A one-night exhibition of original works of art by seven Wilson College students will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at SpringHill Suites Mariott, 451 Gateway Ave., Chambersburg. The event is part of a quarterly series by SpringHill Suites called the Art of Local, and is free and open to the public.
Wilson students whose artwork will be on display are: Luis Gonzales, Tracey Cavins, Kipp Villeneuve, Daizy Helman, Nicholas Beitzell, Adrianna Broome and Kim Phan.
The exhibiton will feature live local music by Greencastle pianist Rebekah Duvall, local food by The Family Table and local wine samples by Adams County Winery.
For more information, contact Amanda Haupt at 717-263-1300 or SHSDOS@areyamanagement.com, or Philip Lindsey at 717-264-2783 or philip.lindsey@wilson.edu.
Orchesis, the Wilson College dance company, will present its fall performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14, 15 and 16, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.. The show, which is open to the public, will be held in the Appenzellar-Buchanan Dance Studio in Davison Hall.
The performance will feature original choreography by Wilson students, faculty and dance alumni in a spectrum of different dance styles─from jazz, tap and modern to lyrical and commercial pop dance. Tickets are available at the door and prices are $10 for general admission; senior citizens and Wilson students with I.D. get in free.
More than 100 nursing students from four different area schools converged on the campus of Wilson College Saturday, Oct. 26, for “Community Simulation Day”─a mass casualty scenario where, with help from local community emergency response crews, students practiced assessing and treating “victims” of a mock shooting.
The day began with speakers in the morning, followed by the simulation in the afternoon. Nursing students from the Wilson, Penn State Mont Alto and HACC's Gettysburg Campus nursing programs and the Franklin County Career and Technology Center’s (FCCTC) Practical Nursing Program formed four groups with assigned roles. Some of the students in each group were assigned specific injuries─including gunshot wounds of different severities, chest pain, dislocated shoulder and lacerations─and the rest acted as healthcare professionals treating the victims.
Local police and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were on hand to help give students the feel of a real-life mass casualty event.
After the simulation, students evaluated their responses and discussed what they learned from the exercise. Their objectives included: learning to evaluate injuries, prioritize care and triage the patients while maintaining a safe environment and ensuring clear, effective communication.
Amanda Seese, a HACC nursing student who was one of the group leaders, said the exercise was valuable in giving students hands-on training for a real disaster. “I do think this was a great clinical day,” Seese said. “And it was nice to work with other colleges and people we’re not used to working with.”
Miranda Rhodes, a Penn State Mont Alto nursing student, found the opportunity to work with students at other schools especially helpful. “As much as the topic of the simulation is really important, because active shootings are something we have to deal with now, I think the fact that we got to do this with other schools is equally important,” said Rhodes, who was a group leader. “If you’re in a mass casualty situation, you’re not going to know everybody that you’re working with.”
Kelli Ellerman, an FCCTC LPN student and a group leader, said the simulation was worthwhile because it forced those participating to use critical thinking and judgement skills. “I thought it was a good learning experience,” she said. “You have to think on your feet when you go out there. There’s no one holding your hand.”
Wilson Chief Nursing Officer Julie Beck came up with the idea for the simulation, which has been planned for more than a year. “This is an exciting day because this has never been done before,” Beck said. “For the first time we are having a collaborative simulation being performed at Wilson College using the varied educational backgrounds of all nursing students in the area coming together.”
The nursing programs that participated in the simulation provide different levels of education. Wilson and Penn State Mont Alto offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing, HACC has an associate degree program in nursing and FCCTC trains LPNs (licensed practical nurses). Because graduates of the programs will function at different levels in the real world, Beck believes it’s important to bring them together for an exercise like the simulation.
“Many times there is this idea of almost like a caste system in nursing,” she said. “I feel strongly that if these students are going to be graduating from our local programs, it’s really important for them to get to know each other before they’re actually at the bedside. Everyone should learn what we do in a situation like this, no matter what their program.”
Students said they appreciated the chance to work with counterparts at other schools. “I think it made it more realistic,” said Sarah Gipe, a senior in Wilson’s nursing program and one of the group leaders.
“We all will work together at some point,” said Tara Harmon, another Wilson nursing student and team leader. “We got to work with LPN students and see what they do, and they got to see what we do. We all bring something to the table.”
