News around campus and beyond
On Saturday, May 20, 649 bachelor’s and master’s degrees were conferred at the college’s 153rd Commencement ceremony. Graduates from 18 countries and 28 states, plus Washington, D.C., received degrees from 36 different undergraduate majors and 19 graduate programs. Thirty-six graduates are the children or grandchildren of McDaniel or Western Maryland College alumni, and 28 of the master’s degree candidates have previously earned a McDaniel College bachelor’s degree.
The weekend of celebration kicked off on Friday evening with the traditional Arch Walk, signifying the end of the undergraduate students’ journey on the Hill, walking through Ward Memorial Arch, just as they did as first-year students. At the Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation, academic and activity and leadership awards were presented, including the Bates Prize and Mary Ward Lewis Prize, awarded to the two most outstanding members of the graduating class. Stephani Xiomara Portillo Ordoñez, a Self-Designed French Studies major and Political Science major specializing in International Studies, received The Mary Ward Lewis Prize, while Psychology major Dylan Elroy Hughes was awarded The Bates Prize.
Sharon Love M.S. ’76, who graduated with a master’s degree in Deaf Education, was the Commencement speaker at the graduate ceremony on Saturday morning. At the afternoon’s undergraduate ceremony, legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and bestselling author Bob Woodward addressed the graduating class, and an Honorary Doctor of Journalism was awarded to Stan Stovall, retired veteran journalist and news anchor with WBAL-TV.
“You are McDaniel’s Class of 2023, and you are prepared and ready to change the world,” said President Julia Jasken. “Each one of you has left your mark on this college, and I know that you will continue to impact the world, the people you meet, and the places you call home, wherever your journey takes you.”
At the ceremony, History major Stephanie A. Eckard was honored with The Edith Farr Ridington Writing Award for best senior paper. Six undergraduates were tied for the highest cumulative GPA and were recipients of the Argonaut Award: Kate Rebecca Cramer, Evan J. Darr, Kyra M. Greenfield, Lyra Juliet Houghton, Grace Elizabeth Maglietta, and Eleanor Vivienne Tomkins.
Additionally, two faculty members earned the top undergraduate teaching awards presented by the college. Professor of Accounting Kerry Duvall earned the 2023 Ira G. Zepp Distinguished Teaching Award, and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Elyzabeth “Elly” Engle was presented the 2023 Ira G. Zepp Teaching Enhancement Grant.
Following a national search, Flavius R. W. Lilly, Ph.D. joined McDaniel College as its new provost in June. He has most recently served as the vice provost of academic and student affairs and the vice dean of the Graduate School at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
In his new role at McDaniel, Lilly will serve as the chief academic officer, having broad responsibility for both the undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
“I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter at McDaniel College, eager to immerse myself in its vibrant community, engage with the expertise of its faculty, and be inspired by its exceptional leaders,” said Lilly. “From the moment I set foot on campus, I felt a deep sense of belonging, and I eagerly anticipate forging meaningful connections and contributing to the advancement of McDaniel College’s mission.”
Lilly holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and obtained a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Drexel University. He also has a master’s degree in Applied Sociology and Ph.D. in Gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
ReDorm presented by rising junior Javon Spencer, Business Administration major from New Castle, Delaware, earned the $5,000 top prize as the first-place winner of McDaniel’s seventh annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge.
ReDorm is a recycling app that connects college students with products that they need, such as furniture, room accessories, textbooks, and more. “ReDorm connects students who need products with those who are downsizing, preventing perfectly adequate items from going to waste,” said Spencer.
Y LIME presented by rising senior Emily Trachoo, Marketing major from College Park, Maryland, received $1,000 as the runner-up, while rising senior Kiyara Fleming, Sociology major from Baltimore, who presented Kiy Productions was the $1,000 People’s Choice Winner. Sophomore Eric Grinwis, Business Administration major from Laurel, Maryland, who presented TATMANERC was the $1,000 Community Changer award recipient.
In the month before the event, the students engaged in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge Training Program, led by Jennifer Yang, McDaniel’s entrepreneur in residence. The five-week program paired each student with a mentor — alumni, faculty member, or local business owner — who assisted them in developing their ideas in the lead-up to the competition.
