Chronicles Feature

Sciascias Bring a Taste of Their Art to Reunion

Tom and Loren (Shuman) Sciascia’s truffles are sensory delights. Sublime flavors, exquisite beauty, and a theme to go with each unique design. A Walk in the Rainforest™ is made with and rolled in shavings of rich, earthy, native Arriba shade cocoa and supports the Rainforest Alliance. Lemonade Stand™ is a dark chocolate truffle infused with fresh-squeezed organic lemon and supports Alex’s Lemonade Stand.  

The Sciascias, both alumni from the class of ’86, are the creators of The Painted Truffle, a sophisticated chocolate enterprise garnering acclaim in the art world and among chocolate aficionados. Tom brought his expertise to campus last fall, melting chocolate and squeezing oranges with freshmen in Scott Rawlin’s seminar on chocolate. Getting their own hands-on experience with his chocolate was the coup d’gras for the freshmen, who also learned about growing, manufacturing and marketing chocolate.

Now Tom and Loren are giving fellow ’80s classmates a taste of their art. They will share their expertise in creating some delectable chocolate treasures on Saturday, June 3. Read more about Reunion 2006 and their special event, AU Loves the ’80s…and the ’80s Love Chocolate, along with other events such as the Dave Binder Concert and Texas Hold ’Em.

Alumni Portrait

Blankley ’57 Earns National CASE Award for Volunteerism

Rosemary Deniken Blankley ’57 has received national recognition for her years of loyalty and dedication to Arcadia University by being awarded the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Ernest T. Stewart Award for Alumni Volunteer Involvement. CASE, the national professional organization for advancement leaders in alumni relations, communications, and development, has 3,200 member institutions nationwide and in 55 countries. Blankley will receive this very prestigious award in July at a national press conference in New York City. Blankley Hall was renamed by Arcadia University to honor her, in much the same way CASE decided to honor her, for her alumni volunteer leadership.

Blankley also will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Arcadia University on May 19 at the Commencement ceremony for undergraduate students. “Rosemary has served the Arcadia community with distinction and loyalty for more than 49 years,” notes President Jerry Greiner. “As Class Editor and Fund Agent, as National Chair of the Annual Fund and chair of the Alumni Fund, and as a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, she has donated her own time, nurtured others in leadership roles and been recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding volunteers.”

Blankley graduated from Arcadia in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education. As a college student, she honed her volunteer skills as the captain of the field hockey team and as president of the Student Government Organization.

Reunion 2006
Celebrating Our Heritage
June 2 – 4

Grilled GOLD Picnic
Don’t miss Dave Binder!
June 3

Alumni and Student Career Workshop
June 10

Longwood Gardens Tour
June 24

Senior Fine Arts Thesis
April 28 – May 19

Commencement
May 18 - Graduate
May 19 - Undergraduate

At Arcadia Lauren Spearman ’98 discovered her passion for conservation. Today, she is a Fulbright Scholar searching for praying mantises and grasshoppers in South Africa. “I have the chance to learn what insects can teach us about these incredibly special places on Earth.” Read More about Spearman’s research.

Lauren Spearman is living the Arcadia Promise.

integrative learning

“Dr. John DiGregorio’s teaching sparked my interest in pharmacology and research,” says Stephanie Spayd ’05M, a forensic scientist now working with Dr. DiGregorio at the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation. “He helped me discover my future in forensic science.”

Stephanie Spayd is living the Arcadia Promise.

PERSONAL ATTENTION

For Bindu Ghimire ’06, taking part in a mock job interview, videotaped and analyzed by Mike Hertel, Director of Career Development, gave her confidence and prepared her for employers’ questions. Now she’s ready for the real thing!

Bindu Ghimire is living the Arcadia Promise.

Read more about the Promise at: www.arcadia.edu/arcadiapromise

Alumni News

Take Advantage of Career Opportunities with Free Workshops

The job market is sizzling – the falling unemployment rate means it’s a job-seekers market. A new series of workshops can help Arcadia alumni take full advantage of opportunities to enhance or change careers. The workshops will help alumni translate their strong liberal arts education into new career options, market their strengths in a new career field, or move up within their current field. The workshops will be led by Marcia Zaruba O’Conner of Resources Global Professionals. Résumé specialist Lisa Worthington will be available at each workshop. The workshops, which begin in June, are free and open to Arcadia alumni. Read more details about the workshops. To sign up, e-mail alumni@arcadia.edu.

Adventuresome Alumni Celebrate Ben’s Birthday, June 2

Join fellow alumni in an Arcadian Adventure that celebrates Ben Franklin’s 300th Birthday. The Reunion 2006 special adventure takes place on Friday, June 2. The day trip includes bus pick–up at the Castle, and transportation to and from three sites to choose from: The National Constitution Center, The Franklin Institute or Franklin Court. The adventure includes a pre-trip lecture in the Castle Mirror Room, “Exploring Franklin’s World.” The cost is $20 (which includes the bus and a boxed lunch) plus admission fees. Read more about this and upcoming Arcadian Adventures.

