Greetings from Alumni Relations

The holiday season honors many different traditions, but each one inspires similar results: We laugh with more exuberance, fill our kitchens with the sweet aroma of time-honored recipes, carefully unpack holiday treasures for display, and take delight in warm family gatherings. And when the holidays are over and we repack our treasures and eat the last of our favorite cookies, we settle in for the winter months—snug in our homes, wrapped in sweaters with feet tucked into slippers—and savor treasured moments of the year behind and contemplate opportunities in the New Year that lies ahead. Jen Buonpastore, Georgene Pilling, and Nancy Woehrle send you warm wishes for a holiday season that lasts long into the New Year.

Annual Fund Awards Recap

Faye Senneca and Lillie Ludman accepted two 2009 Annual Fund Awards on behalf of the Class of 1959 at the Alumni Association Meeting on Nov. 14. This 50th Reunion class was awarded the Martha-Lee Taggart Sunderman Award for the Highest Percentage of Participation and the Annual Fund Award for the Largest Gift Increase. Other awards were presented to the Class of 1971 for the Class with the Largest Gift and to the Class of 2006 for the Harry G. Kuch Award for the GOLD Class with the Highest Percentage of Participation.

Hall of Fame Inductees Honored

A woman who won a silver medal at the first Olympics to include women's track and field in 1928. A women's rifle team that was so good that they beat the U.S. Marine Corps squad in 1948. These are among the 2009 inductees to the Arcadia University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Nov. 13. Nine individuals of distinction and three championship teams were inducted: Mary Conklin, Miki Waldman DeBaise '66, Bette E. Landman, Betty King Manuel '53, Maureen O'Connell Martin '91, Dorothy Moffett '46, Jane A. Oswald '52, Martyn E. Palmer '86, '96M, Matthew D. Wentzel '97, and the 1948, 1950 and 1951 National Championship Rifle Teams. Read more. (Photos)

Upcoming Events

Service Trip to Gualan, Guatemala,
March 13 - 21, 2010

Volunteer with Arcadia students over Spring Break 2010 in medical clinics, orphanages, construction and schools. Register by Jan. 15, 2010. For complete itinerary and detailed information visit www.arcadia.edu/alumnitravel or contact Georgene Pilling of Alumni Relations at 215-572-2946 or pilling@arcadia.edu.

Exploring Peru and Understanding its Heritage, June 25 – July 4, 2010

Go on a 9-day excursion beginning with a coach ride from Lima to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing landscapes dotted with villages, camelids and colorful markets. Register by Jan. 15, 2010. For complete itinerary and detailed information visit www.arcadia.edu/alumnitravel or contact Georgene Pilling of Alumni Relations at 215-572-2946 or pilling@arcadia.edu.

More Alumni Events

My Descent Underneath the Castle

By Michelle Tooker '07

The tunnels running underneath Arcadia’s Grey Towers Castle have intrigued generations of students, staff and faculty. I myself have known about them since 2002 when I was a high school senior touring Arcadia. During that tour, the guide described the tunnels and said any student caught sneaking into them would be expelled. As someone fascinated by castles, mansions and the like, I knew I had to get into those tunnels at some point. It only took seven years. Fast forward to 2009. I am now not only an Arcadia alumna, but also a staff member. My position as an employee has already.... Read more. (Video) (Photos)

Scholarship Luncheon A Success

On Thursday, Nov. 12, student scholarship recipients and donors were honored at Arcadia's Second Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon. The event was sponsored by the Office of University Advancement and gave those in attendance the chance to interact and recognize academic pursuits. Over a lunch catered by Parkhurst, students and donors discussed goals and shared accomplishments. Students had the unique opportunity to express their appreciation face to face, while alumni donors were able to recount their own experiences at Arcadia. Read more. (Photos)

Snapshot: Fall Fest 2009 (cont'd)

A hearty group of alumni rode bikes through Fairmount Park to Manayunk, and more than 40 athletes returned to campus for the women's alumni soccer match, organized by Coach Richard Brownell, that was well-played in spite of the drizzly weather.

The afternoon GOLD picnic took place on Blankley Field Hockey Field, where alumni and their classmates relaxed with picnic fare and live music and the Classes of 2004 and 1999 celebrated their Reunions. Along side the picnic, the men’s alumni soccer game, organized by Jon Marley '89, took on a fierce but friendly match. Members from ALANA enjoyed dinner and cheered the men on before going to their own reception in Kuch Hospitality Suite.

Arcadia’s loyal donors were treated royally at the Knight Society Reception, especially enjoying the Irish fare in the Reading Room of Landman Library. Student speakers were engaging with their Irish brogue, and they shared their stories of study abroad and thanked alumni for their financial support.

As darkness fell across the campus lawns, families and friends gathered under the Castle shadows to watch the Knight sky fill with a stunning display of fireworks celebrating the community that is Arcadia University. A good time was had by all! The fireworks and the Rick Kelley Concert were sponsored by the Alumni Office.

Scholarship Luncheon A Success (cont'd)

Kyleigh VanDine '10, a Multimedia Communications major and recipient of the Comcast scholarship, served as the representative student speaker. She admitted that the opportunity to live in the Castle drew her to Arcadia, but it was the scholarships she received that allowed her to attend.

"Arcadia is not only about personal attention in the classroom, but also personal attention when it comes to finances," she said. "Arcadia offered me something I could not find anywhere else—scholarships.

"The generous alumni and other donors like you made it possible for me to come to this amazing place," she continued."You gave me the opportunity to further my leadership skills by becoming a Resident Assistant. You gave me the ability to figure out that I have a passion for graphic design, Web design, and broadcasting. And my major in Multimedia Communications gives me the opportunity to combine all my passions into one fantastic program." In May, VanDine will become the first female in her family to graduate from college.

President Jerry Greiner and Nick Costa, Vice President of University Advancement also commended donors for the impact their generosity has had on Arcadia students and congratulated the students.

Back to Top

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

Writing: Georgene Pilling '04M, Donna Whitlock '05, Purnell Cropper, Lori Bauer, Michelle Tooker '07
Design: Purnell Cropper  Photography: Joshua Blustein

Office of Alumni Relations • 215-572-2160 • alumni@arcadia.edu
Georgene Pilling, Director • Nancy Woehrle, Assistant Director • Jennifer Buonpastore, Secretary