Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty, will speak and receive an honorary degree May 20 at Gettysburg College's 177th Commencement.

In addition to Novogratz receiving a Doctor of Public Service, honorary degrees will be presented to two individuals who are accomplished in their fields. The individuals and their degrees include Barbara Ehrenreich, a social critic, journalist, author and activist known for both nonfiction and investigative journalism, Doctor of Humane Letters, and Karl Mattson, former Gettysburg College Chaplain and founder of the Center for Public Service, Doctor of Divinity.

The 11 a.m. ceremony will take place – rain or shine – on the Beachem Portico on the north side of Pennsylvania Hall.

Graduates and their families can access all things Commencement, such as the complete schedule and information for graduates, at http://www.gettysburg.edu/commencement/2012/.

A link will be available on the College’s website May 20 that will allow for a free livestream of the Commencement ceremony.

Read on for more about each of the honorary degree recipients.

About Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz is founder and CEO of Acumen Fund, a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. She has led the Acumen Fund since its launch in 2001, and under her leadership Acumen Fund has invested $40 million in over 35 companies serving 25 million low-income customers in the developing world.

Before establishing the Acumen Fund, Novogratz founded and directed The Philanthropy Workshop and The Next Generation Leadership program at the Rockefeller Foundation. She began her career in international banking with Chase Manhattan Bank and she founded Duterimbere, a micro-finance institution in Rwanda. She has acted as a consultant for the World Bank and UNICEF.

Novogratz currently serves on the Board of the Aspen Institute as well as the advisory councils of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and MIT’s Legatum Center. She is an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow, a Synergos Institute Senior Fellow and has received such honors as Ernst & Young’s 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the 2009 CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship Award and AWNY’s (Advertising Women of New York) 2009 Changing the Game Award.

She is a frequent speaker at international conferences, including the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative and TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a small non-profit devoted to ideas worth spreading.

Novogratz is also author of the bestselling memoir, The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, which recounts her quest to understand world poverty and to find ways of tackling it. Novogratz has a B.A. in Economics/International Relations from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Stanford.

About Ehrenreich

Barbara Ehrenreich is a social critic, journalist, author, activist and feminist known for both her nonfiction and investigative journalism. Although she received a degree in physics from Reed College and a Ph.D. in cellular biology from Rockefeller University, she chose political activism over science because of her interest in social change.

Her activism took her to a non-profit organization in New York City that advocated for better health care for the city’s poor. The organization put out a monthly bulletin, for which Ehrenreich wrote investigative stories.

The birth of her first child widened her interest in health care, and she became involved in what was then called the women’s health movement after experiencing sexism first hand. This concern led to the publication of Witches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers, co-authored with Deirdre English.

Her big break came, with a feature story for Ms. Magazine on the myth that feminism causes heart disease. It became a cover story and more assignments followed. Her work life settled into three tracks, which continue to this day: journalism; book-length projects on subjects that intrigue her; and activism on such issues as health care, peace, women’s rights and economic justice.

Ehrenreich has written for Time magazine, The Progressive, The New York Times, Mother Jones, The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, Z Magazine, In These Times, salon.com and more. Among her many books are Nickel and Dimed, which plunged her into the nascent living wage movement, and Bait and Switch, which inspired her to do something new. In 1998, the American Humanist Association named her the Humanist of the Year.

About Mattson

Karl Mattson was born in East Orange, N.J., and settled in Rock Island, Ill. as a teenager, later graduating from Augustana College and Augustana Seminary (now the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago). After meeting his wife Marge, the pair moved to Buffalo, where they started a mission congregation.

From there the Mattsons moved to Yale, where he earned a Masters in Sacred Theology, and then to Brooklyn, where his attentions focused on forging a ministry that bridged the traditional Swedish congregation and the neighboring Hispanic community. Mattson’s ministry was in the forefront of transitioning urban churches, providing neighborhood outreach to the largely Puerto Rican community in which his church was located. Tutoring programs, street theater, after school activities for kids, and more filled his days.

For three years, Mattson put the ministry aside, and worked jackhammer construction in New York City and studied anthropology and cinema at NYU before moving back to Chicago’s South Side, plunging once again into the life of the inner city ministry.

In 1979, he accepted the position as College Chaplain at Gettysburg College. Week after week he graced the campus community with thoughtful sermons and inspiring prayers. He introduced countless people to the joy of service learning and to the centrality of social justice. He put a human face on issues of civil rights and intercultural understanding.

He was instrumental in bringing Habitat for Humanity to Gettysburg and in initiating an annual celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday. He was the founding spirit behind Project Gettysburg/Leon, a sister city project which has taken many Gettysburgians to Nicaragua. He founded the College’s Center for Public Service in 1992 and left the College with a legacy of projects and relationships that will continue to mold and enhance the college experience for students and faculty alike.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

This academic year, the German department welcomed award-winning writer Utz Rachowski to their staff. With a unique cultural background, Rachowski shared his first hand account as a political prisoner in East Germany with Gettysburg students. Rachowski designed German 306, Introduction to German Literature, to reflect his extensive knowledge on the subject of German social and political systems.

