Messiah Homepage News Archive

Messiah’s Harrisburg Institute, in partnership with the Messiah College Department of Visual Arts’ Student Art League, will be on ongoing participant in the City of Harrisburg’s “First Friday Gallery Walk,” when from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, local city galleries open their doors for free public art showings in various downtown locations. The Harrisburg Institute, located at 28 Dewberry St., opened its first exhibit on Sept. 4. New monthly exhibits of Messiah student and alumni art will run through the end of the academic year. The Harrisburg Institute’s inaugural exhibit features the work of Messiah College student artists Ammon Perry, Dana Scannapieco, Kelly Sefter, and Eli Smith.

On Sept. 14, author Tracy Kidder shared with an audience of 1,200 Messiah students, faculty and surrounding community members, his experience with researching and writing his enormously influential book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World.” The College selected “Mountains Beyond Mountains” as the 2009 common reading book for Messiah’s first-year students, so Kidder’s Centennial keynote lecture also served as Messiah’s Common Reading Convocation.

“Mountains Beyond Mountains,” captures two global health crises, tuberculosis and AIDS, through the eyes of a single-minded physician bent on improving the health of some of the poorest people on the planet. The story of Dr. Paul Farmer, a major force in revolutionizing international health, is a gripping and inspiring account of one man’s efforts to establish clinics and hospitals - his compassion for the poor, his inner circle of true believers and, ultimately, his success in helping stem the tide of new HIV and TB infections in Haiti. Following his lecture, Mr. Kidder conducted a public book signing and spoke individually with students and guests at a reception in Larsen Student Union, sponsored by Messiah’s Student Programs Office.

View a slideshow of photos from the event.

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, and the Keystone Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America recognized Messiah College among the state’s most outstanding recycling programs with a Waste Watcher award.

According to the press release issued by Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, “The Waste Watcher awards are given to recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting programs in Pennsylvania that have exhibited exemplary performance. This year 70 plus municipalities, counties, private businesses, individuals and community organizations from throughout Pennsylvania are being recognized for going above and beyond what is mandated under Act 101 for their communities or programs.”

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics ranks college programs by assigning point values based on the successes of each team’s season. This year Messiah earned a school record of 696.75 points and finished 14th among Division III colleges.

CBS Sports Presents Championships of the NCAA will air at 2 p.m. on July 4 and include footage from the softball team’s recent national championship. The one-hour special will also include video highlights from baseball, golf, rowing, tennis, and track and field.

Softball coach Amy Weaver and her team of assistants earned the National Fastpitch Coaches Association 2009 Division III Coaching Staff of the Year award after coaching the Falcons to a national championship and 43-4 season record.

Messiah has received approval for its first graduation program, a master of arts in counseling. Students can select from three specialized tracks—mental health counseling; marriage, couple and family counseling; and school counseling. The first session begins July 27.

The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has ranked the Messiah College women ninth in the nation among DIII schools. The recognition is based on the teams’ finishes in the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

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.

Junior Kristen Bates posted an impressive second place finish in the 100-meter hurdles while teammate Patrick Roach, senior, finished second in the 800-meter run.

Read more about Messiah’s performance at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.