president’s
letter
Celebrating Eras of Wilkes Athletics
thletics has been an integral part of the Wilkes experience since our founding nearly 90 years ago. From our earliest days, under the guidance of George Ralston, affectionately known as “The Father of Wilkes Athletics,” athletic competition has helped our students become leaders and provided a venue through which Colonel pride is displayed.
We have always embraced the spirit of Division III athletics, which places equal emphasis on “student” and “athlete”. That is why we are so pleased to present this issue of Wilkes magazine, which highlights some of the people and places that make our athletic programs so special.
Perhaps the biggest change, however, will come this fall when we join the Landmark Conference. This is a big step in the history of our evolution as a university and will place us in the same category as colleges and universities reaching all the way down to Washington, DC. This extends the Wilkes name and brand into new territories, perhaps enhancing our enrollment footprint.
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WILKES MAGAZINE
- University President
Greg Cant - Associate Vice President of Marketing Communications
Gabrielle D’Amico ’04 MFA ’17 - Editor and Director of Communications
Patricia DeViva MEd ’23 - Design
Kara Reid - Digital Production
VERTIQUL - Marketing Communications
Brad Barry
Cory Burell
Kelly Clisham MFA ’16
Ashleigh Crispell ’15
Richard Ermeus ’21, MBA ’23, graduate assistant
Mandy Pennington
Cody Raspen ’06
- University President
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PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
- Executive Assistant to the President
Bridget Giunta ’05
- Executive Assistant to the President
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DIVISION OF ADVANCEMENT
- Vice President of Advancement
Kevin P. Boyle - Director, Alumni Relations
Mary Balavage Simmons ’10, MBA ’16
- Vice President of Advancement
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
- President
Matthew Berger ’02 - First Vice President
Michael Noone ’97 - Second Vice President
Kristin Hake Klemish ’04 - Secretary
Neal McHugh ’86 - Past President
Cynthia Charnetski ’97 - Historian
Ellen Stamer Hall ’71
- President
Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs.The university provides its students with the experience and education necessary for career and intellectual development as well as for personal growth, engenders a sense of values and civic responsibility, and encourages its students to welcome the opportunities and challenges of a diverse and continually changing world. The university enhances the tradition of strong student-faculty interactions in all its programs, attracts and retains outstanding people in every segment of the university, and fosters a spirit of cooperation, community involvement, and individual respect within the entire university.
contents
Features
Contact gabrielle.damico@wilkes.edu
or Wilkes magazine, 84 W. South St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766.
Wilkes University to Provide Free Textbooks and Course Materials to Students This Fall
“Studies show that students perform at their best when they are prepared with textbooks and learning materials before classes begin. The cost of books should not be a hindrance to student success. This program ensures that all of our undergraduate students automatically receive course materials prior to the start of the semester and at no added cost,” said President Greg Cant.
New True-Crime Podcast Examines Lizzie Borden Case
The podcast is part of his popular Murder, Monster and Mayhem spring sociology course. “We chose Lizzie Borden because it’s a very famous case, but there was never a confession and to this day no one is sure exactly what happened,” said Wilczak. “The case is actually very complex, and even though she was acquitted, she became a pariah in her hometown,” he added.
Senior Engineering Capstones Have the Potential to Change Lives for the Better
Wilkes and InterMetro Industries Partner to Teach English to Employees
Niezgoda, the director of the Intensive English Program at Wilkes, worked closely with the human resources department at InterMetro to develop a 15-week course taught by instructors from the English Language Center at Wilkes. “The initiative is allowing Wilkes to help create a bilingual environment that will give everyone the opportunity to grow within the company. English for occupational purposes is so needed in our current environment, and Wilkes having the ability to provide intensive language training in both English and Spanish makes us the ideal partner for companies looking to invest in their workers,” said Niezgoda.
Jill Lepore Delivers the Spring Rosenn Lecture
Upon arrival, Lepore met with over 20 Honors Program students for a Q&A session moderated by Jonathan Kuiken, director of the program and associate professor of history. She met with former Rosenn law clerks and community leaders and signed books at the conclusion of the lecture.
Meet Walter, The First Dog of Wilkes
Walter began his duties as the Wilkes ambassador of good will almost immediately when he attended Club Day in early fall, seen here with President Cant and student Laura De La Rosa Orengo of Panama.
