gram and creating a superintendent
letter of eligibility program. Two new
Schuylkill Center programs being
implemented under her direction
include healthcaremanagement
and RN-BSN completion. An active
member of the Schuylkill Chamber
of Commerce, Mensch also serves on
the executive board of the Schuylkill
Choral Society and hasworkedwith
theAmericanBusiness Association
and local PTA groups.
PamelaGockley ’96
started awebsite
graphics, design andmaintenance
company called “GrumpyGraphics”
in 1996, withDeanHornberger.
This venture blossomed in 2000
into an award-winning, multi-service
company, Vigilant Corporation,
headedbyGockley as president,
CEO and chairperson. In 2004, she
was selected as one of theBest 50
OutstandingBusinessWomen in
KevinCoyle ’94
is a visual effects
artist and digital illustrator for
DreamWorks Animation. Heprovided
the final touches for “TheCroods,”
whichwas nominated for the
“Best Animated Feature” category
at this year’s GoldenGlobeAwards.
Additionally, hewas the image final-
ing artist for the upcoming 2014
DreamWorks films: “Mr. Peabody&
Sherman,” “How to Train Your
Dragon 2” and “Happy Smekday!”
Cynthia Mensch ’95
has been
promoted todirector of Alvernia
University’s Schuylkill Center, where
she has served as assistant director
since 2011. Mensch brings 15 years
of classroom teaching experience to
the position, aswell as administra-
tive experience as both an acting-
principal anddevelopment director
in theeducation sector.Menschhas
been instrumental in reinstating the
popular principal’s certification pro-
the MVP in soccer and all-division
in baseball. During his time at KU, he
playedbaseball, andwas a two-year
captain. Degler is a professional
sports broadcaster at all levels,
includingplay-by-play, color com-
mentator, sideline reporter and
studio host.
The 1990s
AudreyBordonaroM’90
had her oil
paintings, “Soothing the Soul” and
“Fred and Fergie,” juried into the
LehighArt Alliance’s 78th annual
Fall JuriedExhibition at the Siegel
Gallery on LehighUniversity’s cam-
pus inBethlehem, Pa. Bordonaro is
a studio artist at theWalk InArt
Center, located in Schuylkill Haven.
Her work has been shown in several
juried art shows, including theArt
of the State exhibition in The State
Museum of Pennsylvania and the
Berks Art Alliance Juried Show.
Her determination to rise to the top in amale-dominated indus-
try originated not only from her love of cars, but also from her
exasperation at offensive depictions of women andminorities in
massmedia. Lang, who earned hermaster’s degree in English at
GeorgeMasonUniversity, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in its
Cultural Studies program, was indomitable in her resolution to, in
thewords of her former GeorgeMasonprofessor, Dr. Scott Trafton,
“become part of themachine I wanted todismantle.”
While she studied and taught at Mason, Lang racked up several
hosting, writing andproducer credits, beforemoving toCalifornia
in 2012 towork for Motor Trend. Youmight recognize her from
Comcast’s “That’sWhat She Said,” a sports news showwhere
Lang interviewed heavyweight boxing champions LarryHolmes
and Joe Frazier, or “DistinctiveDigs,” a real estate showwhere she
exploredMaryland’s BethesdaMansion andD.C.’s Fairmont House.
All this, from awomanwho almost didn’tmake it to college.
“I found high school incredibly uninspiring and I wasn’t sure
what I was going todo after I graduated,” Lang recalled. “I didn’t
have a college fund and I felt like I didn’t havemany options. My
mom encouragedme to apply toKutztown— she brought home a
pamphlet and showedme the tuitionbreakdown. So, I did the
math and realized that I couldwork 32 hours aweek and afford to
go to school. I reluctantly agreed to fill out the application.”
But Kutztownwas a placewheremagic happened. At
KU, Orefield, Pa.-native Langmajored inprofessional writing,
discovered her ‘academic land legs’ andbecame obsessed
with learning.
“Unlike high school, KUwasn’t a hostile environment— it was
a place for thinking, askingquestions andpushingboundaries,”
she said. “It was a place that was conducive to self-discovery.
My goal was tograduate feeling like therewas nothing
I couldn’t do. Bymy junior year, I had already achieved that.”
With encouragement, inspiration and assistance fromEnglish
professors LindaCullum and JimNechas, Langprepared to
apply tograduate school, and submitted an application to
become the student speaker at KU’s commencement ceremo-
nies. The acceptance toGeorgeMason rolled in, but shewasn’t
chosen to speak at graduation. Insteadof bemoaning her rejec-
tion, Lang transformed her disappointment intodetermination,
resolving toone day return toKU to speak.
“It’smy goal [to speak at KU] because I’m sograteful for
everything I’ve received,” she proclaimed. “My unwavering
sense of self comes fromKU. It waswhere I became confident,
and realized I was smart. It’swhere I developed a refusal to
accept all limitations. Thanks inpart towhat I gained there, I
wouldbetmy last dollar onme.”
Summer 2014
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TOWER
27
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