What a Difference a Day Makes

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Manor College Raises Historical Amount During #GivingTuesdayNow Fundraiser  How can one day and one person make a difference? This is what Manor College asked in advance of the recent #GivingTuesdayNow campaign that took place earlier this month. An unbelievably supportive couple made a wonderful challenge grant to the institution, which hosts mostly first-generation college students at its campus right outside Philadelphia.  “Of all the colleges, in all the states, in all of our nation, what’s the likelihood that a board leader is working on a treatment for COVID-19?” asks Manor College President, Dr. Jonathan Peri. “Well…it’s happening here at Manor College.” Leonard Mazur, who is currently Manor College’s Chairman of its Board of Trustees’ Ukrainian Community Committee, and Chairman of the Board’s Nominating Committee, is working on a treatment with his company Citius Pharmaceuticals, and a collaborating organization, Novellus. Their work is in cell-reprogramming technology that will treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with Covid-19. “We believe we have the key elements in place from a clinical design and manufacturing point of view to evaluate this novel cell therapy approach to deal with the current pandemic,” said Myron Holubiak, Chief Executive Officer of Citius. “ARDS is a very serious complication for many patients suffering from COVID-19, and is believed to account for about 80% of the deaths in ventilated patients. There is no proven or FDA-approved treatment for it, other than oxygen therapy, including use of mechanical ventilation, and fluid management. We look forward to our FDA discussions and are excited to be at the cusp of what could be a novel and effective therapy for ARDS.” Dr. Peri and Leonard speak often about the leadership of Manor College. Recently, Leonard shared how a huge bald eagle landed in a tree right outside of his window.  It had been the first time Mazur had ever seen one so close up and so near his home.  What are the chances, that when our nation needs it most, that the most majestic national symbol of leadership would perch just outside his door? “Leonard and his wife Helena both know how important finding a cure to COVID-19 is to our families and to the world,” says Dr. Peri. “They also know Manor College needs to keep educating the leaders of tomorrow to soar into their communities and handle crises like these in the future.” Together, the Mazurs encouraged gifts to Manor College. And their hope was their gift of $10,000 would be matched by the community.  The institution gave themselves one month to match that generosity.  However, it only took one day! Kelly Peiffer, VP of Marketing Communications and Advancement for Manor College, said, “We could not believe how the donations came in! In just a day, we raised nearly $11,000. That funding will help support our students who are struggling during this health crisis. One day, and one especially generous couple, made an incredible difference.” The good news continues. This year Manor College honored more than 100 students as degrees were conferred online. A graduation ceremony was postponed until October 22. “We couldn’t have asked for better supporters,” says Dr. Peri, “and we know the students felt their encouragement as they worked diligently to end this semester strong. We call it #ManorStrong.”

Standout Student, and First-Ever Bachelor Degree Graduate, Zachary Metz, Receives First-Time Kyle McIntosh Memorial Award

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Manor College creates new student leadership award to honor late alumnus, Kyle McIntosh ’16 Manor College held a Virtual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony on April 28 to honor current students who display outstanding leadership in the community and with their peers.  This year, a new award was added to the list—The Kyle McIntosh Memorial Award. This award recognizes a student leader who embodies the spirit, energy, kindness and love of Manor, that Kyle McIntosh ‘16 personified, an alumnus that tragically passed away in February of 2020. McIntosh was heavily involved on campus, planning student activities, hosting events and more. He was a diligent student who achieved stellar grades, made deep friendships and was always the life of the party – cracking jokes, having fun and making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. The entire Manor community is deeply saddened by his loss.  Allison Mootz, Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, said, “Kyle was a bright ray of sunshine on a gloomy day. We stayed in touch after he left Manor College and went to complete his bachelor’s degree at LaSalle University. I followed his successes and cheered him on. In January, Kyle stopped by campus and it was such a special visit—I remember we spent a lot of time laughing at some of the fun memories of when he was a student. He was loved by so many and he will be dearly missed. I hope that by creating this memorial award, we are honoring his spirit.” Zachary Metz, a recent graduate from the Class of 2020, earning his Bachelor’s in Business Administration, is the recipient of the Kyle McIntosh Memorial Award. Metz is described as an energetic, kind and also bright light, by his peers. He is heavily involved in many areas of the college including Campus Activities Board and was President of Student Senate.  “I was very surprised to receive the Kyle McIntosh Memorial Award and did not realize Dean Mootz was talking about me during the presentation until she mentioned me ringing the hallway bell every time I walked by! It is honestly a blessing to be considered for an award especially to be the first recipient. As grateful as I am for the award, I am only sorry I did not get an opportunity to know Kyle,” remarked Metz. The entire college community is proud of Metz for this achievement and looks forward to honoring McIntosh in the future.    

