Widener Magazine

Dirt Turning, Bricks Moving: Follow Progress on Widener University’s New Academic Building

Sam Starnes — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:52:54 +0000

Work is underway on the new academic building that will house the School of Nursing and the Oskin Leadership Institute in the heart of Widener’s campus. To monitor the building’s progress, you can check out a live web camera. You can read more about the 35,000 square foot building slated to be in use by 2012 at www.widener.edu/newacademicbuilding, and view a video walk-through of the building.

Pictured below, workers on Wednesday afternoon removed a brick walkway running alongside the construction site in preparation of forthcoming heavy construction vehicles.

Challenge Met — 501 Widener University Alumni Donors Respond to Call from Trustees

Sam Starnes — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:12:04 +0000

Thanks to 501 alumni who gave to the Widener Fund, the university’s Board of Trustees will give an additional $25,000 gift. The Trustees in May pledged that if 500 additional alumni made a gift to Widener by June 30, that they would give the additional gift to the Widener Fund.

Thank you very much to those of you who gave before the deadline and helped us surpass our goal. If you would like to learn more about making a gift, visit www.widener.edu/giveonline or call 610-499-1160.

PMC Alumnus & Vietnam Veteran Receiving Consideration for Congressional Medal of Honor

Sam Starnes — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:44:41 +0000

Larry Liss, a 1963 Pennsylvania Military College alumnus, flew 650 helicopter combat missions in Vietnam more than 40 years ago. He earned many medals, including three Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor. A documentary, “Helicopter Wars,” that has aired internationally and will run on the Smithsonian Channel in the states in November, features Liss prominently. A movement is growing, and has the support of several Congressmen, to award Liss the Congressional Medal of Honor, the “highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed” upon a member of the U.S. military. For more on his story, see a feature article and video about him from the Daily Local News of Chester County, or watch footage of his interviews for the documentary on YouTube.

Widener University Alumni Take Note: Time Running Out to “Take the $25,000 Challenge”

Sam Starnes — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:23:37 +0000

Last month our Board of Trustees gave us an exciting challenge. They pledged that if 500 additional alumni made a gift to Widener by June 30th of this year, that they would give an additional $25,000 to the Widener Fund. With only a few days left, we need fewer than 120 alumni to make a gift to the Widener Fund or another area of importance to them by June 30th! If you have given, thank you! If you haven’t, we would be thrilled to get your support to help us meet this challenge. To make a gift, visit www.widener.edu/giveonline anytime or call 610-499-1160. And if you haven’t seen our video, click here to watch.

Widener University Engineering Alumnus Named One of Philadelphia’s Top Leaders Under 40

Sam Starnes — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:24:12 +0000

Shawn L. Pressley ’00, an engineer who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Widener’s School of Engineering, ranks as one of the top 40 industry and community leaders under the age of 40, the Philadelphia Business Journal announced in May. You can read more about Pressley and other engineering news in the inaugural issue of e-Pride, the electronic newsletter of Widener engineering.

A Lifetime Backing Athletic Excellence: Widener’s Blue & Gold Club Membership Offer

Sam Starnes — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:58:56 +0000

The Blue & Gold Club in the past two years has raised funds enabling upgrades to weight-room equipment and the purchase of banners that hang in the Schwartz gymnasium honoring our conference and NCAA championships. A special offer to join for life remains in effect for only a short time. The lifetime membership rate is available at the captain level of giving for $250 for all current and prospective members through June 30, the end of the 2009-2010 year. Beginning July 1, lifetime membership will be exclusive to the champion level, requiring a gift of $1,000 or more. To join online, click here, or for more information on the athletics program and the Blue & Gold club, visit www.WidenerPride.com.

Contact: Michael J. Talarico, assistant director of university development, mjtalarico@widener.edu, phone 610-499-4118.

Pictured: Blue & Gold Club President Peter Rohana ’66, former captain of the PMC football team, in the Schwartz gymnasium where banners hang recognizing Widener University and PMC championships.

Widener-PMC Entertainment Connections

Sam Starnes — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:44:10 +0000

I’m working on a story for the fall Widener Magazine about our many connections to the entertainment industry, starting with Cecil B. DeMille’s time as a student at Pennsylvania Military College in 1896-98 all the way up to Mia Farrow’s recent visit to the Widener Speakers Series. If you know of alumni in Widener-PMC’s long history who should be included, or if you remember any on-campus performances or visits by nationally known entertainers (such as Bruce Springsteen’s concerts here in the seventies), please post a comment here or email me at jsstarnes@widener.edu. The list I have is growing quite long, but I want to make sure I don’t miss anyone. – Sam Starnes, Editor

DeMille Returns to PMC 1931

Looking for the Widener 500: Less Than A Month Left for Alumni to “Take the Challenge”

Sam Starnes — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:24:20 +0000

The Trustees of Widener University have issued a time sensitive challenge to alumni. If 500 individual alums will give any amount to the university before June 30, members of the Board of Trustees will give $25,000 to the Widener Fund. In order for the Board of Trustees to make this gift, all you have to do is visit www.widener.edu/giveonline or call 610-499-1160. If you want more information, check out the video below. To qualify for the challenge, your gift must be received by June 30.

Remembering PMC-Widener’s 68 Fallen Alumni

Sam Starnes — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:13:22 +0000

Three plaques in front of Old Main at Widener University commemorate the names of the 68 Pennsylvania Military College and Widener alumni who “laid down their lives in service of their country.” The plaques are pictured below, and can be enlarged by clicking on each image. As President James T. Harris III wrote in his message in the spring 2010 magazine, the plaques are “a constant reminder to me that this institution, through all of its changes, is a place where graduates have always answered the call of duty for the nation.”

Letter Praises Spring 2010 Widener Magazine

Sam Starnes — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:38:47 +0000

The following is an excerpt from a letter from class of 1962 Pennsylvania Military College alumnus Kevin Reddington to Widener University Senior Vice President of Advancement Linda Durant.

I am writing to commend you and all of the other people involved with Widener Magazine for the sterling result of the production of the spring 2010 issue. In the 57 years of my experience with Widener and its predecessor institutions it is, in my opinion, the finest piece of internally produced literature of which I am aware. From cover-to-cover, this issue of Widener Magazine is exceptionally well written.

I was and I am particularly moved by the bittersweet love story of Casey and Nate Raudenbush. Nate served our great nation with particular courage and, unfortunately, made the ultimate sacrifice of his life while providing service not only to our country but also to the citizens of Iraq. His lovely wife, Casey, is no less courageous and both of them are a credit to themselves, each other, their parents and all of us who are privileged to be members of the Widener/PMC family. I was very happy to learn that the university has extended a scholarship to Nate and Casey’s son, Jackson. I join with Casey in the hopes that, when Jackson reaches college age, he follows in the footsteps of his parents and matriculates to Widener.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Reddington ’62

Thank you very much, Mr. Reddington! — Sam Starnes, Editor