket proceeds, guests may leave additional monetary donations at individual booths as a show of appreciation and enjoyment for the food being served. This year, Messiah’s booth generated the most donations among the individual culinary teams—earning them the event’s prestigious “People’s Choice Award.”

The Messiah culinary team, led by Executive Chef Percell Green, was also comprised of Scott Douville, Ana Marrero, Beverly Spangler and Andrew White. They prepared and served two of Messiah College’s signature items, “Baby Blue Salad Parfait” (made with mesclun salad greens, spicy pecans, strawberries, mandarin oranges, balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese) and “Chocolate Mousse Indulgence.” Bon appétit!

The Central PA Blood Bank recognized Messiah for donating more blood than any other local college this spring semester. The campus community donated 182 pints this spring and 412 pints, or 51.5 gallons, this academic year.

Messiah once again earned a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for service-learning and civic engagement commitments.

Almost 92% of Messiah College’s student body participates in some form of local community service while they are enrolled at Messiah, according to the College’s Agape Center for Service and Learning. Yearly, students log more than 124,000 volunteer hours. Read the rest of this entry »

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected 119 U.S. colleges and universities for its 2008 Community Engagement Classification.

Messiah was recognized for substantial commitments to both curricular engagement and outreach and partnerships.

In order to be selected for this recognition, the College had to provide descriptions and examples of institutionalized practices of community engagement that showed alignment among mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices.

Read more about the Community Engagement Classification and see the list of recognized colleges.

Alumna Tara Roche `96 is among the honorees recognized for “creating an atmosphere of warmth and compassion on her unit” at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

Roche is noted by Cathy Sullivan, director of patient care services at Beth Israel Medical Center: “She promotes excellence in each individual who works there and gives patients the confidence to regain their strength and become well again.”

The supplement recognizing the nurses was in the Nov. 30 edition of the “New York Times.”

The College was recognized for annually hosting Area M’s Special Olympics and for volunteering more than 58,000 community service yearly.

Messiah’s nomination highlighted that “Messiah College promotes community awareness by teaching their students to build community and to champion the rights of others less fortunate. Last year students volunteered more than 58,000 community service hours.”

Furthermore, “the College has totally opened their arms to Area M and has become an integral part of our world. The entire campus participates in the games from the college president to the maintenance staff to the students. We would not be able to help as many athletes as we do, if it was not for the fantastic dedication and support we get from the college. They are our HEROES!”

Timothy Engle `92 and Carl Lundblad `92 are honored for their excellence in business, commitment to community, and professional achievements.

Engle is senior vice president of wealth management at The Turnbridge Group at Smith Barney. Lundblad is general counsel to Graystone Financial Corp./Graystone Bank.

Messiah’s commitment to service-learning and civic engagement earned the College recognition on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. Sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the honor roll notes colleges’ exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth.

Messiah College joins 126 other institutions earning the Honor Roll with Distinction award. A total of 528 colleges and universities were recognized.

The Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation, through its Learn and Serve America program, and the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

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.

The College’s dining services team was recognized by the PA Restaurant Association with a 2007 Excellence in Food Safety Award. Among the six awardees, Messiah received the highest score and is one of only a few colleges to earn this distinction.