Events

There Are No Graves Here, The Work of Mathew Samuel

Jenny — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:25:48 +0000

There Are No Graves Here, The Work of Mathew Samuel

Thursday, October 1, 2026 to Friday, January 29, 2027

Jenny Wed, 09/23/2026 - 11:25

Bogigian Gallery, Lortz Hall, �鶹��Ƶ
Opening reception: Thursday, October 1, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Exhibition runs: October 1, 2026 to January 29, 2027
Gallery hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

there are no graves here, the work of Mathew Samuel Exhibition Statement

There are no graves here, for nothing truly ends. What we call death is only a passing through, a changing of form �鶹��Ƶ —raw material returning to the earth, energy moving beyond what we can see and what we can hold. A grave is made to hold the body, but it cannot hold the life, the love, or the influence of a person that lives not just in memory but through the teaching they gave to us to move forward. This is how we live forever. Death is not the opposite of life, but part of the same great migration: a threshold rather than an ending, a return rather than a disappearance. What we fear in loss may simply be a transformation we do not yet have the eyes to understand.

But in the face of unbelievable tragedy, the romantic notion of something more gives little reprieve to our crushing grief and the ever-present question of why?

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." - Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

This special exhibition is a tribute to the work of artist and educator Mathew Samuel, who tragically passed away on July 26th, 2026, at the age of 49.

Samuel passed away on July 26, 2026, at the age of 49. Throughout his career, he served as an associate professor at Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, and Kutztown University. The exhibition's title reflects a central theme of his work and life: the belief that influence, love, and human connection transcend physical loss.

Curator's Note by Adam DelMarcelle, M.F.A., assistant professor of graphic design

Mathew Samuel is my friend, and he is my brother.

In preparing for this exhibition and the permanent archiving of my dear friend's work, I got the chance to spend time with and care for not only his amazing finished and unfinished works, but also his vast library of sketchbooks, journals, and correspondence. These are not materials often shown to the public because they are private spaces that artists use to record their thoughts, work out ideas, and sometimes bare their souls unfiltered. They can also be confessionals and diaries, places where we have the space to say anything, to scream at the world, those that disappoint us, and ourselves without fear of straining our relationships, isolating ourselves, or causing concern with those that love us at the harshness of our words or the fear in our images.

What I discovered through this time was a man that was deeply concerned for the world and his place in it. A person trying to find happiness while fearing for how he would be able to support his children and those that he loved. A man that navigated complicated relationships. A son that cared for ailing parents. A person that gave of themselves freely, only to find there was little left for them. This is all so very present within the works hanging in the Bogigian Gallery, but what is also there is a portal into the most loving friend I have ever had. He is asking us to care for one another, to know where we come from, and to consider where we may go. I love him very much, and I hope that as you spend time in this special place, I built for him, that you consider your place in this world and how you will decide to use the time you have left.

The title of the exhibition comes from a small, pocket-sized, first edition of Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" that Matt had painstakingly painted, altered, highlighted, and drawn in. I discovered this among his things. I was moved by this small book for many reasons; I think he wanted me to find this. Matt underlined passages that spoke to him throughout the book, and you will find these messages throughout the gallery �鶹��Ƶ … You will also find his drafting table and his workspace. If you close your eyes and listen, you will hear him working.

Events

Fine Arts and Dance

Campus Events

Wilson Weekend 2026

Jenny — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:51:34 +0000

Wilson Weekend 2026

Friday, September 18, 2026 to Sunday, September 20, 2026

Jenny Wed, 09/09/2026 - 11:51

Join us to celebrate all things Wilson! There will be games, athletic events, barn activities, BBQ & Brew, and the return of the �鶹��Ƶ drone show celebrating our college and community. See the full schedule here: /wilson-weekend

Events

2026 �鶹��Ƶ Drone Show

Jenny — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:23:38 +0000

2026 �鶹��Ƶ Drone Show

Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm

Jenny Tue, 09/08/2026 - 16:23

Look to the skies and experience �鶹��Ƶ's award winning drone show celebrating the College and the community. This event is free and open to the public.

