On a beautiful fall day, Wilson College held a festive groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, Oct. 9, for the "Reimagining the John Stewart Memorial Library project.
The $12 million project includes the restoration of the original, 1920s library building and the construction of a new, adjacent learning commons in place of the recently demolished, outdated 1961 addition to the library.
Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick welcomed those gathered for the groundbreaking - Wilson students, staff, faculty, Trustees, donors and elected officials - which took its cues from the October 1923 groundbreaking for the original Stewart library. In addition to Mistick, Wilson Library Director Kathleen Murphy, Wilson Student Government Association President Ghada Tafesh, Class of 2015 President Taylor Staudt and State Sen. Rich Alloway spoke during the ceremony.
Wilson's founders, the Revs. James Wightman and Tryon Edwards (portrayed by students Cody Dunlap and Samuel Mensah) and college namesake Sarah Wilson (WCGA Vice President Sonja Hess), made an appearance and took part in turning over ceremonial shovels of dirt.
Guests were invited to sign a beam that will be used in the construction of the new learning commons and to sign a guestbook listing their favorite book, a copy of which will be added to the library collection, if possible. Guests also received a silver bookmark and were invited to attend a celebratory luncheon in Jensen Dining Hall following the ceremony.
Wilson has raised more than $10.25 million toward the $12 million project cost. The new library is scheduled to open in fall 2015. The new learning commons will house a variety of different study spaces, academic support and information technology services, a commuter lounge, bookstore with coffee shop and more, becoming the heart of the Wilson campus.
A total of 759 students have enrolled at Wilson College for the 2014 fall semester, an increase of more than 14 percent over fall 2013 with a 41 percent increase in new students in the traditional undergraduate college, producing the largest incoming class in more than 40 years.
Wilson has enrolled 141 new students – including first-year and transfer students – which is up from 100 last fall and is the most since 1973, when 137 new students enrolled at the college.
“This is good news for Wilson College and the entire community,” said Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick. “Growth in our enrollment means a more vibrant, financially sustainable Wilson College and increased numbers of students on our campus benefit the community in many ways, including from an economic standpoint.”
College officials point to a number of reasons for the increased enrollment, including Wilson’s value plan – which includes tuition reduction and a student debt buyback plan – as well as the addition of programs, infrastructure improvements and the move to coeducation, which opened enrollment to men across all programs and increased interest among women who would not consider attending a women’s college.
“The whole campus is energized that the Wilson Today plan (put in place by the Wilson College Board of Trustees in January 2013) is beginning to bear fruit,” Mistick said. “The progress is the result of the entire Wilson community coming together to make the plan successful. And with our continued commitment, we expect to see an even greater effect on overall enrollment moving forward.”
That’s because this year’s junior and senior classes are particularly small and as those classes graduate, the effect on total enrollment should be significantly noticeable, according to college officials.
Wilson College has its largest enrollment in the traditional undergraduate program – which includes most students who live on campus – since 1999, when 338 students were enrolled in that part of the college. This year, a total of 334 are enrolled in the traditional undergraduate college, an increase of 26 students from a year ago. Men represent 8.4 percent of the traditional undergraduate college population and 15.4 percent of the total enrollment.
A total of 273 students are enrolled in Wilson’s Adult Degree Program for those who’ve been out of high school for at least four years. That number includes students enrolled in Wilson’s new nursing program, which exceeded its enrollment goals for fall. Another 152 students are enrolled in Wilson’s graduate programs, a 67 percent increase over last year’s 91 graduate students. Wilson’s master’s degree programs include accounting, education, fine arts, management in healthcare sustainability and the humanities.
“The increase in the number of new students this year is due to students being attracted to a coed Wilson College, in combination with hard work and dedication on the part of the recruitment staff, our coaches, faculty, staff and students,” said Wilson Vice President for Enrollment Mary Ann Naso. “I am confident that we will continue to experience progress and growth.”
