President's Newsletter

Dear Juniata Community, 

Summer is off to a tremendous start at Juniata!

June began with exciting news that the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing officially approved our new nursing program. It’s an important milestone not only for the College but for the entire region, as there is a great need for skilled nursing in our local communities. Our inaugural class will begin this fall. I am incredibly grateful to the faculty, staff, trustees, and donors whose leadership and dedication made this vision a reality.

The energy continued into Alumni Weekend as we welcomed Juniatians back to campus to celebrate milestones, achievements, and the sense of place and purpose that draws us together. The Class of 1975 made their 50th Class Reunion one for the record books when they presented the single highest 50th reunion class gift in the College’s history–$8,305,719.75!

We recognized four distinguished alumni for their accomplishments: Lisa (Masood) Giles ’80 of Kiawah Island, S.C., earned the College’s Alumni Achievement Award; Erin V. Satterthwaite ’10 from Santa Barbara, Calif., was awarded Juniata’s Young Alumni Achievement Award; Dr. Pat Bruno ’66 of Selinsgrove, Pa., received the William E. Swigart Alumni Humanitarian Award; and David A. Corman ’77 of York, Pa., was honored with the Harold B. Brumbaugh Alumni Service Award.   

Juniata, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, hosted the Central Regional Rural Health Summit on June 23. The second in a series of summits taking place across the state, “Common Challenges, Local Difference” was attended by more than 100 participants from Huntingdon and surrounding counties.

We were honored to host this event as we appreciate the power of Juniata to serve as an anchor institution in the region fueling the local economy. This recognition from the state underscores our rural location as an asset reinforcing the relevance of our distinct academic programs tailored to address the challenges and opportunities of rural communities.

Thank you for being a part of all of these successes and more! As we prepare to welcome the Class of 2029 and more than 30 transfer students alongside prospective students through summer orientation and first look events, will you consider recommending Juniata to a student you know through the Community Scholarship program?

Warm regards,
President James A. Troha

A 45th reunion thwarted by a global pandemic made the members of Juniata College’s Class of 1975 more determined than ever to make their 50th one to remember. During the All Class Dinner at Alumni Weekend, the class presented their 50th Class Reunion legacy gift–the single highest 50th reunion class gift in Juniata’s history.

The Class of 1975 raised $8,305,719.75 over five years to support many areas across the College now and in the future. Each 50th Class Reunion legacy gift reflects a longstanding commitment over time, which includes planned, annual, and estate gifts rather than a one-time lump sum.

A portion of the overall gift, $660,000, is directed to renovations to South Hall (which will be renamed Gibbel Hall in honor of Henry Gibbel ’57 and his wife, Joanie), with the remainder directed to endowments, capital projects, annual scholarships, and academic and athletic programs.

Class of 1975’s Legacy Gift committee co-chairs Geoff Clarke ’75, Keith Jones ’75, Jeff Longenecker ’75, and committee members Bruce Jones ’75 and Fred Wulczyn ’75 rallied their classmates to support the cause.