FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 7, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College will host The Arsenal Duo – Pittsburgh musicians Nathan Carterette and Edward Alan Moore – in the final 2016-17 Van Looy Organ Series performance, which will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 26, in Thomson Hall’s Alumnae Chapel. The performance will be followed by a complimentary reception in the first-floor lobby of Lenfest Commons.
Pianist Carterette and organist Moore joined forces as The Arsenal Duo in 2013, combining their respective instruments to draw from a diverse repertoire, including works originally composed for piano and orchestra, works original to piano and organ, and their own transcriptions and solo offerings.
When The Arsenal Duo made its debut performance at Youngstown’s (Ohio) historic Stambaugh Auditorium, the duo attracted on of the largest audiences since the restoration of the hall’s E.M. Skinner pipe organ. The duo has also performed at Pittsburgh’s East Liberty Presbyterian Church and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Tickets for the performance are on sale now for $7 for general admission; admission for Wilson students and employees, and children under age 16 is free. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance by calling 717-262-2003.
The Van Looy Organ Series is named in honor of Ellen Van Looy Reed, a 1953 graduate of Wilson College. Her mother, Priscilla Van Looy, donated funds to rebuild the console and relays of the Moller Organ in Alumnae Chapel and the Van Looy Endowment provides funding for the annual organ series at Wilson.
MEDIA CONTACT: Joel Pagliaro, Director of Conferences and Special Events, Sage Dining Services Phone: 717-262-2003 Email: conferences@wilson.edu
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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 34 majors and master’s degrees in education, educational technology, special education, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.
Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college has a fall 2016 enrollment of 1,098, which includes students from 18 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 2, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation recently awarded a $540,000 grant to fund scholarships for Wilson College students with financial need through the Stabler Scholarship Endowment. The endowment has provided scholarships for 182 Wilson students since the program began in 2008.
The foundation has provided $3.31 million for the Stabler scholarship program since its inception. Students are selected for scholarships based on financial need, academic achievement and service to the community.
"Gifts of endowed scholarship are vital in enabling talented students with financial need to complete their education," Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick said. “This gift from The Stabler Foundation will allow us to help even more students and families who need assistance. We are thankful for the foundation’s generous and steadfast support.”
Although the number changes throughout the year, a total of 71 students at Wilson are currently being helped with Stabler scholarships in the 2016-17 academic year, according to Margaret Light, director of corporate and foundation relations.
Since 1985, The Stabler Foundation has provided Wilson with nearly $4.33 million in funding for a number of programs, including the Stabler Scholarship Endowment; Curran Scholars program, which promotes student volunteerism; and daycare support for students in Wilson’s Single Parent Scholars program.
Located in Harrisburg, The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation was established by the Stablers in 1966 exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes. The foundation awards grants to educational institutions, parochial or church-related schools, nonprofit hospitals and medical facilities. The foundation also supports religious institutions and social service organizations that seek to preserve and instill traditional moral and ethical values, respect for the family, concern for others, self-reliance and a productive life.
MEDIA CONTACT: Margaret Light, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Phone: 717-262-2010, Ext. 3179 Email: margaret.light@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 27, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College’s nursing program has received accreditation from the National League for Nursing’s Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), an indication of excellence and adherence to nationally established standards for nursing education.
The initial six-year accreditation applies to all four of Wilson’s nursing pathways: the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for existing registered nurses (RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN), the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) and the Master of Science in nursing (MSN).
The college’s nursing programs were approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing in 2015. Wilson pursued accreditation, which is voluntary, to ensure the quality and integrity of its programs and because of the advantages to nursing graduates, according to Carolyn Hart, director of Wilson’s nursing program.
“It’s a student’s assurance that the program they’re in meets or exceeds industry standards. Then after graduation, if they want to go on to get a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing, they are required to have a nursing degree from an accredited school,” said Hart. “And employers very often want to hire people who have graduated from an accredited school. It says a lot about the program.”
