Hilbert College Magazine - Winter 2013-14 by Hilbert College

HILBERTCOLLEGE magazine

On Campus p.6 | Hilbert Blueprint Part Two p.10 | Alumni News & Notes p.16

Finding LOVE at HILBERT Love blooms on the Hilbert campus p.14

Winter 2013-14

| Athletic News & Notes p.20

PRESIDENT'SLETTER

It has been a long

cold winter but with Lent about to begin

and the EASTER

CELEBRATION only six weeks away,

our thoughts turn to the approach of spring.

As I write this letter, Lake Erie is 84% frozen, the temperature is 8 degrees, there are spectacular ice caves on Crystal Beach, and snow continues to fall in the Southtowns. It has been a long cold winter but with Lent about to begin and the Easter celebration only six weeks away, our thoughts turn to the approach of spring. In this edition of the Hilbert College Magazine, there is a lighthearted look at “Finding Love at Hilbert.” With Valentine’s Day just behind us, it is fun to see some of the love that has blossomed at Hilbert, from alumni couples getting married to some faculty couples on the Hilbert Campus. You will read about Thomas Doody ‘97 – who is living Hilbert’s Franciscan mission in a special way. He will not only be running in the Boston Marathon this year, but also using it as a chance to give back to some organizations close to his heart. Last October, Tom was named the Dominique Thompson Memorial Alumnus of the Year at the Annual San Damiano Awards Reception. Part two of an in-depth exploration of the Hilbert Blueprint, by Dr. Tony Hughes, takes a look at the final two years of the Blueprint – the Junior Symposium and the Senior Capstone. Dr. Hughes examines the origins of the Blueprint and how it has evolved to its current form.

HILBERT COLLEGE MAGAZINE

A publication for alumni, family, and friends of Hilbert College

FOUNDED 1957 5200 South Park Avenue Hamburg, NY 14075 Phone: 716.649.7900 Fax: 716.558.6381 alumni@hilbert.edu

ON THE WEB: hilbert.edu/alumni/hilbertIn this edition of the magazine, you will also read about the tremendous support Hilbert and St. Bonaventure have received from the John R. Oishei Foundation, in the form of a $250,000 grant to help fund the schools’ efforts to create a strategic alliance. Our feasibility study process with our Bona colleagues is ongoing and we’re currently engaged in developing potential governance, academic, and financial models for the Boards’ review later this spring. We are also grateful for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, who played to a sold-out crowd at William E. Swan Auditorium in December. You can see some wonderful photos from that event in this magazine. As we enter the Easter Season, I am inspired by the many great things happening on our campus and in the lives of our students and alumni. I am encouraged and motivated to not only reflect on the present, but also question what I can do to strengthen our community and make the world a better place going forward. And I hope you will too. Sincerely,

magazine

Matt Heidt PUBLISHER/EDITOR Dr. Anthony Hughes CONTRIBUTING WRITER Ian Gattie CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Elizabeth R. Maute PUBLICATION DESIGN

OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Gregg Fort VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Louis Noce DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Stephanie King ALUMNI RELATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS Tori Felser ANNUAL & SPECIAL GIVING COORDINATOR

Cynthia A. Zane, Ed.D. President

Audry Weronski ADVANCEMENT SERVICES COORDINATOR

ON THE COVER

Sculpture of St. Francis in front of the Hilbert College pond.

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table of contents

On Campus

Oishei Support

Zane Named to CIC Board

Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaker 6 Division News & Notes

Live Nativity

Lucky Numbers Luncheon

Hilbert Blueprint 10 Finding Love at Hilbert 14

Love is in the air...

p.14

SPECIAL THANKS TO: THE HILBERT COLLEGE MAGAZINE EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Anthony Hughes, Peter Burns, Gregg Fort, Ian Gattie, Victoria Felser, Stephanie King & Louis Noce

Alumni 16 Alumni Association

Alumni News and Notes

BPO at Hilbert

Athletics 20 Whitman Nets 1,000 Points

Weaver Tallies 1,000 Kills

Athletics News and Notes

Franciscan Footprints

Mark Your Calendars Back HC Magazine | 2014

ONCAMPUS

HILBERTCOLLEGE St. Bonaventure University and Hilbert College Receive Support from Oishei Foundation The John R. Oishei Foundation is a catalyst for change to enhance economic vitality and quality of life in the Buffalo Niagara region.

