Gettysburgians around the world united during the 36-hour Gettysburgives Challenge to raise $1.79 million in support of students and academic excellence. The record-setting outpouring of generosity underscores the power of the Gettysburg community and its enduring commitment to transformative education.

Powered by the generosity of Gettysburgians around the globe, the 12th annual Gettysburgives Challenge surpassed every expectation—demonstrating once again what is possible when our community rises together.

During the 36-hour campaign from Wednesday, Feb. 25, through Thursday, Feb. 26 nearly 2,400 donors came together to raise $1,792,479 in support of academic excellence and the transformative student experience that defines the Gettysburg Approach. It marks the largest Gettysburgives effort in four years and a powerful investment in the next generation of changemakers.

“These 36 hours showcased the very best of the Gettysburg community,” said Tres Mullis, vice president for College Advancement. “When alumni, parents, and friends unite around a shared purpose, the impact is extraordinary. Every gift—no matter the size—reflects a deep belief in our students and in the transformative power of a Gettysburg education.”

These investments will strengthen every corner of campus life—from scholarships and campus programming to athletics, experiential learning, and student-faculty research—ensuring students have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to lead lives of impact.

Opening doors to opportunity

More than $200,000 was designated toward scholarship and financial aid thanks to a matching gift from a member of the Class of 1975. The support helps pave the way for students around the globe to access Gettysburg’s unique approach to education. With 322 donors, scholarship and financial aid also saw nearly 100 more gifts than a year ago.

Additionally, more than $22,000 was committed to the Student Emergency Fund, which assists students with emergency expenses during the semester, such as illness, medical emergency, death of a family member, or transportation. 

Students leading the charge

This year, eight student organizations took part in a head-to-head challenge to see who could rally the most donors. The top five organizations—Owl and Nightingale Players, Sigma Alpha Iota, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Young Americans for Freedom, and the women’s rugby club team—each earned an additional $100. Owl and Nightingale received an extra $200 bonus as the first organization to reach 25 donors and finished with a Challenge-best 32 donors overall.

Champions on and off the field

A complementary initiative to Gettysburgives, the Bullets Teams Challenge boasted another record-setting performance last December. The Orange and Blue Club’s (O&B) 36-hour challenge—Gettysburg’s largest fundraising effort in support of the athletics program—totaled more than $738,000, eclipsing the previous record by $84,000. The effort also received support from a record 2,471 donors, surpassing 2,000 donors for the third consecutive year. During Gettysburgives, O&B raised another $21,000, boosting the total fundraising effort for athletics during the two challenges to over $759,000.

More Gettysburgives highlights:

• Every class from 1953 through 2026 was represented in this year’s Gettysburgives Challenge. Marian Brudin Henschen ’53 was our most senior alumni donor.
• More than 1,300 alumni participated in the 36-hour challenge. With 58 gifts, the Class of 2009 led all classes, while the Class of 1975 set the pace in total giving, raising over $1 million.

• Parents who made a gift of $20 or more could send a specially designed cookie and personalized note to their student. More than 700 current and former parents pledged funds over the 36 hours, resulting in 300 cookies designated for student mailboxes in March.
• Gettysburgives was a worldwide phenomenon with gifts received from 14 different countries spanning Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Nationally, donors from 47 states made commitments led by Pennsylvania with 642. Gettysburgians celebrated in person at hosted regional gatherings in Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia.

• Online advocates had an opportunity to inspire their classmates and friends and earn some Gettysburg swag. Using their social media platforms, these 73 advocates inspired 93 donors to make gifts. As a thank-you for their philanthropic leadership, advocates received special prizes, including Gettysburg stickers, a custom Gettysburg mug, or a Gettysburg fleece blanket.

Gratitude in action

As we celebrate another record-setting Gettysburgives Challenge, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every member of the Gettysburg community who made these 36 hours so extraordinary. To our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends, thank you for giving, volunteering, advocating, hosting gatherings, sharing messages, and championing the causes that matter most to you.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many challenge sponsors who sought to inspire our community through matching gifts, including Anne Kuhlmann Taylor ’66, Bonnie Hampton ’74, Gary Barone ’74, Anne Hanley Casillo ’79, Jack Duffy ’79, Dick Hollyday ’79, Bob Martin ’79, Paul Welliver ’79, Skip ’81 and Karen Cowen, Teri Lanan ’81, Lorna Rice ’81, Jen Lehman ’83, Lisa Cardone ’84, Amy Tarallo ’90 and Tim ’89 Mikuta, Sue Bottone ’99, Brett Montich ’00, Leigh Korpal ’04, Al Wilkins ’06, Lauren Meehan Keefe ’09, Sara Harenchar Levinson ’09, Kevin Schmitt ’11, Charles Meehan ’11, Katey Stauffer ’13, James Welch ’18, and Kathleen and John Regentin P’29

From the dedicated volunteers who helped strengthen the campaign and our online advocates who inspired their classmates and friends, to the generous donors whose gifts will shape the student experience for years to come—your passion fuels our momentum. Because of you, Gettysburg students will continue to thrive through scholarships, transformative learning experiences, campus programming, athletics, and student-faculty research.

Did you miss the Gettysburgives Challenge? Make your gift to Gettysburg College today.

Through a professional journey defined by persistence, adaptability, and community support, Salim Alwazir ’24 acknowledges the liberal arts foundation of a Gettysburg Education for opening the door to an internship with Morgan Stanley and expanding possibilities for a future in financial services.

Salim Alwazir ’24 remembered the moment he received the phone call offering him a summer internship at Morgan Stanley.

“I remember I was in my friend’s apartment in New York over Thanksgiving,” he said. “Getting that phone call felt like everything paid off.”

That moment marked a turning point in a journey that began long before graduation — and even before he started his Gettysburg College education.

Now a full-time analyst in the legal and compliance department at Morgan Stanley’s Baltimore office, Alwazir is part of a two-year program that prepares young professionals to navigate regulatory frameworks, manage risk, and collaborate across complex financial systems. His path to the firm began through the Gettysburg Network, when a College connection introduced him to a Morgan Stanley professional. That introduction led to a summer 2023 internship, and by August, he secured a full-time offer to return the following spring.

“The faculty and staff are dedicated to students. That nurtures leadership skills in a way that can be harder to develop at larger institutions.”
– Salim Alwazir ’24

Alwazir was one of the first Gettysburg graduates to join his specific program in Baltimore, where recruitment typically focuses on large public universities. Coming from a small liberal arts college, he quickly recognized that his Gettysburg experience set him apart.

