This Before arriving at Juniata in 1998, I will admit that I had not been a big fan of varsity volleyball. I had been to a few games, but the level of play had been so poor that it really failed to engage my interest. That all changed when I came to campus and saw my fi rst Juniata volleyball match. What a difference!

As you see from our cover, this issue honors Juniata athletic director and volleyball coach Larry Bock. In September, Larry won his 1,000th game as our women’s coach, and this season I was struck by the thought that Larry’s coaching philosophy uncannily mirrors our educational philosophy. For Larry, teaching is paramount, which no doubt explains why so many of our graduates have gone on to celebrated coaching careers (“Learning By the Bock”). He also ensures that every athlete on his team and those on other teams can take advantage of as many educational opportunities as they can. Our players have studied abroad, worked internships, and completed major presentations—not to mention competing at the highest level of Division III sports year after year. Larry honed his philosophy early (“Just Wild About Larry”) and his players have used those lessons to shape their own lives, as you will read in the remembrances written by four of our former athletes.

Lessons learned in the crucible of history is the focus of our other main story (“Persistence of Memories”), which honors the group of Juniata faculty and students who traveled to Selma, Alabama to work for equal rights for all American citizens. Later this year, we will honor these activist students with a reunion that ties in with our special focus on “Civil Rights” in this year’s lectures and educational programming. We will celebrate their legacy with two days of discussion and learning.

Finally, I would like you to see our new marketing strategy ("Know Thyself") that builds on our traditional values. Our goal is to be sure that everyone who sees our materials will grasp that Juniata is a very special college.

Warm regards,

Thomas R. Kepple Jr.