Campus remained alive with activity this summer thanks to the return of in-person alumni events and the continuation of important scientific research by students and faculty. While Gettysburg College faculty and staff came together to celebrate and reflect on the end of another great year, leadership organizations from outside the community utilized campus resources to educate and engage their constituents.
Read on for campus happenings from the past month:
Alumni return to Gettysburg
For the first time in three years, alumni returned to campus for a host of events and activities as part of Reunion Weekend on June 1-4. More than 1,300 alumni from a 70-year span of graduates converged on the community to reconnect with each other and their alma mater. Gettysburgians were welcome to attend classes with their favorite professors, take walking tours across campus to see new facility upgrades, and rekindle relationships with classmates from one of the 18 class reunions filling the weekend.
On June 2, the Orange and Blue Golf Classic was held at Hanover Country Club, while later that night, visiting alumni were invited to take part in the Cupola Reception at the home of President Iuliano. Distinguished alumni were also recognized as part of the President’s Address and Awards Ceremony on June 3, including the Meritorious Service Award (Gary Bootay ’63, Sue Colestock Hill ’67), Young Alumni Service Award (Lisa Bogdanski Bildiren ’07, Arielle Distasio ’12), and Young Alumni Career Development Award (Lawrese Brown ’10, Joseph Gasparro ’07, Julius Redd ’07).
Women’s education and Title IX anniversary
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23, a new exhibit in Special Collections and College Archives highlights the progression of women’s education at Gettysburg College. Educating Women at Gettysburg College: Progress and Pushback was curated by Abigail Adam ’22 and Alicia Method ’23 explores the history of women as students and educators at the College, from the admission of the first female student in the 1880s through today. The exhibit includes archival documents, photographs, and artifacts to relate over a century of women’s experiences. This exhibit is available to view in the Special Collections Reading Room. Please check their webpage for current hours.
Battle of Gettysburg turns 159
Gettysburg College recognized the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1. The College was at the center of our nation’s history with Penn Hall serving as a hospital to both sides during the course of the battle. Prof. Michael Jacobs wrote a firsthand account of the battle, including detailed observations of the weather that have provided the backdrop for future depictions in media. As throngs of visitors descended upon the community for the anniversary this summer, Gettysburg College served as a focal point with historical markers scattered across campus describing the action and impact of the battle and its aftermath on the community.
Check out the next issue of the Gettysburg Alumni Magazine to learn more about Prof. Jacobs’ weather observations during the battle.
The Bullet points
- From June 2-24, Schmucker Art Gallery hosted the 18th Annual Adams County Arts Council Juried Art Exhibition. The exhibition featured paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, drawings, and textiles produced by artists in Adams County and the larger Mid-Atlantic Region. Schmucker Art Gallery partners annually with the Adams County Arts Council to support its mission to cultivate an arts-rich community.
- The Office of Human Resources held an Employee Enrichment Day on June 7. Many engaging and fun events were organized to bring staff together in a collegial atmosphere to mark the end of another great year at Gettysburg. Some of the activities include outdoor yoga classes, fishing at Quarry Pond, a campus-wide scavenger hunt, virtual courses on a variety of topics, and an ice cream social for all employees.
- On June 16, 65 Gettysburg College staff, administrators, and faculty took part in the third annual June Pedagogy Institute (JPI) in Musselman Library. Hosted by the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning at Gettysburg College, JPI focused on optimizing learning environments for students and instructors by exploring students’ lives beyond the classroom.
- Despite most students going home for the summer, campus was still buzzing thanks to more than 5,600 visitors attending camps and conferences throughout the summer. The range of events included the Civil War Institute’s annual conference to explore the history and impact of the war; Illuminate Gettysburg, a local arts and wellness festival; a handful of youth sports camps; and leadership seminars for branches of the armed services and local law enforcement. Additionally, nearly 1,000 educators attended the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) State Conference in late July.
- Beginning in late July, Gettysburg offered both in-person and virtual Welcome Gatherings for incoming students and their families. These events give new members of the campus community an opportunity to engage with each other and members of the staff and learn helpful information prior to arriving in Gettysburg. In-person gatherings were held in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut, while virtual gatherings were regionally based and open to parents and guardians.
- On July 28, Musselman Library’s Fortenbaugh Digital Humanities Fellows presented their final projects in the Penn Hall Lyceum. The students—Alyssa Gruneberg ’24, Anali Matthew ’23, and Mav Schmidt ’24 —spent the summer learning about the field of digital humanities and conducting research on topics including student civic engagement at Gettysburg College, music education during the Civil Rights Era, and the visual representation of patriotism in U.S. wartime propaganda.
By Corey Jewart
Photos courtesy of Shawna Sherrell, Abbey Frisco, and Anh Nguyen ’22
Posted: 08/04/22