“I think leadership stands out,” he reflected. “At a place like Gettysburg, the environment is small and inclusive. The faculty and staff are dedicated to students. That nurtures leadership skills in a way that can be harder to develop at larger institutions.”

At Gettysburg, Alwazir majored in mathematical economics and minored in data science — a combination that strengthened his analytical thinking and technical skills. He credits the Economics Department with playing a transformative role in his development, particularly a research opportunity during the summer of 2022.

“It was definitely life-changing,” he said. “I learned how to manage difficult tasks and push myself in ways I hadn’t before.”

He described the support he received from faculty mentors and the Center for Career Engagement, noting how their guidance was instrumental during his academic journey and the internship application process.

“It would have been impossible without the resources offered at Gettysburg,” he said. “The College is growing, and it feels good to have been part of that community.”

While Alwazir intentionally set his sights on a career in financial services before arriving on campus, he acknowledges that his career ambitions grew through focus and adaptation. He described his sophomore and junior years as particularly pivotal, focusing on coursework while understanding that academic performance would shape future opportunities, including his interest in law school.

“That felt harder than anything else — harder than the coursework,” he said. “Once I got that, I knew if I performed well, it could lead to the next step.”

Now in his professional role, Alwazir has discovered that technical knowledge is only part of success. Patience, he said, has become one of his most important professional values.

“You interact with so many stakeholders,” he explained. “Everyone owns part of the process. You have to listen, not rush to conclusions, and be patient. That’s something this role is helping me grow in.”

As he looks ahead, including plans to pursue law school, Alwazir sees his time at Morgan Stanley as part of an ongoing journey — one defined by persistence, adaptability, and community support.

“It’s a never-ending cycle,” he said. “You reach one milestone, and then you ask, ‘What’s next?’”

That mindset continues to guide him as he builds his future in financial services.

Pursue studies in finance at Gettysburg College.

As you embark on your Gettysburg College education, you’ll find opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills at every turn. For many students, creating their own major has allowed them to custom-design their own curriculum.

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) Chair Vernon Cisney, who began teaching at Gettysburg in 2018, notes that interest in creating individualized majors has rapidly grown over the years. Within the last five graduating classes—from 2021 to 2025—more than 70 students graduated with an individualized major.

Examples of Individual Majors from the Classes of 2021–2025

Source: Gettysburg College Interdisciplinary Studies Department

When students meet with Cisney to talk about pursuing an individualized major, he encourages them to consider a few questions: Why did you choose to take certain classes? What about them appealed to you? What did you like and dislike about them? How did your work in these classes speak to you and your interests?

Gettysburg students who develop an individualized major care deeply about personalization, placing it at the very heart of their education. “You are being asked to take ownership of your entire curriculum,” Cisney reflected.

Although other colleges and universities have IDS programs, very few liberal arts institutions—if any—offer dedicated faculty members who teach within IDS like Gettysburg College.

Pursuing interests with a personalized major

Lilly Ball ’26 of Midlothian, Virginia, is one of many Gettysburg students who have chosen to declare an individualized major. Her major—forensic and criminal psychology—combines subjects in philosophy, psychology, sociology, and interdisciplinary studies. For Ball, her courses include Abnormal Psychology, Criminal Trial Advocacy, and Social Psychology.

“I received immediate support from the department when I expressed my potential interest in pursuing an IDS major,” Ball said. She credits Cisney and Psychology Prof. Kathy Berenson for offering advice, guidance, and opportunities for reflection as she completed her coursework.

“I think that the IDS path sets every student up for success. It encourages and requires each student to look at their specific focuses through a multifaceted lens, which is important for everyday life,” she said. “An individualized major allows you to pursue your interests as a personalized major, which is an amazing opportunity you should consider!”

After graduating from Gettysburg, Ball plans to attend law school and eventually work as either a criminal defense attorney or a criminal prosecutor.

Seeking initiative and independent thought

Max Stone ’28 of Westminster, Massachusetts, found his interests in the fields of history, philosophy, and political science. Upon speaking with Cisney—who taught Stone’s First-Year Seminar entitled Plato, Personhood, and Popcorn—he discovered how he could pursue studies in these fields of interest without having to triple major.

Stone’s desire to create an individualized major grew during the fall and spring semesters of his first year. A participant in Gettysburg College’s Guided Pathways program, Stone ultimately decided to declare his individualized major in the philosophy of history.

“It considers the different ways that history should be studied, how it should be used to inform decisions, and what purpose history serves,” he explained.

Stone acknowledges Cisney and Prof. of War and Memory Studies Ian Isherwood ’00, director of the Civil War Institute, for providing the insights and support he needed to solidify his plan of study.

As he looks beyond Gettysburg to law school, Stone sees the initiative and independence of creating his own major as useful experience for future decision making.

“Reading philosophy and history, and making connections between those two is very helpful for law studies,” he said.

Broad interests for building careers

Meriem Hamioui ’25 pursued an individualized major based on her multilayered academic goals.

“While I initially explored political science and economics as standalone majors, I found that neither fully captured the intersection of trade, development, international organizations, and political economy that I wanted to study,” she said. “Through the IDS program, I designed an individualized major in international political economy, which allowed me to intentionally combine these fields into a coherent academic framework aligned with my intellectual interests and professional goals.”

At Gettysburg, Hamioui took courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, international trade, comparative politics, international law, global conflict management, and development. She also studied abroad in Japan, where her courses covered global politics and international law.

After graduating from Gettysburg, Hamioui secured a position as executive assistant to the Consul General at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Washington, D.C. In this role, Hamioui supports diplomatic operations and oversees Jordan’s engagement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“The independence and long-term planning required by an individualized major strengthened my research, writing, and synthesis skills, which I rely on heavily in my professional work,” she said.

Hamioui encourages students considering an individualized major to be ready to apply “self-direction, reflection, and a willingness to take ownership of your education,” she said. “When done well, an individualized major equips students with flexibility, depth, and confidence that translate powerfully beyond Gettysburg.”

Cultivating critical thinking

Ryder Hobbs ’25 found anthropology, art, cultural studies, literature, philosophy, psychology, and sociology fascinating subjects, but he struggled to combine these interests into a program of study.

At Gettysburg, Hobbs turned to Cisney and Philosophy Prof. Steve Gimbel for support. They helped Hobbs identify courses and create an academic plan that led to his self-designed major, postmodernism and the human condition.

Hobbs, who is applying for admission to Ph.D. programs in philosophy, believes his IDS major will help him stand out from other applicants who are traditional philosophy majors. “It demonstrates that I am confident in designing my own education and academic projects, and, thanks to my independent studies with Prof. Cisney, that I am experienced in working on collaborative research with faculty,” he said.

