Elizabethtown College News 
Back to top 4/30/2007 Kelli Thon '07 breaks career hit record in softball The softball team clinched a berth in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs for the  first time since 2003 by splitting a conference doubleheader at home with Widener University April 28. The Blue Jays fell 5-3 in the opener but bounced back to win the second game 2-0. The Blue Jays wrap up the regular season with a 15-15 overall mark and an 8-6 conference record, while Widener's season ends with a 23-15 overall record and a 5-9 conference finish. Elizabethtown senior center fielder Kelli Thon broke the College career hit record April 28 as well. Thon collected two hits in the first game and one in the second to boost her career total to 169, breaking the old Elizabethtown record of 168 held by Emily Morris ’04. Thon also stole a base in the first game to boost her career total to 49, tying her for second place on Elizabethtown’s all-time list and putting her three behind the program record of 52. In her career, Thon is a three-time All-Commonwealth Conference honoree and a 2006 National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association (NFCA) All-East Region First Team member. In 2005, she set the Elizabethtown College single-season record for highest batting average since the Blue Jays’ inaugural eight-game season in 1978 with .519. Back to top 4/30/2007 Elizabethtown College Holds Classes as Normal - April 30, 2007 On Monday, April 30, 2007, Elizabethtown College is holding classes as normal in this last week before final exams. Back to top 4/19/2007 Gas Line Capped - Evening Class Held as Scheduled At 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, a gas line was severed at the construction site for the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering at Elizabethtown College. The event concluded at about noon when the line was capped and all buildings were cleared for occupancy. Although the event forced the cancellation of day classes at the College on April 19, Elizabethtown held evening classes as scheduled. At the time of the gas line break, UGI was notified promptly of the situation and the academic buildings adjacent to the construction site – Hoover Center for Business, Musser Hall and Esbenshade Hall – were evacuated, with students and others moved to the College's Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. Other buildings near the location – the Baugher Student Center and academic buildings including Nicarry Hall, Steinman Center and Zug Memorial Hall – were evaluated and cleared for occupancy. At about 11 a.m., Nicarry, Steinman and Zug also were closed because of complaints about the fumes, and all day classes at the College were cancelled. Workers in the affected buildings – Hoover, Musser, Esbenshade, Nicarry, Steinman and Zug – were sent home for the day. Those employees whose cars were blocked into the Hoover lot by emergency vehicles were sent temporarily to High Library until the lot was opened around noon. Back to top 4/12/2007 Four seniors exhibit art during annual student show Four Elizabethtown College senior art majors will exhibit their work in Hess Gallery, Zug Memorial Hall,  from April 29 through May 19. The annual senior show will feature pieces by Allison Frank of Harrisburg; Sophia Goldman of Fallston, Md.; Stephanie Wilhelm of Manchester, Md.; and Thomas J. Yurkovic of Elizabethtown.The opening reception is scheduled for 1 p.m., April 29, in Hess Gallery. The reception and exhibit are open to the public free of charge. Hess Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Frank has exhibited works in the Paxtang Art Association Art Show, Elizabethtown College Student Art Show and “Women Create!: Through a Woman’s Eye” in Harrisburg. She has worked as a graphic designer at College Lane Screen Printing and Embroidery and as a concert reviewer and photographer for the ezine “Independent Clauses.” She also designed the logo for the Penn State University Powerlifting Team in 2006. Goldman has worked for Gallery 444 in Hershey and for Harford County School System as a Red Cross water safety instructor. She has also volunteered for the Red  Cross, Meals on Wheels, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. Goldman plans to teach at the college level, a career goal “stemming from my calling to helping others to further explore their own personal artistic paths, as well as giving me sustained environment in which to inspire and nurture my own artistic ventures.”Wilhelm is a self-employed commission artist and muralist who has also worked as a gallery assistant for Lancaster Galleries and as an art tutor, art club officer and art studio assistant at Elizabethtown College. She has exhibited her work at the Elizabethtown College Student Art Show, where she earned a Best of Drawing award in 2005. Wilhelm studied at the Unversidad de Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico, during the 2005-06 academic year. She has a minor in Spanish. Yurkovic has shown his work at the Elizabethtown College Student Art Show; he earned the sculpture award in 2007. He worked as an assistant to sculptor John Hertzler during the summer of 2006 and for the Elizabethtown College facilities management department and Bernhard Landscaping Company. Prior to coming to the College, he studied industrial design for a year at Philadelphia University. Back to top 4/5/2007 Biotechnology major chosen as Goldwater Scholar Angela Mitchell of Corning, N.Y., a senior biotechnology major, is one of 317 college  students across the nation chosen to receive the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. She is the second Elizabethtown College student to earn this honor.Mitchell is president of the Chemistry Club, tutor for and committee chair of speaker/prizes for the regional convention of Tri-beta (national honor society for college and university students in the biological sciences) and a member of the Community Chorus. She is also recipient of the Elizabethtown College Scholar Award, Thomas C. Conover Memorial Scholarship, Chemical Rubber Company Freshman Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Award and Elizabethtown College Presidential Scholarship. Mitchell’s career goals include earning a doctorate in virology, teaching at a university and conducting research on how viruses interact with their hosts. The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,110 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Back to top 4/3/2007 Staff member's art featured at Lancaster Arts Hotel Susan Davitti Darling (www.davittidarling.com), mail services, is the featured artist for  April at the Lancaster Arts Hotel, 300 Harrisburg Avenue. Her works will be displayed at the hotel gallery through the month of April. The opening reception will be held from 5 - 9 p.m., April 6. The