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.

Brekke and Choice

IN THE FALL OF 2006, Wesley College fielded the first varsity volleyball program since moving into the Division III era. The Wolverines won nine games that season with a roster of mostly freshmen and the program looked to have a solid foundation. Freshman Lilia Brekke earned All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference second team honors. One of her classmates, Nettie Choice, paced the conference in blocks. Then everything changed. And then it changed again.

In the program’s first three years, there were three different coaches. There was not a revolving door just on the coach’s office, but on the locker room as well. A total of 27 different players had suited up for the Wolverines. The only constants were Brekke and Choice.

“It was definitely hard,” Brekke remarked. “It put a lot of stress on Nettie and me.”

“We came into every season expecting a new coach,” Choice added. “It was very unstable. The two of us just got used to it.”

It took until their senior year to play for the same coach for two consecutive seasons. As one might expect, this brought the duo closer, on and off the court, especially since they were being looked to for primary leadership as early as their sophomore seasons.

“Playing with Nettie so much, we know each other inside and out, on and off the court,” Brekke said. “It made the two of us play together really well and that’s helped the team while the new players have learned to play together.”

If the bond could be made stronger, the two even line up next to each other with Choice playing middle hitter and Brekke on the outside. “I got used to looking to the left and always seeing her there,” Choice noted.

While it may seem obvious they would hold virtually every career record for the young program, it certainly has not been by default. The pair has racked up nearly every season record as well. Between them, they have racked up eight of the top 10 kill totals and five of the six best block totals. Brekke also has the season record for digs.

The career totals add up well too. Both players tallied over 550 career kills. Brekke added 222 aces and 934 digs while Choice patrolled the net for 449 blocks.

Despite playing their final match in the blue and white this October, the two young women see a bright future ahead for the program. Aside from the two senior captains, the rest of the roster has been made up of entirely freshmen and sophomores. The two agree that the recent consistency with Head Coach Gerry Szabo has been a welcome change. It also has been beneficial for the program in order to recruit the next genera­tion of volleyball players.

“We have players who came here to play volleyball,” Choice observed. “Before we just worked with whomever we had. Sometimes people were learning to play.”

“The group we have now is going to be able to grow and develop together,” added Brekke.

Something else they agree on is that more than the volleyball, the relationships they have built with each other and their team­mates are what they will remember most after they leave Wesley.

“There are girls on this team I’d call my sisters,” Choice said. “It’s like a family.”

For Choice and Brekke, their career paths on the court cer­tainly have had more twists and turns than those of their peers on Wesley’s more established athletic teams. Despite the turbu­lent beginnings for the program, however, the volleyball team has now reached a plateau. In addition, the two standouts have emerged stronger than ever, in their game and their friendship.

“Looking back,” Brekke said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

While many studies show that student apathy is a much greater challenge today than it ever was a generation ago, Wesley College administrators are taking a proactive approach with incoming students to reverse the trend at Wesley College. What better place to start than with the class of 2013, the largest freshman class that has ever set foot on Wesley’s campus. Earlier this year, the Office of Student Life enacted a program to encourage new students to “take a big bite out of their college experience” rather than just go through the motions of school. This took the form of a New Student Leadership Retreat at Camp Saginaw in Oxford, Pennsylvania. While it was an optional program, the idea was to create enough buzz early on to make this an experience the students would not want to miss.

Mary-Alice Ozechoski, dean of students, explained that the Office of Student Life wanted for students to gain an understanding of the opportunities available to them and learn how to get the most out of their college experience. She noted that the model used at this retreat was one she had used at other schools in the past. “I found it to be a very effective tool for increasing student participation in events, clubs and organizations,” she said. Another potential benefit, she pointed out, would be a gain in student retention and overall student satisfaction with the College.

This Retreat gave first-year students a chance to get away and learn new things about themselves as well as Wesley College. Designed to provide insight into the importance of being involved on campus, the Retreat also helped students realize their potential as leaders, emphasizing that leadership skills are not only applicable to teams and campus organizations, but will also benefit them in innumerable circumstances throughout life. Students learned “why leadership and involvement are so critical to employment and graduate school success,” Ozechoski explained.

In total, 110 freshmen and 30 upper-class student leaders, such as the orientation leaders, attended the Retreat. Ozechoski was pleased to see that student attendees found a way to “break out of their shell” and develop skills that she believes will help them negotiate a “complex world.” They gained valuable problem solving, creative thinking, teamwork and communication skills and acquired the stepping stones toward having a beneficial and productive Wesley experience overall. As an orientation leader who participated in the Retreat, Wesley student Noelle Jacob enjoyed being a part of the process that helped the new students “realize what they’re capable of being or doing on campus and in their future.” Jacob found that she strengthened her own individual leadership skills at the same time.

Ozechoski expressed her desires for all students at Wesley, especially the new class of freshmen, to continue to challenge themselves, try new things and become a part of the College by finding their voice and helping Wesley to move forward. “I hope students understand that a small college affords you every opportunity to become involved in or out of the classroom,” she said.

