"I am proposing that any new health care initiatives proposed by our lawmakers include provisions to enhance the relationship between physicians and highly qualified exercise professionals. This symbiotic partnership and fundamental shift in the way we view exercise can go a long way in improving the health of our country," Drury wrote.

The full piece appears below and is available at PennLive.com.

As our lawmakers come back from their August recess overloaded with the passionate echoes of their respective constituencies, I think it is important to remember that there are two sides to the controversial health care issue.

I am not talking about the public health care option or the positions of Republicans and Democrats. No, I'm referring to a paradigm shift in our medical model from treating disease to preventing disease.

Traditionally, when thinking about health care, one immediately envisions physicians providing a medical diagnosis and treatment for an ailment. Although this is the centerpiece of our current medical system, by itself it is a reactionary approach to health care.

A more proactive model for health care should expand services provided by professionals that help prevent diseases before they require traditional medical attention. More specifically, I would like to address the role of prescriptive exercise and its potential role in a medical model of the future.

In November 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), along with literally hundreds of other network member organizations, launched a new program entitled: "Exercise is Medicine" (exerciseismedicine.org). The primary focus of this initiative is to encourage physicians and other medical professionals to assess and evaluate patient physical activity levels during every visit.

The information included in this program will help to reshape the public perception of exercise from a leisurely pastime for those who belong to health clubs, into a vital medical necessity used for promoting health.

The medical literature extolling the health benefits of regular exercise is overwhelming and exercise, in and of itself, can be used as treatment for more than 40 different chronic diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and many others.

The problem is that regular exercise requires a personal commitment most people view as daunting.

The truth is that regular physical activity, like walking and casual biking, can promote health in profound ways at an exercise intensity most people do not typically view as beneficial.

We have been conditioned to think that exercise involves tedious sweaty hours on a treadmill or time spent in a group exercise class. Well, we now know that many forms of exercise can provide both prophylactic as well as palliative health benefits and it is time to include exercise in the health care/wellness discussion.

When creating an exercise program, there are numerous factors that need to be properly addressed. What mode of exercise is best for you? How long should you exercise? How often should you exercise and at what intensity? When should you increase or decrease any of these variables and how can you find the time?
Dan Drury

All of these concerns are real and provide barriers to an active lifestyle that ultimately makes the majority of us, well, sedentary. Yet, overcoming these obstacles can result in huge benefits for each of us personally as well as for our society as a whole.

I personally don't expect every physician to slow down and provide this type of education/prescription for his or her patients. It's just unrealistic and impractical for any medical model.

Most medical school curricula do not include courses related to exercise prescription and/or adherence. Instead I am proposing that any new health care initiatives proposed by our lawmakers include provisions to enhance the relationship between physicians and highly qualified exercise professionals. This symbiotic partnership and fundamental shift in the way we view exercise can go a long way in improving the health of our country.

As Congress wrestles with different ways to optimize our government resources, I am hoping that the cost effective benefits of exercise and health promotion are included in these discussions. The recommendations from the "Exercise is Medicine" program are truly both physically and fiscally the right thing to do for our country.

Dan Drury is a professor and co-chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Gettysburg College and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

But for Katharine "GK" Hickey, Class of 2010, those three study-abroad destinations meant mapping coral fan distributions, studying functional genomics, and assisting an eye surgeon in rural Ghana.

An extensive photo gallery showcases images Hickey took while studying abroad.

Aboard a tiny island-hopper airplane, Hickey and other Gettysburg College students journeyed to an isolated research center in the Bahamas, where biology Prof. Istvan Urcuyo led a lab session required for his Tropical Marine Biology course. For two weeks in the summer of 2008, students snorkeled to observe organisms in habitats around the island of San Salvador, then presented their findings to the class. "It was an awesome opportunity," Hickey said. "I learn a lot more through hands-on experience."

The following semester, Hickey lived with a host family in Copenhagen and took classes through the Danish Institute for Study Abroad. While tackling topics like metabolic engineering, she found time to gather 600 pairs of used eyeglasses, raise $1,500 for the Unite for Sight eyecare charity, and organize her own service trip to Ghana.

There, she shadowed Dr. James Clark, the nation's sole ophthalmologist, as he traveled to mud-hut villages and served some 70 patients daily. For two grueling weeks, Hickey helped with vision testing and preparation between cataract surgeries. "It was the closest I've come to meeting a saint," she said of Clark, whom she first encountered at a conference at Yale University. Her semester also included joining a co-ed rugby team at the Technical University of Denmark and taking a side-trip to London and Edinburgh.

With two majors, biochemistry & molecular biology and health sciences, it's not easy to devote a semester to studying abroad. Hickey said she's grateful to Gettysburg College for helping her to make it all work.

She has also made the most of her on-campus experience. This past summer, a Mellon Foundation grant enabled her to collaborate with biology Prof. J. Matthew Kittelberger (with her in photo), who studies brain circuitry involved in communication among toadfish, which vocalize to attract mates and challenge competitors. Hickey not only assisted with antibody studies of brain tissue, but also learned that "it's really weird to walk into a room full of tanks of fish humming and grunting."

"I'm chronically over-involved," admitted Hickey, who is the treasurer of her class, president of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, a vice-president of the Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity, and the residence life coordinator for theme housing.

Her plans don't point toward any slowing down: "I'm focusing on lab work to get ready for med school. I really want to earn an M.D./Ph.D."

Contact: Jim Hale, online content editor

Registration will take place in the Gettysburg College Union Building (CUB) Sept. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Eisenhower Institute will also host an open house at their Gettysburg office, 157 N. Washington St., during this time. At 8 p.m., William Taubman, professor of political science at Amherst College and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, "Khrushchev: The Man and His Era," will talk in the CUB, Room 260. A book signing will follow.

On Sept. 26, a panel discussion "The Cold War, Khrushchev & Eisenhower," will take place at 9 a.m. in the CUB, Room 260. The panel will feature Richard H. Immerman, professor of history at Temple University and the Marvin Wachman Director of its Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy; Irwin Gellman, visiting scholar of history at Franklin and Marshall College; and Timothy Naftali, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Daniel Holt, former director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, will moderate it. Michael Birkner, Benjamin Franklin Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Gettysburg College, will honor members of the Eisenhower administration in attendance.

A second panel, "Russian-American Relations: Looking Forward," will begin at 1:30 p.m. in CUB, Room 260. The panel will feature Jack Matlock, former U.S. Ambassador to the USSR; James F. Collins, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia; and Roald Sagdeev, distinguished professor of physics at the University of Maryland. Louis Galambos, co-editor of the Eisenhower Papers, will moderate it.

Buses will depart from the CUB Ballroom at 3:30 p.m. for tours at the Eisenhower Farm. Registration is required for this tour.

The weekend will conclude with an 8 p.m. talk by Susan Eisenhower and Sergei Khrushchev at the Majestic Theater, moderated by Daun van Ee, co-editor of the Eisenhower Papers. Afterwards, Sergei Khrushchev, Susan Eisenhower, Jack Matlock and Richard Immerman will be available to sign copies of their books.

For more information or to register, visit www.eisenhowerinstitute.org and click on the news item on the homepage.

Contact: Caroline Sadowska, 202.628.4444, csadowsk@gettysburg.edu

The ceremony included an inaugural address by Riggs and greetings from representatives of various college constituencies. Faculty members processed in academic regalia, as did representatives from other colleges and universities. Students processed representing academic departments, clubs, and organizations. A photo gallery captures the day. Student Senate President Denitsa Koleva, Class of 2010, spoke on behalf of students.

"When asked how they would describe President Riggs, a sampling of students replied with these words, "down-to-earth, caring, involved, experienced, a teacher, nice, kind, attentive, fantastic, understanding." Although these are all desirable qualities, what we value most in President Riggs is her unpretentious nature. She always welcomes us with openness, sincerity, genuineness, and good will. In short, she cares," Koleva said.

Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students Julie Ramsey and Professor of History and Africana Studies Scott Hancock also spoke.

"We stand as your partners and among your strongest supporters. We pledge to
continue to work together to make the Gettysburg experience the best it can possibly
be," Ramsey said.

"This quality-an imaginative, analytical, intellectual empathy-is one of the many qualities that set her apart from a highly qualified field of candidates. Anyone here who has spent any time talking with Janet has experienced this quality-her ability to make you feel as though you matter. And that is no trick, no slight of hand, no false consciousness. It is genuinely who she is. When you talk with Janet, you feel as though you matter because, I'm convinced, in her mind, you do matter," Hancock said.

In her address, Riggs touched on the notions of honesty, integrity, and respect as the principles that will guide her presidency.