The day began in the morning with breakfast and registration in Wilson’s Laird Hall, followed by educational sessions and speakers. Topics included the nation’s opioid crisis, how to manage an active shooter and an overview of a national program called “Stop the Bleed.” Students also were introduced to a method of triaging patients called SALT, which they later used during the simulation. SALT stands for sort, assess, lifesaving interventions and treatment/transport.
The simulation was purposely low-key because it was the first time a mock disaster collaboration had been tried. Nursing officials plan to hold future simulations at the participating schools on a rotating basis.
Wilson’s accredited nursing program was launched in fall 2014 with bachelor and master of science degree programs for existing registered nurses (RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN), with the subsequent addition of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and a bachelor’s program for LPNs. Nursing has quickly become the college’s most-enrolled field of study.
Penn State Mont Alto’s nursing program─part of Penn State’s College of Nursing─was accredited in 1991, at that time as an associate degree. Today, the campus offers two nursing degrees: a bachelor’s degree and an RN-to-BSN.
HACC’s Gettysburg Campus has offered an associate degree in nursing since 2004, graduating 629 RNs and 95 LPNs since that time. HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, has five campus locations, including Gettysburg, and is the largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges.
The FCCTC Practical Nursing Program, which opened in September 1958, is an accredited, one-year, full-time program. Two classes are enrolled each year beginning in either March or August.
Wilson College today announced the appointment of Dr. Wesley R. Fugate as the 20th president in the 150-year history of the college. Fugate, who will officially assume the Wilson presidency in January 2020, currently serves as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. He will succeed Barbara K. Mistick, who left the post in August 2019 to become president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) in Washington, D.C. A. Richard Kneedler has served as interim president while the Wilson College Board of Trustees, with the assistance of Academic Search Inc., conducted a national search for Mistick’s successor. In making the announcement today to Wilson faculty, staff, alumni and students, Dr. Barbara L. Tenney, Wilson Class of 1967 and chair of the college’s Board of Trustees, said, “Dr. Fugate’s multi-disciplined experience in higher education, as well as his passion for small, private liberal arts institutions, makes him the perfect candidate for Wilson’s presidency. He has an infectious energy and commitment to the student experience that will serve our college well. I look forward to working with Dr. Fugate as Wilson College continues to evolve to meet the needs of our future students.” Over the course of his career, Fugate has worked extensively in enrollment management and student affairs; supported the work of college boards of trustees; and led successful communications and marketing efforts–specifically at Randolph College and the University of Georgia. He has also held several key leadership roles focusing on strategy and policy while working for the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Office of the Governor. As president of Wilson College, Fugate will be responsible for unifying the campus with a focus on enhancing the student experience and success in later life, managing enrollment, providing financial stewardship, fundraising, cultivating the alumni base, and building and enhancing relationships and partnerships in the local community. “I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead Wilson College into its next 150 years,” Fugate said. “While Wilson’s commitment to opportunity, honor and providing a high-quality liberal arts education are what drew me to consider this position, ultimately getting to know the people of Wilson helped me to fall in love with the institution. Wilson has a remarkable history and I am excited about collaborating with students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and friends of the college to chart a path for its future success.” Fugate earned a doctor of philosophy in higher education from the Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia, in 2012; a master’s degree in higher education administration with an emphasis in institutional advancement in 2005 from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University; and a bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts and economics in 2002 from Centre College in Danville, Ky. In addition, Fugate has served as guest lecturer at Lynchburg College, Randolph College and the University of Georgia, as well as presented at numerous higher education professional conferences and consulted on higher education structure and policy. His many awards and accolades are testimony to his distinguished service within the higher education industry, as well as in community engagement initiatives. The Wilson College Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Oct. 19 to appoint Fugate president of the college. Fugate was selected from a pool of more than 100 highly qualified candidates after an extensive national search. Tenney commended Kneedler’s leadership during this time of transition. “Dr. Kneedler has done a great job leading the College in the interim, continuing the tremendous momentum begun by Dr. Barbara Mistick,” said Tenney. “It was critically important to the trustees that we not lose any ground on our current, successful strategic initiatives during the search process.” Tenney also extended thanks to the presidential search committee, chaired by Trustee Robin J. Bernstein. Both Tenney and Kneedler will work together to ensure a smooth transition to Fugate. “Under Robin’s leadership and with the guidance of Academic Search, a diverse mix of trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni worked diligently to screen and interview candidates, then ultimately recommend Dr. Fugate to the Board of Trustees, “ said Tenney. “On behalf of the full board, I want to personally thank these individuals for taking this responsibility seriously and dedicating their time, guaranteeing the right candidate was selected as the next leader of Wilson College.” Mistick announced her resignation in April. The search process began soon after with the Board of Trustees appointing an ad hoc subcommittee to oversee the selection of a national search firm. Once Academic Search was hired, a search committee was established. Fugate will relocate from Lynchburg to Chambersburg with his husband, Cody Ward, in early January. Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Chambersburg, Pa., that offers bachelor’s degrees in 35 majors and graduate degrees in education, healthcare, nursing, business and the arts and humanities. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation. Wilson has a fall 2019 enrollment of 1,620 students in all programs. Visit wilson.edu for more information.