Several of his students have praised the course and teaching methodology. Carter McClintock ’12 believes that “Prof. Rachowski has helped to create a more vibrant discussion surrounding the East German government, focusing on modern issues and drawing students to German studies.”

The course focuses specifically on the literary representations of National Socialism and the German Democratic Republic and its impact on individual lives. Rachowski has offered eyewitness accounts and insight into the East German dictatorship and his experiences as a political prisoner in the East and exile in the West until the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Sarah Hayes ’14 said Rachowski is “unlike most professors” due to his ability to provide first-hand accounts of the conflicts and historical issues examined in German 306. For instance, when discussing the Stasi in the German Democratic Republic, Hayes explains that “he isn’t just reading us a list of facts, but rather it’s his own life we’re discussing.”

Rachowski first visited Gettysburg College four years ago when he gave a public reading. The German department invited Rachowski to bring his personal knowledge of German literature “as a writer of contemporary German literature, as someone personally familiar with other contemporary writers, and as a critical reader of German literature,” according to German Prof. Laurel Cohen-Pfister.

About Rachowski

Rachowski was a dissident writer in East Germany who spent one and a half years as a political prisoner in the former socialist state before he was released to West Germany through the efforts of Amnesty International. He is a vocal advocate for victims of East Germany’s secret police. As an award-winning writer and an eyewitness to East German history and culture, Rachowski enriches the cultural program of the German Department in a way that its academically trained faculty cannot. Students are excited at the opportunity to learn from his life story and his literature, and to learn about German literature of the twentieth and twenty-first century from his insider perspective.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Libby Conroy, office of communications and marketing intern
Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

From presidential platforms to public perceptions, no political stone was left unturned after experts from Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower Institute (EI) spoke to more than a hundred alumni, parents, students, and guests at the Union League Club in Philadelphia.

U.S. Presidential Leadership in Transformational Times was the topic of the inaugural Gettysburg Great Symposium, which aims to engage Gettysburgians in intellectual discussions of national and global issues. The symposium featured a panel of experts whose backgrounds include detailed knowledge of – and experience with – numerous U.S. presidents over the last six decades.

President Janet Morgan Riggs ’77 kicked off the evening with a welcome and Political Science Prof. Kenneth Mott served as the moderator.

Featured speakers included:

Susan Eisenhower, EI Chair Emeritus and Chairman of Leadership & Public Policy Programs

Kasey Pipes, EI Norris Fellow of Public Policy

Jennifer Donahue, EI Cardin Fellow of Public Policy

Shirley Anne Warshaw, the Harold G. Evans Chair-Elect of Eisenhower Leadership Studies & Professor of Political Science

Watch the videos on YouTube.

46,000 steps.

That’s how many the average person takes when running in a marathon.

What makes someone want to accomplish such a feat? Graham Kimmerer ’08 can tell you – he ran in this year’s Boston Marathon.

But he wasn’t the only Bullet in the race – Kimmerer met two other Gettysburg alumni, separated by more than a decade, while training. And the trio ended up running for the same team, the American Liver Foundation.

Here’s a story about the run of a lifetime, and how the Orange & Blue helped bring three alumni together in support of a common cause:

After graduating from Gettysburg with a B.A. in English, Kimmerer accepted a position with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and moved to Boston – and had no idea he’d soon be participating in one of the world’s most famous (and challenging) long-distance competitions.

Kimmerer experienced his first Boston Marathon as a spectator shortly after moving to the city. “I stood on the sidelines cheering on strangers who are enduring one of the most physically demanding challenges of their lives,” said Kimmerer. “And after watching I told myself, ‘I can do this.’ So I went out the next day, ran 4.5 miles, and was exhausted.”

But he didn’t give up.

He started exercising regularly, and in 2011 participated in a half marathon. After successfully tackling the 13.1 miles, he was ready to take running to the next level. Kimmerer spent 170 days preparing for the Boston Marathon, cross training at the gym multiple times a week, running more than 400 miles, and even strategically napping – all in addition to working full time.

Although none of his close friends were going to run in the Marathon, Kimmerer was unexpectedly about to meet two new friends who were.

Kimmerer joined the American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research team, the oldest and one of the largest marathon teams in the Boston Athletic Association’s official charity program that raises funds for the fight against liver disease. At the team’s kickoff party, he met Michelle Dumas ’98 – and had no idea she was a Gettysburg alum until they both mentioned graduating from a small, south central Pennsylvania college. “It felt like we were old friends reuniting – even though we had never met until that day,” said Kimmerer.

During the winter, the team met downtown every weekend and took long runs together. This is where Kimmerer met another teammate who was also, unknowingly, a Gettysburg alum.

After noticing Kimmerer in a Gettysburg College sweatshirt, Dave Athey ’96 re-introduced himself and the pair quickly learned they too shared a Gettysburg grad connection. “The American Liver Foundation’s primary color is orange, and our team clothing is orange and blue,” Kimmerer said. “Maybe it has something to do with the colors that brought the three of us together to take on such an amazing challenge and run for an incredible cause.”

So what was it like running in the Boston Marathon? “In one way, brutal,” said Kimmerer. “In another way, incredible. This was my first marathon. Even if you’ve run marathons before, the Boston Marathon is universally known to be one of the most challenging, both physically and mentally.” Temperatures were unseasonable for Boston, much higher than normal, making the run even more challenging. “I wasn’t ready for July in April. However the crowd, the police and fire departments, and the race organizers were amazing: the crowd encouraged you, the fire departments arranged cooling stations, and the organizers did a fantastic job making sure the proper precautions were taken.”

He placed 7,708 of 21,606 and by far Kimmerer’s first marathon was the experience of a lifetime; something he will continue to learn from and never forget. “Running distance is always about discovery: how far, how much, how fast,” he said. “It’s exciting to learn that you’re capable of accomplishing so much mentally and physically.”

It was also exciting for Kimmerer to reflect upon what it means to be a part of the Gettysburg College community. “I knew that during the four years I spent at Gettysburg I was going to meet incredible people that would change and be in my life forever,” he said. And four years after graduating, he continues to meet incredible Gettysburgians, and together they are changing their own and others lives forever.

Read more about Kimmerer’s experiences training for the 116th Boston Marathon in his blog.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

Can you prove the square root of three is irrational?

Gettysburg College math Prof. Bela Bajnok’s students can, and for some of them the process has changed their lives.

“I don’t exactly like math, but I’m okay at it,” Emma Norbrothen said during her first year at Gettysburg. Fast-forward to her sophomore year, and her entire outlook has changed. “I took Introduction to Abstract Math with Bela Bajnok, and he turned everything I knew about math inside out and upside down. It was in his class that I learned to love math,” said Norbrothen, who is now a Ph.D. student in the department of mathematics at North Carolina State University.

“As both an advisor and professor, Bela’s passion for math is contagious,” said Megan Knauss ’09, who works in information technology for The Vanguard Group. “He helped me understand my strength in math and encouraged me to study abroad and attend the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics” where she studied unfamiliar, advanced concepts in Hungary. “Not only was this one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, it also showed me how well the courses at Gettysburg, especially the ones Bela taught, prepared me to understand necessary concepts and succeed.”

“Bela is extremely innovative and successful in his teaching,” said Prof. Darren Glass, chair of the math department. “Two of the most popular courses offered by our department were developed and are commonly taught by him: Abstract Mathematics and Introduction to Mathematical Research.” These courses attract a variety of students, from those not planning a career in math to math majors interested in conducting extensive research. However, many students who begin the semester not planning to major in math change their minds after taking one of Bajnok’s courses.

And for that reason, and numerous others, the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware (EPaDel) section of the Mathematical Association of America (MMA) presented Bajnok with the 2012 James P. Crawford EPaDel Teaching Award. “This is no small potatoes,” said Joseph Grzybowski, professor of chemistry at Gettysburg College. Based on peer nominations, the annual award recognizes a distinguished teacher in the EPaDel section. Bajnok will also be the section’s official nominee for the MAA’s national Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. “I am deeply honored to have received the award, and I am very grateful to all my colleagues and students who recommended me,” said Bajnok. “It is great to be recognized for something I truly value. While my teaching philosophy has evolved during my nearly three decades of teaching in higher education, my fundamental aim has always been the same: to help my students reach their full potential in mathematics.”

Bajnok has taught at Gettysburg College since 1993 and has held the endowed Alumni Professor of Mathematics chair for the last five years. He has published on topics that include spherical designs and codes, the Boolean lattice, approximation theory, and network reliability. A native of Hungary, Bajnok enjoys spending time in the mountains, discussing books and films, and exploring.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

From classrooms to corner offices to national media, more and more discussion is centering on the value of a liberal arts education.

The New York Times recently devoted its Sunday Dialogue to the topic, “Studying the Humanities.” The interchange prompted the following response from Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs ’77. Use the comments section to add to the discussion.

Forty years ago I never would have imagined that my dual psychology and mathematics degrees would have “prepared” me for my current position as a college president. Even ten years ago I would not have anticipated where my career path might take me. Yet, here I am — the CEO of a college in south central Pennsylvania, responsible for a $110 million budget, 750 employees, and 2,600 students. I became president just about the time the United States and European economies were unraveling. Was I prepared for the daily nuances that go into managing an institution, reporting to a board of trustees, and answering to our shareholders — current students, parents, and alumni? You bet I was. And that’s because I have been able to rely on the skills I learned as an undergraduate at a liberal arts college 40 years ago — thinking critically, communicating effectively, analyzing data and information, anticipating problems, and arriving at solutions to manage in this uncertain world. The complex problems we face as a society today make a liberal arts preparation more important now than ever before.

A liberal arts education is one of the most expensive forms of higher education because the delivery is personal, because it provides a comprehensive and formative residential learning experience, and because it prepares students for leading roles in both their professional and civic lives. That is why countries in Asia and the Middle East are beginning to ask us about how to establish their own liberal arts colleges. Due to the enormous investment made by many colleges in financial aid, the debt load of liberal arts college graduates typically does not reach the Everest proportions to which Times reporter Frank Bruni alludes in his April 29 OpEd, despite some wild headlines. Professor Cheryl Greenberg hits the mark in her argument for liberal arts colleges in her May 2 letter; Frank Bruni misses it. We should be asking how we can make a liberal arts experience (philosophy and anthropology included) available to more students, not fewer. Our collective future may well depend on the liberal arts skills that today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders develop.