"I've come to realize that my job as president is to foster a community in which Gettysburgians can be their very best: a context that prepares students in the best way possible to be active participants and leaders in this quickly changing world; an education that readies our students and alumni to face issues and problems of local, national, and global significance, that develops in our students the intellectual skills necessary for their solution; an experience that promotes in our students a belief that those issues must and can be addressed, that these problems can be solved; and a culture that encourages a sense of responsibility for taking a role in their solution," Riggs said.

The ceremony, followed by a campus-wide reception, was one of several inauguration events during the weekend. In honor of Pres. Riggs' inauguration and the National Day of Service, students, alumni, trustees, and staff volunteered in an array of service learning projects on Sept. 11 in Gettysburg and in other communities. Preceding the ceremony, students presented research poster and several Gettysburg College graduates spoke on the enduring value of a liberal arts education.

The Gettysburg College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Riggs at its Feb. 6 meeting. James M. Weaver, chair of the Board of Trustees, surprised Riggs during the ceremony by announcing an endowed scholarship fund for students that has been established in her honor.

While Riggs, Class of 1977, is the first alumna to be named president, three additional graduates also led their alma mater: Milton Valentine, Class of 1850, from 1868 to 1884; Harvey Washington McKnight, Class of 1865, from 1884 to 1904; and Samuel Gring Hefelbower, Class of 1891, from 1904 to 1910.

Riggs' closing comments not only exemplified her enthusiasm to serve as the college's 14th president, but also captured the celebratory reaction of the entire campus community.

"Because for me, the opportunity to lead Gettysburg College truly is the opportunity to dance from the bottom of my heart. And I invite all of you who are Gettysburgians to dance with me," Riggs said.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

The college's Center for Public Service (CPS) has expanded the Heston Summer Experience to include 16 students who worked on community development in Gettysburg, an Apache Reservation in San Carlos, Az., Uganda, and Nicaragua. Some students worked with migrant children in Gettysburg or trained youth to become peer health educators in Nicaragua.

The program, also known as Communities In Action/Comunidades en Acción, is made possible by a gift from 1970 Gettysburg College graduate James Heston. It provides opportunities to culturally inquisitive students who cannot afford to take an unpaid internship.

CPS also supported six students who implemented service learning projects in Ethiopia, Nepal, and South Africa through grants from the Karl Mattson Fund, Davis Projects for Peace, and One Laptop Per Child.

• In Ethiopia, students worked with Project Gaia, a global initiative to develop clean-cooking alcohol stoves and fuels for disadvantaged people who suffer poor health and mortality from cooking over polluting fires.

• Working with a $10,000 grant, students established a library at the Pancha Kanya School in Nepal and promoted literacy.

• In South Africa, students worked with One Laptop Per Child to provide each child with a laptop that included content and software designed for self-empowered learning.

Throughout the summer, students have blogged about their experiences living with host families, forming local partnerships, and exchanging ideas.

"This summer has brought me closer to the greater Gettysburg that isn't just the campus," wrote Olivia Haddad '11, a Heston intern who worked with the college's Campus Kitchens project. "There have definitely been challenges, but I'm starting to see those as fences in an outdoor obstacle course."

"How do I show to the rest of the world what these kids are going through? It is difficult for kids growing up in Nepal at this time. I want people to know how they are struggling and how they are living through it," wrote Sneha Shrestha '10.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Kendra Martin, director of media relations

From building a house with Habitat for Humanity to participating in a poverty simulation workshop on campus to organizing a benefit walk in Boston, dozens of people came together to share their time and talents with a variety of agencies and organizations. Other projects included:

• In Pittsburgh, alumni, parents, and friends volunteered at Camp Lutherlyn, a Lutheran ministry organization.
• In upstate New York, alumni, parents and friends organized supplies and prepared food at Cameron Community Ministries.
• On campus, participants discussed racial myths and confronted internalized racism, asking the question, "Are we living in Post-racial America? Gettysburg?"
• On the Appalachian Trail, participants cut branches, removed trash, and cleaned and stained a shelter.
• In Gettysburg, participants helped children with homework, played games, and exchanged English and Spanish skills at The Center/El Centro, an organization that works with Latino youth.
• In Gettysburg, volunteers donned hairnets and aprons and cooked at the Campus Kitchen at Gettysburg College, a student organization that rescues food and repackages it into meals.

A photo gallery and more information about Inauguration are available at inauguration.gettysburg.edu.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

The 7:30 p.m. lecture will take place in the College Union Building, Room 260. The event is free and open to the public. Herbert's talk, "Wounded Colossus: Bringing America Back from the Brink," will highlight ways the United States is suffering from a range of self-inflicted wounds, which have undermined quality of life and diminished influence overseas.

Herbert joined The New York Times as an opinion and editorial columnist in 1993. Prior to, Herbert was a national correspondent for NBC, reporting regularly on "The Today Show" and "NBC Nightly News." A founding panelist of "Sunday Edition," a weekly discussion program on WCBS-TV, Herbert also hosted "Hotline," a weekly program on WNYC-TV. He worked at The Daily News, serving in a variety of positions including general assignment reporter, national correspondent, consumer affairs editor, city hall bureau chief and city editor. Herbert's career began in 1970 as a reporter at The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.

Herbert's talk is presented in recognition of Constitution Day, in which colleges and universities are asked by Congress to raise awareness of the founding document and its influence in the political life of the nation.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

The 10 a.m. panel discussion will take place in Masters Hall, Mara Auditorium, located near the campus fountain.

Alumni speakers include Fred Fielding '61, former White House Counsel and member of the 9/11 Commission; Mary Carskadon '69, a sleep researcher at Brown University; Jen Bryant '82, author of children's books; Kaysie Uniacke '83, managing director at Goldman Sachs; and Luke Norris '06, a Rhodes and Marshall scholar.

Michael Birkner '72, the Benjamin Franklin Professor of the Liberal Arts and professor of history at Gettysburg College, will moderate. The event is open to the public at no charge.

A schedule of events is available at on the inauguration website.

The Gettysburg College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Riggs as president at their Feb. 6 meeting. She became president immediately, having served as interim president since last March. Riggs will be inaugurated as the college's 14th president on Sept. 12. While Riggs is the first alumna to be named president, three graduates of Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College) also led their alma mater: Milton Valentine, Class of 1850, from 1868 to 1884; Harvey Washington McKnight, Class of 1865, from 1884 to 1904; and Samuel Gring Hefelbower, Class of 1891, from 1904 to 1910.

About the panelists

Fred Fielding has spent his distinguished legal career in both the public and private sectors. After graduating from Gettysburg College with a major in political science in 1961 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1964, Fielding worked for Morgan Lewis law firm in Philadelphia until 1970. He then moved to Washington, D.C., serving as legal counsel for the Nixon and Reagan administrations. Fielding left the White House in 1986 and became a senior partner at the Wiley, Rein and Fielding law firm. Fielding stepped back into the national spotlight when he joined the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, commonly referred to as the 9/11 Commission following Sept. 11, 2001. In 2007 Fielding was tapped again to serve as White House Counsel to President George W. Bush. Fielding is currently a partner at Morgan Lewis law firm in Washington, D.C. He has served his alma mater as a member of the Commission on the Future, Board of Fellows, and as a member of the Board of Trustees since 1998.

Mary Carskadon graduated with a major in psychology from Gettysburg College in 1969. She received a doctorate with distinction in neuro- and biobehavioral sciences with a specialty in sleep research from Stanford University in 1979. She is director of chronobiology/sleep research at the E.P. Bradley Hospital and professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School. Her research examines associations between the circadian timing system and sleep/wake patterns of children and adolescents. Carskadon's findings have raised public health issues regarding the consequences of insufficient sleep in adolescents and concerns about early starting times of schools. She has written more than 150 professional papers on her research and has edited several books. Carskadon has received an honorary doctor of sciences degree from Gettysburg College, Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Sleep Foundation, Outstanding Educator Award from the Sleep Research Society, and Distinguished Scientist Award from the Sleep Research Society. She is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Jen Bryant writes biographies, poetry, and contemporary and historical fiction. She graduated from Gettysburg College in 1982 majoring in French and secondary education. She received a master's in English from Arcadia University in 1999. Following her passion for language and history, she has written more than two-dozen books for children and young adults. Her recent works include Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial, an Oprah-recommended book; Pieces of Georgia, an International Reading Association Choice for Young Adults; and The Trial, which chronicles the mystery surrounding the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping through the eyes of a young girl. Bryant's recent biography, A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, was awarded a Caldecott Honor for 2009 and is a New York Times Top Ten Children's Book. Bryant has taught writing and children's literature at West Chester University and Bryn Mawr College. She received Gettysburg College's Young Alumni Achievement Award for Professional Development in 1997 and is a member of the Alumni Association Board and Gettysburg Magazine Advisory Board.

