Assumption Magazine - Spring 2013

Assumption Assumption College Magazine • Volume 11, Number 2 • Spring 2013

Magazine

EmpowEring thE EntrEprEnEurial Spirit PLUS

Men’s and Women's Basketball Reach NCAA Tournament

WISE Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients

from thE prESiDEnt

The Liberal Arts: A Pipeline for Entrepreneurship relationship between the liberal arts and entrepreneurship?

That might be viewed as an oxymoron. Entrepreneurship is most often associated with business and profitable enterprise – certainly entrepreneurship has nothing in common with the ideals of the liberal arts. However, a close scrutiny of entrepreneurship suggests the opposite.

The late Steve Jobs, when introducing the iPad remarked, “It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yield us the results that make our heart sing.” The students at Assumption, as well as our alumni, understand what Steve Jobs meant by these words.

The liberal arts and entrepreneurship share a common foundation.

An education grounded in the liberal arts frees individuals to pursue whatever they find to be interesting. It taps an individual’s creativity in the face of problems that need to be addressed, combining that creativity with reason in the application of a solution. The liberal arts form students to be independent thinkers, a key characteristic of the entrepreneur.

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“the late Steve Jobs, when introducing the ipad remarked, ‘it is in apple’s Dna that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yield us the results that make our heart sing.’”

All of Assumption’s academic programs are related to and flow from the liberal arts. It should therefore not be surprising that our graduates use their education to become successful entrepreneurs.

The skills necessary for entrepreneurs – critical thinking, free exchange of ideas, analysis and evaluation of opportunities, problem solving – are the same intangible, yet highly valued skills gained through studying the liberal arts. Entrepreneurship requires more than the rote application of tools or techniques; it thrives and excels in the world of ideas.

An entrepreneur needs to think differently about the world, and a liberal arts foundation brings breadth and depth to the theory and practice of innovation.

Entrepreneurship can bring about change that impacts the world.

One of the hallmarks of an Assumptionist education is to apply the knowledge one has gained for the betterment of the world. Fr. d’Alzon encouraged students to contribute to society so as to improve the lives of others. Beginning a successful business, or building a business with new ideas, offers tangible benefits to employees and those who purchase

or use those products or services.

Assumption has a long tradition of entrepreneurs. Our graduates have built or helped grow social service agencies. They have returned to family businesses and expanded them. They have launched businesses based on their own creativity. They work in larger organizations and apply an entrepreneurial mentality to support business goals.

Entrepreneurship is as much a mindset as it is a person who starts a new business. Through the study of philosophy, theology, and political science, an entrepreneur can learn great lessons that will lead to innovations and a sense of social responsibility.

All Assumption students grapple with fundamental questions about themselves as part of their study of the liberal arts. “Who am I?” “Who do I want to become?” “How will I live that out each day?”

Additionally, we encourage them to ask, “What do I live for?” How they answer those questions will guide each of them on their lifelong journeys. For some, becoming an entrepreneur may help them answer those questions in a fulfilling manner.

The relationship between the liberal arts and entrepreneurship rests on shared values – creativity, problem solving, and the engagement of ideas and the world. Assumption’s education provides the foundation for the necessary self-reflection and understanding of the human experience that forms individuals who will be entrepreneurs who positively impact the world. We hope you enjoy reading about some of our alumni who have chosen this path.

Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. President

Spring 2013 Assumption College Magazine • Volume 11, Number 2 www.assumption.edu/magazine

features Casey rankin ’06

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We encourage your feedback.

Please address your letters, class notes and story ideas to: Assumption College Magazine Assumption College 500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296 e-mail: twatkins@assumption.edu ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Assumption College Magazine Assumption College ISSN 1089-3903 Spring 2013

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Commencement Speaker named

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wiSE Celebrates its 20th anniversary

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Career networking Dinner

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the Entrepreneurial Spirit

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Visiting italy with president Cesareo

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florida alumni receptions

Departments

Career networking Dinner

Editor Troy Watkins Executive Director of Public Affairs Renée Buisson Contributing Writers Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69 Katy Gloshinski P’11 Ken Johnson Stephen Kostrzewa Lorraine U. Martinelle Elizabeth Walker Art Direction/Design Centuria Inc., Cambridge, MA Printing The Lane Press, Burlington, VT Assumption College Magazine is published four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall) by the office of Institutional Advancement, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296.

Telephone: (508) 767-7175. Periodical Postage Paid at Worcester, Massachusetts, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Forwarding address and correction requested. Send address changes to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1296. Printed in the U.S.A., Assumption College Magazine is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, staff, administration and parents of undergraduate students.

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Editor’s page

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Campus news

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hounds watch

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alumni news

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Class notes

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in memoriam

on the Cover aspiring entrepreneurs (l-r) amanda guy ’13, Ben parker ’13, Sean ryan ’14, alison Bruder ’14 and matt martino ’13 partnered to create a business plan in the “Small Business Entrepreneurship” course.

CoVEr photo: Dan VaillanCourt

Be social with Assumption Facebook.com assumption College alumni relations

Linkedin.com assumption College alumni relations

Alumni to Alumni Networking/ Job Posting site: http://www1.assumption.edu/alums/ services/jobs.html Alumni to Student Networking/ Job Posting site (Hound Explorer): www.collegecentral.com/assumption

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When Businesses Thrive

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photo: Dan VaillanCourt

t takes a highly-skilled, creative individual to be an entrepreneur.

It also often requires investing a significant amount of money, time, determination and more into the development of a business idea and plan. According to the Small Business Administration, about 66 percent of new businesses survive two years, while only 44 percent of new businesses make it past four years. Despite these daunting statistics, Assumption alumni have many stories of entrepreneurial success, and we’re proud to share some of them with you in this issue.

You’ll also read about this year’s Commencement speaker, Rick DesLauriers ’82, who heads the Boston office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Please share with me any comments or ideas about the Magazine that you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

National Media Turn to Assumption College President photo: lorrainE u. martinEllE

Dr. Francesco Cesareo Provides Commentary During Papal Succession Since Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, national and regional media have interviewed President Francesco Cesareo for his knowledge of papal history as well as for his expert opinion on the conclave that elected Pope Francis on March 13.

Dr. Cesareo specializes in and has been published on the Renaissance papacy and Catholic Church history. He holds a Ph.D. in Late Medieval/Early Modern European history from Fordham University.

Media Appearances: • The Wall Street Journal, print edition, March 15, 2013: “Bid to Remake Church Will Focus on Vatican Administration” • The Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2013: “In Francis’ First Hours, Humility and Pressing Matters” • Telegram & Gazette, March 14, 2013: “Bishop McManus: ‘I Was Surprised’ by the Choice”

Dr. Cesareo was interviewed by liz Bruner, co-anchor of news Center 5 on wCVB in Boston.

country and world, including ABC News, National Public Radio (NPR), The New Jersey Star-Ledger, Houston Chronicle, and The New Zealand Bulletin.

• Boston’s WCVB Channel 5, March 13, 2013 • Worcester News Tonight/TVCharter3/NECN, March 13, 2013

• Catholic Free Press, Feb. 14, 2013: “Stunned but Not Surprised

by Decision”

• Boston’s WCVB Channel 5, Feb. 26, 2013

• The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11, 2013 (print edition on Feb. 12): “Contenders in Line to Be Pope.” This article also appeared in the German edition of The Wall Street Journal.

• Associated Press, Feb. 23, 2013: “Reshaped Papacy Raises Questions for Church Future” This article appeared in many outlets across the

• Telegram & Gazette, Feb. 11, 2013: “Pope’s Resignation Surprises Bishop”

• Worcester News Tonight/TVCharter3/NECN, March 11, 2013

CORRECTION: In the page 4 photo of guest lecturer John Guy LaPlante ’51 in the winter issue, the woman he is standing with was identified as WISE President Barbara Groves. The woman is WISE Special Events Chair Sandra Hakkarainen. Assumption Magazine regrets the error.

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Campus news Head of Boston FBI Office Rick DesLauriers ’82 Named Commencement Speaker Stephen Knott, Ph.D. ’79 and Ray Lauring to Receive Honorary Degrees Richard DesLauriers ’82, special agent in charge of FBI’s Boston Field Division, will deliver the address at the College’s 96th Commencement exercises on May 11. During the ceremony, he will also receive an honorary doctorate of laws.

DesLauriers leads more than 500 FBI agents, intelligence analysts and professional support personnel responsible for the investigation of terrorism, espionage and criminal matters in this geographic region, including Maine, richard Deslauriers ’82 Mass., N.H. and R.I. He joined the FBI in 1987, spending much of his career in counterintelligence, and has worked in Alabama, New York, Washington, D.C. and Boston. Prior to his 2010 appointment to Boston, he served as deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI headquarters. He was responsible for nationwide counterintelligence operations and espionage investigations.

A native of Longmeadow, Mass., he holds a B.A. in politics from Assumption and a J.D. degree from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. DesLauriers served as guest speaker at Assumption’s 2011 Honors Convocation and received the Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Assumption Alumni Association last year. He and wife Christine have a son and reside in southeastern Mass.

Also receiving honorary degrees are author/historian/college professor Stephen Knott, Ph.D. ’79 (doctorate of letters) and longtime College friend and benefactor Raymond Lauring (doctorate of humane letters).

Knott is a professor of national security affairs at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. He previously served as co-chair of the University of Virginia’s Presidential Oral History Program and directed the Ronald Reagan Oral History Project. Professor Knott received his Ph.D. in political science from Boston College, and has

taught at the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Virginia. He has authored three books, Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth, Secret and Sanctioned: Covert Operations and the American Presidency, and his most recent, Rush to Judgment: George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and His Critics, published last year. He has co-authored The Reagan Years and At Reagan’s Side: Insiders’ Recollections from Sacramento to the White House. The 2009 recipient of the Fr. Louis Dion, A.A.’35 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Assumption College Alumni Association, he resides in Canton, Mass.