Though only a first-year student at Gettysburg College, Pete Barrett has already seen his articles in the national media, heard his play-by-play commentary on an ESPN documentary, and found himself smack-dab between the real-life stars of his favorite sports film, Remember the Titans (above with Bill Yoast, left, and Herman Boone).

As play-by-play basketball commentator for Gettysburgsports.com, Barrett was at the mic when Gettysburg senior Cory Weissman made his courageous return to the court after a stroke, scoring his sole collegiate point. Barrett’s call became part of ESPN’s feature on Weissman, whose story received national attention.

The New York Times also turned to Barrett for coverage of Weissman. Barrett successfully pitched the feature he wrote for The Gettysburgian student newspaper to the Times’ college sports blog, which ran his article in its entirety.

Most recently, Barrett interviewed members of the original Titans when they reunited at Gettysburg College, where the football squad of the newly integrated high school T.C. Williams (Va.) conducted its first training camp in 1971, as depicted in the movie. In a story for Bleachereport.com, Barrett compared the Titans’ locker room to that of the present-day New York Jets. The strength of his story won Barrett a slot as a contributing writer to the website. Barrett also runs his own New York sports blog, nysportscookie.com.

Networking is a major factor in Barrett’s early professional development. NBC Vice President of Digital Media Nick Johnson, a 1990 Gettysburg College graduate, was instrumental. So were Gettysburg College Director of Alumni Relations Joe Lynch ’85 and John Gannon of the alumni office at Barrett’s alma mater, the Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y.

“John Gannon and Joe Lynch have taught me the importance of networking, the Titans have taught me the importance of working with people, and Cory has inspired me to believe that anything can be attained and the sky is the limit when it comes to accomplishing your dreams,” Barrett said.

Despite his personal accomplishments, the relationships he developed with student-athletes are what he will cherish most from his first year at the College.

“The most memorable event for me was not Cory Weissman’s free throw, but the hour or so one-on-one emotional conversation I had with Cory the next day,” said Barrett. “At the time of the free throw I knew bits and pieces of his story, but hearing in vivid detail all that he had overcome was overwhelming. The way that free throw brought our community together was something I will never forget and is such a great example of why sports are so great. Sports have the unique ability to bring out the best in people and bring people together.”

Contact: Braden Snyder, director of athletic communications

“Intellectual activity is enhanced when people with different perspectives work, discuss, criticize, and argue face to face in frequent, unplanned, and often messy ways,” said Prof. John Commito, one of the six speakers who gave short and entertaining talks at the first-ever TEDxGettysburgCollege April 18.

View videos from the event

Colonel Stephanie Smith discussed the Montford Point Marines in World War II and their contribution to racial integration in America, and Prof. Dustin Beall Smith’s speech on Native American wisdom reminded the audience to experience the moment instead of maintaining focus on the future or past.

“The speaker’s topics were all unique, yet there was a commonality among them that related to the night’s theme of ‘Do Great Work,’” said TEDxGettysburgCollege organizer Steve Meehan ’12. “I think the event accomplished exactly what we set out to do – spread new and interesting ideas to the college community.”

Prof. Steve Gimbel proposed the idea that people love Albert Einstein because he represents the notion of intellectual cosmopolitanism; each of us has a perspective that has some access to insight. Luke Norris ’06 used examples from the movements of the New Deal to demonstrate how ordinary citizens play a great role in revolutionary changes in law and politics.

Audience members were inspired by the story Sarah Calhoun ’00 shared (video above) about how she discovered her passion through the founding of Red Ants Pants, a clothing line meant to empower women. “Step into these pants, or into whichever pants fit you the best, and whatever good work it is that you are doing, perhaps you will stand a little taller, work a little bit harder, and maybe even walk with a little more pride in your step,” Calhoun told listeners.

“I think the interactive education with no boundaries is something a lot of people enjoyed,” says Meehan. “We received a lot of feedback from students interested in organizing TEDxGettysburg College next year, so we’re hoping this will become an annual event.”

About TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event.

The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Lindsay Preucil ’12

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will perform “Astrolatry,” by Avner Dorman, professor at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College, May 8 at the Majestic Theater, on the way to their Carnegie Hall debut.

The ASO commissioned “Astrolatry” during Dorman’s 2010-2011 residency, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Conductor Justin Brown led the world premiere on March 25, 2011 in Birmingham. Michael Huebner of The Birmingham News praised the work, writing, “its unfettered expressive range gives an immediate appeal that is both probing and entertaining.”

Brown (pictured at left) has, in his four seasons with the ASO, won recognition for the ASO across the country, in particular as a vibrant destination for contemporary music, for which it received a first-place ASCAP award in 2010 and ASCAP's "strongest commitment" award for adventurous programming in 2011.

The 8 p.m. show at the Majestic Theater, located at 25 Carlisle Street, will also include the premiere of a piece by composer PaulLansky and the ASO’s spirited rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at 717-337-8200 or http://www.gettysburgmajestic.org. Groups of 10 or more should call for seating.

