Wesley Spring 2010

WESLEYA Magazine for Wesley College Alumni & Friends SPRING 2010

www.weare.wesley.edu

Sustain!says Mr. SpainFred Spain ’58 is in the midst ofshowing the world how it’s done

INSIDE: HOMECOMING 2010 | ARTS IN THE PARLOR | SERVICE IN MISSISSIPPI

WESLEY

Sustain!says Mr. Spain

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DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,

An opportunity arose recently in which I was asked to speak to a group of professionals about higher educationand the special nature of a Wesley College education. It was easy to articulate the personal experience that is

provided at Wesley in which our students gaina rich understanding of the liberal arts anddevelop their unique talents. Through inten-tional involvement and nurturing from facultyand staff, the level of engagement among ourstudents continues to grow at Wesley.

Students are engaged in undergraduateresearch, campus activities, theatre presenta-tions, concerts and athletics. They also areinvesting their time and energy in assistingwith the needs of both the local communityand the world. This type of engagement centers on service to others — caring enough to intervene and taking action. It not only

allows students to transcend to a new level of academic and social achievement and responsibility, but also helpsthem form a religious, moral and philosophical foundation that provides a compass for living.

Many experiences this spring provide perfect examples of how our students are engaged and learning tomake a difference in the world around them. These include a service trip to rebuild homes in Biloxi, Mississippi;student-led efforts that provided over $1,900 for the United Methodist Committee on Relief to assist in Haiti; anda food drive that secured 2,994 pounds of donated food for the Food Bank of Delaware.

I encourage you to increase your engagement in the life of Wesley. Visit campus, attend athletic and culturalevents, volunteer, or provide financial support for a program, major or for student scholarships. I look forwardto speaking directly with you about Wesley and how your participation can make a tremendous impact in theeducational experience we offer our worthy students.

Very best wishes,

William (Bill) [email protected]

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Front row, from left: Ervin Johnson (student),

Rev. Charlotte Nichols ’73(District Superintendent

of the Salisbury District),John Gula (Director of

Food Services, Aramark),Bishop Peggy Johnson,

Ashleigh Maser (student),Amberlyn Oldham ’10.

Back row, from left: President Johnston,

Rev. Dr. Sandra SteinerBall, (Director of

Connectional Ministries–Peninsula-DelawareAnnual Conference),

Dr. Mark Pruett-Barnett,Rev. Boyd Etter

(District Superintendentof the Dover District),

Rev. Bill Sterling (DistrictSuperintendent of the

Easton District), Rev. Dr. Bill Fitzhugh (District

Superintendent of theWilmington District),

Rev. Derrick Porter(District Superintendent

Designate of theWilmington District).

SEN IOR ADM IN ISTRATIONDr. William N. Johnston

PresidentDr. Patricia Dwyer

Vice President for Academic AffairsChris Wood

Vice President forInstitutional Advancement

Eric Nelson ’85Vice President for Finance

William FirmanDean of Enrollment Management

Mary-Alice OzechoskiDean of Students

Dr. Mark Pruett-BarnettChaplain/Director ofChurch Relations

BOARD OF TRUSTEESCharles R. Dashiell, Jr., ChairAnn Burton, Vice-ChairRev. Dr. James T. Seymour, SecretaryFrank AndrewsDr. Basilio BautistaThomas W. Burn, Jr. ’79Rev. Boyd B. Etter, ex-officioRobert V.A. Harra, Jr.Rev. Dr. Patricia Bryant HarrisD. Wayne HoldenKathleen JenningsRev. W. LeRoy Jones ’53Alan B. LevinDonald L. MastenDorothy McLaughlin

Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner BallWilliam J. StricklandHarry D. “Skip” Willis ’70William H. Willis, Jr. ’66Dr. Rafael Zaragoza

TRUSTEES EMER ITI Rev. David A. BakerRev. Jonathan E. Baker ’70Hon. Eugene D. BookhammerElizabeth M. Barber ’52Lillian BurrisDr. George V. KirkDr. Thomas C. Roe ’31Mr. Gilbert S. Scarborough, Jr.Bishop Peter D. Weaver

ALUMN I ASSOC IATION BOARD OF D I RECTORSStephanie Smith Christiano ’98,

PresidentLynn Schmid Knable ’67,

Vice PresidentAnne Buckler ’62, SecretaryTamra Antanaitis ’90, TreasurerRichard Bradley ’70Tad Fox ’95Barry Hawlk ’72Kirsten Higgins ’98Daniel Kimmel ’95Debra Kubacki ’91Thomas J. Leary ’70Matt Lindell ’03Louisa Jane MacDonald ’60Chad Robinson ’05

“Try to forget yourself in the service of others. For when we think too much ofourselves and our own interests, we easily become despondent. But whenwe work for others, our efforts return to bless us.” -Sidney Powell

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WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 1

MANAGING EDITOR

Leigh Ann Coleman ’09COPY EDITOR

Amanda Downes ’06

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Cathy AndersonLeigh Ann Coleman ’09Amanda Downes ’06Emily Ennis ’10Geoff GoyneAbigail Hill ’12Jennifer Telles ’09

DESIGN + PRODUCTION

MSK Partners, Inc.

INSTITUTIONALADVANCEMENT STAFF

Dr. William N. JohnstonPresident(302) 736-2508 [email protected]

Chris WoodVice President for InstitutionalAdvancement(302) [email protected]

WESLEY

Features10 BILOXI DUESSix intrepid Wesley College students and Chaplain Dr. Mark Pruett-Barnettplay a part in the ongoing recovery fromHurricane Katrina.

12 ARTS IN THE PARLORSpecial event raises funds for scholarshipsand pays tribute to departed friend andlong-time trustee Dr. Joseph S. Bellmeyer.

14 SUSTAINFred Spain holds the blueprints forthe first of its kind—a 100% sustainableand carbon-free community.

Departments02 HIGHLIGHTS

18 SPORTS

26 CLASS NOTES

32 ADVANCEMENT

SPRING 2010 VOLUME XXXVIII, NO. 2

Wesley is published three times per year by the

Office of Institutional Advancement.

POSTMASTER: Send Changes to:Office of Institutional Advancement

Wesley College120 North State Street

Dover, DE 19901

Contents

WEARE.WESLEY.EDUCAMPUS UPDATES, CLASS NOTES, EVENTS AND MORE

12

Cathy AndersonDirector of the Wesley Society(302) [email protected]

Amanda Downes ’06Director of Alumni Affairs (302) [email protected]

Jennifer Telles ’09 Director of the Annual Wesley Fund(302) [email protected]

Steve ClarkCoordinator of the W Club(302) [email protected]

Leigh Ann Coleman ’09Director of Publications & Campus Photographer(302) [email protected]

Geoff Goyne Director of News & Sports Information(302) [email protected]

Amanda Jackson ’09Administrative Assistant(302) [email protected]

WESLEYonline!www.wesleymagazine.wesley.edu

Wesley magazine online has all the content of the print edition and gives youas a reader the ability to post commentsand view web exclusives like photoalbums and reader polls. Opt to receive email notification whenthe newest issue is released and helpWesley reduce paper usage and postagecosts. To change your preferences:

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President and Mrs. Bill Johnston visit with Bob and Jane (Kearney) MacDonald ’60 (center)

at the “Arts in the Parlor” event.

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2 WESLEY COLLEGE :: Spring 2010

News and views from Wesley College

Service Abounds at Wesley

HIGHLIGHTS |

Founders Day Food DriveFOR WESLEY’S 137th Founders Daycelebration, the planning committee inte-grated a community service project as ademonstration of the College’s Methodistvalues and history of service to the area.Grocery bags were distributed aroundcampus to faculty, staff and students aswell as area residents so that participantscould collect non-perishable food items todonate. Student athletes did their part byfilling two campus vans with donationsthey collected at the Super Fresh andAcme markets in Dover on March 17. Bythe time the Food Bank picked up theCollege’s donation, the Wesley communityhad collected 2,994 pounds of food thatwould benefit the reported 241,600 peoplewho receive emergency food each yearthrough the Food Bank of Delaware. ■

ON AUGUST 21, the incoming Class of 2014 will taketo the streets as Wesley College partners up with theDover Housing Authority, the Central DelawareHabitat for Humanity and the Office of SenatorThomas Carper in one of the biggest clean-up projectsthe city of Dover has ever seen. The clean-up crew will consist of approximately 500 incoming freshmen, aswell as faculty and staff, community members andreturning student athletes.

The 123=ABC event is a one day community clean-upproject focusing on improving curb appeal andstreetscape. Volunteers will work on several streetswithin a 20 block radius in downtown Dover, picking uptrash, painting curbs and planting flowers and shrubs.

Interested in learning more or becoming a volunteer? Visit weare.wesley.edu/123ABC ■

123 = ABC: In 1 Day, 20 Blocks in Downtown Dover Will Receive Over 300 Hours of Volunteer Service Resulting in A Beautiful Community.


represented through RHA,” saidHansbury.

Involvement in the RHA not onlyenhances the living experiences for the students but also those of fellow local residents. Students can become familiar with their new Dover home by volunteer-ing and helping to shape their campus andthe community into an even better place.The program currently has 14 members,but with a new semester this fall and anew incoming class, the group expects its membership to grow significantly.

“RHA is a great tool, for first-year students in particular, to have an easyentry to engagement at Wesley,” saidHansbury. It is a welcome addition amongWesley student organizations and one thatwill further strengthen residence life at theCollege and make Wesley even more community-oriented. ■

BY EMILY ENNIS ’10

FOR AN INCOMING freshman, adjust-ing to dorm life can be a scary experience.The toilet is overflowing. Now what? Myroommate is a bully. Who can help me?Luckily, the newly instated Residence HallAssociation (RHA) exists to help withthese problems and other issues that students commonly face when learning tolive away from home. The RHA serves allresidents at the College, providing repre-sentation and programming opportunitiesfor students living in Wesley’s various residence halls, including the Joseph S.Bellmeyer Honors House.

The RHA has been approved by theStudent Government Association tobecome an official student organization inthe fall, and it will be composed of acampus-wide executive board with anexecutive director, executive business manager, special programs chair and executive secretary. The executive boardwas elected this spring and each residence hall will hold elections in the fall for itsindividual hall council, consisting of apresident, vice president, treasurer, program coordinator and secretary. “TheRHA is there to represent the voices of thestudents,” said Director of Residence LifeKevin Hansbury ’00. He explained how the

Residential LivingThe Residence Hall Associationis There to Help

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organization can address anyconcerns or suggestions the residents might have to improvestudent life and the residentialatmosphere.