Without question the most popular Colonel on campus this year was Walter, a fluffy, affectionate and charming Havapoo (a Havanese/poodle mix) who joined President Greg and Angela Cant’s family just before fall classes began. And if any number of circumstances didn’t occur, Walter never would have found his home at Wilkes.
Meet Walter, The First Dog of Wilkes
By Patricia DeViva MEd ’23
Walter began his duties as the Wilkes ambassador of good will almost immediately when he attended Club Day in early fall, seen here with President Cant and student Laura De La Rosa Orengo of Panama.
Without question the most popular Colonel on campus this year was Walter, a fluffy, affectionate and charming Havapoo (a Havanese/poodle mix) who joined President Greg and Angela Cant’s family just before fall classes began. And if any number of circumstances didn’t occur, Walter never would have found his home at Wilkes.
Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge
Giving Animals a Second Chance at Life
Marge Bart MBA ’85 and Cindy Charnetski ’97 (holding rescue dog Mario) at the Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Dallas, Pa.
On a recent sunny spring day on the farm, Bart was holding a small, lively terrier mix dog named Mario. “He’s a perfect example of why I do this,” said Bart. “When he came here he was a ‘nipper,’ because he lived with an elderly lady and was fearful of others. If he had gone to a kill shelter, they would have put him down right away, because they don’t give second chances to biters,” she said, while petting a calm and affectionate Mario. “If they make a mistake, they can’t live. Which I think is terrible, and it’s another reason why I did this. I’ve made thousands of mistakes in my life. Can’t a dog make a mistake or two?”
photo by John Emerson
Life Saver
Niamh Harkins lives in Endicott, N.Y., and is an account coordinator for Scimentum, part of Nucleus Global’s network of medical communications agencies. She says choosing to be a donor was easy. “We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or next week. So why not make the best decision for the ones I love and myself?” she says. “And that was definitely donating to my Dad.”
Domowitch didn’t get to Philly without hard work, and didn’t become a go-to read without being a great reporter and writer. From a small town where he announced Wilkes wrestling matches and radio coverage of Colonels basketball to the big-time of covering professional boxing and professional football, Domowitch always stood out.
Alumni
Scoring in
the Sports
Industry
Anthony Dorunda ’11
What do you love about your job?
My main role is to serve as content head of our daily, 30-minute live football show, “Football Night in Chicago.” We are also partners with the Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks—and I produce pre- and post-game shows for all three teams throughout the seasons. I get paid to talk and write about sports…all day. Seriously, who has it better than that? And I get to do it in what many would consider the best sports city in the world. It’s really quite surreal when I step back and take it all in.
Esports to Launch at Wilkes University this Fall
A kickoff event was held on Monday, April 17, to celebrate the launch of the new program. “An Evening of Esports with Estars” featured gaming experts David Lee, co-founder and CEO of Estars Studios, and Maggie Jordan, PhD, a competitive gamer and advocate for women in gaming.
Wilkes Welcomes New Director of Athletics Scott Musa
Musa is a career athletics professional whose decades of experience at the Division III level has prepared him to lead the 23 athletic programs at Wilkes. He will also lead the University’s transition to the Landmark Conference in 2023-24.
“The transition to the Landmark is an exciting opportunity for Wilkes University, the athletics department, our coaches and student-athletes,” Musa noted. “It is an opportunity to develop new rivalries, maintain some previous relationships with institutions from the Middle Atlantic Conference, and compete against institutions that are very similar in mission and vision.”
Honoring Over 100 Years of Service in Athletic Retirements
Addy Malatesta, athletic director
“Addy has been a dedicated fixture for Wilkes athletics over the past four decades,” said Jonathan Drach, head football coach. “Her care and support for student athletes and staff has set the tone and culture for a high-functioning athletic department.
Before spending the last 23 years as the athletic director, Malatesta started her tenure at Wilkes as the head coach for the field hockey team for 14 years.
Wilkes Celebrates the Athletics Hall of Fame 2022-23 Inductees
Founders Gala
The President’s Medal
The Chairman’s Award
The Wilkes Community was the Lucky Charm for Fourth Annual Giving Day on March 17
The Wilkes family of Colonels came together for the University’s Giving Day 2023, a fundraising effort in support of the areas of greatest need. The 24-hour celebration encouraged all members of the Wilkes community to embrace the culture of philanthropy by making a gift to a program that means the most to them.
