Fall 2009

The Centenarian

Spring 2010

C

Commemorative inauguration issue

Leadingthe WayCentenary Emerges as a Beacon for the Region

Centenarians Who Serve

Centenary’s 1st All-American

C Change TEXTC

1Beacon for the Region

How Centenary is changing

the lives of its students

and its communities.

8View from the Dome

The latest news and notes

from Centenary.

12Leading the Way“Keeping it Real”

A new application-based

curriculum keeps CAPS

on the cutting edge.

“Centenarians Who Serve”

Veterans receive a warm

welcome at Centenary.

“Head Start”

Internships rose 21 percent

at Centenary.

DepartmentsCyclones Update ... 18

Class News and Notes ... 20

The Last Word ... 32

On the Cover: The official College mace is

carried by Dr. Heather Pfleger-

Dunham, Dean for Outcomes

Assessment Research, in the

Inaugural Processional.

ContentsC

The Centenarian 1The Centenarian 1

New and enriched academic programs are providing

greater opportunities for students and vital resources

for communities. Online and accelerated learning

are helping more New Jerseyans retool and are

moving careers and industries forward. And

everywhere you turn, Centenarians are actively involved in service to others

and working for the common good.

This special issue of The Centenarian is celebrating leadership with

the Inauguration of the College’s 12th President, Dr. Barbara-Jayne

Lewthwaite, and examines the people, the programs and the innovations

that are making Centenary a “Beacon for the Region.”

The College community celebrated Centenary’s numerous contributions to northwest New Jersey and beyond. For further coverage of this milestone event, please visit alumni.centenarycollege.edu.

Beacon for the RegionCentenary leadership is changing lives in northwest new Jersey and beyond.

C

2 The Centenarian

BeaCOn FOR THE REGION

Meeting a growing needWith aging Baby Boomers and an increasing

number of people requiring help with family

conflict and other issues, the demand for

professionally trained social workers is growing.

Centenary College is meeting this need with its

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, which

recently earned national accreditation from

the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Centenary is now one of only eight colleges and

universities in New Jersey to offer an accredited

BSW program, and the only program within a

50-mile radius of the Hackettstown area.

The signature component of the BSW program

is the 420 hours of field education candidates

complete during their senior year. “This is a

professional degree, much like Education or

Nursing,” said Terri Klemm, Assistant Professor

of Social Work and BSW Program Field Director.

“When you earn a degree in Social Work, you leave

Centenary as a professional social worker.”

Established in 2006, the program now enrolls 40

majors and will graduate its third class of social

workers this May. Many will move into entry-level

positions at the social service agencies and non-

profit organizations where they completed their

field work, fulfilling an essential work force need.

“Warren County is rural America, and it is very

difficult to recruit good social workers here,” said

Laurie Boehm, Director of Program Services for

the Family Guidance Center of Warren County.

“Centenary’s BSW provides a potential cadre of new

employees with a strong knowledge of what Warren

County is all about.”

Members of the 2010 class of BSW graduates have

also been accepted to prestigious Master of Social

Work (MSW) programs at NYU, Fordham University

and Rutgers University. Armed with a CSWE-

accredited degree, Centenary graduates are eligible

for advanced standing in most master’s degree

programs, allowing them to graduate with an MSW

in one year instead of two.

Centenary BSW graduates like those pictured above are in high demand in northwest New Jersey because their field work placements provide them with a deep understanding of rural communities.

The first class of BSW graduates: Jesse DeFino ’08, Alyssa Martin ’08 and Christine DiMauro ’08.

The Centenarian 3

global ResponsibilityBiology majors at Centenary College now have the

option to earn a concentration in Environmental

Science, while students who are majoring in other

disciplines can minor in the subject. The new

program was created in response to student interest

and forecasts from the U.S. Department of Labor that

predict employment of environmental scientists is

expected to increase 25 percent by 2016.

In addition to preparing graduates for the “green”

economy, the program places particular emphasis

on the relationship of environmental quality,

stewardship, human health and how one’s actions

impact the global community. “The goal is to help

students understand that the Earth must be treated

as a seamless unit,” explained Dr. Kathy Turrisi,

Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Chair of

the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department.

“Water, air and soil are all connected, and so we,

as human beings, have a physical connection to

everyone else on the planet, and thus a global

responsibility.”

The curriculum includes courses in Environmental

Science, Field Sampling Techniques and Earth

Science. Faculty and students also take advantage

of a longstanding partnership with the Charles

O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery in Hackettstown,

N.J., where participants are able to gain real,

hands-on experience measuring water quality and

species growth.

Cutting-edge ResearchAlthough they attend a small, liberal

arts college, Centenary Psychology

majors conducted research on par

with a large university and made a

significant contribution to the field

of substance abuse treatment in

the process. “This was not your typical

undergraduate research project,”

said Assistant Professor of Psychology

Dr. Keith Morgen, a substance abuse

expert who mentored the team of six

Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society students

throughout the yearlong project. “It was a real-

world experience that involved large-scale data.”

The team presented their findings at the Eastern

Psychology Association (EPA) Conference in March.

Additionally, three members of the team presented

at the 38th Annual Hunter College Psychology

Conference in New York. Dr. David Kressel, a senior

staff member of the National Development and

Research Institutes Inc., previewed the Centenary

students’ EPA presentation and described the

research as “cutting-edge.” “I felt that the

presentations were being given by master’s or

doctoral-level students and not undergraduates,”

he said. “The findings have current relevance to

yet-unresolved drug treatment research and policy

issues such as client-treatment matching and the

appropriate planned duration of treatment.”

Centenary’s next ChapterDr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite was adamant: the Inauguration to formally install the 12th President of Centenary College

was not a personal celebration, but an opportunity to advance the mission of the 143-year-old institution. Still, the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center erupted into spontaneous applause and cheers as the new

President entered the Folkner Family Gymnasium as part of the processional for the formal ceremony held on April 9, 2010 at the College’s main campus in Hackettstown, N.J.

Citing many recent accomplishments at the College, Dr. Lewthwaite stressed that more work lies ahead. Priorities for the near future include the crafting of the next five-year strategic plan, managing the challenge of keeping an independent education accessible and affordable, as well as enhancing the value of a Centenary degree as successful graduates make their mark on the world.

“Change is something I expect our entire Centenary community to embrace,” said Dr. Lewthwaite, noting that the College’s ability to adapt in the past has only served to strengthen the institution. “It may take time,” she concluded. “It may definitely take change. But those are the challenges I promise you I am prepared to accept.”

“I felt that the presentations were being given by master’s or doctoral-level students and not undergraduates.”

Dr. David Kressel, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.

Centenary Psychology majors presented at the 38th Annual Hunter College Psychology Conference.

C

4 The Centenarian

BeaCOn FOR THE REGION

Off the ground

The Handyman Connection. Good to Go Productions, Inc. These are just two examples of successful new businesses in northwest New Jersey that launched with the assistance of the New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at Centenary College.

As one of 11 centers in the state, the NJSBDC’s

mission is to be a resource that assists businesses

to expand operations, manage growth or start new

operations. For Good to Go Productions, an event

and trade show company, that meant utilizing the

NJSBDC to draft a formal business plan. “The

support of NJSBDC’s resources was critical to the

company’s launch,” said Sheila Bermel, founder of

the company. Steve Carter, owner of the Handyman

Connection, found guidance on obtaining loans to

ease startup costs and ideas to manage increased

competition in the economic downturn.

In addition to helping new ventures, the NJSBDC at

Centenary College is a source of intellectual capital

for existing business. Small-business owners have

benefited from the Center’s networking events,

customized seminars on QuickBooks and social

media as well as workshops on “green” technology.

The Center further raised its visibility with a move

to downtown Hackettstown (207 Main Street)

in 2009, and now occupies the same building as

the Hackettstown Business Improvement District

(BID). “One of the nice things is the synergy

between the College and the BID,” said Dolores

Stammer, Regional Director of the NJSBDC at

Centenary College. “As the BID tries to attract and

help businesses, it can refer them to the Center

for assistance with applying for loans, marketing,

procuring contracts and financial management.”

Fresh StartFew would argue that the United States must

educate greater numbers of citizens to higher

levels in order to remain competitive in the global

economy. Proponents of experiential learning believe

that Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), a program

that offers college credit for life experience, is an

“The support of NJSBDC’s resources were critical to the company’s launch.”

Sheila Bermel,Principal and Founder,Good to Go Productions, Inc.

Pictured left to right: Scott Peluso, Hackettstown BID Chair; Maria DiGiovanni, Town Council; Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, President, Centenary College; Dolores Stammer, Regional Director, NJSBDC at Centenary College; Michael B. Lavery, Mayor of Hackettstown; John DiMaio, Assemblyman; and Gerald DiMaio, Town Council.

The Centenarian 5

effective method for achieving this goal.

Centenary College was one of 48 colleges and

universities to participate in a national study

conducted by the Council for Adults & Experiential

Learning (CAEL). The study found that PLA

students earned postsecondary degrees at

much higher rates than adult learners when they

were assessed for prior life experience such as

employment, military service and volunteerism.

The College launched PLA in 2009 with an eight-

week, one-credit course to teach adult students

how to create a portfolio that reflects their

professional experiences. An essential component

included the training of 26 faculty members who will

evaluate the portfolios and “assures the academic

integrity of the program,” said Dr. Heather Pfleger-

Dunham, Dean for Outcomes Assessment Research.

Adult learners benefit with advanced standing at

Centenary that allows them to complete a degree

more quickly and economically. According to CAEL

findings, it is also a powerful motivator that validates

students’ existing skills and knowledge.

Secure homelandThe Institute for Law Enforcement and Emergency

Services Education at Centenary College has trained

more than 125 law enforcement officers and first

responders, courtesy of an $894,398 U.S. Department

of Justice grant awarded to the College in 2008.

According to Professor Keith Suddes,

who serves as director for the Institute,

its mission is to fill the acute need

for integrated law enforcement and

community response training programs

for approximately 90 towns in Warren,

Sussex and Hunterdon counties.

A recognized leader in Criminal Justice

education, Centenary has developed

a series of intensive four-day courses

designed in collaboration with an advisory board

of police chiefs from northwest New Jersey. Free

for attendees, the courses have included a Critical

Incident Response seminar that covered the latest

command and control issues in dealing with suicide

bomber incidents and a Tactical Advisor class that

Professor Suddes describes as “totally unique to the

U.S.” because it refines and enhances the role of

team leaders and tactical experts in regard to critical

incidents.

The Institute also serves as a resource for the

region, with the presentation of an annual seminar

that attracts approximately 250 law enforcement

personnel and first responders. This year’s seminar,

“Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement,” was held

May 25, 2010, at Trinity United Methodist Church in

Hackettstown, N.J. The program offered participants

ways to avoid burn out and develop motivational

strategies that will help them thrive in one of

society’s most demanding jobs.

The Region Looks to CentenaryAs the only baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution serving the northwestern part of the state, many count on Centenary to inform, educate and bring about positive change. “Over the years, Centenary College has really grown and is a regional leader for education here in northwest New Jersey,” said State Senator Michael J. Doherty, who represents

the 23rd District and spoke on behalf of the state at the Inauguration of Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite on April 9, 2010.

With an abundance of opportunities ranging from college classes for Hackettstown High School students, to Therapeutic Riding and Summer Scholars, a popular enrichment program geared to students entering grades

9-12, Centenary has emerged as a vital resource for the community.

The College is also exploring other avenues to further its role as an economic engine for the region. “The fortunes of the Town of Hackettstown and Centenary are inextricably mixed,” said Hackettstown

Mayor Michael B. Lavery. “I have the utmost confidence that together, we will weather the current economic storm and come out better and stronger for having worked through it.”

“[The Institute’s mission] is to fill the acute need for integrated law enforcement and community response training programs for approximately 90 towns in Warren, Sussex and Hunterdon counties...”

Professor Keith Suddes, Director of the Institute for Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Education

State Senator Michael J. Doherty

The Institute hosts an annual seminar for 250 area law enforcement personnel and first responders.

C

6 The Centenarian

BeaCOn FOR THE REGION

arts MatterTheater, dance, music and art that is created,

produced or presented at Centenary College

touches thousands of lives in northwest

New Jersey.

From the Centenary Stage Company (CSC), the

area’s only professional Equity Theater, to WNTI-FM

91.9, a National Public Radio affiliate that reaches

50,000 listeners, and the Saturday Art Conservatory,

which offers young people and adults affordable,

high-quality classes in art and dance, Centenary

has taken the lead role in promoting the arts for a

growing and thriving community.

“We have an educational mission and have expanded

all of our programs,” noted Carl Wallnau, Associate

Professor of Theater and Chair of the Communication

and Fine Arts Department. In recent months,

Centenary and the CSC have stepped up theater

performances for children, formed a new dance

company that invites performers and professionals

in the region to collaborate with Centenary’s Dance

program and launched an outreach initiative that

brings Centenary Theater majors to area schools to

work with students of all ages.

When the new David and Carol Lackland Center,

a state-of-the-art facility featuring the 500-

seat Sitnik Theater and the Edith A. Kutz ’42

Theater, officially opens in Fall 2010, the cultural

opportunities will grow.

Said Professor Wallnau, “As we move into the

Lackland Center we are looking to expand our

mission and to embrace the responsibilities as a

cultural resource — not just for the College — but

for this whole part of the State.”