For Wilson, accreditation brings another set of benefits. “CNEA accreditation really helps you focus on continually improving and continually making sure that what you’re offering to students is current, addresses the needs of employers and makes sure that nurses are prepared to excel in the workplace,” Hart said.
The accreditation process was lengthy, with planning starting before Wilson launched its first nursing programs – the RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN – in fall 2014, according to Hart. She said the application process began in October 2015 and a site visit – where a CNEA evaluation team comes to campus and evaluates the program – occurred in September 2016.
“Four nurses from all over the country, with nearly 40 years of accrediting experience and doctorates in nursing, spent two and a half days with us looking at absolutely everything,” said Hart. “They interviewed students, the community, faculty and our clinical partners. They went to Summit Health to watch a clinical group and sat in on classes. It’s a very intense period where they scrutinize everything.”
Before leaving, the team debriefed Wilson’s nursing staff and shared their opinions, which Hart said were positive. “Our relationship with our students is very close-knit and very supportive. They were very impressed with that,” Hart said. “At Wilson, we have a very interdisciplinary approach to education, which many institutions strive for but don’t achieve. They thought that we have something unique here.”
Wilson’s accreditation was approved at a Feb. 16 CNEA board meeting and the college received official notice Feb. 27.
A total of 126 students are enrolled in Wilson’s four nursing pathways. In addition to taking classes both in-person and online, pre-licensure students benefit from hands-on opportunities with the college’s local clinical partners. The largest of those are Summit Health, Keystone Health and Menno Haven.
Wilson nursing students work to gain experience and exchange ideas with nurses and other medical professionals with those organizations. “Our nurses are working hand in hand with staff nurses providing patient care, because human beings learn by doing,” said Hart.
In addition to gaining practical experience, Wilson students are engaged in some “innovative” efforts with the college’s local healthcare partners, according to Hart. “Even though every nursing program has clinical partners, we’re perhaps using our clinical partners in a way that is unique,” she said.
For example, at Summit Health, Wilson students are partnering with bedside nurses to perform research on best practices. At Menno Haven, students become familiar with not only chronic illness, but how that affects quality of life “so that they understand not just the science of nursing, but also the art of nursing,” Hart said.
She said that clinics at Keystone Health provide a broad range of experiences to Wilson students, fostering a better appreciation of the problems associated with obtaining healthcare.
Sherri Stahl, Summit Health senior vice president of hospital services and chief nursing officer at Chambersburg Hospital, said having a nursing program in the area is important to help address shortages in the field. She gives Wilson’s program high marks for exposing students to real-life applications in clinical lab sessions from their very first semester.
“We think (Wilson’s) model is one of the best, if not the best, that we've seen,” Stahl said.
For information about Wilson’s nursing programs or to register, contact Hart at 717-262-4853, 717-414-6184 or carolyn.hart@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Carolyn Hart, director of nursing Phone: 717-262-4853 or 717-414-6184 Email: carolyn.hart@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 23, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — As part of National Women’s History Month in March, Wilson College will host a speaker series in March, beginning with a lecture by Shippensburg University Professor of Political Science Alison Dagnes at noon, Tuesday, March 7, in Wilson’s John Stewart Memorial Library’s Lenfest Learning Commons. The series is free and open to the public.
Dagnes, who has written and gives talks about American politics and the media, will present “False Equivalencies: The Contortions of Modern Political Media.” This relevant and timely presentation will discuss how, in an effort to appear fair and balanced, the modern American political media has constructed a system that gives equal time and attention to all opinions — even when the opinions may be factually incorrect or false. Dagnes will also explore the damage this practice has done to discourse, democracy and journalism itself.
Other presentations, which will be held at noon in the library, include:
Tuesday, March 21 — “The Struggle for Racial Integration at Wilson College” by Amy Ensley, director of Wilson’s Hankey Center. Wilson College did not become racially integrated until 1951. Ensley’s talk will trace the efforts of Wilson students and alumnae, local African-American ministers and others, including national civil rights leader James Farmer, to overcome opposition to integration held by Wilson’s administration at the time.
