The Burned Over District Focus of Community Luncheon Series Presentation Dec. 6
Starkey Methodist Church
During much of the 1800s, wave after wave of new religious movements spread across Central and Western New York, earning it the title The Burned Over District.
The Burned Over District will be the focus of Keuka College’s next Community Luncheon Series presentation Thursday, Dec. 6.
Led by Michael McKenzie, associate professor of philosophy and religion, and Troy Cusson, instructional design manager in the Wertman Office of Distance Education (WODE), the presentation begins at noon in the Gannett Room of Lightner Library.
McKenzie combined his writing and research skills with the videography and editing talents of Cusson to create a 60-minute DVD that takes viewers on a tour of many of the exact spots where these religions either got their start or caught fire.
The DVD, three years in the making, doesn’t cover the entire Burned Over District—McKenzie and Cusson traveled throughout Yates County and into Wayne and Seneca counties—but uncovered plenty of material nonetheless.
McKenzie and Cusson traveled to such places as the house of Jemima Wilkinson, the Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith claimed to have had his visions that launched the Mormon Church, and many of the actual sites of the vibrant and explosive Methodist denomination.
Mike McKenzie, associate professor of philosophy and religion.
“It’s hard to believe, because Yates County seems so quiet these days, but once it was a hotbed of religious and spiritual activity,” said McKenzie. “It was fertile ground, and not just for potatoes and carrots. And that’s the reason for the DVD. We want students and others to understand that what it is isn’t what it used to be. This county had its day, and it had a story to tell.”
Tickets for the luncheon are $12.75, $2.50 of which goes to the Penn Yan Keuka Club Scholarship Fund. The fund provides an annual scholarship to a local student attending Keuka College. Seating is limited, so reservations are advised.
Make checks payable to Keuka College and mail to: Office of Alumni and Family Relations, Keuka College, Keuka Park, N.Y. 14478. Reservations may also be made online at http://events.keuka.edu.The reservation deadline is Monday, Dec. 3.
For more information, call (315) 279-5238 or e-mail spevents@keuka.edu.
Hats Off to Harry
Corinne Stork, second from right, presents the 2012 Stork Award to Harry Swarthout. Also shown are College President Jorge L. Díaz-Herrera and Harry's wife, Michele.
The 2012 Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service was presented to Branchport resident Harry Swarthout at a noon luncheon Oct. 9).
Keuka College established the award to recognize those individuals who exemplify its historic commitment to the value and benefit of using individual initiative for the common good.
The award was named after the first recipients of the award, Penn Yan resident Corinne Stork and the late Donald Stork, in 1991.
Among the organizations that have benefitted from Swarthout’s time and talents are the Branchport/Keuka Park Fire Department, Yates County Fire Service, Branchport Cemetery, 4-H, and the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, where he serves as grounds supervisor.
Welcome to Keuka
Keuka College welcomed its new students to campus Wednesday, Aug. 22.
Returning students, faculty, and staff were on hand to welcome the newest members of the Keuka College family, answer questions, and assist students moving into their new rooms.
All new students participate in the Transition Week program, which includes sessions addressing academics, team-building, social activities, new student issues, and preparation for the first day of classes. The week’s activities mark the transition to college life and give newcomers the opportunity to prepare for their new role as Keuka College students.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 27.
Check out more Transition Week photos.
Golf Classic Storyline Unchanged
Keuka College President Jorge L. Díaz-Herrera (left) and Executive Director of Alumni and Family Relations Kathy Waye (right) pose with Josh Robinson, Scott Jensen, Roger Jensen, and Kyle Reagan.
For the fifth time in six years, the team of Kyle Reagan ’05, Roger Jensen, Scott Jensen ’07, and Josh Robinson ’09 won the Keuka College Golf Classic.
The team returned a 17-under 55 to capture the 13th annual scramble event held July 16 at Lakeside Country Club in Penn Yan.
The foursome of Mike and Jenn Sweet, Mike Heib, and Bryan Lanahan captured the mixed team division while the senior title was claimed by Dana Schillinger, Gordon Bascom, Ed Perry, and Andy Bascom.
The tournament, which drew 124 golfers, benefits the Deb Manahan Golf Classic Scholarship, named for the late Penn Yan resident, avid golfer and Keuka College benefactor. In its first 12 years, the tournament raised some $149,000 for the scholarship, awarded annually to Keuka students from the Finger Lakes region.
Check out more photos from the tournament.
Mennonite Culture Focus of Next Community Luncheon
The Mennonite culture will be the focus of Keuka College’s next Community Luncheon Series presentation Thursday, July 26, at noon in the Gannett Room of Lightner Library
Ivan Martin, who owns and operates a custom molding, architectural mill work, and hardwood floor business in Yates County, is the featured speaker.
Martin and his family, members of the Mennonite horse and buggy community, are longtime residents of Yates County.
According to Martin, the Mennonite culture is often mistaken to be a “green culture,” when in fact, it is a religious movement. Martin and his family are biblical literalists and their culture is deeply rooted in their religious beliefs.
Martin’s interests include social, science, religious, and historical matters, and he enjoys reading in his home library stocked with more than 1,000 volumes. He and his wife, Anna, have 13 children.