In addition to reducing tuition, adding programs, upgrading facilities and expanding coeducation, the college has implemented increased marketing efforts, which have substantially improved Wilson’s visibility.
Wilson’s enrollment increase comes at a time when national higher education enrollment is slowing. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report issued Sept. 24 (School Enrollment in the United States: 2013), enrollment at four-year institutions was up just 1 percent from 2012 to 2013 and college enrollment overall declined for the second straight year.
Wilson students come from as far away as California, Texas and Arkansas. They represent 17 states (including Pennsylvania), as well as 14 foreign countries: Armenia, Canada, China, France, Gaza, Ghana, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and Vietnam.
Wilson College was founded as a women’s college in 1869. In 1982, the college added a continuing education program that allowed qualifying men and women to attend classes. This fall, coeducation was expanded to include the residential undergraduate program of the college.
CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Last Updated: October 6, 2014
The U.S. Department of Education has approved a $2 million Title III grant for Wilson College under the department’s Strengthening Institutions Program, which is aimed at helping postsecondary institutions expand their ability to serve low-income students and strengthen academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability.
The grant, which will be distributed over five years, will be used to improve enrollment, retention, persistence and graduation rates for Wilson College students through a set of goals, including strengthened academic programs and academic support services, updated technology and ongoing professional development for Wilson employees.
The grant — by far the largest federal grant awarded to Wilson in the college’s 145-year history — is consistent with Wilson’s goal of strengthening the educational experience and helping students maximize their academic potential, according to Wilson College President Barbara K. Mistick.
“We are so excited to receive this grant. It really comes at a wonderful time for us,” Mistick said. “We just welcomed our largest class in 40 years, we’re starting construction of the library renovation project and we are seeing great momentum from the Wilson Today plan that we instituted last year.”
The Wilson Today plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in January 2013, is a set of initiatives to ensure that the college remains a thriving institution well into the future. The five-part plan includes a tuition reduction and student debt buyback program, infrastructure improvements, coeducation and new academic programs.
This is the third time Wilson has applied for the highly competitive Title III grant. The difference this time around included changes under way to reconfigure technology at the college, construction of a learning commons as part of the Reimagining the John Stewart Memorial Library construction project and proposed programs to help support and retain underprepared students.
Wilson, like colleges in general, is seeing a growing percentage of students who are arriving academically underprepared. This can be the result of students coming from underperforming school systems or, in other cases, first-generation college students who lack the support systems that can prepare them to meet the expectations of college-level academics. At Wilson, 55 percent of undergraduate students are first generation, 46 percent are eligible for federal Pell grants for lower income families and approximately 96 percent of students receive some form of aid.
Wilson’s application for the Title III grant has five overall objectives:
Last year the department awarded $20.1 million through its Strengthening Institutions Program to just 39 colleges and universities nationwide. To be eligible for funds under SIP, “institutions must be serving a substantial number of students receiving need-based federal student aid and have low per-student expenditures,” according to the department.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Sept. 9, 2014 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
For more information, contact Cathy Mentzer at 717-262-2604 or cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu.
Wilson College and Vermont Law School, the top-ranked environmental law school in the nation, recently forged an agreement that will allow qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree from Wilson and a master’s degree from VLS in just four years.
Through an articulation agreement between the two colleges, Wilson students who qualify can pursue a bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability at Wilson, followed by guaranteed admission to Vermont Law’s Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP) program.
Some credits would be shared between the two institutions and to expedite the master’s program, students would take two online courses from VLS while attending Wilson. After their junior year, they could enter Vermont Law’s summer program. Both degrees would be completed at the same time.
“This agreement with Vermont Law School offers our students an incredible opportunity to earn a degree from Wilson, as well as from one of the top environmental law schools in the country, in just four years,” said Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick. “This is Wilson’s third 3+1 program, which allow students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at a cost that is less than a four-year bachelor’s degree alone, and dovetail with our efforts to make a quality education more affordable for students and families.”
The agreement will give Wilson students a distinct advantage in gaining admission to Vermont Law.
