4 Ceremonies, 2 weekends

Despite a global pandemic disrupting commencement ceremonies everywhere in May 2020, Rebekah Forshey ’20 moved forward. The week after virtual Commencement, she moved to Dallas, Texas, to pursue a Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Through her studies, she works with the Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dallas.

“As part of my graduate program, I am researching the biomechanics of running prostheses in unilateral pediatric amputees,” she said. “My favorite part of my education, however, is getting to meet our patient models. These are patients of our instructors who come into our classes to allow us to make prosthetic and orthotic devices for their use. It is great experience for both our technical skills and patient interactions.”

Just when he’d finished up his homework and graduated in May, Joshua Reid ’21 hit the books all over again in August. Working at a Christian afterschool program called The Mix, he’s working with children as part of a yearlong service placement through the Shalom Project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In only three years, Brooke (Breinich) Bury ’21 graduated as an accounting major. How’d she do it?

“It helps if you come in with credits,” she said, “but Messiah will give you a plan to work from if you want to graduate early. They’ll make that happen.”

In those three years, she also found time to play on the women’s basketball team. Time management proved to be key to her success. 

If you’re looking for a man with a plan—a financial plan—look no further than Ryan Althoff ’21. Among 200 entrants, this finance major won the CFA Society Pittsburgh’s annual Collegiate Personal Financial Plan Competition for students attending schools in Pennsylvania during the 2020-21 school year.

At Connexions, a community-based arts school in Baltimore, Maryland, Brandon Booth, M.M. ’20 works as the arts director, vocal music teacher and department chair. Baltimore is where he grew up, and he’s giving back by teaching the arts to future generations.

“We should be able to take anyone from any walk of life and turn them into an artist by the time they leave,” he said.

The Class of 2020 made history for many reasons—one of which involved a global pandemic. But, the graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program achieved another milestone: They’re the first cohort to graduate with a Messiah University doctoral degree. For Jaime Klomps, DNP ’20, the four years spent earning a terminal degree were anything but dull.

Some students use the buddy system when attending Messiah’s School of Graduate Studies. Kelly Pallavaram, M.Ed. ’21 and Kaitlin Michael, M.Ed. ’21 both pursued the teaching language and content track of the Master of Education degree.

Both English as a second language (ESL) teachers at Chambersburg Area School District in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, they first met Jan Dormer, Messiah’s associate professor of TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) at a seminar in 2018 for their district.