Lauring has improved the life of the Assumption community through significant financial support and has faithfully supported other organizations in greater Worcester. Retired president of Lauring Construction, he took over the business established by his father in 1920. His three sons now run the business, which completed the construction of the College’s Tinsley Campus Ministry Center last year.

Lauring Construction built the Ryken Center at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury and has worked on many church renovations in the Worcester Diocese. Mr. Lauring is also co-owner of Emmanuel Communications (WNEB 1230-AM) of Worcester, formed in 2008 when a small group of Catholics answered the call to start a local Catholic radio station. He has volunteered as several local organizations and has served on the board for Southgate of Shrewsbury and both Shrewsbury and Salisbury nursing homes.

Stephen Knott, ph.D. ’79

raymond lauring

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photoS: tammy wooDarD

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Women’s Leadership Forum hosts event at Worcester Art Museum Assumption’s Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) hosted, “Kennedy to Kent State: One Woman’s Journey” at the Worcester Art Museum in January. With close to 100 alumni, students, parents and friends of the College in attendance, the program featured Suzanne St. Pierre and the museum’s “Kennedy to Kent State” photo exhibition.

St. Pierre spoke openly about a woman’s place in society in the 1960s and her 30-year career working in broadcast journalism, including her work as a 60 Minutes producer. In her remarks, St. Pierre shared the challenges women faced when she and her classmates left college in 1958, and how they affected them. “Few women had careers. We were expected to follow one path – our sole roles were to be wives and mothers. The Women’s Movement had yet to begin, and there were no laws against gender discrimination.”

According to Linda Rosenlund ’82, co-founder of the WLF, St. Pierre was asked to speak because she is considered a trailblazer in an era when no one believed a woman could report “hard news.”

During her career, St. Pierre received some of the highest awards in broadcast journalism, including four Emmys, a Peabody, and three of Columbia University’s duPont awards.

Two of St. Pierre’s brothers – Edward AP’60 and Richard AP’64 – are alumni of Assumption Prep School, which closed in 1970.

The WLF promotes professional networking and educational program opportunities to advance leadership roles of women. To learn more about future programs or involvement opportunities, email womensforum@assumption.edu, or call 508-767-7104.

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Suzanne St. pi erre

filomena Cesareo, Suzanne St. pierre and maureen gray g’67

Committing to Fair Trade: One of 13 U.S. Colleges Assumption College is one of only 13 schools in the United States – and the only one in Massachusetts – to be approved as a Fair Trade College by the Fair Trade Colleges and Universities Campaign.

Achieving Fair Trade-approved status means that Assumption has committed to embed Fair Trade principles and practices within its administrative and purchasing policies and the academic community’s social and intellectual fabric.

“By becoming an approved Fair Trade College, Assumption College is helping the effort to transform the lives of farmers, artisans, farm workers and their families through fair prices and fair wages, direct trade, access to credit, support for democratic organizations, protections for workers and the environment, and investments in community development,” said Assumption Campus Minister Vincent Sullivan-Jacques, who advises the College’s Social Justice Committee.

To celebrate Assumption’s national recognition, the Social Justice Committee members held a ceremony on Feb. 12 in Testa Science Center’s atrium. The event featured speeches from campus community members, and a sampling of Fair Trade products. Fair Trade-certified

chocolate was sold in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The Fair Trade Colleges and Universities Campaign’s goal is to increase the impact colleges and universities can make by ensuring that Fair Trade products are sold and served at campus-owned and operated outlets. Thousands of Fair Trade products are available to consumers, including coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, spices, fresh fruit and vegetables, clothing, bags, sports balls and crafts.

Sodexo, the company that manages dining and catering services at Assumption, has partnered with the College in support of the Fair Trade approval.

“In alignment with Sodexo’s ‘Better Tomorrow Plan,’ we already source and offer our signature brand, Aspretto, certified fair-trade coffee and sugar,” said Michael Ward, Assumption’s director of food services. “In addition, Assumption and Sodexo continue to work together on sustainable initiatives such as composting and recycling in Taylor Dining Hall, which will reduce 90 tons of waste from landfills; to use compostable paper, as well as to strengthen our local purchasing efforts.”

SEND Immersion Trips Visit Ecuador and Alabama During winter break a pair of SEND immersion trips took students to Ecuador and Alabama.

the assumption group immersed themselves in Duran, Ecuador.

Duran, Ecuador Twelve students visited Duran, Ecuador, accompanied by Campus Minister Vincent Sullivan-Jacques and Juan Carlos Grijalva, Ph.D., associate professor of Spanish. Assumption partnered with Rostro de Cristo.

“It’s a cultural immersion opportunity to learn about the culture, visit neighbors and partnering non-profit organizations in the context.

The goal is to foster a wider world vision in the students and put some of their gifts and skills into action,” said Sullivan-Jacques.

Marie Theroux, a junior majoring in Spanish, said “I learned that the taste of clean, cold water was something I always took for granted … holding this poverty and hurt in your arms, seeing it faceto-face, and somehow seeing the face of Christ in the midst of all of this, was unexpected.”

Tuscaloosa, Alabama For the second consecutive year, 13 students traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to work with the local Habitat for Humanity. The group helped build four houses in an area destroyed by an April 2011 tornado. The group was led by Amy Logue ’01, assistant director of alumni relations; and Molly Scott ’13, and included a visit with Assumption English Professor/Community Service Learning Director and Tuscaloosa native Mike Land and his parents.

Students were inspired by the experience. “Getting to meet the future homeowners of each house was a highlight,” said Lauren McCarthy ’16.

“The amount of faith and hope each individual carried with them after enduring so much pain and tragedy was remarkable. Building the future homes for these families touched a special place in our hearts.”

The group also visited the Civil Rights Museum in Tuscaloosa and met a local who shared his experience during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s. McCarthy said, “It was truly a life changing experience, which allowed me to grow closer to God and my new friends.” Mary Guinee ’14 agreed, “SEND is truly an incredible experience and a wonderful way to give back to people who genuinely appreciate it.”

in alabama, students worked with habitat for humanity.

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WISE Beyond Their Years Worcester Institute for Senior Education Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

By Troy Watkins

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ore than 300 Worcester-area senior citizens crowded into La Maison Française on Nov. 10, 1992, for the first open house of the Worcester Area Institute for Learning in Retirement, now known as Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE). WISE gives seniors an opportunity to continue learning – on a convenient schedule, with less of a time commitment, and no grades or pressure. It began in spring 1993 with 10 courses. Now, 20 years later, the organization is 400 members strong and attracting new members every semester.

Local senior citizens founded the program, with Assumption hosting it in partnership with the Colleges of the Worcester Consortium.

The seniors modeled it after similar institutes nationwide, and they still run it themselves. “It was like a dream come true when we founded WISE,” said founding member Maddie Levine. “It fills a need for the community. Many have said, ‘I don’t know what I would have done without WISE.’ We have so many devoted to the program, serving on various committees, and that’s what makes it great.”

Charlene Longhi Martin, Ed.D. ’78, then assistant dean of Assumption’s Continuing Education, helped the program get started, and served as its director for more than 10 years. She returned in 2008 to again serve as director. In fact, Martin presented her doctoral dissertation on the education of older adults.

“Instead of taking courses offered at a local college, WISE members create their own program,” said Martin. “They create the curriculum,

Jane Shainheit

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wiSE students listen intently.

hire the group leaders for the courses and organize special events. They have committees for membership, a newsletter and others. It’s beneficial not only for their intellectual stimulation and socialization, but they also enjoy being able to contribute and be active.”

WISE President Barbara Groves and her husband have been taking WISE courses since moving back to Worcester in 2005. With nearly 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator and school principal, Groves takes her role seriously. “We have more than 400 members and they come from all over. A member from Framingham indicated our courses are less expensive than those around Boston, and we have people from Connecticut as well.

Martin added, “Baby boomers are not retiring in the same way, and WISE has been a vehicle for them to keep learning.” Studies show that older people who continue intellectual development and stimulation are less prone to forgetfulness and dementia. Martin’s research demonstrates that other benefits of participating in a lifelong learning institute include opportunities for personal growth, self-esteem, contribution and empowerment in later life.

“WISE is not only an opportunity for seniors to continue learning and set an example for others, but also to encourage socialization,” said Groves. Levine added, “The instructors say they adore WISE because we are attentive and participate.”

WISE members also interact with the Assumption community by volunteering as guest speakers in classes, and by assisting students who

wiSE group leader Stephen teichgraeber teaching “the Sacred & profane lyrics of Dr. John Donne”

“it was like a dream come true when we founded wiSE,” said founding member maddie levine. “it fills a need for the community. many have said, ‘i don’t know what i would have done without wiSE.’ we have so many devoted to the program, serving on various committees, and that’s what makes it great.” are looking to interview people for projects. Members have also generously donated to the College and a Continuing Education Scholarship.

Many WISE courses meet on campus, and others are held at local cultural organizations, such as Worcester Art Museum, the American Antiquarian Society and the Worcester Historical Museum, and two retirement communities, Briarwood and The Willows at Worcester.

Group leaders/instructors have included WISE members with an interest and/or expertise in a particular topic, and Assumption professors, including Sr. Ellen Guerin, Marc LePain, Ph.D. ’65; Paul Mahon, Ph.D. ’65; Pete Murphy, Toby Norris, Ph.D. and Jed Watters.

“WISE students bring a wealth of rich experiences to class, which is unbeatable,” said Prof. LePain. “Rather than being introduced to new topics like undergraduates, WISE students are able to comment upon and share their own knowledge of the material presented in a class much more freely than a 20-year-old.”

Over the years, WISE has grown through word-of-mouth.

“We’ve never paid for an advertisement,” said Martin. “I think that if Assumption had more available rooms on campus, we could easily

Joyce abdow-Dowd

double in size, but this is a manageable group. Those who have been involved have done a great job running it.”

Podcasts and Skype have been used for some courses and lectures, and they are considering online courses. “We’re moving toward more electronic communication without trying to complicate things,” said Groves. The most popular courses have been those in literature, music, history and art.

