News Release
April 2000
For the past 25 years, women, and a few daring men, have
enjoyed the opportunity to express themselves through dance while at
Moravian through the Moravian College Dancers. Throughout those years,
the one consistent force behind the dancers has been Dawn Ketterman
Benner. In recognition of her dedicated service, alumni and friends
have established a new endowed fund to support the many activities of
the dance club.
Led by Susan Gangwere McCabe ’79, Jeanne Villano
Petrucci ’86, and Patricia N. McAndrew ’68, $16,500 in gifts
and pledges has been collected to date. These women have declared that
$25,000 is the ultimate goal. According to Gangwere-McCabe, who served
as president of Dance Club in 1978-79, "The Fund will provide financial
support for items such as costume rentals, music royalties, fees for
professional dance performances and workshop instructors. Our aim is
to help insure that dance, in all its forms, remains alive at Moravian
for future students to enjoy."
Jeanne Villano Petrucci, club president in 1985-86, stated
that, "Although not a curriculum major, dance meant a great deal
to many of us. It was our physical and creative outlet in a usually
hectic academic schedule. We all remember those late night practices,
attempts to get our arms to bend at just the right awkward angle and
shouts of ‘1,2 3, stay with the beat!’ Dawn always found
money in tight budgets to support the club. Now we are paying her back."
Susan Gangwere McCabe presented the new fund to Dawn at
a buffet supper for alumni before the Saturday, April 1, dance club
performance. "I am still a bit in shock and deeply moved by the
generosity of so many alumni dancers and friends from the community,"
said Ketterman Benner.
Contributions to the Dawn Ketterman Benner Fund can be
made to the Moravian College Development Office. For information, please
call 610-861-1371.
Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective
liberal arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its
founding to 1742, it is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college.
Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.