Although the organizationwas not officially approved untilrecently, the RHA has alreadydeveloped a following and hasbegun to make its mark on theCollege’s campus. Since community service is a priority for theRHA, the group has already helped withfood drives and other charity causes suchas the Giving Tree program this pastDecember. As part of this program, themembers purchased Christmas gifts forfoster children and held an event on campus in which they gave each child abag of gifts and provided dinner andactivities for the participants. The nightconcluded with a visit from Santa Claus.The RHA also has donated clothing andfood for the Haiti relief efforts.

The RHA looks forward to collaborating with other student organizations for community projects.“The RHA is a great way for students wholive on campus to get involved with thelocal and greater communities, andquickly engage with other students.Students know that their interests are

Helping HaitiIT DID NOT TAKE LONG for an earthquake to change Haiti forever. It also did not take long for the Wesley College campus to organize. Inresponse to the horrifying catastrophe,the Wesley community came togetherto demonstrate its compassion and support.

Over a two day period in January, atotal of 248 students contributed to thecause by fasting and giving up 342

student life | HIGHLIGHTS

cafeteria meals. The cost of those mealswas donated by Aramark Food Service to the United Methodist Committee onRelief (UMCOR), an agency that is currently on the ground in Haiti, helpingin the recovery of the country from itsdisastrous earthquake.

For several weeks in January andFebruary, the Residence Hall Association(RHA), under the leadership of residentassistant Ashleigh Maser, sold $1 hearts

for display around the campus. Theseproceeds directly supported the HaitiPlunge Project’s Relief Fund for Haiti,which is helping to create sustainabledevelopment through agricultural cooperatives in the mountains of Haiti’scentral plateau. The RHA also held aclothing drive and collected new andgently used clothing for the Red Crossin conjunction with Senator ThomasCarper’s office. ■

From left: Megan Varga, Amber Bell, Tanner Polce, RHAAdvisor Kevin Hansbury ’00, Ladonna De’Souza, BryanZarou, Devon Reynolds and Jessica Barranco.



THE WELLNESS CENTER at Wesley isnew and improved in 2010. Its purposehas always been to provide free, qualityhealthcare services on campus so studentsdon’t have to outsource their medicalneeds. Now however, having recentlyrelocated to the basement of CarpenterHall, the Center is much better equippedto meet the demands of a growing studentpopulation. In addition, wellness at Wesleynow means both physical and mentalwell-being in one convenient location.

Before the move, the College nurse’soffice was located on the first floor ofCarpenter Hall and needed a keycard for entry. Since the move, health serviceshave become keycard free, meaning noIDs are necessary. Convenience in termsof services offered is the most significantadvantage, as both the counseling

services and healthcare are now in thesame location for the first time inWesley’s recent history. The central location in Carpenter Hall is still beneficial for all students, since it is inclose proximity for commuters coming toand from classrooms and is surroundedby residence halls so it is easily accessiblefor on-campus students.

But location isn’t everything. JillMaser, director of health services, appreciates all the square footage theyhave gained with the move to the ground floor. “We love the space. It’s nice because we now have a triage room,a treatment room, a check-in area, andclient inter-office space,” Maser said. The additional space has been a muchneeded improvement and will allow forincreased functionality of the Wellness

Center. It now offers six separate roomsfor evaluation, compared to the four dispersed dorm rooms that were previously used. Each of the new evaluation rooms is also larger in sizeand can more comfortably accommodatepatients.

The move also has created added benefits for patient confidentiality andpracticality. With the space to now servedual purposes for medical and mentalhealthcare, having students in one generalwaiting room provides anonymity oftheir awaiting services among fellowpatients. Ann Rogge, director of counsel-ing services, explained, “The increase inconfidentiality has been a really positivething. The move has been terrific inreserving that confidentiality.” The counseling office was previously located

HIGHLIGHTS | student life

Wellness Takes Off in 2010BY ABIGAIL HILL ’12

Director of Counseling Services Ann Rogge, Director of Health Services Jill Maser and Nursing student Brandon Hoskins in the new Wellness Center.


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around campus | HIGHLIGHTS

in the Office of Student Life, a very publicenvironment near the main lobby area inthe College Center. Rogge feels her clientsappreciate the change of scenery andimproved sense of privacy. Combiningthe resources of the counseling centerand the health center also makes goodsense for treatment purposes, since oftentimes, students with certain medical con-ditions are struggling with stress andanxiety surrounding that. Now they canseek counseling at the same time and inthe same location.

Aside from the new Wellness Centerarea being a more comfortable and convenient environment for students, theimprovements also have changed the waystudents at Wesley are thinking aboutwellness as part of their lifestyle. “It ismoving students away from just going to see the nurse or the doctor, or thecounselor. They are really starting tothink about what they are doing to keepthemselves healthy, because it is a multi-dimensional thing,” stated Mary-AliceOzechoski, dean of students. “So, to usthis feels like an opportunity to say tostudents that as you graduate from college and you think about adulthood,and as you get older, wellness becomesmore and more important.”

The Wellness Center has introducednew programming and wellness lifestylesessions to go hand in hand with the newoutlook among students. One new program is a weight loss support group,in which individuals are coming togetheronce a week to talk about what is workingfor them in terms of dieting and fitness.They are getting more regular exercise,weighing in, and gaining valuable nutritional information as a result.“These are the types of programs that we think this Center will allow us to con-tinue to do,” Ozechoski explained. TheWellness Center staff hopes its expandedservices will engage more students andhelp them to develop and maintain ahealthy lifestyle one step at a time.

For more information on the Wellness Center, go to wesley.edu, click on “Student Life” and then select“Counseling and Health Services.” ■

New Members on the Board of TrusteesBY LEIGH ANN COLEMAN ’09

ALUMNUS WILLIAM “BILL” WILLIS, JR. ’66 andproud Wesley parent Kathleen Jennings became thenewest members of the Wesley College Board ofTrustees in March. “I am elated that Ms. Jennings andMr. Willis have joined Wesley’s Trustees. They bringtalents and experience that will complement our Boardas we continue to grow as an institution. Each is articulate, energetic, actively involved in the life ofDelaware, and shares a vision for Wesley College. Theirperspectives and expertise will be helpful as we shapeWesley for the future,” said President Bill Johnston.

Willis is president of Willis Chevrolet, with dealer-ships in both Smyrna and Middletown, Delaware. After graduating from WesleyCollege and West Virginia Wesleyan College and then serving two years in the U.S.Army, Willis returned to work for the family business and make an impact in hiscommunity. He serves on the Board of Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and is anactive member of Asbury United Methodist Church. He has 40 years of service inthe automobile industry and is aformer president of the DelawareAutomobile and Truck DealersAssociation (DATDA). He also represents Delaware as a memberof the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Jennings is an attorney and partner at Biddle & Reath, LLP in Wilmington, Delaware, practicing criminaldefense and regulatory enforcement, among other fields of law. She was previouslya partner at WolfBlock, LLP as well as Oberly, Jennings & Rhodunda P.A., both inWilmington. From 1993 to 1995, she served as chief deputy attorney general. Priorto that position, Jennings was acting state prosecutor in the criminal division and

deputy attorney general. An alumnus of theUniversity of Delaware and Villanova UniversitySchool of Law, Jennings is also a fellow of theAmerican College of Trial Lawyers. Her daughterRebecca is a current sophomore at Wesley.

“Personally, I have always valued education forits ability to enrich our intellectual awareness of theworld and to open doors for success in America.The future of our youth, and for that matter thiscountry, resides in the success of our educationalsystem. There is no higher priority,” said Jennings. ■

Each is articulate, energetic,actively involved in the life of

Delaware, and shares avision for Wesley College.



HIGHLIGHTS | student profile

ALTHOUGH SHE easily blends in withher fellow students at the StudentGovernment Association (SGA) meetingor when she’s assisting with Orientationprogramming for next year’s freshmanclass, Veronica Conte is not your ordinary coed. Not only is she an adultlearner with a family of her own, but she also has been on enough college campuses to know what she wants in ahigher education institution. And sheknew immediately when she found that in Dover, Delaware.

Conte is a first-year nursing student at Wesley College working towards hersecond bachelor’s degree. She receivedher first undergraduate degree—aBachelor of Science in psychology— fromNorthwestern University. She earned thisin only two years, sometimes taking 32credits a semester. Since Northwesternallowed at most 22 credits a semester withspecial permission, Conte was enrolled at

three different schools at once, includingCentral Texas University and St. LeoUniversity, in order to fulfill her goal.Despite the heavy course load, Conte wasa Dean’s list student and a member of thehonor society in psychology.

After beginning her next pursuit for adegree from an accelerated nursing pro-gram, Conte attended Drexel University,but then transferred to Wesley. Sheexplained, “I live in Middletown,Delaware and Drexel is about an hour’sdrive. It’s a lot of traffic and the commutewas not working out for me, particularlyin an accelerated program.” Conte felt that not living near campus put her at adisadvantage academically. “With my family demands and two hours a daybeing eaten up by travel, I was not readilyavailable to study after classes in the lab orwork on group projects as the students living on or near campus could.”

As a non-traditional student, the fact

that Conte is married with two teenagechildren has not stopped her from beinghighly active with campus life at Wesley.She is a member of the Student NursesAssociation, an SGA representative forthe International Student Associationand serves on both the Student ActivitiesBoard and the Orientation Panel. Shewas even asked to sit in on an employ-ment interview for a professor who couldpotentially become one of her teachers.

“Wesley is extremely transparent, likewith town meetings. They don’t do that atother schools. I was so astonished when Iwent to this meeting and they startedtalking about what’s going on in mydepartment of study. Wesley has madeitself more student-oriented than otherschools. Even though it’s a smallerschool, I believe that in the long run it’sgoing to help with the satisfaction andretention.”

Conte’s family is very supportive ofher educational endeavors and they help her juggle the roles of wife, mother,volunteer and student. This gives her achance to attend to her studies. In hertime away from the classroom, Conte also does extensive volunteer work. Herhusband of 18 years was in the militaryfor 10 years and during that time, Contevolunteered for various programs. Nowshe is in the process of becoming a RedCross certified disaster relief volunteerand is scheduled to help with a Habitatfor Humanity project in her hometown.She also participated in Wesley's Relayfor Life program to support theAmerican Cancer Society.

Although Wesley College is the small-est institution that Conte has attended,she is most proud to be a Wesley student.Her professors’ accessibility is a welcomechange for her, and she has great respectin particular for her advisor, Dr. RobertContino. She also praises the administra-tion, especially President Johnston andDean Mary-Alice Ozechoski, who alwayshave time to stop and chat with her andask about her family. “I am happy to havefound a place that feels like home.” ■

Feels LikeHomeVeronica ConteBY EMILY ENNIS ’10


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student profile | HIGHLIGHTS

AS AN 18-year-old rising sophomore at Wesley, Tanner Polcehas already experienced more than many middle aged adultshave in their lifetimes. He is a double major in political scienceand international affairs, with a minor in history. He is also president-elect of the Student Government Association (SGA)for the 2010-2011 school year. Polce is equally at home on the soccer field with his fellow Wolverines or in Washington D.C.working as a Senatorial intern. And although his effusive energyand optimism give no indication, he has battled Crohn’s diseasefor the past 10 years.

