Celebrating Sarah Wilson
Highlights of this year’s Sarah Wilson Week included a trivia night, an Odds vs. Evens capture the flag event, a Halloween Spooktacular costume party, and a trunk-or-treat event for the community hosted by WCGA (see photos on page 20). The weeklong festivities culminated with a special look at the life of Sarah Wilson presented by Maxine Wagenhoffer, director of the Hankey Center for the History of Women’s Education, after which items that belonged to Sarah and her family were on display courtesy of the C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives.
Creating Belonging on Campus
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Wilson community welcomed Carlos Andrés Gómez to campus in September for a presentation of his engaging program called “Creating and Belonging on Campus.” By sharing his poetry and storytelling, he gave insights into fostering inclusion and belonging.
The event also included a Spanish poem read by Melina Bromsoe, Fulbright Scholar and foreign language teaching assistant, with an English translation by Wendell Smith, associate professor of Spanish.
Gómez is a Colombian American poet, speaker, actor, and inclusion strategist from New York City. He is the author of two poetry books, “Fractures” winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry and “Hijito” winner of the Broken River Prize, and the memoir “Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood.” Gómez is also a star of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam,” TV One’s “Verses and Flow,” and Spike Lee’s #1 box office movie “Inside Man” with Denzel Washington.
Passing on Some Pawsitive Vibes
Students welcomed the opportunity to pet some pups during a “Pawsitive Vibes” session sponsored by the John Stewart Memorial Library. Therapy dogs from Kindly Canines in Chambersburg spent a few hours in the Lenfest Learning Commons in December to help students take a break from studying and unleash their stress over finals. Goldens, boxers, labs, beagles, spaniels, and other breeds were on hand to meet and greet the students and maybe give a few snuggles. All Kindly Canines therapy dogs have passed therapy dog testing and are registered and insured with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, a national therapy dog organization.
Honor Society Welcomes Nursing Students
In December 2024, the Omega Eta Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing welcomed 15 Wilson students as new members. The ceremony included remarks by Mindy Guinard, Ed.D., RN, director of nursing and health services, who spoke on “What Sigma did for me, what it can do for you.” The Omega Eta Chapter is dedicated to promoting nursing scholarship, service, and leadership in Franklin County and surrounding communities.
Homegrown Produce Available at Farm Markets
Tim Gacquin, college farmer, welcomed community members to the Fulton Farm Market Stand at the Fulton Center for Sustainability Studies this fall. The cash and carry market offered plenty of seasonal, fresh, naturally grown produce and the popular farm T-shirts which were back in stock!
Sampling International Diversity
Students from 12 different countries shared tasty dishes from around the world during a Muhibbah Sampler Night held on November 14 in the Jensen Dining Hall. The event was a huge success and provided a chance for the community to come together, learn from one another, and celebrate the beauty of diversity.
The international students shared their rich cultures, histories, struggles, and achievements with attendees in different ways. First, they included poster presentations to display cultural items, share facts about their countries, and answer questions. Then, they held a fun trivia night to bring everyone together to learn more about their countries in an interactive way.
And of course, the food was a big highlight! Dining services did an amazing job offering dishes from around the world, inspired by the international students’ home countries. From flavorful Pakistani biryani to delicious Thai desserts, the food truly gave everyone a taste of different cultures.