The social aspect of WISE is an important part of its purpose. Former WISE President Betty McGrath and Worcester Telegram & Gazette columnist Al Southwick met while taking WISE classes and later wed.

“That was just a sweet side-story of WISE’s success,” said Martin.

You’re Invited to “A Taste of WISE” June 19, 2013, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker Jim Verscheuren, former director of Elderhostel Institute Network Participate in a WISE sampler, choose from 10 mini-courses Free and open to the public To register, call WISE at 508-767-7513 or visit www.assumption.edu/wise

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Career Networking Dinner Connects Alumni and Parents with Students

photoS: EriKa SiDor

Despite the impending Blizzard of ’13 nearly 100 students participated in the Career Networking Dinner on Feb. 7 in Hagan Campus Center Hall. Thirty alumni and parents served as table hosts, each dining with a group of students and discussing job search strategies.

The event was sponsored by the Assumption Parents Committee in collaboration with the Office of Career Services.

Kate Conway P’13, a senior vice president with Travelers Insurance in Hartford, Conn., served as guest speaker and shared her “Seven Secrets of Career Success.” Following the talk, students networked with parents and alumni from various professions.

Lisa Gagne ’13 had connected with Boston FBI Special Agent in Charge Rick DesLauriers ’82 through the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement. “He has been a great resource since we connected a month prior to the event,” she said. “And he has encouraged me to stay in contact with him.” An accounting major, Gagne is interested in the field of forensic accounting, an area of growing

michael Conway ’13 with parents Kate & Kevin. Kate served as guest speaker of this popular annual event.

need, according to DesLauriers. “Forensic accountants help solve white collar crimes involving money,” said Gagne.

A popular event for several years, many students have secured contacts and leads for internships and/or employment through the Career Networking Dinner. “Most students hear the information that was shared from their parents, but when it comes from these professionals, it really hits home,” said Gagne. “All of the alumni and parents that I’ve encountered at the career networking events on-campus have been very helpful, sharing their advice and expertise.” Gagne also has taken advantage of the on-campus interviews for public accounting offered by the Office of Career Services. “I figure that getting some interviewing experience can only help me in the future,” she said.

Brendan geaney ’13 and megan hamilton ’13

Kate Conway p’13 shared her “Seven secrets of career success.”

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Career NetworkiNg DiNNer table Hosts ~Maureen Lynch Allen ’87, physician assistant, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford ~Tony Amico P’15, managing director, Fox Hill Village, Westwood ~Paul Belsito ’00, community relations manager, e Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester ~Michael Caira ’00, principal, Henry E. Warren Elementary School, Ashland ~Steve Connolly ’91, corporate counsel, ATS Equipment, Inc., Boston ~Rick DesLauriers ’82, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston ~Erika Olson Duke ’85, P’10, ’15, president/principal, Duke Insurance Brokerage, Ludlow ~omas Duke ’85, P’10, ’15, director/principal, Duke Insurance Brokerage, Ludlow ~Jim Faust, M.D. P’15, anesthesiologist, Tricommunity Anesthesia Associates, Southbridge ~Mark Henderson ’87, online director, Telegram & Gazette, Worcester ~Peter Henderson P’13, corporate controller, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., Boston ~Kelly Lattal P’14, training manager, MetLife, Bloomfield, CT ~Dennis Leamy ’06, marketing coordinator, Amica Mutual Insurance Co., Lincoln, RI ~Tom Manchester P’13, vice president, U.S. & Canada Field Marketing, Dunkin’ Donuts ~omas Manning ’69 , G’71, deputy chancellor emeritus, UMass Medical School, Worcester ~Dan Mastrototaro ’86, vice president, e Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester ~David McManus ’87, co-president; Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Company, Westborough ~Dan Micari ’71, G’73, director of quality and emergency management services, State of Connecticut ~Jim Moughan ’81, assistant general manager and director of sales, DCU Center, Worcester ~Don Murray P’10, ’13, assistant vice president, Amica Mutual Insurance Co., Lincoln, RI ~Mike Murray ’06, front-end developer, MathWorks, Natick ~Suzanne Rice Simoncini ’78, provider enrollment specialist, Navin, Hay & Associates, Westborough ~Stephen Starr, M.D. ’68, P’03, psychiatrist, UMass Medical School, Worcester ~Mike Stowe ’86, partner, Stowe & Degon, LLC, Westborough ~Maureen Valois ’89, G’90, private mental health practice, Spencer ~omas Wales, Ph.D. ’98, research assistant professor, Northeastern University, Boston ~Jon Weaver ’06, senior project manager, Worcester Business Development Corporation, Worcester ~Katie DiBuono Weaver ’08, territory sales manager, Altria Group and Distribution, Norwich, CT

Dan mastrotatoro ’86 is vice president at the hanover insurance group in worcester.

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hounDS watCh

gabrielle gibson ’13

ronson Quick ’13

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Reach NCAA Tournament MEN’S BASKETBALL The men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA East Regional semifinals and finished the season with a 21-8 overall record. Ranked as high as No. 13 in the nation during the season, the Hounds finished second in the Northeast-10 Conference regular-season standings with a mark of 17-5 in league play.

This marked the 26th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Hounds, the winningest men’s basketball program in New England with 1,097 all-time victories.

Leading the way on offense was graduate student Kevin Donahue ’12 at 14.1 points per game (ppg), followed by senior forward Ronson Quick at 13.6 ppg. Both players were named to the NE-10 All-Conference Second Team.

Donahue was also honored as a Capital One/ CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District selection for the second straight season.

Sophomore Terrance Bobb-Jones averaged 13.5 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds in his first season with the team. The athletic guard made national headlines

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in late November as his thunderous dunk at home vs. New Haven landed him the No. 2 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day. Senior captain Tim Beinert averaged 12.2 ppg and shot 50.4 percent from the field.

Donahue, Quick and Beinert all surpassed the 1,000-point career scoring mark, the first time in Assumption history that three players have reached that plateau in the same season. Assumption was involved in 14 games this season decided by five points or less and has had 30 such games over the last two seasons under second-year head coach Matt Mahar.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The women’s basketball team advanced to its first-ever Northeast-10 Conference Championship Game, its fifth all-time NCAA Tournament and tied the program’s single-season record for wins with a 22-8 final mark. Senior Gabrielle Gibson earned First Team NE-10 All-Conference honors and was a Daktronics Second Team All-Region selection after

Spring 2013

finishing second in the league in scoring (17.8 ppg). Posting one of the top seasons in Assumption history, Gibson ended her career with 1,627 points to rank second on the College’s career scoring list. Senior guard Katy Howard was named to the NE-10 All-Conference Second Team after averaging 11.6 ppg. Howard became the 22nd player in Assumption women’s basketball history to surpass the 1,000-point career scoring mark.

Senior forward Sabrina Siciliano was a key contributor with 10.6 ppg and junior forward Jamie Insel led the team in rebounding with an average of 6.4 rpg to go along with 5.4 ppg.

Both Gibson and Insel earned spots on the NE-10 Conference All-Tournament Team for their performances in leading the Hounds to the league title game. The Hounds entered the league championship game on an eight-game winning streak, marking the second-longest winning streak over the last 10 seasons for the program. Assumption was ranked as high as No. 24 in the national rankings and received votes in the USA Today Sports National Poll for the final 13 weeks of the season. In mid-January, 17th-year head coach Kerry Phayre recorded her 200th NE-10 victory with a home win over Saint Anselm.

Bob Chesney Appointed Head Football Coach

Women’s Swimming and Diving Nationally Ranked Nationally-ranked through much of the second half of the season, the women’s swimming and diving team enjoyed the most successful season in the program’s history. Assumption posted its best finish at the Northeast-10 Championship, placing third behind a pair of conference titles from junior standout Monique Haney.

The Hounds also captured their first-ever Worcester City Championship, where Haney was named “Most Outstanding Swimmer.”

The team was undefeated in dual meet action, posting a perfect 5-0 mark.

Haney was also a three-time NE-10 Swimmer of the Week and freshmen Caitlin Schofield and Victoria Weber each earned Rookie of the Week honors once during the season. In total, 11 individual records, four diving records and four relay school records were set this season. Academically, the women’s swimming and diving team earned the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Team Scholar All-American Award for the 10th straight semester. An overall team GPA of at least 3.0 is required to earn this award.

monique haney ’14

ICE HOCKEy The ice hockey team finished the 2012–13 season with a 7-16-2 record. Senior captain Keven Meehan led the Greyhounds with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) to earn Northeast-10 Conference Second Team honors. Freshman Alex Erban also earned NE-10 recognition with a spot on the AllRookie team after tallying three goals and two assists, while freshman goalie Chris Hemhauser earned a 2-2-1 record with a .921 save percentage in five decisions.

Sophomore Brennen Shaw ranked second on the team with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Junior Ross White led the team with eight goals, while sophomore Trevor Plante tied with Meehan for second on the team with seven.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD The indoor track and field teams enjoyed a record-setting season, as 11 school records

fell, including seven at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship.

At the championship meet, sophomore Tony Fierimonte (800-meter run), freshman Anthony Iannone (60-meter hurdles), and the men’s 4 x 800-meter relay team of Fierimonte and freshmen Alex Smith, Michael Hoye and Taylor Days-Merrill set school records.

For the women’s team, freshman Patricia Malone (60-meter dash), junior Jennifer Jackson (pole vault), freshman Katherine Lynch (60-meter hurdles), and the women’s 4 x 800-meter relay team of senior Molly Kessler and freshmen Lili Urso, Kayla Hogan and Kellie Powers all set records at the championship. Kessler also won the 800-meter run, the lone Greyhound and first runner in Assumption history win an event at the NE-10 Championship.

Kessler served as captain of the women’s soccer team last fall.

Bob Chesney was appointed head football coach in February, replacing Cory Bailey, who resigned to take a position at Coastal Carolina University.

“I am excited to welcome Bob Chesney to Bob Chesney the Assumption College community and to our football program,” said Nick Smith, director of athletics. “He has proven that he can win on the football field and I expect that he will bring that success to Assumption as we strive for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”

Chesney comes to Assumption from Salve Regina University, where he posted a 23-9 record during his three seasons as head coach. He coached 30 All-Conference selections, two All-Americans, 41 Academic AllConference selections and one Academic AllAmerican and his defense consistently ranked among the league and national leaders.

Most recently, Chesney guided his 2012 team to a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark at home. The Seahawks also advanced to the NEFC Championship Game after posting a 7-1 mark in league play. In addition to the team’s work on the field, the Seahawks were recognized as the Child and Family’s Volunteers of the Year for their commitment to their foster home program and after-school homework club.

Prior to his arrival at Salve, Chesney worked as a member of the football staff at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., from 2005–10. He began his time there as a defensive assistant and special teams coach for four seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in 2009.

Chesney's other coaching experience includes time at King's College (Pa.), Delaware Valley College (Pa.) and Norwich University (Vt.).

A 2000 graduate of Dickinson College (Pa.), Chesney earned a bachelor of arts degree. At Dickinson, he was a four-year varsity letter winner and a two-time AllCentennial Conference selection in 1998 and 1999. He was also the 1997 recipient of the Vincent Correal MVP Award and served as the team captain in 1999.

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CampuS nEwS

Benedict Our Teacher

By FR. DENNIS GALLAGHER, A.A.’69, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION

the mission

photo: Dan VaillanCourt

I

recall a conversation at a local pub with a faculty friend within the first year of Benedict XVI’s pontificate. Taking the measure of Benedict and John Paul II, he noted that John Paul was a seminary professor in his former life, Benedict a university professor.

The significance of this observation arose from a sense, early on, that Benedict’s writings and speeches were different from his predecessors, less encumbered by official Church language, somehow freer in their purpose of reaching a wider audience of those disposed to reasonable discourse. And so it was: throughout his eight years as Pope, he was the teacher par excellence, always ready to give an account of the hope that was in him (1 Peter 3:15), in words that people could understand, for the revitalization of the Church’s witness.

In this respect, Benedict was a great friend of the Catholic college and university, and – I dare say – in his Christ-centered, Augustinian theology, a particular friend of Assumption College. Friendship with Jesus Christ was for him the very definition of being a Christian, and to a flattened-out world he evoked the desire for God that lies within each human heart. Like Fr. d’Alzon, the founder of the Assumptionists, he was a man of essentials: the theological virtues, the primacy of love, the Eucharistic liturgy at the center of the Church’s life. Benedict also helped those within the Catholic university to remember the distinctiveness of the theological enterprise, never simply an academic discipline among other academic disciplines, but the adventure of faith reaching out toward ever deeper understanding and, in the process, illuminating the contours of a truly human life.

I find myself returning to two other of Benedict’s insights. He insisted often upon a particular attitude toward the truth: that we stand not as its proud possessors, but as its humble servants. Such a disposi-

tion helps to overcome isolation and opens up the possibility of communion and friendship with all who genuinely seek the truth and are receptive to its coming toward us. This constitutes the sometimes elusive, but always compelling rationale for the life of the university, and all the more a Catholic college or university.

Benedict also made it a point to say that the true reformers of the Church are the saints. It is not so much by changing Church structures, but by raising up holy men and women that the Church is continually renewed. It must be for this reason that the Holy Father devoted so much time in his Wednesday audiences to elucidating the lives of those who had so completely identified themselves with the person and mission of Jesus Christ. This beautiful testimony to the great teachers of the ancient Church, to monks and missionaries, to mystics and mendicants and scholastics, as well as an extraordinarily rich collection of homilies, raises Pope Benedict himself to the stature of a Church Father, whom we were privileged to call our teacher.

March for Life Advocates for Life Participate in 40th Annual Event Assumption’s Advocates for Life, including 18 students and an alumnus, traveled with fellow members of the Worcester Diocese to Washington, D.C., on January 25 where they participated in the 40th annual March for Life, recognizing the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Hundreds of thousands pro-life advocates packed the National Mall and surrounding area.

After touring the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the group participated in the Rally for Life at the Verizon Center, which included music, inspirational videos and speeches followed by Mass, according to advisor James Rizza, director of Campus Ministry.

After Mass, the group traveled to the National Mall area, where there were various speakers, Church representatives, politicians and pro-life advocates. “This is the first time Assumption has participated, though I hope that we will able to participate again next year,” said Rizza. “I thought it was a positive and enjoyable experience, one that was quite peaceful and there was a feeling of hope that having more protection for the unborn may be seen in our lifetime. We were there to make our own

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statement, not to oppose other people and their differing points of view.”

“The feeling of the event was one of reconciliation,” said attendee Lucas LaRoche ’16, “Trying to make things right that were set wrong so long ago. It was beautiful to see so many people united for one cause, many who had taken long bus rides to pack the streets of Washington, peacefully showing what they wanted to happen. There was an energy there that made me feel like I was a part of everything that was going on.”

Assumption’s Advocates for Life hopes to participate in the March for Life again next year.

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photo: Dan VaillanCourt

B Y T ROY WATKINS

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THE E NTREPRENEURIAL S PIRIT

Casey Rankin ’06 President / DealGator In just seven years since his Assumption graduation, Casey Rankin ’06 has worked with a Fortune 500 company, started two dot-coms, and is developing several other business projects. The technology-savvy entrepreneur is not intimidated about striking out on his own.

In fact, right after high school graduation he moved out to the West Coast and spent a couple years developing web applications on a freelance basis. He decided to return to Worcester and attend Assumption so he could earn a computer science degree and progress in the field. The decision to attend Assumption was easy because his mom, Arlene Vadum, Ph.D., has taught psychology here since 1971.

He decided to double major in computer science and accounting, and today he credits his education with helping him run his own business. “In my business ventures, I constantly present ideas and proposals to groups of people, so having practiced doing this in many of my Assumption courses has been invaluable,” he said.

“The small class sizes encourage individual attention to students and result in strong relationships between students and faculty,” Rankin explained. He credits Professors Dana Aspinall, Jeanne McNett, Bill Sullivan, Frank Marino and Joe Foley for helping him succeed. “My writing skills dramatically improved while at Assumption and are now a very strong part of my entrepreneurial tool kit,” he said.

Through independent study with Professor Elizabeth Driehaus he learned the Ruby programming language, which Rankin still uses in all of his Web applications. Outside of class, his experience included working with the College’s Web developer, allowing him to further hone his programming skills.

During his senior year, with the guidance of David Kowalczyk in Career Services, Rankin received several job offers. He chose a position that drew on skills from both of his fields of study – an information technology auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston.

There he worked with a diverse team of professionals, developed timemanagement, communication and presentation skills, and gained the ability to be self-critical. “Most important, I learned that the projects that I was passionate about were ones I created myself, and that this type of work was what I wanted to do for my career,” said Rankin.

After two years, Rankin left PwC to create his own companies.

He already was running a network of Boston neighborhood business directories, which he developed further. Rankin still owns these active sites, which include newbury-st.com and boston-neighborhoods.com.

He later created another web-based service called DealGator, a daily deal aggregator that organizes the bargains found on sites like Groupon and Living Social. The website, which operates in 52 cities throughout North America, sends a daily email with a list of offers from numerous sites. DealGator has been featured on many television news programs and in newspapers such as The Boston Globe.

While working on DealGator, Rankin became a member of the Boston start-up scene and learned about MassChallenge, the largest startup accelerator in the world supporting high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs. Rankin teamed with his brother and another individual to found ArtVenue, a company that helps artists show and sell their work in local businesses, and entered the competition. That year 750

“following through on ideas i have for products, and then receiving instant feedback from customers who are benefiting from these products is amazing. i truly couldn’t ask for a more rewarding career.” companies were competing for a share of a $1 million grant. ArtVenue was one of the top 17 winners to receive a 2011 Mass Challenge award and, in their case, a check for $50,000. “The presentation skills I developed at Assumption played a key part in winning the MassChallenge startup competition,” he said.

In January 2012, on the strength of the MassChallenge award, he was selected by Startup America Partnership (SAP) to be at the podium to ring the bell opening the stock market. SAP is the national effort dedicated to helping startups grow and jumpstart job creation nationwide.

Rankin has since sold his share of ArtVenue to continue with other businesses and to pursue his latest endeavor, PRDCR (pronounced producer), a service that allows musicians to offer free downloads of their music in exchange for engagement on social networks, like Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud and YouTube. The resulting increased visibility within the different social media helps musicians build their online fan base and introduces more listeners to their music.

“I enjoy developing this product because it is a marriage of my entrepreneurial skills and my interest in music,” he said. Rankin produces electronic dance music and performs at dance clubs when not working on web projects with his brother, who lives in Atlanta.

Rankin credits Assumption and its supportive environment with helping to get him started. “The two most important skills I developed while at Assumption are writing and networking, which I use daily,” Rankin said. “I think that students should focus on fine-tuning these essential skills while in college.”

He is grateful for the career he’s created for himself. “Following through on ideas I have for products, and then receiving instant feedback from customers who are benefiting from these products is amazing,” he said. “I truly couldn’t ask for a more rewarding career.”

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photo: alEx mCKnight

Fluent IN B USINESS Maria Maranda ’84 Owner / Maranda Insurance Agency, Inc./State Farm When Maria Maranda ’84 was an Assumption College student, she dreamed of working in the airline industry, traveling the world, and connecting with fascinating people. She graduated with a degree in French and Spanish and a minor in linguistics, and lived her dream for several years.

Then she realized something was missing. “I wanted to control my destiny and accomplish bigger things, and I was limited with the airlines,” she said.

Today, she owns the award-winning Maranda Insurance Agency, Inc./State Farm in Brandon, Fla., a full-service agency with a strong team of 11 employees. With a knack for empowering her co-workers and a commitment to servicing her customers, Maranda has built a highly regarded business in a very competitive industry.