Polce attended Southern Garrett High School in Oakland,Maryland and then Easton High School in Easton, Maryland,where he graduated in the top five percent of his class.Academically, he is considered a Wesley junior, having attendedChesapeake Community College during his senior year in highschool. Polce was very active in student organizations andplayed varsity soccer at the high school level, and he has contin-ued to pursue his interests at Wesley. He is treasurer for theLincoln-Jackson club, a member of the Wesley Democrats, a stu-dent ambassador, a player on the men’s soccer team, former vicepresident of the SGA and president of the Williams HallResidence Association.

Given his past high school involvement in the Model UnitedNations club and Junior Statesmen of America as well as his leadership roles in student government and political groups onWesley’s campus, it is not surprising that Polce aspires to be apolitician. He likes to work as a problem-solver with the studentsand “give voices to those who don’t have voices.” After hisexpected college graduation at age 20, Polce plans to attend law school to study constitutional law and then get involved with politics, hoping to run for Congress or the Senate “yearsdown the road.”

Polce is already becoming well-prepared for a Senatorialposition, as he is an intern for Delaware Senator Thomas Carperand works at the Senator’s office in Dover. In his internship, hefields calls from constituents and relays messages to the Senator,among other duties.“There’s never a dull moment in the office,”he said. He enjoys doing “whatever he is asked to do” and seeshis position in assisting the Senator as a tremendous opportunity.

The can-do attitude and ambitious spirit that Polce exhibits

are even more impressive considering the health challenges hehas had to overcome. Polce suffers from Crohn’s disease andulcerative colitis. He now has had chemotherapy every 6 weeksfor the past 8 years. “That really made me mature and age, andput life into perspective.” He is fortunate to have a strong familysupport system behind him, including his mother and stepfa-ther, Rebecca and Mike Kilgus, and his father, Fred Polce, whomhe describes as his “hero.” “I have the greatest family ever,” hesaid, explaining how supportive they have been of him, and whyhe considers himself very family-oriented.

Polce’s maturity and seasoned point of view have influencedhis abilities as a student leader and made him an effective publicspeaker. He recently addressed the College’s Legal Society inWells Theater on campus. He spoke about life’s struggles andthe themes of self-definition, self-motivation and inspiration. Hefreely shares his talents on campus as well as within the localarea. Believing in the importance of working together for thecommunity and for the people, he is a volunteer for Habitat forHumanity. In addition, he plans to take his fellow residents ofWilliams Hall to volunteer in the organization’s centralDelaware ReStore, which provides affordable building andhome goods to needy families and has saved tons of usable materials that would otherwise litter landfills. He also has participated in the Curbside Cleanup program.

Polce’s love for life and Wesley College shines through in allthe activities in which he participates. He fits the mold for theperfect Wesley student ambassador to lead campus tours andmarket the College to prospective students and their parents. “I love open houses, tours and everything else. It’s great becauseI get to speak volumes about how much I love Wesley.” TheCollege community is smitten with the charisma, drive andincredible perseverance of new student body president TannerPolce. And fortunately, the affection is mutual. Polce expressed,“I’m proud to say I’m a Wolverine. I’m proud to say I go toWesley. I never doubt that this was the right decision for me.” ■

Proud to Be A WolverineTanner PolceBY EMILY ENNIS ’10



The Road to SuccessProject Success offers personalized learning atmosphere to studentsBY: ABIGAIL HILL ’12

FOR MANY STUDENTS the transitionfrom high school to college academicscan be a very difficult one. Students areoften thrust into a world of higher education with little to no idea of what to expect. The fast pace of classes and the differences in assignments and grading scales can leave new students ata loss. Towards the end of the semester,many often find themselves with a plummeting GPA and are unsure where to turn for help.

This particular scenario is whereProject Success found its purpose. Part ofa mandatory, one semester long academicrecovery plan for Wesley students onacademic probation, the program’s primary goal is to motivate students toraise their GPA and to increase the overall number of students returning the following semester.

“The goal of Project Success is to workwith freshmen who, after their firstsemester, are on academic probation,”Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students,explained. “It is to provide them somestructure and some resources to getthemselves off probation.” The programhopes to help students early in their college career while it is easiest to repair a wounded GPA.

The Academic Recovery Program(ARP) involves a mandatory meeting onthe Sunday before spring semester classesbegin, during which a PowerPoint presentation provides students withinformation to help them improve their study habits and strengthen theiracademic standing. The students thenmeet with their academic advisor withinthe next two days in order to schedulerepeat courses in which they received aletter grade F or D. If the student participants pass the course the followingsemester, their previous scores will beexchanged with the new ones.

“Typically freshmen coming in are notprepared for the great disparity betweenhigh school and college study require-ments,” said Director of Academic SupportServices Charlene Stephens. “In highschool you spend inordinate amounts oftime in class and very little time in prepara-

tion, and in college it’s just the opposite.” Project Success was designed to

address the common lack of preparationand various other challenges that presentthemselves in this time of transition. The ARP requirements specify that thestudents complete 10 hours of weekly


Thomas Vaccaro '10 serves as a peer facilitator for freshman Elisa Fermin.


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 9

study time in the Academic ResourceCenter (ARC), where their studying ismonitored by the TutorTrac software.The students also must attend weeklyProject Success workshops and seektutoring when needed. In addition, theyare required to attend six academic skillsseminars between January and February,along with five mandatory professormeetings and evaluations, all followed bypersonal reflection.

The Project Success workshops are runby staff or faculty members and includeupperclassmen volunteers who serve aspeer facilitators. “As a freshman, I felt thestruggle and there was no program for me,”said Thomas Vaccaro ’10, one of the ProjectSuccess peer facilitators. “The program hasrewarded me because I am able to helpsomebody and have a successful feelingknowing that now there is something tohelp the incoming freshmen.”

The participants also have seen thebenefits of Project Success. AnnetteBookman, a student who participated inthe program, expressed, “It has taughtme better time management. By planningin advance, I have found I have moretime for myself and have a lot more timeto do my work.”

Students in the Project Success workshop series initially are provided with a collegiate planner to help themdevelop organizational skills and keeptrack of assignments, as well as a reflective journal so they can write abouttheir academic shortcomings and theways they have learned to overcomethem. The various weekly workshopscover topics such as time management,goal-setting and study skills. In general,the courses help college freshmen tounderstand the unfamiliar aspects ofhigher education and how academics incollege differ from high school in regardsto work load as well as the nature ofassignments and instructions. The workshops also aim to equip student participants with the self motivationneeded to succeed in a collegian atmosphere.

ARP has only been in effect for oneacademic year and has already yieldedimpressive results. “We had students lastyear who went from a 1.3 to a 2.8 GPA,”Ozechoski said.

Instrumental to the program’s successhas been student attendance trackingthrough the ARC, which has helped insignificantly shrinking the number ofmissed classes. ARP and the ProjectSuccess workshops are just one of themany ways that Wesley College is offering a personalized learning atmosphere to meet its students’ needs.Increased student retention rates wouldbe an added benefit as a result of the program. “I think it’s the right thing todo,” Ozechoski expressed. “If we know of someone who has not donewell academically, as a small institutionwe reach out and say, ‘how can we help you?’ ” ■

“Even though I am still not 100 percent at the levelwhere I should be, I’m notgoing to stop until I reachthat level and beyond. AsMrs. Stephens said, ‘I amworth more than an F.’ Thosewords touched me becauseshesaw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself.”

— Freshman Elisa Fermin




Chaplain Dr. Mark Pruett-Barnett gives a firsthandaccount of the Wesley College Spring BreakService Project Trip to Mississippi from March 1–4that he coordinated and then had the joy of experiencing with a crew of six Wesley students.

If you were to drive on Route 90 around Biloxi, Mississippi,you would find it hard to believe that Hurricane Katrina hadmauled the businesses, homes and lives of so many people just 4 1/2 years ago. Everything now is brand new—the shoppingmalls, the casinos, beautiful upscale homes—all within easywalking distance of the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches. However,when you go just a couple of blocks inland, it is hard to believethat so little has been done in the same time frame. People’shomes and businesses stand in dire need of repair. A differentkind of flood—that of volunteers—has been in Mississippi since2005 helping people get back on their feet.

Over spring break, six intrepid Wesley College students—Yong Duan, Amanda Fetterolf, Amanda Hudson, SydneyKahan, Nicole Oyola, Bryn Warner—and I were privileged to goand play a part in the ever-ongoing recovery from HurricaneKatrina. We met the Volunteer in Mission leaders for our trip,the Rev. Dr. Richard Vance and Linda Culp, at BaltimoreWashington International Airport for our flight down to NewOrleans. After a pleasant flight, we took a van to Keesler AirForce Base in Biloxi where we would stay.

“I became close to this small group and I understand everyone better now. This trip has changed my views of the damage of the

hurricane—the loss damage was to the people, not the land.”—Amanda Hudson

For four days, the Wesley crew worked on people’s homes.The first day, Monday, March 1, the crew worked at spreadingpesticide on studs and beams of a Katrina-devastated house inorder to get rid of mold. What a stench! Everyone wore respira-tors in order to keep the smell down. On the second day, thecrew had a very “concrete” experience—literally! While wearing

BiloxiDuesA Service Trip to Mississippi

Yong Duan


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 11

special suits to keep in body heat (it was very cold in Biloxi formost of the trip), we hauled bags of concrete, drilled holes andplaced rebars and then mixed, poured and smoothed out theconcrete. Wednesday saw us back at the first house, painting thestuds and beams. That was all there was to paint, since theentire inside of the house had to be gutted after Katrina.Eventually, future crews will put on new siding and finish theinside of the home. Thursday saw us at a house owned byFrank. Frank is a waterman who we got to know very well asthe crew painted the exterior of his house. He had many storiesof his family and life in Biloxi.

“The event that touched my heart the most was when a woman by thename of Phyllis came and talked to us while we were eating lunch. She

asked where we were going to be working the rest of the day and wetold her, not thinking anything of it. The next thing we know, Phyllis isstanding before us with a huge cake, just for us.” —Amanda Fetterolf

We had a chance to do more than work. We also ate! We hadthe opportunity to eat at D’vine’s, a wonderful BBQ place.Norma is the owner who has been on The Food Network’s“Dinner: Impossible.” She told us about her TV adventures aswell as her Christian testimony about how she obtained herrestaurant. Her sister Brenda shared her harrowing story abouthow her family narrowly escaped death in Katrina by going upthrough the roof of their house and getting into a tree. Before weleft, we had a chance to go by Brenda’s house and see the famoustree. It was gigantic—a true tree of life for her family.