gallery is accessible to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This exhibit is part of Lancaster's ongoing First Friday Events. Back to top 4/3/2007 Baseball is first Blue Jays program to win 1,000  Elizabethtown College's baseball team became the first of the College's athletic programs to reach the 1,000 all-time victory plateau as the Blue Jays rallied from a pair of 1-0 deficits to sweep Albright College in a Commonwealth Conference home doubleheader on March 31. Back to top 4/2/2007 Students take service trip to KY over Spring Break During spring break, 27 Elizabethtown College students and two staff members helped low-income families in the Appalachia area of Kentucky  on a service experience co-sponsored by Faith in Action and the Chaplain’s Office.Through the Kentucky-based Christian ministry HOMES, Inc. (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service), the Elizabethtown group helped three families complete various home construction projects. According to Faith in Action advisor Karen Hodges ’04, HOMES made an ideal partner because its ministry correlates so well with Faith in Action’s mission. “Through our involvement in various faith-based service opportunities, Faith in Action strives to serve people, while fostering a service-oriented spirit in all of our members,” explains Hodges. “Trip participants certainly were challenged to adopt a service-oriented spirit during a week of hard, manual labor.” After a 10-hour drive to Kentucky, the group was divided into three work teams. The largest team demolished a dilapidated house so that a new one could be built in its place. Another team installed flooring and put some finishing touches – such as installing doorknobs and electrical switches – in a new home built by HOMES, Inc. A third team rehabilitated an existing house by replacing a porch and installing a new roof. HOMES, Inc. estimated that the group raised approximately $7,000 for the organization through “sweat equity” labor and pumped $20,000 into the local community as a result of efforts on these projects. In addition to putting their faith into action at the work sites, the students spent the week exploring the concept of simplicity and discussed the possibilities for enriching their own lives by living more simply. Biblical passages as well as readings from the Qur’an were explored in the group’s nightly devotionals. After the trip, students reflected positively on the experience. “It was really rewarding to see the progress we were making each day,” says sophomore Megan Memoli. ”The fact that we were able to finish the roof before we left was very satisfying.” Another participant, sophomore David Grey, thinks the trip was a great way to spend his week away from Elizabethtown, helping others and taking a break from academics. In addition to Memoli and Grey, the group also included the following students: Kyle Bauman '09, Ashley Beaver '09, Molly Bull '09, Allison Burket '09, Regina Duke '08, Erin Fisher '08, Leslie Furman '09, Kim Hailey '10, Lori Height '08, Crystal Illigasch '09, Faisal Iqbal '10, Jenna Karkuff '09, Jeremy Matula '09, Valerie Miebach '09, Chelsea Miles '09, Veronica Mikitka '08, Abby Mowery '09, Courtney Moyer '09, Curtis Nolt '07, Ericka Siarkievicz '07, Ryan St. Clair '08, Alli Stanley '09, Jessica Stepp '10, Brian Umberger '09 and Amanda Winter '10. In addition to Hodges, Rachel Hadrick – coordinator of multicultural programs and residential communities – also accompanied the students. About the photograph: The group photograph was taken at the Appalshop Theater, where the group attended an educational performance about Appalachian history. written by Megan Memoli '09 Back to top 4/2/2007 HAIR to hit the stage of Tempest Theatre HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical was so controversial when it first  opened in 1967 that public uproar resulted in a court case in Boston, citing HAIR for questionable content. Lawsuits claimed that the production desecrated the American flag and was a "lewd and lascivious" show. Cast members fought back, desperate for their voices to be heard and to demonstrate the country’s vital right to public speech.HAIR was more than just a musical. HAIR was a statement -- a revolution in consciousness that explored the newly forming social and political values, human sexuality and the ways to expand thinking about them, including the use of mind-altering drugs. Ironically, the court ruled that the Boston performances could continue if these conditions were met: "To have each member of the cast clothed to a reasonable extent at all times, and to eliminate completely all simulation of sexual intercourse or deviation." During the 1960s and in today’s society, youth are the driving force for political decisions. HAIR takes these issues, molds them into memorable melodies and allows eclectic characters to love and embrace the newly formed ideals. Terri Mastrobuono, director of Elizabethtown College’s upcoming production of HAIR, believes there is no better time to explore the relationship between those two absurdly similar worlds. “There are apparent parallels -- the Vietnam War and the War in Iraq; illegal immigration and the issues of social and equal rights for unrecognized people; African Americans during the ‘60s and homosexuals today,” said Mastrobuono. “HAIR is not a hippie’s costume party! It’s got teeth,” she points out. Her concept -- an eccentric 22-member ensemble taking over an abandoned space that becomes a home where they can be themselves, make discoveries and sort out their beliefs -- is a labor of love. The cast was chosen in December and have been hard at work ever since. The design and production team for HAIR is Director Terri Mastrobuono, Lighting Designer G. Benjamin Swope (from NYC), Set Designer Matthew Allar, Choreographer Kristin Pontz, Vocal Director Magda Silva and Musical Director Grant Moore. The stage management team for the musical is Production Stage Manager Nadine Swartz '07 and Assistant Stage Managers Amanda Marfisi '09 and Sarah Rich '09. The Acting Company for HAIR is Tammy Bateman '10, Regina Duke '08, Devon Fahy '08, Michael Gephart '08, Samuel Gillam '09, Emily Grove '10, Katlyn Howes '09, Nyasha Hungwe '08, Matt Mangus '10, Andrew Mannion '08, Kalie Martin '10, Alyssa Miller '08, Laura Moyer '09, Natasha Threatts '09, Meredith Pritchard '09, Kristina Psitos '10, Keenan Schaeffer '10, Ezra Schatz '09, Shannon Shughart '08, Dan Woodhead '09, Amanda Wormann '07 and Elyse Venturella '09. HAIR will play at Tempest Theatre on April 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. and April 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and may be reserved by calling the box office at 717-361-1170 or by e-mailing boxoffice@etown.edu. written by Julie Strickland '07 |
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