February 2020
Penn State Mont Alto alumnus elected as magisterial district judge
Congratulations to Mont Alto alumnus Kristin D. Nicklas, Esquire ’05, who began a six-year term as a magisterial district judge on Jan. 6, 2020. Kristin’s district includes portions of Franklin County, Pa., including Greene Township, Southampton Township, the Borough of Shippensburg (West End) and the Borough of Orrstown. Kristin has been a solo practitioner at Nicklas Law Office LLC in Chambersburg, Pa., since 2011.
Ingram to speak at Mont Alto commencement on May 9, 2020
Jim Ingram, a registered consulting arborist and board-certified master arborist, is president and chief operating officer for Bartlett Tree Experts. He manages a $300 million company with 12 divisions and 144 field operations with 2,200 teammates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. His mantra is: “The last person hired is the most important!”
Jim is a former instructor of forest science and counseling at Penn State. He is a past president of the Cape Cod Landscape Association, Cape Cod Horticultural Society, American Society of Consulting Arborists and New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He has served as the ISA’s certification board chairman and chairman of the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.
Over the past 38 years, Jim has authored numerous publications, including a historic book, “Unlimited Duty,” and given more than 780 lectures and workshops. He is the first recipient of the Pennsylvania Forest Academy Award, and has also was honored with the ISA Award of Merit, Cape Cod Landscape Association Legacy Award, Penn State Centennial Fellows Award and Penn State Volunteer of the Award.
Powerlifter Schrom aims for repeat performance in Tokyo
Jake Schrom ’11 won a powerlifting competition last fall in Tokyo, a venue he hopes to revisit in August as part of Team USA in the 2020 Paralympic Games. He won the gold in September 2019 during the Tokyo Test Event by bench-pressing 445 pounds.
Schrom played football, rugby and basketball at Boiling Springs (Pa.) High School, then continued playing basketball while attending Penn State Mont Alto. He was not willing to give up athletics when his right leg had to be amputated above the knee after an accident in May 2008.
While studying at University Park campus, he got involved with the Ability Athletics. His lifting prowess caught the attention of some national team coaches, and he joined Team USA in 2010. He has done about 40 competitions since then, including those in Japan, Dubai and Malaysia. Schrom’s last Paralympics qualifier is in March in Colombia. He should find out at the end of April if he ranks in the top eight to join the American team in Tokyo this summer for another chance at gold.
‘Lumberjill’ King axes competitors
Martha King ’11 captured two individual titles and the all-around crown in August 2019 during the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wis. One of the world’s top “lumberjills,” the Chadds Ford, Pa., native grew up raising chickens, riding horses, hiking, canoeing and hunting. Her father, Rob, participated in wood sports when he was at Penn State University. The first time she picked up an axe was during her first week at Penn State Mont Alto. She pursued her love of the outdoors in academics, as well, studying animal, forestry, wildlife and fisheries sciences. King found much success after she began wielding axes for sport in 2007, but she didn’t continue competing when she moved to PSU’s main campus for her junior and senior years. A trip to Germany in 2012 found her swinging the chopper again. Back in the states, she finished in the top three in the STIHL U.S. championships in 2017, ’18 and ’19. Then, last summer, she won the underhand chopping championship, the single buck title and the all-round crown at the world championships in Wisconsin. When she is not chopping hardwoods to bits, King is in charge of selling them at Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford, Pa.
Information courtesy of Main Line Today. To read the whole story, go to mainlinetoday.com/life-style/this-woman-is-redefining-the-lumberjack-stereotype/ .
Lewis brothers lauded for conservation efforts
Mel ’75 and Marc ’78 Lewis were presented the 2019 Joseph T. Rothrock Conservationist of the Year Award at the Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s annual symposium on Sept. 27 at the Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, Pa. The Sullivan County, Pa., brothers were given the PFA’s highest recognition for their commitment to preserving and managing the state’s trees. They operate Dwight Lewis Lumber Co. in Picture Rocks, Pa., the first Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certified sawmill in Pennsylvania. They also created Lewis Lumber Products Inc., which provides an outlet for their lumber and that of other sawmills. By providing wood from local and other easily accessible sources, they make it simple for people in the region and beyond to purc
hase and support Pennsylvania forests over plastic and forest products from other regions of the world. The Lewises have served on the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy’s board of directors. Mel is also a member and former president of the Northeastern Loggers’ Association, and serves on the Sullivan County Planning Commission. Marc is a longtime member of the Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association and now serves as its president. In 2013, Penn State Mont Alto inducted the Lewises into the Penn State Mont Alto Distinguished Fellows Society for their contributions and achievements in their careers and communities. Marc also was recognized as a Penn State Engineering Science and Mechanics Outstanding Alumni. Dwight Lewis Lumber Co. received the Northeastern Loggers’ Association Outstanding Sawmill Operator award during Mel and Marc’s management tenure. The company also was honored with the Agribusiness Achievement Award. Mel and Mark each have a son working at Dwight Lewis Lumber Co.
