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

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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