We had a rollicking time at The Shed, which also had been onthe Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” The wonder-ful congregation of Prince of Peace Baptist Church also fed ussome “down home Mississippi cookin’” one evening. Even betterwere the times of fellowship and worship we had with this con-gregation. The work this congregation has done in the area afterKatrina could not be matched by churches many times its size.

“Mississippi was an incredible, life-changing experience. Not only do the people of Mississippi inspire you, they help you believe and have faith in good.” —Sydney Kahan

We left on Friday for a short visit to New Orleans before ourflight left for home. We were tired and ready to go, but we wouldmiss the people we met and we were happy with the work wehad done. Pastor Darrell Taylor of Prince of Peace had told us hethought that the volunteers, which now included us, who gavetheir time, energy and skills in the 4 1/2 years since Katrina, haddone more than all of the government agencies combined. One ofthe things that really gratified me was a comment made byJimmy Travino, our site supervisor. He said that out of all thegroups with which he had worked (and there have been a lot),the Wesley crew was his favorite. I could not have asked for anybetter than that. ■

“I grew so much from this experience and if I had the chance, I’d do it over and over again. I guess I know where I’m going every

Spring Break from here on out...I can’t wait to go back!” —Bryn Warner

Back row, from left: Sydney Kahan, Amanda Hudson, Bryn Warner andmission leader Linda Culp. Front row, from left: Yong Duan, AmandaFetterolf, Nicole Oyola and mission leader Rev. Dr. Richard Vance.

Sydney Kahan, Amanda Fetterolf andYong Duan apply a fresh coat of paint.

Sydney Kahan and Yong Duan



HIGHLIGHTS | special event

Dr. and Mrs. Johnston chat with Dr. R. Jervis Cooke and

Mae (McCabe) Dukes ’31.

A Celebration of the Arts inSupport of Student Scholarships

BY CATHY ANDERSON

THE WESLEY COLLEGE Board of Trustees with WesleyPresident Bill Johnston and his wife Susan hosted an elegantevening affair on Saturday, April 10 to raise funds for WesleyCollege scholarships and pay tribute to departed friend andlong-time trustee Dr. Joseph S. Bellmeyer. Over 80 guests,including community leaders, alumni and friends of the College,enjoyed the first ever “Arts in the Parlor” at the president’s beautiful historic home, the Annie Jump Cannon House.

Attendees enjoyed a unique event highlighted by perform-ances and displays from talented musicians and visual artistsfrom the College and the surrounding community. Harpist andfaculty member Mike Nielsen played beautiful music as guestsfirst arrived, and a captivating monologue was delivered by Jeff

Wesley Dessesow (far left) sings to the guests gathered at “Arts in the Parlor.”


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 13

of everyone, Susan Johnston presented several of her originalwatercolors throughout her home.

“Arts in the Parlor” also provided a creative dining experience. The menu featured delicious tapas, common toSpanish cuisine, which Chef Pete Buoncristiano was on hand todescribe. The serving of tapas allowed everyone to eat, mingleand enjoy the artists throughout the house at the same time.Ann Horsey served as the “wine artist,” informing guests aboutthe various wines offered with dinner. The food was generouslydonated by Aramark Corporation, who provides food servicesfor Wesley College.

During the evening’s program, President and Mrs. Johnstonand Board of Trustee Chair Charles “Chip” Dashiell, Jr. eachthanked attendees for their friendship and collaborations withthe College. They shared that “Arts in the Parlor” was designedas a special occasion to bring individuals closer to Wesley andembrace community involvement, while also celebrating thearts. Bill Strickland, trustee and president of the Wesley Society,eloquently expressed why Wesley, with its prominent social and economic presence in the area and mission in educating tomorrow’s leaders, is so deserving of support. He asked gueststo consider joining the newly formed Wesley Society, which recognizes individuals and organizations committed as partnerswith Wesley through financial gifts of $1,000 or more annually.There are currently 119 charter members of the Wesley Society.

Due to the combined generosity of Aramark and severalother businesses and individuals, 100 percent of the proceedsprovided needed scholarship funds, and each guest’s ticket price was fully tax-deductible. Given the success of this year’s“Arts in the Parlor,” there are plans to continue this as an annualfundraising function to increase support for students attendingWesley College and showcase the artistic talent within theCollege community and beyond. ■

Mask, professor of religion, philosophy and American studies.During the course of the evening, musicians performed in differ-ent rooms throughout the house. Pieces included piano selec-tions by Jonathan Emmons, instructor of music and director of choirs and College organist, and several stirring guitar duets by Associate Professor of Music David Laganellaand talented Wesley students Nick Hancock and Mike Sandy.Two soloists, staff member Amy Kellen ’08 and freshmanWesley Dessesow, and a quartet of Emmons, Kellen, Dessesowand Advancement staff member Jennifer Telles ’09 entertainedguests with enchanting vocal performances.

Throughout the Cannon House, visual art was exhibited byDebra Stelling, a noted Delaware Valley artist. Photographerand Wesley instructor Joseph Mullan shared his talents throughthe display of three black and white photographs, and ConnieImboden exhibited her unique photography. And to the delight

Mike Sandy and David Laganella

Jeff Mask, Ivey Mask, Mike Nielsen and Joseph Mullan

Wesley Society President Bill Strickland addresses the crowd.


t is near impossible to get a nation, let alone the world, to commit to a new lifestyle unless it has been done before andproven to be successful. After over 50 years in real

estate and development, Fred Spain ’58 is in the midst ofshowing the nation how it’s done. Along with his partner,world renowned LEEDS architect Douglas H. Carter, Spainhas acquired the land and is acquiring the funds to developan entire town that addresses the realities that lie ahead:global warming, rising energy costs and scarcity ofresources. In the near future, Ranson, West Virginia will be a shining example of how Americans can live a newlifestyle that is eco-friendly and attainable.

Attainable+Sustainable

HIGHLIGHTS | alumni profile

BY LEIGH ANN COLEMAN ’09

I



eWEARE.WESLEY.EDU 15



Spain has had an appreciation for naturallife since he was a boy. Just after WorldWar II, his parents bought a 50 acreapple and peach farm in Delanco, NewJersey, right on the Delaware River. AsSpain grew up, his memories broadenedfrom life on the farm to life on the river.During that time, he hunted ducks andgeese, trapped muskrats and fished therivers and creeks in New Jersey. He hasowned several boats during his life andnow is captain of "Reel Easy," a 55-footsport fishing boat. This easily explains the nickname of “Mark Trail” listed under his class photo in the Eukairia,Wesley’s yearbook.

Although he was a natural guidewhen it came to exploring the outdoors,Spain was on the receiving end when ahigh school friend named Al Snow ledhim to discover Wesley Junior College,where he would begin his higher education. Snow was going into theSeminary, a path Spain also had entertained, so the United Methodistinstitution had a unique draw. After ameeting with President Slaybaugh and

some convincing of Spain’s parents, the18-year-old from Delanco officiallybecame a Wolverine.

“My two years at Wesley were mygrowing up years,” said Spain. Wesleywas a new beginning where he found lifelong friends by joining the StudentCouncil and the football team. He alsofound strong mentors like Dean Sterlingand Lewis “Uncle Louie” Wells. “I think Ican say without hesitation, that all of usfrom the Class of 1958 believe that withoutWesley, we would never have seen thebright light of day and what the worldtruly offered.”

Even though more than 50 years have

passed since his days at Wesley, Spain can still recall a course assignment thathas forever shaped his perspective. He

reminisced, “My most memorable experience of ‘awakening’ my spirit happened when Professor Wells gave usan assignment to write about what weexperienced when we read ‘Seeing Life’by Alexander Baron. I have been trying tosee life every day since.”

Spain became interested in real estatewhen he transferred to AmericanUniversity after Wesley. In 1959 he landedhis first real estate job and obtained hislicense. Almost 20 years later, Spain, withhis wife Barbara, bought the Better

“I think I can say without hesitation,that all of us from the Class of 1958believe that without Wesley, we wouldnever have seen the bright light of dayand what the world truly offered.”

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY

CONSERVE BUT PRODUCE POWER BY

EMBRACING THE LATEST WIND, SOLAR,

HYDROGEN AND BIOMASS TECHNOLOGIES.

THE DESIGN OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURES

SUCH AS STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

HELP AVOID MASSIVE, POWER AND

RESOURCE CONSUMING TREATMENT

PLANTS IN FAVOR OF GENTLER, MORE NAT-

URAL AND YET MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS.

HIGHLIGHTS | alumni profile

Attainable+Sustainable


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 17

Homes and Gardens real estate franchisefor the Washington metropolitan area. Inaddition to operating his realty business,he developed numerous commercial andresidential projects covering more than3,000 acres in Prince William, Fairfax,Culpeper and Loudoun counties inVirginia. He later sold his real estateoffices to the broker managers so that hecould focus exclusively on land acquisi-tion and development. In 1988 the Spains purchased a 200 acre apple farm inFauquier County, Virginia, which thecouple owned for about 10 years beforemoving back to Washington to a houseon the Potomac River.

Among the many posts throughouthis career, Spain is a past first vice presi-dent of the Northern Virginia Board ofRealtors and past chairman of its FairHousing Committee. He is a member ofJefferson County Citizens for EconomicPreservation and National Association ofRealtors and earned the distinction ofbeing named among the “OustandingYoung Men in America” in 1976.

The Spains are now the principal brokers for American Realty andManagement in Maryland and Virginia.He and Barbara also own the West EndGroup Investors, LLC, ADS Developers,LLC and Grand Vista, LLC, which serveMartinsburg and Ranson in West Virginia.The West End Group and Grand Vistaare currently developing over 1,300 acresof residential and commercial land toeventually become “RansonGreen: AWest Virginia Community for a CarbonFree Future.”

For the past five years, Spain hasworked tirelessly to obtain properties andresearch the latest technologies that arerequired to create a sustainable city.“With the economy so stressed thesedays, we have found that the investorsand manufacturers of green productsneed a place to display them — in a trueworld working environment where thesenew products can be seen and tweaked,”

said Spain. “There is no better place to dothis than in homes and commercial build-ings that are using them in their dailyroutines.”

Situated in one of the most historicareas of the country and neighboringCharles Town and Harper’s Ferry, thetown of Ranson could not be a more ideallocation to “build the future on the best of

the past.” The land boasts beautiful fields,mountains and rivers, yet is close enoughfor residents to commute to Washington,D.C. while enjoying a 33 percent lowercost of living. With business alreadythriving in its surrounding area, Ransonhas all the potential needed to set the newstandard. “We are set to prove that ourproject can produce enough pure energy,with electric and hydrogen being thepower supply and reserve, to run ourhouses, transportation and businessesfrom the utilization of wind, solar andbiological degeneration of waste.”Existing on clean and renewable energysources, the urban design and architec-ture of RansonGreen will provide a hometo more than 12,000 individuals and families as well as major corporationsand small businesses. The vision is an all-encompassing community that offersa variety of shopping and entertainmentalong with recreational, civic and cultural

activities for itsresidents.

