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Campus News
Susquehanna University celebrated the naming of the Cunningham Center for Music and Art on October 29 with a ceremony and concert in the center’s Stretansky Concert Hall. The board of directors named the building in recognition of President Emeritus Joel Cunningham, and his wife, Trudy, for their many contributions to the university.
Completed in 2002, the Cunningham Center for Music and Art was built out of the aging Heilman Hall. Funded by the Degenstein Foundation of Sunbury, Pa., in honor of Cunningham and Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Cyril Stretansky, the new construction allowed for the music and art programs to be combined under one roof. Since the building’s dedication in February 2003, a portrait of Cunningham has hung in the main lobby in recognition of his appreciation of the arts and commitment to bringing additional cultural opportunities to Susquehanna students and residents of the region.
Susquehanna University held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 30 at the future site of the Douglas E. Arthur Plaza. The plaza will be located in the common ground between Degenstein Campus Center and Stretansky Concert Hall of the Cunningham Center for Music and Art. The plaza will honor members of the Susquehanna Society, which recognizes those whose philanthropy has made a significant impact on the university.
Made possible through a gift from Lucille Arthur in recognition of her husband, Douglas E. Arthur ’49, the plaza will be designed to celebrate past philanthropic efforts and encourage others toward stewardship of Susquehanna University. Design of the plaza includes a fountain, waterfall pool, seating walls and attractive landscaping.
When Hurricane Katrina forced Steve Wilkerson, instructor of management, and his wife, Myra, to cancel their vacation to New Orleans, the couple decided that instead of booking another vacation they would initiate a fund-raiser for relief efforts, challenging any student group or organization on campus to raise up to $2,000, which they would, in turn, match. Inspired by one of their brothers, Jon Snyder, who took a leave of absence to serve with the National Guard in the Gulf Coast, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity raised $1,225, an amount matched by the Wilkersons, bringing the total to $2,450.
A host of other fund-raising activities have also been going on across campus. Most recently, a benefit concert, featuring student bands, along with national artist John Rush and Susquehanna’s own Faculty Lounge, raised more than $1,450 for disaster relief efforts. The amount will be matched by the university, which has also contributed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Disaster Relief Fund and donated gate receipts from this year’s football games to relief efforts.
In January, Susquehanna’s first Gulf Coast service team will travel to Louisiana to assist with disaster recovery efforts. The Susquehanna University Fund is offering donors the opportunity to designate a portion of their gifts toward the travel expenses of that and future service trips to the region. A feature story on the winter break trip is slated for the spring issue of Susquehanna Today. Susquehanna University has accepted an invitation for associate membership in the Liberty League in the sport of football effective with the 2007 season. The Crusaders will continue to compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference in 2006 before joining the Liberty League, whose membership for football includes Hobart College, St. Lawrence University, the University of Rochester, Union College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. A decision has not yet been made regarding the conference affiliation of Susquehanna’s other 22 varsity sports, but the Crusaders have the option of remaining in the MAC through the 2007-2008 academic year.
For more information, visit http://www.susqu.edu/sports/releases/fall05/liberty.htm.
Six former student-athletes and two past coaches have been named to the Crusader Sports Hall of Fame. With their induction at a dinner following the basketball doubleheader against Moravian on February 4, 2006, membership into the hall will total 168. This year’s inductees are:
Jeff Cole ’88 (baseball) – A native of Seymour, Conn., Cole was a centerfielder and a three-time MAC Northern Division All-Star who was named All-Region as a senior after batting .409 and setting school single-season records that still stand of 50 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. For his career, he ranks first in program history in stolen bases (58), second in batting average (.382) and runs (105), third in doubles (26) and seventh in hits (116).
Pete Stoma ’88 (football) – A native of Lyndhurst, N.J., Stoma was a first-team All-MAC selection at center as both a junior and a senior, and was a third-team All-American following his junior year, when the Crusaders averaged 392.2 yards per game and won the MAC championship. In his senior year, Stoma was named the team’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year after helping the Crusaders set a then-school record with 2,225 passing yards for the season.
David Battisti ’91 (football) – A native of Susquehanna, Pa., Battisti was a three-year starter at quarterback and the 1991 Blair Heaton Award winner. At the time of his graduation, Battisti was the program career leader in completions (255), attempts (568), yards (4,087) and touchdowns (38). He still ranks ninth in passing yards in a single season with 1,610 in 1989 when the Crusaders shared the MAC championship. Off the field, Battisti was a second-team Academic All-American in 1989.
Ron Rux ’93 (football/track) – A native of Port Carbon, Pa., Rux was a two-year starter at split end in football and a jumper on the track and field team. He had 42 catches for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career, and led the Crusaders with 31 receptions for 577 yards and seven scores as a junior. In track, Rux earned a pair of silver medals in the long and triple jumps at the 1993 MAC championships, and was a bronze medalist in the long jump as a junior. He still ranks in the top five in program history in both events.
Alison Hepler ’95 Wolfgang (basketball) – A native of Ashland, Pa., Wolfgang ranks eighth in program history with 1,090 points and averaged 10.5 points in 104 career games from her small forward position. She averaged 18.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a senior to help the Crusaders reach the MAC championship game, and continues to rank in the top 10 in program history in three-pointers, free throws and steals.
Megan Lytle ’95 (basketball) – A native of Grantville, Pa., Lytle ranks sixth in program history with 1,401 points, second in rebounds with 1,036 and fourth in field-goal percentage at 49.7 percent. She was a three-time first-team All-Commonwealth Conference selection and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1994-95 when she averaged 18.3 points and 12.5 rebounds to go with 55 blocked shots and 65 steals. Stan Seiple (cross country coach) – Seiple coached the Crusader men’s cross country team to a record of 100-23-1 in eight seasons, including the 1984 Middle Atlantic Conference team championship and a 23rd-place finish at the NCAA championships. From 1982 through 1986, Seiple’s squads finished with a combined dual-meet record of 74-8-1 featuring two-time MAC individual champion Greg Pealer ’85. Mark Hribar (women’s basketball coach) – Hribar coached the Crusader women’s basketball team from 1987-88 through 2001-02, and is the winningest coach in program history with a 237-139 record over 15 seasons. He led the Crusaders to three 20-win seasons and four NCAA Division III playoff berths, along with MAC Northern Division titles in 1990-91 and 1991-92. – Jim Miller, Sports Information Director |
