Messiah College News Archive

Ryan Watson ‘03 is one of four lawyers working for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Watson, who attended the George Washington University Law School after graduating with an economics degree from Messiah, worked for a federal appeals court judge and law firm before accepting this new position with Justice Alito.

Travis Pierce, a 2008 alumnus currently enrolled in Messiah’s masters in conducting program, was recognized by the Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association (PADESTA) as outstanding new string/orchestra teacher. The award recognizes string teachers with one to five years of full-time teaching experience who have exhibited the highest levels of leadership, dedication and achievement in public or private schools. Pierce teaches in the Palmyra School District.

Anita (Finkenbinder) Smith `96 received PADESTA’s Orchestra Director of the Year Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement as an orchestra teacher and conductor, resulting in major advancement of her school’s program. Smith works in Central Dauphin School District.

Middle school teacher Brad Nornhold ’00 received the top teaching award in the Baltimore City school system for his excellence in teaching math to eighth graders at Ujima Village Academy in northwest Baltimore.

Watch a local news story about the recognition: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/04/18/baltimore-honors-its-teacher-of-the-year-for-excellence-in-education/

James Atlas `01 is a professor of computer science at the University of Delaware, and was one, among 1,100 educators, selected for the institution’s annual teacher of the year awards.

Atlas said of his recognition, “I was actually quite surprised when I found out about the award as these do tend to be awarded to senior faculty. I know that I have had an impact on many students (I teach an average of 200-250 per semester), but is a significant honor to know that some of them felt highly enough about my teaching to nominate me for this award, and that the faculty senate committee chose me this early in my career.”

Atlas has been teaching at the University of Delaware for three years.

The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta recently announced that Britney (Hagen) Eyster `08, R.N., B.S.N., C.P.N has been presented with the Laura Snitzer-Boozer Nursing Award.  The award honors nurses who have demonstrated professional excellence and leadership in pediatric cancer care and provides financial support for continued education in the field of oncology.

“I was completely surprised, but above all, very honored when I was given this award,” said Eyster. “I work with so many fantastic nurses every day. I think they all deserve to be given an award for their physical work, mental challenges and emotional dedication to the patients and families for whom we care. I’m so fortunate to be part of such a wonderful team.”

As a registered nurse, Eyster has provided care within the inpatient unit of the Aflac Cancer Center for two years. Eyster received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Messiah College. She resides in Decatur, GA with her husband and enjoys volunteering with local organizations Jessie’s House and the United Methodist Children’s Home.

Three distinguished Messiah College alums will be inducted into this year’s Hall of Honor — softball player and current Messiah assistant coach Jennifer (Wenger) Thuma ’98, wrestler Mike Helm ’00, and men’s soccer player and former Messiah head coach Dave Brandt ’85.

The induction will take place on Feb. 17.

In early November, a team of three Messiah College students–Michael Adams `13, Anthony Spargo `13, and Zachary Felix `15–came in third out of 159 college/university teams participating in the Middle Atlantic United States Regional Programming Contest of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM). The contest pits teams of three students against a dozen complex computer programming problems with a grueling five-hour deadline.

Because of their strong performance, Messiah’s team is one of 100 invited to the international World Competition in Warsaw, Poland next May.

The students were advised by computer science professor Scott Weaver, ITS programmer Jason Long, and alum Jonathan Corbin `03.

The office of alumni relations is recognized three recipients with Alumni Awards at Homecoming Chapel on October 13.

Young Alumnus Achievement Award–Chris Heisey `06
This award recognizes an alumnus(a) who has attended Messiah College within the past 10 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community and/or Messiah College.

Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award–Dr. N. Benjamin Fredrick `95
This award recognizes long-term vocational excellence in a manner supportive of the mission and standards of Messiah.

Alumni Christian Service Award—Dr. Emerson Lesher `74
This award recognizes outstanding lifelong service or long-term effort in fulfilling the mandates of the Christian gospel to both serve and sacrifice for the needs of humanity.

 The Central Penn Business Journal released its annual list of the “Top 40 under 40” business leaders in the central Pennsylvania region. As is becoming a tradition, Messiah College business alumni were well represented on this distinguished list by: Jeremy M. Allen ’99 of Walz, Deihm, Geisenberger, Bucklen & Tennis, P.C.; Michael D. Hoffner ’97of McKonly & Asbury, LLP; Andrew L. Steckbeck ’94 of Simon Lever LLP; and Eric R. Wenger ’99 of Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP.