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2828Albright Reporter 2929
Fall 2009
Although a small woman in stature, Seeta Rees ’09M fills the room with her exuberance and broad, beautiful smile. Her tales from childhood paint a picture of a journey, one of learn-ing, growing and giving back.
One of six children, Rees grew up in Guyana, a small, English-speaking country on the eastern boarder of Venezuela. Her parents were hard-working and taught her to do the best she could. “My family didn’t have much, but my mother always found a way to get me enough mon-
but not about to wallow in the hardships of life, Rees enrolled at the university, where her sons were already students. “It wasn’t easy working and carrying a full load as a university student, but my sons were a wonderful help,” she says. Rees is proud of her sons, who she taught to become responsible young men.
Both graduates of the university, Rees’ sons remain in Guyana. “I believe you truly know that someone loves you when they help you to become inde-pendent,” Rees says. “That’s what their father and I did for them as they were growing up. Today, their life is my love for them.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in May 2005, Rees moved to Douglass-ville, Pa., to marry her current husband, David. Thinking she needed a GED to get a good-paying job in this country, Rees went to RACC to find out what she needed to do.
But a bachelor’s degree was more than enough to qualify for a part-time teaching position, which they had available at the time. “I was so excited! I
a yearning for Learning; Seeta Rees ’09M
just love teaching. I can have the worst day and be totally exhausted when I walk into the classroom, but by the end of the class, I am re-energized and feel great!”
Yet, working and volunteering wasn’t enough to keep Rees busy. So she enrolled in Albright’s master’s in education program. It was a time filled with ex-citement and uncertainty. Rees’ dark, happy eyes turn serious as she says, “I can’t take all the credit for gaining my master’s. Dr. (Sarel) Fuchs always made me feel like everything was going to be okay. I couldn’t have done it without her.”
The first in her family to earn a degree, let alone a master’s degree, Rees was filled with gratitude as she walked across the stage on graduation day.
“When I saw my mother, we both cried,” she says. “It has been such a long journey from the days when I rode that bus into Venezuela, but I felt the same love, pride and encouragement from my mother that day. Her eyes were filled with tears, but they were smiling and dancing, too.” n - Jessica L. Morris
ey to take the bus to Venezuela, where they offered free courses in Spanish at the institute there,” Rees says. As she traveled to and from classes, Rees knew her perseverance would pay off, and it did – when she was hired to teach at that same institute.
Today, an English as a Second Language teacher at Reading Area Commu-nity College (RACC), a volunteer in Berks County, and a graduate of Albright’s master’s in education program, Rees thrives on being active in her profession and her community. “I didn’t want to come to the United States to just live here—I wanted to be able to help support the people around me,” she says. In 2005, after arriving in the U.S., Rees became a tutor with the Berks Literacy Council, which she still does today.
Rees moved to the United States after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guyana. She started taking classes there after her husband of 23 years died suddenly of a heart attack. Heart broken by her husband’s death,
’06Amanda A. Carroll is a high school
special education teacher for the Boyertown
(Pa.) Area School District. Amanda is also
a swimming coach at Methacton Aquatic
Club in Fairview Village, Pa. She resides in
Limerick, Pa.
Bridget Fitzgerald and Matthew Bal-
listreri announce their engagement.
Matthew, who attended Albright from
2002 to 2003, proposed to Bridget at
Sylvan Pond on the Albright campus.
Bridget and Matt met at Albright’s RSA
spring formal. Bridget is a preschool
director. Matt is an English teacher for
the Greater Egg Harbor (N.J.) Regional
High School District. A summer 2011
wedding is planned.
Esrom Montesino was recently sworn in
and is serving as a police officer in Washing-
ton, D.C. Esrom graduated from the Metro-
politan Police Academy in Washington.
Caitlin Zgura and her fiancé, Thomas
Ruzenski, announce the birth of their daugh-
ter, Cassandra Jade Ruzenski, born Jan. 1,
2009. Cassandra Jade weighed in at 5 lb 15
oz. The family resides in Bechtelsville, Pa.
’09Jared M. Epler is an admission counselor
at Albright. Jared resides in Shillington, Pa.