Tickets for the luncheon are $12.75, $2.50 of which goes to the Penn Yan Keuka Club Scholarship Fund. The fund provides an annual scholarship to a local student attending Keuka College. Seating is limited, so reservations are advised.
Make checks payable to Keuka College and mail to: Office of Alumni and Family Relations, Keuka College, Keuka Park, N.Y. 14478.
Registration is at capacity for this event. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list, please contact the Office of Alumni and Family Relations.
For more information, call (315) 279-5238 or e-mail spevents@keuka.edu.
H.E.R.O. Worship
From left: H.E.R.O. group members Ryan Hearton, Emily White, Allie Peterson, Daina Mottler, Rachel Giordano, and Brandon Grace.
Six members of the Helping Everyone Respect Others (H.E.R.O.) organization at Penn Yan Academy (PYA) brought their respecting others and anti-bullying messages to Keuka College Oct. 20.
PYA seniors Allie Peterson and Daina Mottler, co-founders of the group, said they started the organization because they were upset at the way some students were treating each other.
“Our goal is to help people learn to respect and stop judging others,” said Mottler. “The more people realize what they say and do hurts others, the less likely they are to do so in the future.”
Peterson shared her personal story of abuse and neglect, and spoke on the group’s four main principles: what can we do for our community, what can we do for our school, what can we do for each other, and what can we do for ourselves.
Members of the group have spoken at Dundee Central School, the Harley School, Keuka Arts Festival, and Penn Yan Fireman’s carnival, among others.
Joining Mottler and Peterson were Ryan Hearton, Emily White, Rachel Giordano, and Brandon Grace.
After the presentation, those attending the luncheon were invited to sign a pledge to respect other and receive a H.E.R.O. bracelet.
More photos from the luncheon.
Family Weekend a Big Hit
Members of the Class of 2014 pose with the Shively Cup. (Photo: Case Hamilton '12)
College President Dr. Jorge L. Díaz-Herrera welcomed students and their families at the Lucina, the sophomore class won the Shively Cup, the men’s and women’s soccer teams posted shutout wins over North Eastern Atlantic Conference (NEAC) rival Gallaudet University, and members of the American Sign Language Club demonstrated several signs.
These were just some of the Family Weekend (Sept. 23-25) highlights.
Others included the opportunity to learn hip hop dancing, Casino Night, an exhibit by printmaker Barbara McPhail, music by guitarist and singer Paul Strowe, and the induction of the late Lyle P. Corey into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Relive Family Weekend through photos.
Family Fun
Ruth Spencer '55 returned to her alma mater to participate in Backpack to Briefcase: Alumni Networking Fair.
The 2011 Family Weekend is under way and will continue through Sunday, Sept. 25.
The Backpack to Briefcase: Alumni Networking Fair, where alumni return to campus to share career advice with students, was held Friday afternoon.
Also on the schedule this weekend: the Step and Dance Team showcase, the American as Apple Pie multicultural excursion, Shively Cup crew races, Lightner Library book sale, a lake cruise on the Esperanza Rose, and the dedication the press box at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex.
A schedule of events can be found here.
H.E.R.O. Group Focus of Community Luncheon
The Helping Everyone Respect Others (H.E.R.O.) group will be the focus of the next Community Luncheon Series Thursday, Oct. 20 at Keuka College.
Allie Peterson, co-founder of H.E.R.O. at Penn Yan Academy.
Allie Peterson, co-founder of H.E.R.O. and a senior at Penn Yan Academy (PYA), will speak at noon in the Gannett Room of Lightner Library.
H.E.R.O., an anti-bullying organization, promotes the act of respecting one another.
After attending a Youth Speak Out event at the College in March—which focused on bullying—Peterson and other PYA students were inspired to start H.E.R.O. Youth Speak Out helps students become aware of the choices they can make in self-exploration by using their own interpretation and evaluation of the world around them.
At a Community Service Day event at PYA, Peterson spoke on “I Bet You Didn’t Know,” where she shared her personal story of abuse and neglect. Other students were motivated to share their own “I Bet You Didn’t Know” stories. After the presentation, students were given the opportunity to pledge respect to others and receive a H.E.R.O. bracelet.
Tickets for the luncheon are $12.75, $2.50 of which goes to the Penn Yan Keuka Club Scholarship Fund. The fund provides an annual scholarship to a local student attending Keuka College. Seating is limited, so reservations are advised. Make checks payable to Keuka College and mail to: Office of Alumni and Family Relations, Keuka College, Keuka Park, N.Y. 14478. The reservation deadline is Thursday, Oct. 13.
For more information call (315) 279-5238 or e-mail spevents@keuka.edu. Reservations may be made online at http://events.keuka.edu.
“Long”time Business Owners will be Honored
Local business owners Jim and Gloria Long will receive the 2011 Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service Tuesday, Oct. 11.
The award will be given at a noon luncheon in the Geiser Refectory at Keuka College.
The Stork Award was established by Keuka College to recognize outstanding individuals who exemplify the College’s commitment of valuing individual initiative for the common good. The award was named after the first recipients of the award, Penn Yan residents Donald and Corinne Stork, in 1991.
The Longs are owners of Longs’ Cards and Books in Penn Yan, and the business has become a downtown anchor. It carries a variety of books, cards, office supplies, and gifts, and hosts book signings for local authors. The store was opened in 1969 by Jim Long’s parents.
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