On Family Day on October 24, all students who attended the Retreat were honored at a ceremony and reception at the Wesley Chapel. This gave families an opportunity to celebrate their students’ involvement in the program, and it was another way for the College to reward the student participants for their hard work at the Retreat and leave an impression that they are important to the campus community. Ozechoski commented, “I hope they [the students] appreciate that their talents are unique and that we all benefit from those who are engaged in campus life and then in the larger world.”

For the 140 students who attended, the important skills they learned will serve them well throughout their Wesley College careers and well into their future lives. For some of the upperclassmen like Jacob, participating in the program reinforced the self-fulfillment of being in student leadership roles on campus and how that is perceived by other members of the campus community. “Attending the New Student Leadership Retreat benefited my future by showing individuals I care about being a leader and that I enjoy having a positive impact on others,” she said. For all the participants, the friendships they formed will be another lasting effect of the experience. The bonds and memories made at Camp Saginaw will always be part of their Wesley story.

Alumni came out in droves this year for a Hollywood Homecoming celebration on campus October 2 –4. Beautiful fall weather created the perfect backdrop for an action-packed, box-office hit of a weekend.

Alumni homecoming events kicked off the morning of Friday, October 2 with the 14th Annual Wolverine Fall Golf Classic at Jonathan’s Landing. The alumni, friends and local business lead­ers who participated had a great time on the greens while sup­porting the College’s student-athletes, as all proceeds benefited the W Club. Later that afternoon, the campus was transformed into Sunset Boulevard for the Celebrity Carnival sponsored by Wesley’s Student Government Association. That evening, the Wesley Alumni Association hosted an elegant evening affair at the Schwartz Center for the Arts to induct the newest members of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the field hockey team was demonstrating Wesley’s winning tradition by clinching a 3–0 victory over Hood College.

Jarrhin Thomas and Francesca Levantis

Alumni and friends arriving on Saturday morning were welcomed back to campus with a continental breakfast and check-in at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Johnston. Attendees enjoyed meeting the president and his wife and visiting the historic Annie Jump Cannon House.

The Homecoming Parade livened up the streets of downtown Dover and drew a terrific crowd. The parade featured student organizations, alumni honorees and College administrators as well as various community groups and marching bands. To reflect the Hollywood theme, student organizations had the opportunity to perform a movie skit, dance or routine at the judges’ grandstand set up on State Street in front of DuPont College Center. Sigma Phi Sigma sorority swept most of the categories, winning best float and best banner and tying the Dance Team for best parade performance.

Many more alumni arrived later in the day, filling the tent for the Tailgate Party where they enjoyed free food and live music. Attendance for this year’s bash was the largest yet, drawing in a spread of alumni classes spanning more than fifty years. In addition, a moon bounce and kids activity station were also provided to keep the youngest guests of alumni entertained throughout the afternoon.

At Scott D. Miller Stadium, a standing-room only crowd cheered on the Wolverine football team. The 44–9 trounce over Frostburg kept the Homecoming spirit high. The halftime show included an exciting guest performance by the Brooklyn High School for Music & Theatre Soldier Marching Unit, the introduction of the 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen — Jarrhin Thomas and Francesca Levantis.

The glitz and glamour of the weekend events continued Saturday evening at the Sheraton Dover Hotel with the All Class Reunion Dinner, decked out to look like a Hollywood awards party. The College literally rolled out the red carpet for more than 100 alumni and guests for an evening of dinner and dancing. President Johnston deliv­ered remarks and asked reunion alumni to briefly introduce themselves and share some highlights of their Wesley experiences. Vivid recollections and heartwarming comments filled the room, highlight­ing the common bonds of Wesley College among individuals from a mix of eras.

After posing for class photos, graduates celebrating their 35th, 40th, 45th and 50th reunions as well as one alumna cele­brating a very special 65th class anniversary were recognized and given mementos from the College. Reunion volunteers that were instrumental in contacting classmates and assisting with reunion efforts also were recognized and presented with small tokens of appreciation.

Top row, from left: Richard Gallagher ’59, Frank Culhane ’59, Paul Lundrigan ’59, Bruce Balderson ’59. Bottom row, from left: Janice (Yaglenski) Page ’59, Val (Megee) Hyde ’59, Sally (Kendrick) Cavanagh ’59, Edie (Whittle) Rogers ’59, Jean (Harris) Basore ’59

Meanwhile, more reuniting and revelry was taking place at the History Department Alumni Supper, and at the Young Alumni Party held in two different locations this year – The Loockerman Exchange (LEX) and W.T. Smithers. The LEX featured live entertainment by Dover-based band “Pray for Mojo” followed by a DJ. Many graduates moved between the two downtown bars, catching up with Wesley friends and enjoying drink specials and free appetizers.

Sunday’s activities began with a Homecoming Worship Service at Wesley Chapel, hosted jointly by Hope United Methodist Church. Members of the golden anniversary class of 1959 were recognized during the service and honored at a special Golden Grads brunch at the president’s home immediately fol­lowing. The reunion group joined guests from other classes that graduated more than 50 years ago and enjoyed a delicious meal hosted by Dr.and Mrs. Johnston. Alumni received lapel pins signifying their membership in the Golden Grads circle as well as a brief update on their alma mater. The same day, Wesley’s volleyball team picked up a pair of wins over Penn State-Abington and Delaware Valley in the Wolverine Classic Invitational Tournament that took place in Wentworth Gym.