Inspiring MindsIn recent years, the Gates-Ferry Distinguished

Visiting Lecturer at Centenary College has included

Historian Dr. Raymond Frey ’10 HA, legendary

choreographer Mark Morris and former KeySpan

President Wallace P. Parker, Jr. The goal of the

annual lecture series, which is open to the greater

community, is to provide a forum for ideas and

expression that enriches the intellectual life of the

College.

Acclaimed poet and National Book Award winner

Mark Doty was named Gates-Ferry lecturer

for 2009–2010. He conducted readings on the

“As we move into the Lackland Center, we are looking to expand our mission and to embrace the responsibilities as a cultural resource –– not just for the College — but for this whole part of the State.”

Professor Carl Wallnau, Chair, Communication and Fine Arts Department

Student-performers have the opportunity to act in Equity Theater productions.

The Centenarian 7

College’s main campus in Hackettstown, N.J.,

and also participated in a Poetics Colloquium that

offered workshops and panels to a wide range

of participants, including educators, students and

the general public. The event also presented an

opportunity for certified teachers in New Jersey to

earn six professional development hours through

the Centenary College Teacher’s Academy.

Students who participated in the Colloquium

called it a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” “I was

awestruck at being present with so much talent

and differing personalities in one place, expressing

both comparable and divergent views,” commented

Michelle Clark ’10.

The Gates-Ferry Distinguished Visiting Lectureship

at Centenary College recognizes the dedication to

the College of Joseph R. Ferry, Trustee from 1948

to 1976 and treasurer of the Board of Trustees for

20 years.

The Common goodEach year, the Centenary community volunteers

more than 21,000 service hours to local nonprofit

organizations, including Trinity United Methodist

Church, Habitat for Humanity and the Community

Food Bank, plus a host of social service agencies.

The College’s longstanding tradition of helping others

was evident during Spirit Week, which preceded

the Inauguration of the College’s 12th President, Dr.

Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, on April 9, 2010.

Centenarians completed the ninth Midnight Run of

the year with the delivery of food and clothing to

the homeless in New York City, while another group

of students made plans to build homes on a Native

American Reservation this summer. Additionally,

members of the Centenary chapter of Becca’s

Closet, an organization that provides gently used

prom dresses to those who cannot afford them,

made a quick exit following the Inauguration to

prepare for a Dress Open House that evening.

The Rev. David L. Jones ’03 HA, Vice President

for Student Engagement and Service, called it a

pretty typical week at Centenary. “The College really

attempts to meet the needs it sees in the region and

beyond by combining academic investigation with

real work to remediate whatever is possible.”

“The College really attempts to meet the needs it sees in the region and beyond by combining academic investigation with real work to remediate whatever is possible.”

The Rev. David L. Jones ’03 HA,Vice President for Student Engagement

Celebrating LeadershipCentenary College awarded its highest honor, the Gold Dome Award, to David A. Lackland ’10 HA and Carol Burgess Lackland ’54/10 HA, held on April 8, 2010, at the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J.

The Lacklands embody “Celebrating Leadership,” the theme of this year’s event. David serves as a Trustee for the College and Carol is a member of the President’s Circle. Together, they committed time and resources that will leave a lasting legacy, including a major gift

that made the forthcoming David and Carol Lackland Center a reality.

After accepting the Gold Dome Award, Carol spoke about Centenary’s mission of changing lives and how her own life was transformed by a scholarship she received as a Centenary student from an anonymous donor. “That was the inspiration for Dave and I to give back,” she said. David told attendees how the couple takes great joy in seeing the College’s

continued growth and success. “I hope you know that through your contributions to the Centenary Fund, you too are taking the lead role in helping these young people from New Jersey rise up,” he said.

Since its inception, the Scholarship Gala has raised over $2 million for the Centenary Scholarship Fund, which has assisted hundreds of students over the years.

Pictured left: David and Carol Lackland with their daughter, Jennifer.

Members of the Centenary chapter of Becca’s Closet pose with a client.

C

8 The Centenarian

VIeW FROM THE DOME

Centenary’s Commencement makes national news

The Early Morning Show on CBS, ABC News,

Inside Edition and 600 newspapers throughout the

country featured the 135th May Commencement

at Centenary College, held on May 15, 2010, at

the College’s main campus in Hackettstown, N.J.

Valedictorian Emily Hawley ’10 sparked the

media interest when she proposed marriage to

her boyfriend Joshua Walker ’10 shortly after

delivering the valedictory address. “I like to consider

us Mr. and Mrs. Centenary,” said Hawley, an Equine

Science major with a 4.0 GPA. “Josh, I love you more

than anything. Will you marry me?” Walker, a history

major who earned a teacher certification and has a

3.99 GPA, accepted. The crowd erupted into cheers.

The couple, both natives of Fryeburg, Maine, plan to

live in New Jersey.

The College awarded 458 degrees at the May

Commencement and 256 degrees at the January

Commencement held on January 9, 2010, in the

John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center. Degree

recipients included undergraduate and graduate

students from Hackettstown and the Centenary Adult

and Professional Studies (CAPS) learning centers in

Parsippany and Iselin, N.J.

Veteran radio announcer John Gambling ’10 HA

addressed the May graduates and was honored with

an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Dr. Raymond Frey ’10 HA served as keynote

speaker for the January Commencement and was

also honored for scholarly achievement with an

Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

“Do good things,” he advised graduates, “I believe

very strongly that you have been given a very special

gift today, and now you have a moral obligation to

give something back.“

The January ceremony was established five years

ago to accommodate the growing number of

Centenary graduates.

NEWS FROM CENTENARY COLLEGE

The 135th January Commencement at Centenary College.

Emily Hawley ’10 and Joshua Walker ’10.

“I believe very strongly that you have been given a very special gift today, and now you have a moral obligation to give something back.”

Below: Dr. Raymond Frey ’10 HA, January Commencement Keynote Speaker

Did you meet your spouse at Centenary College? Were you married in the Whitney Chapel? Share your story on the alumni Discussion Boards at alumni.centenary college.edu

The Centenarian 9

“[CAPS is] a perfect fit and the perfect opportunity for me.”

Rick Vander Wende ’11, Waldwick Citizen of the Year Award recipient

Citizen of the YearWaldwick honors CAPS student

When Rick Vander Wende ’11 served as mayor of

Waldwick, N.J., one of the perks was presenting the

borough’s annual Citizen of the Year Award. The

former elected official never imagined he would be

a recipient of the honor.

The borough named

Vander Wende

the 2009 Citizen

of the Year for his

commitment to civic

service at its annual

reorganization meeting

on January 1, 2010.

In what has become

an annual town custom, Vander Wende, who is

currently working toward an associate’s degree

at the Centenary Adult and Professional Studies

(CAPS) program in Parsippany, N.J., was kept in the

dark about the award until the moment his name

was announced.

“I was very humbled having had the opportunity to

present the award to 12 others myself,” said Vander

Wende. “I know what all those people had done on

behalf of the community. I never expected to receive

the award.”

Vander Wende served as mayor of Waldwick from

1992–2004. He describes his decision to enroll in

CAPS and complete the degree he began nearly

30 years ago as “a perfect fit and the perfect

opportunity for me.” He also expects to continue

in the accelerated program to earn a bachelor’s

degree. “I really enjoy the program. The professors

and administrators really understand that adults

learn and respond to different things than younger

students. They have a respect for working adults

who are coming back.”

Championship Season

Centenary Equestrian team wins big at nationals

The Centenary College Equestrian Team became

Reserve Champions at the Intercollegiate Horse

Show Association’s (IHSA) national competition,

held May 6-9, 2010 in Lexington, Ky. In individual

competition, first place finishes went to Lindsey

Mohr ’11, Champion Individual Open Equitation

Over Fences; Marissa Cohen ’11, Champion

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences;

Ali Krecker ’12, Champion Team Intermediate Flat,

and Julie Connors ’10, Champion Team Novice

Equitation Over Fences.

The team also took sixth place at the 32nd

American National Riding Commission (ANRC)

National Intercollegiate Equitation Championships,

held April 16–18, 2010, in Sweet Briar, Va.

Individual Centenary equestrians also scored

impressive results at this competition. These

included Jen Elrod ’10, second place, Dressage

Sportif; Samantha Whitley ’12, ninth place, Hunter

Trials and seventh place, Overall Results; Marissa

Cohen ’11, sixth place, Medal Phase; and Lindsey Clark ’10, ninth place, Medal Phase.

The Centenarian Recognized for Creative excellence

The Service Industry Awards Association (SIAA) recognized The Centenarian with a bronze medal in a national

competition that included entries representing more than 1,400 companies and organizations from across the

country. The College’s Fall 2009 issue of the semi-annual publication received the award for its creativity, quality

and overall content.

“Centenary College has a wonderful story to tell and The Centenarian has been an effective vehicle for

communicating our success to the College community,” said Vice President for Strategic Advancement Debra Albanese ’04 HA. “We are pleased that a national panel of judges have recognized these efforts.”

The Centenarian is published twice a year for the Office of Strategic Advancement and is distributed to nearly

14,000 alumni and friends of the College.

Rick Vander Wende ’11 (left) was named Citizen of the Year in Waldwick, N.J.

C

10 The Centenarian

VIeW FROM THE DOME

Centenary SIFe Does it againTeam captures 15th Regional Championship

The Centenary College Students in Free Enterprise

(SIFE) team has added another trophy to its

collection. The franchise won its 15th Regional

Championship last month and headed to the 2010

SIFE USA National Exposition in Minneapolis, Minn.,

from May 10–14, 2010. The team finished in the top

20 among 800 SIFE teams in the United States.

The team has garnered a great deal of recognition

for its Power of Possibility project that sent SIFE

members to Alaska, Guatemala and other locations

around the world to help entrepreneurs gain

a foothold in markets and become sustainable

businesses.

In addition to the regional victory, SIFE earned two

National Finalist Awards for Entrepreneurship and

Business Ethics for its 6,000-hour investment in

helping individuals across the globe.

Dr. Steven E. McHugh, Sr., Chairman of the

Business Department and SIFE team coach, said

a core component of the program’s success is its

commitment to service. “We start with projects that

actually meet the needs of free enterprise around

the world and if we do that well, the competition

falls into place.”

SIFE President Noel Leuzarder ’10, who

completed more than 1,000 hours of service this

year, noted that “identifying the strengths and

weaknesses of our organization and being able to

capitalize on all the advantages,” has helped the

team achieve national status.

Members of this year’s championship team are

a combination of newcomers and veterans and

include: Matthew Albrecht ’13, Megi Devolli ’10,

Tiffany Kraft ’10, Noel Leuzarder ’10, Elizabeth

Luckenbill ’11, Kelly McCormick ’10, Laura Meola ’10, Karina Suarez ’14 and Alena Volkava ’12.

Leuzarder will begin an accelerated MBA program

at West Virginia University on June 9. “Without

Centenary SIFE, I would not be as prepared as I

am,” she added. “The relationships I have built, the

experiences I have had, I really would not have

gotten that anywhere else.”

Something to BRag aboutCentenary Fashion majors honored

by industry organization

The Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) honored two

Centenary College Fashion Design majors at the

organization’s 39th Annual Scholarship and Awards

Dinner Gala, entitled “The Power of Change,” held

December 11, 2009, in New York.

BRAG awarded Fashion Design student Krystal Cartegna ’10 a $1,000 scholarship from Polo

and Nneka Covington ’10, a Fashion Design

and Merchandising major, received a $2,000

scholarship from Wakefern Foods. The Centenary

students were awarded the scholarships based

Pictured (left to right): Krystal Cartegna ’10, Nneka Covington ’10, Joseph Khawane ’10, Stacey Holloway ’11, a BRAG scholarship recipient in 2009, and Cherrell Angervil ’10.

“We start with projects that actually meet the needs of free enterprise around the world and if we do that well, the competition falls into place.”

Dr. Steven E. McHugh, Sr.,SIFE Team Coach

Four members of the 2009–2010 Centenary SIFE team.

The Centenarian 11

upon winning essays on the topic, “The Case for

Business Diversity in Retail and Related Industries in

an Economic Downturn.”

In addition to scholarship support, Cartegna

and Covington had the opportunity to attend an

executive staff meeting at the Saks Fifth Avenue

corporate location, meet with key employees and

receive a firsthand look at couture lines. They

were accompanied by Professor Kenol Lamour,

BRAG chapter adviser and Centenary instructor in

Fashion Design, fellow students and former BRAG

recipients, and Angela Rodriquez ’90, an officer

on the Centenary Alumni Association Executive

Board and former BRAG board member.

Seven Welcomed to the Board of Trustees Centenary College welcomed seven new

members to its Board of Trustees: Margot Nelson Carey ’55, a co-founder of the North Jersey

Teachers Collaborative and the recipient of the

College’s 2009 Van Winkle Achievement Award;

Rochelle Makela-Goodman ’97, Assistant Vice

President for Leadership Gifts at Lehigh University;

Raymond Nisivoccia, the founding partner of

Nisivoccia & Company LLP, a regional accounting

and consulting firm; Wallace P. Parker, Jr., the

former president of KeySpan’s Energy Delivery and

Customer Relationship Group; Orin R. Smith ’91 HA, the retired chairman, president and CEO of the

former Engelhard Corporation; Timothy L. Smith,

founder of the Comprehensive Group, one of the

largest independent financial services firms in New

Jersey; and James D. Stryker, the President of the

consulting firm Integrated Product Development.