Tuesday, March 28 — “It’s All Relative: Status, Gender and Equality in the Middle Ages” by Shepherd University Associate Professor of History Sally Brasher. Brasher, who has written and published widely on the subjects of medieval, early modern and gender history, will explore how the complexity of women’s history is informed by the diversity of their experiences.
The Women’s History Month speaker series is sponsored by the Hankey Center and the Women’s Studies Program.
A number of other activities are planned for Women’s History Month at Wilson, which this year has the theme of “Women of Character, Courage and Commitment.” The series of events is being coordinated by Wilson’s Women’s Studies Program and the Hankey Center.
For more information, contact Amy Ensley at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3279, or amy.ensley@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3279 Email: amy.ensley@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 13, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) session at Wilson College scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, has been postponed due to inclement weather. The session has been rescheduled for 4:30 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, in Wilson’s Brooks Science Complex.
Sessions are open to anyone who is interested; however, those attending must register for a session of their choice by calling Wilson’s financial aid office, which will provide instructions on what paperwork and documents to bring to the workshop. The office can be reached at 717-262-2016.
A representative from the Pennsylvania Higher Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will also be on hand at the workshop to answer questions.
The FAFSA is used to determine if college-bound high school seniors qualify for nearly all forms of need-based financial assistance, including the Pennsylvania State Grant; Federal Pell Grant; federal student loans; and many scholarships, work-study programs and school-based awards.
MEDIA CONTACT: Laura Peiffer, Assistant Financial Aid Counselor Phone: 717-262-2016 Email: laura.peiffer@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 20, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College has added a master’s degree in special education designed for those who are already certified to teach in grades K-12. Classes for the Master of Special Education (M.S.E.), which can be completely primarily online, will begin in the spring II semester starting March 20.
The new master’s degree in special education was added as a result of strong local interest in a graduate program in the field, and the critical need for teachers with special education certification, as expressed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, according to Eric Michael, director of Wilson’s Master of Education program. He said there is a shortage of teachers certified in special education not only in Pennsylvania, but across the nation.
Students enrolling in Wilson’s program will be able to choose from three degree paths: a general M.S.E. without certification, an M.S.E. with Pre-K-8 special education certification and an M.S.E. with 7-12 special education certification.
“Wilson’s program is based on the premise that successful special education teachers need an in-depth knowledge of pedagogy, a mastery of current theory and an understanding of research-based practices and technology,” Michael said. “The main focus of our program is to hone teaching skills through research and classroom practices, thereby fostering teaching excellence and teacher leadership.
On completing the M.S.E., students will be qualified to teach special education in both public and private schools and will also be prepared to work in state, local and private organizations that provide behavioral health services to people with disabilities, including Manito, Abraxas Youth & Family Services, Skills of Central PA, Laurel Life and United Cerebral Palsy.
For many working public school teachers, tuition for the M.S.E. will be reimbursed by their school districts, Michael said, adding that Wilson does not add any additional fees that teachers would have to pay out of pocket.
The M.S.E. program consists of 10 courses. Students don’t have to adhere to a specific sequence of courses – they can jump in and out as their schedules permit.
Courses are offered online, face to face and in hybrid formats. If, for example, a local school district has a cohort of teachers interested in enrolling in the M.S.E. program, “we will bring an instructor to the individual district,” Michael said.
The M.S.E. is Wilson’s ninth graduate program. In addition to the Master of Education, the college has master’s programs in educational technology, nursing, management, fine arts, the humanities, accountancy and healthcare management.
Wilson is currently registering students for M.S.E. courses. Prospective students can get more information or register at www.wilson.edu/master-special-education or by calling 717-262-3109 or 262-2045.