“Astrolatry” will make its New York debut on May 10 when it is performed by the ASO as part of Spring for Music, a concentrated festival of concerts by North American symphony and chamber orchestras presented annually at Carnegie Hall.

About Dorman

Avner Dorman has quickly risen to become one of today's most successful and renowned composers. At the age of 25, he became the youngest composer to win Israel's prestigious Prime Minister's Award and that same year he was awarded the Golden FeatherAward from ACUM (the Israeli Society of Composers and Publishers). Since coming to the United States, Dorman has received several international awards fromASCAP, ACUM and the Asian Composers League.

Dorman's unique approach to rhythm and timbre has attracted some of the world's leading conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Marin Alsop,Asher Fisch and Simone Young, to bring his music to international audiences at The New York Philharmonic, The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Musikverein. He has written music for five films.

Recently, Dorman’s music received national attention with the world premiere of “Uzu and Muzu from Kakaruzu” in Stockton, California on March 8. The work was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and was commissioned and premiered by the Stockton Symphony Orchestra. Inspired by the profound urban decline in the City of Stockton, “Uzu” is based on themes of conflict and resolution from a children’s fairy tale of the same title by Israeli author Ephraim Sidon.

Dorman received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from The Julliard School. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Tel Aviv University, and was co-founder of and led the algorithm writing for Musicraft, Ltd., a startup company that developed music performance and analysis software. Dorman has developed software applications for ringtone creation, and produced over 4,000 ringtones for various handsets.

More on Dorman is available here.

The Sunderman Conservatory of Music provides comprehensive music training grounded in the liberal arts for students who seek to make music integral to their lives as a career or life-long avocation. The Conservatory offers three degrees, a Bachelor of Music in Performance, a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (for aspiring music teachers) and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Honoring their role as a dynamic conservatory within one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, they foster rigorous study, creativity, intellectual curiosity and joy in music.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

Work by eight senior art students will be exhibited at Gettysburg College's Schmucker Art Gallery May 2-20. An opening reception will be held May 2 from 5-7p.m.

Senior art majors whose work will be on display are Josiah Adlon, Preston Hartwick, Hannah Knowles, Erin McInerney, Tara Mitchell, Gabi Schiro, Francesco Siciliano, and Chrissie Walker. Each student will give a brief talk about their work on May 3 from 12-1 p.m. in the gallery.

Hannah Knowles ’12 reflects on her experience, “As my senior year comes to a close, an art major, I am pleased and excited to show my work in Schmucker Gallery along with my fellow art majors. Our work has culminated in a semester long process of work in the studio ranging from ceramics to photography to printmaking and painting. We followed our passions to create a body of work that describes each of us as an artist.”

The students each completed their own unique body of work. It was a long process as the students began creating their ideas last summer. In January, students moved into a newly created studio in the West building giving him or her their own space to create work. It has been a long but rewarding journey as their work is  finished and installed in the gallery.

See the photos of the seniors’ work with captions here.

Schmucker Art Gallery events are free and open to the public. The fully accessible gallery is on the main floor of Schmucker Hall at North Washington and Water streets. The entrance is on the building's west side, away from the street. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Article by Chrissie Walker ’12, communications and marketing intern
Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803

The Bullets ruled the weekend as two women’s teams – lacrosse and golf – captured Centennial Conference championships.

The women’s lacrosse team, defending national champs in Division III, earned the Centennial Conference title with a 15-5 win over Washington College. The team won its seventh title overall, but its first since 2006.

“It feels fabulous,” said head coach Carol Cantele ’83. “It couldn’t happen to a greater group. They took advantage of the opportunity and I think they played a brilliant game. It was a goal that was a long time coming.”

Gettysburg will receive a short respite before moving on to the NCAA Division III Tournament after receiving the conference’s automatic bid. The tournament field and pairings will be revealed on Sunday, May 6, with first-round games taking place on Wednesday, May 9.

Complete coverage of the women’s lacrosse championship win is available here.

The women’s golf team continued its great success in recent years by edging McDaniel College by two strokes. Gettysburg won its second consecutive conference title and third in five years with a conference-record 691 over 36 holes.

Sophomore Kara McNulty copied the team’s finish by claiming individual honors by two strokes over McDaniel’s Morgan Koopman.

Gettysburg shattered its program record for scoring this season with a team average of 350.5 – 10 strokes better than the pace set last season. The team won tournament titles at five different events to tie its own Centennial record.

Complete coverage of the women’s golf championship win is available here.

Contact: Braden Snyder, sports information director, 717.337.6527

How many alums can say they work with priceless baseball memorabilia on a daily basis? Find out how two Gettysburg College alums fielded this opportunity thanks to their liberal arts education and a unique graduate program.

The Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP) is a unique partnership between the State University of New York College at Oneonta and the New York State Historical Association. It offers students access to museum resources with the support of a state university in a highly competitive environment.

“This year, we had 92 applicants, and we only accept between 16 and 17,” said Catherine Raddatz, Coordinator of Alumni Affairs. “It’s a rigorous, two-year training program.” Numerous Gettysburg College graduates, mostly history majors, have gone on to CGP and have been successful academically and with job placement. “We love Gettysburg students,” said Raddatz. “They’re great in the academic world. We’re thrilled to have them come and apply.”