Media Advisory: Fugate is available for 10-minute interviews today (Oct. 28, 2019) from 11-11:45 a.m. and 3-3:45 p.m. To schedule an interview, contact Cathy Mentzer, 717-262-2604. Detailed background and biographical information about Fugate can be found at Wilson.edu/new-president.
Wilson College threw itself a birthday bash over the weekend that included a host of homecoming activities, a ribbon-cutting for a new veterinary education center, the naming of an outdoor space for a former president and the coup de grâce─a formal gala featuring a performance by a world-renowned children’s orchestra.
Wilson is celebrating its Sesquicentennial─the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1869 and opening in 1870─over a 15-month period that began in March with a celebration of the college’s Charter Day.
On Friday, Oct. 18, the college hosted its annual “BBQ and Brew” under a tent on the quad. Wilson’s Homecoming and Family Weekend also featured a number of exhibits and presentations, as well as building tours and several athletics contests that involved alumni and current students. One game featuring the “Invincibles” vs. the “Defenders” re-enacted an 1895 women’s basketball contest.
“It was a grand celebration of all that is Wilson, including our 150th birthday,” said A. Richard Kneedler, Wilson College interim president. “Wilson has a long tradition of helping students find their voice and becoming empowered as leaders. This weekend was about celebrating how Wilson makes a difference in the lives of each and every student, faculty and staff member, and alumna and alumnus. There is something truly special about this fine institution.”
The gala, which nearly 300 guests attended, was held Saturday evening in Laird Hall. Wilson friends, alumni, students, and current and former faculty and staff attended in black-tie attire, as well as several representatives from the Chambersburg Borough Council, Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Area Development Corp. and Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
Barbara K. Mistick, who served as Wilson’s president from 2011 through September of this year, also returned for the gala. Earlier in the day, Mistick was recognized for her service to the college when the academic quad she envisioned and directed during her tenure was renamed the Mistick Quad.
“It was gratifying to recognize one of Wilson’s most dynamic and impactful presidents in recent memory, Barbara Mistick,” said Dr. Barbara Tenney, a Wilson alumna and president of the Board of Trustees. “Overall, the weekend reflected a renewed vigor and enthusiasm at a college on the rise. I want to personally thank everyone who made our celebration such a great success.”
The Children’s Orchestra Society, a New York City-based group of orchestras, chamber groups and ensembles for musically talented children and teens, sent an 18-member Elite String Ensemble (ESE) to provide musical entertainment for the evening. After dinner, the ensemble performed several selections, including the 3rd Movement of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.”
COS Executive Director Yeou-Cheng Ma─whose father, Dr. Hiao Tsiun Ma, founded the nonprofit organization for musically talented children and teens in 1962─attended with her husband, Michael Dadap, the orchestra’s artistic director. Like her brother, acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma was herself a child prodigy─on the violin─and later became a pediatrician. Wilson honored her during the gala with an honorary Doctor of Humanities. Ma and her husband, a guitarist, also performed together.
Another highlight of the weekend was a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, officially marking the opening of Wilson’s new, $3 million veterinary education center. The new center has been named the Breakefield Veterinary Education Center in recognition of Wilson graduate Susan Breakefield Fulton, who contributed $975,000 to the project─including a $500,000 lead gift in 2016─and her sisters and fellow Wilson alumnae, Xandra Breakefield and Beverly Breakefield.
Fulton, a Wilson trustee emerita, businesswoman and philanthropist from the Class of 1961, took part in the ribbon-cutting, as did Margaret Hamilton Duprey, a Wilson Trustee who contributed $1 million to the new veterinary center, where the interior and programmatic activity will be known as The Margaret Hamilton Duprey Center for Veterinary Excellence. A lifelong horsewoman, Duprey contributed $500,000 to Wilson in 2015 to establish an innovative home healthcare nursing program for horses called Equi-Assist®.