Chelsea Moore and Santina Beckwith

As the weekend concluded, alumni reluctantly said their goodbyes to their classmates. Brimming with Wesley pride and joy after a fun-filled weekend of reconnecting and reminiscing with old friends, many alumni made plans to meet up for the festivities again next year. Homecoming 2009 was one of the largest turnouts ever of alumni on campus and the College hopes to build on the momentum. Whether or not you attended this year’s activities or even if you have never attended Homecoming, please take a moment to complete a brief survey at and share your comments and suggestions. The Wesley College community looks forward to welcoming even more participants for Homecoming 2010 — October 15–17. Mark your calendars now!

For more Homecoming photos, visit click here.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN DEVELOPMENT?

Actually, I wouldn’t say I chose a career in development. It chose me. The first 15 years of my professional life were spent as a United Methodist pastor. Serving the last seven years of that time in a new church start, raising significant money was required to stay in existence. The same was true for the six years I spent as the executive director of a statewide non-profit agency. But beyond producing dollars, I discovered a passion and fulfillment in building up an organization or institution. The field of institutional advancement is more than just raising money. The dollars are simply the means to the eventual end – an institution that is more secure, robust and more effective.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THUS FAR?

I am most proud of the times I have opened doors of opportunity to donors who wanted to find real fulfillment in their philanthropic gifts. I truly consider it a privilege to work with donors who discover joy and meaning through their giving as it changes the life of another. I always laugh when someone says, “Why would you have a job where you beg people for money?” I have never begged anyone for a dime. Begging and guilt are poor motivators. My life is enriched when a donor is motivated to help and I am able to align the donor with an opportunity.

WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF WESLEY COLLEGE?

Wesley is rich in opportunity. Built upon a firm foundation established over the years by so many faculty and staff, alumni, community partners and United Methodist supporters, there is an air of excitement and possibility that pervades the College. I have been struck by the love and pride of Wesley demonstrated by so many alumni I have met, the per­sonnel I am privileged to work with daily, and the students I constantly encounter. That sense of expectation and opportunity is frequently affirmed by individuals I meet within the Dover community and beyond.

WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS WESLEY’S GREATEST NEEDS FOR FUNDRAISING?

The simple answer is significantly increasing dollars for unrestricted giving towards the Wesley Fund, dollars direct­ly invested in our students. With the cost of higher education today, Wesley must provide significant financial aid to enable deserving students from various socio-economic backgrounds to experi­ence the life-changing difference a Wesley education offers. The Wesley Fund needs to grow so that at least one million dollars annually can be assured for our students. That will require both new donors and more generosity of our existing donors in order to more than triple our current efforts. Wesley’s history affirms this can be done!

With the recent adoption of a new campus master plan by our Board of Trustees, we are beginning to address the capital needs of our campus commu­nity. A number of existing buildings, particularly residence halls, are in criti­cal need of renovation. In addition, to serve our students’ needs, new facilities are required. The first of several phases of the master plan needs to begin imme­diately. Those who love Wesley College will be asked to tangibly demonstrate their commitment through both annual and capital financial commitments.

Critical to the long-term success of Wesley are planned gifts. Wesley has not historically been the beneficiary of these gifts in equal proportion to many other similar institutions of higher edu­cation. A sustained educational effort concerning planned gifts will become a permanent part of our advancement efforts.

WHY DO YOU FEEL IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALUMNI TO SUPPORT THEIR ALMA MATER?

One of my favorite verses of scripture reads: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” The lives of our alumni have been molded by Wesley College. Regardless of the amount of money they paid in tuition, the cost of their education exceeded those pay­ments. Thus, someone else, in part, provided for them the gift of a Wesley education.

As I travel and meet alumni of Wesley I am constantly hearing about “…the impact Wesley had on my life.” Those from the days of Wesley Junior College talk about the training ground for that next educational step, while those from the four-year institution speak glowing­ly of their baccalaureate experience. All recognize that they would not be where they are today without the people who are Wesley College.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WESLEY COLLEGE FACES IN TERMS OF FUNDRAISING?

Our greatest challenge is successfully asking for support. In theory, we should-n’t need to “sell” Wesley to those whose lives have been impacted. The pride and affinity appears to be alive and well among so many Wesley graduates, yet we lag behind many of our peer institu­tions in alumni giving, so we need to unashamedly and boldly invite our alumni and friends to tangibly demon­strate their desire to see Wesley prosper by giving financially and doing so gener­ously. In turn, we pledge to be good stewards of those gifts so that current and future students can benefit from a Wesley College education.

With more than 20,000 alumni and friends, it is tough for the advancement staff alone to successfully ask each and every individual to provide their financial support to our students. However, the advancement staff is not alone. We are surrounded by hundreds and perhaps thousands of individuals who have the ability to give annually and ask others to join them. One alumnus who contacts classmates and asks that they match his/her pledge makes a difference. Athletic team members asking their fellow teammates to add their dollars to a major gift from the team given in honor of their former coach make a difference. The list of possibilities is endless.

The financial challenges that lie ahead are substantial, but by working together I know we can meet the challenges of this day as well.