Beyond all thehard work they doevery day, theSpains continue toenjoy the life theylead and try tokeep up with their13 grandchildren.“We appreciatethe many oppor-tunities that going green hasoffered us withnew technologiesdeveloped bywonderful peoplewho are workingtoward building

an environment that supports anddefends planet Earth,” Spain remarked.While persevering in order to completethe RansonGreen project, he andBarbara see a future filled with greencities “for generations of humans tocome forth and enjoy the beautiful planet as we have been able to duringour many years of life.” ■

From left: Fred’s yearbook portrait, football pose and Student Council photo for the yearbook(Fred is in the back row, far right). Below: Fred and Barbara Spain pose with Wally, Wesley’smascot, at Homecoming.



BY GEOFF GOYNE

For all the latest scores and highlights,visit the athletics website at gowesleyathletics.com

Wolverine

SPORTS

NCAA ELITE Wesley tied a school record with a 13-1record and finished fourth in Division III in the finalnational rankings. They also won both the ECAC Team of the Year Award and the distinguished Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy, the annual award given to the best teams in the East in college football Divisions I-AA, II and III.

Aaron Jackson


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 19

FOOTBALLNCAA worthyNo. 4 in Division III, Lambert-MeadowlandsTrophy, NCAA SemifinalistsENTERING THE 2009 SEASON, onlytwo programs in all of Division III foot-ball had won more playoff games since2005 than Wesley College — perennialpowers Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Wolverines kept pace asone of the nation’s elite programs in 2009,handling each of its first three postseasonopponents with ease before the PurpleRaiders of Mount Union ended Wesley’srun in the national semifinals.

The groundwork for the postseasonrun was set during a perfect regular season. The season opener looked to be a tough test for a defense that had lostsome valuable parts from the previousyear, with nationally ranked ChristopherNewport led by preseason All-Americanrunning back Tunde Ogun. The new unitwas up to the task, however, holdingOgun to just eight yards in the game andtrouncing the Captains 34-0.

After a road win against scholarshipDivision II program North Greenville,Wesley traveled to Delaware Valley, whohad handed Wesley its only loss of the2008 regular season. The story was differ-ent in 2009, however, as the Wolverinesrouted the Aggies, 31-13. A lopsided winover a 2008 playoff team, LaGrange, sentWesley into a Homecoming matchupwith Frostburg State at 4-0. TheWolverines received six touchdown passes from Shane McSweeny against theBobcats, including three to Ellis Krout,and dismantled their conference rivals 44-19. It was back on the road to face anotherAtlantic Central Football Conference(ACFC) rival in Apprentice, but theBuilders fell 39-0 as the Wesley defensepitched its second shutout of the year.

Wesley’s final four games were allscheduled home games at Scott D. Miller Stadium. Another game against a scholarship program opened the homestand as Webber Internationalcame to Dover. Aaron Jackson rushed

for four touchdowns in the game and thedefense held the Warriors to just onescore in a 34-7 win. Arch rival Salisburyfollowed on Halloween. Two touchdowncatches by All-American tight end SeanMcAndrew and a 76-yard touchdownrun by Jackson built Wesley a 21-6 halftime lead as the Wolverines cruisedto a 30-12 victory to claim their fifthstraight conference championship.

The regular season came to a close with perhaps the two best teams on theschedule, Lake Erie College and OhioDominican, both scholarship programsfrom Ohio. The Storm played well, but theWolverines had two goal line stands insidethe one yard line and went on to win 28-13.The Panthers entered Dover with a high-powered offense and for the first time allseason, Wesley trailed heading into thefourth quarter. Wesley scored the game’sfinal two touchdowns, however, to erase a15-point deficit and win 32-28.

The Wolverines’ 10-0 regular seasonearned them the top seed in their bracketand a home field advantage in the firstthree rounds of the NCAA playoffs. Inthe first round, Wesley turned a closegame into a rout with 35 second halfpoints in a 55-23 win over North CarolinaWesleyan. Nationally ranked MississippiCollege brought one of Division III’s topoffenses to face the Wolverines in the second round. McSweeny tossed threefirst half touchdown passes to Krout,however, and the defense shut down theChoctaws for a 43-9 victory.

Johns Hopkins, the Cinderella team ofthe postseason, had already won twoplayoff games on the road before travelingfrom Baltimore for the South RegionChampionship Game. After two weeks ofgreat weather in the first two rounds ofthe postseason, Dover was slammed withlow temperatures, wind, rain and sleeton game day. The weather made the fieldconditions less than desirable, but the

Wolverines turned it into a game of keepaway, holding the ball for over 40 minutes in a 12-0 win.

Wesley then made its third trip to thenational semifinals since 2005, heading totop ranked Mount Union College. TheWolverines trailed just 10-7 in the fourthquarter before the Purple Raiders scoredtwice late in the game to end theWolverines’ season.

When it was all said and done, Wesleyhad tied a school record with a 13-1record and finished fourth in Division IIIin the final national rankings. They alsowon both the Eastern College AthleticConference (ECAC) Team of the YearAward and the distinguished Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy, the annual awardgiven to the best teams in the East in college football Divisions I-AA, II and III.

“It is a great honor to be recognizedwith other programs, like Penn State andVillanova,” Wesley Head Coach MikeDrass noted. “We are humbled by theprestige of this award. To be recognizedas the best team in the East is a steptowards our goal of being the best teamin the nation.”

Several Wesley players received acco-lades as well. Mike Ward, Aaron Benson,Chris Mayes and McAndrew eachearned All-America honors. Mayes wasnamed the D3football.com South RegionDefensive Player of the Year and teamedwith Ward for 23 sacks and 58 tackles forloss on a dominant defensive front.Benson intercepted seven passes andreturned two for touchdowns. NineteenWolverines were named to the All-ACFCteam, including McSweeny and Ward,who earned Offensive and DefensivePlayer of the Year Awards. Drass joinedthem as the circuit’s Coach of the Year.

Long time Offensive Coordinator ChipKnapp coached several offensive playersto stellar seasons. McSweeny earnedECAC Player of the Year honors afterpassing for 29 touchdowns and over 2,900yards and rushing for nearly 800 moreand eight additional touchdowns. Kroutset a school record with 20 touchdownreceptions and Jackson overcame a midseason injury to rush for over 1,000yards. ■

review | SPORTS



ENTERING THE 2009-10 SEASON,several questions faced the WesleyCollege men’s basketball team. Yes, theWolverines were coming off a record setting season in which they won theirfirst Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)championship and advanced to theNCAA Division III Tournament for thefirst time in school history, but the teamlost All-American Rashawn Johnson andAll-CAC pick Evan Martin, along withfive other players from that team. WouldWesley build upon the success of the previous year? Or, were the Wolverines a one-year wonder?

While the team had lost key playersfrom the previous year, Head Coach Jerry Kobasa’s cupboard was not bare.Returnees Alphonzo Wright, RudyThomas and Kevin Johnson had all started on last year’s team and JacquesBowe joined Wright as a team captain.Also returning were steady players Chris Douglas and Sean McAndrew, andKobasa restocked the roster with fivenewcomers. On paper, it looked like theWolverines could be competitive, buthow good was anyone’s guess.

Wesley openedthe season with arematch against aNorth CarolinaWesleyan programthat had defeated the Wolverines theprevious year. But after 29 pointsfrom Thomas, theWolverines openedtheir season with awin. After the promising win,Wesley was just 4-4over its next eightgames and enteredthe Eastern CollegeAthletic Conference(ECAC) HolidayFestival just a single

game above .500. The Wolverines defeated a Ramapo team that would win 18 games and then took out a nationally ranked UMass-Dartmouthsquad to capture the FestivalChampionship.

But it was not until after two morelosses that fans saw just how strong theteam actually was. The Wolverines wonthe next eight contests over the span of amonth to build momentum and finishedthe regular season by winning 10 of theirlast 11 contests. The hot finish tied Wesleyfor second place in the CAC regular season standings, but the Spartans ofYork (Pa.) held a tie breaker and receiveda first round bye in the conference tour-nament, along with St. Mary’s (Md.), theregular season champions.

Wesley, seeded third in the tourna-ment, hosted sixth-seeded Salisbury inthe first round and hit 17 of its first 21shots to open the game and cruised pastthe Sea Gulls, 82-64. The win earned the Wolverines a trip to York in the semifinals, where they tied the 2008-09team’s Division III school record with 18wins. Wesley kept up the hot shooting,

hitting 55 percent from the floor and won 94-81 to advance to the CACChampionship for the second straightyear and set a new Division III schoolrecord with the squad’s 19th win.

In the championship, the Wolverinesfaced a nationally ranked St. Mary’s(Md.) squad. The Seahawks held a 14-point lead with 16 minutes left in thegame, but Wesley used a 20-9 run to trimthe lead and later took the lead beforetwo buckets in the final minute lifted St. Mary’s to the win, 80-76.

Wesley then awaited word on a potential NCAA bid and when the brackets were announced, theWolverines were going to the tournamentfor the second straight year. In the firstround, Wesley was sent to Kings Point,New York to face the Merchant MarineAcademy. Freshman Paul Reynoldsexploded for 32 points and 11 rebounds in the game, but the defensive-mindedMariners limited the chances for the rest of the team and ended Wesley’s season, 67-61.

Reynolds, the former Gatorade HighSchool Player of the Year in Delaware,was named CAC Rookie of the Year andjoined Thomas on the All-Conferenceteam. Reynolds also was recognized asan ECAC Division III South All-Star andfinished fifth in Division III with a .655field goal percentage—a school record.Wright etched his name among theschool’s all-time leading scorers andrebounders, and Johnson joined him onthe all-time scoring list.

The season also capped a successfulfive year run for Wesley. The Wolverines.624 winning percentage is the highestamong four-year institutions in the stateof Delaware. Also, Wesley is the onlyschool to make the NCAAs over that timeperiod. With the return of nine playersfrom this year’s team, including fourstarters, the Wolverines will look to continue to build the program into one of Division III’s elite. ■

MEN’S BASKETBALLBuilding Upon Success

Chris Douglas


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 21

EVERY SEASON for every team has akey moment. For Wesley College’swomen’s basketball team, that momentcame in the Wolverines’ own holidaytournament. Injuries were derailing what looked to be a promising seasonand the team had lost six of its past seven games entering the second day of the tournament.

Wesley was facing an always toughWidener team and needed a win. TheWolverines came out and never trailed in that game to get momentum going inthe right direction. Another win overRowan kept it going and after six straightconference wins, Wesley was right backin the thick of the playoff hunt in theCapital Athletic Conference (CAC).Overall, Wesley won 15 of its last 18 regular season games and finished thirdin the CAC.