Kaysie Uniacke is a global chief operating officer for Goldman Sachs Asset Management's (GSAM) portfolio management business. She was formerly president of Goldman Sachs Trust, the Goldman Sachs mutual fund family, and was head of the Fiduciary Management business within Global Manager Strategies (GMS), responsible for business development and client service in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Uniacke also had strategic investment responsibilities implementing customized portfolios of outside managers utilizing GMS's significant manager selection resources. Prior to these roles, Kaysie managed GSAM's United States and Canadian Distribution groups. In that capacity, she was responsible for overseeing all North American institutional and third-party sales channels, marketing, and client service functions, for which client assets exceeded $200 billion. Before that, Uniacke was head of GSAM's Global Cash Services business, where she was responsible for overseeing the management of 20 taxable and tax-exempt money market funds with assets exceeding $100 billion. Joining the firm in 1983, she was named managing director in 1997 and partner in 2002. Uniacke serves on the Board of Trustees at Gettysburg College, where she graduated with a major in economics in 1983. She received an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business in 1988.

Luke Norris graduated from Gettysburg College with a major in political science in 2006. As a student, he presented his honors thesis at a national political science conference and started an international student group dedicated to halting the spread of nuclear weapons. After graduation, Norris attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar where he received two master's degrees, one in global governance and diplomacy and another in African Studies. He is Gettysburg College's third Rhodes Scholar and was also awarded a Marshall Scholarship. At Oxford, Norris helped restart a forum of scholars dedicated to interdisciplinary conversation on the world's most pressing problems. Currently attending Yale Law School, he has worked on civil rights litigation in the United States and on women's legal rights in Africa. This summer, Norris worked at a law firm on pro bono issues related to equal rights in the workplace and to the rights of vulnerable persons in international conflict.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Kendra Martin, director of media relations

More than 25 photogravures and related material on loan from The John Work Garrett Library of Johns Hopkins University will be on display Sept. 10 to Dec. 5. The gallery will host an opening reception Sept. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.
 
An accompanying symposium, “Photographing the North American Indian,” with lectures by Elizabeth Hutchinson, asst. professor at Barnard College and Columbia University; Philip Earenfight, asst. professor and director of The Trout Gallery at Dickinson College; and Shannon Egan, director of the Schmucker Art Gallery at Gettysburg College, will take place Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. A reception will follow from 6 to 7 p.m. The gallery and events are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
American photographer Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) produced the most recognizable images of Native Americans in the early twentieth century. These famous photographs were published as part of a twenty-volume series of photogravures and texts, “The North American Indian.”

To produce a photogravure, a photographic negative is etched onto the surface of a metal plate. The printing plate is then inked and printed by hand. “The North American Indian” is an aesthetic and ethnographic feat, as Curtis created artistic photographs and detailed anthropological records of all tribes west of the Mississippi River. His project was financed by banking magnate J.P. Morgan and lauded by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt insisted that Curtis’s photography was “one of the most valuable works which any American could now do” and that it was “a good thing for the whole American people.”
 
An exhibition catalogue is available. This event is funded in part by Gettysburg College’s Events Planning and Coordinating Committee. For more information, call 717-337-6125 or visit www.gettysburg.edu/gallery.
 
The 1,600 sq. ft. Schmucker Art Gallery displays exhibitions throughout the year, including shows by local, national and international contemporary artists, a faculty exhibition, a student exhibition, the annual senior art major show and traveling exhibits. The gallery is on the main floor of Schmucker Hall at North Washington and Water streets and is fully accessible. The main entrance is through the quadrangle side of the building. Free parking is available in one of the visitor spots on campus or free, two-hour parking can be found on the streets adjacent to Schmucker Hall.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with approximately 2,600 students. It is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.

By Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

Riggs' installation ceremony will take place Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. outdoors on the Beachem Portico, north side of Pennsylvania Hall. A reception will follow on Memorial Field near the College Union Building (CUB) from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
 
The Gettysburg College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Riggs at its Feb. 6 meeting. While Riggs, Class of 1977, is the first alumna to be named president, three graduates of Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College) also led their alma mater: Milton Valentine, Class of 1850, from 1868 to 1884; Harvey Washington McKnight, Class of 1865, from 1884 to 1904; and Samuel Gring Hefelbower, Class of 1891, from 1904 to 1910.
 
The ceremony will include comments by Riggs and greetings from representatives of various college constituencies. Faculty members will process in academic regalia, as will representatives from other colleges and universities. Students will process representing academic departments, clubs, and organizations.
 