DESCRIBE THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE WESLEY SOCIETY AND THE BENEFITS FOR THE COLLEGE AS WELL AS THOSE INVOLVED? HOW DO YOU ENVISION THE WESLEY SOCIETY FIVE AND 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

The Wesley Society is a group comprised of individuals, businesses or organiza­tions that commit $1000 or more on an annual basis or make an irrevocable planned gift to Wesley College. It is not simply a “recognition” society, meaning donors are thanked and recognized and nothing more. The Wesley Society is a “cultivation” society, meaning that we are interested in forming strong relation­ships with and among Society members through frequent communication and invitations to events with President Johnston and other institutional leaders.

The Wesley Society was launched in September 2009. Initially 69 donors qualified for membership. By December the number had climbed to 92. By the end of the fiscal year on June 30, I am confident that we will not only have met but surpassed our goal of 125 members for the first year. A future gala celebration will be planned to recognize and
thank our charter members and to encourage others to join us. I have personally witnessed the momentum generated by a cultiva­tion society and am excited about the addition of The Wesley Society to the advancement efforts of this college.

What is my vision for The Wesley Society five and 10 years from now? It will be a dynamic group more than 500 members strong. From Society members will come more than 80% of the gifts to Wesley’s growing advancement efforts. Planned gifts and transformational gifts will be realized from the cultivation efforts with its members, resulting in renovation and new construction, some of which will carry the name of the donor. Finally, continued growth in both the number and quality of Wesley students will be partially a result of the enthusiastic gifting of alumni, trustees, personnel, businesses, church supporters and other friends that are valued partners in the always unfolding Wesley story.

Nicole Hill

FIELD HOCKEY
One of Wesley’s most decorated ath­letic programs, the field hockey team, set a school record with a 7–0 start that included a win over perennial confer­ence power Mary Washington. Also included in the streak were three of the Wolverines’ four shutout victories of the season. The fast start also propelled the team to its 12th straight season of at least 11 wins.

Junior Brooke Tadlock (Middletown, Del./Middletown) led the team and ranked among the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) leaders with 11 goals and 25 points. Over the course of the year, the nursing major moved into fourth place all-time at Wesley in both scoring categories. Sophomore Sheree Pleasanton (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) also entered the career top 20 in goals, ending the season with six to bring her career total to 15 and reaching 18th in the record book.

Sarah Johnson (Honeybrook, Pa./Twin Valley) turned in a strong season in goal, ranking among the con­ference leaders by stopping nearly 80 percent of the opponents’ shots on goal. During separate weeks this season, she and senior Erin Bailey (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen) were named to the National Honor Roll by womensfieldhockey.com

In the CAC playoffs, the Wolverines had a dramatic 3–2 overtime win over St. Mary’s (Md.) in the first round, Wesley’s fifth overtime contest of the year. During the game, freshman Abigail Hill (Dover, Del./Lake Forest) tied the game with just 1:34 left with her second goal of the afternoon. Then in overtime, it was Pleasanton with the game-winner to lead Wesley to a semifinal matchup with a Salisbury squad ranked No. 2 in Division III. To find out details of the season ending, visit the athletics website at www.gowesleyathletics.com

MEN’S SOCCER

On the men’s soccer pitch, the Wolverines turned in another winning season — their seventh in the last eight years. Wesley’s season opening win at McDaniel was the 200th career victory for head coach Steve Clark. All of his victories have come coaching the blue and white.

Injuries seemed to plague the squad to some extent all season, but the team still came through to register 10 wins due to the contributions of several newcomers. While the defense was led by senior Ryan Fisher (Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) and juniors Nick Talarico (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./ Pinelands) and Dan Canova (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), the offense was paced by several newcomers. Kyle Long (Delaware, Ohio/Buckeye) scored seven goals, the most for a Wolverine since 2006. The next three leading scorers, Frank Buffa (Pheonixville, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), Luis Rivera (Rockville, Md./Rockville) and Josh Chellah (Columbia, Md./Long Reach), were freshmen.

Frank Buffa

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The women’s soccer team featured a roster with 16 freshmen and a schedule with seven games against regionally ranked opponents, yet still managed to salvage a seven win season and the team’s first berth in the CAC playoffs since 2007. The team played well late in the year and nearly knocked off three regionally ranked foes, falling in each match by just a single goal.

Samantha Hannibal (Baltimore, Md./Loch Raven) led four freshmen who topped the team in scoring with seven goals, three assists and 17 points. Sammi Nevin (East Greenville, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), Kaitlin Barry (Chester, N.J./Immaculata) and Lindsey Campbell (Bear, Del./Padua Academy), also freshmen, each scored at least five goals.
Wesley also broke in a freshman goalkeeper, Sydney Kahan (Cranston, R.I./Cranston), who stopped 79 percent of the shots taken at her. She also post­ed six shutouts on the year while mak­ing 124 saves and playing every minute in net for the Wolverines.

VOLLEYBALL

The Wesley volleyball team stepped up its scheduling in the program’s fourth year. While the team took a step back in the win column from 2008, the experience should help a youthful team in the future.