Gettysburg College students tend to be among the most prepared at CGP.

“My (CGP) history professor would always comment on my Gettysburg training,” said Steve Light, a 2005 Gettysburg history graduate and 2008 CGP graduate, who is now the manager of museum programs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown. “I definitely was prepared from my Gettysburg education from the history department. The history that is part of the graduate program, I already knew from going to Gettysburg.”

Emily Voss (pictured right), a 2005 history graduate from Gettysburg and 2009 CGP graduate, who now works as a school programs associate at the HOF, agreed that her Gettysburg education was a big help. “It was true that everyone else from Gettysburg who had taken historical methods already knew all of this about historical research,” she said. “The manner in which Gettysburg College classes are taught helped a lot, too,” she added, noting her undergraduate experiences with critical thinking, research, and writing, a lot of which was from her history major.

A unique aspect of CGP, being a museum campus, is that the real-world experience is available in close proximity to the classwork. The Fenimore Art Museum, which contains American fine art, American folk art, and Native American Art; the Farmers’ Museum, which is a living history museum; and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum are all located in the “Village of Museums.”

“The proximity to three very different museums right there in the village helped a lot,” said Voss. “You can literally walk from one place to another. Although the village is small, there’s a lot offered with that. We were well-contained. There were opportunities to bounce ideas off each other.”

Added Light: “It was a really great opportunity to not only study the theoretical side of museums in class, but the practical training of working in a museum at the same time.”

Working with museum professionals regularly, students also have the opportunity to meet new people and get new contacts. “I expected to an extent to have a network of other professionals that I would meet,” said Voss. “Having a lot of other connections professionally all over the country has been really nice. Something I couldn’t have imagined just looking at the program.”

CGP is a generalist program, so there are no official specializations for students. Instead, students choose electives based on their career interests. CGP graduates are prepared and qualified to work in many types of museums including art, decorative art, and science. There is a variety of electives from which to choose, encompassing 18 areas of study. Light’s favorite class gave him a different look at American history. “A history course, 'Class, Race, and Gender,' studied American history through those three lenses,” he said. “Specifically looking at events in American history through those lenses, and I thought that was a really neat class.” Voss took an interest to material culture. “In my second year, I took the advanced level of material culture,” she said. “I continued to take them because I found it incredibly interesting. We talked about how the design of things we see in regular life can say a lot about the people who used them and built them in the first place.”

Also part of the program is a required internship. Students choose a place to work to get more hands-on, real-world experience. Light did his internship in the education department of the HOF. “The summer internship definitely was something that was not expected because it directly led to my position here today,” he said. “It was definitely really positive development. My internship supervisor had left, so I applied for his position.” Voss’ internship led her to expand her experience. “I was at the Vermont Historical Society,” she said. “To step out of the box a little bit. My interest has always been more of an education purpose, but that took me to more of a collections focus. The idea was to survey every collections institute in the state and find out what they needed. It was a really large-scale survey project. It was very valuable, helped a lot when I’m working with the collections people here (at the HOF) so I have an idea of what they do.”

CGP has more than 750 alumni in 48 states and seven foreign countries, and more than 80 percent of the program’s graduates work in museums, historical agencies, historic sites, or related institutions.

Voss’ advice to Gettysburg College history majors is to “think really hard about what it is that you like about history. Pursue your options from there.” There are numerous options for history majors including jobs in the archives or museum field. “It doesn’t have to be just you in a library all the time,” she noted. Light recommends doing something you love. “Work doesn't seem like work if it's something that you will actually enjoy doing,” he said. “I knew what I wanted to do when I left Gettysburg - and that was to share my love of history with others - and now I get to do that every day.”

CGP opened in 1964 with a class of 28 students. Over the past 48 years, the program has grown to be the premiere museum studies program in the country.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Article by Tommy Riggs

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

From an oil-trading summer internship in Denmark to singing in West Side Story to running track, Lionel Hong ’12 has amassed a world of experience during his four years at Gettysburg College.

Hong, who is about to complete a rigorous degree in economics, humbly gives the credit to a supportive learning community that empowered him to become his best self. “College is a place where you get to explore what you’re good at in an environment where you’re fully supported by people who care about your development and growth,” he said. “What’s special about Gettysburg College is the people we have, who have made me feel that coming here was best choice for me.”

His mentors, however, are quick to point out Hong’s own initiative and dedication. “I have learned a tremendous amount from him,” said Off Campus Studies Director Rebecca Bergren. “When I talk to students about how to best take advantage of all Gettysburg College has to offer, I often use Lionel's experience to illustrate the point.

“Lionel has taken a very ambitious academic path and connected deeply with several faculty members both within his major department and outside it,” Bergren continued. “He studied abroad, completed several internships, worked as part of our residence life staff, participated in studio art, music, and theater, and volunteered his time in formal and informal ways to our community. At the same time, Lionel understands the need for personal time. He allows time to read what interests him, to engage in conversations about important topics, and to listen to others. He is keenly aware of critical issues facing our world today, and he believes we all have a role to play in this global society.”