From language major to insurance entrepreneur may seem incompatible, but Maranda credits the influence of her professors. The adventurous nature of Prof. Tom Begley, the sense of accountability instilled by Prof. George Aubin ’60, and the strength and leadership of Prof. Magda deMoor have been a foundation of her success. “Dr. Begley expanded my world so I thought about the possibilities in life,”

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she said, “While Dr. Aubin was a kind man, he challenged me and stressed discipline and accountability, which in today’s world, is critical.”

She found her calling when a friend who was a State Farm insurance agent suggested that Maranda try the insurance industry. She was initially skeptical, but has spent the last 23 years as a State Farm agent and business owner. What keeps Maranda going is the ability to make a difference in the lives of her customers and her team.

“Knowing your market and your clients are key. Of course, for any business owner, you never shut it off, it’s 24/7,” she said. “On the customer side, if they aren’t properly covered, it can be financially devastating. I consider it a noble profession. At the time of a death, everyone else brings potato salad. I bring a check. That is the most rewarding part of my business.”

“No matter what business you’re in, you need to have the right people on your team, and make sure they develop their professional skills and are in the right position to utilize their strengths. I try to make a difference in the lives of each team member and help them achieve their goals,” she explained.

In addition to insurance, Maranda’s company offers financial

THE E NTREPRENEURIAL S PIRIT

B Y T ROY WATKINS

“i wanted to control my destiny and accomplish bigger things, and i was limited with the airlines.” management, assisting customers with retirement planning, college funding and wealth management. Her success has been recognized by the industry. Maranda Insurance Agency is a recipient of the Chairman’s Circle Award, an honor bestowed on only the top three percent of 18,000 State Farm agencies nationwide. It represents a wide range of accomplishments, including insurance, banking, financial services and production numbers. Maranda is also among a select few to earn a Crystal Excellence award, recognizing State Farm agents with more than 20 years of consistently outstanding business achievement.

Maranda is thankful for all she has experienced. “I’ve traveled the world just by doing my job,” she explained. “Name a place and I’ve probably been there. I’ve really enjoyed working for State Farm, and the opportunities it has given me. The ability to work for a company that has true integrity and value and wants to do the right thing has

been a Godsend for me.”

A personal sense of integrity and giving back is integral to Maranda’s life, and she is involved in and supports her community.

She has served on a local hospital board and the Brandon and Riverview Chambers of Commerce. She’s a proud member and major sponsor of Ye Notorious Krewe of the Pegleg Pirate, which raises money for amputees and their families, and a major sponsor of Top Soccer.

“What’s most important is the personal touch and the difference that you can make in a person’s life, and how you leverage your knowledge to make a difference,” she said. In their limited spare time, she and husband Joe enjoy excursions on the water in their SportFish boat.

Maranda fondly recalls how much she enjoyed her days as an undergraduate. “I loved Assumption’s size, its warm, family-like atmosphere and the strong languages program,” said Maranda. “It was the right fit for me. College was the best four years of my life.”

Her advice to Assumption students today, “Don’t let your college experience go by without appreciating it and taking advantage of it.

You’ll never have another opportunity like college again to take everything in, and explore so many different topics and experiences. If you’re interested in being an entrepreneur, read as much as you can about being a leader, and look at the big picture.”

Lifelong learning and the ability to adapt are essential traits for any entrepreneur. Maranda’s liberal arts education gave her the tools to succeed in her career and grow her own business.

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Dominic Rawson ’90 Managing Director and Vice President / R&M International Sales Corporation Dominic Rawson ’90 became an entrepreneur in college when he launched his own painting company. Rawson was confident that he could run his own business and make a higher wage if he went out on his own. That early experience confirmed for him that he wanted a career in business, specifically in sales. Little did he realize however, that he would travel the world after college for textile companies before coming home to join the family business.

Today, Rawson is managing director and vice president of R&M International Sales Corp., the company his father founded in 1977.

Rawson is responsible for sales, purchasing and new business development. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, R&M is a trusted supplier of high-tenacity yarns, both textiles and plastic, to 40 countries on five continents. The company specializes in importing, exporting and trading raw materials. An active recycler for decades, R&M is also committed to helping producers and mills locate and develop new markets for their excess materials.

“When I graduated from high school I wanted to go to a small Catholic college in New England that was near the mountains,” Rawson said. “I missed skiing. I was born in Italy, in Biello, an hour from Turin in the foothills of the Alps. We moved to the U.S. when I was 11. My dad wanted us to grow up in an English-speaking country.

We grew up in Pennsylvania.”

After visiting several colleges, Rawson was drawn to Assumption.

“Assumption offered a nice campus and a sense of community,” he said. “That decided it for me. I knew it was a place I could learn, play soccer and have fun. The faith-based education I got helped to reinforce the values I was raised with.”

Rawson changed his major from business to English after discovering that accounting and finance were not his strong suit. He knew he wanted a career in international trade, given his interest in travel and other cultures.

“I had an English professor who gave me a strong appreciation for literature, reading and writing,” Rawson said. “My management professor, Herbert Bromberg, was very influential in teaching me about marketing and consequences in business.”

Rawson counts Father John Franck, A.A. ’70, who was then a dean, as a source of wisdom and guidance during his undergraduate years. Fr. Franck is now assistant general of the Assumptionists in Rome.

“He was an incredible inspiration and guide for me,” Rawson said.

“He took me under his spiritual wing. I still keep in touch and have visited him in Rome. He has been very influential in my career and in my life.”

After graduation, Rawson went to work for a wool merchant in Boston for three years. Just as he and his father were about to start a wool business together, the younger Rawson was made an offer he could not refuse.

“I was approached by a multinational company that had factories all over the world where they washed and combed wool,” he said.

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“look inside yourself to find what really drives you ... in business, people are willing to help you if you’re honest and you work hard.”

“I was hired in 1993, and six months later, they sent me around the world to learn the business by visiting their factories and wool growing countries. My focus was in wools and the by-products of wool. I started in New Zealand, then went to Australia, followed by Hong Kong and China.”

Rawson continued his around-the-world journey through Europe.

He met and married his wife, Caroline, in France. They have four children, who range in age from seven to 13. When he returned to the U.S. in 1998, he realized that the wool industry was on the wane. He turned down an opportunity to become president of Standard Wool.

“Instead, I went to work as an independent agent for them and for R&M, my father’s company,” he said. “My father asked me to join the family firm full time in 2000.”

He’s never looked back.

“Working in the family business is exciting and challenging,” Rawson said. “It was great to work with my dad and my brother, Pete, until he retired. My sister, Elena, joined the company in 2006. In my role I have to keep the entrepreneurial spirit in the business because we deal with first-quality products, as well as secondary or recyclable materials. Balancing those two businesses is challenging. My dad, who is 80 and still active in the company, has always been entrepreneurial and open-minded. He has let me make mistakes. Most importantly, he let me try.”

Rawson is an equal partner in the company with his sister. They continually seek new lines of business.

Rawson offers this advice to young would-be entrepreneurs: “Look inside yourself to find what really drives you,” he said.

“Take this passion and direct it to a field where you can get paid for it.

You have to be willing to take a job or an internship that will take you part way there. In business, people are willing to help you if you’re honest and you work hard. The only way to fail is not to try.”

photo: Colin lEnton

THE E NTREPRENEURIAL S PIRIT

Family M ATTERS B Y E LIZABETH WALKER

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Building G LOBAL T RACTION photo: Dan VaillanCourt

B Y E LIZABETH WALKER

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THE E NTREPRENEURIAL S PIRIT

Harris MacNeill P’14 President, CEO and Owner / MacNeill Engineering Worldwide At its simplest, entrepreneurship is a process for creating and organizing a business around a new idea. That process also can take hold within an established business and move that business in new directions.

In 1979, Harris MacNeill, then a recent college graduate, brought his entrepreneurial spirit, business experience and new ideas to his family’s nearly 50-year-old company. MacNeill’s vision and leadership transformed it from a successful domestic manufacturer of athletic footwear components to the world leader in innovative sport cleat technology.

“The business that I run now and own was founded by my father and grandfather in 1931,” said MacNeill, president, CEO and owner of MacNeill Engineering Worldwide, headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. “They were pioneers in cleat technology and introduced the world’s first locking golf spike. I grew up working in the business, running different machines, and continued working through college. My father never pushed me, but hoped I would join the business one day.”

Today, Harris and wife Nancy are the proud parents of three sons, one of whom attends Assumption, Mark ’14. Harris and Nancy so strongly believe in Assumption’s liberal arts education that Harris joined the College’s Board of Trustees in 2011, and Nancy serves as a member of the Father Bissonnette Invitational Golf Tournament Committee. They appreciate the value of a robust college experience.

“I graduated from Northeastern University’s five-year co-op program with a degree in entrepreneurship,” the Assumption trustee said.

“For two of those years, I essentially worked full time in a wide range of co-op experiences that gave me a strong foundation before I moved into the family business. The best experiences I had were with the Small Business Administration. There I assisted troubled businesses by identifying problems and helping to redirect the owners.”

After graduating in 1979, MacNeill put his newly minted degree and new ideas to work right away in his first professional position with MacNeill Engineering.

“I jumped right in,” he said. “I graduated on a Friday and went to work full time on Monday. My father was 50 years older than I was, so there was the sense of a time clock running. My first job was to run the purchasing department. My father wanted me to modernize the procedures we were using. Before computers, everything was manual. I began by organizing the purchasing systems. At that point, I really began to take the reins.”

Through the early 1980s, MacNeill, by then the vice president and treasurer, had the confidence and vision to begin pushing the company into manufacturing related products and venturing into international markets. He was named president of the company in 1985 at age 30.

“I always knew that we were very good at manufacturing for the golf market, and at making similar products for cricket, as well as metal products like logging spikes,” he said. “Why not get into manufacturing soccer and football cleats? I got the company to start branching out into other categories that required plastic components.