Seniors Lilia Brekke (Prescott, Ariz./Caesar Rodney (Del.)) and Nettie Choice (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) paced the team in hitting and blocking once again as they finished their careers as the school’s first four-year players in volleyball. Sophomores Sophie Reed (Dover, Del./Dover) and Kristen Roberts (Loveland, Colo./Middletown (Del.)) and freshman Carle Ax (Lewiston, Idaho/Lewiston) also turned in strong performances hitting, setting and serving to provide hope for 2010.

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Kristine Bailey

The women’s cross country team featured one student-athlete pulling double-duty on the field hockey team in Tristin Burris (Camden, Del./ Polytech). Twice this season, she played field hockey on Friday and Sunday with a cross country meet on Saturday. She earned a CAC Runner of the Week honor on October 6 after fin­ishing fourth overall at the Wilmington Invitational, the day after scoring her first career field hockey goal and the day before helping the field hockey team to another victory.

One of Wesley’s 10 fastest women at both 5,000 and 6,000 meters, Burris was joined by another strong newcom­er in the record books. Junior Kristine Bailey (Vancouver, Wash./Evergreen) formed a strong one-two punch with Burris for Wesley, pacing the Wolverines at three different meets in her first season with the team.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

On the men’s side, senior John Clarke (Middletown, Del./Middletown) paced the squad at three meets, while freshman Terry Harens-Walgreen (Shadyside, Md./Southern) led the way at two more races.

To see how the Wolverines fared at the CAC Championships, click here.

WHEN IT was time to find a college, Sydney Kahan knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted to move out of the cold north and away from home. She also wanted to keep playing soccer, study to become a nurse, and continue to travel. She found all of those opportunities at Wesley College.

Kahan and her family are Reform Jews. When Kahan was a junior in high school, she participated in March of the Living, a trip to Poland and Israel for Jewish teens. She spent two weeks away from home without a cell phone or a laptop. This was her first time out of the country. During the week in Poland, Kahan joined 11,000 Jewish youths from all over the world as they marched in silence from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yon Hashoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day. This was the same route Jews were forced to march to the gas chambers, the route known as the March of Death. She and the other teens then toured the concentration camp at Birkenau.

Visiting such an important piece of Jewish history was not easy for Kahan.“Poland was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I had trouble sleeping some nights.” Israel, on the other hand, was a completely different experience. The youth who participated in March of the Living spent a week in Israel where they celebrated Israel’s Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut. “On this day, you pretty much party in the streets of Israel. It’s crazy,” she said. The crowd in the streets was a mixture of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews, all coming together to celebrate and sing songs they all knew.

After the celebration, Kahan marched from the old city of Jerusalem to the Wailing Wall. She felt a strong connection with her religion while she was there. “My whole Jewish identity I feel like I’ve gotten in touch with, especially in Israel.” She hopes to return again one day, possibly in a study abroad program. Kahan chose Wesley College because it fit her search for a school south of her hometown, Cranston, Rhode Island, that had a competitive Division III women’s soccer team and a strong nursing program. She found all of that at Wesley, and after spending a night with “the soccer girls,” Kahan knew
Wesley was the place for her. She already loves the school after
spending the first half of the fall semester taking a full class load and playing goal keeper on the Wolverines women’s soccer team. “So far,” she said, “soccer has been amazing. It is a huge reason why I like the school so much. It gets you involved so quickly.” Juggling sports and academics is not easy, though, especially since the nursing program is intense, so her goal is to maintain the balance between the two while she is at Wesley. Kahan is considering moving on to a master’s in nursing after she graduates and hopes to be a pediatric oncology nurse. Her best friend was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 11 and Kahan has been interested in helping sick children ever since her first exposure to that world. When she was a sophomore in high school, she attended the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) on Medicine, a ten day experience for high school students who want to explore medical professions. She stayed on Emory University’s campus in Georgia and attended lectures by top doctors and surgeons. She also toured a hospital, watched a birth, and even helped skin a cadaver. She learned about possible options in the field of medicine and made some good friends in the process.

Kahan was fortunate to have taken part in the NYLF trip as well as March of the Living, both eye-opening experiences for a teenager.
As the trip to Georgia was also her first extended time away from home, it helped solidify her later decision to move away for college. Now completely content in her pursuits at Wesley, she hasn’t regretted her decision one bit and she looksforward to the many opportunities still to come in her college career.

WESLEY COLLEGE has become a home to the thousands of students who have passed through its doors. Those who spend part of their life at the College experience a nurturing environ­ment that provides both learning and growth. Some students come from further away than others, making the home away from home element even more important. Hui Zeng, a 20-year­old international student from Shanghai, China, has found that her Wesley home has far surpassed her expectations.

“I believe to be an international student is a challenge and also a wonderful experience. That’s why I came here,” Zeng explained. A former student at Yangtze University in Jingzhou-Hubie, China, Zeng studies English as her major and has a passion for American culture. “I think for a language learner, environment is very important,” she noted. Wesley provides the perfect environment for her needs as a student and visitor from across the world.

