Athletics inducts inaugural class of Chi Alpha Sigma honor society
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The Pennsylvania College of Technology Athletics Department welcomed its inaugural class of the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society in a ceremony at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant on Wednesday morning.
Inducted were 21 student-athletes (11 seniors and 10 juniors) – representing a variety of athletic teams, all six of Penn College's academic schools and a grade point average of 3.769.
"This is a great honor for our student-athletes, and we are very proud of all of their accomplishments in the classroom," said John D. Vandevere, director of athletics. "This was an initiative spearheaded by (chapter adviser) Tom Zimmerman, and we cannot thank him enough for making this a reality for our department."
Penn College is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma's Alpha Iona Chapter, which was officially chartered on Jan. 8 and joins more than 220 Division I, Division II and Division III colleges and universities – including three institutions from the North East Athletic Conference – in recognizing elite student-athletes who succeed in their sport and in the classroom.
Student-athletes must be in their junior or senior year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 to be eligible.
"It's a privilege to be part of this landmark event. Each exceptional inductee traveled a unique path to earn this honor and, as freshmen, none resolved to be here," said Zimmerman, an associate professor of psychology and the faculty athletics representative. "They leave here joined in a fraternity with the distinction of being the first at Penn College to bring faculty and coaches from across our campuses together to salute excellence in the classroom and in athletic competition."
Senior inductees:
Archery
Baseball
Basketball (men's)
Basketball (women's)
Cross-country (men's)
Soccer (men's)
Soccer (women's)
Tennis (men's)
Junior inductees:
Archery
Cross-country (men's)
Golf
Soccer (men's)
Softball
Joining Vandevere and Zimmerman at the event were college President Davie Jane Gilmour, whose introductory remarks extolled the benefits – such as discipline, lifelong friends structure and teamwork – of incorporating athletics into student life; Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs; Matt Blymier, assistant director of athletics/sports information director; Wildcat coaches and seniors' invited faculty guests.
Inducted were 21 student-athletes (11 seniors and 10 juniors) – representing a variety of athletic teams, all six of Penn College's academic schools and a grade point average of 3.769.
"This is a great honor for our student-athletes, and we are very proud of all of their accomplishments in the classroom," said John D. Vandevere, director of athletics. "This was an initiative spearheaded by (chapter adviser) Tom Zimmerman, and we cannot thank him enough for making this a reality for our department."
Penn College is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma's Alpha Iona Chapter, which was officially chartered on Jan. 8 and joins more than 220 Division I, Division II and Division III colleges and universities – including three institutions from the North East Athletic Conference – in recognizing elite student-athletes who succeed in their sport and in the classroom.
Student-athletes must be in their junior or senior year with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 to be eligible."It's a privilege to be part of this landmark event. Each exceptional inductee traveled a unique path to earn this honor and, as freshmen, none resolved to be here," said Zimmerman, an associate professor of psychology and the faculty athletics representative. "They leave here joined in a fraternity with the distinction of being the first at Penn College to bring faculty and coaches from across our campuses together to salute excellence in the classroom and in athletic competition."
Senior inductees:
Archery
- Rylee A. Butler, Bellefonte, engineering design technology
- Erica L. Gause, Bloomsburg, nursing (unable to attend due to clinical instruction)
- Nathaniel A. Haefka, Wyalusing, applied management
Baseball
- Cole E. Hofmann, Newtown, applied management
- Alex M. Zelger, Red Lion, welding and fabrication engineering technology
Basketball (men's)
- Ryan C. Lockman, White Salmon, Wash., electronics and computer engineering technology
Basketball (women's)
- Erin N. Shaffer, Williamsport, graphic design
Cross-country (men's)
- Thomas S. Runner, Elkridge, Md., residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration
Soccer (men's)
- Daniel S. Hibbs, Williamsport, business administration: sport and event management concentration
Soccer (women's)
- Lauren S. Herr, Lititz, construction management
Tennis (men's)
- Stephen M. Helminiak, Williamsport, civil engineering technology
Junior inductees:
Archery
- David T. Fox, Coburn, civil engineering technology
Cross-country (men's)- Hayden N. Beiter, Williamsport, residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration
- David Carlson, Elizabethtown, engineering design technology
- Christopher D. Hogan, Halifax, welding and fabrication engineering technology
- Reagan G. McCoy, Lock Haven, plastics and polymer engineering technology
- Austin S. Weinrich, Jenkintown, residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration
Golf
- Ned W. Baumbach, Elizabethtown, building automation technology
- Austin M. Moscariello, New Columbia, residential construction technology and management
Soccer (men's)
- Gregory G. Dorsch, Mount Airy, Md., welding and fabrication engineering technology
Softball
- Emily A. Wikane, Bel Air, Md., applied management
Joining Vandevere and Zimmerman at the event were college President Davie Jane Gilmour, whose introductory remarks extolled the benefits – such as discipline, lifelong friends structure and teamwork – of incorporating athletics into student life; Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs; Matt Blymier, assistant director of athletics/sports information director; Wildcat coaches and seniors' invited faculty guests.