The Black Student Union and members of the Celebration LVC Taskforce hosted a 2021 Kwanzaa celebration at the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery in the Zimmerman Recital Hall in early December. Dr. Nate Gadsden, a minister, motivational speaker, and life coach, gave a resounding historical overview of the context for Kwanzaa, which African American scholar Maulana Karenga created in the 1960s. LVC President James MacLaren welcomed the guests to the celebration before Chris Luzon ’25 performed When We Were Young by Adele. 

Johña Wetzel ’24, Jolly Abouseif ’24, Yonaira Velazquez Seguinot ’24, Taylor Mazanek ’24, Margaret Mailey ’24, Ethan Tirado ’22, and Raynae Bosley ’22—led the lighting of the candles to recognize the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Shellann Worthen ’22, Asma Badaway ’25, and Darrell Duri ’22 shared self-narratives on what they bring to the LVC community. Bosley then delivered a final musical performance. Wetzel, Kayla Spiller ’22, and several other students helped plan and run the event.

During the celebration, the inaugural Nguzu Saba Award was introduced to recognize individuals who embodies all seven principles of Kwanzaa. Evelyn Colón, advancement coordinator, and Dr. Terrence Alladin, assistant professor of criminal justice, are this year’s staff and faculty recipients. The award will be presented annually during the Kwanzaa celebration based on student votes.

PennLive published an op-ed, “Pennsylvania needs to double the Pell grant to help more students stay out of debt,’ by President James M. MacLaren, Ph.D., on Dec. 5. President MacLaren joined fellow presidents to call “on elected officials to double the size of the Pell Grant,” noting that Pennsylvania “had the highest rate of federal Direct Loan borrowing” in his guest editorial. 

Dr. James M. MacLaren, LVC president, was interviewed for the CBS TV 21 story, “Project Education–As COVID cases surge, colleges prepare for the fall semester.” Dr. MacLaren and fellow Central Pennsylvania educational leaders discussed their institution’s plan for safely returning to campus this fall.

The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUP) acknowledged President James MacLaren in its Presidents Update for his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, as noted in a recent PennLive op-ed and live Facebook panel. AICUP president Tom Foley gave Dr. MacLaren and his fellow presidential panelist “kudos” for participating in “We can thank Pennsylvania’s responsible college students for not spreading COVID-19.”

President James MacLaren and Arianna Genna ’22, political science and social justice & civic engagement, were highlighted in a recent op-ed by Joyce Davis H’17, PennLive opinion editor. Davis interviewed President MacLaren and Genna for “We can thank Pennsylvania’s responsible college students for not spreading COVID-19.”