Zeng has found “the way of study” in America to differ greatly from China. “Here I feel like I can really learn some­thing, not just fight for the final grade in the last one or two weeks,” she explained. At Wesley, she has found an atmosphere that engages students every day in and outside the classroom and promotes lifelong learning. Zeng has taken a variety of the classes offered, including Introduction to Business, Public Speaking, American Heroes, College Writing, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and College Choir, and she has enjoyed every single one of them. She shares a common sentiment with many other Wesley students who have attended over the years. “We have small classrooms and we can talk to professors like we talk to friends.” She likes the fact that she is not just a number in Wesley’s system, and found that her initial worries of coming to an American school subsided quickly once she arrived on campus.

Zeng believes the small college atmosphere has benefited her in more ways than one. “I feel that Wesley has taken good care of me,” she commented. She is very pleased with her apart­ment-style accommodations in Malmberg Hall. Zeng admits to “having a lot of fun” outside the classroom too. She has enjoyed trips to Philadelphia with Wesley’s International Student Association (ISA) and Washington D.C. with her history class.

Zeng came to Wesley “expecting to learn better English skills and know more about American culture.” But she will take away from her experience so much more than that, including an increased self-confidence and awareness of the world around her. During her one year stay at Wesley, she has already become much more independent. Zeng explained that in China, her dependence on family and friends was a large part of her life, and she worried about adapting to the American way of life as an international student here alone. “I think the most important thing of one’s life is to experience, and being an international student is just that. It is eye-open­ing. I learned how big the world is and how different life can be,” she commented. This has been the icing on the cake in her American college career.

When she returns to China, Zeng will not only have better English skills and understanding of American society, but also her own personal achievements that will enhance her future as a student and working professional. And that spells success in any language.

Dr. and Mrs. Johnston chat with Dr. R. Jervis Cooke and Mac Dukes ’31.

WITH LESS THAN 18 MONTHS into Dr. William Johnston’s presidency at Wesley College, a new vision is quickly taking shape. With a comprehensive campus-wide strategic and master planning process well underway, along with record-setting numbers of students on campus, the College administra­tion is embracing the involvement, support and feedback of all its constituents at this critical time in Wesley’s development. Coinciding with this are a number of outreach efforts being made by the Office of Institutional Advancement, including plans for some regional gatherings to keep alumni and friends informed about the College and its progress.

Since many alumni have not yet had the opportunity to meet President Johnston, he will be hitting the road to greet and interact with graduates at upcoming events designed to com­bine an informal meeting format with a social component. Starting with some of the closest neighbors to the Dover cam­pus, alumni in classes of 1964 and earlier along with other friends of the College residing in Delaware’s Sussex County were invited to a “Town Hall Meeting and Social with the President” on October 27 at the Methodist Manor House in Seaford, Delaware.

Attendees enjoyed some light hors d’oeuvres and casual conversation with the president and his wife, Susan Johnston, along with a couple Wesley staff members. The group shared stories of their days on campus and fondly recalled their Wesley experiences and friendships. They also discussed his­torical moments at the College as well as some of the more recent campus developments.

One distinguished guest at the event was Dr. R. Jervis Cooke, former Wesley president who led the institution from 1977–1983 after long-standing connections with Wesley as a trustee and former director of the Peninsula Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Cooke remarked, “I was pleased that Dr. and Mrs. Johnston, the alumni director and the vice presi­dent for institutional advancement took the time to visit with us and that the Methodist Manor House in Seaford was chosen as the location in which to gather.”

There are plans to bring events of this kind to other areas in order to reach greater numbers of College alumni and friends. Visit
www.weare.wesley.edu to find out about upcoming events. Or if you are interested in hosting a special Wesley gathering in your town, please contact Director of Alumni Affairs Amanda Downes at 302–736-2318 or downesam@wesley.edu

As part of the College’s recent Homecoming celebration, the Wesley College Alumni Association inducted a record 18 former student-athletes into the Athletic Hall of Fame at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover.

Left to right standing: President Johnston, Assistant Head Football Coach Chipp Knapp, Head Football Coach Mike Drass, Trevor Perkins ’97, Craig Stephenson ’72, Kevin McDermott ’99, Jimmy Connolley ’95, Jim Horan ’96, John Maroney ’99, Rich Renshaw ’93, Ed Muntz ’94, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Bill Gorrow, former Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Scott Burnam, Head Men’s Soccer Coach Steve Clark. Seated: Joe Kingsborough ’97, Curt Hahn ’96, Jonathan Hardy ’95, Kristin Lupo ’98, Steve Eady ’93, Chris Furrule ’94, Ken Pippin ’92, Matt Addonizio ’99/’01

Established in the early 1980s by the Alumni Association, the Wesley Athletic Hall of Fame was founded to honor, pay tribute and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who, either through participation, support or inter­est, have made outstanding contributions in the field of intercollegiate athletics and who have helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to the College. To be eligible for induction, recipients must receive at least three varsity letters or equivalent accomplishments and demonstrate outstanding success in varsity intercollegiate athletics.

Family members, friends, former teammates and coaches of the honorees were present as each individual award winner received a plaque from the Alumni Association. The celebration continued at a reception following the induction ceremony.