The now-31-member board supports and advances

the mission of Centenary College. “We are delighted

to welcome this accomplished group of leaders to

the Board of Trustees,” said Chairman of the Board

Arden Davis Melick ’60/01 HA. “They bring a

wealth of experience and knowledge as well as a

passion for higher education that is an asset to this

institution and its mission of transforming lives.”

Seed Money Funds Worthwhile Initiatives

A little bit of seed money is making a big difference at Centenary College.

On Earth Day, the College unveiled its Community Garden, one of several

projects funded by the Centenary mini-grant program.

The Community Garden is a joint venture between the Education and

the Mathematics and Natural Sciences departments. Spearheaded by

Dr. Lauren Bergey, Assistant Professor of Biology, and Emily Williams

Anderson, Assistant Professor of Education, the garden will be a self-

sustainable resource for the College’s students as well as the community-

at-large. Biology students will utilize the garden to study the life cycles of

plants and other organisms, and Education students will develop lesson

plans in outdoor-based learning and environmental studies.

Produce and other products grown in the garden will be sold on campus

and at the Hackettstown Farmers Market, in partnership with the

Hackettstown Business Improvement District (BID).

Mini-grants are made possible by funds earmarked by the President’s

Office of Centenary College. The goal is to implement innovative

educational practices documented in High-Impact Educational Practices

by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU).

In addition to the Community Garden, several worthwhile initiatives came to

fruition during the spring semester, including the makeover of a common

room in Anderson Hall as well as undergraduate research projects.

C

12 The Centenarian

LeaDIng THE WAY

t is no secret that the students who

gravitate to accelerated degree programs

are highly motivated. They tend to be

disciplined, mature — and eager for

lessons they can put to use right away.

Centenary Adult and Professional Studies

(CAPS) was the first program in New Jersey to

offer accelerated business degree programs geared

toward working professionals. Last year, in order

to make the program even more relevant to its

students, CAPS introduced a new curriculum that is

application-based.

“This is real. Our students are not reading textbooks

and listening to professors’ lectures — they are

applying business theories to real life,” said Dean

of Adult and Online Enrollment Peter Albrecht, who

also teaches at CAPS. Dean Albrecht explained that,

even with its accelerated pace, CAPS meets high

standards. “It is a rigorous program,” he added.

a meeting of minds Because CAPS students are highly motivated

adults, they tend to have a more collaborative

relationship with their professors than traditional

degree students. Those relationships foster a

fertile learning environment where it is common for

CAPS professors to hear students say they applied

something they learned in class at work the very

next day.

The program always aimed for relevance, but

the new curriculum takes the focus on real-life

applications to the next level. In a marketing class

for the MBA program, for example, Dean Albrecht

Keeping It RealA decade ago, Centenary became the first college in New Jersey to offer accelerated business degree programs for working adults. Now, innovations like an application-based curriculum give the program its leading edge.

I

Above: CAPS students learn how to apply business theories to real life. Below: Former NHL player Rob Skrlac ’08/10 (second from left) and players from the New Jersey Devils at a recent visit to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

The Centenarian 13

“I needed the degree to open doors within the organization as well as to broaden my horizons beyond the New Jersey Devils.”

Former NHL player Rob Skrlac ’08/10

had his students act as marketing consultants and

write a marketing plan for a real small business.

Each marketing team presented its plan to the

class and client. In one instance, the principals

of East Coast Martial Arts in East Windsor, N.J.,

implemented about 80 percent of their team’s

marketing plan and saw enrollment grow from

15 students to more than 300 in 18 months.

CaPS students come from many backgroundsJamanda Hightower ’09 has a unique

perspective, working as an enrollment counselor at

CAPS and also completed her bachelor’s degree

through the program. She is now pursuing an MBA

while working full-time and appreciates the fact

that classes are organized in teams. “That is very

different from the traditional college environment,”

she remarked. “It really teaches you how to accept

and work with different personalities.”

Rob Skrlac ’08/10 has been with the New Jersey

Devils for 13 years, including eight as a player. The

right winger now works for the New Jersey Devils

front office, where his job includes representing the

organization as a speaker to various associations

and professional groups, as well as serving as

a liaison to schools and hosting executives at

hospitality suites and special events.

After retiring as a professional hockey player in

2006, Skrlac entered the CAPS program to earn an

Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts with a Business

Emphasis. “I needed the degree to open doors

within the organization as well as to broaden my

horizons beyond the New Jersey Devils,” he said.

Skrlac, who was living in Allamuchy, N.J., at the

time, was attracted to Centenary because of its

Hackettstown location. “The evening classes really

worked out well,” he said, “because working in the

front office is not a 9-to-5 situation.”

Skrlac continued with his bachelor’s degree in

Business Administration after earning his associate’s

degree. He increased his courseload, taking two

classes a week in order to speed up the process,

and completed his B.S. in May. Like many adult

learners, once he started, he was eager to obtain

his degree. “I would encourage those who have the

time to double up on the course load. I really

enjoyed it when I had more schoolwork to do, not

less.” Hightower, too, expects to complete her MBA

by July 2011. “I feel empowered,” she said. “Coming

to Centenary has been a blessing. It has changed

me tremendously.”

Centenary Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) is a program for adult

learners. In 1999, Centenary became the first college in New Jersey to offer

business degree programs in an accelerated format geared to working

professionals.

CAPS offers an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts with a Business Emphasis

and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), as well as a

36-credit-hour Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. MBA

courses are offered one at a time in an accelerated format — with one class an evening for 3 1/2 hours — so students complete each

course in a four- to five-week time frame, then start their next course. The program is structured in cohorts, so students continue to take

classes with the same group of individuals until they complete their degree in about 24 months.

CAPS offers classes at the College’s main campus in Hackettstown, and at satellite learning centers in Metropark and Parsippany, as

well as online. CAPS also offers the program at corporate work sites, including Merck & Co., Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

All about CAPS

C

14 The Centenarian

LeaDIng THE WAY

hen U.S. Army First

Lieutenant Jimmy

Nazaire returned from

Iraq in 2008, he sought

to pick up the pieces

of the life he had left

behind to serve his country. One of his priorities: to

get his MBA studies, which were interrupted when he

was deployed, back on track.

Nazaire met with Centenary Enrollment Counselor

Dawn Homer and discovered the College provides

extensive assistance to address the special needs

of veterans, from providing financial aid to emotional

support through a network of veterans — both

students and employees — on campus.

“I think what makes Centenary so welcoming to

veterans is that we feel that our lives can continue

while we further our education,” said Nazaire, who

continues to serve in the Army and will receive his

MBA in 2011. “As a veteran, I know I always feel as

Centenarians Who ServeVeterans are getting a warm welcome at Centenary College, where many are choosing to continue their education, their careers — and their lives.

Above: Sheila Zelaskowski ’89, who was stationed in Iraq. Top right: Michael Barcellona ’09 (fourth from left) with members of the military and Iraqi civilians. Bottom right: Jimmy Nazaire ’11.

W

The Centenarian 15

“Once I started working here and saw what a positively unique place Centenary is, I was not surprised that it would attract service members and veterans.”

Dr. Joseph Linskey,Dean of International Programs

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon program, call (866) 753-2789 or e-mail military@centenarycollege.edu.

though I have to stop one part of my life to continue

another. At Centenary, I can continue to work and go

to school, and not have to sacrifice one for the other.”

easing the transitionCentenary has a deep commitment to veterans and

has taken the lead in offering a number of programs

to help ease the transition from military life to student

life. Since veterans have often made a financial

sacrifice to serve their country, the College is a proud

participant of the federal government’s Yellow Ribbon

Program, which provides up to 100 percent of tuition

costs, as well as stipends for books, educational

supplies and housing for qualified veterans.

The College goes the extra mile for veterans who

are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program by

offering scholarships of up to 30 percent for full- or

part-time student veterans.

“I had already completed a course when I found out

that I qualified for a 30 percent reduction in tuition,”

observed adult learner Tom Leaman ’11, who was

discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1999.

“Centenary made it so easy, they even gave me the

discount retroactively. Not a lot of colleges would

do that.”

In addition, Centenary sends Veterans Day

greetings to all student veterans and last year held a

special flag-raising ceremony to recognize National

POW/MIA Recognition Day, which pays tribute to

veterans who have not returned home.

Dean of International Programs Dr. Joseph Linskey,

a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, is collaborating

with Scott Hughes, the College’s Vice President

for Information Technology and Chief Information

Officer, who also served as a U.S. Army Ranger,

to establish an American Legion Post on

campus.

“We all try to make ourselves available to our

student veterans to help them adjust to college life,

be it just someone to talk to, guidance through the

paperwork maze or any other way we can help,”

said Dr. Linskey, who is also an Associate Professor

of Criminal Justice and Sociology. “The main focus

of the College is service to the students and the

entire community. Those who enlist do so because

of the opportunity to serve the people of our

nation. Once I started working here and saw what

a positively unique place Centenary is, I was not

surprised that it would attract service members and

veterans.”

Benefits for Veterans “The College aggressively recruits veterans to

campus and makes sure they are aware of the

benefits they can receive to further their education

and their non-military careers,” Hughes added.

“Centenary attracts so many veterans because we

do some progressive things with veteran’s benefits

and the Yellow Ribbon Program,” he explained.

“We aggressively recruit veterans, since we have so

many faculty and staff members who are veterans

and know their needs. The faculty and staff take a

personal responsibility in advising our veterans who

transition into Centenary students.”

One veteran who benefitted from this one-on-

one attention was Michael Barcellona ’09,

who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2005.

Hughes took Barcellona under his wing and offered

practical advice as Barcellona pursued his degree

in Psychology. After his graduation last year,

Barcellona accepted an offer to work with Hughes

in Centenary’s Information Technology department.

Centenary’s emphasis on leadership and

responsibility to community and country also

inspires some students to serve their country after

graduation. Sheila Zelaskowski ’89 joined the

New Jersey National Guard a decade after her

Centenary graduation. She recently returned from

a year’s deployment with an assault helicopter

battalion in Iraq.

“Centenary provided me with a comfortable place

where I could grow both intellectually and

emotionally,” she explained. “I do not think I would

have been successful going through basic training

straight out of high school. The personal development

that Centenary fostered in me really helped to

prepare me for the rigors of the military.”

C

16 The Centenarian

LeaDIng THE WAY

or a college with a strong

liberal arts focus, Centenary

College offers students major

career opportunities.

Just ask Leah Murphy ’11, a

Communication major, who

recently completed a three-month internship at

Fox News in New York, where she worked on the

morning show Fox & Friends. Her duties went far

beyond simple errands. In addition to welcoming

and preparing guests, Murphy pitched story ideas

to executive producers and gained real newsroom

experience by assisting with the production of

news segments.

The Centenary undergraduate is hardly alone.

Internships on the riseIn 2009, internships rose 21 percent at Centenary.

“Our students are realizing that they really need to

have internships on their résumés,” commented

Trish Varn Mahaffey ’75/78, Director of

Internships and Experiential Programs. “Employers

put a great deal of emphasis on this experience.

While it is true that an internship does not

guarantee a job, it does open doors. Interns make

connections and gain professional exposure.”

Centenary students are interning in a number

of fields, including finance (representative

companies include Bear Sterns and Merrill Lynch),

law (Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office),

communication (The Daily Record, CBS News and

Nickelodeon) and fashion (Nordstrom, Kenneth

Cole and Armani Exchange). To qualify for four

credits, they must complete a minimum of 133

hours of work. “Internships must be real learning

experiences,” explained Mahaffey, who regularly

visits students on the job to meet their supervisors

and get a feel for their day-to-day responsibilities.

Amy Vadala ’11, a double major in Communication

and Political and Governmental Affairs, landed

a federal government internship with Rep. Scott

Garrett’s (R-N.J.) Western District Office in

Newton, N.J. There, her responsibilities included

tracking constituent opinions and helping with

projects that included Rep. Garrett’s nominations

to military academies. “What was most challenging

was dealing with constituents who were unhappy

with issues Rep. Garrett opposed or supported,”

admitted Vadala, who previously interned for

Assemblyman John DiMaio. “But it was satisfying

to tell them that their Congressman would hear and

represent their views.”

For Michael Medley ’10, working for the New

York Giants was a dream come true — despite the

Philadelphia native’s affinity for his hometown’s

Eagles. “Working for a professional sports

organization has been my goal, and it is so exciting

Head StartThe New York Giants, Fox News and New York’s top fashion companies are just a few of the internship opportunities that provide Centenary students with a competitive edge on a prospective career.

F(Pictured left to right): Centenary students Amy Vadala ’11, Michael Medley ’10 and Leah Murphy ’11 gained a competitive edge at their internships in New York and New Jersey.

The Centenarian 17

that I am finally doing it,” he said. Medley, who is

graduating with a degree in Sports Management,

commuted to East Rutherford, N.J., two days a

week to help the NFL organization with research

and clerical work. “The best part about my job was

getting to be around the superstars we all see on

TV,” he remarked. “In person, they were really

down to earth.”