During the impressive finish, Wesleygot healthy and the newcomers improvedas the year went on, in part due to extratime gained when other players wereinjured earlier in the year. Junior forwardAngie Owens stepped up and earnedthree Conference Player of the Weekawards and a D3hoops.com NationalTeam of the Week accolade during thesecond half of the season. ClassmateCory Boyd again was ranked among thenational leaders and paced the CAC inassists. Freshman Jazmine Miller scored17 or more points in a game on threeoccasions.

The Wolverines entered the playoffsfacing off with Gallaudet and ConferencePlayer of the Year Easter Faafiti. TheBison kept pace with Wesley in the firsthalf, but the Wolverines opened the second half with a 22-2 run and neverlooked back to advance to the CAC semifinals for the second straight year.National power Marymount (Va.) haltedWesley, but the opening round win overGallaudet was the squad’s 17th of the season. That total was enough to earn theWolverines a trip to the Eastern College

Athletic Conference (ECAC) SouthTournament, where Wesley’s seasoncame to an end with a 17-11 record.

Owens and Boyd were named to theAll-CAC team and Owens earned bothECAC All-Star and D3hoops.com All-Region honors. Boyd became Wesley’sall-time assist leader and ended the yearwith over 100 more than her nearestcompetitor. Owens scored her 1,000thpoint late in the season, becoming theeighth player in the Division III era to doso. She also grabbed 226 defensiverebounds to set Wesley’s single seasonrecord and climbed to be among theschool’s all-time leaders in rebounds and blocked shots.

Owens also added the three-pointfield goal to her arsenal. After not hitting

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLFinishing Strong

review | SPORTS

a three in her first two seasons, she shot42 percent from behind the arc. Theteam’s lone senior, Michele Mules, finished her career fourth at Wesley with122 career three-point field goals, andreserve Shavonda Cephas emerged asone of the top long distance shooters in the conference, hitting 40 percent ofher attempts.

The year continued the rebuilding ofthe program under fourth-year HeadCoach James Wearden. His two mostrecent teams have put together 34 totalwins and two ECAC bids after his firsttwo tallied just 19 wins. With fourstarters and nearly every key reservereturning next year, Wesley will look tocarry this season’s strong finish into2010-11. ■

Michele Mules ’10


SOME PEOPLE like to stay busy. Thenthere’s Jacques Bowe ’10. It’s hard to findan organization in which this 2010 graduate was not involved during histime at Wesley. A captain on the men’sbasketball team, Bowe was the presidentof the Wesley College Student AthleteAdvisory Council, the vice president ofthe Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), amember of the Fellowship of ChristianAthletes, a resident assistant inMalmberg Hall, a student ambassadorfor the Admissions Office, a member ofthe College’s Gospel Choir, an employeein the Office of Student Activities, vicepresident of the campus Legal Societyand a member of the AdvisoryCommittee for Legal Studies. And that’s just on-campus involvement.

Outside of school, Bowe has beenactive in his church, the PentecostalChurch of God (PCOG) in Lincoln,Delaware; a drummer in both thePentecostal Highlights and the FutureGeneration; a member of the NationalYouth Department Planning Committeefor the PCOG; and he volunteers at theOld Manor Nursing Home in Milford,Delaware.

When he first came to Wesley, Bowehad plans to play both football and basketball. After two years of bothsports, he gave up football to focus onbasketball. “When I became an RA, playing two sports was too much,” hesaid. “That’s when I became dedicated to improving on the court.”

Head Coach Jerry Kobasa also noticedthe hard work. “When Jacques came intoour program, he was an outstandingathlete who happened to play basketball,”he recalled. Over the years, he justworked harder and harder to become a better player.”

The move paid off. After averagingonly 8.4 minutes per game and just 1.5points and an equal number of reboundsas a freshman and sophomore, Bowe hit

the gym. As a junior, he added the three-point shot to his arsenal and set careerhighs in nearly every category as a keyreserve on the Wolverines’ run to theCAC Championship and first NCAATournament appearance.

But Mr. Everything wasn’t done yet.After another summer of hard work,Bowe was named one of two team cap-tains for his senior year. He also emergedas a scoring threat, and his numbers inalmost every category across the boardsurpassed those of his first three seasonscombined. When injuries among team-mates struck and he was given his firstcareer start, he didnot disappoint. Hehit five threes on hisway to a career high17 points. Boweremained in thestarting lineup forsix more games and averaged 10.9 pointsper game over that time.

“Before this year, Coach [Kobasa] toldme I’d be a captain,” he said. “We wentover how I would need to take on a leadership role with the team and devel-oped a plan with coaches. Come early,stay late.”

The decision to make Bowe a captainwas an easy one for the coaching staff.“Jacques has always put the team first,”Kobasa observed. “There was never atime that it was Jacques first, team second. And that’s what makes him asuccessful leader. The team knew thatwhen he said something, it had meaningand substance.”

“Jacques is the kind of player that ifyou had a son, that’s who you’d want himto be like,” Kobasa continued. “He alwaysbest represented the program and theschool.”

In part because of Bowe’s play, theWolverines kept rolling through the regular season and into the CACTournament, earning a trip to the finals

for the second straight year. Wesley’s winin the CAC Semifinals was the team’s19th—a school record at the Division IIIlevel. The Wolverines fell in the conference title game, but still earnedtheir second straight NCAA berth.

Among his off-campus activities,Bowe takes great pride in his volun-teerism, knowing it makes a difference to others. This is particularly true in hisrole at the Old Manor Nursing Home.“We minister to the residents and alsojust spend time with them, talking,” henoted. “Basically we just try to brightensomeone’s day while we’re there.”

Now that Bowe has graduated fromWesley, he plans to attend law school andhis past endeavors have prepared him forthat path. As president of the Legal Society,he organized different events for students in the program, including workshops to prepare for the LSATs. In addition, as astudent representative on the AdvisoryCommittee for Legal Studies, a group made up largely of lawyers, judges andother legal professionals, he has gainedexposure to a professional network in thefield. In preparation for his future plans,Bowe also is doing an internship with thelaw firm of Donovan & Hopkins. Heassists in trial preparation, conductsresearch for cases, and aids in formulatingtrial strategies. He will spend this summerstudying for the LSATs and getting readyfor law school.

“Jacques is the kind of worker that isalways successful,” Kobasa observed.“He is not afraid of challenges or puttingin the effort to reach any goal he sets forhimself. That’s what will make him successful in the real world.” ■


Jacques of All TradesJacques Bowe ’10BY GEOFF GOYNE

SPORTS | athlete profile

“There was never a time that it wasJacques first, team second. And that’swhat makes him a successful leader.”

— Head Coach Jerry Kobasa


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 23



SPORTS | athlete profile

BY ABIGAIL HILL ’12

WHEN MICHELE MULES ’10 came to Wesley College, shecame with a mental checklist. She wanted a small school,Division III athletics and professors with heart. She also is ayoung woman with her eyes set on the prize. After just graduating from Wesley in May, she feels satisfied that herundergraduate goals have been met and she is prepared for hernext step in life. This August, she will head to University ofChicago in Illinois with a passion to follow corporate law.

Mules came to Wesley to play basketball, and found that theschool had a lot more to offer. Shortly after arriving, she foundher niche at Wesley and prospered from her involvement oncampus. As a dual-sport athlete in basketball and softball, shelearned how difficult it can be to manage being a part of a teamwhile keeping up with academics. However, sports became hersaving grace and taught her valuable life lessons. “Sports havekept me on track and taught me time management,” sheexplained. “I have also learned teamwork, and that it is alwaysokay to ask for help.”

After finding her way on and off the court, Mules began contemplating her future aspirations. She pursued a doublemajor in English and legal studies, hoping to settle on her careerpath. Mules expressed, “The small classroom sizes and the one-on-ones I have had with my professors have been very important to my education.” She gives credit to the faculty forproviding an intellectual and personal college education. “Ourprofessors care,” she stated. Through the efforts of faculty members such as Dr. Linda De Roche, a provider of guidance,and Dr. Flora Hessling, Mules’ inspiration, she found her passion and chose to pursue it.

In addition to allowing her the opportunity to shine in theclassroom and among the campus community, the small schoolenvironment at Wesley also afforded Mules a chance to shine onthe playing field. A three-year starter for both the women’s basketball and softball teams, she improved each season. On thebasketball court, she established herself as a strong defenderand her 122 career three-point field goals rank her among theschool's all-time leaders. On the softball diamond, she emergedto lead the team with a .370 batting average as a junior.

Residence life at Wesley was one of the most meaningfulingredients in Mules’ college experience. It offered her a sense of community of which she will forever feel a part, knowing that many individuals she met will become lifelongfriends. In the College’s future, she hopes that residence life programs will continue to reinforce the Wesley communitybond and thus help keep more students on campus, active andout of trouble.

“Residence life has taught me about the importance of professionalism,” Mules said. This lesson will serve her well asshe moves on to law school and her future career. She may be traveling across the country to pursue her next educational goal, but she will always have a home back at Wesley. ■

Knowing Your NicheMichele Mules ’10


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 25

build a beautiful new facility in town—The Little School at Kids Cottage. TheLittle School’s administration was glad tosee their former home put to good use.The Wesley administration certainlyshares the sentiment.

“The Little School has been an icon in the community for generations andWesley College is very pleased to be thenext generation of caretakers of thisproperty,” President Bill Johnstonexpressed. “The reputation for care andinterest in our youth, which began withMrs. Biddle and Mrs. Richter, will continue through the college studentsserved on this site.” ■

Big Move Wesley Athletics Relocates to ‘Little School’

THE WESLEY COLLEGE AthleticsDepartment recently found a new home,as several offices were relocated to whatwas formerly the Little School on NorthQueen Street in Dover. When the LittleSchool moved in 2009 from its old location to a new building on Mont BlancBoulevard in Dover, Wesley was able toacquire the former site, convenientlylocated adjacent to Wesley WestFieldhouse and one block away fromScott D. Miller Stadium.

The acquisition of much-needed officespace has been an exciting developmentfor the College and the AthleticsDepartment specifically. It has precipitatedrepositioning of many team and coaches’offices to consolidate the Department inone central area, making operationsmore efficient as well asmore convenient forprospective students andfamilies.

To fill what is nowbeing called the WesleyAthletics House, theDepartment’s administra-tive office, the sports information office andtrack & field offices weremoved from the groundfloor of the DuPontCollege Center. The football offices were repo-sitioned from the FootballHouse on GovernorsAvenue and the men’s soccer office, formerlylocated in the Interna-tional House on StateStreet, also shifted to thenewly acquired space. Thewomen’s lacrosse officealso found a new home inthe Athletics House, freeing up space for thebaseball office to movefrom the ground floor of

the DuPont College Center to WesleyWest. The office space vacated byAthletics has been reassigned to theNursing Department, another campusprogram happy to have some extra room.

