Waynesburg University held its annual commencement exercises honoring approximately 650 undergraduate and graduate students Sunday, May 19. Rev. Dr. R. Bruce Bickel delivered the commencement address and The Rev. Dr. Andrew Purves delivered the baccalaureate address.Jordan Harvey, a senior mathematics (secondary education) major from Butler, Pa., was named the valedictorian and delivered the valedictory to the University.During her four years at Waynesburg University, Harvey balanced dedication to her studies with a number of extracurricular activities. The Leadership Scholar served as a campus Christian Ministry Assistant, lead bible studies in the residence halls and tutored others in mathematics.“This is a blessing and I am humbled to have received this honor because it recognizes the intelligence and work ethic that God has gifted me with,” Harvey said. “It is my desire to bring him greater glory because I have been faithful with my gifts.”Before fall, Harvey hopes to teach high school math at...

Three faculty members received the 2013 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards during Waynesburg University's commencement exercises Sunday, May 19. Presented annually, one award recognizes a faculty member with a history of teaching excellence. A second award recognizes a faculty member with a relatively recent history of teaching excellence. The third award is given to a non-full-time faculty member at any Waynesburg University site.Debra Clarke, assistant professor of education and chair of the Department of Education, received the 2013 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Award for a faculty member with a history of teaching excellence. A colleague stated, “She just gives and gives and gives. She's always willing to listen and make things better. She'll take an idea and just roll with it.”A student stated, “Mrs. Clarke knows how to challenge me and make me think critically about being a successful and effective teacher. Everything is important in her classes. Everything has a purpose, and...

Mrs. Carolyn Thyreen, wife of Waynesburg University President Timothy R. Thyreen; Mr. Robert Hackett, president of the Bonner Foundation; and the Rev. Dr. Andrew Purves, professor of reformed theology at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, were awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees during Waynesburg University's commencement exercises Sunday, May 19. The degrees were conferred upon Thyreen, Purves and Hackett for the ways in which they parallel Waynesburg University's mission of faith, learning and serving. Members of the Waynesburg University Board of Trustees presented the recipients and assisted with investitures. The following citations were read: Mrs. Carolyn Thyreen Carolyn Thyreen, in recognition of your leadership as Waynesburg University's First Lady for twenty-three years, Waynesburg University honors you. Your dedication to Waynesburg University's founding mission of 1849 at the forefront of the University's manifold endeavors has been an inspiration for a generation of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, staff, Trustees and friends of the...

Waynesburg University held its annual commencement exercises Sunday, May 19, honoring approximately 650 undergraduate and graduate students. The Rev. Dr. R. Bruce Bickel, senior vice president and managing director of Private Foundation Management Services at PNC Bank, delivered the commencement address, “Not Success but Excellence.” He challenged graduates to do four things: honor themselves, be respectful, be humble and be grateful. “Don't chase success, pursue excellence,” Bickel said. “You have the freedom not to be who you want to be, but the responsibility to be who you need to be.” Jordan Harvey, a senior mathematics (secondary education) major from Butler, Pa., was named the valedictorian and delivered the valedictory to the University. Patricia Gorra Bondurant, a graduate of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, represented the graduate program students.Prior to commencement exercises, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Purves, professor of reformed theology at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, delivered the baccalaureate address, "How...

The Waynesburg University men's and women's track & field teams put together two historic days at the 2013 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships, which were held Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, at Washington & Jefferson's Cameron Stadium. The Yellow Jacket women won the first PAC team title in program history, while the men posted their highest finish in the team's existence by claiming second place. The Jacket women featured six individual champions, including senior Carly Schubert, who not only won the shot put, but was also named 2013 PAC Field MVP after adding a silver medal in the discus. Sophomore Amanda Hobe (triple jump), senior Rhea Huwe (100 meters and long jump), senior Megan Fortna (3,000-meter steeplechase) and junior Megan Sowers (javelin) also won individual titles. Veteran head coach Jason Falvo also got in on the individual honors by earning his second career PAC Women's Coach of the Year...