Hobbs encourages current Gettysburg students who are interested in two or more contrasting areas of study or specializing in a specific area of a discipline to take advantage of the flexibility an IDS major can provide.

“You will find that although fellow IDS majors are on their own path, they will share the same inspiration and passion that drives the creation of each individualized major,” he said. “In a time where critical and holistic thinking is a precious resource, there is no better way to cultivate this at Gettysburg than to create your own major.”

Learn more about designing an individualized major at Gettysburg College.

Brian Kelley ’10 turned backcountry adventures and classroom curiosity into a career telling powerful environmental stories. With roots in Gettysburg’s Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) and liberal arts mentorship, he now creates films that inspire audiences to step outside and see the world differently.

Long before collaborating with legendary climber Alex Honnold or producing films for Outside TV and Travel Nevada, Brian Kelley ’10 was carrying a camera into the backcountry with Gettysburg College’s Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP), capturing the raw, unscripted moments of student expeditions. Those early projects sparked a passion that would grow into a career blending adventure, environmental storytelling, and purpose.

“Gettysburg was pretty foundational in my path toward filmmaking,” Kelley said. “It’s where I first seriously started considering it as a career path. I often think of undergrad as the time when I was discovering for myself that visual storytelling was my passion. What I found at Gettysburg was an extremely supportive environment for pursuing that path.”

Today, Kelley has built a career at the intersection of storytelling and the outdoors. Through his work at Outside Inc., he recently teamed up with Honnold, who scaled a skyscraper in Taiwan live on Netflix this past January, on “Get a Little Out There with Alex Honnold.” The series for Outside TV is a partnership with Travel Nevada that encourages people to step beyond their comfort zones and reconnect with the natural world. It’s a project that blends adventure, authenticity, and purpose—values that first took shape during his college years.

At Gettysburg, Kelley immersed himself in the College’s OLP, then known as the Gettysburg Recreational Adventure Board (GRAB). He began bringing cameras along on trips and creating expedition-style films that documented the experience. Former GRAB director John Regentin P’26 remembers Kelley as both persistent and visionary.

“There was always this creative edge with Brian,” Regentin said. “He’d show up with this idea and all this equipment and say, ‘We can make this work.’ Even when the rest of us couldn’t quite see it yet, he could. He was unrelenting in the best way—always pushing what was possible.”

Those trips became an unexpected training ground. Hauling gear into remote places required problem-solving, adaptability, and trust—skills that now serve Kelley on professional shoots around the world. Regentin also saw something deeper in Kelley’s approach.

“He could really draw out the essence of people,” Regentin added. “That ability to connect—to help someone feel comfortable and tell their story—made him such a natural filmmaker.”

In the classroom, Kelley paired those hands-on experiences with an environmental studies major that sharpened his critical thinking. Under the mentorship of Environmental Studies Prof. Salma Monani, he began interrogating not only how stories are told, but also why.

“BK embraced his liberal arts education as an opportunity to be curious and to challenge his comfort zones,” Monani said. “He knew he loved filmmaking, and he was good at it, but what I found so wonderful about working with him was how important it was to him to think more deeply and critically about the ethics of what he was doing and who he was making films for. His work had, and continues to have, a larger purpose—to share a respect and love for the natural world and environmental justice.”

That purpose guided some of his earliest creative risks. While studying abroad in Botswana, Kelley produced a feature-length environmental documentary that later screened at the Majestic Theater. Back on campus, he experimented with everything from GRAB expedition films to a short “mockumentary” inspired by the adventure documentary “Touching the Void.” Each project helped clarify his voice as a storyteller in environmental and adventure spaces.

After graduation, that foundation evolved into professional work, including “Park Sessions,” a series featuring musicians such as Mike Posner and Scout LaRue Willis performing iconic songs in striking outdoor landscapes. Now, through his collaboration with Honnold, Kelley continues crafting stories that invite audiences outside—both physically and mentally.

Looking back, Kelley credits Gettysburg’s interdisciplinary culture for giving him the opportunity and guidance to chart an unconventional path.

“Professors like Salma Monani and [Interdisciplinary Studies Prof.] Jim Udden, and staff like John Regentin and Kris Nessler ’01, always supported my film pursuits, and that allowed me to see it as a true career path,” Kelley said. “I didn’t feel boxed in. I felt encouraged to experiment.”

He sees the College’s new communication studies major as an extension of that same philosophy—an academic home for students eager to blend storytelling, analysis, and real-world production.

“It’s exciting because students can start building their own professional journey right away,” Kelley said. “Gettysburg teaches you how to think critically and connect different passions. That’s exactly what you need to create meaningful work in all types of fields.”

Discover how Gettysburg empowers you to explore your passions and create your own path.

Supported by the Ann McIlhenny Harward Interdisciplinary Program for Culture and Music, Jordan Rudess from the Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band Dream Theater will conduct a three-day residency at Gettysburg College exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on artistry and creativity.

Jordan Rudess, the keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist for the Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band Dream Theater, will conduct a three-day residency at Gettysburg College from Tuesday, March 24, through Thursday, March 26.

Supported by the Ann McIlhenny Harward Interdisciplinary Program for Culture and Music, the event will explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creativity, knowledge, and the human experience through a combination of workshops, jam sessions, classroom discussions, and a free public concert at the Majestic Theater at 7:30 p.m. on March 26.

“AI is transforming the cultural landscape in real time. As educators and artists, we believe it is essential to engage this transformation thoughtfully,” said Music Prof. César Leal, who is serving as co-chair of the Harward Program alongside Africana Studies and History Prof. Scott Hancock. “The Harward Interdisciplinary Program creates a space where students and community members can critically examine how artificial intelligence intersects with creativity, ethics, and human expression.”

Rudess is a classical prodigy who began studying at The Juilliard School at age nine. He is known for seamlessly blending virtuosic classical technique with modern rock, fusion, and cutting-edge technology. Rudess is currently the MIT Distinguished Visiting Artist, collaborating with Professor Joe Paradiso and the Media Lab’s Responsive Environments Group to develop Jam-Bot. This AI-driven musical partner improvises live in duet with a human performer.

In addition to his work with Dream Theater and a prolific solo career, Rudess has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including David Bowie, Deep Purple, Steven Wilson, Jan Hammer, Tony Levin, Mike Portnoy, Marco Minnemann, Rod Morgenstein, Annie Haslam, Aviv Geffen, and the Dixie Dregs, as well as the supergroups Liquid Tension Experiment and LMR. He is also the founder of Wizdom Music and the author of two books on keyboard technique.

