Albright kicked off its 15-month-long Sesquicentennial Celebration at a ceremony on October 21, where professor emeritus and retired tennis coach J. Dale Yoder, Ph.D. ’57 delivered the keynote address, Albright Through the Years: Moments to Remember.

Highlights of the ceremony included “I am Jacob Albright” (see “The Last Word”); performances by the Concert Choir and Gospel Ensemble; proclamations presented by State Senator Michael A. O’Pake, the Mayor of Reading, Tom McMahon, and Berks County Commissioner Judith Schwank; and a blessing for Albright by the College’s chaplain, the Reverend Paul E. Clark ’73.

The ceremony was followed by a festive reception featuring food and music from the 1850s.

Over the next year, there will be a calendar full of Sesquicentennial milestone events, a series of “Sesqui Stories,” exhibits placed throughout campus, an interactive web site and commemorative items on sale. For more information about Albright’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, go to www.albright.edu/150.

Albright College has received a $4.75 million gift from Margaret K. Schumo of Wyomissing, Pa., to establish the Schumo Center for Fitness and Well-Being at Albright. This is the largest gift in the College’s history.

A previous issue of The Albright Reporter reported on the College’s planned 9,000- square-foot fitness and wellness center to replace the current 2,800-square-foot facility.

This $4.75 million gift will expand the College’s initial plan, turning the Center into a two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility that will house:

• Cardiovascular fitness room
• Aerobic/multi-purpose room
• Weight room
• Nutrition classroom with kitchenette
• Meditation area/classroom
• Locker rooms
• Concession area/vending lounge
• Atrium
• Wellness offices
• Conference space

The Center will be new construction on the north and west side of the Bollman Center, extending into the Bollman parking lot. It will also offer a wide variety of wellness and fitness programming.

Albright College will form a committee, including faculty and students, to work with the donor to plan credit and non-credit programs.

Margaret Schumo grew up across the street from the Albright campus on Union Street, and says the campus was her playground. She attended 13th and Union Elementary School and Northeast Middle School. She went on to Northwest High School, and graduated from Reading High School and Cornell University.

As a real estate developer and owner of Spruce Lane Development Company, Inc., Schumo created The Inner Circle custom home community in Wyomissing, Pa. She is the widow of the late Robert M. Schumo, retired president of Pennsylvania Steel Foundry and Machine Company.

“To paraphrase the president of General Motors, ‘What’s good for Albright is good for Berks County,’” Schumo said. “I truthfully feel this is helping Albright. To a school the size of Albright, my contribution makes a real difference. It will help Albright attract topflight students.”

Schumo and her daughter, Cynthia S. Lynn of Vermont, “share a passion” for fitness and wellness. “From a physiological standpoint, it’s just a smart way to make a contribution that matters to a great number of people. Having a great environment in which to expend energy is a good first step on the road to wellness,” Lynn said.

President McMillan added, “Both Mrs. Schumo and Ms. Lynn care about well-being in a holistic sense and establishing the center will benefit not just our students but will be a resource to the entire county. It will make a real difference to this college and we envision that this center will be a model for educators throughout the nation.”

The new Shirk Stadium was dedicated on September 24, 2005 at the Albright Lions’ first home football game against King’s College.

At a reception hosted by the Red & White Club, President Lex McMillan presented an autographed football to the Shirk family in recognition of the significant and long time support they have given to Albright. It was signed by the football team and coaches, Board Chair Sal Cutrona ’73 and President McMillan.

Prior to the start of the game, Bill Beaver, grandson of Gene and Annadora Shirk, joined the Albright football captains at mid-field for a ceremonial coin toss. The Albright Lions won the game against King’s with a heart-stopping, “Hail Mary” pass as the final buzzer went off, resulting in a 27-24 win for the Lions.

The new 5,000-seat multi-sport stadium, which is the first project in the College’s 10-year master plan for athletic facilities, is a joint venture with the Reading School District. Reading School  district contributed $2 million to the $6 million facility.

They have used Shirk Stadium for football since at least the early 1940s. A $1 million gift from Albright alumnus and former star athlete John D. Scholl ’69, added to College funds, allowed Albright to move the project quickly forward.

The stadium sports a new field house/ grandstands building, new stands, new locker rooms, press box and main entrance/concessions building. The new artificial turf field is designed for football, field hockey, soccer, rugby and lacrosse. The original stone columns topped by lions standing at the stadium’s original entrance at 12th and Exeter Streets have been preserved.

photos: Ron Romanski