“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Messiah Press wins platinum award for Phipps Retirement Gala invitation
Messiah Press was honored with a platinum award in the Association of College and University Printers Awards competition for the invitation package created for the Phipps Retirement Gala celebrating former president Kim Phipps. The award was presented during the ACUP+ annual conference in Dallas, where in-plant managers from colleges and universities across the country gathered to recognize outstanding work in higher-education printing. Congratulations to the Messiah Press team for this national recognition.
Wittlinger Prize and Boyer Award recipients
We are delighted to announce the 2026 recipients of The Class of 1964 Carlton Wittlinger Prize and The Boyer Legacy Award.
Stephen Wade received The Class of 1964 Carlton Wittlinger Prize; he was nominated by Bonnie Lin.
Sheila Yoder received The Boyer Legacy Award; she was nominated by Ling Dinse.
These two awards are presented annually by the Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan Studies and the Ernest L. Boyer Center, respectively, to recognize students who demonstrate Dr. Carlton O. Wittlinger’s (Class of 1935) qualities of persistence and unselfish dedication. Similarly, the Boyer Legacy Award honors students who demonstrate Dr. Ernest L. Boyer’s (Class of 1948) ardent emphasis that leadership is grounded in service. Congratulations, Stephen and Sheila! We wish to thank all educators for their nominations.
Gratefully,
The Wittlinger-Boyer Selection Committee: Devin Manzullo-Thomas, Cynthia Wells and Jon Stuckey
AROUND CAMPUS
Two cybersecurity camps will be offered this summer: Cyber Camp and Cyber Pi Camp!
Cyber Camp will run June 8–11. This camp introduces students to cybersecurity through activities in networking, digital forensics, CTFs and cyber defense. It also offers students a chance to get a feel for college-level learning and campus life.
The following week, June 15–18, we will host our new Cyber Pi Camp, which focuses on building and creating with the Raspberry Pi platform. Students will assemble and configure their own Raspberry Pi and work through guided projects involving coding, networking, hardware and cybersecurity tools. This camp is ideal for students who enjoy experimenting and learning by doing, and each participant will take their Raspberry Pi home at the end of the week.
Find all the details here: https://www.messiah.edu/cybercamp.
Scholarships and discounts:
- Messiah employees receive a 10% discount when signing their dependents up. Contact cybercamp@messiah.edu for the discount code.
- Scholarships are available. Contact cybercamp@messiah.edu for more info.
Items needed for library’s bicentennial exhibit
As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Murray Library is creating a special summer display featuring Bicentennial (200th anniversary) memorabilia from 1976 and we’d love your help! If you have photos, souvenirs, decorations, apparel or other items from the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, please consider lending them for our exhibit. Items will be returned in late August. Drop-off anytime before Friday, May 1 to Murray Library Circulation Desk. Thank you for helping us bring this nostalgic display to life! Questions? Email smyers@messiah.edu
Commencement helpers needed
On Saturday, May 9, Messiah University will host the 2026 undergraduate Commencement. This is an exciting day for campus and particularly for the new alums and their families. Messiah University’s commitment to hospitality shines on this day and we need your help to make the day successful. The Division of Operations is looking for employees, not already participating in the Commencement ceremony, to work. We need bus hosts, field ushers, assistance in traffic control and other duties. The day starts somewhere between 7-8:30 a.m. (depending on role) and is expected to end no later than 2 p.m. (depending on role). Hourly employees who work Commencement will be paid at their current wage rate, and where appropriate, overtime will be applied. All hours worked are to be recorded on the regular department time sheet. All members of the COE and President’s Cabinet are expected, as part of their regular assignment, to march at commencement and/or provide support for commencement activities. Are you interested in working and helping us celebrate the Class of 2026? If so, please email Cindy Sterling at csterling@messiah.edu
Anticipated international travel 2026-2027
The Agapé Center (off-campus programs) is requesting that all educators planning international travel or leading students abroad during the 2026–2027 academic year complete a brief survey by May 1. Completing the survey helps ensure proper insurance coverage and required travel approvals. Cross-cultural courses and study abroad programs are exempt. Please submit the survey using the following link: https://messiah.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cJ92jjNKiGkpzCu.