“I researched to see what was necessary to get into the injection molding business. We bought our first machine in 1981 and then made our own tools to manufacture football cleats. We quickly developed

while the company expanded its operations, facilities and product lines – and built relationships around the globe – its founding values remained unchanged. “they are my father’s and grandfather’s values. when asked to design or build products the answer is always ‘yes.’ you figure out a way to get it done. several new products with combination metal and plastic technology.”

The momentum built from there and MacNeill Engineering grew into MacNeill Engineering Worldwide, The World Leader in Sport Cleat Technology® and maker of the innovative CHAMP spikes, highperformance golf tees and accessories. The company’s unique blend of metal and plastic traction technology is trusted by professional golf, football, baseball and soccer champions around the world.

While the company expanded its operations, facilities and product lines – and built relationships around the globe – its founding values remained unchanged. “They are my father’s and grandfather’s values,” MacNeill said. “When asked to design or build products the answer is always ‘yes.’ You figure out a way to get it done. You have to work hard and have confidence to succeed. I tell my three sons you’re better off making a decision, and then making corrections to that decision as you go along.”

While the business keeps him incredibly busy, MacNeill also said “yes” when invited to join the Board of Trustees at Assumption. It’s a “product” he believes in.

“As a trustee, I am able to bring new ideas to the table,” he said. “As parents, Nancy and I provide a voice from the student’s perspective. We enjoy giving back to the Assumption community as it continues to grow and strengthen as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.”

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Students Launch Their Own Ventures in Small Business Entrepreneurship

Entreprenuership

A LEARNED

Muncheez is the name of a take-out sandwich shop that Amanda Guy ’13 and her four entrepreneurial partners propose to open on Chandler Street in Worcester. She’s responsible for calculating the company’s financial projections and statements, and researching monthly operational costs.

“Our sandwich shop will allow customers to design their own subs by choosing unique ingredients for their sandwiches,” said Guy, an Assumption accounting and marketing double major from Lakeville, Mass.

She’s taking a course titled, “Small Business Entrepreneurship” with 24 other students learning the nitty-gritty of what goes into building a business. This popular course is co-taught by a marketing/ management and accounting professor, and aims to prepare students to become confident entrepreneurs.

“We designed this course because we saw that students needed to integrate the various disciplines that go into starting their own businesses,” said Prof. Joseph Foley, who originally developed it 12 years ago with Professor Emerita Carol Harvey.

The course appeals to students from a variety of majors. Teams of students are responsible for developing the business concept, building a comprehensive business plan and financial model, and finally presenting the plan to outside experts.

“What I like best about the course is that it is dual-taught,” said Guy. “We gain an in-depth understanding of the different components required to run a successful business.”

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David Hoyle, visiting assistant professor of marketing and Frances Skypeck ’83, visiting assistant professor of accounting and taxation, have taught the course for the past two years.

“Small businesses are the engine that drives the U.S. economy,” Hoyle pointed out. “Many of our students have wonderful ideas for a small business, but they don’t know all of the trials and tribulations that go into launching one.”

The course begins with students paired up to interview Worcester small businesses owners about how they started their venture and what they have experienced along the way. Back in class, the students share their findings.

Then teams of five students select an idea to create formal business plan, including market data and trends, financial statements, and forecasts of sales and media budgets. Many plans have integrated a social benefit component, reflecting the students’ commitment to environmental sustainability, healthy lifestyles, and giving back to the community.

Students analyze cases, and are also exposed to industry experts. A representative of the central Mass. office of Massachusetts Development Finance Agency spoke about what the agency considers when lending money to a start-up business.

Hoyle and Skypeck proudly discuss the students’ thorough research.

“They identify a location for the business and determine whether to buy or lease space. They contact insurance agencies to figure out

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S KILL

(L-R): Ben Parker ’13, Professor David Hoyle, Amanda Guy ’13, Professor Frances Skypeck ’83, Alison Bruder ’14, Matt Martino ’13 and Sean Ryan ’14

B Y L ORRAINE U. M ARTINELLE

what it would cost to insure the business, and talk to city officials about the permitting process,” Hoyle said. “All of the little – but crucial – details that go into starting a business are part of the legwork.”

Guy’s teammates are junior Allison Bruder of Salt Lake City, Utah; senior Matt Martino of Lincroft, N.J.; senior Ben Parker of Lancaster, Mass.; and junior Sean Ryan of Troy, N.Y. Bruder noted that the class “put into perspective just how much you need to do to start a business.”

Ryan was fascinated by how the financial aspect of launching a business coincides with its marketing.

Martino says the skills he’s learning will be beneficial to him this summer as he launches a demolition business.

“Students apply all of the skills they have developed over their academic careers to a real-world business,” Skypeck explained.

Indeed. The formulas Guy learned in “Introduction to Accounting” are used to evaluate the liquidity of Muncheez. The marketing principles she from another class have been applied to create Muncheez’ marketing campaign.

“This course really brings together my business education at Assumption,” said Guy, whose goal is to become a professor. After graduation, however, she will work as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I can see this class helping me to understand the financials of my prospective clients better.”

The final presentations of the business plans are intense. The

professors are joined by business experts, which last year included an investment banker, a vice president of marketing, and a lending officer from a local bank to judge the students’ efforts.

“The students have to be prepared to answer some tough questions from judges with years of experience,” Hoyle explained.

During a recent Muncheez team meeting, the students discussed how many spaces they need in a parking lot and how many tables they could fit inside the 1,000-square-foot eatery. Martino had come up with the Muncheez concept based on a similar restaurant in New Jersey.

“Our target market is college students ordering late-night take-out from Thursday to Saturday nights,” says Martino. “Our signature sandwich will be the ‘Fat Sandwich,’ which is filled with chicken fingers, French fries and mozzarella sticks, among other ingredients.”

Skypeck sees the course as solid preparation for today’s high-pressure world of business.

“They learn the good and the bad, and the triumphs and the challenges of starting their own business,” she said. “This class is extremely practical.”

When Guy registered for the course, she hadn’t expected it would be this comprehensive.

“Assumption’s ‘Small Business and Entrepreneurship’ course has exceeded my expectations,” she said. “This class is incredibly hands on, and it will really help in my career.”

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alumni news From the Alumni Association President Suzanne Rice Simoncini ’78

T

alumni EVEntS

he two years spent in the role of Alumni Association president have gone by so quickly. The experience has been rich and fulfilling, and has strengthened my commitment to Assumption College.

A recap of the highlights of the past two years include the distribution of the Alumni Awards at the Reunion Weekends. These awards are “Honorary Alumnus/a’, “Jack Bresciani Outstanding Alumnus/a”, “Fr. Louis Dion, A.A. ’35 Outstanding Achievement” and new in the past two years, the “Young Alumnus/a Award.” The presentation of these awards really epitomizes the community and family spirit of the College.

Other special events were the opening and dedication of the new Campus Ministry Center and renovations to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, president’s receptions, Breakfasts with Santa, Alumni Easter Mass and Egg Hunt, AC Hanover productions of “Children

of Eden,” and “Seussical,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and of course, Commencement ceremonies.

Last year’s Commencement was the inaugural year for the Alumni Association to officially welcome the new alumni during the ceremony.

Winter 2013 marked another very successful Career Networking Dinner, which blended the AC Parents Committee with alumni moderators along with a well-represented student body. Many of the alumni moderators from my era were heard wishing that career networking dinners not having been part of their Assumption student experience.

The Alumni Office is dedicated to offering a variety of opportunities that enable us to stay engaged with the College and with fellow alumni. As was discussed often at the Career Networking Dinner, the best way to navigate the world after graduation is to continue to maintain and foster these relationships. I look forward to reconnecting with classmates in June at our 35th reunion!

I am very grateful for the experience of the last two years and for the constant support and guidance of the Alumni Office staff. I couldn’t have done it without them.

I wish Catherine (Katie) Hall ’04, much happiness and success in her role as the next president of the Alumni Association.

MAy 11

JUNE 28

• Commencement

• friends of athletics golf outing, highfields golf & Country Club, grafton

JUNE 1-2 SAVE THE DATES: (www.assumption.edu/alumni)

• reunion

JUNE 9 • Boston alumni Club red Sox game

• July 20 – Cape Cod regional Club Event • September 14 – assumption prep reunion

JUNE 17 • fr. Bissonnette invitational golf tournament, worcester Country Club, worcester

• October 18 – alumni-athletics hall of fame • October 19 – fall homecoming

please provide us with your current email address to receive information about events, which also appear on the website. you are welcome to join fellow alumni at any regional event.

Join our growing number of friends on the Assumption College Alumni Relations facebook page!

QUESTIONS? Contact alumni relations at 508-767-7223 or email alumni@assumption.edu

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fr. Vo tran gia Dinh, a.a. with children at the Easter mass

Easter Mass and Egg Hunt the annual alumni Easter mass and Egg hunt was held on march 17. Children attended mass, met the Easter bunny and participated in a traditional egg hunt.

Remember when you’d just stop by the store for the newest gear?

Stay home.

Shop online. http://bookstore.assumption.edu Your Assumption Bookstore, wherever you call home.

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alumni nEwS

Visiting Italy with President Cesareo The Assumption College Alumni Association took another fabulous trip to Italy in March. President Cesareo led the group of 25 through the streets of Rome to visit the Cathedrals of St. John and St. Paul, The Vatican Museum, Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel. The group was one of the last to visit the Sistine Chapel before it was closed for the Conclave. Along the way, the group toured through the Forum, up the olive tree-lined street to Palatine Hill and down to the Capitoline Museum. They enjoyed a pizza-making dinner one night and the hospitality of the Assumptionists for a dinner and tour of Assumption’s Rome campus. After an exciting and exhausting three days in Rome, the group traveled to Florence, Pisa and Lucca, where they viewed Michaelangelo’s magnificent statue of David, the marble Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Ponte Vecchio. The group also participated in a tour and tasting at a winery in the hills of Tuscany, and a special farewell dinner at the Palazzo Borghese in the center of Florence.