Two key events yielded record participation on campus:
- For students, a gift of any amount provided them with an opportunity to take a professional photo with Walter Cant, the first dog of Wilkes (read more about Walter on page 8). They also were automatically entered into a raffle to win an iPad, Nintendo Switch or spirit items from the Colonel Corner bookstore.
- For faculty and staff, a fun afternoon mixer, hosted by the offices of Alumni Relations and Advancement, provided a chance to make a gift and mingle over snacks and refreshments.
New Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Learning Center Dedicated in Honor of Bernard W. Graham
It was standing-room only for the dedication, which included Graham and his family, members of the campus community and former Nesbitt School of Pharmacy alumni and faculty.
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1LEONARD KURELLO and SABINA HELEN KURELLO of Forest, Va., and formerly of Lee Park Ave in Hanover Twp., celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 22, 2022. They were united in matrimony at Holy Family Catholic Church in Sugar Notch, Pa., on Nov. 22, 1952. The happy couple are the parents of four children: Dr. Leonard John Kurello (Vonda) of Brohman, Mich., Dr. Phillip John Kurello (Debora) of Lehman, Pa., Brittney Mary Kurello of Scott Township, Pa., and Dr. Anastasia Katany (Joe) of Forest, Va.. They have six grandchildren: Clayton Kurello, Phillip Jr. and Eric Kurello, Laura Kurello Nijmeh, Jesse Kurello and Brynn Katany as well as six great-grandchildren. Leonard and Sabina are enjoying their golden years living on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
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Sam Shugar, Waunakee, Wis., has published two books under the pen name Dr. Ben Storm. They are “Youth of Planet Earth: ARISE” and its sequel, “Youth of Planet Earth Are Rising.” The first book is non-fiction and identifies several crucial problems facing the continuation of our planet. The second is fiction and suggests an approach to saving the planet.
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ROBERT WALLACE, Newark, De., is a composer-in-residence with Delaware’s premier professional brass ensemble, Brandywine Brass. He is publishing numerous compositions with SMP, Cimarron Press, and more. Wallace has done in excess of 2,500 works.
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Wilkes University sweethearts, KARL BACON and Giacomina (Jackie Buzzelli) Bacon ’77, Central, S.C., recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
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2JACQUELINE (REINHARD) OTT recently relocated to the Nashville, Tenn., area to serve as a volunteer at Different Church Nashville.
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DAVE JOLLEY, Larksville, Pa., retired in 2019 after a nearly 40-year career in executive leadership (public relations, public affairs, marketing, government relations, development and administration) at Geisinger Health System. He is now consulting with various clients and also serving as Communications Officer for Doctivity Health, Inc., and host of Doctivity Health’s Actionable Insights on the Business of Healthcare podcast.
In Memoriam
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1944
Ms. Louise Hazeltine
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1947
Mrs. Margaret Manchester
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1950
Mrs. Margaret Hodgson
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1951
Mr. Charles Woodring, Jr.
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1953
Mrs. Eleanor Jenkins
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1954
Mr. Donald Marsinkavage
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1956
Mr. Daniel Metroka
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1958
Mr. Arthur Christianson
Mr. Edward Birnbaum -
1959
Mr. Walter Horchheimer
Dr. Patricia Pisaneschi -
1960
Mr. Ronald Kross
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1961
Mrs. Shirley Davis
Mr. Daryl McKenzie -
1963
Mrs. Bonnie Lewis
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1964
Mrs. Barbara Rappaport
Mrs. Laila Friedmann
calendar of events
Calendar Highlights
Exhibition: Circle of Truth, curated by Laura Hipke and Shane Guffogg, Sordoni Art Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday, June 16 from 5–7 p.m.
Game Night: Thursday, July 16 from 6–8 p.m.
First-Year Orientations
Admissions Open House
Women Empowered By Science (WEBS) camp
New Jersey Alumni Event at The Salty Whale in Manasquan, N.J., 1–3 p.m.
50th Anniversary Exhibition: The One Rose: Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Rose O’Neill, Sordoni Art Gallery
Classes commence
Summer Commencement
Homecoming Weekend
GIVE TO WILKES | wilkes.edu/give
Your generosity supports our beloved institution and talented students.
For information on ways to give, contact Lisa Shafer ’01,
director of development, at 570-408-4724.