Messiah University Department of Theatre and Dance presents: “Culmination ’26 Spring Dance Concert”
Messiah University’s Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present the spring dance concert Culmination ’26 on April 17 and 18! Celebrate spring and the dance accomplishments of Messiah University’s theatre and dance department in an offering of favorite dance pieces from the year, new faculty work, student adjudicated creations, and senior capstone projects all in one fun and glorious dance concert!
Culmination ’26
Spring Dance Concert
Directed by Gregg Hurley
April 17 at 8 p.m.
April 18 at 2 p.m.
Miller Theater, Climenhaga Building
| Estimated run time: 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission
|
Tickets: $10—Adults $7—MU students (w/ID), MU employees (w/ID), Youth (under 18) and Seniors (60+) Tickets can be purchased online at messiah.edu/tickets, by phone at 717-691-6036, or at the door as available. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
Bridging Relationship Divides in an Era of Political Polarization
Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m., Parmer Hall
Messiah University’s Human Development and Family Science Department, the Honors Program, Graduate Program in Counseling and the Mid Atlantic Council on Family Relations are excited to host Dr. William J. Doherty for his lecture “Bridging Relationship Divides in an Era of Political Polarization.” Dr. Doherty is a professor emeritus in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, and he is a co-founder of Braver Angels, a citizen initiative bringing conservatives and liberals together to counteract political polarization. In his lecture, Dr. Doherty will draw on a decade of work on depolarization and reconciliation to offer us ways to manage important relationships and build community bridges, both of which are threatened by the divisiveness in society today.
Click the link below to read more about Dr. Doherty and this event:
Connecting Communities Convening
Register now and join us on Thursday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel for the Connecting Communities Convening. This event brings together a diverse cross-sector group of community partners from the Greater Capital Region to share important initiatives happening in our neighboring communities. Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to engage with community leaders in conversations about housing, neighboring practices, policy, philanthropy and ideas shaping our region. For a program itinerary and/or to register as a member of the Messiah community, visit https://www.messiahconnection.com/. You can register at https://na.eventscloud.com/871137. The Convening is a program of the School of Arts, Culture and Society, and co-sponsored by Hershey and Mary Ann Bare. Contact Chad Frey at connectingcommunities@messiah.edu if you have any questions.
Seed Library now open
Celebrate planting season by visiting the Seed Library at Murray! Browse through our catalog of seed packets and “check out” your favorites to plant. The Seed Library will be open until the end of the semester.
School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ (SGPS) Research Symposium
Messiah University’s Interprofessional Education Committee (IPEC) invites all undergraduate and graduate students and faculty to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ (SGPS) Research Symposium. This annual showcase features innovative research from students and faculty across fields. It is an opportunity to explore new scholarship, celebrate academic excellence and connect with peers advancing their fields.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Messiah Winding Hill or via Zoom
Zoom Link: https://messiah.zoom.us/j/98836622431 Meeting ID: 988 3662 2431 Passcode: 060072
Professions represented: counseling | social work | athletic training | physical therapy | occupational therapy | nursing | dietetics | child life specialist | education
Light refreshments provided.
Oakes Museum Summer Camp registration is open!
The Oakes Museum of Natural History has several exciting summer camp opportunities this year for students entering grades 3 through 12.
Field Biology Camp: June 8-12, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.+
This field-based class will introduce students to field biology using live traps, electrofishing, and other investigative equipment to study a variety of animal communities. This camp is only open to students entering grades 9 – 12 in Fall 2026.
Plant Biology Camp: July 8-10, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.+
This camp will cover a wide range of topics from plant cells and structures to growing methods and environmental adaptations. This camp is only open to students entering grades 9 – 12 in Fall 2026.
Forensic Science Camp: July 21-24, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.+
Over the course of several days, students will practice various methods of evidence collection and evaluation. Students will observe both macroscopic and microscopic evidence, building their skillset to examine a mock crime scene at the end of the week. This camp is only open to students entering grades 9 – 12 in Fall 2026.