Drone Show Music and Narration

At 7:45 p.m., click here to launch the show music and narration.

The 15-minute show will feature hundreds of synchronized drones illuminating the night sky with stunning imagery that pays tribute to America, Franklin County, and �鶹��Ƶ. The show will include a symbolic flight of the phoenix and other captivating visuals, accompanied by a custom soundtrack and narration accessible via smartphone.

There will be signs with QR codes taking you to a web page on your phone that will automatically play the drone show music and narration. Music begins at 7:45 p.m. (click here for music link) and the drone show begins at 8 p.m.

Parking

Parking for the public will be made available at the Hankey Parking Lot at the North entrance of campus (by Menno Haven). View the campus parking map here. Once parked follow the yard signs to the viewing area.

Viewing Area

The athletic field at the corner of Norland and Edgar Avenues has been reserved for the public to view the drone show. Simply follow the signs which will guide you from the parking area to the viewing area. Please allow approximately 5 minutes to walk to the viewing area.

Click to view this map larger.

What to Bring

Cell phone so you can access music and narration of the show.
Blanket or lawn chair.

Drone Show Music and Narration

At 7:45 p.m., click here to launch the show music and narration. There will also be QR code signs throughout the venue will link to a webpage that plays the show �鶹��Ƶ ’s music and narration.

Events

Marcia Wolfson Ray Exhibit

Jenny — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:36:05 +0000

Marcia Wolfson Ray Exhibit

Monday, September 14, 2026 to Friday, December 11, 2026

Jenny Thu, 09/03/2026 - 10:36

Sue Davison Cooley Gallery, John Stewart Memorial Library

On Monday, September 14, �鶹��Ƶ will open an exhibition of Marcia Wolfson Ray �鶹��Ƶ ’s artwork in the Cooley Gallery. The exhibition will showcase two- and three-dimensional work of Wolfson Ray, primarily a sculptor, who investigates processes of transformation and evolution of materials. The exhibition will run through Dec. 11, 2026, and is open to the public at no cost.

Marcia Wolfson Ray will deliver a public talk on Wednesday, September 16, at 2 p.m. in the Cooley Gallery. A reception will follow.

Cooley Gallery is located on the second floor of the John Stewart Memorial Library and open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Events

Fine Arts and Dance

Cumberland Valley Chorale Spring Concert 2027

Jenny — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:32:30 +0000

Cumberland Valley Chorale Spring Concert 2027

Sunday, April 25, 2027 - 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Jenny Fri, 08/21/2026 - 12:32

Join us for an afternoon of inspiring music as the Cumberland Valley Chorale at �鶹��Ƶ presents its Spring 2027 concert.

The event is free and open to the public and is made possible through the generous support of �鶹��Ƶ.

The concert will also be livestreamed at /spring-concert

Events

Fine Arts and Dance

�鶹��Ƶ Vespers 2026

Jenny — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:28:48 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Vespers 2026

Saturday, December 12, 2026 - 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Jenny Fri, 08/21/2026 - 12:28

Join us for an evening of hymns, anthems, reflections, and readings to herald in the holiday season.

The Christmas Vespers service has been a �鶹��Ƶ tradition for over one-hundred years, bringing together members of our community for an evening of hymns, anthems, reflections, and readings to herald in the holiday season. While it has taken varied forms over the past century, tonight �鶹��Ƶ ’s service is inspired by King �鶹��Ƶ ’s College �鶹��Ƶ ’s historic Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from 1918. �鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ ’s Christmas Vespers incorporates readings, anthems, and carols which speak across our divisions, remind us of our humanity, and inspire us to prepare our souls for the holiday season.

