Messiah Homepage News Archive

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.

Students who seek off-campus professional experiences in line with their major show responsibility for their career choice, according to Michael True, director of Messiah’s Internship Center, in a January 6 “New York Times” article that features experts from higher education institutions around the country.

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.

After four phenomenal years with the Falcons, senior soccer player Kai Kasigurn has been recognized as the DIII Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Kasiguran is the third Messiah player to earn this top honor.

The Career Center found a hands-on way to help students explore career fields by developing “Hit the Road,” a program that sent four teams of students on road trips to interview professionals in a variety of vocations. The success of the program was recently featured in the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ newsletter.

Students who participated in the program were required to keep a team journal, video record all interviews, and participate in their team’s blog. The participants responded favorably to their road trip experiences and cited the information gleaned during the interviews as helpful to shaping their own career decision-making.

“Hit the Road: Explore the Possibilities” received funding assistance from Enterprise Rent-a-Car and state professional association, PennACE.

As a midfielder for Messiah’s outstanding men’s soccer team, senior Kai Kasiguran is often noted for his excellence on the athletic field. Kasiguran is also an academic stand-out, and, in recognition of his 3.96 GPA, “ESPN, The Magazine” named Kasiguran an Academic All-American member of its College Division, First Team.

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.

Genograms are an effective method of tracking family relationships and patterns of physical and mental health, according to Raeann Hamon, professor of family science and gerontology, who is quoted in the Dec. 3 “Newsweek” article, “Know What’s in Your Genes.”

Messiah employees established a new campus giving record by donating more than $28,000 to the United Way as part of the College’s annual pledge drive.

For more than 10 years, the College community has been encouraged to donate to the United Way during an annual pledge drive. The United Way of the Capital Region touches many central Pennsylvanians in need by funding important programs administered by local non-profit organizations. Many of the organizations supported by the United Way are also served by students through placements by the Agape Center for Service and Learning.

Two terrific athletic seasons came to an end this weekend. The Lady Falcons were defeated 1-0 by Wheaton College in the NCAA championship game. The men lost 1-0 to Trinity University in Final Four play.

The women’s first loss of the season came at the hands of Wheaton College, a powerhouse program that has notched a 97-6 record over their past four seasons. This was Wheaton’s second consecutive national championship.

The men also had a difficult opponent – Trinity University (Texas) came into the semifinal game undefeated. Trinity lost to Middlebury in a penalty kick shootout in the championship game.

Messiah defender J.D. Binger explained the Messiah soccer experience after the game: “We had big expectations, but it’s never been about the wins. It’s about the guys. Sometimes it’s about soccer, sometimes not, but the experience has been great.”