Ecology Camp: June 22-26, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.*+
The world is complex! Learn about the interactions between different life forms and their environments with hands on observations and experiments in the museum and the living laboratory of campus. This camp is open to students entering grades 6 – 8 in Fall 2026.
Survive It: June 15-19, 9 a.m. – noon*
Dig deep into how a variety of animals survive a challenging world. Topics will include habitats, senses, locomotion, digestion and coloration! This camp is open to students entering grades 3 – 5 in Fall 2026.
Animals Camp: July 13-17, 9 a.m. – noon*
Animals Camp: July 20-24, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.*+
Using the museum and the surrounding natural world, each day campers will learn about a different animal group (invertebrates, fish, reptiles/amphibians, birds and mammals). This camp is open to students entering grades 3 – 5 in Fall 2026.
* Before camp care is available on these weeks from 8 a.m. to the start of camp for an additional fee.
+ Camp tuition includes lunch at Lottie Nelson Dining Hall.
For more information, pricing and to register, please visit:
https://www.messiah.edu/oakes-museum/summer-camps/
CLASSIFIEDS
Job opportunities
Messiah Press is now hiring a full-time bulk mailroom technician and mass email administrator. Job related questions may be directed to Dwayne Magee dmagee@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Bulk Mailroom Technician and Mass Email Administrator link.
The Registrar’s Office is now hiring a transfer records assistant. This is a temporary, one – two-year position with a sunset clause. Job related questions may be directed to Kathee Clark at kclark@messsiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Transfer Records Assistant link.
Dining Services has an opening for a full-time dining room supervisor. Job related questions may be directed to Todd Christopher tchristopher@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Dining Room Supervisor link.
The School of Graduate and Professional Studies has an opening for a full-time Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Job related questions may be directed to Ruth Nutt at rnutt@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies link.
Dining Services has an opening for a full-time cook II-PM. Job related questions may be directed to Shannon Bivens sbivens@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: cook II PM link.
The Office of Residence Life has an opening for a full-time Director of Residence Life. Job related questions may be directed to Doug Wood at dwood@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Director of Residence Life posting link.
The Department of Safety has an opening for a full-time second shift safety officer. Job related questions may be directed to Maranda Hogue at mhogue@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: 2nd shift safety officer link.
The Department of Safety has an opening for a full-time first shift safety officer. Job related questions may be directed to Maranda Hogue at mhogue@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: 1st shift safety officer link.
Campus and Building Services has an opening for a part-time 1st shift worker. Job related questions may be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: cbs pt first shift link.
Campus and Building Services has an opening for a full-time 3rd shift worker. Job related questions may be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: cbs ft 3rd shift link.
Grounds Services has an opening for a part-time seasonal groundskeeper. Job related questions may be directed to Artie Palese at palese@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: seasonal grounds keeper link.
Job applications are now being accepted for the full-time position of director of dining services. Job related questions may be directed Kathie Shafer at kshafer@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: director of dining services link.
Job applications are now being accepted for the full-time position of manager, natural sciences laboratory program. Job related questions may be directed Anne Reeve at areeve@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: manager, natural sciences laboratory program link.
The Office of Residence Life has an opening for a full-time residence life educator. Job related questions may be directed to Doug Wood at dwood@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: RLE posting link.
FREE
Free childcare items. Graco Pack N’Play and bright yellow booster seat for small child. Both items in good condition. Contact Ted Davis, tdavis@messiah.edu.
OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS
Financial education from Everence
Money can feel complicated. “Made Clear: Financial topics, simplified” is the Everence webinar series designed to cut through the noise – covering everything from investing basics to retirement planning to teaching your kids about money – with space for your questions and the values that matter to you. Join us live or watch on your own time. Every session is free, practical, and built around real life. Find the entire slate of webinars (participants can join live or watch on their own) here: www.everence.com/made-clear. First monthly webinar is April 15. Everence is Messiah University’s partner in education regarding healthcare in retirement.