Information courtesy of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. To read the whole story, go to paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2019/10/pa-forestry-assn-honors-mel-marc-lewis.html.
Bryan takes reins of WBO Health & Fitness
Dylan Bryan ’17 became the owner of WBO Health & Fitness in Waynesboro, Pa., in September 2019. After earning a degree in business management from Penn State Mont Alto, he worked at XPO Logistics in Hagerstown, Md., as a freight operations supervisor, then became an aftermarket parts analyst at JLG Hagerstown, a position he retained after taking the helm at WBO. He had been a patron and front-desk employee of the gym for six years, and fitness became more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Working for someone in an office was not satisfying Bryan, so he decided to pursue the career dream he had since he was 18. Taking advantage of his youth and motivation, he began the nearly yearlong process of taking over the business from Jason and Yoli Wilson of Waynesboro. While he doesn’t expect to make major changes at the fitness center, he does plan to remove some barrier walls, add new equipment and expand the fitness offerings. Bryan enjoys interacting with members and takes pride in the staff’s common goal of helping patrons reach their goals, just like he reached his.
Information courtesy of The Record Herald. To read the whole story, go to www.therecordherald.com/news/20191019/bryan-becomes-new-owner-of-wbo-health–fitness.
In Memoriam
Dr. Vernon Shockley, Penn State Mont Alto’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), passed away on Monday, February 17, 2020. He was 84 years old.
Dr. Shockley is survived by his wife, Elaine.
Memorial contributions can be made to the: Vernon L. and R. Elaine Shockley Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement
Please make checks payable to: Penn State and send to: Penn State Mont Alto Development Office, One Campus Drive, Mont Alto, PA 17237
In Memoriam (May 2019 – December 2019)
1940s
Mr. Edwin E. Rodger ’46 December 12, 2019
1950s
Mr. Richard E. Woodrow ’53 July 25, 2019
Mr. Lawrence J. Cupka ’54 October 23, 2019
Mr. Alex A. Gregal ’54 January 29, 2019
Mr. Larry L. Harshbarger ’54 August 23, 2019
Mr. Robert H. Bommer Jr. ’56 December 4, 2019
Mr. Patrick H. Lantz ’56 May 30, 2019
Mr. Richard M. Voelker ’57 March 3, 2019
Mr. William H. Lockard ’57 December 5, 2019
Mr. Robert E. Slagle ’58 October 1, 2019
Dr. Howard R. Hopkins ’59 July 20, 2019
1960s
Mr. Donald A. Kahle ’60 August 30, 2019
Mr. Fahy W. McDonald ’60 June 22, 2019
Mr. Daniel C. Speace ’60 October 1, 2019
Mr. Walter N. Peechatka ’61 October 19, 2019
Dr. George H. Williams Jr. ’63 June 12, 2019
Mr. Kenneth E. Dodge ’64 November 8, 2019
Mr. Stewart E. Pearson ’66 June 24, 2019
Mr. John Hollerbush ’68 October 8, 2019
Mr. Lawrence J. Swandic ’69 September, 7, 2019
1970s
Mr. John L. Shinham ’70 September 14, 2019
Mrs. Ellen Carlson Peters ’74 May 31, 2019
Mr. Thomas S. Minninger ’76 September 21, 2019
Mr. Warren H. Houston ’76 June 30, 2019
Mr. David C. Garman ’77 July 24, 2019
Mrs. Crystal Hildebrand Stine ’78 November 22, 2019
Mr. Bryan K. Kohler ’79 June 19, 2019
1980s
Mrs. Elizabeth Gale Harwick ’80 August 15, 2019
Mr. Wayne R. Shaneberger ’84 June 3, 2019
Mr. Anthony J. Rowe ’85 October 30, 2019
Mr. Jeffry S. Ross ’87 December 19, 2019
Mr. Timothy P. McCauley ’87 June 2019
Mr. James A. Hale Jr. ’88 October 1, 2019
Mr. Joseph W. Podraza ’88 October 29, 2019
Ms. Marsha E. Reynolds-Smith ’89 September 22, 2019
Mr. James T. May ’89 September 4, 2019
1990s
Ms. Janet K. Toth ’92 August 31, 2019
2000s
Mr. Travis M. Fortney ’02 December 25, 2019
Ms. Kia T. Thomas ’06 November 12, 2019
Mr. Jerry A. Osborne ’13 November 29, 2019
Mr. Cody A. Wible ’16 November 29, 2019