1. College Seal

The Ursinus College seal, first
used in the 1888-89 college
catalogue. It reads, “Super
Firmum Fundamentum Dei,”
which translates to “On the
Firm Foundation of the Lord.”

2. Gold Pocket Watch

A gold pocket watch
presented to John H.A. Bomberger
in the 1880s.

3. Field Hockey Stick 

A field hockey stick from 1927 that belonged to Isabel Johnson ’27.

4. Pipe

A pipe that belonged to the Bomberger family.

5. Football Jersey

A football practice jersey used
during 1963-67.

6. Graphite Sketch

A graphite on paper sketch by E.S. Paisley reproduced from the first annual college catalogue in 1869.

7. Shovel

A shovel used by Robert Patterson to break ground on Bomberger Hall on April 22, 1891. In 1920, it was also used to break ground on the Alumni Memorial Library (now the Berman Museum).

8. Flag

An Ursinus flag, a gift from William G. Wiest ’63, that was flown over the South Pole (in Antarctica in 1964) and the North Pole (in 1997) by Dr. H. Craig Heller .

Philadelphia Through the Lens of Archaeology

Visiting Instructor of Anthropology Katharine Davis turned her typical focus on prehistoric Andean civilizations to the streets of Philadelphia when she and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Kelly Sorensen mapped out an interesting Philly X mash-up in the City of Brotherly Love. Students in the archaeologist’s “Rise of Urbanism” course joined Sorensen’s “Philly 101” students for a 12-mile walk along the perimeter of the city, exploring abandoned graffiti-covered coal piers, ruins of factories, wooded areas, and active work sites. (At the end of the walk, they refueled with cheesesteaks, of course.)

9. Image of Zach

An image of 16th-century theologian Zacharias Ursinus, the only remaining piece of a large disk that hung during commencement ceremonies in the 1980s and 1990s.

Exploring Economies in Transition

Professor of Business and Economics Andrew Economopoulos and Assistant Professor of Business and Economics Olga Nicoara helped launch a new biennial course that combines the objectives of an economics class with experiential learning—and then wrote a book article detailing how to plan the trip and curriculum. In “Economies in Transition,” students spent an intensive three weeks learning about the socioeconomic and legal-political transformations in formerly communist economies by traveling to the capitals of four transitioning countries in Central and Eastern Europe: Berlin, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; Budapest, Hungary; and Bucharest, Romania.

10. Organ Pipe

A pipe from the old Clark Organ that was in Bomberger Hall before the Heefner Organ.

Ecologically Based Strategies for Controlling Insect Pests

Associate Professor of Biology Cory Straub returned to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences to mentor two Summer Fellows studying predatory insects. A blend of lab and field work, the ongoing research on biological pest control seeks to understand how predatory insects—and the agricultural pests they consume—will respond to climate change.

11. Sweater

An Ursinus sweater and a ticket stub (in the left pocket) from a football game dated Sept. 17, 1955.

Rebuilding Efforts in Puerto Rico

Five years after Hurricane Maria tore a destructive path through the Caribbean in 2017, many communities are still struggling to recover. Associate Professor of Politics Rebecca Evans traveled with fellows for the Melrose Center for Global Civic Engagement on three service-learning trips to Puerto Rico. The 2021, 2022, and 2023 cohorts repaired family homes damaged in the storm, learned more about Puerto Rico’s history and culture, and gained real-life insights into the importance of global citizenship.

12. Stump and Branch

A stump and branch from the sycamore tree that stood in the Patterson Field end zone.

13. Athletics Emblem

An athletics emblem from 1933 framed and mounted on web felt.

Research in Paradise

Associate Professor of Biology Denise Finney and Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Tristan Ashcroft led 16 students through Costa Rica over winter break as part of the biennial “Biology of the Neotropics” course. The group visited four biological field stations in an array of tropical habitats throughout the country, with up-close views of fauna such as birds, bats, and sloths—and not-too-close views of crocodiles. Students also honed their skills in identifying tropical flora and carried out research projects they designed themselves.

14. Trowel

A ceremonial trowel used by Robert Patterson in laying the cornerstone for Bomberger Hall in 1891.

“This was a great internship. I gained valuable experience working in industry as both a team and individual, while also putting my foot in the door for a future position at a premier company in the United States. I was given a role on a very important company project that has opened my eyes to a slightly different career path than I had previously planned. I was also given the opportunity to meet many great people and to network with very influential people including the CEO and several of the VPs.” 

—Wilmer, Chemistry

Assistant Professor in Journalism Doron Taussig and Associate Professor of Media and Communication Studies Tony Nadler discussed journalism and conservative politics in a widely researched article.

Scott Deacle, an associate professor of business and economics, regularly contributes to a podcast about global economic issues.

Alice Leppert, an associate professor of media and communication studies and an expert in TV, film, and celebrity, led her expertise to an article about cyberbullying directed at celebrities.

Assistant Professor of History Johanna Mellis, co-host of a widely listened to The End of Sport Podcast, penned an opinion piece on racism in college sports.

Talia Argondezzi, director of Ursinus’s writing and speaking program, penned a humor column titled, “The Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul.”

Ursinus’s commitment to wellness engrained into its campus culture, along with its historic signing of the international Okanagan Charter, was covered in a story that included quotes from President Robyn Hannigan and Vice President for Health and Wellness Laura Moliken.

Professor of Theater Domenic Scudera lent his expertise to a broadcast about drag performance and trans reputation on Broadway for the NPR program “The Takeaway.”

Professor of Politics Jonathan Marks, author of A Conservative Case for Liberal Education, wrote about conservative activism on college campuses.