The Harward Program honors the life and legacy of Ann McIlhenny Harward P’86, P’92, a native of Gettysburg and daughter of longtime Gettysburg Times editor Hugh McIlhenny ’32. An accomplished musician at an early age, Ann understood the power of music to transform and inspire. Now in its third year serving the community, the Harward Program leverages the rich interplay of culture and music in a liberal arts education where learning happens across disciplines and through unique and transformative experiences. Shaped and guided by the vision of her husband Donald W. Harward P’86, P’92, the program is made possible through support from the Endeavor Foundation and sponsored by Gettysburg College’s Office of the Provost.

Tickets to the public concert are free, but reservations are required. Tickets will be available beginning at 3 p.m. on March 2 at the Majestic Theater Box Office, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, or by phone at 717-337-8200.

For ticket information, please contact:
Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater
Email: boxofficeinfo@gettysburg.edu
Phone: 717-337-8200

For all other inquiries, please contact:
Suzanne Gockowski
Email: sgockows@gettysburg.edu
Phone: 717-337-6796

The Gettysburg College Choir marks its 90th anniversary with a March tour across the Northeast and a celebratory homecoming concert on March 21 in Christ Chapel. Featuring 29 student singers under Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Robert Natter, the milestone performance honors a legacy of choral excellence begun in 1935.

The Gettysburg College Choir will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a tour across the Northeast United States in March, culminating in a special concert on campus March 21.

Founded in 1935 by Parker B. Wagnild, the College Choir has been a signature choral ensemble for generations of Gettysburg students, touring nationally and internationally. This year, 29 dedicated singers, who include music majors and minors as well as other programs of study across campus, comprise the College Choir. Since 1998, the College Choir and other campus vocal ensembles have been under the direction of Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Robert Natter.

From March 7–14, the College Choir will perform in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Morristown, New Jersey; West Roxbury, Massachusetts; Ridgefield, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These concerts are free and open to the public.

On March 21, the College Choir will return to campus to perform at Christ Chapel at 8 p.m. The concert will include a cappella sacred and secular music by composers such as Colin Britt, Eric Barnum, Stephen Chatman, F. Melius Christiansen, Gerald Finzi, Jake Runestad, and many more. The performance will also feature the Camerata, a smaller group of singers from within the Choir that focuses on vocal chamber music.

Alumni and friends of the College Choir are invited to participate in a special celebratory luncheon and pre-concert reception on March 21. Registration is required for the on-campus events before the concert. Admission for the on-campus concert is $5 for adults and free for College Choir alumni participating in reunion events.

Gettysburg College Choir Tour

Saturday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
19 S. 38th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104

Sunday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown
57 E. Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

Monday, March 9, 7 p.m.
Stratford Street United Church
77 Stratford St., West Roxbury, MA 02132

Wednesday, March 11, 7 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
6 Ivy Hill Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877

Friday, March 13, 7 p.m.
St. Patricks’ Episcopal Church
4700 Whitehaven Parkway NW, Washington, DC 20007

Saturday, March 14, 4 p.m.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
31 S. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602

Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m.
Christ Chapel at Gettysburg College
325 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325

Find the music that moves you in Gettysburg College’s Sunderman Conservatory of Music.

Physics alumna Sophia Marrone ’25 spent the summer after graduation working in astronomy outreach at Valles Caldera National Preserve. She collaborated with National Park Service rangers to deliver public stargazing programs and educational outreach, applying communication skills she developed at Gettysburg College.

Gettysburg College physics alumna Sophia Marrone ’25 spent the summer following her graduation working in astronomy outreach at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Marrone collaborated with National Park Service rangers to design and deliver educational astronomy programs for visitors.

“Waking up in the Valles Caldera National Preserve was like a dream,” Marrone said. “Living on the preserve for the summer brought unbelievable views and experiences.” She described mornings that began with elk outside her cabin and evenings where, on clear nights, “you could catch a glimpse of the Milky Way with your naked eye.”

On a day-to-day basis, Marrone worked on programming for upcoming events and created new informational materials alongside park rangers. Regular public programs included moonlit hikes, stargazing events, and astrophotography workshops. One major highlight of the summer was the preserve’s 25th anniversary as a national park, during which Marrone gave three presentations on astrophysics topics and led an extended stargazing program. She also presented a planetarium show at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center.

Astronomy outreach at Valles Caldera is deeply tied to both historical and modern contexts. Marrone explained that many Native American groups who passed through the region developed their own cultural stories about the night sky. “Astronomy differs across cultures, and this holds true for the many Native American groups that have passed through the preserve,” she said.

In modern times, astronomy remains important as light pollution—partly due to the preserve’s proximity to Los Alamos National Laboratory—has increasingly affected sky visibility. Marrone’s outreach focused on both the historical significance of astronomy at the preserve and the importance of protecting dark skies.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship, Marrone said, was seeing visitors engage with astronomy. During a stargazing event held for the anniversary celebration, she recalled interacting with a young child who stayed with her throughout the program, asking “thousands of questions about the night sky.” She added, “I loved seeing the same passion I had for the night sky reflected in others.” Coming from an observational astronomy background, she also valued the opportunity to discuss light pollution with visitors, noting that she had experienced its effects firsthand during research work near urban observatories.

The internship presented challenges as well. Because many programs relied on clear skies, weather occasionally limited visibility. Marrone and the ranger team adapted by developing alternative programming, including a newly installed information screen that allowed them to digitally demonstrate the night sky, similar to a planetarium experience. She also described adjusting her teaching style to accommodate a wide audience with varying levels of background knowledge.

“Dr. Milingo helped teach me everything I needed to know to run this observatory and study the night sky,”
– Sophia Marrone ’25

Marrone credited her internship preparation to several experiences at Gettysburg College. Although she did not take formal astronomy courses, she worked with Physics Prof. Emerita Jacquelynne Milingo during her first year through the Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute at Gettysburg (X-SIG) to restore and operate the Gettysburg College Observatory. This experience helped her secure a research internship at Villanova University the following summer, where she worked in their observatory on exoplanets and variable stars. “Dr. Milingo helped teach me everything I needed to know to run this observatory and study the night sky,” she said.

Marrone later served as an astronomy teaching assistant and lab instructor and worked at Hatter Planetarium with planetarium director Ian Clarke, where she created her own planetarium show. “This experience taught me the most about how to present information to an audience and how to create educational materials,” Marrone said.

Reflecting on her experience, Marrone encouraged Gettysburg students interested in astronomy outreach to explore opportunities both on campus and beyond. She highlighted the College’s planetarium as a valuable starting place and emphasized that outreach work is open to students from all majors. Above all, she advised students to remain open to unexpected paths and to look broadly when pursuing internships in science communication.

Lay the groundwork for a rewarding career in physics at Gettysburg College.

Founded in 1986, the Africana Studies program at Gettysburg College continues to shape critical thinkers and changemakers through interdisciplinary study of the peoples of the African continent throughout the African Diaspora and their enduring impact on society.

For 40 years, the Africana Studies (AFS) program at Gettysburg College has done more than expand a curriculum—it has inspired students to explore history, power, identity, and their responsibility to the world around them.

In classrooms that center the histories and lived experiences of people of African descent, students learn to interrogate systems, challenge assumptions, and connect the local to the global. Each year, the program offers more than a dozen courses and enrolls approximately 250 to 300 students.

But its deepest impact is measured not in enrollment figures, but in transformation.

“I have met some amazing students who have majored or minored in AFS, who care deeply about transforming the world, and who realize that we all must model this transformation,” said Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach Professor of Peace & Justice Studies and Africana Studies Chair Hakim Mohandas Amani Williams. “AFS provides the inspiration and tools for this kind of work.”

As the program marks its 40th anniversary on campus Feb. 27–28, it celebrates not only its longevity, but also four decades of shaping thinkers, leaders, and advocates.

Foundations and vision

Africana Studies began in 1986 as African & African American Studies, brought to campus through the advocacy of Economics Prof. Derrick K. Gondwe, Economics Prof. Emeritus William “Bill” Railing, History Prof. Emeritus Frank Chiteji, and Gettysburg College President Emeritus Charles E. Glassick.

Their work institutionalized a field of study that students and faculty recognized as essential to a liberal arts education. The first course—AFS 130: Introduction to African American Studies—was offered in 1987. Since then, the program has continued to grow across disciplines, inviting students and faculty to engage in history, economics, English, sociology, religious studies, and many more areas of the curriculum.

“Africana Studies has offered courses that simply do not exist anywhere else on campus,” noted Africana Studies Prof. Jennifer Bloomquist, who previously chaired the program. “Through our teaching and scholarship, Africana Studies has functioned for four decades as the Black intellectual center of the College, a role we have carried with care and responsibility.”

In 1992, Prof. Deborah Barnes became the first faculty member hired directly into the program, strengthening its academic foundation. A pivotal evolution came in 2005 under Prof. Mwangi wa Gĩthĩnji, who oversaw the renaming of the program to Africana Studies and guided the establishment of the major. The shift signaled a broader diasporic vision—linking Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas in a shared analytical framework.

Bloomquist arrived in 2003 as the College’s first Derrick K. Gondwe Fellow, not long after the arrival of History and Africana Studies Prof. Scott Hancock. Hancock, Bloomquist, Williams, and Prof. Abou Bamba have served as program chairs on multiple occasions, guiding the influence and impact of the Africana Studies program across generations of students.

“Working with professors such as Prof. Williams and Prof. Bloomquist inspired my own desire to pursue academia,” said Joseph Recupero ’17, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California-Davis after graduating from Gettysburg with degrees in anthropology and political science. “From them I learned how to approach difficult questions in academic settings, how to infuse passion and excitement as a pedagogy, and to always question my own thoughts or assumptions to become a better educator.”

The Derrick K. Gondwe Memorial Lecture on Social and Economic Justice—approaching its 20th anniversary—continues to anchor its public scholarship. Endowed by William and Gayle Keefer, the annual event welcomes distinguished scholars and public intellectuals, including American political activist, professor, and author Dr. Angela Davis; Black Lives Matter Movement co-founder Ayọ Tometi (formerly known as Opal Tometi); and retired Olympian and professional football player John Carlos.

Yet the history of Africana Studies is not only about milestones. It is about continuity—of purpose, community, and educational impact.

A center for community

From its earliest days, Africana Studies has served as both an academic program and an intellectual home. Through interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, it has created space for rigorous inquiry grounded in lived realities.

“The coursework and major are interdisciplinary and speak to experiences across the diaspora, and the professors made students like myself, from marginalized communities, feel safe and created a community for us,” recalled Dr. Alexa LaBoy ’18, an Africana studies major who currently works as the assistant director of Centro Latinx at Emory University.

That sense of home—intellectual, relational, and affirming—has shaped generations of students. It is a theme that echoes across alumni reflections, regardless of career path, and resonates with generations of faculty who have found a welcoming community in Africana Studies. According to Bloomquist, Africana Studies has long been home to many Black faculty members at Gettysburg.

“Being part of Africana Studies has been very rewarding for me,” stated Africana Studies Prof. and Economics Chair Linus Mabughi Nyiwul. “It’s provided me with opportunities I would not have had access to if I were solely appointed to Economics. The value of the program within the College cannot be overstated. I would say this is another home for me—my second home here at Gettysburg College.”

Education in action

For many students, Africana Studies begins as a class and becomes a lens through which they see the world.

Deonte Austin ’11, who was born and raised in Baltimore, remembers one particular moment in Bloomquist’s African American English course that shifted his understanding of language and identity.

“It was my first time ever hearing the terms ‘African American Vernacular English,’” recalled Austin, who double-majored in Africana studies and women, gender, and sexuality studies. “I remember thinking, ‘Why has no one ever taught me this before?’ It made me realize how language is judged—and how that judgment affects how we see people, including ourselves.”

For Austin, now a senior instructional designer in hospital billing and health information management at Johns Hopkins Medicine, that insight was not merely academic.

“AFS taught me advocacy, problem solving, and critical thinking,” Austin said. “I use those skills every day. When I’m building training materials or thinking about how information is communicated in health care, I’m drawing on what I learned about equity and systems.”

His experience reflects a broader pattern: Africana Studies equips students with analytical tools that travel across industries—from health care to education and public service.

Mercedes Cao ’25 from West Hartford, Connecticut, is pursuing a master’s degree in Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She sees the Africana Studies program as the foundation for her academic and professional ambitions.

“Through these courses, I learned the importance of critical thinking and of consistently questioning the world around us,” she said. “Africana Studies has truly changed my life by showing me the power of education, faculty who care about student learning, and the lasting impact of this field of study.”

Shaping the future

On Feb. 27-28, students, faculty, and alumni will gather for interdisciplinary panels and conversations reflecting the breadth of Africana Studies. Returning speakers include longtime faculty leaders and graduates whose careers in health care, higher education, research, and public service demonstrate the program’s far-reaching impact.

The discussion panels will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, in the College Union Building. Conversations will focus on the roots of Africana Studies at the College, experiences within the program and career outcomes after graduation, and the future direction of the field.