“We are pleased to offer Wilson students an opportunity to earn a MELP degree from Vermont Law, where they’ll not only learn the law but also how to use it to effect change,” said Cheryl Hanna, vice president for external relations at VLS. “By studying advocacy, legislation, regulations and markets, they will have the tools they need to create a more sustainable world.”
A master’s degree in environmental law and policy can lead to a variety of career options, according to Edward Wells, director of Wilson’s Environmental Studies Program, who facilitated the articulation agreement.
“It prepares graduates for jobs ranging from public service or working at a federal agency like the EPA to running a nonprofit environmental organization” said Wells, who also teaches environmental studies. “Graduates could work as an energy consultant or an environmental educator, or they could continue their studies and obtain a law degree.”
Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; two master’s degrees (Master of Environmental Law and Policy, and Master of Energy Regulation and Law), and three post-J.D. degrees — LL.M. in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LL.M. in Energy Law, and LL.M. in Environmental Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, the South Royalton Legal Clinic and the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic.
The 3+1 agreement builds upon the existing relationship between VLS and Wilson, which is known for its environmental studies programs and has a commitment to environmental sustainability as part of its mission statement. The two institutions signed an agreement in 2008 that guaranteed Wilson graduates admission to VLS if they meet standards in grade-point average and entrance exam scores.
For more information, contact the Wilson College Office of Admissions at 800-421-8402 or visit www.wilson.edu.
For more information about Vermont Law School, visit www.vermontlaw.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
The renovation of Wilson College’s John Stewart Memorial Library has received a boost, thanks to a gift of up to $3.6 million from Marguerite Lenfest of Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Wilson College President Barbara K. Mistick announced the gift with its matching elements at a meeting of the college’s board of trustees at its meeting in late February.
“This gift is significant because libraries are the heart of a college and representative of quality academics,” Mistick said. “We are excited about the plans for a progressive, modern library with a learning commons that will become the center of our academic community.”
The college has embarked on a $12 million fundraising effort to repair and restore the original 1923 library building, while razing a 1961 addition and replacing it with a learning commons equipped to meet the changing needs of today’s educators and students. Prior to the Lenfest gift, Wilson had raised $2.4 million for the project.
“I am excited about the transformation recently put in motion at Wilson College,” said Marguerite Lenfest, a 1955 graduate of Wilson. “I am proud to be able to demonstrate my support and to help address the college's most urgent need—the renovation of the John Stewart Memorial Library into a learning commons for the 21st century. It is my hope that this gift shows the strength of my commitment to Wilson today and inspires others to support the library project, which is essential to the academic core of the college and of great importance to both current and prospective students.”
Originally founded as a women’s college in 1869, Wilson College is taking a number of bold steps to transform itself into a thriving liberal arts institution, including adding programs, improving infrastructure and expanding coeducation. An updated library will be an important component of Wilson’s revitalization.
“We are deeply grateful to Marguerite for her generous support,” said Mistick. “I cannot overstate how important the library project is because of its effect on the academic experience of our students, as well as its positive impact on our efforts to attract and retain students.”
Marguerite and her husband, Gerry, are longtime supporters of Wilson College. During Wilson’s “Leading with Confidence” capital campaign, they pledged a total of $20 million toward the college’s endowment.
Over the years, the Lenfests have supported Wilson’s annual fund and generously contributed to the college’s unrestricted endowment, student scholarships, faculty development, the Women with Children program and facilities renovations. Through their generosity, Lenfest Commons was created as a student gathering and study space at the center of campus.
Marguerite Lenfest served as a member of the Wilson board of trustees for many years. She chaired the trustee committee on academic affairs and was awarded an honorary degree in 2004.
For more information, contact Wilson College Manager of Media Relations Cathy Mentzer at 717-262-2604 or cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2013 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Wilson College has received U.S. Department of Agriculture organic certification for produce and herbs grown on the college farm, a major step for the college and its sustainability program.