Murphy, Vadala and Medley are confident their

internships will serve them well after graduation. “I

see myself working in the sports department of a

TV network,” said Murphy, who also plays Women’s

Basketball for the Cyclones. “While I would like to

be a reporter, working at Fox taught me about the

writing and producing processes.”

Vadala, who will study at the Institute of Political

Journalism in Washington, D.C., this summer, plans

to pursue a graduate degree. She hopes to work

for the United Nations, FEMA or another federal

agency.

“Working for Rep. Garrett deepened my

understanding of the American government and

provided me with hands-on experience working

with constituents.” This knowledge is valuable,

she explained, because “I need to understand the

people I represent.” Medley, who intends to pursue

a career in sports management after graduation, is

excited to “see what else is out there in my field.”

a lasting impressionThe three Centenary interns agreed that they would

encourage their classmates to seek internships during

their undergraduate career. “I would recommend this

particular position to anyone who is passionate about

government,” said Vadala. “It will bolster your résumé

and enhance your networking skills.” Added Murphy:

“My experience has been truly rewarding, and I have

made many contacts I will have forever.” Medley said

he would advise any classmates pursuing internships

to “soak in as much information as possible and really

enjoy the experience.”

Employers confirmed that they, too, have benefited

from the College’s robust intern program. Carlos

Vasquez, a sales representative and principal at

the Miami-based clothing brand Anama, said he

was very pleased with the Centenary students who

served as his interns at the company’s New York

showroom. “We have had a diverse group here —

Marketing, Merchandising and Design majors,” he

commented. “They assist us in the showroom and

help with trade shows. I hope we are providing

them with some perspective on what the fashion

world is like; it is more than what they see on

Project Runway.”

He remarked that he would recommend Centenary

College students to colleagues looking to hire

interns, and added, “I would love to hire some of

these students when they graduate.”

“I would love to hire some of these students when they graduate.”

Carlos Vasquez, principal, Anama

(Pictured left to right): Centenary students Amy Vadala ’11, Michael Medley ’10 and Leah Murphy ’11 gained a competitive edge at their internships in New York and New Jersey.

C

18 The Centenarian

CYCLOneS UPDATECYCLOneS UPDATE

Reaching the nCaa Statistical Rankings

Members of the Centenary Baseball, Softball and

Men’s Lacrosse teams are among the nation’s

leaders in the latest NCAA statistical rankings. In

Baseball, Michael Fasano ’10 is third in Division

III in on-base percentage, and also 13th in batting

average and 15th in slugging percentage. Mark DeMaio ’10 reached No. 17 in stolen bases and is

ranked 18th in stolen bases per game.

Centenary Softball player Caitlin Veverka ’12 is ranked

sixth in batting average and Cara Montferrat ’13 is

No. 14 for home runs and stands at 25th for batting

average. Both players helped the team set the

program record for wins and moved the team into

the CSAC and ECAC championships.

Conor Nolan ’13 ranks 12th in assists among

Division III Men’s Lacrosse programs and 16th in

points per game. Jason Rieg ’10 is ranked 34th

in both assists and points per game and fellow

classmate Eddie Montalvo ’10 is in the top 100

for ground balls per game at No. 52.

academic honors The Colonial States Athletic

Conference (CSAC) named 41

Centenary student-athletes to

its roster of All-Academic Honorees for Fall 2009.

The honorees, who needed a minimum Grade Point

Average (GPA) of 3.2 to qualify, represented nearly

all of Centenary’s Fall athletic programs, including

Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball

and Women’s Cross Country.

Putting Centenary on the MapWith the College’s first All-American, an increasing number of teams emerging as Conference contenders, plus academic accolades and new community service initiatives, the Cyclones are achieving new levels of excellence.

Megan Mars ’10 helped her Cyclones team advance to postseason play this season.

Best Record in Centenary Program historyIt was a year of firsts for Women’s Lacrosse. The team achieved the

best record in Centenary program history, 13–1, and went on to

postseason play by clinching the second seed in the Colonial States

Athletic Conference (CSAC) and a first-round bye. A combination of

veteran leadership from Megan Mars ’10, Kiti Ovaskainen ’10

and rising newcomers propelled the team to big wins this season.

Note: Statistics as of May 1, 2010.

The Centenarian 19

Centenary golf Program growsWith 11 student-athletes on the Centenary Golf

roster for 2010, the team is the largest in program

history. A combination of veterans and newcomers

accounted for more competitive finishes, including

third place at the Centenary Quad Tournament

and 14th in the Lebanon Valley College Spring

Tournament.

Lady Cyclones head to Costa RicaThe Centenary Women’s Soccer team will be suiting

up in Costa Rica this summer on a nine-day

excursion that includes training and three pre-

season contests as well as team bonding and

community service. The student-athletes plan to visit

a local orphanage where they will spend a day with

the children and donate items.

Putting Centenary on the Map Banner Year for Wrestling

First all-americanWhen Will Livingston ’11 captured a bronze medal

at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships

on March 6, 2010, the Cyclones wrestler set two

new milestones for the College. The third-place finish

goes down in the history books as the best win for a

Centenary wrestler, and Livingston also became the first

Cyclone to earn All-American status.

Cyclones Wrestling Head Coach John Garriques said the program, which is

ranked 27th in the nation, would continue to move forward. “Winners reap

winners,” he told a local sports reporter. “It is definitely going to take us to

the next level. It puts Centenary on the map.”

The Zeitler Wrestling Facility Opens Cyclones wrestlers used to spend

considerable time setting up mats

in the Folkner Family Gymnasium

for workouts and drills. Those

days are over. On January 29,

2010, Centenary College held the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Zeitler

Wrestling Facility, a 5,000-square-foot addition to the John M. Reeves

Student Recreation Center.

In addition to providing dedicated space for the Centenary’s NCAA

Division III Wrestling team, College officials say the new facility is a capital

improvement that benefits all student-athletes.

“The Zeitler Wrestling Facility presents a tremendous benefit to the College,”

said Director of Athletics Billie Jo Blackwell ’97/09, noting that since

the facility opened, more athletic teams can practice indoors and “trainers

and student-athletes can finish up by 10 p.m. instead of midnight.” The

Director of Athletics also believes the new facility sends a positive message

to current and future student-athletes. “It shows that the College is moving

forward and progressing,” she said. “It is a real selling point for prospective

student-athletes.”

1,000-Point MilestonesTwo Men’s Cyclones Basketball players scored

their 1,000th career point this season. Rob Urie ’11

reached the milestone on February 6, 2010, in a

102–89 victory against Baptist Bible College. Ryan Kearney ’10 became the second Cyclone to reach

the 1,000-point plateau, during the Colonial States

Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs on February 22.

Postseason honorsThe Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) awarded postseason honors to three members of the

Women’s Basketball team for the second year in a row. Jen Vasta ’12 was named to the First Team, Kristen Camuso ’10 received Second Team honors and the CSAC named Nikki Van Tassel ’10 the team’s

Sportsmanship Award Recipient for the second time in a row.

Pictured right, Ryan Kearney ’10.

20 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTESC

1934 Filomena DeSantis 89 Countryside Apts. Bldg. 10Hackettstown, NJ 07840-0162(908) 979-0021

1937 Ruth Mortensen Houghton HolmesOcean View Hilltop Lodge #2E, Apt. L34718 Blueberry LaneFalmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-0999rholmes4@maine.rr.com

1939 Carol Olsen-Voorhees40 Sergeantsville Road Flemington, NJ 08822-1584 (908) 782-5373 corkyjo@netzero.net

1942Edith Bolte Kutz4561 Oaktree Court Delray Beach, FL 33445 (561) 498-438 ediekutz@aol.com

1943 Georgine Hill Mendillo222 Harbour Drive #212 Naples, FL 34103-4071 (239) 649-4708

Jane Schlegal Anderson moved from Florida to Lowell, Mass., after her hus-band, Bob, died, to be near her daughters. Jane’s address is 141 Johns St., Apt. 527, Lowell, MA, 01852. After several moves, Clare “C.J.” Bartlett Maxwell now has a “place to stay put” at 10219 Brookside Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351. She recently published two children’s books. Marjorie Puppo Morgan, “a beautiful addition to the Class of 1943,” passed away in the fall of 2008. Connie Lucca Savage passed away on October 15, 2009, with her daugh-ter, Mimi, by her side. At the time of her death, Connie was in a retirement home in Virginia and had been in the last stages of Alzheimer’s. Georgine Hill Mendillo writes: “This was so sad. She was one of our brightest classmates and could even fly a plane!” Georgine spent three months last summer in Connecticut and Rhode Island; the family celebrated husband Jack’s 90th

C

Carol Olsen-Voorhees ’39 (left) and Helen Littell Alden ’39 (right) at Homecoming and Alumni Weekend 2009.

how to Submit news & notesThe next Class News and

Notes Deadline is September 1.

News and information can also

be submitted directly to the

Alumni Relations Office at

alumni@centenarycollege.edu.

Homecoming and Alumni WeekendCentenary welcomed alumni, friends and family members to Homecoming and Alumni Weekend, held at the College’s main campus in Hackettstown, N.J., on October 9–11, 2009.

1

2

3

4

The Centenarian 21

birthday last September. Georgine will visit Connecticut and Summit, N.J., in August. During the visit, she hopes to also stop by Centenary College. Marcia Marie Weber Canavello is living in Cape Cod with her son and daughter-in-law. She is hoping to sell her house in Easton, Md., soon.

1944 Virginia (Ginny) George Hook553 Rosemont Ringoes Road P.O. Box 93 Sergeantsville, NJ 08557-0093 (609) 397-0553

Virginia (Ginny) George Hook writes: “Dear fellow classmates — just wanted you to know that I am going to take over as the 1944 class correspondent. I am honored to be a part of this class, we have shown great support to Centenary College and I hope we continue to do so as the College continues to grow. Please feel free to contact me with your Class Notes and updates! Look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Ruth Kammelhor Hanson shared a Centenary memory featured in Centenary Rewind that can be found on Page 22. She

would love to hear from classmates and can be reached at: 2131 W. Lilac Lane, Mequon, WI 53092 or HansonRuth@gmail.com.

1945 Barbara Wheatley Murray89 Kensington Road Bronxville, NY 10708-1406 (914) 337-2134

Barbara Wheatley Murray writes: “The year 2009 marks the loss of three esteemed classmates: Jean Stickel Garrity, Lois (Ginny) Barnes Angell and Betty Barnes Noble. Jean was our freshman class president. She was always ebullient, warm and friendly to all. She was a large presence on our halls, emulating the ‘ener-gizer bunny.’ She was enthusiastic about causes and dedicated to them. This she had learned from her father, George Stickel, a well-known New Jersey politician for whom the Stickel Bridge is named. Ever popular, she had many suitors, happily settling on Bob Thomas. They were married for many years and had two daughters who expand-ed their family.

“After Bob’s death, Jean found happiness

once more with Dr. Harold Garrity. She told me she thanked God every day for him. They had a full life until she had a serious fall on black ice a few years back. Although in a wheelchair, Jean never lost her enthusiasm for life and still went out to play bridge. Pulmonary problems caused her demise finally last spring. I shall miss her phone conversations. Our condolences to her beloved Harold and her family.

“Ginny was a very organized person with plans for her life. She was engaged to marry Doug Angell, her high school sweetheart. She insisted he would come back from World War II and marry her. He did. She said they would have two children, a boy and a girl. They did. She said they would have a farm. They did. She said someday they wanted to live in either California or Florida. They lived in retirement in Florida. Ginny was devoted to Doug and her children and so very proud of their accomplishments.

Lois (Ginny) Barnes Angell ’45

Homecoming and Alumni Weekend

6

8

9

12

10 11

1. More than 25 members of the Class of 1959 celebrated their 50th anniversary reunion. 2. Peggy Mansfield Wargo ’54 (left) and Dorothy “Doll” Spach Siegel ’59 (right) were thrilled to reconnect with classmates. 3. Vita Romanelli-Young ’78/80 (right), president of the Alumni Association Executive Board (AAEB), and her daughter, Kaitlin. 4. Virginia “Ginny” George Hook ’44 (left) and Stella Tarabicos Katsanos ’44 (right). 5. John J. McNally sits for a caricature. 6. Lori Harris ’84 (left) and Carolyn Carter ’84 (right). 7. Tour of the Lackland Center. 8. Suzee Wallbank Rowland ’57 (left) and Gail Blank Dawson McNally ’57 (right) at the signing of Gail’s latest book, The Return. 9. The presentation of the Van Winkle Award. 10. Patricia Terhune Hoffman ’47 and husband, Ray Hoffman ’09 HA, a recipient of the Honorary Alumni Award in 2009. 11. Gail Bergenback Vigra ’57. 12. Linda Pierpont ’79 (left) and Jane Morgan Van Horn ’79 (right).

5 7

22 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTES

“Like Jean, I had attended Ginny’s wed-ding, been present at her first dinner party and was impressed with her cooking. We happened to cross paths on our first jobs, working across Wall Street from each other; she as a secretary for the Seaman’s Bank, I as a legal aide for a law firm. We had many lunches together and remained friends. She was a wonderful friend. In one of her last letters, she enclosed a picture of herself with Doug. She was dressed in a red pants suit and gold slippers. They looked very happy. That’s how I will remember her. Our sympathy to her family and many friends.