The 9,000-square-foot veterinary center, which has been open since the start of classes in August, replaces the smaller, outdated Helen M. Beach ’24 veterinary facility, which has been razed to make room for additional campus parking.
The veterinary center is a hub for students in the college’s VMT program—the only four-year bachelor’s degree program of its kind in Pennsylvania and only one of 22 such programs in the nation. After nursing, VMT is the most popular major at Wilson. This year, 69 students have declared VMT as their major and another 95 students intend to major in it. Forty-five pre-veterinary students are also enrolled at Wilson.
Other officials who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony include Wilson Interim President A. Richard Kneedler, Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Tenney, Trustee James Orsini, Vice President for Academic Affairs Elissa Heil and Professor and Director of VMT Freya Burnett.
A number of events were held on campus for the families of Wilson students during the weekend, including tours, talks and a family dinner Saturday evening in the dining hall. The weekend celebration concluded with a service on Sunday at Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church, which Wilson namesake Sarah Wilson and her family attended for many years in the 1800s. The service was officiated by the Rev. Derek Wadlington, Wilson’s Helen Carnell Eden Chaplain.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 21, 2019 For further information, contact cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu or ccole@frederick.edu
FREDERICK, Md.─Wilson College and Frederick Community College (FCC) have finalized an agreement that guarantees qualified FCC students admission to Wilson bachelor’s degree programs and allows them to transfer all credits earned with a grade of C or better.
The articulation agreement, signed today by college officials at FCC in Frederick, Md., gives FCC associate degree graduates with a grade-point average of at least 2.0 benefits that will make continuing their education at Wilson as smooth as possible, including being granted full junior status at Wilson if they transfer 60 credits. Students will have Wilson’s admission fee waived and qualified FCC students will also receive coordinated academic advising by both colleges to ensure that they take courses that can be applied to their bachelor’s degree.
In addition, high-achieving students will receive monetary benefits: FCC graduates who are members of Phi Theta Kappa─the largest and most prestigious honor society for two-year college students─will be awarded a Wilson Presidential Scholarship of $12,000 if the student enrolls as a full-time residential student taking 15 credits or more per semester.
“We are happy to partner with Frederick Community College on this agreement because it expands Wilson’s footprint and provides FCC students a seamless path to a Wilson bachelor’s degree,” said Wilson Vice President for Academic Affairs Elissa Heil. “Students will benefit professionally from having the tools they need to achieve even greater success.”
The economic benefits of higher levels of education increase with each advancing degree, according to The College Payoff: Education, Occupations Lifetime Earnings. Over the course of a lifetime, someone with a bachelor’s degree earns an average of $541,000 more than someone with an associate degree, the report states.
FCC sees this agreement with Wilson as a unique opportunity for its graduates to continue their education.
“We prioritize ensuring our students have many opportunities to continue their educational or career goals after completing their studies at FCC,” said FCC President Elizabeth Burmaster. “This is the newest of many agreements we have with four-year institutions that ease the transition for our students, saving them time and money."
The agreement was signed by Heil and Tony D. Hawkins, FCC provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, continuing education and workforce development.
“FCC and Wilson College have a shared commitment to putting the needs of our students first and increasing access to higher education for all,” said Hawkins. “This new agreement does just that, and we are proud to partner with Wilson College to set our students up for continued success.”
About Wilson College Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Chambersburg, Pa., that offers bachelor’s degrees in 35 majors and graduate degrees in education, healthcare, nursing, business and the arts and humanities. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation. Wilson has a fall 2019 enrollment of 1,620 students in all programs. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
About FCC Located in Frederick, Md., Frederick Community College (FCC) offers more than 85 degree and certificate programs through flexible learning formats that include day, evening, weekend, online and hybrid options. Accredited programs, comprehensive instruction and affordable costs of attendance have made FCC the learning destination for more than 200,000 students since 1957. With teaching and learning as our primary focus, FCC prepares a diverse student body to complete their goals of workforce preparation and credentialing, transfer, career development and personal enrichment with quality, innovative lifelong learning. Visit www.frederick.edu for more information.
The Wilson College Veterinary Medical Technology Club will hold its popular dog wash from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27. The location this year has changed to the new college veterinary education center next to Lortz Hall and the Brooks Science Center. The dog washes are open to the public. The cost is $10 for small dogs, $15 for medium dogs, $20 for large dogs and $25 for extra-large or double-coated dogs. The price includes ear cleaning, nail trim, bath, blow dry—all of which will be performed by VMT Club members—and a bandana. Owners must present a paper copy of their dog’s rabies vaccination.