Wilson sought the certification, which recognizes natural growing practices already in use on the farm, to allow the college to pursue partnerships with the USDA, state agricultural and environmental agencies and other organizations, including research and funding opportunities.
“This is a big deal,” said Christine Mayer, program director of Wilson’s Fulton Center for Sustainable Living, which includes Fulton Farm. “It’ll give our students tremendous opportunities for research with the USDA, and that’s really what we’re after.”
The designation continues to build upon Wilson’s mission to practice and promote environmental sustainability.
“This is wonderful news for Wilson College and adds weight to our sustainability programs,” said President Barbara K. Mistick. “Credit goes to all of our folks who persevered through the lengthy application process to make this happen.”
The 50-acre Fulton Farm, seven acres of which is cultivated, grows produce without synthetic or man-made chemicals. Produce grown on the farm is used in a popular community-supported agriculture subscription program that serves as a CSA model for area farmers. It is also used in the college dining hall and sold at the North Square Farmers Market in Chambersburg.
Wilson’s farm has used sustainable farming practices since the FCSL was founded in 1994. “We have had certified naturally grown status for at least seven years,” Mayer said, referring to a peer-to-peer designation given to farms that refrain from using synthetic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers.
The next step was to become USDA-certified organic, which requires extensive record-keeping and inspections, among other things.
“The products we’re allowed to use have to be organically approved,” said Mayer. “We have to source our seeds organically and any nursery or plant material has to be organic. The USDA also looks at land use practices. Compost and soil amendments have to be approved.”
The process of obtaining organic certification started in fall 2012 with an independent study project initiated by Amanda Kegerreis, who graduated in 2013, said Mayer, who worked with Kegerreis and Fulton Farmer Sarah Bay to satisfy the USDA’s requests for information and verification, as well as inspections.
“The USDA is very strict about who may and may not use (the certified organic) term,” said Mayer. “Unless you’re certified by them, you are not allowed to use that designation on your produce.”
The Fulton Center for Sustainable Living, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014, includes the farm and the Robyn Van En Center, which houses a national database of community-supported agriculture programs.
During 2013, several projects were completed at Fulton Farm. A pole barn for equipment storage was constructed and a produce wash station was built, providing a covered space where produce grown on the farm can be cleaned and packed.
A related solar project is in process, thanks to funding from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation. Solar panels capable of generating six kilowatts of electricity have been installed on the roof of the new pole barn. After the array receives state and power company approvals, it will be used to power a solar irrigation pumping system throughout the seven-acre farm, as well as an electric tractor.
More information about Wilson’s FCSL can be found at www.wilson.edu/fcsl.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Dec. 16, 2013 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Wilson College is offering prospective students a rare opportunity in the increasingly expensive world of higher education – a chance for students to reduce their debt by up to $10,000 through a unique debt buyback program.
Under Wilson’s student debt buyback plan, the first of its kind in higher education, the college will pay up to $10,000 toward a student’s federal Stafford Loan debt if the student meets prescribed academic and service requirements. The debt buyback program will be available to students entering in fall 2014. To qualify, students must be a first-time college student and earn a diploma in four years or less of continuous, full-time enrollment at Wilson College.
Wilson’s debt buyback plan, which was drawn from corporate practices, recognizes the need to make college more affordable and creates a strong value proposition for the institution.
“It provides an innovative form of support for Wilson students while serving as a powerful incentive for academic success, service to the community and participation in the life of the campus,” said Dr. Barbara K. Mistick, president. “We want to encourage students to take full advantage of the college experience, while reducing the burden of student debt.”
The debt buyback program was approved by the Wilson College Board of Trustees in January as part of a bold series of measures aimed at rejuvenating the college by significantly increasing enrollment, strengthening programs and facilities, addressing issues of educational cost and value, and ensuring financial sustainability in the future.
In addition to creating the debt buyback plan, Wilson’s trustees voted to reduce tuition by $5,000, or 17 percent, to $23,745 for first-time Wilson students entering in fall 2014. In fall 2012, the board agreed to freeze tuition for 2013-14 at $28,745 for the third year in a row.