Wilson’s Board of Trustees approved the M.S.E. program at its Feb. 18 meeting. The general and Pre-K-8 certifications have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and approval of the 7-12 certification is expected soon, according to officials in Wilson education department. Pennsylvania certification is valid in 46 states with which interstate agreements exist.
MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Michael, Director of the M.Ed. Program Phone: 717-262-3109 Email: eric.michael@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 14, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College's international student organization, the Muhibbah Club, will host a spring dinner featuring dishes from around the world on Saturday, March 4, in Jensen Dining Hall in Lenfest Commons. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 6. It will be followed by entertainment presented by the students at 7:30 p.m. in Laird Hall.
The dinner will feature a variety of international foods, including:
After dinner, members of the Muhibbah Club will entertain guests with performances from their home countries, including traditional dances from Ghana, Barbados, and Armenia; Albanian poetry reading; a Broadway reenactment and more.
The public is invited to attend and dinner and/or the performance. There is no cost to attend the performance, but tickets for the dinner are $10. Reservations are required for the dinner and must be made by Monday, Feb. 27. To reserve dinner tickets, contact club adviser Crystal Lantz at iss@wilson.edu and provide your phone number, name and number of tickets needed. Payment (cash or check) for tickets will be collected at the door.
The Muhibbah Club will also accept donations at the performance. All donations, as well as a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales, will be given to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The word "Muhibbah" means unity among nations. This year's Muhibbah Club president is Nana Ohene-Manu. Wilson's international students this semester come from 19 countries, including Albania, Ghana, Nepal, Vietnam, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Korea, Ireland, France, Uganda, Argentina, China and Uganda.
MEDIA CONTACT: Crystal Lantz, Director of International Scholar Services Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 2536 Email: iss@wilson.edu
Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 34 majors and master’s degrees in education, educational technology, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 9, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Wilson College 2016-17 Performing Arts Series will continue Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, with a production of a Broadway classic with a twist, Guys and Dolls Jr., performed by students ages 8 to 18 from the Cumberland Valley School of Music. The show will be held in Laird Hall, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday; a 2 p.m. matinee will be held Saturday.
Guys and Dolls Jr. is based on the legendary, award-winning musical comedy about rolling the dice and falling in love under the lights of Broadway. The show follows gambler Nathan Detroit and friends, from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana.
The show is directed by Laura J. Martin, with musical direction by Lindsay Owen.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 16; and free for kids under six or Wilson College students and employees. Tickets can be purchased online at www.wilson.edu/events or by calling 717-262-2003.
The performance is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
For more information on Wilson’s Performing Arts Series events, visit www.wilson.edu/events.
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Wilson College lecture series “FRESH! — Finding Responsible Eating Strategies for Health” — will continue on Saturday, Feb. 25, with a discussion of the book The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan. The discussion, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Sarah’s Coffeehouse, which is located on the lower level of Lenfest Commons.
The Oprah-style book chat will explore McMillan's undercover experiences in the American food system, from Walmart, the world's largest food retailer, to the Applebee’s restaurant chain, farm fields and the dinner table. In her book, McMillan examines the reasons Americans eat what we do and the implications for our health, nation and the planet.
Wilson’s Fulton Center for Sustainability Studies sponsors the FRESH! series. For more information, contact FCSS Director Chris Mayer at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247, or christine.mayer@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Mayer, Fulton Center for Sustainability Studies Director Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247 Email: christine.mayer@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Jan. 20, 2017
Chambersburg, Pa -- Wilson College will host a free information session about its master’s degree program in the humanities at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, in Norland Hall. The session will cover the application process, an overview of the program and available financial aid.
The session will provide descriptions of the five humanities degree concentrations currently offered and also outline how students can design a personal master’s degree and apply for graduate assistantships.
Registration may be completed at www.wilson.edu/humanities. For more information, visit the website or contact Master of Humanities Program Director Michael Cornelius at michael.cornelius@wilson.edu or 717-262-2712.
