Alumni Connection
Busy May Filled with Alumni Happenings
May was a big month for the Moravian College Alumni Association, as we welcomed a new class of more than 300 new alums to our ranks at Commencement, May 15, and concluded with a successful Alumni Weekend, May 21-22.
More than 300 alumni and friends returned to campus for Alumni Weekend, which included reunions for classes ending in 0 and 5. Friday evening, the 38-member Class of 1960 celebrated its 50th reunion with a champagne toast at the Hotel Bethlehem. A gala for all alumni—held in the hotel ballroom—featured good food, drink, and camaraderie, as well as entertainment by the alumni jazz band, the JazzHounds. Organized by Neil Wetzel, director of jazz studies, the group was led that evening by Ken Moyer '70. Music for the Saturday afternoon All-Class Reception was provided by jazz duo Mike Lorenz '07 and Nick Krolatz '08, while Joe Mixon '81 and the Big Wahu Caribbean Band played at the picnic lunch. "An enthusiastic group of alumni returned with their families to campus this year," said Steve Vanya '79, who headed up the all-volunteer Alumni Weekend committee.
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Photos from Alumni Weekend are available for purchase; visit here to view the gallery.
Rounding out the busy month, outgoing Alumni Association President Joe Castellano '61 presided over the group's final meeting of the year, at which Castellano proudly passed the torch to Brian Corvino '02, who now will lead the Association. College President Christopher Thomforde also gave a State of the College address and held a question and answer session.
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| A.J. Wright '81 with her godson, Vincent Pelosi '10. |
Commencement weekend saw a strong turnout at three alumni-sponsored events. Past alumni board President
Rick Subber '69 welcomed graduating seniors to the Alumni Association at the annual Senior Breakfast. Grads were given a gift, the book Life after School, Explained, sponsored by Meyer and Associates and Liberty Mutual Insurance. After commencement, eighteen graduates attended the Legacy Reception and had their photos taken with their families. A reception for graduates of the Comenius Center was attended by sixty guests.
—Mark Wiragh '87
Alumni Spotlight
John "Woody" Snyder '80 has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for his "contributions to synthesis and characterization of magnetic bulk and thin film materials." According to IEEE, the grade of Fellow "conferred by the Board of Directors upon a person with an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest." The total number selected each year does not exceed 1/10 of 1% of the Institute's total voting membership.
"I got my start in magnetic materials research through the Moravian College Honors Program (Physics Department, advised by Professor Joseph Powlette)," said Dr. Snyder. "I built part of the Mossbauer spectroscopy system that is still in use today." Snyder has collaborated on several studies with Prof. Kelly Krieble '86 and his students that have resulted in publications in the prestigious Journal of Applied Physics, as well as a presentation at the international Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. He plans to collaborate with Prof. Krieble and Moravian students on research this summer.
IEEE is the world's largest professional association advancing innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE is the trusted "voice" for engineering, computing, and technology information around the globe, and is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics.
