David E. Freet '68

Why I Give

"I was motivated to establish the conference room, along with the endowed business plant fund, to provide a professional atmosphere for the business department and students to meet, interact and interview to prepare for entering the work world upon graduation. I saw it as a concrete way to provide economic support to the College. In addition, I made a conscious decision to support Lycoming in my lifetime. I wanted to observe the benefit to the school and the students now."

This fall, the David E. '68 and Jane (Edgar) Freet Conference Room and Endowed Business Plant Fund were realized through a leadership gift from Dave and his wife. The conference room provides the College's Institute for Management Studies much needed space for interviews, recruiting prospective students and high-level courses, while the fund ensures that students will continue to build their knowledge in first-rate academic facilities.

As a Lycoming student, Dave studied business administration and was an active member of Lambda Chi Alpha national fraternity. He now serves on the College’s board of trustees, and is a past president of the Alumni Association Executive Board.

Dave retired as president of the Pennsylvania Telephone Association in 2008. He was only the sixth president of the PTA in its 106-year history, having led the organization since his appointment in 1996.

"What Lycoming did for me was prepare a naïve boy from rural Pennsylvania to enter the business world, to work hard and be productive to achieve a modicum of success," Dave says. "During a 40 ½ year career in the communications industry, hardly a day passed where I didn't draw on some facet of my education and experiences obtained during my four years at Lycoming."

Dave hopes his support of the College will encourage and inspire others to do all they can to enhance the learning opportunities at Lycoming.

"I feel personally indebted to Lycoming for the knowledge base and the experiences with personal interaction I received," Dave says. "I believe we individually have an obligation to assist those who follow to enable them to grow and develop tools to be successful in their chosen career. One way to do this is enhanced economic support of my alma mater."

Stacey '88 and James '88 O'Malley

Why I Give

"We recognize the need to give back to the College and the groups that prepared us for the future. We are in touch with the Lycoming community and feel responsible to give back to causes and charities that appeal to our sense of duty."

Each year since receiving their Lycoming degrees, James '88 and Stacey '88 O'Malley have generously given to the College, providing support to students and programs for more than two decades. In addition, the O'Malleys take advantage of a matching gift opportunity through Stacey's employer, Merck & Company Inc.

James, who studied business, and Stacey, who studied biology, are grateful to the College for more than just their education. The pair met at Lycoming during a Monday Night Football game in 1985.

"It was a Bears/Dolphins game," recalls James. "We were both football fans; and Stacey is a huge Bears fan. They were undefeated and lost that evening, but went on to win the Superbowl that year!"

Football played a large role in James' tenure at Lycoming. His fondest memories of the College include fall Saturdays playing for the Warrior football team and the post-game festivities. In 1999, he was honored to be inducted into the College's Athletics Hall of Fame.

James and Stacey both enjoy successful careers. James has been in chemical sales with the Sika Corporation of Zurich for 18 years and Stacey has been with Merck for 20 years as a biologist.

"Lycoming provided a broad-based, liberal arts education that has allowed us to interact with people from all walks of life. It taught us responsibility and organization and most of all, the importance of education. Lycoming provided some lifelong friendships and lasting memories of our time in Williamsport."

Summer (Beretsky) Bukeavich '06

Why I Give

"When I went off to graduate school and found myself in a sea of thousands upon thousands of students, I felt faceless. Don't get me wrong: I received a great graduate education, but the social fabric I'd grown used to at Lycoming was missing. I began to reflect on Lycoming and how I couldn't walk from the AC to Williams without bumping into at least one person I knew, usually stopping to chat for a bit. Lycoming has such a tightly-knit community, and I want to give more future students the chance to experience that thick social fabric."

Summer (Beretsky) Bukeavich '06 has faithfully given to the College every year since graduation. This year, she was surprised as the winner of the Lycoming Fund's iPad giveaway. She also supports the College through a host of other efforts.

"When I was in graduate school at the University of Delaware, I had a lot of fun helping out Jen (Moran) Decker '06 [former admissions counselor] at a college fair right on the university's campus. A few years ago, I started the Lycoming alumni group on LinkedIn, and it's grown to over a thousand members so far. Also, this past January, I returned to campus to speak with Dr. [Bonita] Kolb's business students about how to enhance the job search using social media."

Summer earned a bachelor's from Lycoming in communication with a minor in photography and a master's in communication in 2008. Summer reflects gratefully on the Lycoming education that "reconstructed" her, both personally and academically.

"When I arrived for my freshman year, I viewed education as a transaction," Summer said. "Instructors deposit knowledge into a classroom, and students withdraw it. I soon ditched the banking metaphor when I realized that I could apply virtually all of the communication theories (that I studied in Steve Koehn's COMM110 class) to my own life, my personal growth and my relationships."

Some of the young graduate's fondest memories at the College were writing for The Lycourier student newspaper. After three successful years working in the marketing and client relations fields in King of Prussia, Pa., Summer has recently relocated a little closer to her alma mater – Williamsport, Pa. – where she writes about mental health and wellness for Psychcentral.com. She has also made a return to the world of academia, teaching marketing as an adjunct faculty member at Penn College, teaching communication courses online for Ashford University, and further serving Lycoming as advisor of The Lycourier.