New Members Inducted to Alumni Association Board of Directors

Alumni Association President Ozzie Berger ’91 thanked retiring Alumni Association Board directors and welcomed new members inducted into the board on April 22. President Jerry Greiner also gave the Alumni Council a special presentation on the Arcadia Promise, a new initiative arising from the strategic planning process that helps communicate the University’s core values: a global perspective, integrative learning, and personal attention. The Council also discussed a new program – Fall Fest – that will take place in October, programming for Graduates of the Last Decade, and the Student Alumni Ambassadors. Read more about the newly inducted board members.

Front row from left: Marie Duke Murphy ’73, Christine Macaluso Thurston ’95, Lisa Sandler ’99, Tricia Kershner Luddecke ’00, JoAnne Polish ’99. Back row from left: Melissa King ’04M,  Donelle Brotz ’01, ’05M, Arthur “Ozzie“ Berger ’91, Kurt Luddecke ’00, President Jerry Greiner, Diane Zimmaro ’94.

Read More Alumni News at: www.arcadia.edu/alumninews

Giving Matters

Who will win this year?

This year at Reunion, classes ending in 6 and 1 will be competing for a new award—the Reunion2Sum Contest. The class with the highest Reunion2Sum—the number of alumni attending Reunion plus the number of alumni making a gift—will win a special cocktail reception hosted by President Greiner at Reunion. Read more about Reunion and Reunion Giving at www.arcadia.edu/reunion.

Classes of ’57, ’71, ’55, and ’04 Receive 2005 Annual Fund Awards

Awards for alumni giving to the 2005 Annual Fund were made at the Alumni Council meeting on April 22. “Arcadia’s alumni take great pride in their University, and their undergraduate giving rate has been recognized as one of the highest in the country,” says Jay Vogel, Vice President for University Advancement. “These awards exemplify that pride in Arcadia.” Read more about the awards won by the Classes of ’57, ’71, ’55, and ’04 at www.arcadia.edu/givingnews.

From left: Elsa Larsen Vernon ’71, Rosemary Deniken Blankley ’57, Elsa-Lu Greenblatt Berkowitz ’55, President Jerry Greiner, Anne Cornell Swalm ’55, and Margaret Poteet ’04.

Alumni Invited to Apply for Development Officer

Many Arcadia employees are alumni. A new position – Senior Development Officer – could be an ideal match for an alumna/us. The Senior Development Officer will serve as the planned giving expert and senior major gifts officer for Arcadia, working directly with donors in a planned giving program and overseeing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors. Read more about positions available at Arcadia at www.arcadia.edu/jobs.

Read more Giving Matters news at: www.arcadia.edu/givingnews

Alumni Snap Shots

Adeline Gordon Levine ’62 is pictured with her husband and two sons. In 1960 the 34-year-old mother became a sophomore at Beaver College at a time before the college had any special accomodations for older students. Read more about her in the Arcadia Magazine alumni section. (She was incorrectly identified in the printed version of Arcadia.)

Robert Curran ’94 and his daughter, Katie, attended a special reception at President Jerry Greiner’s home in February for prospective students who have been invited into Arcadia’s Honors Program for next year.

Reena Sharp ’05 (on far left) and her “Classy Unique Ladies” created a play about their three-month journey of exploration. Sharp created the leadership and mentoring program for the teenage girls at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center. They will perform the play on Saturday, June 3. For more information, contact Sharp at rsharp@chs-adphila.org or 267-671-7747.

 

Submit Your Snapshots through the
Online Community at: www.arcadia.edu/alumnionline

Campus Happenings

New Dean Focuses on Non-Traditional Adult Programs

Dr. Fredrick D. Loomis started May 1 as Arcadia’s Dean and Founding Director of the new Center for Continuing and Professional Studies. Loomis will oversee the development of new programs delivered in an accelerated mode, both on- and off-campus, and/or via electronic means to adult learners, both during the traditional academic year and in the summer. “Fred has a proven track record of developing and managing successful non-traditional programs for adults,” says Dr. Michael Berger, Academic Vice President and Provost. “We look forward to working with him on similar initiatives here at Arcadia.”

“My initial priority is to work closely with our faculty to develop new programs and innovative delivery formats that will meet the professional development needs of working adults and the desire of organizations to be competitive in the global economy,” says Loomis. “The Center will allow us to reach a great number of adult students and provide them with personal support and integrative learning opportunities.” For more information, contact Dr. Loomis at 215-572-4095.

Read more campus news at: www.arcadia.edu/bulletin

Arcadia Chronicles is a monthly e-newsletter published by the Offices of Alumni Relations
and University Relations and distributed to Arcadia alumni.

Writing: Lori Bauer, Janet Gala Design: Matthew Wolf, Sue Gettlin Photography: Joshua Blustein

Office of Alumni Relations • 215-572-2160 • alumni@arcadia.edu

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