Alumni Spotlights

Westminster alumni are involved in a wide variety of professions and service.  Each month Alumni Council spotlights an alum and their journey since graduation.  Suggestions for alumni to spotlight are welcome.  Please send names and contact information to the alumni office, alumni@westminster.edu.

Mark Finkelpearl, a Westminster College graduate of 1989, volunteered to share his Westminster story. As a Telecommunications major with an English minor, Finkelpearl focused his college career heavily on his experience in radio and television. As a native of Pittsburgh, Finkelpearl appreciated the difference in Westminster’s accessibility, particularly in the television and radio stations, which a university could not offer. He was also influenced by the unique, interesting appeal of Westminster’s faculty, both within the Telecommunications and English departments. Westminster has affected Finkelpearl deeply on a personal level, as well. Westminster taught him to be an open-minded individual. As liberal arts education promises, students will leave “better and more well-rounded as a person.” Furthermore, Westminster’s friendly atmosphere gave Finkelpearl lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. Additionally, Westminster has proved to be helpful for Finkelpearl in career application and practicality. He explains, “It was about trying to gain real world experience inside the school that could then apply to your career down the road.” His career certainly has taken him quite a ways down the road, and he moved to Los Angeles, California a year after graduation. Finkelpearl believes that to accomplish your dreams and goals, you have to embrace change and move forward fearlessly. “I think that’s the best piece of advice you can have. Grab life by the horns and take command of your life moving forward and don’t just wait for opportunities to come to you, go out and create opportunities for yourself.”

To read the full interview with Mark Finkelpearl, click here.