Kingsborough

Coming to Wesley after serving the U.S. Army in Vietnam as a chief warrant officer and helicopter pilot, Craig Stephenson ’72 was the football team’s leading tackler and an all-conference selection in each of his two seasons. A team captain and a Dean’s List student, he was named All-American in 1972. He also participated in the National Junior College All-Star Game before transfer­ring to Duke University, where he let­tered in football two years and played in the 1974 Blue Gray All-Star Game in Alabama. He has been head football coach and a biology teacher at Dickinson High School for the past 17 years. Stephenson has been selected twice as assistant coach and once as head coach for the state’s Blue Gold All-Star Game. He and his wife Sue and one daughter live in Hockessin, Delaware.

A football standout, Ken Pippin ’92 was the first Wesley student-athlete to be named an All-American after the school joined NCAA Division III, earning the honor in 1990. He was the National Player of the Week as a junior, and for­mer Wesley President Dr. Reed Stewart retired his jersey in 1994. Pippin was a team captain and ranks in the top 10 all-time at Wesley in sacks, tackles for loss, tackles and blocked kicks. He went on to spend three years on the sidelines as an assistant coach for the Wolverines. Pippin is now a national sales manager for LAN Connect, Inc. He and his wife Debbie live in Landenberg, Pennsylvania with their two children.

Basketball honoree Steve Eady ’93 fin­ished his career as Wesley’s all-time scor­ing leader and is currently third all-time with 1,708 points. As a senior, he rated among the NCAA Division III scoring leaders with an average of 27.9 points per game. He still rates among Wesley’s all-time leaders in steals and assists and holds the school records for points in a game with 49. In addition to various Eastern States Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III “All League,” “All Star” and “All District” team honors, Eady was a team captain and named MVP in 1992. After his Wesley career, he spent four years playing professional basketball nationally and abroad. He now works as a major account executive for Ricoh Business Solutions. He and wife of 11 years, Stacey, live in Upper Marlboro, Maryland with their two children.

Eady

During his football career, Rich Renshaw ’93 was named the USA Today National Player of the Week and was also the MVP of the 1991 ECAC Championship. He ranks in the Wolverines’ top five in pass efficiency, passing yards, touchdowns and comple­tions. A team captain, Renshaw earned honors as team MVP and Male Athlete of the Year in 1991. He also spent one year as an assistant coach at Wesley. He has worked for the Nuclear Division of Wackenhut Corporation for the past six years as a certified security specialist. He and his girlfriend Dawn currently reside in Riverside, New Jersey.

In his football career, Chris Furrule ’94 was named an All-American and All-ECAC in 1993, a year in which he was also named the team’s Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He ranks in Wesley’s top five in career quarterback sacks and was the all-time leader when he graduated. As the only defensive lineman at the time to have had a sack, interception, tackle for a loss and fumble recovery in the same game, his name was mentioned in Sports Illustrated. A Dean’s List student, he later joined the Wesley coaching staff. As president of The Creative Financial Group of New Jersey, Furrule has earned many accolades in the financial services industry on an individ­ual basis and for his business leadership. He and fellow Wesley graduate Dawn (Flanagan) Furrule ’92 married in 1994 and they have three children.

Men’s soccer honoree Ed Muntz ’94 still holds all of Wesley’s career records with 117 career points, 47 career goals and 31 assists. In 1991, he set school records with 17 goals, 12 assists and 46 points in a season. Muntz was a two-time team cap­tain in soccer and captained the tennis team as well. Upon his graduation, he joined the men’s soccer coaching staff as an assistant and later became the first and only coach the school has had in women’s soccer. As a head coach, Muntz is the winningest coach in both women’s soccer and men’s tennis. He and his wife Jennifer and their two sons live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jimmy Connolley ’95 was an All-American Honorable Mention on the gridiron in 1994 and was also named All-ECAC. At the time of his graduation, he ranked 11th in NCAA Division III history in pass efficiency, was Wesley’s all-time leading passer and is currently third in the school record book in passing touch­downs, passing yards and pass comple­tions. He was two-time football team MVP and named Male Athlete of the Year in 1994. On the lacrosse field, Connolley led the team in scoring in both 1994 and 1995. He and his wife, fellow Wesley alumnus Andrea (Paterson) Connolley ’94, have three sons and one daughter and reside in Warwick, Maryland. Connolley has been employed by Mason Building Group, Inc. for 12 years as a project manager and estimator.

Jonathan Hardy ’95 is the only player in school history to earn All-American honors in the same football season at two different positions, earning the honor in 1994 as both a punter and a free safety. An All-ECAC pick in 1993 and 1994, he ranks among Wesley’s all-time leaders in punting, interceptions, tackles and blocked kicks. He also set a school record with 26 tackles against Thomas More in 1993. Hardy is now a marketing and sales representative for Idearc Media. He resides in Woolwich, New Jersey with his wife Heather and daughter Hannah.

Muntz

Football honoree Curt Hahn ’96 received back-to-back All-American and All-ECAC selection honors in the 1994 and 1995 seasons. As a member of the 1995 defense that rated second in Division III, he still ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in tackles and tackles for loss. Hahn was named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 1992, Most Improved Player in 1993 and the Defensive Player of the Year in 1994. He also received the team MVP award in 1995, the Murray Award in 1996 and was the school’s Male Athlete of the Year both years. He and his college sweetheart, Jennifer (Rutherford) Hahn ’96, have been married for 10 years and currently live in Jamison, Pennsylvania with their four children. For the past 13 years, Hahn has run his own litigation and reprographic support services com­pany out of Center City, Philadelphia.

Jim Horan ’96 is the school record holder in men’s lacrosse with 688 saves during his career. He finished among the national leaders in both number of saves and save percentage in 1995 and 1996. He also holds the school record for career and season save percentage. He served as a team captain during the first years of the varsity men’s lacrosse program at Wesley and was named team MVP in 1993. Now living in Jacksonville, Florida, Horan is a national account manager for Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading international company in its industry.

Football honoree Joe Kingsborough ’97 was an All-American and an All-ECAC pick as a senior. He was named the MVP of the 1993 ECAC Championship and played in the National Division III All-Star Game. As a senior, Kingsborough was a member of the defense that ranked second in Division III and he rated in the top 10 at Wesley in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks at the time of his graduation. A two-time team captain, he was also named Male Athlete of the Year and was a Dean’s List student. Residing in Penn Township, Pennsylvania with his wife Denise and two daughters, Kingsborough currently serves as an assistant principal at Garnet Valley High School after 12 years with the school dis­trict. Soon he will be finishing a doctorate program at Wilmington University.

Trevor Perkins ’97 was a two-time Academic All-American and a member of the 1995 football team defense that rated second in Division III. At gradua­tion, he ranked among the school’s all-time leading tacklers. A dual sport ath­lete, Perkins also excelled on the lacrosse field, serving as a team captain for the Wolverines. A Dean’s List student in the classroom, Perkins was named to the CoSida Academic All-District team. Married to fellow Wesley graduate, Michelle (Raley) Perkins ’01, Perkins began a career in construction manage­ment and started his own contracting company in 2005. He and his family, which now includes three children, live in Owings, Maryland.

Lacrosse honoree Joe Kline ’98 is the all-time leader in both goals scored and points in a career for the Wolverines. During his time at Wesley, he had multi­ple seasons which rank in the top 10 in single season points and goals. Kline was a team captain and helped lead the Wolverines to an ECAC Championship. Kline has been in the construction indus­try, having started his own company, and is currently living in upstate New York.

McDermott

Kristin Lupo ’98 led the women’s soc­cer team during its transition from club to varsity status. Despite only spending three years of her career at the varsity level, she is still the school’s all-time leader in assists. She also ranks second in the record books for goals and points. A team captain at Wesley, she received the MVP award in 1997. Upon graduation, Lupo began her teaching and coaching career with the Capital School District. For 11 years now, she has taught chem­istry and been the head coach of the girls’ varsity soccer team at Dover High School. In 2006 and 2007 she was selected as Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year.

Michelle (Vincent) Williamson ’98 fin­ished her basketball career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She still rates among Wesley’s all-time leaders in points, rebounds and blocked shots. Williamson was an All-Conference selection as well as a Dean’s List student in the classroom. She served as a team captain and was named team MVP in 1997. Now living in Dallas, Texas, she and her husband recently celebrated the birth of their second son.

Matt Addonizio ’99/’01 was an All-PAC selection and ranks in the Wesley baseball record book in runs scored, stolen bases, at bats, fielding percentage, games played and double plays turned, and was named team MVP his senior year. He was a team captain in baseball as well as the men’s soccer team, a mem­ber of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, runner up for Male Athlete of the Year and made the Dean’s List. He later served at Wesley as both an assis­tant coach and head coach of the baseball program and is the winningest coach in women’s tennis history. Addonizio is now a Corporal assigned to the Patrol Unit of the Delaware State Police and was nominated for Trooper of the Year in 2008. He resides in Kent County with his wife Angelic.

Addonizizo

John Maroney ’99 helped lead the Wolverines men’s lacrosse team to a pair of ECAC Championships in 1996 and 1997. He was named MVP for defense the following year. At the end of his career, he rated second at Wesley in career saves and held the record for save percentage. A team captain for two seasons, Maroney went on to become an assistant coach for Wesley’s lacrosse program. He and his wife Tanya reside in Dover, Delaware. He has worked for United Distributors as a sales representative for the past seven years.

Kevin McDermott ’99 finished his lacrosse career among the all-time lead­ing scorers at Wesley College. He still rates second in career goals with 164, third in career points and is in the top 10 in assists. He has the top two single season marks for goals in a season and the third highest single season point total. A team captain and a Dean’s List student, McDermott was instrumental in Wesley’s back-to-back ECAC Championships. Married to fellow alumnus Christine (McGrath) McDermott ’98 with a three-year-old son, he and his family live in Smyrna, Delaware. He is now in his 10th year with the Colonial School District as a physical education and health teacher. W

Wesley College and the Alumni Association have proposed the creation of a Wall of Fame on campus to honor current and future members that have proudly represented Wesley College. We hope that this tribute will showcase the achievements of individual inductees and bring joy to family, friends, teammates and fellow alumni. With $15,000 needed to raise the Wall of Fame, we are seeking contributions that will bring us closer to our goal. Gifts of $100 or greater will be acknowledged with the donor’s name on a plaque displayed among the wall. Please consider demonstrating your support for the Wall of Fame or perhaps making a special tribute gift in honor of a friend or loved one. For a complete listing of Hall of Fame members and information on nominating a classmate click here.