Memorials keep memories of people close to Central Penn alive
The campus has many markers of thanks, fondness and tribute
to donors and people whose lives touched and were touched by the college
Editor’s note: This is the first of three articles about the people and foundations described on plaques and other memorial and dedication markers across campus.

By Elijah Huhn
Knightly News Reporter
While walking across Central Penn’s campus, people may see small plaques, fairly large memorial signs and objects with people’s names on them.
These markers, on rocks, benches, in front of trees and among the blooms in flower beds, memorialize people or organizations notable in Central Penn’s history or that were or remain benefactors of the college.
Many of these people or organizations—some of the people living and some dead—most likely donated to the Central Penn College Education Foundation, which helps support students studying at the college, or they may be memorialized for another role they played at the college.

William B. Boles (1941-2024)
William B. Boles was chair of the Central Penn College Education Foundation from its beginning in 2002 until 2011.
He was a certified public accountant, a partner with Boles Metzger Brosius & Emrick of Harrisburg, and one of the original trustees of the foundation who guided the board through its first strategic plan.

Before joining Central Penn, Boles was one of the founders of Boles Metzger Brosius & Walborn, in 1978. He logged many years of general accounting practice, which included representing and advising clients on all tax matters, business valuations, divorce and estate planning.
During his time as chair, Boles oversaw the foundation’s growth, its first million-dollar campaign, and its two three-year plans for strategic advancement. After stepping down from his role as chair of the CPC Education Foundation, he remained involved with it as a trustee.
A plaque for him was installed in the student fellowship area, behind the school’s student apartments near the path to the Boyer House.
Boles passed away on April 18 last year at the age of 82. His plaque is located by the birch tree on the open-field side of the student fellowship area.
A plaque in Boles’ honor is also affixed to Super Suite 139, on College Hill Road, just west of B Street.

Lt. Manuel DelValle (1969-2001)
Manuel DelValle was originally from the Bronx, New York City, and had studied at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1992. After college, he returned to his home city to work for the New York Fire Department.

He served with the fire department for seven years until that fateful day in 2001. It was Sept. 11, and after Lt. DelValle finished a tour of duty, that a plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks. A plane also damaged the Pentagon and killed people there. In another plane, passengers seized control of a jetliner from hijackers and crashed it into a field in Western Pennsylvania before it could reach Washington, D.C.
He tried to save as many people as he could at the World Trade Center. He died at the age of 32. He has received many memorials and honors, including at Central Penn College, which dedicated a plaque to him near the Student Fellowship area.
Central Penn criminal justice professor Luis Rosa and members of DelValle’s family established a scholarship in honor of DelValle, who was Rosa’s cousin. In 2014, during Central Penn’s commencement ceremony, an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree was posthumously awarded to DelValle for his heroism.

Angel Mercado-Ocasio (2004-2023)
Angel Mercado-Ocasio graduated from Harrisburg High School in 2022 and chose Central Penn College so he could further his education. He was a talented baseball player who loved playing the game and was a part of some baseball teams, including Central Penn’s, on which he played second base and shortstop.

A couple of days after the team won the Eastern States Athletic Conference championship in 2023, Angel, along with some other members of the Knights baseball team, were taking down a dugout in a Harrisburg park, an activity with no connection to Central Penn College. While taking apart the dugout, it collapsed on Angel, leaving him in critical condition.
Angel eventually succumbed to his injuries, at 19. The news was met with sadness in the region, and with condolences from Central Penn President Linda Fedrizzi-Williams and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams.
At the home opener of Central Penn’s 2024 baseball season, the Knights paid tribute to Angel with 25 seconds of silence after the first pitch, placement of gloves on second base–iwhere he typically played—and by placing his jersey, bearing the number 25, in the Knights’ home dugout at FNB Field on City Island.
Central Penn dedicated a field to Angel behind Bollinger Hall. It is named Angel’s Field. Angel and teammates would play Wiffle ball there from time to time.

Swimming pool brick pathway

Leading to the pool from a walkway in the quad is a brick pathway, The bricks feature people’s names.
Some are notably integrated into Central Penn history, such as Elizabeth G. Bollinger, whose name is among the many names featured on the bricks.
Central Penn was one of three schools she taught at during her career, along with Columbia High School in Lancaster County and Lebanon Valley College in Annville.
She taught here from 1960 until 1975, when she retired from teaching; that same year, Central Penn named Bollinger Hall in her honor. She was the first Central Penn College emeritus faculty member.

The Hall Foundation

Founded in 1952 by business, civic and cultural leader John N. Hall, The Hall Foundation is a nonprofit organization that grants scholarships to local high school students to encourage them to continue their education.
It also contributes to cultural, religious and civic organizations, as well as supporting community activities in Greater Harrisburg and throughout South Central Pennsylvania.
At Central Penn, the foundation is honored with a plaque on a bench near Bart A. Milano Hall.
Super Suite 173, the campus base for students in West Shore Connect, a program that helps students with intellectual disabilities and autism, was supported by The Hall Foundation and bears a plaque.
If you want to donate to the Central Penn College Education Foundation, visit its website.
Donations can lower income taxes and estate taxes. Gifts can be designated as dedicated scholarships with criteria of the donor’s choosing, while unrestricted gifts will be used where need is greatest.
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.