College news
Caitlin Brooks was named to the dean’s list at Waynesburg University, where she is majoring in mathematics. She is a member of the indoor and outdoor women’s track team and won the PAC outdoor track championship in the spring. Brooks is a member of the student activities board and the fellowship of Christian athletes. She has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average during her freshman year. Brooks is a 2015 graduate of Waynesburg Central High School, and her parents are Carl and Valerie Brooks of Waynesburg.
Amanda Rae Kaste graduated cum laude from Gettysburg College, where she earned bachelor of arts degrees in anthropology and religious studies. At graduation, Kaste was selected to carry the religious studies department’s banner. She was named to the dean’s list all eight semesters and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Kaste is a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society, Theta Alpha Kappa National Religious Studies Honor Society, Global Leaders of Gettysburg College, Gettysburg College Honor Commission and the Gettysburg College Sunderman Conservatory of Music’s Bullets marching band, symphony band and concert choir. Kaste also was a David Will’s Scholar for eight consecutive semesters and received the Keith Pappas Memorial Award, given annually to the student who most significantly affects the life of the campus and the college community through his or her overall involvement and leadership. She also completed an individual Anthropology Capstone Project. Kaste recently was chosen a Key Alumni Resource Effort volunteer and will reach out to alumni, parents and students on behalf of the college. Kaste was employed as a program coordinator for Immersion Projects with the Center for Public Service, and also as a religious and spiritual life office associate for the Office of the Chaplain. Following her work during the summer as a counselor at Camp Agape, Kaste will be employed by Americorps and its VISTA program as a coordinator of volunteers and school outreach programming with the Asheville City Schools Foundation and Asheville Learning Links Program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. In March, she was one of two students from Gettysburg College to participate in the Oxford University Human Rights Consortium at Magdalen College in the United Kingdom. Kaste also was selected to present two papers at the 2016 National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. As a 2015 Mellon Summer Scholar, her paper, “Religion and the American Civil Rights Movement: How Judeo-Christian Religious Narratives and Experiences Transformed the Fight for Freedom, Justice and Equality,” was chosen for presentation, along with her Independent Study Project research with the School for International Training Post-Conflict Transformation Program in Uganda, “Perceptions of Peace and Reconciliation: Case of Lokokwo Peyot Women’s Group in Paidwe Parish, Bobi-Sub-County.” She is a 2012 graduate of Avella Junior/Senior High School, and her parents are James and Lorraine Kaste of Burgettstown.
Brittany Murray graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a master’s of social service. She is a 2007 graduate of Avella Junior/Senior High School and is employed by NHS in Philadelphia. She is the daughter of Brenda Ingram of Washington.
Ian M. Saxer graduated from Chatham University, where he earned a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. He is a magna cum laude graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and sciences. Saxer accepted a position with AHN Neurosurgery. He is a 2004 graduate of McGuffey High School, and his parents are Hila Saxer of Washington and the late F. Edward Saxer Jr.