Channing Pifer '17: Bringing Disney Magic to her work at the United Way
Tell us about your time following college. Three weeks after I graduated from Westminster College, I picked up everything and moved 2,000 miles away from home to Orlando, Florida. It was the scariest but most rewarding adventure I have had so far. I knew less than a handful of people living in the area so it was a fresh start. While working with The Walt Disney Company, I have made life-long friends from all over the world.
What do you (or did you) do for the Walt Disney Company and now for the United Way? I was a Character Attendant and I made magic at Epcot. Every day, I would meet hundreds of new people with a common thread…a love for Disney Magic. I have been to Disney as a guest before becoming a cast member, but to be someone that keeps the magic alive is so fulfilling. I am currently with Heart of Florida United Way and serve as the Outreach Coordinator with the Cybercrime Department. My focus is promoting outreach and facilitating, socially distanced, workshops to spread cyber safety.
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We've highlighted a few upcoming events below, but please keep checking our frequently-updated Alumni Events page for more ways to interact with alumni and Westminster College.
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Join us tonight (Feb. 3) at 7 p.m. for a fun and interactive game of TRIVIA! Register now.
A fun new addition to the monthly event! Each Trivia Night will feature a special alumni-owned business! If you're a business owner, please be sure to submit your business so it's in the running to be picked from a monthly drawing from our Alumni Business Page.
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Would you like to have a game night with your Westminster College friends? Visit our We in Westminster game page, gather some friends, and play!
In Recognition of Black History Month...
the Office of Alumni Engagement’s student worker, Victoria, will be sharing articles, podcasts and other resources on our social media accounts to help our alumni community grow along with our campus community in their advocacy for social and racial justice. We hope you will follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see articles, podcasts, and other resources each week.
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The deadline is almost here to nominate someone you admire to be selected as an elite Alumni Citation Award recipient. Take a few minutes to think of someone who has made a difference in the world - then nominate them by Feb. 8.
Take a look at the photos from the 2019 Alumni Awards Dinner! It was a night to remember and YOU have the opportunity to provide this special once in a lifetime experience for someone!
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"What life lesson did you learn at Westminster" is one of the questions we hope you will ponder throughout the week. When you think of it, come back here and fill out this form. Think of it as self-care or a meditation exercise! We want to know your story, what makes you tick, and how Westminster College has influenced your life. We'll hope to highlight you on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
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For individuals who itemize their deductions and have the resources and desire to contribute to charitable organizations they support, for 2021 (in addition to 2020) an individual may deduct any qualified cash contribution so long as the contribution does not exceed 100% of the individual’s adjusted gross income. Qualified cash contributions are those paid during 2021 in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, but there is no requirement that they must have been specifically made for relief efforts. Please consult your tax advisor with questions.
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Alumni offering feedback in Environmental Management Academy
The multi-faceted understanding and focus that a cluster course provides is just one of the many aspects that make a Westminster education so special. That aspect – matched with the support of our generous alumni – creates a full-circle myriad of experiential exploration.
Last semester, students in the Environmental Project Management Academy (EPMA), a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded cluster course, benefitted from the opportunity to weave together science and business, then gather feedback from alumni about their work. Read the full story and watch the winning presentation here.
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You could be a Something Real VIP
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> The very first listening access to all of our podcast episodes.
> The power to share your 30-second Westminster memories and shoutouts to your Titan friends and loved ones that will air at the end of the episodes.
> Access to behind-the-scenes events surrounding the podcast.
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Michael "the Good Doc" Brooks '14, a dentist, shares one of his most challenging and rewarding experiences as a Westminster College student |
"Finding love. Trying to balance personal and academic life is about the hardest thing I’ve had to do as far as learning goes for sure. School, homework, exams, working 2-3 jobs to get through school, and trying to have a social life are all challenging and rewarding, but nothing on this earth is more challenging or rewarding than finding love which I found at Westminster. Finding someone to motivate you, grow with you, learn you, teach you, help you, care for you. Someone you genuinely love is a different type of motivation and inspiration."
Michael practices dentistry in Youngstown, OH and feels thankful for the amazing opportunities Westminster College and its people afforded him in life.
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Westminster College was awarded two prestigious gold awards—one for fundraising, the other for special events—in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II Accolades Awards. Additionally the College also earned a silver award in another competitive category. Read more.
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Westminster College’s fraternity and sorority councils have received the 2020 Hero of Hope Award from the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for their charitable giving to the organization. Read the story to learn more.
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A recent grant from Westminster’s Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research gave senior biochemistry major, Morgan Shine, the tools necessary to streamline the work on her data-heavy senior honors research project. Learn more about Morgan's research.
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Westminster College’s connection to Santa: A conversation with Terri Van Keuren '70
"Early in December 65 years ago, dad was working and his phone rang. He answered with his crispest military demeanor, “Colonel Shoup.” A little child’s voice said, “is this Santa Claus?” Dad was taken aback, naturally, and thought some of his staff was playing a prank. That did not sit well with him, so he said, “this is Col. Shoup at the Combat Alert Center! Who is THIS?”
By now, the little voice was crying and sobbed out, “well is this one of Santa’s helpers then?” Dad finally realized that this really was a kid who for some reason had gotten ahold of dad and believed he was talking to Santa Claus. So, he lowered his voice and said, “Ho, ho, ho! This is not Santa Claus’s helper, this IS Santa Claus! Have you been good this year?”
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Matt McDonald '19 received the 2021 PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Rising Star Award.
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David King '91 was recognized as one of the top 25 Chief Technology Officers in the FinTech space and stood with CTOs from companies such as PayPal, MasterCard, Capital One, and Global Payments.
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Colleen (Currie) Taylor ’90 was highlighted in the WernerCo Women Inclusion Network. Read her feature.
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Wear Westminster Day winners for Wearing Westminster while Doing Good: Laurel Scaff Alexander '97, pictured with Sarah Marks and Christine Pasolini Lazzara '98. We love our Titan teachers!
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Joanna Mizener '96, Executive Director at Girls on the Run, was proud to be on the team helping her non-profit survive the rough year. Because of her work, they are implementing new ways to serve girls safely during the pandemic.
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David Farner '85 was recognized in the Pittsburgh Times Power 100 as one of the most influential leaders in Pittsburgh.
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Wear Westminster Day winner for Best Titan Pride: Future student, Krysta Germanoski, sporting her already-pride for Westminster College!
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Wear Westminster Day's Best expression of WC gratitude: Andy Borts '10
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Jon Hunter '90 supported a family member who beat cancer. In reflecting, he said, "in a challenging year the strength, resilience and compassion of people in my life was truly amazing!!"
Ann Inoue '77 retired from a healthcare career of 40 years devoted to maximizing functional potential in the physical, cognitive and psychological spheres of human activity. 2020 ended with completion of a second master's degree, this time in ministry, and a new way to care for people -- spiritually. "Learning and caring are for a lifetime," she shared.
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Wear Westminster Day winners for Best Group Photo: Audra Adams Meehan '10, pictured with Ande Saporito '09, Jenn Byers Feltenberger '09, Jordan Reinhart '11, Connor Meehan (Future Titan), Julie Kepins Fijkes '08, and Kylie Hadley '17.
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Wear Westminster Day's Best Throwback Gear: Ray Cebula '66 - with gear from George Cebula '32 (left), his time at WC (middle) and Jane Cebula Hale '97 (right).
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Westminster College Office of Alumni Engagement
319 South Market Street, New Wilmington, PA 16172
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