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Monday, April 13, 2026

Westminster College has partnered with JCL Development to launch a new civic entrepreneurship fellowship aimed at supporting economic revitalization in the region. 
 
As part of the partnership, JCL Development—led by Sharon, Pa., investors, community advocates and philanthropists Jim Landino and his wife Jen Krezeczowski—has committed funding to establish the Economic Development Fellowship Program. The program will be housed at Westminster College and operated through the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center (WEC).
 
The fellowship will provide up to five students annually with a $5,000 stipend over two academic years, along with training in entrepreneurship and community-based economic development. Fellows will work on real-world projects, gaining hands-on experience while supporting revitalization efforts in Sharon, Mercer County, Lawrence County and the broader region.
 
The Westminster Entrepreneurship Center is currently engaged in several projects supporting Sharon-area organizations and small businesses. These efforts are focused on strengthening the local economy, fostering innovation and enhancing the quality of life throughout the region. While many current initiatives are based in Sharon, the fellowship is designed to support projects and partnerships across multiple communities.
 
“This fellowship is a game changer for both our students and the community,” said Eric Gaber, senior director of the Westminster Entrepreneurship Center. “It provides students with meaningful, real-world experience while directly contributing to the revitalization of Sharon. They won’t just be learning about economic development—they’ll be doing it.”
 
Gaber said the program will give students a competitive advantage while delivering measurable impact in the region.
 
“Our students will graduate with a level of experience that sets them apart, and at the same time, they’ll be helping to drive tangible progress in Mercer County as well as other regions,” Gaber said. “This is exactly the kind of experiential learning that creates lasting change.”
 
The fellowship is a two-year program for students in their junior and senior years, or the graduate equivalent. In addition to financial support, fellows will participate in a civic entrepreneurship course focused on the region's redevelopment and receive mentorship from leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
 
The fellowship program will be led by a newly appointed director, set to begin June 1, with support from a WEC graduate assistant. They will oversee fellows and coordinate projects with community stakeholders.
 
Lindsey Krezeczowski, director at JCL Development, is working with Westminster to align fellowship activities with broader redevelopment efforts.
 
JCL Development said the partnership reflects its ongoing commitment to Sharon and the surrounding region and a shared goal of developing local talent to support long-term economic growth.
 
The College expects the fellowship to serve as a model for place-based, experiential learning in civic and economic development.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Westminster College’s online student newspaper, The Holcad, has named Emilly Tallis as the editor-in-chief for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Friday, April 10, 2026

Westminster College environmental science major Avery Keenan from Cranberry, Pa., recently demonstrated how a student-led beekeeping initiative is creating buzz beyond campus at the Undergraduate Research at the Capitol Pennsylvania (URC-PA) poster conference in Harrisburg. 

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Westminster College will kick off its Giving Day 2026 campaign, Titans Together, on Thursday, April 16, inviting alumni, friends, students and supporters to come together in a collective effort to support student success and institutional priorities.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

The class of 1974 history major, Jim Giel, was recently dubbed a changemaker in his suburban Pittsburgh community for the exhaustive list of service and volunteer commitments in which he is an active participant. We could give him the same moniker here at WC about his five-decades-long service to the Westminster College community. The former WC alumni council president talks to us about the special reasoning for putting his support behind student scholarships in the upcoming Giving Day '26 campaign.

You were recently featured as a “Changemaker” in North Hills magazine. What inspired you to become so involved in your community?

I love living in my hometown of Glenshaw/Shaler Township, PA. My family has a long history in the area, and my dad operated a residential and commercial garage door business for almost 70 years, so our family was well known. I was active as a teenager in my church youth group at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church where we did annual summer work camps throughout the U.S. led by our youth pastor, another Westminster graduate, Rev. Terry Stoops '63. Through these activities, I learned that volunteers are the heart of the community. When I returned home from college, I stayed involved with church activities as a member of session, a deacon, and also a trustee. These experiences and offices led to being involved with many nonprofits over the years such as Travelers Aid, North Hills Community Outreach, a food pantry, River City Brass Band, and Shaler North Hills Library as well as 16 years serving on the local Shaler Area School Board as a member and board president. We were fortunate to have several Westminster grads, like Dave and Beth Interthal and Steve Seidelson, on our teaching staff and our administrative team (Brad Ferko and Billie Rondinelli). I also was involved with the parent-teacher organizations and boosters organizations. All of these organizations rely on volunteers to run and to provide opportunities for a healthy and vibrant community. The skills and knowledge I attained from each organization, as well as my professional experiences, aided me in successfully leading these organizations as well as encouraging others to get involved for the betterment of the particular organization. I have also been involved with alumni activities and the WC Alumni Council and my reunion committees since graduating in 1974.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Dr. Timothy Grieve-Carlson, assistant professor of religion at Westminster College, has earned the institution’s 2025–2026 Henderson Lectureship Award.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The Westminster College Percussion Ensemble will present its Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in Will W. Orr Auditorium.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Westminster College has been awarded a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support ongoing efforts to prevent campus sexual assault and enhance resources for survivors.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The term “Swiftie” may have started in the music world, but it’s now earning attention in academic circles. At Westminster College, professors Dr. Jamie Chapman and Dr. James Rhoads are exploring what it means to claim an identity that has become a global label for fans of pop star Taylor Swift. 

Friday, March 20, 2026

Q & A with Kirsten Colen, a 1984 computer science graduate from Charlottesville, VA: