As President of one of Delaware’s largest independent insurance agencies, L & W Insurance, Board of Trustee member and dedicated Wesley dad William J. Strickland has already proven to be a natural fit to lead Wesley’s most dedicated constituents. He was recently appointed the first president of the Wesley Society, a cultivation group for annual donors of $1,000 or more who have pledged to become instrumental partners in Wesley’s advancement efforts. The enthusiasm Strickland has shown through his involvement with the local community and his dedication to the College thus far have set the stage for a prosperous new beginning for the Wesley Society under his leadership.

Strickland first became involved with Wesley College through his son Justin, who earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s in business administration at Wesley. “While at Wesley, Justin gained a great education, played football and baseball and grew as a person. His Wesley experience was firstrate and as a parent, I am very appreciative of the significant role that Wesley played in his development,” said Strickland. He and his wife Okemah have always felt a tremendous sense of gratitude toward the College for the impact it has had on their son, and they see their contributions as small tokens of their appreciation.

Strickland expressed, “It is my desire to help Wesley College ascend to a higher level as an institution and frankly speaking, it takes money to do so.”

Strickland is equally quick to point out a community perspective of why giving to Wesley is so important. As a savvy businessman, he knows firsthand the profound economic impact that the College has on the greater Dover area, due to students and staff patronizing local businesses, restaurants and retail stores. “I feel Wesley is going to be a catalyst for the ongoing effort to revitalize the downtown Dover area,” he said.

As president of the Wesley Society, Strickland sees his role as a facilitator in developing and strengthening the relationships between Wesley and its donors, not only in the context of giving, but in having a sense of ownership in the future of the College. He will serve as an ambassador for Wesley and work closely with staff member Cathy Anderson, hired in December as director of the Wesley Society, in providing insight to current and potential Society members on the great initiatives going on at the College.

Strickland knows that Wesley cannot accomplish significant campus improvements without stronger financial support from alumni, parents, community members and other donors. He said, “Wesley Society members are partners who share a common goal of helping the College maximize its potential to better serve our growing student body.” He explained that there are many institutional needs that will not be addressed without an ongoing strong financial commitment, and he emphasized that the Wesley Society is the vehicle that will provide that commitment.

Strickland encourages those who have not already done so to spend time with President Bill Johnston. “Bill’s dynamic vision and ‘can do’ attitude are so inspiring and create a high level of confidence about our future,” he expressed.

“Becoming a Wesley Society member will allow alumni, parents and friends to support Bill’s vision for our future. Overall, your membership will solidify your relationship with Wesley College and directly impact what is a most promising future for this institution.”

For more information on how to become a charter member of the Wesley Society, click here or contact Cathy Anderson, director of the Wesley Society, at 302–736-2410 or andersca@wesley.edu

Alison and Brad Gudeman with their boys, seven-year-old Maxwell and five-year-old Spencer.

After 11 years of marriage, Brad Gudeman ’95 and Allison (Snyder) Gudeman ’98 both recall their Wesley College days as the most influential time in their lives. Having met at Wesley during Allison’s freshman year and Brad’s senior year, the two knew they were destined for each other from the start. “Allison’s entire college experience reflected our relationship,” remembered Brad. “We were engaged in Allison’s junior year and married three months after she graduated.”

Yet, the fond Wesley memories the Gudemans hold do not just include their courtship. Both were captivated by what Wesley College offered as a whole. “We were drawn to Wesley for its small class size, teacher to student ratio, and close proximity to our families,” Allison reminisced. Brad had been recruited by an upperclassman who had participat­ed in the Wesley College ambassador program and Allison was introduced to the College through the guidance coun­selor at her high school. Both knew that Wesley had exactly what they were seeking in a college.

Both Allison and Brad were active participants in the Wesley College community and gained experiences that fos­tered their development and prepared them for the profes­sional realm. During his sophomore year, Brad pledged Alpha Phi Delta. He stated, “The bond of brotherhood with college friends extended well beyond my college years.” Allison graduated with a degree in elementary education and has since used her skill-set as a childcare director and substi­tute teacher in the Baltimore County Public School District. She has also been an educator at her local church. Brad is currently an owner in a commercial modular building construction company known as Modular Genius, Inc. He attributes his ability to run a business to the fundamentals he learned at Wesley. “Dr. Jacobs thoroughly challenged all business majors and truly prepared them for the real world,” he noted.

Feeling that they owe much of their success to their Wesley education, Allison and Brad have recently joined other dedicated alumni and friends in financially supporting the College. As new members of The Wesley Society, the Gudemans believe in the College’s mission and have pledged to become partners through their involvement and financial support. They were proud to make their first major gift to help maintain Wesley’s proud traditions and provide oppor­tunities for future generations. “Without Wesley our life together would have never happened and our business opportunities would have never come to fruition,” said Allison. “Giving to The Wesley Society is a satisfying way to give back what Wesley has given to us.”