“Betty was the envy of many of us with her lovely slim figure and big smile. She took part in many class activities and always seemed ‘up.’ She and her roommate, Betty Hall Woodbury, formed a dynamic duo and I will remember their dedicated enthusi-asm and shining presence. Haircutting was not out of their talents. Betty was devoted to animals and turned to doing beautiful portraits of people’s dogs. They were lovely. I remember going with Betty to Centenary’s horse stables. She was so interested and asked so many knowledgeable questions as to their training and care. She was warm and sympathetic to my husband’s problems with diabetes, a disorder she shared with him. I’ll always recall her lively manner and her friendship. Our thoughts go out to her large family and her dear husband.

“Our class may have thinned, therefore it is so important that we remain in touch, I’d love to hear from all of you. May 2010 bring you renewal and happiness and good health.”

1946 Dorothy Latchford Lota418 Boxcar Way Valrico, FL 33594-6812(813) 661-5032

Wanda Ruehle Dellicker and her hus-band of 61 years live in Cranberry Lakes, N.J. The couple has four children and 21 grandchildren. Wanda’s daughter (also a Centenary graduate) and husband are mis-sionaries in China. Aloa Wagner DiFazzio is living in Gulf Village East, Fla. She has been a widow for four years and is using a wheelchair but enjoys Tai Chi and belongs to a book club. Betty Campbell is still living in northern New Jersey and Polly Binder is also well. Dorothy Latchford Lota spent Thanksgiving in Wyckoff, N.J., with her son’s family. She also has a grandson in Kentucky, a granddaughter in North Georgia, a granddaughter who lives in Florida, and a great- grandson who cel-ebrated his first birthday on November 30.

1947 Helen Eckhardt SheehyP.O. Box 987 Amagansett, NY 11930-0987 (631) 267-8984 heckhardt62@optonline.net

1948 Naoma (Mousie) Muller Morgenstein8027 San Vista Circle Naples, FL 34109-7177 naomaquilts@comcast.net (239) 591-0577

Jinny Knodel Waring and her extended family enjoyed a wonderful cruise to Alaska. “The highlight was pulling in very close to the Hubbard Glacier,” said Jinny, who lives in Milwaukee, Wis. Jane Young Holmsten and husband Bill sold their home in Florida and now reside in a retirement community in Connecticut. They have kept their Sagamore house on the Connecticut shore and enjoy living close to daughter Holly (a Centenary graduate), son-in-law Larry and two married grandchildren. Marilyn Rudiger Bongard lives in Severna Park, Md., and keeps busy with travel and get-togethers with Class of ’48 Centenary friends. Jane Ryan Olson moved into an assisted living community and would enjoy hearing from her Centenary friends. Her new address is: Jane Olson, Atria Hamilton Heights Life Guidance, One Hamilton Heights Drive, West Hartford, CT 06119.

Marion Hartman Kempf and husband Bob have a new address: 3001 Lititz Pike, P.O. Box 5093, Lancaster, PA 17606-5093. The couple sold their home of many years and are delighted with their new apart-ment. Lois Dalrymple Slater is very active in her church and keeps in touch with her large family, grandchildren and many friends. Fran MacKnight had been think-ing of selling her Hawthorne, N.J., home but decided she loved her community and friends too much to make an out-of-state move. Betty Nilsen Halsted and hus-band John retired to Betty’s family home in Sunapee, N.H. Peggy Powell Hollis and husband Ray moved from Massachusetts to Arkansas and now reside in Newton, N.C., where they remain active in church and local affairs.

Betty Thole Scott and husband Bob continue to enjoy their home on Osgood Pond in the Adirondacks. “It is very rural here in the mountains and very quiet, especially in winter,” writes Betty. She wishes classmates a “happy and peaceful and healthy 2010.”

1949Florence Austermuhl Larson5925 Poppy St.La Mesa, CA 91942(619) 469-7385rlfl1@yahoo.com

CCentenary RewindFrom Reykjavik to HackettstownIn December 1942, Erna Oskarsdottir ’43 and her sister, Dora Oskarsdottir, sailed from Reykjavik, Iceland, to the United States on a passenger ship accompanied first by American and then British battleships. Their destination? Centenary College (then known as Centenary Junior College) in Hackettstown, N.J., where Erna and Dora’s father had arranged for the young women to continue their education, safe from the war.

“[Erna and Dora] just showed up one day,” recalled Ruth Kammelhor Hanson ’44, who chronicled the sisters’ stay in an article published in early 1943 in the Hackettstown Gazette. “Wealthy Icelanders sent their daughters to Paris to study, but with World War II, they began to come to the U.S.”

Despite the evening blackouts that were conducted regularly during the war years, the Oskarsdottir sisters did find a safe enclave at Centenary. They were however, quite homesick and told Ruth, who was nearly expelled for allowing her name to appear in a newspaper, “We are very happy here, but, of course, we are looking forward to the time we will see Iceland again.”

“There was a lot of excitement going on at that time,” said Ruth, noting that class members lost touch with Erna and Dora who eventually returned to Iceland. Ruth, who worked as a reporter at the Montclair Times the summer before her final year at Centenary, went on to Upsala College in East Orange, N.J. and completed an English degree. She worked for the telephone company for several years and has fond memories of her brief literary career.

Centenarians who have any information about the Oskarsdottir sisters, please contact alumni@centenarycollege.edu.

From The Hack: Erna Oskarsdottir ’43 (left) and Ruth Kammelhor Hanson ’44 (right).

Do you have a story or moment from Centenary College history that you would like to share? Forward your submissions to editor Eric Strauss at strausse@centenarycollege.edu for a future edition of The Centenarian.

22 The Centenarian

The Centenarian 23

Doris Little Osterhoudt retired after 34 years of teaching and is active in her church and in Senior Olympics. She is chairperson of the Senior Advisory Committee in West Milford, N.J., where she lives. Doris also serves on the Republican County Committee and helps with senior entitlements. Evelyn Dries Mathews and her husband recently returned from Boston where they took sev-eral tours and met up with friends. Nancy Morrell McClatchie enjoys kayaking and runs her late father’s insurance business where her two sons and two grandsons work. Florence Austermuhl Larson and her husband, Rob, celebrated their 60th anniversary with family and friends. Their pastor son, Bruce, just returned from an evangelistic crusade in Peru. Florence would like to hear from more “49ers.”

1950 Ann Messenger-Via260 Chatham RoadHarwich, MA 02645-3365 (508) 432-1049

1952Carla Bloecher Derner70 Lincoln Ave.Florham Park, NJ 07932 (973) 822-0652 nibbs01@aol.com

1953Drusie Fox Jenkins208 Linden Ponds Way Apt. CL 601Hingham, MA 02043 (781) 740-1769 drusiej@verizon.net

Ruth Wilcox Dotterer moved to a retire-ment center in Iowa, and continues to spend her time on woodcarving. Her children live in Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa and Izmir, Turkey, where her daughter, Julie, and son-in-law are both teachers. Vangie Rob Sweltzer is in touch with many classmates including Barb Ashworth LaMont who lives in Conyingham, Pa., and Mary Barto Hughes, who lives in Central Pennsylvania. Vangie recently learned that a recent cornea transplant failed and may undergo another procedure. Her classmates wish her good health. Carlotte Pugh Pearson moved from Indiana to Delaware, but was heading for India on Christmas Day to spend three months with her son’s family. Gail Dodge Williams Smith lives in a retirement home in California, near her son, and keeps busy with special events. Ruth Gaudino DuVall lives on Long Island, but winters in Florida, where she sees Ginny Smillie Wilson in North Palm Beach. Ginny recently saw Nancy Cunningham Paris and husband, Dan, as well as Ruth Gaudino Duvall — the three friends reunite for lunch each winter in Florida.

Margie Holmes Brown and husband Ken continue to travel to many interesting places — Canada, Cape Cod, the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, Amsterdam, Budapest, North Carolina and a cruise from Los Angeles to Hawaii. When at home, Margie volunteers at the McLean Health Center, the Encore Club and plays bridge. She wonders whether anyone has any infor-mation about Gertie Lei.

Sue Sigmund Weidenhammer and hus-band George enjoyed a 14-day cruise from San Diego to the Panama Canal, as well as a vacation in Myrtle Beach. The couple love Plantation Village in Wilmington, N.C. Sue quilts, sings in the chorus and tutors children in English as a Second Language. She recently underwent hand and arm sur-gery and had a nerve replaced in her elbow. Jane Ayares Mangano writes: “Our first grandchild, Noah Anthony Mangano, was born on April 7, 2009. Needless to say, we are extremely happy over this event.” She also sings in a community college chorus, is an active gardener and has made many friends attending Barry Manilow concerts and fan conventions.

Drusie Fox Jenkins, and husband Norm, live in a life-care community in Hingham, Mass., and Chatham, Cape Cod. Drusie and Joan Gosnell Birch meet up each summer as Joan, who lives in Pittsford, N.Y., visits family in Harwichport. On a sad note, Drusie reports that Nancy Steele Scudder passed away in Connecticut. She writes: “This is always difficult news to hear, and yet feel I should pass it on to other classmates. Please continue sending me news of our Centenary ’53 friends — any time of year. I know we all look forward to receiving our copy of The Centenarian.”

1954 Gwen Kennedy ButzWestin Innisbrook Resort36750 U.S. Highway 19 NorthPalm Harbor, FL 34684 (727) 943-3772jackbutz@aol.com

Claire Couch Bosee became a Bronze Life Master in bridge. Last summer, she taught five classes of bridge a week in Nantucket. Claire writes: “My 20 years teaching experience has served me well. Now I have a new career!”

Lesley Field Dunbar, along with eight fellow graduates from the Class of 1954 —Mary Fennel Gerber, Peggy Mansfield Wargo, Patty Foulkes Smith, Joan Foulkes Seaman, Doris Stockman Pooley, Carol Chainese Van Duyne, Shirley Gongwer Cochran and Carol Burgess Lackland — attended the 55th class reunion during Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. Leslie notes the many

changes at the College, from coeducation to new athletic facilities, a beautiful Equestrian Center and the new Lackland Center to be completed in 2010.

She writes: “I believe all of us have received a request (Building Blocks for the Future) to contribute for individual paving stones. My fellow classmates and I who attended Homecoming are of the opinion that the Class of 1954 should donate one stone in honor of our class. Consider this: Carol Burgess and her husband, David Lackland, have been very generous, so why not support their generos-ity, and set an example? For more information call Kathleen Ward at (908) 852-1400, ext. 2387. It was fun catching up with those that did attend, and we all agreed that we should try to attend our 60th, assuming all of us are still alive and kicking! That would make most of us 80 years young!”

Any questions or suggestions you may have, please contact Lesley Field Dunbar at 21 Robbins Road, Ayer, MA 01432, phone (978) 772-9741 or e-mail hldlbd@verizon.net.

1955Eleanor Rausch Greene2411 NE Pinecrest Lakes Blvd.Jensen Beach, FL 34957-6648(772) 334-8006richardgreene@bellsouth.net

Joyce Tietjen Barry and husband Bob were in Orlando, Fla. in November for a high school reunion and later joined Ellie Rausch Greene and husband Dick for dinner in Jensen Beach. Ellie and Dick look forward to the usual group of “in season” classmates; the couple also attended the Centenary alumni luncheon in Vero Beach in March. Carol Guerber Messner and husband Bill became great-grandparents recently.

Nancy Blumoehr Morse and husband Ron celebrated their 50th wedding anniver-sary on May 18, 2008. They were remarried at St. John’s Episcopal Church of Somerville, N.J. Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the church hall for 100 friends and family.

Members of the Class of 1955 meet each winter at Panama Hatties. Left to right: Ellie Rausch Greene ’55, Dick Greene, Joyce Tietjen Barry ’55, Bob Barry, Bill Hepper and Evie Klebe Hepper ’55.

24 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTES

1956 Phyllis Cotter Graf46 Dennison RoadEssex, CT 06426-1351(860) 767-2328ggraf2@comcast.net

Dagny Blom Kalinowski and husband Dick are enjoying golf, tennis and life in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Libby Kelly Spivey and husband Dick enjoy visits with their grandchildren, Kayleigh, a junior in college, Lauren, age 15, Alexa, age 16, and Westin, age 13. Sally Roy Boulanger and husband Bob enjoy winters at their home in Ft. Myers, Fla., and summer in their New Hampshire home. Their eldest grandson, Ethan, began St. Lawrence University last fall and plays varsity baseball. Sally and Bob are delighted, since the team’s spring train-ing is in Ft. Myers. Ann Titzell Hammond is doing well in New London, N.H., and received holiday visits from grandchildren Henry, age 12 1/2, and Megan, age 10. Last summer, “Squidge” and family rented a lovely place overlooking Buzzards Bay and hope to do the same this year.

Beverly Tideman McMullin and hus-band Bob live on a farm in Moretown, Vt. They spent the holidays with their son Bob, Radima and Galya (Radima’s daughter) from Kazakhstan, and son Bill, who has a successful business training and showing dressage horses. Phyllis Cotter Graf and husband, George, are busy with travel, sailing on Manhasset Bay and tennis. The couple also enjoyed a wonderful Penn/Brown football weekend in Providence with Beverly, Bob and a number of other old friends. Phyllis writes: “Bev, myself and hus-bands thoroughly enjoyed our Manhasset High School 55th Reunion in early October. Hope to hear from more classmates, for the next The Centenarian.”