The Little School is one of the oldestpreschools in Delaware, having servedover four generations of children in thebuilding on North Queen Street. It wasfounded in 1954 by Hattye Mae Biddle,who then passed the reins to her hand-picked successor, Jane Richter, in 1975.When it came time for owner and operator Richter to consider the future of the Dover preschool, she decided tojoin with two local Little School alumniand parents, along with the owners of the popular Kids Cottage in Lewes,Delaware, to form a new partnership and

news | SPORTS

Head Football Coach Mike Drass, JaneRichter, Hattye Mae Biddle and PresidentJohnston outside the new Athletics House.



CLASS NOTESTo post your latest news, visit the alumni website at weare.wesley.edu/classnotes or include with the return envelope provided.

CongratulationsClass of 2010!On May 8, 235 graduates received theirWesley College diplomas at SpringCommencement. To read the full article anddownload photos from the graduation events,visit weare.wesley.edu/commencement

Wesley New Castle graduates John Pratt,Todd Lionberger, Carla High and Karla Miller.

Graduate Brad Bivins withsister Caty (Bivins) Beron’05/’07 and proud parentsMark and Patty Bivins.

Amanda Parisi

President Johnston addresses the 2010 graduates.


WEARE.WESLEY.EDU 27

ARTHUR and DR. KATHLEEN JACOBScelebrated their 50th wedding anniversaryon Sunday, April 11 with family, friends anddignitaries at the Dover Downs Liberty Suitein Dover, Delaware. Arthur is director of admissions and Kathleen is professor ofbusiness management at the College. Familyand friends drove and flew to Delaware toparticipate in the special event put togetherby the couple’s three children. The couplereceived a gold trimmed greeting card fromthe President of the United States and thefirst lady—Barack Obama and MichelleObama. A tribute from Governor Jack Markelland Lt. Governor Matthew Denn of Delawarewas also received by the couple and read atthe event by their youngest daughter. TheCEO of Dover Downs, Denis McGlynn, wasalso in attendance to join the couple in theircelebration.

’48GABRIEL CHUCHANI wrote in “to informmy unforgettable Wesley and AlumniAssociation members that I still am active inscientific research works.” His career effortshave been directed toward one goal - toestablish a tradition of scientific research inVenezuela, particularly in the field of chem-istry. One of his professional achievementswas the foundation in 1958 of the ChemistryCenter at the Venezuelan Institute forScientific Investigations, IVIC, of which hewas the head for a period of 16 years. Inaddition to all his research and innumerablepublications, in recent years Gabriel has lectured basic and advanced courses inphysical organic chemistry to graduate stu-dents of IVIC. He also has lectured topics ofhis specialties in Venezuelan and foreigninstitutions.

’51The Washington Township Chamber ofCommerce has selected RALPH “ARKY”OWEN, president of Kiley Owen, as therecipient of the 2010 Rick Zammer Hall ofFame Business Person of the Year Award.This honor was awarded to Ralph for hisefforts and contributions to the WashingtonTownship business community.

’58The first weekend in March 2010 a small group of classmates from the Class of 1958 gathered at the home of GAIL(HEMHAUSER) VAIN for a “mini-reunionmuch like our old snackbar sessions,” writes Gail. Lots of laughs, fellowship and

memories of Wesley ensued. The class-mates, namely Gail, EUGENE MEREDITH,PHIL SCALI and spouses Ralph, Kathie andMary, then traveled to the apartment ofROBERT DEVILBISS (known as “Dribbie”)who joined them for an evening of dining, reminiscing and fun at a local restaurant. Gail writes, “The time we shared togetherwas far too short but a great time was hadby all.”1 Clockwise, from left: GENE MEREDITH,PHIL SCALI, GAIL VAIN and BOBDEVILBISS (seated).

The latest work of BRUCE STORES waspublished in 2009. Titled “The Isthmus:Stories from Mexico’s Past, 1495-1995,” it is a historical fiction book based on hisresearch of the history and culture of Mexico,specifically the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,which is the bottom of the “scorpion’s tail” ofthe country, over a 500-year period. A bookreview describes Bruce’s use of storytelling.“His take on historical fiction paints a human,everyday face on the historian’s cold mask ofdates, places, and wars.” To read the fullreview of his book, visitweare.wesley.edu/classnotes

’62ANNE (PITTINGER) BUCKLER and husband Lew report that their oldest son,Michael, has completed a two year commit-ment teaching high school in Malawi Africafor the Peace Corps. Recently, he went towork for the federal government (like hisDad), specifically the National Park Service.The first year back from his assignment,Michael worked part-time and put together abook about his two years serving in thePeace Corps. He is hoping to find a publish-er and get the book printed, with proceedsfrom the sale of the books to be directed toa scholarship fund. The first three recipientswill be the three boys he shared his homewith while teaching high school. Anne andLew’s other son Bob received his MBA fromGeorge Washington University in May 2009and he and his wife Jess and 1-year-olddaughter Morgan moved to Huntersville,North Carolina, just north of Charlotte. Annewrites, “Our granddaughter Morgan is thelight of our lives.” Anne is now serving in hersecond term on the Wesley College AlumniBoard and in 2009 was elected secretary ofthe executive committee. “We enjoy travelingback to Wesley to help with the work of theboard and enjoy our time with friends.”2 Morgan Buckler

’64HARVEY KENTON, JR. has announced his candidacy for Delaware’s 36thRepresentative District. A lifelong Milford,Delaware resident and businessman, Harveyis campaigning for the Republican nomina-tion to succeed Representative GeorgeCarey when he retires at the end of his current term. He spent nearly two decadesas an agricultural salesman with the MilfordFertilizer Company. He retired from theMarvel Real Estate and Insurance Agency in2009 after 16 years. Harvey is president ofPeople’s Place properties board and FeltonBank board of directors. He also sits on theexecutive board of the Delaware State Fairand is a director for the Greater Milford Boysand Girls Club and the Milford CommunityCemetery.

’68KEN MCWILLIAMS writes, “Still think ofthe fun times we had at the little WesleyCollege. What a strange, different, fun bunchof people thrown together. Had a great time!I’m not real good at the website, email,Facebook stuff, but still alive and kickin’!”

’69On March 20, five members of the Class of’69—SUSAN (CHAMBLISS) DUFFY,DARLENE EASTON, CAROL(SAMWORTH) EWING, SALLY(GREGORY) MAY and SANDY (STREET)SEGRETO—met at Newark Airport to travelto Naples, Florida and visit with SUSAN(CLARKE) and TOM SCANGARELLO. Thegroup enjoyed four wonderful days visiting,seeing some of the local attractions andenjoying the warm weather.3 SANDRA (STREET) SEGRETO,SUSAN (CHAMBLISS) DUFFY, SALLY(GREGORY) MAY, SUSAN (CLARKE)SCANGARELLO, CAROL (SAMWORTH)EWING and DARLENE EASTON.

’87MICHAEL REISMAN is proud to reportthat he now has three published books out.His first book is “Incredible Short Stories,” hissecond book is “Where Angels Tread,” andhis third book is entitled “On Loves Path.”

Phillies Game Alumni Event: Aug. 7Homecoming 2010: Oct. 15-17

Tampa, FL Area Alumni Event: Nov. 9Homecoming 2011: Sept. 30-Oct. 2

SAVE THE DATES



’95Attention BSU members past and present!CHESLEY MCNEIL ’94 and YALONDA(WILKINS) ADAMS are requesting that yoube available for Homecoming Weekend2010. “There will be a memorial dedicationfor Debbie Evans and scholarship presenta-tion in honor of her and to show appreciationfor her many acts of kindness and dedicationto many of us throughout our Wesleycareers. In addition, there will be networkingand social events planned. See you there!”To stay in touch about the BSU reunion,request Yalonda on Facebook and explainwho you are. Her cell # is 443-514-8561.

’99SANTAE M. (BOYD) COOPER is pleasedto announce her marriage to Kris Cooper.The couple wed on November 21, 2009 atSt. Paul UAME Church in Wilmington,Delaware. 4 SANTAE (BOYD) COOPER and KRISCOOPER

VANESSA D. NESBIT is pleased toannounce the recent release of her newbook, “Rivers Running in Desert Places.”Released by PublishAmerica, the book is acollection of epic poems about the searchfor life-sustaining sources of refreshing in theoften brutal dry-spells of our lives. Mimickingthe ebb and flow of a river, the author uses amixture of itinerant and gushing verse, andvivid imagery to highlight universal themes of love, self-hatred, regret, introspection, triumphant victory and self-realization. Thecollection celebrates what it is to recall themantra “where there is water, there is life.”

’03TOMMI BARRETT-GREENLY reports that she and her husband Bryan Greenly, ajunior physics major at Delaware StateUniversity, have been selected as Delawareambassadors for National Aeronautics andSpace Administration (NASA). After both ofthem had internships at the company, thetwo were chosen among 105 NASA ambassadors nationwide. They will do presentations in the Delmarva region, work at job fairs for the agency and conduct otheroutreach endeavors for the space agency.Tommi is currently pursuing graduate studiesin education technology at the University ofDelaware. She also is a teacher at the MorrisEarly Childhood Center in Lincoln, Delaware,where she has been named the 2010Milford School District Teacher of the Year.

LESLEY (KNABLE) LOUDER and her husband Darrell are pleased to announce thebirth of their first child, Ethan Robert Louder,born Tuesday, April 6. He weighed 8 lbs., 3oz. and was 22 inches long. Ethan joins afamily of many Wesley graduates, includingLesley’s mother and father and proud grandparents, LYNN (SCHMID) KNABLE’67 and GERALD KNABLE ’68, and AuntELISE KNABLE ’09. 5 Ethan Robert Louder

’05DEB PACE has recently formed her own business. She has paired her writing skillswith nearly two decades of writing, editing,marketing, public relations, radio and television broadcasting, and other communications experience and is now president and CEO of BizCom LLC, a full-service professional business communica-tions firm. Deb was a freelance journalist withThe Mergermarket Group and Debtwire, divisions of London-based Financial TimesGroup, for more than four years. She spenttime at The Wall Street Journal RadioNetwork in Princeton, New Jersey, TexasRadio Network and KRLD radio in Dallas,The Villages News Network television stationin central Florida, and was a U.S. NavyJournalist. She is also an editor atEditAvenue.com and EditFast.com and hasbuilt and runs her own website www.bizcom-llc.com. She has an MBA from WesleyCollege and a bachelor’s degree in commu-nication management from WilmingtonUniversity.