The buyback program will begin with the incoming class in fall 2014, with the first eligible students graduating in spring 2018.
Wilson officials expect the plan to cost up to $100,000 a year, depending on variables. The college will fund the plan through additional the revenue generated by increased enrollments and retention of students participating in the program.
“It’s a proverbial win-win – for both students and the college,” Mistick said. “We are very hopeful that students and parents will see the value in our debt buyback plan and take advantage of it.”
Some specifics of the debt buyback program:
The plan approved by Wilson’s Board of Trustees in January calls for expanding coeducation at Wilson across all programs. Traditional-age male students are being admitted as commuters for fall 2013. The college will admit male residential students in fall 2014.
Wilson College has been named a “Best Value” college in its region for providing quality academics at an affordable price for 11 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” publication. The college has been ranked one of the best regional colleges for undergraduate education for nine straight years by U.S. News.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 2013 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Wilson College is offering two new degrees in spring 2014, a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and a master’s degree in accountancy, and will add a third new program in fall 2014, a bachelor’s degree in animal studies.
The new degrees are a response to interest expressed by current and prospective Wilson students, as well as to needs/demands identified in the marketplace, according to Wilson Vice President for Enrollment Mary Ann Naso.
“We are already seeing quite a bit of interest in the graphic design and accounting programs, including a 3+1 program in accounting that allows a student to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years,” said Naso.
The animal studies degree, which was recently approved by the Wilson College Board of Trustees after going through a faculty approval process, expands on the most popular degree programs at Wilson: veterinary medical technology and equestrian programs.
“The animal studies program is very exciting for us,” Naso said. “It builds on an enthusiasm in animals shared by a significant percentage of Wilson students and will allow our graduates expanded options, in terms of post-graduation careers.”
The animal studies bachelor’s degree program will include study in such areas as animal behavior, the animal-human bond, training and handling methods, animals in service, environmental impact and ethical treatment. It would prepare graduates for advanced study, as well as for a career as an animal trainer, animal control officer, zoo or animal park employee, researcher or someone who works with animal-assisted therapy or at a veterinarian’s office, among others. Graduates also might work for a government agency such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Drug Enforcement Agency, or in the agriculture or animal inspection field.
The new Master of Accountancy program is designed to produce graduates who are prepared to assume managerial positions with employers. Those majoring in the master’s program will increase their knowledge and understanding of professional practices within accounting fields and gain executive leadership skills that will elevate them as employees, according to Wilson Assistant Professor of Accounting James Hay.
The new graphic design major, which offers concentrations in graphic arts and graphic media, balances artistic study and skill development with a traditional liberal arts education. Students will work in such areas as image creation, graphic representation, identity, typography, web design, and two- and three-dimensional design.
Graphic design students will be prepared for work in editorial design, advertising, website design, signage, multimedia, branding/logo design, communication design and more.
Graduates will be required to complete an internship to ensure that they get experience in the field before graduation. Potential employers include: design firms, publishing houses, advertising agencies, higher education, government agencies, television, newspapers, web/multimedia design firms, museums/galleries, in-house creative groups and corporations.
For more information about any of the new majors, contact the Wilson College Office of Admissions at 717-262-2002 or 800-421-8402.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Jan 14, 2014 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Wilson College has received a $2.3 million gift to the Reimagining the John Stewart Memorial Library fundraising effort from Wilson alumna Sue Davison Cooley, a Portland, Oregon, area philanthropist.
Cooley’s gift will net the college a total of $4.6 million under the terms of a matching gift provided last year by another Wilson alumna, Marguerite Lenfest of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., and brings the total raised for the library project to $9.6 million in cash and pledges.