Manor College offers College 101 Program for High School Students

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Students ages 16+ can take fully online summer classes at Manor and receive college credits for only $300! What is the program?  Manor College has launched a program for high school students over the age of 16. Through this program, students can earn up to 12 college credits during the summer, which can be used toward earning an Associate’s and/or Bachelor’s degree! One of the most exciting parts of the program is the cost. Each class costs only $300. College classes typically cost a few thousand dollars. This low cost will allow high school students to get ahead while saving exponentially. Marc Minnick, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, stated, “Now that high school students have become experts in online learning, College 101 gives them the opportunity to use those new skills and start earning college credits at an unbelievable rate!” The first summer session starts on May 18, 2020. Students can choose from BI101 Biological Science with Lab, CS105 Intro to Computer Fundamentals, EN101 Fundamentals of Composition and MH110 College Algebra. Students must be registered by May 13, 2020, to enroll in the first session. The second session starts on July 1, 2020. Students can choose from BI106 Human Nutrition Science, EN102 Fundamentals of Composition II and PS101 Introduction to Psychology. The deadline to register is June 27, 2020, for the second session.  How do students register?  Students should fill out the form on this page and someone from the Manor team will be in touch ASAP.  More information about the program can be found here. Contact Dr. Marc Minnick, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, at mminnick@manor.edu if you have any questions!   

Manor College Becomes SAT/ACT Optional

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In an effort to support its future Blue Jays and to continue providing the most personalized education possible, Manor College has made the decision to waive the SAT/ACT test requirement for prospective first-year undergraduate students. Students that are applying with a high school GPA of 2.0 or greater, will not be required to submit SAT/ACT test scores, as it is now an optional requirement. Testing for SAT and ACT exams has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, and Manor College is taking every measure to demonstrate flexibility for its students during this incredibly stressful time.  The decision applies to students who have submitted applications for fall 2020 and to those who will apply in the future. In addition, Manor College joins the list of schools that have moved the fall deposit deadline from May 1 to June 1. According to Vice President of Enrollment, Daniel Perez, “Becoming test-optional aligns our admissions procedures with our core values as we review each student’s application in a holistic approach.  Success should not be determined by a standardized test score; instead, it should include the opportunity to work tirelessly in the classroom, complete extracurricular activities, and get involved with the community. These are truly transformational experiences that mirror an education at Manor College.”   While more than 1,600 students have applied so far to be first-year students at Manor College for this fall, the best priced private residential Catholic college in Pennsylvania is grateful to have the opportunity to provide such a high quality college education with an incredibly affordable tuition.  “Right now coronavirus is creating impediments to education that we are clearing away,” said Manor College’s President, Dr. Jonathan Peri. “Between our small class environment, affordability and accessibility, and being well known for our ability to connect students to jobs, we were already the best choice for students.  This adds a whole new level of accessibility during a time when it’s most needed.” Both President Peri and VP Perez acknowledge that high school GPA and community service and commitment are significant predictors of success at Manor College while SAT/ACT scores are not a significant indicator of success in college. However, prospective first-year students must meet all other admission requirements in order to be accepted.  

Sisters of St. Basil Make Masks for Healthcare Workers during Pandemic

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The Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great might be handling the COVID-19 quarantine better than most–they are monastics after all. Yet even their timeless regime of prayer and ministry was altered by the pandemic. Most of the Motherhouse at Fox Chase is much quieter than usual save for one room full of activity. There the Sisters engage in what has quickly become an essential craft: producing masks for healthcare workers. Sr. Teodora sits at a sewing machine where she turns rolls of fabric and lace into today’s hottest commodity. Beautiful abstract and floral prints take shape and in turn are neatly ironed and stacked by Sr. Olha. Now they are ready to ship, but rather than Amazon Prime customers these masks will be received by nearby Holy Redeemer Hospital. The project was a spontaneous initiative conceived during Holy Week but involves two much older elements of the Sisters’ identity. First, for the task of making masks, the Sisters draw from the rich tradition of sewing and embroidery handed down for generations in Ukraine and later throughout the diaspora. Second, their involvement in healthcare dates back to Basil of Caesarea himself, whose monastic foundation in fourth-century Asia Minor helped address the medical needs of the poor. Thus, it is fitting that today the Sisters of Saint Basil have combined the penchant for textile handiwork of Ukrainian culture with their Order’s dedication to the sick. The mission of the Sisters of Saint Basil is to bring about the praying, healing, and life-giving presence of Christ. Once social distancing made this difficult to do in person, they found another way, one responding directly to the needs of our time.

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