Preceding the ceremony, students will hold a research poster presentation at 9 a.m. in Masters Hall, Room 117 and lobby. Several Gettysburg College graduates will also speak on the value of a liberal arts education at 10 a.m. in Masters Hall, Mara Auditorium. Alumni speakers include Fred Fielding, Class of 1961, former White House Counsel and member of the 9/11 Commission; Mary Carskadon, Class of 1969, a sleep researcher at Brown University; Jen Bryant, Class of 1982, author of children's books; Kaysie Uniacke, Class of 1983, managing director at Goldman Sachs; and Luke Norris, Class of 2006, a Rhodes and Marshall scholar. Michael Birkner, Class of 1972, the Benjamin Franklin Professor of the Liberal Arts and professor of history at Gettysburg College, will moderate. Masters Hall is located near the campus fountain.
 
All of these events are open to the public. A complete list of events is available at inauguration.gettysburg.edu.
 
In honor of Riggs' inauguration and the National Day of Service, the college’s Center for Public Service will offer a variety of service projects in partnership with community agencies throughout Adams County on Sept. 11. Participation will be limited on a first come, first to serve basis. Gettysburg College alumni will also participate in organized service projects within their communities, including Pittsburgh, Boston and New York. To volunteer locally, contact the Center for Public Service at cps@gettysburg.edu or 337-6490.
 
About Janet Morgan Riggs
Riggs has served her alma mater in a variety of faculty and administrative roles for 27 years. From March 2008 to February 2009, she served as interim president prior to being named president. She also served as provost for one year, after having served as interim provost in 2006-07, a post she also held in 1995-96. Riggs was also executive assistant to the president under President Gordon Haaland from 1991 to 1994.
 
After graduating summa cum laude from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in psychology and mathematics, Riggs received her M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology from Princeton University. She began her academic career as an instructor in psychology at Gettysburg College where she was promoted through the ranks to professor of psychology. She has also served as chair of the psychology department. Riggs has taught courses in experimental methods, social psychology and general psychology.
 
Riggs has combined a successful teaching career with active scholarship in her field of social psychology. Her research interests include expectancy confirmation, gender role stereotypes and attributions for behavior. She has published numerous articles on her research and currently serves as consulting editor for the “Psychology of Women Quarterly.”
 
Riggs is the recipient of the Gettysburg College Student Senate Faculty Appreciation Award, the Thompson Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Gettysburg College Woman of Distinction Award.
 
A native of suburban Philadelphia, Riggs and her husband Ed, also a member of the Gettysburg College Class of 1977 and a teacher at the Gettysburg Area Middle School, are the parents of three grown children.
 
Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

There was a whirlwind of activity on campus. From moving into residence halls to meetings new friends and competing in Field Day to participating in GIV Day and the First-Year Walk, the Class of 2013 has been busy.

A video highlighting the "high stakes" of bragging rights among first-year residence halls at Field Day and another video highlighting First-Year Walk speaker Bruce Gordon, a 1968 Gettysburg College graduate and former president of the NAACP, delivering a message and the Gettysburg Address appear below.

More on Orientation 2009.

Riggs wrote, "The point is that it is not so much the specific content of our courses that is at the core of the liberal arts experience, rather the value is in a way of learning."

The full piece appears below and is available at PennLive.com.

How will studying Shakespeare or cell biology or modern art help me get a job?

It's a question I hear more often these days. As the new president of a liberal arts college taking the helm during the economy's most dramatic tailspin since the Great Depression, I understand why many prospective students and their families want to be sure they understand the value of a liberal arts education.

The most straightforward answer is liberal arts colleges, at their best, provide an exceptionally effective learning environment for developing the kind of intellectual power and propensity for action that the world needs to tackle the daunting challenges we face.

A critical reading of the great works of Western and nonwestern traditions -- yes, even Shakespeare -- can help clarify our own ideas and values and better understand the perspectives of others.

Studying science provides practice in testing hypotheses and analyzing data.

Studying the arts nurtures an appreciation for the richness and endless diversity of human imagination.

The point is that it is not so much the specific content of our courses that is at the core of the liberal arts experience, rather the value is in a way of learning.

We ask students to digest and comprehend huge quantities of data, evaluate sources, communicate findings, analyze and synthesize ideas and draw and defend conclusions.

Although our culture tends to encourage students to narrow their focus and become skilled specialists in areas that they think will have immediate value in the job market, many CEOs are looking for employees with the attributes that a liberal arts education instills: critical thinking, clear communication, collaboration, an appreciation for diverse points of view, the ability to approach a problem from multiple perspectives, ethical judgment and lifelong learning skills.

These habits of mind have enduring value at a time when labor specialists tell us that 70 percent of the jobs that will be in demand in the next few decades do not even exist now.

The leaders of the future are more likely to be confident and flexible generalists who can help us clarify problems, imagine creative solutions, build a community of support and continue to learn new skills -- than those who have mastered a highly specialized skill.

Of course we have an obligation to help our students find a way to translate what they have learned into a potential career direction. Career service departments have become increasingly sophisticated in helping students identify potential matches between their skills and their interests. Internships, job-shadowing experiences and networking opportunities help students bridge the transition between school and work. These activities don't compromise the core liberal arts experience; they enhance its value.

In fact, liberal arts colleges are leaders in providing opportunities for students to experience life beyond the boundaries of campus. During this last spring break, for example, Gettysburg College students explored middle school education in urban Baltimore, honed their leadership skills in Arizona's rugged Dragoon Mountains and learned firsthand about life in Leon, Nicaragua.

Many Gettysburg students spend a semester or more abroad in a cultural context different from their own. These kinds of experiences cultivate the humility, openmindedness, dedication to dialogue and respect for multiple perspectives that support meaningful engagement with the world and enhance our graduates' ability to have an impact on their professions and on their communities.

During economic crises, the temptation to look for an immediate return on an educational investment is strong, but shortsighted.

We, at liberal arts colleges, believe future leaders in education, science, law, business, medicine and public service will be those who will think clearly and creatively, challenge conventional thinking, understand the global context and feel a responsibility to use their education for the greater good. This is the essential value of the liberal arts.

Janet Morgan Riggs is president of Gettysburg College and a professor of psychology.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

About 250 members of the class of 2013 volunteered during GIV Day, serving and learning in three areas of the Gettysburg community: environment and environmental justice, socio-economic issues, and education issues for adults, children and migrant workers. Students took part in service projects or discussions with local organizations associated within each area, leading to a broader understanding of the issues. Students then returned to campus for reflection facilitated by other students, faculty and community members. The event is the kick-off program for Gettysburg College's Center for Public Service.

The First-Year Walk looks back to Nov. 19, 1863, when Gettysburg College students, townspeople and Abraham Lincoln processed along Baltimore Street to the National Cemetery site, where the president dedicated the Soldiers' National Cemetery and delivered his Gettysburg Address. Students and facilitators met at Christ Chapel at 6:45 p.m. The group traveled east on Stevens Street, turned right onto Carlisle Street, continued around the square, and then down Baltimore Street. The walk culminated at the cemetery, where Bruce Gordon, a 1968 graduate and former president of the NAACP, read the Gettysburg Address. Other speakers included Gettysburg Mayor William Troxell and Gettysburg College President Janet Morgan Riggs.

While en route to the cemetery, orientation group leaders and volunteer facilitators familiarized first-year students with downtown businesses and historic landmarks, such as Thaddeus Stevens Hall, named after the abolitionist congressman and College co-founder who authored the 14th Amendment; the Eisenhower House, where the retired president and College trustee wrote his memoirs; the Wills House, the restored home of David Wills, who was an 1851 Gettysburg College graduate and the local attorney who invited Lincoln to deliver some remarks and Lincoln stayed at his home the night before his Address; and the Jennie Wade House, where the battle's only civilian casualty was felled by a stray bullet.

First-year students this year total approximately 730, coming from 29 states and 11 foreign countries. The class of 2013 was drawn from one of the largest applicant pools in the College's history. Some 40 percent of applicants were admitted. Total enrollment this year is forecast at approximately 2,600. The first day of classes is Aug 31.

Orientation 2009 coverage

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. It is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

The program, co-sponsored by the Office of Experiential Education and the Center for Public Service (CPS), kicked off Friday, Aug. 21, and consists of eight different trips for the Class of 2013. Each trip combines both activity and action to showcase important issues that impact both people and place. Ascent is a great way for students to learn about the unique ways the College integrates learning beyond the classroom.

Becky Brown '10, Ascent's student coordinator, was responsible for the planning, logistics, and details of the program. Office of Experiential Education Director John Regentin described Brown as "exemplifying the ideals of this institution." Brown is a member of the Experiential Education team and has traveled across the country and the world with the program. Regentin went on to say, "She doesn't sit back she goes forward. She has taken full advantage of all the leadership opportunities available at Gettysburg."