1957 Alice “Baynes” MacLea Hobbs2814 Canyon Creek Drive San Angelo, TX 76904-7004(325) 944-3017 baynes@verizon.net

Connie Cunningham Bookbinder is organizing a trip to Europe for a Centenary alumni group. Grace Davis had a hip replacement last August; her classmates hope she is doing well. Gail Blank Dawson McNally read and signed copies of her new book, The Return, at Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. The novel has been warmly received and is available on Amazon.com. Gail is also a new member of Centenary’s President’s Circle and attended her first meeting the same weekend. Another new member of the President’s Circle is Gail Bergenback Vigra, who attends her first meeting in the spring. Suzee Wallbank Rowland will serve as vice chair of the President’s Circle this year. Suzee and husband Ellis cruised through the Panama Canal recently. This is something the couple has wanted to do ever since Suzee’s parents sailed through the Canal many years ago.

Alice “Baynes” MacLea Hobbs writes: “Always good to hear from everyone; please send me news and pictures for the next issue. Also, pass the word around: Centenary Class of 1957 has yet to be beaten by other classes as they celebrate their 50th reunions in both attendance and giving. We have a GREAT class!”

1958 Gail Stitzer Burgess2243 Callaway Drive The Villages, FL 32162 (352) 750-1371 DONGAIL10@comcast.netC. Joy Riddell 101 East McNab Road #210 Pompano Beach, FL 33060-9278 (954) 781-9315 joyriddell@gmail.com

Cynthia Erickson Hellerman still man-ages to get around despite needing a walker at times. She and her husband plan to visit Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota this year. If the couple visits New Mexico and Hawaii, they will have com-pleted visits to all 50 states. Helen Geyser Funnell and husband Neil spent Christmas with their family in Park City, Utah. The couple also celebrated their 50th anniver-sary in 2009. Helen also joined a group of Centenary alumni from the Hilton Head area for a luncheon at Wexford Country Club. Debra Albanese HA ’04 from the Office of Strategic Advancement spoke to the group and reported on the progress of the David and Carol Lackland Center. Addie Russell Novaco and husband Stan cel-ebrated their 50th anniversary with a won-derful cruise on Freedom of the Seas with their daughter, son and families.

Patricia Robinson Crowdis and hus-band Larry were relieved to learn that daughter Kelly, who is a veterinarian serv-ing with the Christian Veterinary Mission

in Haiti, survived the recent earthquake. Sandy Garrard Burdge writes: “On a sad note, Carol Comstock Meyers lost her husband of 33 years, Harry, earlier this month. She still works as a secretary at her church in Mahwah, N.J.”

Gail Stitzer Burgess writes: “I am sad-dened to report that Sue Remington Moritz’s sister, Linda Remington ’62, died a few months ago after a long battle with cancer. Sue made several trips to California to be with her and was there the last few weeks of Linda’s life. We will be seeing Sue and Bob in February and are looking forward to the time together.” Gail is also in touch with Barbara Bloom Young, and when Barbara LePori Parks visits New Jersey, the three friends have lunch together.

Susan Gordon Posner ’58, Edie Bolte Kutz ’42, Doris Meese ’50, Joy Riddell ’58 and Sandra Moody ’59 enjoyed the magnificent gardens at the popular Delray Sundy House last September. Joy writes: “We laughed, we ate, we drank the cham-pagne, we told Centenary stories, we ate, we drank the champagne and we laughed some more. We decided it was too much fun not to share with other Centenary alums in our area. Come on, you Centenary ladies in South Florida; let’s get together for a bite, a sip and a laugh. Call Joy at (954) 784-4878 or joyriddell@gmail.com.”

1959 Thais McAleece Haines1950 Hovsons Blvd.Toms River, NJ 08753-1519 (732) 255-2772 thaishaines@gamil.com

Doll Spach Siegel10 Hartley Farms RoadMorristown, NJ 07960-7045(973) 236-9669

Ann Hufnagel Rafferty249 Long Lane Upper Darby, PA 19082-4020 (610) 352-9516 araffert@adphila.org

C

Susan Gordon Posner ’58, Edie Bolte Kutz ’42, Doris Meese ’50, Joy Riddell ’58 and Sandra Moody ’59 at the Sundy House in Delray Beach, Fl.

Nancy Blumoehr Morse ’55 and family celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary.

The Centenarian 25

Suzanne Engel Erie writes: “Earlier today I received the Memory Book for the Class of ’59. What a wonderful surprise ... I dropped everything and sat down to thoroughly read and enjoy each photo and message! Thankfully, I remembered everyone and was amused at their activities and life stories. Needless to say, I now wish I had taken the time to share a few notes about my own memories. In retrospect, my Centenary edu-cation was a stepping stone for many future endeavors and achievements, including a 35-year career as a medical secretary, PR research associate and eventually a senior executive assistant in the biotech industry. Presently, I am not employed, but turning 70 in January will not stop me from finding yet another venture. I am married (almost 50 years), have a son and daughter and two wonderful granddaughters. My mother is 96 years old and I visit her almost every-day since she is close by to our home in Concord, Mass., where we have lived for the past 40 years.”

Doll Spach Siegel reports that 30 alum-nae attended the Class of 1959 reunion last October 10, 2009. She writes: “We all had a wonderful time at our 50th reunion celebra-tion! Classmates traveled from all over the country to be with us! I hope we can get together again soon.”

1960 Gail Sylvester Longstreth239 Halemaumau Street Honolulu, HI 96821-2055 (808) 373-4490 robertlongstreth@yahoo.com

1961Joyce Fierro Velzy1253 NW Bentley Circle Apt. APort St. Lucie, FL 34986 (772) 873-9008129 Stanwood RdMt. Kisco, NY 10549(914) 666-5328 joyvelz@juno.com

Jane Widden Ostheimer lives in Massachusetts where her grandchildren, ages 5, 3 and 1, keep her busy. She is very happy to have her family close by. Susie Pederson Lamberti writes: “I enjoy read-ing news from our classmates. Up until this past year, Bobbi Bidwell Gallagher and her husband used to come East each year and we would have a “mini-reunion” lunch in New Jersey. They didn’t make it this past year and I really missed seeing her.” Susie and her husband, Ralph, took the whole family (14!) on a Disney cruise last August. She still rides her horse several times a week and plays golf when she can. Susie serves as Chairperson of the Northfield Bank Foundation and serves on the bank’s Board of Directors.

Mary Jean Schofield Treon had a great time with her family over the holi-days, including her 8-, 6- and 4-year-old grandsons. “Each one got a different type of scooter, the oldest a ripstick, like I knew what that was! John and I are doing well and spent New Year’s on Long Beach Island.” Debbie Sisbower Lingwood writes that she and husband Elden are still able to keep up with the seasonal chores required to live in beautiful Maine. Elden continues to do volunteer work at Camp Sunshine, is involved with local lake qual-ity programs and both are active in their church. Mary Nash spent a couple of weeks in Maine in August, attended her Class of ’59 50th reunion and in September, welcomed grandson number 6, Oscar. She writes, “Grandson Cameron, a golf buddy of mine, won his first golf tournament with a better score for nine holes than Grandma... and he is only 10! Most of all, I am lovin’ retirement!”

Five old friends from DuBois Hall reunited in October at Sue Fippin Scattergood’s vacation home at Holden Beach, N.C. Molly Power Balzer arrived from North Vancouver, Canada; Gail Donovan came from Davison, Mich.; Betty Gilbert Murray drove from Annandale, N.J.; and Nancy Willoughby Charbonneau came from Destin, Fla. Molly’s husband, George, volunteered at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in February, hosted by Vancouver, B.C. Molly also traveled to Anna Maria Island, Fla., in April, a trip that has become an annual event for her.

Last May, Missy Keely Bell, Joyce Fierro Velzy and two other classmates organized their 50th high school reunion. Joyce’s husband, Bob, had eye surgery in mid-May and in June one of their sons was married. Joyce writes: “Unfortunately, there were complications with the surgery (not the wedding) and we stayed in New York longer than expected and were unable to connect with Jan Foster Underhill and her husband, Peter, on their annual trip to Florida.”

Molly Power Balzer ’61, Sue Fippin Scattergood ’61, Betty Gilbert Murray ’61, Gail Donovan ’61 and Nancy Willoughby Charbonneau ’61 on vacation in North Carolina.

Centenary LegacyAlumnae inspire Mother’s Day Fund

Among the many gifts Jill Morgenstein Ray, Ph.D., ’80 received from her mother, Naoma Muller Morgenstein ’48, was a love and appreciation for Centenary College.

“I really loved attending Centenary and knowing that my mom had walked the same halls,” recalled Jill, a research biologist who has studied critical diseases from breast cancer to the HPV virus.

That experience inspired Jill to honor Naoma by making a gift to the Centenary Fund. She encourages other alumni to do the same with the establishment of the Centenary College Mother’s Day Fund.

A Biology major at Centenary, Jill credits Dr. Charles H. Dick, former President of Centenary, and Biology Professor Dr. Parrish for encouraging her to apply for and receive a full scholarship at Boston University. “Centenary gave me a great, gradual introduction into adulthood,” said Jill, who was active in student government and served as a resident assistant.

Naoma was delighted her daughter chose Centenary. “There had been so many changes on the campus that at first it was hard to realize that it was ‘my’ college, but the warmth was still there. I was most happy to see the growth that our daughter was experiencing, as I know I had.”

After graduating from Boston University, Jill went on to graduate school at University of Virginia and completed post-doctoral work at Stanford University and the National Institute of Health. She is currently Senior Manager, Manufacturing Sciences and Life Technologies, a biotechnology firm in northern California.

The Mother’s Day Fund provides support to students whose circumstances have changed and are faced with the possibility of not being able to finish college.

“My mom and I shared countless wonderful memories throughout my childhood that I will cherish forever,” added Jill. “Even though

I was enrolled 30 years after her, I feel fortunate that we share this common experience.”

Jill Morgenstein Ray, Ph.D., ’80 (above); her mother Naoma Muller Morgenstein ’48 (right).

26 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTES

Joyce also adds: “Many of you wrote about attending your 50th high school reunion in 2009, which means our 50th reunion from Centenary (that certainly must be a mis-take!) will take place in 2011. Why not start thinking now about getting in touch and making plans with classmates to attend that milestone in our lives?“

1963 Janice Babcock Johnson312 Fiedler Road Maple Glen, PA 19002-2714 (215) 628-3642jjgolf@comcast.net

1964 Carolyn James Harbourt661 Hillcrest Blvd. Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-1444 (908) 454-8979 cbharbourt@earthlink.netLaurie Kulp Gerhart17806 Sorrel RidgeSpring, TX 77388

1965 Claire Kilpatrick Michlovitz47 S. Curtisville Road Concord, NH 03301 foxpersonone@comcast.net

1966 Judith Loveman Noonan24 River Glen RoadWellesley, MA 02181-1640 (781) 237-1483judnoonan@aol.com

1967 Barbara Leighton Faulkner6761 Pheasants RidgeHudson, OH 44236-3265(330) 653-6826lauraleightondesigns@windstream.net

1968Linda Klebe Larsen15214 Brier Creek Drive Haymarket, VA 20169 (703) 753-6462lklebelarsen@comcast.net

Jean Anderson Webb6559 Jay Miller Drive Falls Church, VA 22041-1134 (703)354-1725jwebbelo@gmail.com

Susan Dunlap Damos’ daughter, Michelle, married last June in Denver, Colo. Susan and Michelle were so pleased to have Jean Anderson Webb and hus-band Don in attendance, as well as Nancy Farrington Novak’s older brother, Jack, and his wife, Marilyn.

1969 Elizabeth Braun Andreini825 Ketch Drive #301 Naples, FL 34108-4183 (239‚ 262-3837 ebandreini@comcast.net

1970Melinda Lord Martin85 Windsor Road Kensington, CT 06037 (860) 225-0461 melinda1234@comcast.net

1971Carol Swenson Tanzola3009 Trout Run Road York, PA 17402-8952 (717) 755-3172 carol@jvtanzola.com

1972 Karen Clark Blane1885 Penshurst DriveCollierville, TN 38017-9107 (901) 854-4779

1973 Gayle Manning Brown9502 Liberty Tree Lane Vienna, VA 22182-3405 (703) 938-4169

Cynthia Johnson Dodd704 Burning Tree Circle Salisbury, MD 21801-7002 (410) 543-1483 cdodd53@aol.com

1974 Valerie Coleman Moore6 Meyer Pl. #2 Pompton Plains, NJ 07444-1804 (973) 839-0148 vcolemanmoore@yahoo.com

1975Ellyn Minor47 Aubrey Road Montclair, NJ 07043 (973) 744-7763 ellyn.minor@smithsdetection.com

1976 Debra Ray Botbyl Dobbs113 Maybrook Road Campbell Hall, NY 10916 (845) 427-5797 dbotbyl@hotmail.com

1977 Ellyn Minor47 Aubrey Road Montclair, NJ 07043 (973) 744-7763 ellynminor@verizon.net

Marion Doyle and some friends visited Nancy Willis Hueber and husband Rob at their home in the Outer Banks, N.C. While in “OBX,” the group decided to pursue their thirst for knowledge by taking a wine tast-ing class at the Wine University of the Outer Banks. The group reports: “We had a lot of fun and actually learned a few things about wine and how to pair it with different foods. We were all successful in our graduation.”