Sitting: Bill Johnson p’92 and pauline Charron.

Standing: lynn, lou ’72 and Jena rascoe

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the assumption group visits the Colosseum in rome.

pat thomas, John Corazzini ’64 and Katie hall ’04

fr. John franck, a.a. ’70 and mike hoban ’71

Florida Alumni Receptions Alumni, parents and friends gathered for regional Florida receptions in Naples and West Palm Beach in February. President Francesco Cesareo, Vice President Tim Stanton, Senior Advancement Officer Melanie Demarais HA’92 and Alumni Relations Director Diane Laska-Nixon ’76 visited with the group and shared news and updates from the College.

Jack DuBois ’69, geoff Smith ’66 and Eileen DuBois

Please visit the photo gallery at www.assumption.edu/alumniphotos.

Cathy hamill, irene nolan, Senior advancement officer melanie Demarais, Steve nolan ’67, Vp for institutional advancement tim Stanton, president Cesareo and Ed hamill ’67

aida & michael martin ’63

Victor ’65 & Susan Durocher p’89 with Suzanne & tim Barnicle ’66

roger St. germain ’47

John Benestad ’67, president Cesareo, maureen walsh p’81 and msgr. thomas Benestad ’66

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Class notes aSSumption CollEgE

’44 Fr. C. Romeo Lamothe is celebrating 65 years of priesthood. He was ordained in 1948 in Springfield by Bishop omas O’Leary. He served in parishes in Webster, Southbridge and Fitchburg before retiring from active ministry in 1991.

’58

55th

Reunion

Fr. Robert Gariepy will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination on May 23. He served 18 years in the Army Chaplain Corp and retired in 1985 with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then returned to the Worcester Diocese where he served until he retired from active ministry in 1990.

’60

’71 Bill Humbert, a.k.a. “The Recruiter Guy,” appeared on the CNN Headline News show “Making it in America” on January 4. He discussed résumés for the New Year.

’72 Mike Doyle has retired as co-founder and chairman of the Providence communications agency RDW Group, Inc. RDW is nationally known as a leader in the higher education, energy and healthcare markets.

Paul Giorgio (pictured, top right), a long-time political staffer for local, state and national political figures, including President Clinton and Vice President Gore, was named as one of Massachuetts’ 11 electors to the Electoral College in 2012. He cast one of the state’s 13 Electoral College votes for

Fr. Ronald Debitetto is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He has served in parishes in Worcester, Leominster and Southbridge, and was campus minister at Quinsigamond Community College (1974–82).

He retired from active ministry in 1991.

’68

45th

Reunion

William Shustowski, Jr. recently retired aer a 43year career in higher education which included positions as assistant dean, assistant to the vice president, vice president for institutional advancement, vice president and treasurer, vice president and dean and president, primarily at independent colleges and universities. He and wife Mariane have moved to New Port, Richey, FL and would welcome visits from classmates living or visiting in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

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The deadline for summer 2013 is June 3.

Spring 2013

President Obama in the 2012 election.

Jack Taglia, retired head basketball coach/guidance counselor was honored in January when Kennedy High School in Waterbury, CT, has named Jack Taglia Gymnasium aer him, in honor of his 34 years of coaching and 31 years as head coach, during which his teams won 355 games. He also served as guidance counselor at Kennedy High for more than 25 years before retiring in 2008. Jack and wife Sandi have been married for 25 years.

fred Shea ’73 Stained glass resources, inc. the largest professional stained glass studio in New england, stained glass resources, inc. (sgr) is an accredited member of the stained glass association of america. it specializes in state of the art restoration by releading, as well as traditional design and fabrication of new windows. more than 800 window restoration projects have been completed by sgr over the past 28 years. “my interest in stained glass started as a hobby for me and eventually grew into a business,” said shea. sgr employs 14, including a full-time stained-glass artist. shea’s experience lies in the craft and business aspects of the operation. one of sgr’s current projects is the conservation and restoration of 12 stained glass windows that adorned the wall of the Christ the king Chapel at assumption prep school in the greendale section of worcester. sgr had done work for assumption College in the past and was chosen to restore these windows to their original brilliance and incorporate them into campus buildings and future construction projects. the figure of Christ is prominently featured in all 12 leaded glass windows, comprised of 18 panels placed in a metal frame measuring approximately 15’ x 6’. each window will cost $25,000 for restoration and conservation. for information about supporting this project, please call 508-767-7332.

’85 Bruce Quigley has been promoted to director – customer service at BTU International, Inc., a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the electronics manufacturing and alternative energy markets.

’87 gathering at the alumni reception prior to the university of notre Dame football game vs. Brigham young university in october were (l-r) robert & Elizabeth paulsen p’87, ’95; melissa (Dufficy) ’89 & Darrell paulsen ’87, regina and paul Kelly p’83, Sandy Bedard ’81, Stephen Bedard nD’15, fran Bedard ’81, Bob ’68 & Barbara mercier and tex Dutile ’62.

’73

40th

Reunion

Mariana Johnson CE’73, G’76 celebrated her 90th birthday in July 2012. She reports that “on good days” she drives her 2006 Mustang convertible 10 miles.

’76 Tony Annicone recently wrote a review of “A Christmas Carol” at Hanover eatre in Worcester for eatre Mirror Reviews. He will also be acting in an upcoming performance of “e Altos” at the Newport Playhouse.

Joe Bobinski retired in January aer 30 years of service to the Federal Government.

marriage and family counseling at Apogee Integrated Mental Health Services.

Russell Quaglia was a keynote speaker at the Education World Forum (EWF) in January in London. Russ is the founder of the Quaglia Institute and Aspirations Academies. e EWF brings together delegates from more than 70 countries, representing more than 70 percent of the world’s population.

’83

30th

Chuck Breen is regional sales vice president for group long term care insurance products with Genworth Life Insurance Company, which he joined in 2000. Chuck resides in Norfolk with his wife and three children.

Anne Lynam Goddard, president and CEO of ChildFund International, received an Outstanding Woman Award from the YWCA of Richmond, VA. She has been an articulate voice for the world’s most vulnerable children for more than 30 years.

Lori-Ann Reidy Paterwic works part-time in the Graduate School of Education at American International College.

Mary Ludy was recently featured in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette business section series “On the Job.” She is a psychotherapist in

’89 Joe Egan has relocated to Melbourne, Australia to be the executive vice president for business development and global markets for UniLink Data Systems.

’90

Reunion

’77

’79

Monica Gow was a guest on the “Ricki Lake Show” during an episode about sleep disorders.

Monica, husband David and Kevin Cosgrove ’00 co-founded Wake Up Narcolepsy in 2008. ey have been expanding awareness and hosting fundraisers to accelerate narcolepsy research across the U.S. and Canada.

Tom McAuliffe, II owns and operates WMRC Radio, 1490AM. e station received the 2012 Massachusetts Broadcasters Association’s Station of the Year Award.

John Reisert teaches math and serves as girls’ tennis and soccer coach at Fairfield Ludlow High School (CT). He was chosen as a 2012 finalist for the National High School Coach of the Year award.

’91

Jane-Ann Fitzgerald, Kate Hubbard and Tricia Carter Poirier toured historic Richmond, VA, together in October 2012. e trio travels from three different states to meet at least once a year.

Sandra Merlini read her poem “Valentine’s Day” at the February meeting of the Longfellow Poetry Society in Sudbury.

Jeff Hunt has been appointed to serve as senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NH. He most recently served as pastor of the United Methodist Church of Brunswick, ME, for seven years.

’92 omas Siminsky is a Jesuit scholastic in his third year of theology studies at the Boston College

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ClaSS notES

lisa payne phillips ’00 phillips Speech and language therapy taking a linguistics course at assumption, taught by george aubin, ph.D. ’60, was the catalyst for Lisa Payne Phillips ’00 and her interest in becoming a speech and language pathologist. she earned a m.s. degree in speech and language pathology from Northeastern university in 2002. after working per diem in nursing homes, she expanded her efforts with referrals from doctors and patients. phillips opened phillips speech and language therapy (pslt) in leominster two years ago and supervises a staff of four. Her patients range from toddlers to seniors with a primary focus on elementary school-aged children. pslt works with their patients on speech production, articulation and language, reading comprehension, vocabulary, sentence structure and language arts activities. with their nonverbal autistic patients, the ipad and its variety of programs have been extremely helpful. a recipient of the american speech and Hearing association (asHa) continuing education award each of the last four years, phillips has earned more than 60 credits beyond her master’s degree while continually furthering her education. “i’m interested in brain-based learning and how your neurology can change,” she said. “i work with an acupressurist and a speech pathologist on homeopathic approaches to improving speech and language development.” a breast cancer survivor, phillips authored a book “Mama, You have a Bald Head” in 2010, a memoir about overcoming the disease. she and her 5-year-old son, bryce, live in leominster and travel together with two of lisa’s friends twice a year in their quest to visit all 50 states – 20 down, and lots of time left to explore.

School of eology and Ministry. He has spent the past two summers ministering in Russia.

BIRTHS: Cynthia Elliott O’Connell and husband Sean announce the birth of Cameron Charles on 9/25/12.

BrandMatch Score that is helping marketers and ad agencies select endorsers based on real-time data.

BIRTHS: Steve Piscitello and wife Alecia announce the birth of Jacob Michael on 11/21/12.

He joins Evan (3).

’95

’04

Sean Carroll CE’95 participated in the Polar Plunge on Feb. 23 to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts.

Steve McKiernan is the rowing coach at Boston College High School. He restarted the rowing program at BCHS in 2007 and it is now one of the top programs in the country. He traveled to England last summer with selected rowers for the Henley Royal Regatta on the ames River. One of his rowers was Jack Rowland, son of Ned and Colette (Gushue) Rowland ’80.

BIRTHS: Erica Stewart Ferrell and husband Bret welcomed Nathan John on 9/20/12. He joins Ella (2).

Rebecca (Schultz) and Jay Kurland ’02 announce the birth of Alice Olivia on 1/10/13.