(Left to right): Five students participated in “Preparing for a Career in Health and Medicine,” discussing their future plans for medical school and beyond; Over breakfast, President Jasken and Carroll County leaders discussed the importance of collaboration for a better community; Community members were invited to participate in quick service projects, like making pine cone bird feeders.
As another academic year ended, we were inspired by the work our community did this year, much of which was celebrated at the second annual Academic Symposium on May 1. This daylong event recognized the best of what a liberal arts education has to offer, showcasing the research, scholarship, creativity, and service of our students, faculty, and staff.
Over breakfast, President Julia Jasken joined a panel of Carroll County Leaders in a conversation moderated by Westminster Mayor Mona Becker to discuss the ways local organizations are collaborating for a better Westminster and Carroll County.
Carroll Community College Provost Rose Mince, Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent Cynthia McCabe, County Administrator Roberta Windham, Westminster City Administrator Sara Imhulse, and Westminster Police Chief Thomas Ledwell highlighted exciting projects for each of their organizations and answered questions submitted in advance by guests. From public safety to hiring needs, dual-enrollment agreements between Carroll Community College and McDaniel, and opportunities to enhance career- and college-readiness for students in CCPS, the conversation demonstrated how engaged each leader in the community is.
Academic research presentations from a variety of disciplines were held throughout the day, including Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Education, English, Environmental Studies, History, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and World Languages, Literatures, & Cultures.
To round out the experience, an afternoon service fair organized by the Center for Experience and Opportunity included quick on-site service projects hosted by student groups and community partners. Whether creating pinecone bird feeders, making PB&J sandwiches for the food bank, or putting together school supply kits, the McDaniel community got hands-on experience in giving back.
The McDaniel College Board of Trustees presented its prestigious Trustee Alumni Award to Jim Wilberger, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts in 1972 from the college. The award is the highest alumni honor given at McDaniel in recognition of alumni career and service achievement.
As a Hollywood producer, Wilberger has more than 101 producing credits for movies, mini-series, and television movies. He is currently executive producer of Hallmark Crown Media.
Wilberger regularly hosts McDaniel students in Los Angeles for film internships, assists the McDaniel Cinema Department with mentoring programs for current students, speaks on campus, and donates instructional materials to the department. He was also the recipient of the 2020 Alumni College Service Award.
McDaniel has been recognized among the nation’s top schools doing the most for military veterans and their families for the 14th consecutive year. McDaniel is also among the schools that earned the Military Friendly® Silver Award for scoring within 30% of the top 10 schools.
McDaniel appears on the 2023-2024 Military Friendly® Schools list published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs® magazine in honor of Military Appreciation Month.
First published in 2009, the list is compiled annually by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.
The Green Terror Battalion Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is one of the nation’s oldest ROTC programs, founded at McDaniel College in 1919. McDaniel also offers a guaranteed Military Legacy Scholarship, valued at up to $120,000 over four years, to all military veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their children. In addition, the college participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers up to the cost of full tuition at McDaniel.
(Left to right) Human Resources hosted a table with a free plant giveaway for all members of the community; Daniel DeHollander, associate director of career development in the Center for Experience and Opportunity, talked with students about work opportunities and corporate social responsibility (CSR); A benefactor of a more sustainable campus, a McDaniel squirrel; Students from Gerstell Academy participated in 18 educational stations and service activities focused on taking action to improve the local community and the environment.
McDaniel celebrated Earth Day on Friday, April 21, in Memorial Plaza with eco games, recycled crafts, live music, food, and more. Elly Engle, assistant professor of Environmental Studies, called it the college’s “biggest sustainability celebration yet.”
Additionally, the McDaniel Environmental Center hosted the entire Gerstell Academy student body to celebrate Earth Day. The students participated in 18 different educational stations and service activities focused on taking action to improve the local community and the environment.
Jason Scullion, associate professor of Environmental Studies, discussed the history of the McDaniel Environmental Center, formerly known as the Singleton-Mathews Farm, and the Carroll County Bureau of Land and Resource Management also assisted with the event.