FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 18, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College has received a $5,000 grant from the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF), to be used for scholarships of $2,500 for two students with animal-related majors, including veterinary medical technology (VMT), animal studies, equestrian studies and equine-facilitated therapeutics. Awards will be based on student need, achievement and equine-related aspirations.
TERF awards scholarships consistent with its mission of supporting and promoting equine education and research by sponsoring scholarships in veterinary medicine and supporting organizations that are educating the public in the proper care of horses.
TERF, which is based in Middletown, Delaware, began in the 1990s as the Thoroughbred Charities of America — the premier thoroughbred charity in the United States. In 2007, several TCA directors, including Dr. James Orsini, a Wilson College Trustee, established an endowment to support the charitable needs of worthy education and research organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2012 the name of the endowment was changed to Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation.
The TERF grant program at Wilson is directed by professors Freya Burnett and Ann O’Shallie, directors of the VMT and equestrian studies programs, respectively.
MEDIA CONTACT: Margaret Light, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Phone: 717-262-2010, Ext. 3179 Email: margaret.light@wilson.edu
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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 29 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy, 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 had a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which includes students from 22 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 15, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — Acclaimed organist Christopher Houlihan will conclude the 2015-16 Wilson College Van Looy Organ Series with a performance at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 6, in Thomson Hall’s Alumnae Chapel.
Applauded by critics for his “world class chops,” Houlihan attracted international attention with his “Vierne 2012” tour, receiving critical acclaim for his marathon performances of the six organ symphonies of Louis Vierne. His 2015-16 season includes recitals all across the United States, his recital debut at the Kennedy Center and the release of an all-Bach CD.
Houlihan made is Disney Hall debut in 2014, performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s principal brass, after which the Los Angeles Times dubbed him “the next big organ talent.” More information about Houlihan can be found on his website: www.christopherhoulihan.com.
Tickets for Houlihan’s performance are on sale now for $8 for general admission; admission for Wilson students and employees and children under age 10 is free. Tickets can be purchased by calling 717-262-2003 or visiting www.wilson.edu/events.
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
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College will host an information session about its master’s degree program in the humanities at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in Norland Hall. The session will cover how to apply and provide an overview of the program, including new courses and concentrations now available; financial aid; career opportunities; graduate assistantships and more.
Registration may be completed at www.wilson.edu/MAHum. For more information, visit the website or contact Master of Humanities Program Director Michael Cornelius at michael.cornelius@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Cornelius, Chair, Department of English and Communications Phone: 717-262-2712 Email: michael.cornelius@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 12, 2016
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 5, in Jensen Dining Hall in Lenfest Commons. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. and the dinner begins at 6, 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:
Bread — French bread (France)
Dessert — Brigadeiro (Brazil) and churros (Mexico)
Drinks — Bubble tea (Thailand)
After dinner, international students will provide entertainment, including traditional dances from Ghana, Mexico and Korea; a dramatic bolero followed by a combination of singing and dancing; and a final cultural fashion show.
The public is invited to attend. There is no cost for tickets for the dinner; however, donations will be accepted. Reservations are required for the dinner only and must be made by Tuesday, March 1. To make reservations, contact club adviser Paul Miller at 717-262-2776or muhibbah.wilson.edu@gmail.com and leave a message with phone number, name and number of tickets needed. Tickets will be distributed to guests upon arrival.
Each year, the Muhibbah Club donates a portion of the proceeds from the dinner to a world relief agency. This year the club wanted to support UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency - with a portion of the donation collected on the event.
The word "Muhibbah" means unity among nations. This year's Muhibbah Club co-presidents are Hong Nguyen from Vietnam and Nihed Kassab from Tunisia.
Wilson's international students this semester come from over 20 different countries, including Ghana, Nepal, Vietnam, Armenia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Ireland, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Panama, Brazil, Mexico, France, Uganda and China.
MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Miller, International Student and Scholar Services Director Phone: 717-262-2776 Email: muhibbah.wilson.edu@gmail.com
Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 29 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy and nursing. 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 2014 enrollment of 759, which includes students from 17 states and 14 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Hankey Center at Wilson College is sponsoring its 5th annual National Women’s History Month High School Essay Contest, which is open for entries from now through March 4.