Brandon Ruppert recently joined the
sales support staff at Cohen Produce
Marketing, Aspers, Pa. Brandon assists
with sales orders, shipment tracking, and
promoting and marketing the company. He
resides in Biglersville, Pa.
Pr
Of
ILE
S
Deaths’33Helen M. (McCorkle) Kummerer, 97,
died July 15, 2009. Helen was a teacher
for 20 years at an elementary school in
Springfield, Ohio, and a teacher for seven
years in the Cupertino (Calif.) Union School
District. She earned a graduate degree from
Miami University. She was predeceased by
her husband, Harry Kummerer, and a son,
Karl. Survivors include a son, Robert; two
grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
’38Samuel B. Detweiler, DDS, 93, died June
17, 2009. Samuel had a dental practice in
Schuylkill Haven, Pa., for 66 years, retiring
in 2004. He was past president of Schuylkill
Dental Society, past president of the fourth
District Dental Society, past trustee of the
PA Dental Association, a lifetime member
of the International College of Dentists,
and a member of the American College of
Dentists. He served as past president of
the Fire Relief Association, Fire Trustees,
and Schuylkill Haven Rotary Club. He was
past president and founding member of the
’05
Marissa Magid, D.O., was recently
awarded the doctor of osteopathic
medicine degree from Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine. Ma-
rissa continues her medical training at
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center,
Willingboro, N.J., and Virtua Memorial
Hospital, Mt. Holly, N.J. She resides in
Clayton, N.J.
Ashley M. (Seilhamer) Soverns and Sean
W. Soverns were married April 25, 2009, in
Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro,
Pa. The couple resides in Waynesboro.
Schuylkill Haven Little League. Samuel was
a member of the Schuylkill Lodge F&AM of
Orwigsburg, Pa., Reading Lodge of Perfec-
tion, Schuylkill Haven American Legion Post
38, and VFW Post 4385. He was a graduate
of Temple University Dental School. He was
predeceased by his wife, Arlys (Yeich) Det-
weiler, and a son, Charles. Survivors include
a daughter-in-law, Dolores Detweiler; five
grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
’41Alice L. (DeLong) Forester, 89, died July
2, 2009. Alice was a vice president for
American Bank and later CoreStates Bank
until her retirement. She was a former
Republican committee member for Lower
Alsace Township, Pa. She was an avid
reader and loved to cook, recently working
on a family cookbook. Alice was an alum-
nae associate and past president of Phi
Beta Mu at Albright. She was predeceased
by her husband, John D. Forester. Survivors
include five children: D. Michael, Mary
Alice Forester, D.O., John D. Jr., Thomas
and Philip; 13 grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Margaret (Schmeelk) Hanley, 90, died
Aug. 16, 2009. Margaret was a teacher and
counselor for the Boyertown (Pa.) School
District for 36 years, retiring in 1978. She
was a member of the Boyertown Women’s
Club and the Boyertown Association of the
Pennsylvania Education Retired Teachers As-
sociation. She volunteered for the American
Red Cross. Surviving is a nephew, William
H. Schmeelk.
Photo courtesy of Seeta Rees
Jordan M. Mauger was featured in a
clip on NBC 10 News about an online
shopping site, Shop It To Me. Jordan was
interviewed about the site, which he uses
frequently. He is a copywriter for QVC.com.
He resides in Philadelphia, Pa.
’07Audrey K. Eshleman is pursuing a
master’s degree in the physician assistant
studies program at Chatham University in
Pittsburgh, Pa. Audrey is a recipient of the
St. Paul Lutheran Scholarship. She received
a level one regular mentor certification by
the College Reading and Learning Associa-
tion and completed the end-of-life educa-
tion training program with Susquehanna
Health Home Care and Hospice. She resides
in Williamsport, Pa.
Lori E. Gabert recently received a master
of science in clinical-counseling psychology
with a concentration in trauma studies from
Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, Pa. Lori
is pursuing the requirements to become a
licensed professional counselor. She resides
in Pennsauken, N.J.
Cue, 2006
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