Ascent trips are led by students from CPS and the Office of Experiential Education/Gettysburg Recreational Adventure Board (GRAB). These students undergo more than 350 hours annually in training and refine their skills while leading programs throughout the year from Alaska to Nicaragua.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801

From a United States figure skating competitor to a student who sang for the Pope to one who can solve a Rubik's Cube in 38 seconds, the first-year students' experiences span a very wide spectrum. More accomplishments are listed below.

Only 40 percent were admitted from among 5,448 applicants, one of the largest applicant pools in Gettysburg College's 177-year history. "This was an amazing applicant pool and admission was highly competitive this year," said Director of Admissions Gail Sweezey.

The first-year students represent 29 states and 11 foreign countries. The following list is a highlight of the accomplishments they bring to Gettysburg.

• Fluent in Hindi and Gujarati and can hold conversations in French and Latin
• Certified EMT and Volunteer Firefighter who participated in a medical mission trip to
Ethiopia with the World Surgical Foundation
• National Merit Semifinalists
• US Figure Skating Competitor
• Girl Scout Gold Award
• World Youth Tour to Australia participant
• Competed in NY City Marathon and AIDS marathon
• Member of state championship teams for field hockey and women's lacrosse
• Co-authored paper on fluid dynamics and participated in the NJ Chemistry Olympics
• Raises sheep
• Lobbied at their State House for added funding for education.
• Founder and President of InterAct Club that organizes fundraisers for Darfur
and the Dominican Republic
• More than 236 community service hours
• Mission trip to El Salvador
• Participated in Ecological study of Vermont streams in collaboration with the University of VT,
St Michael's College and Middlebury College
• Coaches basketball for Special Olympics and is president of Special Olympics at his school.
• Students who have traveled all over the world with People to People.
• Bell ringer for Salvation Army
• Learning three different Languages - Spanish, German and Chinese
• Participated in mission trips to Dominican Republic, Biloxi, Mississippi, Namibia and West Virginia
• Traveled to Berlin and saw 300,000 people crowd streets to see Barack Obama speak.
• Studied abroad junior year in Italy.
• Active in raising puppies for Seeing Eye program
• Participated in American Cancer Society 60-mile Bike-A-Thon.
• Band has released one CD and working on a next one
• Co-founder and president of Global Cause, student-led group dedicated toward
improving quality of life for children in Africa.
• Ambassador for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which lobbied PA Legislators on a Special Diabetes Bill
• Selected to the 2009 All-Eastern Honors Orchestra. Played w/Portland String Quartet
• Plays the Mandolin
• Many students who volunteered for Katrina relief efforts
• Member of a premier brass ensemble, Bravo Brass of Philadelphia
• Raises money to send to Ghana by making jewelry, potpourri, and soap and selling it at craft shows.
• Collected over 400 pairs of eyeglasses to send to third world countries.
• Teaches gymnastics to autistic children and with other special needs.
• Member of an Israeli dance troupe and attended a high school in Israel
• Participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge-bike ride which raised money for cancer research
• Volunteered over 500 service hours to a therapeutic riding program
• Built an ice rink for community use
• Outdoor enthusiast- hiked Grand Canyon; kayaked Prince William Sound, Alaska;
scuba diving in Curacao; rode a camel in Morocco
• Worked with McCain campaign; likes political blogging
• Congressional Medal of Honor Writing Contest Award Recipient
• Robotics team finished fourth in the world last year
• Went to Italy with school choir and sang for the Pope
• Traveled on a 100-mile hike through the New Mexican desert with Boy Scouts
• Triathalon participant who is an EMT Volunteer Ambulance member and Meals on Wheels volunteer
• Can solve a Rubiks Cube in 38 seconds
• Teaches English to Hispanic students
• Conducted research on mammals and snowshoeing in the Adirondack Park, NY
• Raised money and awareness for banana farmers in Nicaragua
• Organized a project to send sneakers and sports equipment to Haitian boys
• First chair violin with the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra and Chamber Music
and played in a mariachi band.
• Direct descendant of a Declaration of Independence signer
• Rafted down a portion of the Potomac River in a homemade raft
• Backup singer for Carrie Coltrane, a Jazz/Pop artist
• Newspaper reporter for their city's daily news
• 4-H Dog show Grand Champion
• Restored a 1977 corvette
• Sings in eleven languages
• Is part of a chase crew for hot air balloon pilots
• Is a glider pilot
• Helped build irrigation systems and churches in Kenya
• Played at Carnegie Hall
• Ancestor fought in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With a student body of approximately 2,600, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.

By: Kendra Martin, director of media relations, 717.337.6801