The Gudemans were pleased to be updated on campus developments and view a glimpse of the new master plan during a recent meeting with Chris Wood, vice president for institutional advancement. “The potential growth in the next 10 years is very exciting,” stated Brad. “Already, since the 10 years of our graduations, the changes that have occurred on campus are amazing.” The Gudemans continue to stay con­nected with fellow graduates through annual Homecoming events and stay abreast of campus and alumni news through Wesley magazine.

Enthusiastic about the vision for Wesley’s future and eager to demonstrate their support to make it possible, the Gudemans encourage their peers to do the same. Allison expressed, “It is a great way to support our College and get reconnected. Go Wolverines!”

To learn more about The Wesley Society click here.

By Jennifer Telles

Terry Higgins

Having served almost forty years at Wesley College, Terry Higgins, faculty emeritus and former environmental science professor, knows the importance of giving back to the institution that played such a significant role in his life. While completing his master’s degree at Edinboro University, he received a call from Wesley’s president, Dr. Robert Parker, inviting him to interview for a faculty position at the College. Surprised, since he had not applied for the position, Higgins graciously accepted the invitation, interviewed and agreed to join the faculty in what would become the ideal career opportunity. The native of northwestern Pennsylvania began his career at Wesley in 1961 and served as a faculty member until his retirement in 2000.

Throughout his years of teaching, Higgins collected many fond memories. Serving over 8,000 undergraduates during his tenure, Higgins was always impressed with the quality of individuals that attended Wesley. “Just to see them grow and develop, that’s the most gratifying thing you can witness,” said Higgins. “I had the unique opportunity to teach and react with, and help grow, some of the brightest and best that our nation can produce.”

Higgins considers many of his former colleagues at Wesley to have been essential in nurturing and refining him into who he is today. Senior professors including Louie Wells, Mr. and Mrs. Kilby, Mr. Stewart, Dick Titus and President Parker all had an integral part in mentoring the young newcomer in his first years as a faculty member. Higgins attributes his long stint at the College to these and other professors including Elaine Wright, Sam and Marilyn Johnson, Barry Reber, Jim Wentworth and Ron Starnes who made the Wesley experience so comfortable for him.

Knowing how Wesley so positively influenced his life, Higgins is eager to reciprocate the favor. He stated, “It’s the old biblical quotation — ‘To those who have been given much, much is expected.’” Higgins decided to include Wesley College in his will to aid in securing Wesley’s legacy as a liberal church-related college for years to come.

Professor Higgins guides students through a lab experiment in 1961.

Higgins has an additional connection to Wesley College in that his three children, Matthew, Rebecca and Kirsten, are all environmental science graduates of the College. Each has continued to build a successful career in the environmental field and has shown appreciation to Wesley through various annual gifts. The Higgins family demonstrates their testament to the Wesley mission by giving back to the College and its programs. They often attend College-sponsored events, including Homecoming. Youngest daughter Kirsten Higgins ’98 is now proudly serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Higgins advised, “Giving is each person’s prerogative. No four year education is perfect, but education — both formal education in the classroom and what one gets as being a member of a college environment — is the one thing in life that cannot be taken from you. One needs to be very thankful for the opportunity for education and sacrifices people made for that education — not only parents and family but everyone involved with the college.”

To learn more about how you can include Wesley College in your will or other ways to give, please visit www.weare.wesley.edu/waystogive W

By Leigh Ann Little ’09

Andrew Geyer

“Academics were always important to Andrew; he always strived to be the best he could be,” remembered his mother Gladys Geyer. “He enjoyed life no matter what he did.”

To preserve that same spirit among future Wesley College students, the Andrew Joseph Geyer Endowed Scholarship was established this year in memory of the outstanding honors student and golf team captain. Geyer, a 22 year-old from Milford, Delaware, died February 23 after being struck by a car while visiting with friends in West Virginia.

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to a student who resides in Delaware and maintains a 3. 2 or higher GPA. “I am honored to know that his memory will live on at Wesley. My hope is that this scholarship will help someone who has worked just as hard as Andrew and has been able to give back to their community,” said Gladys.

Since Andrew’s tragic death, less than three months shy of his graduation day, many friends and family have honored his memory through contributions to the scholarship. During the May Commencement ceremony, Gladys accepted a posthumous Bachelor of Arts in Political
Science degree on his behalf. Also during the ceremony, Dr. William Johnston, president of Wesley College, announced that Wesley’s Student Government Association pledged a gift of $2,000 towards the endowed scholarship.

This pledge exemplifies the proactive campus community that Gladys and her family are grateful that Andrew experienced during his time at Wesley. She expressed, “The support has always been wonderful. It made Andrew feel more at home at Wesley.”

Each year, an estimated 90 percent of students who attend Wesley College receive various types of financial aid, including scholarships. Among these scholarship awards, the Andrew Joseph Geyer Endowed Scholarship Fund aims to ensure that a Wesley College degree remains within the reach of qualified undergraduates who meet the criteria set forth within the scholarship guidelines.

For more information on gift opportunities in support of the Andrew Joseph Geyer Endowed Scholarship Fund or other scholarships, please contact Chris Wood, vice president for institutional advancement, at (302) 736‑2316 or via e-mail at chriswood@wesley.edu W