1978 Nanci Marks Oakley2718 Plymouth Drive Easton, PA 18045 (610) 258-3737 noakley@browndaub.com

1979 Susan Van Schelven Fischer 43 Princeton Ave. Midland Park, NJ 07432 (201) 670-6735 fdsrcd@optonline.net

1980 Miriam Santowasso Cash1731 Clock Tower Drive West Chester, PA 19380-6473 (610) 692-0103 mimc@verizon.net

Miriam Santowasso Cash hosted an alumni event at her home in West Chester, Pa. See Page 30.

C

Linda Klebe Larsen ’68 and family.

L to R: Jean Anderson Webb ’68, Jack Farrington, Susan Dunlap Damos ’68 and Michelle Damos White.

The Centenarian 27

1981 Jennifer Brown MacKenzie2 Birchwood Court Middlesex, NJ 08846-2073 (732) 469-8808 (home) jamdarlin2@aol.com

1982 Tracy Toole Shikada9557 Baycliff Court Orlando, FL 32836-5758 (407) 876-8671

1983Erica Hontz Hoffman568 South Chiques Road Mannheim, PA 17545 (717) 898-8452 ejh826@verizon.net

Erica Hontz Hoffman will soon test for her first-degree black belt in Taekwondo. She is active with church and College-related activities including the Chancel Choir, Contemporary Worship team, Adult Choir, Board of Christian Ed and Youth Task Force. At Centenary, she is a member of the Alumni Association Executive Board and President’s Circle. Erica writes: “After nearly 23 years with the local independent telephone com-pany, I am back on the job market. Not sure what the future will hold, but I’m checking out a few job offers and looking into the pos-sibility of opening my own business. Jim and I also returned in December for the ’Tis the Season celebration (2009 was the 14th sea-son) to play handbells and pull together an impromptu handbell choir from the student population that Rev. Dave Jones calls ‘The Miracle Handbell Choir.’ Hoping life is treating all of you well. Please send me any informa-tion of create an account on the College website and post notes directly. I am looking forward to hearing about your activities.”

1984 Mary Sue Wines Lamb 9 Strathmore RoadFreehold, NJ 07728-0061 (732) 294-0061mswlamb@aol.com

Katherine Godlewsky Bill 74 Harmony Station Road Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 (908) 859-6585

1985 Denise Sabasko Ciesla6 Darby Circle WestMount Holly, NJ 08060-3269 (609) 261-7288dsciesla@comcast.net

1986 Laura Vitale Gambino368 North RoadChester, NJ 07930-2327 (908) 879-9885

1987 Anne Siebecker 5 Foxholl LaneRingwood, NJ 07456(973) 962-6118amsrose@aol.com

Lori Post Kelly40 Scott Drive Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (908) 281-9103 ltkelly@patmedia.net

1988 Lisa Marinelli Winger7 Edison Road Stewartsville, NJ 08886 (908) 859-2441 marinellil@verizon.net

Lynn Richardson Mancil and husband Jim recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. Rhonda Rudy Brouse and husband Eric are married 20 years. The couple has two children, Autumn, who will attend Lock Haven University for a degree in Biology/Marine Biology, and son Ryan, who is in the third grade. Lisa Marinelli Winger is employed with the Warren Hill School District in Washington, N.J. She writes: “I will be married 10 years this September. Our son, Brandon, is 12 years old and is active in sports. Hope all is well with everyone. I would like to hear from more classmates for the next time.”

1989 Correspondent Position Open

Sheila Zelskowski wrote from Iraq: “Hi everyone. Well, R&R was better than I could have dreamed. All the studying of Ancient Egypt does not compare to actually standing inside the Great Pyramid. Yes, we climbed the 82 meters up and in to the heart of the pyramid. That was a religious experience for me; I still get goose bumps thinking about it. We saw 10 of the 14 temples along the Nile, by my rough count. Cairo traffic was insane; the Antiquities Museum is a warehouse of treasures! I have way too many pictures, and will post a few up on Flickr as I can, and save the rest for when we come home. We are back on our FOB, back to the daily rou-tine. It is good to be back, experiencing the wind-down months of our deployment. 2010 will be here soon, heralding our return!” See story on Page 14.

Class actsCentenary welcomes its first Athletic Hall of Famers Centenary College marked the 20th anniversary of coeducation and the genesis of its robust NCAA Division III athletic program with the induction of the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class on January 30, 2010. The inaugural class included the late Catello “Cardy” Gemma, former Men’s Basketball coach and Director of Athletics, and the 1995 Men’s Soccer team.

Thirteen members, including coaches and former student-athletes from the 1995 championship team, attended the ceremony, as well as Gemma’s family members. “This was the first time I had been back to Centenary,” remarked Jean LaForest ’97, a former student-athlete on a squad of 17 that achieved the best record in the history of Centenary soccer. A small-business owner from Palm Coast, Fla., and father of three, Jean said the team was honored to be a part of the inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Class.

The 1995 Men’s Soccer team finished the season with a record of 17–3–1; the 17 victories remains the highest single-season win total in program history. The squad also captured the National Small College Athletic Association Championship that year, beating Michigan Christian College in a nail-biter that ended with a 3–1 victory.

“It was a shock for us to be recognized in this way,” said Jean, who remains an avid soccer player in an over-30 league. “There are a lot of great teams that played for the school. Hopefully more teams will be recognized in the future.”

“The Hall of Fame program is going to grow,” said Billie Jo Blackwell ’97/09, Director of Athletics. Nominations for the Athletics Hall of Fame are valid for five years and the Department of Athletics is accepting nominations for the 2011 class. For further information, visit centenarycollege.edu/athletics.

Director of Athletics Billie Jo Blackwell ’97/09 and Hall of Fame inductee Jean LaForest ’97.

The Centenarian 27

28 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTES

1990 Anna Guzzi Camooso1715 Marconi RoadWall, NJ 07719-3919 (732) 280-9072acamooso@centennialcorp.com

1991 Justine Steinfeld-Mahon131 Bluebird Drive, Unit 4A Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (908) 874-5046Jm1991cc@yahoo.com

1992 Kristen McKitish10 Quail Run Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (908) 240-6837 mckitishk@centenarycollege.edu

1994 Michelle Brennan Abbate5 Windy Bush Lane Sparta, NJ 07871 (973) 729-8107mcbrenn@hotmail.com

1995 Heather Bush Loven(973) 398-0691 216 Carentan Road Hopatcong, NJ 07843-1801 missmerlot1@yahoo.com

Monique Grimme(908) 328-2376 507 Rt 46 Suite A Belvidere, NJ 07823 mgrimme@aol.com

1996Jennifer Cassini(908) 637-8658 194 Free Union Road Great Meadows, NJ 07838-2333 cassini@earthlink.net

1997 Margaret “Peggy” Gibbs Guay(508) 398-2505844 Rt. 28 Apt. 5ASouth Yarmouth, MA 02664-5264 marbleandtoast@yahoo.com

1998 Merrilee McMurray2413 Bridgetown CircleSparks, NV 89436(775) 626-2639 merrilee.m@hotmail.com

1999Laura A. Orbine(908) 996-7196132 Tumble Idell RoadFrenchtown, NJ 08825lorbine@hotmail.com

2000 Coleen Trentacosta(908) 276-5613 215 N. 22nd St. Kenilworth, NJ 07033Yingyang252000@yahoo.com

2001 Julia Kimball23 Bayberry LaneSouth Burlington, VT 05403(802) 310-7091(802) 951-1646juliak@howardcenter.org

2002 Megan Kriger Baillie 2323 168th St. Surrey, BC V35 0A7 (604) 522-3024 megankriger@yahoo.com

Jenelle WoodrupP.O. Box 2606 Clifton, NJ 07015 jenellewoodrup@hotmail.com

Christopher Linne has been named the Criminal Justice program coordinator at Centenary College.

2003Frances Hoare Licciardiello935 Anderson Road Port Murray, NJ 07865 (908) 835-0451 presidentfrances@gmail.com

Jeffrey Carter is the director of the Master of Leadership and Public Administration program at Centenary College. Frances Hoare Licciardiello writes: “Dear fel-low classmates ... We’re starting a new year, a new decade, with a new president of Centenary College: Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite. Everything is brand new ahead of us so that means the skies are blue and the flowers are beautiful. What will we accomplish in the next 10 years? Set your goals high and go with the wind. Drop me

28 The Centenarian

CCentenary MilestoneClass of 1989 celebrates Barbara-Jayne LewthwaiteDenise Gruber Cook ’89 had two very good reasons for attending Homecoming and Alumni Weekend 2009. Denise, along with many of her classmates, celebrated their 20th class reunion and congratulated one of their favorite professors and mentors, Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, who became President of Centenary College last May.

“She is a phenomenal person,” said Donna Anderson Furda ’89, who recalled tak-ing an exam at Dr. Lewthwaite’s dining room table as an undergraduate. “I was taking too many classes and she offered to pick me up at school and feed me dinner. She was that car-ing and that willing to help out to not only be your professor, but your friend.”

Kim Feinberg DiBuono ’89 said the guid-ance and positive energy Dr. Lewthwaite offered as a member of the Business Department influenced her own decision to major in the subject “Her strength and honesty make her a great leader,” said Kim. “You look at her and think, ‘I want to be like that.’”

Many who attended Homecoming and Alumni Weekend believe the new President’s long ten-ure as a professor, administrator and academic leader will serve her well. “She has a lot of insight into the College and all of the changes it has experienced,” noted Denise. “We now have a lot of established alumni and a stellar athlet-ics program. Yet even with these improvements, the College never lost sight of academics.”

Alumni who knew Dr. Lewthwaite as a teacher and mentor say her new leadership role has even inspired them to give back, said Anna Guzzi Camooso ’90: “Just as [Dr. Lewthwaite] helped us to succeed, we want to continue helping her succeed.”

First row: Denise Gruber Cook ’89, Barbara Ciccone-Sisco ’89 and Renee Holmes Prevot ’87. Second row: Donna Anderson Furda ’89 and Tracey Casale Olivieri ’89. Third row: Kim Feinberg DiBuono ’89, Anna Guzzi-Camooso ’90, Jaclyn Hvizdak Honer ’89 and Carlene Meixner Schiavo ’89. For more about Dr. Lewthwaite, see Pages 1–3.

Christopher Linne ’02

The Centenarian 29

an e-mail, presidentfrances@gmail.com, and share your growth with us; we grow and learn from each other. I like to leave you with a ‘Thought for Today’ by Lerwill Christian Andersen: ‘Tread softly, and be ye slow to wrath, Ye may not chance again upon this path ... A smile, a kindly deed, a friendly clasp of hand; Let these bespeak thy love of fellowman.’”

2004 Natasha “Tasha” McMasterP.O. Box 87 Allamuchy, NJ 07820(908) 208-6729 chachagirl333@msn.com

2005 Jillian D’Alessio418 W. Washington St. Slatington, PA 18080 (908) 727-3266Jillybeans82@yahoo.com

Kathleen “Kat“ Tirrell Ernst gave birth to Audrey Elizabeth after spending most of June 13 in labor at the Edward W. Seay Administration Building.

2006 Alicia Miller5 Red Maple RoadNew Egypt, NJ 08533 (609) 758-0664 aamiller9@aol.com

Well wishes for a Happy New Year to all from the class of 2006. Alicia Miller asks if anyone has any news, please e-mail her.

2007 – 2010Correspondent Positions Open

Centenary ConnectionsAlumni form Art Society When a group of Fine Arts graduates reunited for a holiday dinner in 2007, they realized something was missing — mainly the feedback and support they gave one another as undergraduates. “Each of us were working in a vacuum on our art without input from one another,” explained Lindsey Winkler ’07.

Shortly afterward, the Centenary College Alumni Art Society was born and six alumni artists began painting together in the College’s art studios. According to Lindsey, who serves as co-chair of the group, the regular painting sessions created a forum for “an exchange of ideas and constructive criticism that helps your art along.”

Since forming two years ago, the Alumni Art Society has organized three group exhibitions including the “Viewer’s Choice” Art Alumni Awards Exhibition that was shown at Centenary College last winter. The works presented impressed many, including the graduates’ former Professor of Fine Arts, Carol Yoshimine.

“These alumni have been particularly devoted to Centenary College and to each other,” said Professor Yoshimine. “They are doing some remarkable work, while balancing the rigors of

personal and professional responsibilities. I am particularly impressed with their growth, maturity and artistic development.”

Members say they are committed to presenting the art exhibition annually and hope to see more Fine Arts alumni participate. “We all inspire each other and motivate each other,” said Alumni Art Society Co-Chair Donco Tolomanoski ’07, who is completing internships at Maggie Norris Couture and Paul & Shark USA, Inc. “We are all friends that graduated together and still have conversations and talk about everything that pertains to art.”

Allison Doatch ’07

Alumni Art Society members (left to right): Allison Doatch ’07, Lindsey Winkler ’07, Alissa Walgren ’09, Donco Tolomanoski ’07, Jessica Keeler Doerrer ’93 and Maureen Zeglen ’07.