’07BRENDAN BYRNE, who graduated fromWesley with a master’s degree in teaching,has completed a master’s degree inRenaissance literature at the University ofYork in Yorkshire, England (2010 graduate).He is currently in a PhD program inRenaissance literature at the University ofReading, Berkshire, England.

Former Wesley College All-American defensive end BRYAN ROBINSON fromHarrington, Delaware has made the 2010opening day roster of the ClevelandGladiators of the Arena Football League. In the summer of 2008, he was among thefinal cuts of the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.He played in the United Football League forthe New York Sentinals last fall after playingfor the Manchester Wolves of arenafootball2during the summer, finishing ninth in AF2with 10 sacks for the Wolves. He had

also signed with the Hamilton TigerCats ofthe Canadian Football league after the AF2season, before being scooped up by theUFL.

MELISSA CAMERON is pleased toannounce her engagement to Maurice Tooles,Jr. The couple got engaged on November 15,2009. Melissa is originally from Jamaica andlived in Baltimore, Maryland, and her fiancé isfrom New Jersey. Both of them now reside inDelaware, where Melissa is a full-time gradu-ate student at Wilmington University workingtowards a Master of Science in communitycounseling and Maurice is in the UnitedStates Air Force. The couple is planning aJune 2011 wedding.6 MELISSA CAMERON and MauriceTooles, Jr.

’08COLLEEN MCELWEE and her fiancé David Primavera, Jr. are proud to announcethe birth of their son, David Primavera, III.David was born on February 19 at 4:54 p.m.He weighed 8 lbs., 7oz. and was 203/4inches long.7 David Primavera

CAROL (OLSEN) ’71 and ROBERTNEYLAN ’72 announce the engagement oftheir daughter, SUSAN MARIE, of Atlanta,Georgia to Paul Alton Dreher, Jr. ofBirmingham, Alabama, son of Paul A. andIsabelle K. Dreher of Birmingham. The bride-to-be is a 2003 graduate of Dover HighSchool and graduated from Wesley in 2008with a Bachelor of Science in education. She is employed by the Cobb CountySchool District/Austell Elementary School,Powder Springs, Georgia, as a fourth gradeteacher. Her fiancé is a 2004 graduate ofAuburn University, Auburn, Alabama, with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and is a heavy metal broker for Jefferson Iron and Metal Brokerage ofBirmingham. An October 9, 2010 weddingis planned in Chelsea, Alabama.8 SUSAN NEYLAN and PAUL DREHER, JR.

IN MEMORIAMF. Bryan Bailey Jr. ’47Richard L. Everett ’51Frank Vasfailo ’95Joseph S. BellmeyerMarian J. FillmanSusan MatusakLehman R. Tomlin Jr.


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alumni events | CLASS NOTES

GOLDEN GRADUATES A beautiful spring afternoon over Dover Days weekend inDelaware’s capital city was a perfect time for graduates of Wesley Junior Collegeto reunite and reminisce with one another. The College’s “Golden Graduates” —alumni from the class of 1960 and all classes prior – were invited to a luncheon onSunday, May 2 at President Bill Johnston’s home, the historic Annie Jump CannonHouse. Front row, from left: VP for Institutional Advancement Chris Wood, JoanneBassett, Carla-Donna Martin, Doris (Wyatt) Boys ’45, Kate (Bishop) Breeding ’51,Nancy (Powell) Kinnamon ’45, President Bill Johnston. Second row, from left:Clarence Martin ’60, Marie Reynolds ’54, Frances (Stubbs) Conley ’45, AnnaWright ’45. Third row, from left: Frank Boys, Russ Bassett ’57, Allan Rusten, Muriel“Terri” (Bacon) Rusten ’54. Back row, from left: Alumni Director Amanda Downes,Bill Hufnal ’60, William Kinnamon and Ray Breeding.

NYC ALUMNI EVENT Wesley College held its first everalumni event in New York City on Friday, April 23. A groupof graduates, hailing from different parts of the New Yorkmetro area and representing classes ranging from ’71 to’04, gathered in a private room at the Heartland Brewery inManhattan’s Times Square. Pictured, from left: AlumniDirector Amanda Downes, Tom Pergola ’71, Rob Gebhardt’00, Kelli (Geary) Gebhardt ’02, Alicia (Sohn) Ellis ’86, JeffEllis ’88, Tom Trento ’75, Saboor Kelley ’04 and VP forInstitutional Advancement Chris Wood.

In an effort to be more cost-efficient and green, the College has begun reducing numbers of print event invitations via U.S. mail, onlysending to segments of alumni within a small radius of the event location. However, we welcome all Wesley alumni at events, whichare posted online at weare.wesley.edu/events and announced through our alumni newsletter via email. Please make sure we haveyour current email address so you can be on the lookout for details on upcoming Wesley alumni activities in which to participate!

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING On May 7 Wesley Football held its annual alumni golf outing at Jonathan’s Landing in Magnolia, Delaware. Front row,from left: Jon Lanouette ’09, Mike Root ’92, Jim Carnival ’93, Jim Steene ’93, Andrew Verlander ’05, Brian Culver ’05, Petie Davis ’67, Mike Mollo’77, Jon Hardy ’95, Mark Botvinis ’95, Steve Azzanesi ’00, Calvin Griffin ’91, Tim Butler ’94, Coach Bob Andrus, Jerry Kobasa ’69. Second row,from left: Bryan Robinson, Tim Daut ’02, Dave Baszkowski ’01, Bryan Sorenson ’06, Chris Sfamurri ’10, Sean Dunn ’00, Chris Becker ’01, CoachChip Knapp, Coach Mike Drass, Joe Broccoli ’94, Ken Pippin ’92, Coach Jason Bowen, Rob Stiles ’96, Jimmy Connolley ’95, Ryan Yakabosky’96, Frank Edwards ’94, Rob Dobak ’92, Rick Vogel ’92, Bernie Nowakowski ’95, Glenn Courtney ’75. Third Row, from left: Matt Ferguson ’09,Jason Schatz ’09, Joe Mangano ’97, Pat Schneider ’03, Tim Bayles ’07, Jim Newcome ’01, Forrley Gunby ’02, Bill Laphen ’99, Bob Scittina ’99,Jamie DeAngelo ’75, Tom Trento ’75, Jim Binder ’93, Coach Jack Fisher, Craig Stephenson ’72. Fourth row, from left: Matt Sellitto ’67, Don Diblasi’67, Mike Shockley ’99, Mike Haly ’74. Back row, from left: Tom Parker ’66, John Araneo ’67, Bill Emrich ’69, Mike Simmons ’75, Jason Gareau’99, Tom Hodnett ’98.



Solid RelationshipsEnthusiasm and Dedication Drive Partnership for Success

AS PRESIDENT of one of Delaware’s largest independent insur-ance agencies, L & W Insurance, Board of Trustee member anddedicated Wesley dad William J. Strickland has already provento be a natural fit to lead Wesley’s most dedicated constituents.He was recently appointed the first president of the WesleySociety, a cultivation group for annual donors of $1,000 or morewho have pledged to become instrumental partners in Wesley’sadvancement efforts. The enthusiasm Strickland has shownthrough his involvement with the local community and his dedi-cation to the College thus far have set the stage for a prosperousnew beginning for the WesleySociety under his leadership.

Strickland first becameinvolved with Wesley Collegethrough his son Justin, whoearned both a bachelor’sdegree and master’s in businessadministration at Wesley.“While at Wesley, Justingained a great education,played football and baseballand grew as a person. HisWesley experience was first-rate and as a parent, I am veryappreciative of the significantrole that Wesley played in hisdevelopment,” said Strickland.He and his wife Okemah havealways felt a tremendous senseof gratitude toward the Collegefor the impact it has had ontheir son, and they see theircontributions as small tokensof their appreciation.Strickland expressed, “It is mydesire to help Wesley Collegeascend to a higher level as aninstitution and frankly speak-ing, it takes money to do so.”

Strickland is equally quick to point out a community perspective of why giving to Wesley is so important. As a savvybusinessman, he knows firsthand the profound economicimpact that the College has on the greater Dover area, due to students and staff patronizing local businesses, restaurants and retail stores. “I feel Wesley is going to be a catalyst for theongoing effort to revitalize the downtown Dover area,” he said.

As president of the Wesley Society, Strickland sees his role asa facilitator in developing and strengthening the relationshipsbetween Wesley and its donors, not only in the context of giving,but in having a sense of ownership in the future of the College.He will serve as an ambassador for Wesley and work closelywith staff member Cathy Anderson, hired in December as director of the Wesley Society, in providing insight to current and potential Society members on the great initiatives going on at the College.

Strickland knows that Wesley cannot accomplish significantcampus improvements withoutstronger financial support fromalumni, parents, communitymembers and other donors. Hesaid, “Wesley Society membersare partners who share a com-mon goal of helping the Collegemaximize its potential to betterserve our growing studentbody.” He explained that thereare many institutional needsthat will not be addressed without an ongoing strongfinancial commitment, and heemphasized that the WesleySociety is the vehicle that willprovide that commitment.

Strickland encourages thosewho have not already done soto spend time with PresidentBill Johnston. “Bill’s dynamicvision and ‘can do’ attitude areso inspiring and create a highlevel of confidence about ourfuture,” he expressed.“Becoming a Wesley Societymember will allow alumni, parents and friends to supportBill’s vision for our future.

Overall, your membership will solidify your relationship withWesley College and directly impact what is a most promisingfuture for this institution.”

For more information on how to become a charter member of the Wesley Society, visit weare.wesley.edu/wesleysociety orcontact Cathy Anderson, director of the Wesley Society, at 302-736-2410 or [email protected] ■

ADVANCEMENT | Wesley Society


Be one of among hundreds of alumni

and friends whose contributions

continue the infinite opportunities for

current Wesley students. Please send

your gift in no later than June 30 by

simply completing and returning the

provided gift envelope, or give online at

weare.wesley.edu/onlinegiving

Thank you!

“I choseWesleybecause it is where I knew Icould besomebody.”

“Thank you for helping me become the leader I always knew I could be.”

Since his transformation from a shy

teenager to the well-rounded campus

leader he is today, Jarrhin Thomas

has wanted to inspire others. With

assistance from scholarship funding, he

soon acquired the skills and knowledge

to fulfill his dreams. Read more about

Jarrhin’s journey by visiting

weare.wesley.edu/JarrhinThomas


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DID YOU KNOW the We Are Wesley community includes an online directory of Wesley alumni? You can search byname or class year to find your long-lostroommate or the old gang from your dorm and send them a note through thesite or an email. Update your information in the directory at the same time becausewho knows what Wesley friends may belooking for you.

It’s all at your fingertips. Log on and start clicking.

For first time users, find your login ID # above your mailing address. Questions? Contact [email protected] or 302-736-2467.

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Wesley Spring 2010

Documents

Transcript of Wesley Spring 2010