BIRTHS: Jose Atoigue Cruz, Jr. and wife Raflin welcomed Geneveve Rose Howard Cruz on 3/21/09.

Cara Lambert Lake and husband Matt announce the birth of Carson Joseph on 12/18/12.

Kristen Ralli married Christopher Maloney ’06 on 8/11/12 in Woburn. Alumni in attendance included Nick Andrade ’06, Tara Donohue Bonaceto ’06, Tom Cannon ’06, Kristen Deck ’06, Leigh Gilmore ’06, Jennifer Olson ’06 and Nick & Jennifer Beauchamp Worthington.

BIRTHS: Katherine Burke Davey and husband Michael welcomed Clare Elizabeth on 7/23/12. She joins omas (2).

Ali (Reyell) and Ryan Murphy ’03 welcomed Jack Ryan on 10/4/12. He joins Owen (4) and Declan (2).

’01

’06

Kevin Smith married Emily Hochs in June 2011.

BIRTHS: Erica (Lohr) and Alex Foster welcomed Leo James on 12/7/12. He joins Sadie (4).

BIRTHS: Michael Rodier and wife Meghan announce the birth of Timothy Michael on 7/7/12. Mike is AC’s equipment manager in the Athletics Department.

’99

’02

’07

Brian Leite has been elected vice president of the Rhode Island Staffing Association. He is managing consultant at e Greysmith Companies in Providence, RI. BIRTHS: Mary-Kate Gigliotti Lott and husband Matthew announce the birth of Matthew, Jr. on 8/10/12. He joins sister, Victoria.

Jennifer (DeMarzo) and Brett Paolantonio welcomed daughter Gia Luv on 10/24/12.

’03

10th

Reunion

Josh Boyle has developed a solution for

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’05

Spring 2013

Amie Nolan married Matthew Hollis on WEblInk 8/25/12 in Westerly, RI. Alumni in attendance were bridesmaids Kristen Bobola and Erin Galligan, Yvonne Flanders, Tara Fountain ’09, Lindsay Schoen ’10 and Nicole Tremblay.

’08

5th

Reunion

Leroy Byron has created My Tipz (www.my-tipz.com), a company which manufactures customizable end caps for shoelaces, allowing them to slide easily through the aglets on shoes and

Send us your Class Notes online at www.assumption.edu/classnotes sneakers, and improve the shoelaces’ lifespan.

Danielle Perron is director of family services at Why Me & Sherry’s House, Worcester’s support organization for families battling childhood cancer.

John Walker married Bethany Helfrick on WEblInk Alumni in atten7/22/12 in York, ME. dance were best man Christopher Gregory, Brett Kulhawik and Casey McNally ’09. John is a fourthyear student at University of New England Osteopathic Medical School in Biddeford, ME.

’09 Jonathan Acox recently returned from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army.

Stephanie Costa and Eric Quigley ’08 were married on 11/11/12 in West Greenwich, RI. WEblInk Alumni in attendance were Jill Carretta, Cassandra Clifford, Alison DeVita, Mike Dube ’08, Arta Gjemnica, Nick Kehlbeck ’07, Katelyn Pohle and Steve Sabourin ’08.

BIRTHS: Rachel Marsh and Mark Blessington ’08 welcomed Lily June on 11/23/12.

David Eagleton ’04 911 iphone repair armed with a ba in communications and computer science from assumption, David Eagleton ’04 moved to Denver, Co, to pursue his personal passions – skiing and fitness. eagleton found many like-minded people looking for a good fitness routine. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, he secured a loan from his parents and opened a boot-camp fitness style gym with a friend, called fitsoldiers. after a year, he sold his share of the company to his friend and worked in construction for a couple years, doing sprinkler installations, patio construction, etc. utilizing skills he learned during previous summers. in 2010, eagleton broke his iphone and became impatient while trying to get it repaired at the apple store. He ordered the parts online, found do-it-yourself videos, fixed his own phone and 18 months later, he has two repair locations called 911 iphone repair in auburn, ma, and Denver, Co. utilizing his computer knowledge and marketing experience, his business is now the top ranked company by google. it utilizes the facebook, Craigslist and other avenues to spread the word. “my assumption education gave me a creative and highly trainable mind,” he said.

WEblInk indicates that a wedding photo is Note: available online at www.assumption.edu/weddings

’10 Jeffrey Alderson works in the interactive media services area for the Boston College Athletics Department.

Hannah Brencher was a guest on the Jeff Probst Show in January, speaking about her venture “e World Needs More Love Letters.” e 2013 winner of the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Hannah spoke at the Assumption student leader breakfast in February.

’11 Herb Woodard is director of graduate support at Nativity School in Worcester. He is responsible for monitoring the academic and social progress of graduates, serving as the point contact for all high school and college partners, and assisting with financial aid opportunities and college application processes.

’12 Nick DiAntonio visited with Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) at the State house in January,

aSSumption prEp

’60 Gathering for lunch at Worcester’s Sole Proprietor in January were Richard Bachand (visiting from France), Jean-Francois Menard, Fr. Richard Lamoureux, A.A. and Marc LePain. where they discussed pancreatic cancer prevention and awareness. Nick is pursuing a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction at Boston College, where he is concentrating in mathematics and teaching English language learners.

Monica Kivaa is a research associate at Dyax Corporation, a bio-pharmaceutical company based in Burlington.

’13 Michael Auriemma is working at Back 9 Network in Hartford (CT), a global information and entertainment destination for golf fans.

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ClaSS notES / in mEmoriam

graDuatE StuDiES

G’06

G’77 Father Bernard Grochowski is celebrating 50 years of priesthood. During his ministry he served for 22 years with the military. He was the first Marine Chaplain to earn his Golden Wings as a paratrooper; was awarded two Navy Commendation Medals with a ‘v’ for valor; and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Corps, retiring in 1999.

G’79

BIRTHS: Kyle Garrity Ferris and husband, Dana, welcomed daughter, Kenley Graceyn on 7/5/12.

G’10 Erin Doring Barnes is the offender rehabilitation counselor coordinator for the alcohol and substance abuse treatment program at the Elmira (NY) Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. She and husband Michael were recently married.

Michael McQuaid has retired aer 33 years as a school psychologist with the Wareham Public Schools.

G’84 Sr. Judith Kappenman, SSJ co-edited e Irish Legacy: A History of the Irish in Western Massachusetts. She also wrote six of the short essays included in the book.

in mEmoriam albert lacroix ap’38, ’42, died October 14, 2012 george picard ap’43, ’47, died December 12, 2012 maurice Cloutier ap’48, ’52, died January 20, 2013 frederick scollan, DDs ’57, died December 22, 2012

pierre ‘pete’ Caron ap’55, ’59, died January 15, 2012 richard mcgrath ’59, died December 31, 2012 roger isabelle ’61, died November 10, 2012 sister laurette germain g’67, died January 28, 2013 alberto ortega ’68, died December 13, 2012 michael allan l’Hereux ’73, died December 1, 2012 Cynthia Hebert boyd ’75, died January 6, 2013 sister mary rose Zaccari, mpv g’86, died December 28, 2012 linda white marhea Ce’90, died November 10, 2012 paul mcDermott ’91, died August 15, 2012 Cheryl belanger menanson Ce’91, died December 2, 2012 Doris kidderis Casey Ce’93, died January 25, 2013 former faculty member marie bernadette sally Cleary, died December 2, 2012

Two June Golf Tourneys Support College Causes

The Father Bissonnette Invitational (FBI) Golf Tournament Monday, June 17 Worcester Country Club to benefit the athletics Department and general scholarship fund. nearly $1.5 million has helped thousands of assumption students.

For foursome and sponsorship information: visit www.assumption.edu/FBI.

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The Athletics Golf Tournament Friday, June 28 The Highfields Golf & Country Club, Grafton, MA to benefit the College’s intercollegiate athletics program.

For information: visit www.assumptiongreyhounds.com

YOUR GIFT MATTERS ~ THE ASSUMPTION FUND ~ “Learning is a lifelong journey – and Assumption meets you where you are, and takes you further than you ever imagined.”

Meg Evangelista ’13 Thanks to the generosity of College donors, Meg Evangelista ’13 is a recipient of Assumption’s Augustine and Aquinas scholarships.

An exemplary senior with a double major in psychology and women’s studies, she has interned in the President’s and Institutional Advancement offices, serves as SGA president, and has served as Admissions tour guide, Orientation Program leader, and as a Big Brothers, Big Sisters volunteer.

YOUR GIFT WILL HELP STUDENTS LIKE MEG ON THE JOURNEY THAT WILL TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES.

THE ASSUMPTION FUND USE THE ATTACHED ENVELOPE OR VISIT www.assumptioN.eDu/DoNate to make your gift

500 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609-1296 www.assumption.edu

Reunion

2013 SATURDAy, JUNE 1

Dunkin’ Donuts open for breakfast alumni awards Ceremony family Southern Barbecue Campus tour family gym, swim and putt “Conversations with the president” prep Stained glass window Dedication reunion mass and Chapel Choir reunion Class Dinners/events for the Classes of ’63, ’68, ’73, ’78, ’83, ’88, ’93, ’98, 2003 and ’08 Evening entertainment housing in an air-conditioned, suite-style residence hall

SUNDAy, JUNE 2 farewell Breakfast tinsley Campus ministry Center tour mass golden greyhound Brunch for all alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more housing is available may 31 and June 1 in air-conditioned, suite-style residence halls.

ANNUAL ALUMNI AWARDS CEREMONy Saturday, June 1 at 11am • hagan hall Please join us to celebrate this year’s recipients: young alumnus: Ryan Murphy ’03 honorary alumnus: Allen Bruehl, director of academic Support Center Jack l. Bresciani ’72 outstanding alumna: Maureen Ryan Doyle ’73 fr. louis Dion, a.a. ’35 outstanding achievement: Hon. Timothy Savage ’68

Renew Friendships, Relive Memories