Messiah College News Archive

 Members of the Class of 2011 set a goal of raising $7,002 (which is the reverse of the year they started at Messiah College: 2007) to fund a restoration project on the Yellow Breeches Creek. More than 68% of seniors gave a total of $7,065.18 to the cause. This makes them the most generous class in College history in both categories of dollar amount and participation! 

The senior gift will be used to build a deflector downstream of Messiah’s beloved covered bridge. The deflector will function as a deterrent for erosion but also as a put-in and take-out spot for water recreation. These efforts are a part of a larger Yellow Breeches Restoration Project directed by David Foster, associate professor of biology and environmental science, and will begin this summer. 

Though erosion of the Breeches’ banks has been an issue for years, this gift couldn’t come at a more convenient time. A record setting rainfall this spring has caused the Breeches to flood more than usual. The overall restoration efforts intend to counteract flooding and other causes of erosion to preserve the Breeches for years to come.

 This is the third year that Messiah’s senior class has raised funds to further a sustainability project either locally or abroad.

You can read more about Foster’s overall plans for the restoration project as described in a recent Swinging Bridge article.

 Five self-portraits of the artist Matthew Miller `04 are on display at the Famous Accountants gallery in Brooklyn until June 5. The oil-on-oil paintings are part of Miller’s series, “Matthew Miller: the magic black of an open barn door on a really sunny summer day, when you just cannot see into it.”

 Miller’s exhibit was reviewed in the May 5 New York Times.

 Jennifer Esbenshade, a double major in chemistry and math, has been granted a prestigious and highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. 

Esbenshade will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, one of the nation’s top ten 10 chemistry graduate schools, for doctorate work in materials chemistry. During her time at Messiah College, Esbenshade was a member of the Honors program and active in the Collaboratory. She also landed an internship at the prominent Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. 

Esbenshade is not the first Messiah student to receive a fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Steve Frank `05, a student at Colorado School of Mine, Emily Howell `10, a student at Cornell University, and Mike Foster `02, a faculty member at George Fox University, all also received NSF Fellowships while students at Messiah.

Over the past 5 years, Messiah Nutrition and Dietetics graduates who have been accepted to and completed accredited dietetic internships have achieved a 100% pass rate on the national registered dietician exam.  Congratulations to these alumni!

 Kenny Marks, a 1972 Messiah College graduate and accomplished singer and songwriter in Nashville, was recently chosen as the arranger/singer for the new UPS holiday anthem, “We Love Logistics Tick-Tock.” You can watch the video of the song at http://www.youtube.com/ups.

Bethany Dennis Frampton, a 2005 communication and public relations major, was selected as the School of Communication Studies Outstanding Master’s Student at Kent State University.

To receive the Outstanding Master’s Student Award, students must have earned a 3.5 grade point average and made appropriate progress towards completing their degree, including publishing a professional conference paper. The award winner is selected by a majority vote of graduate faculty members.

 KNO Clothing, a line of sweatshirts and t-shirts, is the joint effort of alums Anthony Thomas and Stephen Caldwell. Portions of the proceeds from the sale of the apparel (available at knoclothing.com) will be returned to the Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg to provide resources for homeless individuals. KNO Clothing will also donate a piece of clothing to the shelter for every item it sells.

Sonya Berg `05 is one of 16 young artists receiving an award and funding from the Dallas Museum of Art.  Berg, known for using images of swimming pools and waterfalls as metaphors for containment, control of landscape, and void, will use the funds to continue her current series of paintings and drawings by researching local empty and non-empty swimming pools. (http://www.dallasartnews.com/2010/06/dallas-museum-of-art-presents-its-2010-awards-to-artists/)

Berg received the Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund Award which recognizes “exceptional talent and potential in young visual artists who show commitment to continuing their artistic endeavors.”

Alumna Krista Yoder Latortue `06 is being recognized by the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association as a Young Dietitian of the Year in 2010.  

Krista is founder of Family Food, LLC, a Philadelphia-based child nutrition company. Family Food seeks to promote happy and healthy families by optimizing the nutritional health of children.

During chapel on October 14, just days prior to the start of Homecoming, Messiah College will recognize five individuals for their professional achievements and service to both the College and the community.  Receiving awards this year are:

Amanda McMillan `08 – Young Alumnus Award
This award recognizes an alum who has attended Messiah College within the past 10 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community, and/or Messiah College.

Andrew Samuel `84 – Distinguished Alumnus Award
This award recognizes long-term vocational excellence in a manner supportive of the mission and standards of Messiah.

Steady Moono `85 – Alumni Christian Service Award
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. 

Jim and Donna Martin – Alumni Appreciation Award
Alumni and friends are eligible for this award, which recognizes significant personal service and contribution to Messiah College.