Quentin Reinford

The Impact of Your Support

Lycoming's Clean Water Institute hosted 11 research interns during summer 2012

Meet Quentin Reinford '13

"I would like to thank all the donors who support the College and the CWI; it is a priceless investment. You are the reason that students like me are able to receive this amazing experience and education. I really owe a lot to the donors and everyone who has supported me over the past four years."

For Quentin, his whole Lycoming experience and working with the Clean Water Institute has been filled with hands-on training. He's been involved with activities ranging from unassessed waters projects to best management practices related to water quality on four farms in Lycoming County. He says every day offered something new to learn and an experience unlike any other undergraduate program.

"I have learned so many techniques, from total dissolved solids to basic water chemistry, over the years working in the CWI," Quentin said. "Also, I have been given the chance to work with various water shed groups, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and other outside organizations. Working under Dr. Mel Zimmerman [professor of biology and CWI director], I have been given various responsibilities including overseeing my own project, which is a great experience. I feel more than adequately prepared for the next steps thanks to the CWI."

Quentin says the beauty of a liberal arts education is that he's been able to discover new career interests. Aside from his involvement with the CWI, he serves as a resident advisor, which allows him to have close interactions with fellow students and have an impact on their lives. As a result, he is now considering other career options, such as in law enforcement or as a correctional officer in a state or federal prison.

"Though my love of biology and field research may point me into a direction of wildlife conservation, I am unsure of my future," Quentin said. "Biology will always be a part of my life, whether it's my various reptile breeding projects or enjoying the outdoors. Either way, I am confident that Lycoming has prepared me for all that I will experience in life."

Lycoming continues to be a special place for Quentin because of the great experiences and opportunities that he has been afforded. He says the College has become a place to call home.

"My professors have become mentors to me, helping me in so many more ways than just my education," Quentin said. "I have formed lifelong friendships with so many amazing people that I will be forever connected as an alumnus of Lycoming College."

Anna Rittmiller

The Impact of Your Support

Lycoming's Institute for Management Studies arranged more than 70 off-campus internships in 2011-12

Meet Anna Rittmiller '13

"When I decided Lycoming College was the school for me, my biggest concern was affording the tuition. But thanks to the wonderful alumni and donors who support Lycoming, I was able to receive plenty of scholarship money that increased throughout the years for maintaining a high GPA. So thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Lycoming College would not have reached its bicentennial if it wasn't for your generosity, and I would not be soon receiving my degree from the best college in America!"

Anna held a summer internship in human resources at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, Pa. She was involved with the new hire process and orientation, and updating policies and the employee handbook. She even taught a seminar on resumé writing and interviewing tips to a group of high school interns. Last spring semester, Anna interned with the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, where she had the opportunity to plan special events and also create new marketing material for the Lycoming County Visitors' Bureau.

Anna's internships were facilitated by Lycoming's Institute for Management Studies, a programmatic umbrella for the accounting, business and economics departments that helps students make connections for internships and employment opportunities while encouraging professionalism.

"Through internships, seminars, speakers and the IMS scholars program, I have learned valuable lessons on resumé writing, interviewing and other tips that will help me get a jump start on beginning my business career," Anna said. "I have learned more about how companies and organizations work because of my hands-on experience than I have sitting in class and learning out of a textbook."

As for her decision to attend Lycoming, Anna couldn't be happier.

"The instant I set foot on Lycoming's campus, I fell in love. I love the small class sizes, I love the Williamsport area, and I love how I can walk to any building on campus in under five minutes. There are so many opportunities for activities, clubs and employment that it is easy to find something to enjoy. More than anything, I love that I am a person and not a number. All of my professors greet me by name and I know almost everyone on campus. Lycoming College truly is my home away from home and it makes me sad to think of leaving in less than a year."

Katie Wellmon

The Impact of Your Support

Lycoming's chemistry department hosted five summer research interns

Meet Katie Wellmon '13

"To all the donors who support and have supported the College and the chemistry department, I want to say thank you so much for your contribution. Without you, Lycoming would not be the college that it is today. Special thanks go to those who have donated to the chemistry department. Without your generosity, I would not have had the opportunity to gain so much hands-on experience with lab equipment and instruments. That experience is so important to have when searching for a job or planning to attend graduate school."

Katie believes there are many benefits to being involved with the chemistry department's summer research program. At the forefront is having the opportunity to receive so much hands-on experience with lab equipment that students do not get to regularly work with in some of their classes.

Her summer research, conducted under the guidance of chemistry professor Dr. Holly Bendorf, focused on the nitrogen-directed intramolecular hydroacylation. This new chemistry technique allows for the rapid and efficient synthesis of benzazepines, compounds that exhibit a broad range of biological activity and are of interest as pharmaceuticals.

"The program also teaches you to think on your feet in the lab because sometimes little things happen and you have to be able to think, 'OK, what can I do to fix this?'" Katie said. "This is very important because in the work place, you're not going to have your boss hovering over you to make sure you're doing everything right. Along with this, the summer program allows you to get to know the faculty better, which helps make the experience even better."

For Katie, what makes Lycoming so special are the people she interacts with on a daily basis.

"The students are fantastic and it was so easy to find my life-long friends, and I will never forget all the memories we have made," Katie said. "As for the faculty and staff, everyone is so kind and they try to help in any way they can. I can honestly say that the faculty is on your side. And by working for the catering department, I found another family that I will surely miss when I graduate. All of these people are great and they are what make Lycoming College the great place that it is."