Discover IrelandCentenary College Alumni TourSeptember 15–24, 2010 Deadline: June 30

Discover the Emerald Isle on a special 10 day/9 night exploration of some of Ireland’s most fascinating sites including Galway, Killarney and Dublin. Enjoy breathtaking destinations and historical locations.

For further details, including reservations and pricing, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Deana Cynar at cynard@centenarycollege.edu or call (908) 852-1400, ext. 2250.

Kathleen “Kat” Tirrell Ernst and Audrey Elizabeth Ernst.

Harmony Summerdawn Rose ’03 and Jeremy Leigh Rush were married on August 29, 2009.

30 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTESCLaSS neWS AND NOTESC

Homecoming and Alumni Weekend

Class years ending in ’0 and ’5 are celebrating reunions

Visit the new David and Carol Lackland Center plus Campus Tours • Theater • Golf Outing • Alumni Brunch and more!

For further information, visit alumni.centenarycollege.edu.

Class of 1960: 50th anniversary Reunion

Save the Date: October 8 –10, 2010

On the Road with Centenary College

West Chester, Pa.: Alumna Miriam Santowasso Cash ’80 (front row, fourth from the left) hosted an alumni reception in her home on February 4, 2010.

Alumni had the opportunity to meet Centenary College’s new president, Dr. Barbara-Jayne

Lewthwaite, and learn all about the progress of their alma mater at regional events held

in Washington, D.C., West Chester, Pa., and Florida during early 2010.

Washington, D.C.: U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance ’01 HA (left), a former College Trustee, hosted an alumni reception at the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C., on February 3, 2010. He is pictured with College President Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite.

Vero Beach, Fl.: (left to right) Dorothy “Doll” Spach Siegel ’59, Orin R. Smith ’91 HA, Mrs. Arthur Van Winkle ’08 HA, hostess of the Boca Raton event, Nancy “Nan” Briwa Veeder ’46 and Meredith “Med” Post Van Pelt ’32.

Our prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of the following:

The Centenarian 31

Lois V. Barnes Angell ’45 6/21/09

Edith A. Bogert Blackwell ’43 1/27/09

Martha S. Darling Brennesholtz ’33 7/29/09

Eleanor C. Raynor Burns ’33 7/15/09

Yvonne B. Folkner Canfield ’55 1/17/10

Jayne Olmsted Christie ’68 12/23/08

Rick M. Clendaniel ’92 7/15/09

Suzanne M. Depeppo ’96 12/22/09

Elizabeth Rose Dirkes ’50 3/6/10

Jean M. Botkin Duncan ’54 9/23/09

Sarah Adams Ellis ’48 9/25/05

Edna T. Thomson Eyre ’40 6/3/09

Patricia J. Schisler Felcin ’76 7/15/09

Nancy K. Kinder Forker ’57 6/20/09

Judy Smith Gallagher ’55 12/4/08

Jean E. Stickel Garrity ’45 4/29/09

Joanne Ferry Gates ’87 HA 2/25/10

Mary Dryfoos Goldsmith ’42 1/12/09

Jane G. Towers Gowing ’48 9/17/09

Jean W. Whitney Groo ’42 5/17/09

Edith V. Smith Hays ’44 8/27/09

Helen P. Huntley Hedden ’55 7/27/09

Adele B. Barthold Kaczynski ’53 10/7/09

Arlene H. Hale Kay ’58 1/13/10

Ruth Ann Stamato Kilpatrick ’79 3/9/10

Mary E. Minster Littleton ’49 2/2/10

Jan Van Sickle Matthews ’43 4/7/09

Elizabeth C. Hall McGoldrick ’51 2/1/10

Jane Salkind McLaughlin ’56 5/4/09

Victoria J. Brouwer McNeil ’54 6/24/09

Edna Avera Murdock ’52 8/7/09

Elizabeth C. Barnes Noble ’45 12/16/09

Doris Perkins Read ’39 3/19/10

Evelyn Gilbert Reed ’64 1/27/09

Linda Remington ’62 7/12/09

Clare T. Tully Rosamond ’57 8/5/09

Ann L. Landis Russell ’55 5/28/09

Linda J. Ryan ’97 1/4/10

Diane S. Mellon Sauereisen ’57 1/19/09

Nancy L. Steele Scudder ’53 7/8/09

Nancy J. Strouse Smith ’47 6/3/09

Evelyn J. Binder Stackhouse ’56 10/15/09

Alice Altheimer Strauss ’52 2/8/10

Sally Amidon Taylor ’52 9/24/09

Charlotte “Carol” Chianese Van Duyne ’54 2/20/10

Joan Sherry Vliet ’48 2/16/09

Leaving a Legacy

Music lover. Devoted daughter and wife. Proud

alumna of Centenary College is how many remember

Yvonne B. Folkner Canfield ’55, who passed away

peacefully on January 17, 2010, at the age of 74.

Born on November 4, 1935 in Easton, Pa., Yvonne was

the daughter of the late Frank J. and Thelma Creveling

Folkner and the wife of the late Robert C. Canfield.

She lived most of her life in Buttzville, N.J., serving as a

postal clerk at the Buttzville Post Office and an organist

at the Buttzville United Methodist Church. An active participant in community life,

Yvonne was a member of the Peggy Warne Chapter of the Daughters of the American

Revolution and taught piano to many students in the area.

At Centenary College, Yvonne’s legacy will be felt by generations of Centenarians to

come. In 2005, the alumna and her mother, Thelma C. Folkner, directed a major gift

to The Campaign for Centenary College that made the Folkner Family Gymnasium in

the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center possible. The Folkners’ generosity

has increased the quality of NCAA Division III athletics at Centenary College and

provided a venue for a host of major events, from January Commencement to the

President’s Ball.

A constant companion to her mother, Yvonne credited Thelma for her tenacity and

unconditional support. During her senior year at Centenary, Yvonne fell ill and returned

to Buttzville to recuperate. With Thelma’s help, she recovered and was able to

graduate with the Class of 1955.

Cousins Sheila Creveling and Helen Marie Creveling survive Yvonne.

Joanne Ferry Gates ’87 HA, a former member of the Board of Trustees at

Centenary College, passed away on February 25, 2010. Gates served as a Trustee

from 1968 to 1986. She was the third member of her family to serve on the Centenary

board, following her father, Joseph R. Ferry, a Trustee from 1948 to 1976, and her

grandfather, George J. Ferry, one of the College’s founding fathers and a Trustee

from 1872 to 1911. A gift from her family funds the annual Gates-Ferry Distinguished

Visiting Lectureship.

A graduate of Connecticut College, Gates married Richard Gates in 1946, raised a

family and then returned to Saint Joseph’s College in West Hartford, Conn., to earn

a master’s degree in counseling. An active volunteer with a number of worthwhile

organizations, Centenary awarded Gates an honorary doctorate degree in 1987. She

was also named one of the College’s first 125 Distinguished Alumni in 1992.

In addition to her husband of 64 years, Gates is survived by Pamela Gates Wright ’69, as well as three other daughters, Suzanne Gates, Cynthia Gates Grosch,

and Rebecca Gates Thomas, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In Memoriam

Yvonne Folkner Canfield ’55

C

32 The Centenarian

The LaST WORD

32 The Centenarian

Coming home to LouisianaBy Julie house ’06

I went to Louisiana in 2006 as part of the first

Centenary College Katrina Relief Project to hopefully

touch and maybe change the lives of people who

had been through a terrible disaster. That trip ended

up touching and changing my own life.

I was 12 years old when Hurricane Agnes struck

Pennsylvania in 1972. We lost ... everything. It was

heartbreaking to lose all your possessions, but the

thing I remember most were the people who came

to help. They came, they helped and then they left

without us ever knowing who they were.

So when my Criminal Justice professor, Norm

Cetuk, said he wanted to do something for the

people of the Gulf Coast, I was immediately on

board. I traveled all over New Jersey and parts of

Pennsylvania collecting donations. We had two

U-Haul trucks and my daughter, Christina, who

was also a Centenary student at that time, and

two friends drove 26 hours straight to reach New

Orleans.

I can still recall every family we helped. But the one

who stood out in my mind and heart was an elderly

man named Red. When our crew pulled up to his

home, he was sitting in the driveway in a rocking

chair. He was 72 years old and had to come up

with six months of back mortgage. He was trying

to sell his house for a mere $40,000 so the bank

would not repossess it, and while we were carrying

out this man’s ruined possessions, a couple came

by, interested in purchasing the home. Red had to

get back to his wife and that was the last we saw

of him. When I moved here, I went back to the

area to try and find him, but the house had been

demolished. To this day, I can still see Red in that

rocking chair.

When we left Louisiana, I was so sad. There were

so many people who needed help and it felt like I

was abandoning them in their time of need. After

graduating from Centenary in May 2006, I returned

with my daughter and her two friends to volunteer

through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

The one week we planned became two weeks.

Then I began bringing groups down to help with

reconstruction through a Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

What kept bringing me back? I thought the people

in Louisiana had been forgotten. And I grew so

close to the people here, even though they were

strangers. They cherish family, togetherness and

true friendship. I felt so at home and always felt this

need to go back and help.

My son, Dayton, who also attends Centenary,

thought I was crazy. But after making trips down

here to visit and volunteering with the ongoing

Centenary Relief Project, he understands why

I moved here and will be joining me after his

graduation in May. My daughter relocated to

Louisiana before me, and is married and living

nearby.

I love my life here. From my job, to my family and

friends, to volunteering as a wish granter for the

Make a Wish Foundation, I am very happy. One

thing I learned from this experience is to never be

afraid to take a chance. Even if it seems like a wild

idea, you never know unless you try. I did not begin

college until I was 41 years old and my experience

at Centenary was so wonderful. It changed my life. I

give thanks every day to God for giving me an

amazing life and for all that I have.

JULiE HOUSE ’06 moved to Louisiana in March

2008 and now works as a juvenile probation officer

for Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services. She is also

mother to Dayton House ’10, Christina House and

Fred House.

“What kept bringing me back? I thought the people of Louisiana had been forgotten.”

Julie House ’06

Reconnectby submitting and reading Class Notes online.

Stay Informedwith the latest news on Alumni and College happenings.

Catch upwith friends and classmates on online discussion boards.

It’s all happening online at alumni.centenarycollege.edu

CENTENARY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Arden Davis Melick ’60/01 HA Chairman

Kenneth L. Hahn 1st Vice Chairman

Norman Worth 2nd Vice Chairman

Lucinda Thomas Embersits ’59 Secretary

Alan J. Shaw Treasurer

Ellen Banks ’93

The Hon. Howard Burrell

Stanley Caine

Margot Nelson Carey ’55

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

Tilly-Jo Emerson

Rochelle A. Makela-Goodman ’97

Peter Gorry

Wolfgang Gstattenbauer ’84

Michael Halpin

David W. Johnson

David A. Lackland ’10 HA

The Hon. George D. Muller

Raymond Nisivoccia

Denis Hennessey O’Rourke

Wallace P. Parker, Jr.

Jim Salerno

M. Alden Siegel

Orin R. Smith ’91 HA

Timothy L. Smith

James D. Stryker

Christopher Treanor

Linda Van Winkle Watkins ’62

TRUSTEES EMERITUS

Harris F. Smith ’99 HA

Earle T. Holsapple, Jr. ’99 HA

Dr. Hae-Jong Kim

Editorial OfficesCentenary College Magazine

400 Jefferson Street Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Benefits• Steady, guaranteed lifetime

payments, backed by the assets of the College

• Charitable income tax deduction • Avoidance of capital gains tax • Savings on gift and estate taxes • Future support for Centenary

College Guidelines• Minimum gift of $5,000 • Payments can begin at age 65

or later • Can be funded with cash

or securities

Gift Annuity RatesIncome rates are based on your age or the age(s) of your beneficiary(ies) when quarterly payments begin. Effective July 1, 2010.

Request a Personal Gift Illustration. Please contact us at (908) 852-1400, ext. 2387.

Charitable Gift annuitiesA charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and Centenary College that offers a tax-advantaged way to provide for income during retirement. In the future, your gift provides support for Centenary’s mission.

Donor makes a gift today at

current age(s)…

…and annuity*begins immediately

at this rate:65 5.570 5.875 6.480 7.285 8.1

* based on rates approved by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

400

Jeff

erso

n St

reet

Hac

kett

stow

n, N

J 07

840

(908

) 85

2-14

00w

ww

.cen

tena

ryco

llege

.edu

alum

ni.c

ente

nary

colle

ge.e

du

Non-

Profi

t Org

.U.

S. P

osta

geP

A I D

Hack

ensa

ck, N

JPe

rmit

#103

7

Maria DiGiovanniSenior Vice President, Skylands Community Bank

Corporations like Skylands Community Bank are making a real difference at Centenary College. Their numerous and generous gifts to the College ensure that future generations of Centenary students benefit from the best educational experience possible. Find out how you can make a difference by contacting the Office of Strategic Advancement at (908) 852-1400, ext. 2379, or visit alumni.centenarycollege.edu.

CENTENARY IS A VITAL PART OF OuR COMMuNITYSkylands Community Bank is very supportive of organizations and businesses that provide a service and make a difference to people in our communities. We are proud to support Centenary College, which we feel is a fine example of these partnerships and is such a vital part of this community.