Forty years after its founding, Africana Studies continues to prepare students to think critically, engage globally, and pursue change with purpose.

“Perhaps the clearest measure of what Africana Studies has meant,” Bloomquist said, “is the enduring strength of our alumni relationships—connections that extend well beyond majors and minors to include countless graduates whose worldviews were shaped in lasting ways by their engagement with Africana Studies at Gettysburg College.”

Explore all of Gettysburg College’s academic programs and discover where your passions can lead.

Gettysburg College announces a partnership with the Penn State College of Medicine (COM) Physician Assistant Program. Gettysburg and the Penn State COM have created this Early Assurance Program for highly qualified applicants seeking careers in primary care.

Gettysburg College is pleased to announce an extension of its postgraduate partnership established in 2025 with the Penn State College of Medicine (COM), through which highly qualified Gettysburg sophomores can apply for provisional acceptance to medical school. Beginning today, Gettysburg will partner with the Penn State COM to offer an Early Assurance Program for the Penn State COM Physician Assistant (PA) Program. This Early Assurance Program provides conditional admission to the Penn State COM PA Program for Gettysburg students. Through this partnership agreement, highly qualified applicants from Gettysburg can receive assurance of admission to the program one year ahead of the traditional timeline.

Students who wish to receive early consideration for the Penn State COM PA Program must apply during their junior year at Gettysburg. If accepted into the Early Assurance Program, students must complete all prerequisite coursework and required health care experience hours before matriculating into the PA program.

To qualify for consideration for the Early Assurance Program, students must also meet GPA and GRE scaled score thresholds, and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in primary care upon program completion.

“We are pleased to partner with Penn State College of Medicine to offer students access to this Early Assurance Program,” said Gettysburg College Provost Jamila Bookwala. “I want to thank our partners at Penn State and the members of our Health Professions Advising Committee, including Director Katy Mattson, Prof. Matt Kittelberger, and Prof. Josef Brandauer, for their leadership, collaboration, and continued commitment to providing opportunities for our students to pursue postgraduate studies in health care fields.”

“This initiative reflects our broader commitment to expanding access to health care education and addressing regional workforce needs. By aligning undergraduate and graduate education, we are creating a sustainable pathway that supports students and strengthens health care delivery,” said Larissa D. Whitney, DBA, MHS, PA-C, assistant dean and program director of the College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program.

About Penn State College of Medicine

Penn State College of Medicine, founded with a $50 million gift from the Milton S. Hershey Foundation, educates more than 1,700 students and trainees across its Hershey and University Park locations. The college offers M.D., Ph.D., master’s and dual-degree programs and partners with Penn State Health to advance research, medical education and patient care. Guided by Penn State’s strategic priority to transform health care through academic and clinical synergy, the college delivers breakthrough medicine powered by Penn State.

Through its postgraduate partnerships, Gettysburg College offers pathways for students seeking to apply their Gettysburg education to dynamic career opportunities. Read more about these partnerships and apply today.

Gettysburg College’s Alumni Mentorship Program connects students with engaged alumni to support career development, experiential learning, and long-term student success. Through intentional, relationship-driven mentorship, students gain professional insight, confidence, and clearer pathways from college to career.

For many Gettysburg College students, the journey from classroom learning to career clarity begins not with a job offer, but with a conversation—often with someone who once stood exactly where they are now. Through Gettysburg’s Alumni Mentorship Program, those conversations are helping students transform curiosity into confidence and ambition into action.

Rachel Ganser ’27

Alumni Mentor: Camille Traczek ’22

Rachel Ganser ’27 came to Gettysburg from Whitehall, Pennsylvania, with a strong interest in politics and public service. Now a double major in political science and public policy, she is deeply involved on campus as president of the College Democrats, an Orientation leader, and a participant in multiple Eisenhower Institute programs focused on leadership, civil rights, and public policy. As a student within the Justice and Community Change Guided Pathway, Ganser wanted insight into how her academic passions might translate into a meaningful career.

That pursuit was amplified when she was paired with alumni mentor Camille Traczek ’22, deputy policy director with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. From the outset, Ganser appreciated the intentional design of the Alumni Mentorship Program.

“I viewed the Alumni Mentorship Program as an opportunity to build professional connections with alumni who specifically expressed interest in connecting with current students,” Ganser said. “I knew that the structured program would allow me to learn from an individual with a similar career trajectory to what I hope to achieve.”

Meeting monthly, Ganser and Traczek used resume reviews and interview preparation as entry points for broader conversations about professional identity and workplace experiences. During the fall semester, Ganser completed an internship with the Office of U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff as part of the Lutheran College Washington Semester. Those conversations with Traczek became a valuable space for reflection, helping her better understand how her goals were evolving in real time.

As Ganser looks ahead to graduate school and a future working on political campaigns or in a policy-focused nonprofit or congressional office, the mentorship has helped her approach those goals with greater focus and confidence.

“Alumni mentorship allows for meaningful career exploration,” Ganser noted. “It allows students to understand what a certain career entails, make decisions about whether to pursue that career path, and slow down and consider what professional future excites them.”

Omer Shamil ’27

Alumni Mentor: Meredith Bove ’97  

For Omer Shamil ’27, the Alumni Mentorship Program offered both professional guidance and reassurance during a particularly active stage of leadership and exploration. Shamil, an international student from Islamabad, Pakistan, is double majoring in mathematical economics and public policy while serving as Class of 2027 president, the opinions editor for The Gettysburgian, a career ambassador for the Center for Career Engagement, and a leadership educator for the Garthwait Leadership Center. He has also completed the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration and Career Development Guided Pathways.

“I believe alumni mentorship is a vital part of the college experience.”
– Omer Shamil ’27

Paired with Meredith Bove ’97, executive director of information technology at Autolus Therapeutics, Shamil found a mentor who offered both tactical advice and a thoughtful perspective. Their formal meetings focused on resumes and career materials, while their frequent conversations allowed broader discussion of preparing for life beyond college. What stood out most, Shamil said, was the shared commitment built into the program.

“This connection felt more personal and intentional,” Shamil said. “Programs like connectGettysburg ensure there is equal buy-in from both the mentor and the student, which creates a stronger sense of commitment and makes the relationship more meaningful than informal or one-sided mentorship experiences.”

That sense of intentionality made the relationship especially impactful. As Shamil continues to explore career paths that allow him to apply his leadership skills and create long-term impact, he credits his mentor for providing stability during a time of rapid growth.

“I believe alumni mentorship is a vital part of the college experience,” Shamil said. “As students gain clarity on the kinds of support they need, alumni mentors are uniquely positioned to offer guidance, perspective, and reassurance based on lived experience.”

