Mar 25, 2011 By For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University celebrated the 161st anniversary of its charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during a special ceremony that was held Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Waynesburg.

Introduced by university President Timothy R. Thyreen, the Rev. Dr. Stuart D. Broberg, senior pastor of The Church of the Covenant located in Washington, served as the Charter Day speaker.

Broberg’s Charter Day Convocation Address, “The Seed of a Nation,” encouraged those in attendance to reflect on the words of William Penn, founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, inscribed in the rotunda at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

“That there may be room there for such a holy experiment, for the nations want a precedent and my God will make it (Pennsylvania) the seed of a nation. That an example may be set up to the nations + that we may do the thing that is truly wise and just.”

After reading Penn’s words, Broberg explained that Waynesburg University was also to become the seed of a nation.

“Waynesburg University was founded and granted a charter precisely to plant seeds in human hearts,” he said. “When seeds are planted by the hand of the living God, good things are going to happen.”

In addition to Broberg’s address, Charter Day included a formal procession of faculty and recognition of the 52 students chosen for the 2011 “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” directory.

Prior to the students being introduced by the Rev. Richard “Skip” Noftzger, senior vice president for Institutional Planning, Research and Educational Services at Waynesburg University, Broberg summed up his address by saying that the selected students are “living illustrations” of his sermon. Noftzger agreed.

“Seeds are planted every day at this university, and these students represent the very vital mission of God in this place,” Noftzger said.

The students were selected by the Waynesburg University nominating committee comprised of University officials including deans, faculty members and department chairs. The criteria for the nomination of students given to the selection committee by “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” included choosing students who “enhance the positive image of American youth through their contributions to community and school.”

Because curricular and extracurricular programs at schools vary greatly, each college or university is assigned a quota of nominees.

The quota is carefully calculated to ensure a well-rounded representation of the student body.

All nominations must be endorsed by the college or university’s faculty or administration.

The students selected for “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” include the following Greene County students:

n Kaitlin A. Fox, a senior elementary/special education major from Waynesburg;

n Melissa E. Fox, a senior elementary/special education major from Waynesburg;

n Jessica R. Husman, a senior biology (pre-professional) major from Waynesburg;

n Corbin J. Semple, a senior information technology major from Waynesburg;

n Madeline R. Snyder, a senior elementary education major from Jefferson;

n Brandi L. Ullom, a senior international culture major from Waynesburg.