Wilson �鶹��Ƶ ’s Christmas Vespers is free and open to the public. The service will also be live-streamed here: /vespers

Events

Fine Arts and Dance

Common Hour - Friday, April 9, 2027

Jenny — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:45:53 +0000

Common Hour - Friday, April 9, 2027

Friday, April 9, 2027 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Jenny Mon, 08/17/2026 - 09:45

The Invisible Islanders: Asserting Local Identity at the Sanctuary of Apollo on Delos
Bonnie Rock-McCutcheon
Associate Professor of History
Delos, a small, unassuming island in the Cyclades, was famed across the ancient Greek world as the mythical birthplace of the god Apollo. By the sixth century BCE, it was home to a vibrant Panhellenic sanctuary that attracted visitors from across and even beyond the Greek world. It is this Panhellenic role that has drawn the attention of ancient writers and modern scholars alike, at the expense of the polis of Delos and the people who lived there. This talk looks at what we can recover about the Delians themselves, who they were and how they maintained a sense of local identity at a sanctuary whose prestige depended on its openness to Greeks from everywhere.

Join virtually via Zoom Meeting: Use this Zoom link for all Common Hour events.
https://wilson.zoom.us/j/95215627508
Meeting ID: 952 1562 7508

More information on Common Hour here.

Events

Common Hour - Friday, March 12, 2027

Jenny — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:44:50 +0000

Common Hour - Friday, March 12, 2027

Friday, March 12, 2027 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Jenny Mon, 08/17/2026 - 09:44

Using Evolutionary Computing to Explore Strategies in Tabletop Wargames
Thomas Sarachan
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Computer science is very good at building "players" of games with no randomness, such as chess and checkers. However, the programming techniques that make a great computer chess player do not work as well when the results of a move depend on how dice fall. This presentation shows how evolutionary computing, a mix of computer science and biology, can be used to distinguish good and bad strategies in a game where every move is subject to chance.

Join virtually via Zoom Meeting: Use this Zoom link for all Common Hour events.
https://wilson.zoom.us/j/95215627508
Meeting ID: 952 1562 7508

More information on Common Hour here.

Events

Common Hour - Friday, February 12, 2027

Jenny — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:43:20 +0000

Common Hour - Friday, February 12, 2027

Friday, February 12, 2027 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Jenny Mon, 08/17/2026 - 09:43

Playing Comparative Politics: Teaching with Simulations
Ela Rossmiller
Associate Professor of Political Science
The result of Rossmiller's Drusilla Stevens Mazur Research Professorship, Playing Comparative Politics, is a collection of 12 simulations for teaching and learning about comparative politics. These simulations help students understand how political choices are shaped by interests, institutions, economics, and strategic interaction. Students build skills in cost-benefit analysis, negotiation and bargaining, coalition-building, securing commitments, and more, while applying core concepts to practical problems.

Join virtually via Zoom Meeting: Use this Zoom link for all Common Hour events.
https://wilson.zoom.us/j/95215627508
Meeting ID: 952 1562 7508

More information on Common Hour here.

Events

Common Hour - Friday, November 13, 2026

Jenny — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:37:42 +0000

Common Hour - Friday, November 13, 2026

Friday, November 13, 2026 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Jenny Mon, 08/17/2026 - 09:37

Dispatches from Earthwatch: Exploring the World as a Citizen Scientist
Thanks to the generous support of alumna Joan M. Thuebel '52, Wilson students have the opportunity to pursue education beyond the classroom through the Joan M. Thuebel '52 Earthwatch Prize. The award supports participation in Earthwatch research expeditions around the world, allowing students to submit proposals for the expedition of their choice and engage in uniquely hands-on learning experiences. The following students will share their experiences from their Earthwatch expeditions:
Matt Browning �鶹��Ƶ ’26, �鶹��Ƶ “Killer Whales and Their Prey in Iceland �鶹��Ƶ ”
Amanda Monico �鶹��Ƶ ’27, �鶹��Ƶ “Amazon Rainforest along the Amazon River �鶹��Ƶ ”
Grace Dickinson �鶹��Ƶ ’28, �鶹��Ƶ “Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica �鶹��Ƶ ”

Join virtually via Zoom Meeting: Use this Zoom link for all Common Hour events.
https://wilson.zoom.us/j/95215627508
Meeting ID: 952 1562 7508

More information on Common Hour here.

Events