Tatum Murray ’27

Alumni Mentor: Bob Sinton ’85

Tatum Murray ’27, a psychology and sociology double major from Newton, Massachusetts, entered the Alumni Mentorship Program seeking insight into a career rooted in public service. Active in Chi Omega and pursuing both the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration and Career Development Guided Pathways, Murray was paired with Bon Sinton ’85, retired section chief of the FBI’s National Security and Cyber Law branch.

Across five meetings, their conversations blended professional planning with personal connection—often beginning with informal check-ins before turning to internships and career strategy. Since Sinton understood Gettysburg’s culture and opportunities, his advice felt practical and immediately relevant.

“Being able to connect right away with a mentor who has gone to the same school and has an understanding of the academic and professional path I am on makes the experience more meaningful and valuable,” Murray said.

As Murray looks toward a future career with the FBI or Department of Homeland Security, that relevance has made a lasting impression. Alumni mentorship, she emphasized, creates a partnership rooted in shared investment. “I think alumni mentorship is extremely valuable for current students because it allows them to connect with someone who is just as invested in helping them achieve their future career goals as they are,” she said.

Across all three experiences, the Alumni Mentorship Program emerges as more than a professional resource—it is a relationship-driven model that strengthens student outcomes by fostering reflection, confidence, and connection. By pairing students with alumni who understand both the Gettysburg experience and the realities of life beyond campus, the College is ensuring that learning continues long after that first conversation.

Explore your future with guidance from alumni who want to help you succeed in your Gettysburg journey.

An extraordinary gift from the estates of Bruce Baky ’65 and Sherrin Hilburt Baky-Nessler ’65, P’01 will strengthen faculty excellence, advance innovation across academic programs, and expand opportunities for Gettysburg students.

Gettysburg College has received a $9.45 million gift from the estates of Bruce Baky ’65 and Sherrin Hilburt Baky-Nessler ’65, P’01, celebrating the couple’s loyal devotion to the College and advancing faculty excellence, innovation, and student opportunity across several academic priorities. With this estate gift, the couple’s total giving to Gettysburg will exceed $9.7 million, placing them among the College’s most impactful benefactors.

The gift reflects decades of planning and deep engagement with Gettysburg’s mission. Both Bruce and Sherrin graduated in the Class of 1965, beginning a lifelong relationship with the College rooted in shared curiosity, service, and gratitude. They met as first-year students in a class taught by Religious Studies Prof. Emeritus Lou Hammann ’51, a formative mentor whose teaching left a lasting impression and helped shape their commitment to supporting faculty excellence. Years later, Hammann officiated the couple’s vow renewal on their 40th wedding anniversary held in the Science Center.

“Bruce and Sherrin’s generosity grew out of a genuine love for Gettysburg College and the people who define our community,” said President Bob Iuliano. “With this gift, they are investing in the educators and experiences that most profoundly shape our students’ lives. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission and their unwavering belief in their alma mater.”

The $9.45 million gift will support four endowed funds: The Baky Endowment for Faculty Growth & Innovation in the Health Sciences, The Baky Endowed Faculty Development Fund for the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, The Baky Endowed Fund for the Eisenhower Institute Experts-in-Residence Program, and the Sherrin Hilburt Baky-Nessler Endowed Scholarship for students in the health sciences.

Together, these funds reflect Sherrin’s conviction that exceptional faculty are central to student success. A biology major at Gettysburg, Sherrin often credited her faculty mentors—including Hammann, Bob Barnes P’81, and Helen Darrah—for preparing her for a distinguished career in clinical research and association leadership. Through her philanthropy, she emphasized faculty professional development as a critical investment in educational quality, believing it is essential to attracting and retaining outstanding teacher-scholars.

Support for the Sunderman Conservatory of Music and the Eisenhower Institute also speaks to the Bakys’ broad intellectual and cultural interests and belief in a holistic liberal arts education. Bruce, in particular, held a deep passion for American history and civic life—values closely aligned with the Eisenhower Institute’s mission to prepare students for leadership and public service.

Sherrin served Gettysburg in numerous leadership roles, including as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2009 and later as trustee emerita. In recognition of Sherrin and Bruce’s extraordinary service and philanthropic leadership, the couple received the College’s Alumni Meritorious Service Award in 2010.

Sherrin and Bruce shared a love of travel before Bruce’s untimely passing in 2007. In 2015, Sherrin married the late Bill Nessler P’01, further extending the family’s ties to Gettysburg. Bill’s son, Kristoffer Nessler ’01, and daughter-in-law, Kathryn Havens Nessler ’02, are both alumni, reinforcing the multigenerational connection reflected in the family’s philanthropy.

“Bruce and Sherrin’s experience at Gettysburg shaped who they became for the rest of their lives,” said John Baky ’69, Bruce’s brother. “They met here, built a 42-year marriage rooted in shared values, and carried the lessons of this place into everything they did. Their commitment to Gettysburg—and to faculty, students, and programs they believed in—was deeply personal, and this gift reflects both their gratitude for the College and their hope for its future.”

Honor the impact of Gettysburg by investing in the people and programs that define our future.

Gettysburg College has named lyricist and librettist Kate Anderson ’09 as the Commencement speaker for the Class of 2026, recognizing her collaborative, interdisciplinary career in musical theatre, film, and television.

Gettysburg College has selected Kate Anderson ’09—an acclaimed songwriter for stage, film, and television—as the Commencement speaker for the Class of 2026.

Anderson is part of the creative team behind the Apple TV series “Central Park,” Disney Animation’s “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” and internationally produced musicals including “Between the Lines” and “The Book Thief.” Her work spans Broadway, London’s West End, and major Hollywood studios.

“We are excited to welcome back Kate Anderson to speak to our Class of 2026 this May,” said President Bob Iuliano. “Kate personifies a Gettysburg education—and, in many ways, embodies what our young alumni can achieve through creativity, hard work, and the courage to dream big. Her work has inspired audiences worldwide, and we’re incredibly grateful that she will address our newest graduates as they embark on their own professional journeys.”

With her selection, Anderson, who received Gettysburg’s Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2024, will be the youngest alumni Commencement speaker since Carol Bellamy ’63, former director of the Peace Corps and executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Bellamy delivered the Commencement address in 1973, a distinction that highlights the significance of Anderson’s achievements and the impact she has made early in her career.

“I am incredibly honored to speak to the Class of 2026 on their momentous occasion of graduating from Gettysburg College,” Anderson said. “It will be a privilege and a pleasure to stand on the stage of Penn Hall, where I stood 17 years ago, and celebrate the accomplishments of this amazing class of Gettysburgians.

“The spirit of camaraderie and zest that Gettysburg invokes is a feeling that never leaves you, and bonds you with each and every person who has ever called Gettysburg College home.” 

Songwriting for stage, film, and television

A graduate of Gettysburg’s Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Anderson has built a successful career as a songwriter for musical theatre, film, and television, most notably through her long-standing collaboration with composer Elyssa Samsel.

The Los Angeles–based writing team met in 2010 while participating in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writing Workshop in New York and have since become known for their shared passion for comedy, female-forward stories, and emotionally resonant storytelling through song. Both are classically trained musicians, and together they have composed four full-length musicals that have received productions in New York, the United Kingdom, and across the United States.

As a duo, Anderson and Samsel have worked with Disney Animation, Tony Award–winning producer Daryl Roth, and major studios throughout Hollywood. Their work has earned national recognition, including being named finalists for The Fred Ebb Award in 2015 and The Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre in 2019, underscoring their growing influence in contemporary musical theatre.

Anderson and Samsel are the songwriting team behind the Apple TV series “Central Park” and Disney Animation’s “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure,” which received an Annie Award nomination. Their stage work includes the off-Broadway musical “Between the Lines,” adapted from the bestselling novel by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, which garnered Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations.

Their musical adaptation of “The Book Thief” played at the Curve Theatre in Leicester, England, and the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, England, in 2023, returning as a staged concert in October 2025. It sold out four performances at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre in the West End, with a full West End production now in development. The duo also collaborated on “Austenland,” an adaptation of Shannon Hale’s novel, which debuted to rave reviews as a concert at the Savoy Theatre on the West End in March 2025. Most recently, Anderson and Samsel co-wrote the 70th anniversary theme for Disneyland, “Celebrate Happy,” performed by the Jonas Brothers.

A Consequential Education

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Anderson’s creative foundation was shaped during her undergraduate years at Gettysburg College, where she immersed herself in the institution’s vibrant artistic and co-curricular community.

Following in the footsteps of her father, John Anderson ’67, she was drawn to Gettysburg by its beautiful campus, welcoming atmosphere, intimate class sizes, and the freedom students in the Sunderman Conservatory of Music have to pursue a wide range of creative interests.

A member of Chi Omega sorority, Anderson was deeply involved in campus music ensembles, performing with the College Choir, the Four Scores a cappella group, and Camerata. Her return to campus this spring coincides with a milestone moment for the College Choir, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Anderson was also an active contributor to the campus stage, performing in musical productions of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “The Secret Garden,” and “West Side Story.”

Anderson, a recipient of the Parker B. Wagnild Scholarship, studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, during the spring of 2008, where immersion in European musical traditions further informed her creative voice. She graduated cum laude in music and creative writing, blending compositional training with narrative craft—an intersection that would become central to her professional work.

“My four years at Gettysburg were the fertile soil from which I blossomed into a fully realized human being,” Anderson recalled. “My days on campus were filled with purpose, drive, and friendship. Most importantly, I learned the value of keeping commitments, responsibilities, and interpersonal relationships. For me, this was the greatest gift that Gettysburg instilled in me.”

Commencement Ceremony

This May, in front of the Class of 2026, their families, and the rest of the campus community, Anderson’s return to campus as Commencement speaker represents both a celebration of alumni achievement and a full-circle moment—honoring the role Gettysburg College played in shaping her path and the creative possibilities that continue to emerge from its community.

Our Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 16, beginning at 11 a.m. on the Beachem Portico on the north side of Pennsylvania Hall. For more information about Commencement for the Class of 2026, please visit the Commencement website.

Kendall DeShong ’28, a political science and public policy major at Gettysburg College, is turning her lifelong passion for dance into a community initiative that supports children’s cognitive and behavioral development.

Kendall DeShong ’28, a political science and public policy major from New Oxford, Pennsylvania, has built a community service initiative, Growth through Movement, from a deeply personal place. Drawn to Gettysburg for its strong sense of community and its emphasis on leadership and service, she found at the College an environment that encouraged her to connect her passions with meaningful action.

With 15 years of dance and three years of teaching experience, DeShong began to notice a clear connection between movement and cognitive development in the children she worked with. The progress she observed in her students—and the discipline, focus, and creativity she gained from dance herself—sparked the idea for her initiative.

“If I were going to advocate for anything that personally impacted me, dance was a no-brainer,” she said.

DeShong believes dance plays a critical role in children’s development because it engages both the body and the mind. Beyond physical movement, dance requires memorization, discipline, creativity, and self-expression.

“When children are put into this environment, they are not only working on their behavioral skills, but they are using their minds,” she explained. She has seen firsthand how this combination helps children strengthen their focus and self-control—skills that carry over into the classroom and other areas of life.

“If I were going to advocate for anything that personally impacted me, dance was a no-brainer.”
– Kendall DeShong ’28

Although still in its early stages, Growth through Movement has already reached dozens of children through advocacy efforts, school events, and free dance classes. DeShong has focused not only on getting children into studios but also on raising awareness through social media and community outreach.

In March 2025, she led a dance station at Conewago Valley Intermediate School’s Mini Thon. In June 2025, she partnered with The Edge Dance Complex in Hanover, Pennsylvania, to host her first free dance class, welcoming more than 36 children of all experience levels, including participants with physical and learning disabilities.

Removing financial and accessibility barriers is central to her mission. By offering free programming and collaborating with schools and studios, she ensures that all children— regardless of background—have the opportunity to participate. Parents and teachers have shared enthusiastic feedback, often noting improvements in children’s confidence, discipline, and ability to focus.

“When children are able to focus in a highly active environment, they also have an easier time focusing in a calm environment like school,” she said.

DeShong credits Gettysburg College with helping her transform her ideas into action. Through connections across campus and throughout the town, she found mentors and supporters who helped shape and implement Growth through Movement. At Gettysburg, she is also participating in the Guided Pathways, which encourages students to explore their interests and connect academic learning with experiential opportunities. Courses such as her first-year seminar, How Change Happens, strengthened her confidence in public speaking and project implementation while developing the leadership skills she now uses to advocate for dance and collaborate with community partners.

As she continues her work, DeShong hopes to expand Growth through Movement to additional studios and communities across Adams County, Pennsylvania. Dance, she says, will always be part of her life—and she is committed to ensuring its benefits reach as many children as possible.

“Because dance is so beneficial to children’s development, I believe everyone should have the opportunity to dance,” she said.

Connect your interests to opportunities in our Gettysburg College community.