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Hong, originally from Beijing, was able to broaden his own global role thanks to another of his mentors, 2007 Gettysburg grad Jesper Odum Rosenkrans, who offered him a summer internship at Maersk Oil Trading in Copenhagen. There, Hong did everything from analyzing energy prices to implementing data transfer protocols for ships at sea to developing and launching a corporate website. The internship exemplified Gettysburg College’s extensive career network: Hong was introduced to Rosenkrans by Robert Kallin, the College’s vice president of development relations, who was in Denmark to observe the study-abroad program Hong was completing.

Many further networking opportunities arose — including some surprises that were light-years away from energy trading. “Lionel originally came to the College’s Center for Career Development (CCD) to discuss his interests in economics and finance, and he became involved in networking events and other activities where he could meet alumni and parents in those fields,” said CCD Director Kathy Williams. “So it was a surprise when he applied to attend the Los Angeles career immersion trip a year ago. However I learned that Lionel also is a very gifted vocalist and had actually considered pursuing a career in theater, hence his interest in learning about careers in film, television, and entertainment. After spending a week with him and the other students as we traveled from site visit to site visit, I also learned that Lionel is a great cook, a very good athlete, and even a bit of a comedian. Every time I have a conversation with Lionel, I learn something new about him, and I think he definitely embodies a well-rounded and liberally educated student.” 

That well-rounded experience encompassed an acting class and performing in a College production of Romeo and Juliet. “Lionel is a big-picture thinker with an eye for detail,” said theatre arts Prof. Chris Kauffman, himself a 1992 Gettysburg grad. “Lionel is passionate about making important and meaningful life choices and curious about how he can make the most of his life, but understands the links between each small action he takes and its larger consequence. He reflected this thinking in the acting class: he was inquisitive about characters' lives and motivations, about their psychologies and circumstances. He embraced the important exercise of empathizing with his characters and searched deep within his own memory to find experiences that inspired similar feelings. Then he develops these psychologies through minute gestures and the smallest of expression. He thinks of his artful approach to acting as an act of generosity for the audience. This is the approach that I try to cultivate in the classes and Lionel already had this in his daily life. His search for meaningful work that makes a positive and lasting impact in the world has helped foster a humility in his approach to life and learning. He has embraced a love of the question.”

Hong’s own multifaceted character was plain from the beginning, said another of his mentors, economics Prof. Eileen Stillwaggon: “In Principles of Economics, in his first semester at Gettysburg, he raised questions every day on the latest turn in the financial crisis. At the same time, he was very involved in school theatrical productions, another passion of his. When he studied abroad in Copenhagen, he produced a very polished video on his group’s study tour. And for the summer in Copenhagen, he wrote sophisticated analyses of fuel purchasing for the Maersk shipping company. It has been a pleasure being his advisor and watching him pursue so many interests so well.”

At the end of his senior year, Hong said he is feeling what many students feel: “Graduating is just as terrifying as exciting.” But, just as when he first came to Gettysburg, he is investigating patiently and introspectively before deciding where to concentrate his efforts. He plans to attend a Buddhist retreat in New York City before returning to China for further interaction with spiritual teachers there. “There is an urging within me,” he said. “If I don’t know myself and the world better, any further steps I take would be in a blinded way.” He sees one thing clearly, though: “My passion is to contribute to my country and help others who have not had opportunities like me. I believe in the good of people. I’ve been helped by so many.”

Strong support and wide-ranging experience are available to everyone at Gettysburg. “I am just a normal student like everyone else,” said Hong. “Besides feeling appreciative and fortunate to have been surrounded by a group of amazing people at Gettysburg College, I would like to thank my high school advisor Robert Barker, who made it possible for me to study in the States.” Hong attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college, which enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students, is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Jim Hale, associate director of editorial services

There’s a teacher in all of us.

Maybe it’s not a school teacher, but it’s some kind of teacher. And the education department at Gettysburg College helps bring that inner teacher out, challenging students to leave behind preconceptions and think about teaching and learning in new and unconventional ways.

“The study of education is well suited to the liberal arts experience,” said Dave Powell, assistant professor of education at Gettysburg College. “Professional work in education calls for deep, flexible knowledge of a range of topics, and an ability to adapt that knowledge to different situations. We try to provide that in our courses and through our affiliations with other departments on campus.” Students can find their inner teacher by minoring in educational studies, completing teacher certification programs, incorporating education courses into their self-designed majors, or by taking education courses as electives. The programs and courses were specially designed to offer a well-rounded examination of education as a social, cultural, philosophical, historical, and professional phenomenon.

Meet four Gettysburg alumni and a current student, all products of the education department, who are teaching and continuously learning inside and outside of the classroom:

Thanks to education courses she took at Gettysburg, English major Emily Davis ’10 jumped at the opportunity to work at Tyee High School: Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment in SeaTac, Wash. With interests in advocating for bilingual education and teaching in an urban environment, Davis feels there’s nothing better than gaining first-hand experience in the field you wish to pursue. For example, she learned she had to be a teacher, researcher, counselor, disciplinarian, and entertainer all rolled into one while student teaching. “Student teaching was a lot of trial and error, but I had excellent support from my peers, professor, supervisor, and co-op,” Davis said. “I fell in love with teaching during this experience; facilitating and experiencing the inside jokes and quirks, and of course the learning of a group of young people is one of the most rewarding experiences I had during college.” And even though she graduated from Gettysburg in 2010, this teacher hasn’t stopped learning. “My liberal arts education continues to teach me to consider multiple perspectives,” she said. “It has made me a more self-aware person, and has provided me with the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, inside and outside the classroom, and embrace adventure.”