“Mrs. Cooley’s extraordinarily generous gift is exciting for many reasons. Perhaps most critical is that it brings us to our goal of having 80 percent of total costs in hand before we break ground on the Stewart library project,” said Wilson College President Barbara K. Mistick. “I want to express gratitude on behalf of everyone at Wilson to Mrs. Cooley for investing in the future of the college and helping make our plans for a comprehensive, state-of-the-art library a reality.”
The college is engaged in a $12 million fundraising effort to repair and restore the original 1924 library building, while razing a 1961 addition and replacing it with a contemporary learning commons equipped to meet the changing needs of today’s learning communities. It will house academic support and information technology services, writing labs, two “smart” classrooms, a commuter lounge, bookstore and outdoor plaza.
The learning commons also will house the “Sue Davison Cooley Gallery” in honor of Cooley’s transformational gift.
Cooley, who attended Wilson from 1940 to 1942, said the college holds a special place in her heart and she is glad to help with a need as significant as the library.
“The gift is in recognition of the fact that I love Wilson very much,” Cooley said. “I am a very, very big fan of Wilson. I think it has much to give for women, and men too. It’s a great place.”
Cooley is a longtime supporter of the college. She donated $1 million in 2005 to establish a scholarship for participants in the Women with Children Program in honor of her old friends and Wilson alumnae Sylvia
Scalera Davison and Mary Meinecke Dee, both with the Class of 1944. She has also been a regular contributor to the college’s annual fund.
Cooley is particularly interested in the library and making sure that students have additional places on campus for convening and quiet study.
Wilson’s library building has been closed since fall 2011 due to a heating system failure. Its functions have been relocated to the lower level of Lenfest Commons.
The design phase of the library project has been completed and the Wilson College Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 21 to authorize the preparation of construction documents and the demolition of the library annex. Construction, which is expected to take about 14 to 15 months, could begin as early as July or August, according to Wilson Vice President for Finance and Administration Brian Ecker. “Our goal is to have the library re-opened for fall 2015,” he said.
It took Wilson just one year to match the $3.6 million Lenfest gift, which had been broken into three, $1.2 million matching elements. Prior to the Lenfest gift, Wilson had raised $2.4 million for the project.
“The deep commitment of our alumnae and alumni to their alma mater and to this project is gratifying,” Mistick said. “And as the college moves forward with our Wilson Today plan to revitalize the college, we have continued to experience wonderful support from those closest to the college.”
Originally founded as a women’s college in 1869, Wilson College is taking a number of innovative steps through the Wilson Today plan to transform itself into a thriving liberal arts institution, including adding programs in the health sciences and other areas, expanding coeducation across all programs, creating a value proposition to lower tuition and repay up to $10,000 in federal loans for qualified students, and improve infrastructure. An updated library configured to meet expanded enrollment will be an important component of Wilson’s revitalization.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: Feb. 27, 2014 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
Wilson College was recently awarded a $3,000 grant from the Jean Morrow Fund of the Franklin County Foundation (FCF) that will enable the college’s therapeutic riding program for special-needs residents to continue through the summer. FCF is a regional foundation of the Harrisburg-based Foundation for Enhancing Communities.
Wilson’s equine-facilitated therapeutics (EFT) program serves disabled community members by building their physical, emotional and cognitive strengths through therapeutic riding. It is largely supported by volunteers from the college and the community.
“We have not had a community riding program in the summer for therapeutic riding,” said Ann O’Shallie, Wilson College associate professor of equestrian studies and EFT. “It’s been a gap in our program.”
During the academic year, students in Wilson’s equestrian programs help with therapeutic riding lessons, but during the summer, fewer volunteers are available, which raises the cost of the riding sessions.
The grant will offset a large portion of the cost of therapeutic riding sessions in summer, making them more affordable for residents, O’Shallie said.
Wilson’s summer therapeutic riding lessons are taught by instructors certified either by the Pennsylvania Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship or the national Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship.
For more information, contact Wilson media relations manager Cathy Mentzer at 717-262-2604 or cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2013 CONTACT: Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations Phone: 717-262-2604 Email: cathy.mentzer@wilson.edu