For more information, contact VMT Club President Sydni Berkihiser at sydni.berkihiser@wilson.edu.
The annual Wilson College extravaganza of all things related to interdisciplinary arts─Arts Day─will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The day-long celebration of the arts, which is held at locations all over the campus, is free and open to the public.
One of the most popular events, steamroller printmaking, will return this year. Arts Day usually includes a variety of activities─both all-day events and scheduled events─such as exhibitions of art, film screenings, dramatic presentations, pottery-making, poetry readings, equestrian mounted drill team performances and more. A complete schedule of events will be available closer to the date at www.wilson.edu/arts-day.
The Wilson community established Arts Day to celebrate the visual and performing arts and provide an opportunity for everyone to take note of the impact of the arts on our daily lives.
Wilson College will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 2, on the main campus green. The blessing, which is conducted by the Wilson's chaplain, the Rev. Derek Wadlington, is open to the public. All friendly pets in cages or on leads or leashes are welcome. Those attending are asked to clean up after their pets.
A brief scripture reading and general prayer will be following by an individual blessing of any animals owners wish to have blessed. If they are unable to bring their pet to campus, those attending may bring pictures of pets to be blessed. If a pet has died, a memorial blessing can be given.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will move to Laird Hall.
Wilson College continues to buck the higher education trend of declining enrollments. A total of 1,620 students are enrolled for the fall semester, an 8 percent increase over fall 2018 and another record for the 150-year-old college.
The greatest growth came in the college’s teacher certification programs, where enrollment is up 39 percent over last year. Officials attribute the increase to Wilson’s expansion of all certification programs to include an online format, as well as a traditional classroom format, and to a shortage of qualified teachers in Pennsylvania.
Enrollment in Wilson’s 10 graduate programs also increased by double digits, with 546 students enrolled this year compared to 455 last fall, a 20 percent increase.
Officials point to Wilson’s ability to respond to market demands for programs like nursing and the expansion of its graduate programs in education, as well as an increase in the college’s online offerings, as some of the reasons for the college's growth.
“The college has been adept at providing the programs our students and prospective students tell us they want, while maintaining the personal attention, smaller class sizes and academic excellence for which Wilson is known,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Elissa Heil said.
The 1,074 students enrolled in Wilson’s undergraduate programs, including adult learners, is up nearly 2.9 percent this year. Of those, 662 students are enrolled in Wilson’s traditional undergraduate program, nearly 60 percent of whom live on campus. The number of new freshmen entering the traditional undergraduate program grew more than 5 percent.
Wilson’s top five majors this year among undergraduates are nursing, veterinary medical technology, animal studies, equine-facilitated therapeutics and business management.
This year’s enrollment increase marks the sixth consecutive year of growth since Wilson enacted a series of measures approved in 2013 to revitalize the college and set it on a path toward economic health and sustainability. The steps included a tuition reduction and student loan buyback program, new career-oriented academic programs, campus improvements, coeducation in all programs and increased marketing and retention efforts.
Wilson’s enrollment increases stand in stark contrast with national enrollment trends. Based on the most recent data available, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported a decline of 1.7 percent in higher education enrollment nationally for fall 2018, while showing a 2.4 percent increase at four-year, nonprofit private colleges─largely due to the conversion of a large for-profit institution to nonprofit status, according to the NSCRC report.
“All in all, we did exceptionally well this year,” said Interim Vice President for Enrollment David Boisvert. “I think our efforts to improve recruitment and financial aid strategies played a role, along with Wilson’s reputation for excellence and value and the college’s ability to provide programs that are in demand today.”
Dual enrollment agreements with 11 regional high schools and articulation agreements with three community colleges have also helped to keep Wilson’s enrollment on the upswing, according to Boisvert. Wilson has agreements that allow associate degree earners from Hagerstown Community College, Harrisburg Area Community College and Montgomery College in Maryland to seamlessly transfer here to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Since 2013, Wilson has seen a 115 percent increase in traditional undergraduate enrollment, with a 145 percent increase overall.
Wilson, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1869, has students from 26 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 14 countries. The college has expanded its athletics program to include 11 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams. The college offers 35 undergraduate majors, 10 master’s degree programs and a wide variety of teacher certification programs.
