Saint Vincent College’s Fred Rogers exhibit ‘Friends in the Neighborhood’ will focus on family and mentors

LATROBE, PA – The Fred Rogers Scholars, a scholarship program at Saint Vincent College, again will celebrate the legacy of Mister Rogers with an exhibit that provides insight into those who helped bring everyone’s favorite children’s television neighbor to life.

“Friends in the Neighborhood: A Study of Fred Rogers’ Mentors and Loved Ones” will be unveiled with an opening event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Latrobe Art Center (819 Ligonier St.). The event, which will focus on Rogers’ mentors and his wife, Joanne, is free and open to the public.

Based on the life and legacy of Fred Rogers, the exhibit celebrates the cultural and intellectual legacies of one of the most beloved American champions of children and humanity. The programming will explore the resources of the Fred Rogers Archive, the history of Latrobe and programming in the Latrobe community.

Students from the Fred Rogers Scholars program formed two groups to explore the people who inspired and nurtured Rogers.

One group examined Fred’s mentors: his maternal grandfather, Fred McFeely; theology professor Dr. William Orr; and child development professor Dr. Margaret McFarland, who also served as a child development consultant on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The second group researched Joanne’s life and her mission to continue Fred’s legacy after his death in February 2003.

At the opening event, the two groups will present their findings and answer questions alongside Fred Rogers Institute archivist Emily Uhrin. The students spend the past several months organizing a display of relevant artifacts from the Fred Rogers Archive.

During the event, the Fred Rogers Scholars will host various children’s activities related to their topics, such as writing letters to mentors and role models and creating artistic musical instruments.

The event is produced in cooperation with the Be My Neighbor Committee. Backed by a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the committee is comprised of officials from Saint Vincent College, the city of Latrobe, the Greater Latrobe School District, Independence Health, the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program and the Latrobe Foundation.

Members of the Fred Rogers Scholars program who are participating in the exhibit:

• Lance Bender, a sophomore psychology major from Cumberland, Maryland
• Mateo Camacho, a junior biology major from Somerset
• Sydney Campbell, a junior accounting major from Somerset
• Hope Farley, a junior marketing major from St. Marys
• Alexandros Fekos, a junior criminology, law and society major from Pittsburgh
• William Fiejdasz, a senior business major from Pittsburgh
• Chloe Fontanazza, a junior art education major from Jeannette
• Jimmy Gasper, a senior criminology, law and society major from Bethel Park
• Nick Gasper, a sophomore mathematics and civil engineering double major from Bethel Park
• Molly Hudson, a junior health and physical education major from North Huntingdon
• Jakob Krumenaker, a senior biology major from Pittsburgh
• Kayanne Marti, a junior English major from Mars
• Alissa Minerd, a senior accounting major from Brownsville
• Ethan Ridgeway, a freshman health and physical education major from Pittsburgh
• Pearl Russell, a sophomore English major from Latrobe
• Grace Stasiak, a junior communication major from Windber
• Rachel Zgurich, a sophomore early childhood education major from Pittsburgh