The research of Professor of Psychology Cathy Chambliss on freudenfreude (and how to cultivate it) was featured in an article about the joy we derive from the success of others.

Showcasing the Art of Curatorial Practices

For two intensive weeks in early January, Associate Professor of Art History and Creative Director of the Berman Museum of Art Deborah Barkun worked with advanced students in the interdisciplinary museum studies minor on an immersive experience in curating and installing “Michael Dela Dika: Shaping Rhapsody,” an exhibition the group has been working toward in the “Curatorial Practices” seminar since August 2022. Working closely with the artist and museum staff, student curators applied research and theory to processing, cataloging, composing, and installing Dika’s work to support their exhibition thesis asserting a human quest for community amidst contemporary forms of displacement, such as migration and isolation.

“On the field, in the classroom, and around the community, philanthropy provides the resources, equipment, and services Bears need to succeed. Bears supporting Bears. It’s part of what it means to be on ‘Team Ursinus.’”

-Erin Stroble ’02
Director of Athletics

“Philanthropy helps to support the vibrant student life at Ursinus (e.g., clubs and activities). I love seeing how philanthropic efforts support students engaging in research and incredible experiences outside of campus.”

Joanna Timmerman ’19
Assistant Director of Disability and Access

“The word philanthropy and the action of philanthropy can mean different things to different people. I have seen alumni donate their time, their expertise, and their support to current students. I have also seen current students give their time, energy, thoughts, and actions to our campus community. That is special, and to me, all of them are philanthropists.”

Kate Keppen ’05
Director of Sustainability

My Ursinus education launched my professional career as an educator. It was made possible because people invested in me. I want to not only show them a return on their investment but provide that opportunity for others.

- Gail Heinemeyer ’72
Alumni Council Member

I give back to help ensure the next generation of Ursinus students have sufficient resources to thrive on campus as emerging leaders. When students are adequately supported, they can develop their individual skills to grow personally and professionally.

- Cori Cichowicz ’19

No feeling compares to holding a print by an artist you’ve studied for years!

“The environment of Michael’s studio was very fun and creative. It was an inviting space that inspired me to want to work.”

- Allie Fiore, Clas s of 2024

“That quote, ‘the only disability in life is a bad attitude’, the reason that’s bull**** is … No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp. No amount of standing in the middle of a bookshelf and radiating a positive attitude is going to turn all those books into braille.”

– Stella Young, comedian, journalist and activist. TEDx, 2014.

“When haters go after your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere left to go. And then you know you’re winning! I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And – given the right circumstances- being different is a superpower. #aspiepower”

– Greta Thunberg, climate change activist.

“The art educators at Perkiomen Valley School District believe that museums are wonderful resources not only for our growth as artists but also for our students. Our partnership with The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum makes art come alive with hands-on experiences and the ability to see masterworks in person. It can also make the visual arts a realistic career opportunity for students as they communicate with museum staff and see their creations in a professional context.”

Tom Komp, High School Art Department Chair, Perkiomen Valley School District

This is an example of a quote format that could be used to describe an exhibition, for example.

Simply enter text as a normal paragraph, with the attributed entity as the last line, as this example.

An anonymous web developer

At the moment sustainability isn’t actually enough because you can’t have sustainability until you fix what is broken. For me, sustainability involves a community making careful restorative decisions that lead to the regeneration and eventual thriving and ongoing stability and balance of the environment and community. Matters of social justice and human rights are integral parts of sustainable communities as well.

Everything….we need to stop wasting!!

A future with a cleaner environment and jobs that don’t ruin our environment.

The process in which we work to meet our holistic societal needs without compromising the needs of future generations ability to thrive.

Sustainability is a way and should be the way of the future, to conserve our resources, embrace change for the good of our environment, and provide for the
future.

Respectfully and responsibly borrowing the resources of our great great great grand children, and living today as though we are directly accountable to them.

Gwen Franklin is a highly intelligent and hardworking person. She thrives when challenged and always achieves more than is expected. Beyond her intellectual gifts, Gwen is gracious and personable person. In class, i was always proud of how she interacted with her peers and in how she helped them do more than what they thought they were capable of. In addition, Gwen is the embodiment of what we hope liberal arts education produces in students. In her research, she was always willing to embrace discomfort and did not shy away from self-reflection. The combination of those attributes helped her better understand the responsibilities that come with producing knowledge. Ultimately, i am very proud of what she has achieved so far, and i look forward to what she takes on moving forward.

I decided to study abroad in Spain for my spring semester. Being aboard was an amazing experience, but unfortunately it was cut short because of the spread of the coronavirus. I had a panic attack as all of my classmates were telling me of their plans to travel back home and I still have not figured out a plan because my ticket, one way, was two thousand dollars. I thought I was going to be stranded in Spain because neither my parents nor I had the money to cover the costs. Thankfully, I remembered about the Bear2Bear Student Emergency Fund and applied to it. Within hours, I got a reply back and soon they were helping me purchase my tickets. A huge relief was released from my shoulders as I had secured a way to get home. Thank you all for your generous donations, because if it was not for assistance from Bear2Bear, I do not know how I would have left Spain.

I wanted to take this time to thank you for your generous donation to help students like me receive the aid they need to continue their worthwhile education at Ursinus. As a first-generation college student, confronted with how to fund my education, especially during these trying times, was a struggle. Having your support in furthering my schooling has made all the difference in my ability to pursue my dream of becoming a guidance counselor, and I am forever grateful for your commitment to students like me! Being able to attend Ursinus and learn from the talented and knowledgeable faculty within the History department is a dream come true, and I would not be where I am today without your kind support. Thank you for all you do to help students like me reach for the stars!