The contest, which offers cash prizes and new this year — a one-time $1,000 scholarship to Wilson — is open to students in grades 9 through 12 attending public or private schools in Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania and Washington County, Md.
Essays must be between 750 and 1,750 words, and must focus on a significant person, event or movement in women’s history and must analyze the relevance or influence today. The research for the essay must also include at least one primary source. More details about essay requirements, contact Hankey Center Director Amy Ensley at amy.ensley@wilson.edu.
The essay contest offers a cash prize of $150 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third. In addition, this year’s winner will be offered a one-time $1,000 scholarship if he or she enrolls full time at Wilson after graduation from high school.
Essays must be sent by email to hankeycenter@wilson.edu by Friday, March 4.
For more information, contact 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 | Feb. 8, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Wilson College series “FRESH! — Finding Responsible Eating Strategies for Health” — will continue Saturday, Feb. 13, with a talk by Julie Castillo, author of Eat Local for Less: The Ultimate Guide to Opting Out of Our Broken Industrial Food System at 2 p.m. in Wilson’s Laird Hall.
All FRESH! events are free and open to the public.
Local author Castillo will share recipes, tips and stories that will help consumers make informed food choices and also explode the myth that healthy eating is expensive.
Castillo will sign copies of her book, which will be on sale at the Wilson College bookstore or online at http://bookstore.wilson.edu/products.cfm/category/new-fulton-center. Book sale proceeds benefit the Wilson’s Fulton Center for Sustainable Living, which sponsors the FRESH! series.
For more information, contact Mayer, director of the center, at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247, or christine.mayer@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Mayer, Fulton Center for Sustainable Living Director Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247 Email: christine.mayer@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 2, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College is partnering with Widener University to provide advanced entry into a nurse practitioner program offered to Wilson Master of Nursing (MSN) graduates. The nurse practitioner (NP) career is among the fastest-growing areas in the field of nursing.
The Wilson-Widener partnership provides an accelerated path for registered nurses (RNs) with a diploma or a bachelor’s or associate degree who obtain their MSN at Wilson to become nurse practitioners, according to Carolyn Hart, Wilson program director for the Department of Nursing. “I don’t know of any other program like this,” Hart said. “We’re making this a seamless process so if you complete an MSN at Wilson and meet Widener’s criteria, you know you’re going to get in—you can count on it.”
Under the new partnership, students who graduate with a Wilson MSN degree and have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average will be guaranteed admission to the 18-month Widener program. Credits will be transferred between programs and institutions, Hart said.
A major goal of the partnership is to enable working RNs to complete a nurse practitioners program without having to interrupt their careers and travel to a school out of the area, said Hart, who collaborated on the partnership with Laura Dzurec, dean of the Widener University School of Nursing. “We both wanted to create opportunities for nurses outside of metropolitan areas to have a realistic method of becoming NPs,” Hart said.
Most NP programs are available only onsite at the schools that offer them because of the need for clinical practice, but through the Wilson-Widener partnership, the clinical requirement will be fulfilled through the use of local preceptors—either a nurse practitioner or doctor—who will help guide a student’s studies and oversee hands-on learning experiences.
Two of the Chambersburg area’s largest healthcare providers, Summit Health and Keystone Health, will serve as approved preceptor sites for the new program.
Initially, the Wilson-Widener partnership will offer Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification, but the institutions are considering expanding the options for students interested in other NP specialties, according to Hart.
Widener University is located in Chester, Pa., near Philadelphia. The Widener School of Nursing offers a full range of nursing programs and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Widener has offered a family nurse practitioner program at its Harrisburg campus since 1994 and its main campus since 1995.
The nursing profession has evolved significantly in recent years, with nurses serving a critical role not just in hospitals and private medical practices, but also at urgent and long-term care facilities and community health centers, among others.
NPs are trained and educated to provide physical and mental care and maintenance to patients throughout their lifespan. They perform physical examinations; diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries; provide immunizations; manage high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and other chronic health problems; order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribe medications and therapies and educate and counsel patients and their families regarding healthy lifestyles and healthcare options.
“People are increasingly comfortable with nurse practitioners’ skills,” said Dzurec. “Much of the healthcare management that needs to be done can be done by nurse practitioners today.”
