Wilkes University Alumni Association

Wilkes University announces the addition of Women’s Wrestling! Exciting news today at our Athletics press conference. Watch live here: https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1148196 Wilkes Wrestling Jon Laudenslager

Calling all Wilkes Field Hockey Alumni!

Join us back on campus Sept 14-15. Watch the current team play, celebrate seniors, and tailgate with families. Plus, play a friendly alumni game on Sunday. Register now at community.wilkes.edu/fieldhockey24 and see you there!

HOMECOMING SCHEDULE IS OUT! Join us for a weekend of fun, food, drinks, games, cheering on our current Colonels and connecting with old and new friends! Click BELOW to see the full schedule to start planning! Registration will begin in August.

https://community.wilkes.edu/s/344/23/interior.aspx?sid=344&gid=1&pgid=880

Tune in to our virtual informational session via Zoom on Thursday, July 18, to learn more about our planned alumni travel for 2025!

REGISTER HERE--> http://tinyurl.com/23c3wktz

We're headed to...
✅ Portugal
✅ Canada
✅ Italy
✅ Iceland

https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2024-07-04/president-of-wilkes-university-celebrates-first-independence-day-as-american-citizen

President of Wilkes University celebrates first Independence Day as American citizen Australian-born Greg Cant's plans changed when he and his family fell in love with the United States.

We have announced our 2025 alumni travel plans! We're headed to...

✅ Portugal
✅ Canada
✅ Italy
✅ Iceland

Learn more and start booking by visiting our travel site!

https://community.wilkes.edu/s/344/23/interior.aspx?sid=344&gid=1&pgid=408

Congratulations to our very own Jerry Rickrode, Senior Gifts Officer on our Advancement team at Wilkes! Jerry was also the head basketball coach at Wilkes for 22 years.

NEWS: Jerry Rickrode has been inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame as a member of the 2024 Class!

382-191 career coaching record; 3x MAC Freedom Coach of the Year; 4x Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year; Four Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights, and one Final Four appearance; Coached 38 All-Conference Players; Coached 3x MAC Freedom Player of the Year & Jostens Division III National Player of the Year (Dave Jannuzzi)

Wilkes University will celebrate its legacy of educating first-generation college students at the 2024 Founders Gala on Thursday, May 30. Now in its tenth year, the gala will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Westmoreland Club, 59 South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Proceeds from the event benefit the First Generation Scholarship Fund, established in 2014 to provide support for tuition, fees, and course materials for students who are the first in their family to attend a college or university. The fund has since raised over $4 million.

This year, the University will honor three alumni at the gala. The President’s Award, bestowed annually to those whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of Wilkes University, will go to Harry and the late Beverly Hiscox.

The Chairperson’s Award, presented to individuals who have made a positive impact upon their profession or community and in the spirit of the mission of Wilkes University, will go to Anthony (Tony) DaRe.

Learn more: https://news.wilkes.edu/2024/05/20/wilkes-university-to-present-presidents-medal-to-harry-and-beverly-hiscox-at-the-founders-gala-on-may-30/

Are you interested in learning more about the Alumni Association? Participate in our open board meeting on Friday, June 7, at 1 p.m. (in-person or virtual) to learn how we help provide programs for our blue and gold alumni. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at [email protected] if you are interested!

This past Wednesday, the class of ‘24 gathered at Radanos to celebrate their Final Farewell! 🩵💛 We wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors, and look forward to graduation tomorrow! 🥳

We had a successful Hall of Fame 2023 Induction Ceremony on April 27! Thank you to all those who came and we congratulate all our honorees!

The five individuals from the 31st class of inductees are (from left): --Thomas Dunsmuir (Facilities/Equipment, Softball),
-Anthony Dattolo '12 (Wrestling),
-Addy Malatesta (Administration, Field Hockey, Softball)
-Melanie (Nolt) Hamley '13 (Women's Tennis)
-Phil Wingert (Administration, Men's Soccer, M/W Tennis)

A pretty glimpse of spring from the alumni office porch 🌤🌷🌸

Our Fifth Annual Ralston Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports Wilkes Athletics, was held on April 29 at the Wyoming Valley Country Club. It was a fun day had by all! Thanks again to all of our sponsors, golfers and volunteers!

Click below to watch a slideshow of the event – courtesy of our photo sponsors, Aaron ’93 and Sabeth ’95 Albert!

http://wilkes.edu/ralston24

2024 Ralston Memorial Golf Tournament

We had an amazing time at our Fifth Annual Ralston Memorial Golf Tournament! A sold out tournament, beautiful weather, a great group of people and lots of fun made for another successful event. Thank you all who participated and all who sponsored!

April 2024

Dunsmuir enjoyed a four-decade career as a fixture in Colonels athletics serving as the department's Equipment and Facilities Coordinator. Dunsmuir joined Wilkes in 1982 where he was responsible for the equipment and laundry services for all Colonels sports teams. He was also the point person for game-day setup and facility maintenance along with working with vendors to purchase equipment and uniforms for all teams. Dunsmuir also served as the liaison for Athletics with the Wilkes' Facilities department. Dunsmuir will be honored at our 2023 Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on 4/27! Learn more about Dunsmuir below!

https://gowilkesu.com/honors/hall-of-fame/thomas-dunsmuir/220

Phil Wingert joined Wilkes in 1982 as men's soccer head coach, serving on the Colonels sidelines for 35 years before transitioning to his athletic administration role in 2017. He also coached the Colonels men's tennis team for four seasons (1987-90) and the women's squad for two seasons in 1985 and 1986. In 2017, Wingert announced his retirement from coaching and continued serving as Associate Athletic Director where he helped manage the 60-plus Wilkes athletic staff and served as the main contact for athletic scheduling and compliance for all 23 teams. Wingert will be honored at our 2023 Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on 4/27! Learn more about Wingert below!

https://gowilkesu.com/honors/hall-of-fame/phil-wingert/219

Addy Malatesta will be honored at our 2023 Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on 4/27! Following a 34-year career, including 23 serving as Athletic Director, Malatesta left her mark in ways that not many individuals have over her time at Wilkes. Among her most notable honors, Malatesta was the recipient of the Board of Governors Award in 1994, the Ancestral Colonels "Esprit de Corps" award in 2008 and received the Wilkes President's Award for Excellence in 2016. Under her guidance, the athletics program grew to as many as twenty-three varsity teams with over five hundred and fifty student-athletes. Learn more about Malatesta below!

https://gowilkesu.com/honors/hall-of-fame/addy-malatesta/218

Melanie (Nolt) Hamley '13 is another one of our honorees for our 2023 Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on 4/27! The most decorated player in Wilkes women's tennis history, Hamley earned MAC Freedom Player of the Year honors all four years from 2010-2013. She was also a four-time First Team All-MAC Freedom selection and named to the MAC All-Century Team. Learn more about Hamley below!

https://gowilkesu.com/honors/hall-of-fame/melanie-nolt-hamley/222