Ellen Speake ’10 has a passion for education and social justice. After completing an internship with a Mastery Charter School in West Philadelphia, Pa. during her junior year, she returned to campus knowing her work with the institution wasn’t over yet. The English major maintained a connection with her colleagues throughout her senior year, and even helped bring prospective students to Gettysburg for admissions tours. Towards the end of her senior year, Speake was offered a position at the school and she happily accepted. “My education courses definitely prepared me for my job,” she said. “My favorite course was Urban Education; not only was it centered around urban education, but it also blended several different components. I enjoyed the instructional knowledge that I gained, examining policy with respect to urban education, and looking at the different ways cities are trying to address the achievement gap. And the service-learning component was phenomenal!”

Nick Cala ’10 knew he wanted to be a high school social studies teacher early in life and hasn’t changed his mind. He’s currently enrolled in the Teaching of Social Studies program at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “When I’m learning about a certain concept, such as the hidden curriculum, I’m able to build on the web of connections that my professors at Gettysburg have already helped me make,” he said. “I feel extremely capable when it comes to taking part in informed discussions about the classroom.” A history major, he loved the way the best psychology, civics, and history courses were as much about the opinions of students as the content of the courses. But it was Prof. Powell’s Social Studies Methods course that made a major impact on his path to a career in teaching. “He united a study of some of the deepest issues of social studies - historical thinking, truth, the construction of in-groups and out-groups - with the possibilities that those issues have in the classroom,” said Cala. “Even having taken a year of graduate courses dealing with the teaching of social studies, it’s difficult for me to think of a time when I felt as engaged as I was in that class.”

Not all teachers inhabit the classroom.

Drew Wolenter ’11 is more likely to build a classroom than work in one. He serves as an AmeriCorps National Direct Member with the Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake organization, where every day is like the first day of school. “I’m the teacher and my volunteers are the students,” he said. “During the morning talk, which touches on safety and daily goals, I use the techniques I learned while at Gettysburg.” One of his favorite lessons learned in his education courses has also proven to be one of the most important: teachers should question their techniques to try and improve. A math major, he values his liberal arts education because he believes it encouraged him to be curious about the world around him. “If you meet somebody who does something completely different than you, embrace it as an opportunity to learn something awesome about a topic you may not have known about otherwise.”

Corinne Fucci ’14 is a current student who designed her own major, Education Policy. “I love being able to explore issues affecting the education system, such as the charter school movement, in Social Foundations of Education,” she said. “And I love how Teaching Social Studies is teaching me how to prepare students for active democratic citizenship.” She feels the knowledge gained from her education courses has provided her with a clearer idea of what role education should play in children’s lives and in society as a whole. “It is my hope that students learn to engage in active citizenship and also have the skills that will make it possible for them to attain a decent standard of living,” she said. In addition to being actively involved in the Dance Ensemble, College Democrats, and Alpha Phi Omega on campus, Fucci is a volunteer for the Lincoln Intermediate Unit, which is a tutoring program for local migrant students. “These kids are so much fun to work with, and it's really amazing to see how this program has helped them.”

Students taking education courses are challenged to think about teaching and learning in unique ways, with discussions centered on topics such as the way schools are and the way they could be. “We want to draw back the curtain and help students see how schools function so they can become more informed parents, voters, co-workers, school board members, and community activists – and better citizens,” added Powell. He says the department has a simple message for students: “No matter what you end up doing with your life, there's a good chance you’ll find yourself needing to teach somebody something. We're here to help you learn how.”

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Tracey Dukert, assistant director of news content, 717.337.6521

Environmental studies (ES) major Sondra Winders ’14 was recently awarded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings scholarship.

“Winning this scholarship is a tremendous honor. I am excited for this amazing opportunity to help me begin my career in environmental science,” said Winders.

Winders credits the College and ES department with preparing her to receive the Hollings scholarship. “Gettysburg College and the ES department have provided me with so many opportunities and fieldwork experiences,” she added.

Accepting the prestigious NOAA honor hasn’t slowed down her studies or fieldwork.

Winders will take Prof. John Commito's two-week, fieldwork intensive Coastal Ecology of Maine course at the end of May. She also has a summer internship lined up with Merrill Creek Reservoir in Washington, N.J. where she will create and carry out an independent research project. Additionally, she plans to study abroad in the fall in Madagascar, focusing on biodiversity and natural resource management.

Winders is the fourth ES student to win this national award. Past recipients include Brittany Jones ’12, Peter Murray ’11, and Alex Horning ’10.

The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to a maximum of $8,000 per year) for full-time study during the 9-month academic year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($650/week) during the summer at a NOAA facility; and, if reappointed, academic assistance (up to a maximum of $8,000) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the Scholars with "hands-on," practical educational training experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation, conferences where students present a paper or poster, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803