Anyone interested in enrolling in any of Wilson’s nursing programs, which include a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), the MSN, and RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN, should contact the Department of Nursing at 717-262-4853 or contact Hart directly at 717-414-6184 or carolyn.hart@wilson.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Carolyn Hart, Program Director of Nursing Phone: 717-262-4853 or 717-414-6184 Email: carolyn.hart@wilson.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Jan. 15, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — Wilson College was recently awarded a $35,000 grant from the Eden Charitable Foundation to support the college’s Helen Carnell Eden Chaplaincy. The foundation has provided funding for Wilson’s chaplaincy every year since 1993, for a total of $713,000 awarded to date, according to Margaret Light, Wilson director of corporate and foundation relations
The Eden Charitable Foundation, which is based in Wayne, Pa., was established in 1955 by Helen Carnell Eden, a 1929 graduate of Wilson College, and her father and brother, William and Franklin “Bud” Eden. The organization provides financial assistance for “the betterment of health and welfare, religion, education, wildlife and our environment,” according to foundation Trustee Brooks Eden.
Helen Carnell Eden wanted to ensure that her alma mater had a full-time pastor, which led to the creation of the college’s Helen Carnell Eden Chaplaincy in 1993, one year after Helen’s death, Light said.
Wilson’s chaplain, currently the Rev. Emily Morgan, is the spiritual leader of the campus, presiding over weekly chapel services, special religious services, pastoral care and counseling and religious programming. The chaplain also organizes community service activities and oversees several student organizations.
MEDIA CONTACT: Margaret Light, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3179 Email: margaret.light@wilson.edu
Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college has a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which includes students from 22 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Jan. 14, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation recently awarded a $530,000 grant to fund scholarships for Wilson College students with financial need through the Stabler Scholarship Endowment. The endowment has provided scholarships for students since the program began in 2009.
The foundation has provided more than $3.45 million for the Stabler scholarships program since its inception in 2008. Students are selected for scholarships based on financial need, academic achievement and service to the community.
"Gifts of endowed scholarship are critically important for exceptional students who need help paying for college," said Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick. “This generous gift will allow us to help even more students and families who need assistance. We are very grateful to The Stabler Foundation for its generous and steadfast support of Wilson College and its students.”
Although the number changes throughout the year, a total of 45 students at Wilson are currently being helped with Stabler scholarships in the 2015-16 academic year, according to Margaret Light, director of corporate and foundation relations.
Since 1985, The Stabler Foundation has provided Wilson with funding for a number of programs, including the Curran Scholars program, which promotes student volunteerism, and daycare support for students in Wilson’s program for single-parent scholars, formerly known as the Women with Children 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Jan. 13, 2016
Chambersburg, Pa. — As part of its FRESH (Finding Responsible Eating Strategies for Health) series, the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living at Wilson College will host The Factory Farm Forum: Concerns About Industrial Animal Production in Our Communities from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, in the Brooks Science Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Increasingly, today’s agricultural operations are “food factories” where animals spend their short lives in cramped cages tended by workers in biohazard suits. “The family farm with animals peacefully grazing in sunlit pastures has almost become a thing of the past,” said FCSL Director Chris Mayer.
Concerns are growing about the environmental and health impacts of factory farms: massive amounts of antibiotic-laden manure piles up in pits, threatening water supplies; and air emissions from high-density livestock facilities may have harmful effects on human health.
The forum will provide a venue for discussion about the environmental, health and property value concerns of local residents living with confined animal feeding operations nearby. In addition, those attending will learn how they can support another way forward, a move “back to the future” of wholesome, sustainable agriculture, Mayer said.
Topics and speakers for the day include:
Following an open microphone session from 4:30 to 5 p.m., the forum will conclude with a brief discussion of next steps. Visit http://www.wilson.edu/factory-farm-forum-resources for a complete schedule.
Vendor and display tables for businesses/organizations are available for the forum at no cost. For information, contact Mayer at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3247, or christine.mayer@wilson.edu.
Those attending the forum must register at https://eventbrite.com/e/the-factory-farm-forum-concerns-about-industrial-animal-production-in-our-communities-tickets-19410487290.