The John R. Oishei Foundation has awarded St. Bonaventure University and Hilbert College $250,000 to support the two schools’ efforts to create a strategic alliance. “We found the proposal from presidents Carney and Zane to articulate a vision that is exactly what Western NewYork needs in the realm of higher education: more collaboration, a greater sense of entrepreneurship, and better, more affordable opportunities for students,” said Oishei Foundation president Robert Gioia. The John R. Oishei Foundation strives to be a catalyst for change to enhance economic vitality and quality of life for the Buffalo Niagara region through grantmaking, leadership, and network building. The foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation. The two Franciscan schools located 60 miles from each other in Western New York announced in early October that they were embarking upon a feasibility study to determine whether there are significant opportunities to build upon their 20-year partnership. St. Bonaventure has offered graduate programs on the campus of Hilbert

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ALUMNINEWS

College in a weekend format for the past two decades. St. Bonaventure president, Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., said the grant will enable the schools to make progress in their analysis of the strategic alliance alternatives. “Through the generosity of the Oishei Foundation, we now have the resources necessary to hire a project coordinator with experience in this kind of a process. It will keep us on track and position us for the best possible outcomes.”

Hilbert College president, Dr. Cynthia Zane, said the hard work is before them. “We’ve spent the past few months sharing documentation and information with each other to determine whether there are any ‘deal breakers’ to prevent us from moving forward. With that behind us, working through the nitty-gritty of what a closer alliance might look like will require significant dedicated time, creativity, and persistence.” The boards of trustees for both

colleges held their regular December board meetings and both voted to continue with a second phase of feasibility study, while also creating opportunities for the boards to interact directly with each other. The schools’ ad hoc strategic alliance board committees and administrative teams will continue to investigate initiatives designed to improve student success and learning outcomes, realize synergies, address cost increases, and foster growth with the goal of presenting additional information to the Boards for consideration at their respective March 2014 meetings.

Behind the Feasibility Study Students Need and Deserve Expanded Opportunities. The reason for this feasibility study starts – and ends – with students, who deserve the very best higher education experience we can provide, and access to the great minds and energy in both institutions. Feasibility Study Will Examine Whether a Closer Alliance Will Benefit Both Institutions. At this point, St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College are exploring ways we might build on a 20-year successful partnership. We are looking at whether both schools will benefit from closer alliances and achieving greater synergies, and do so with open minds.

complementary culture. This relationship has blessed our students with extraordinary learning opportunities they never would have experienced otherwise. Some Things Need Changing, Some Don’t. As we move forward and consider options, we will keep in mind the importance of the college years for our students, and the need to preserve the heritage, culture, and closeknit Franciscan communities that make us unique.

Visit http://www.hilbert.edu/announcement to watch a video message from Presidents Carney and Zane

Higher Education Requires New Thinking, Approaches. Higher education has to do more to create synergies between institutions to drive program and curriculum innovation, attract top students and faculty, keep rising costs in check, and offer life-changing educational opportunities. A Proven Partnership That Works. The 20-year St. Bonaventure-Hilbert partnership has been a successful one, guided by our common Catholic and Franciscan heritage. We’ve expanded over the years to include sharing of facilities, curriculum development and a

HC Magazine | 2014

ONCAMPUS

President Zane Named to CIC Board of Directors

CIC is national organization providing services to independent colleges Cynthia Zane, president of Hilbert College, has been elected to the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Board of Directors. President Zane will serve a two-year term from January 2014 to January 2016. The elections were held during a meeting of the Board of Directors at CIC’s 2014 Presidents Institute in Marco Island, Florida on January 4. CIC is the only national organization today that focuses solely on providing services and a broad range of initiatives directly to independent colleges and universities to help improve the quality of education and

strengthen institutional resources. “The Council is pleased to have Cynthia Zane as a Board member,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “CIC continues to implement many exciting new programs, projects, and services, and needs a strong Board of Directors to oversee their planning and execution. I am certain that Cynthia will serve the Council admirably, and look forward to working with her.” “I am honored to serve on the CIC Board at this crucial point in the journey of independent colleges,” President Zane said.

Porter Serves as MLK Keynote Speaker at Hilbert

5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Celebration held in January Lawyer turned filmmaker, Dawn Porter, presented “Public Defenders: The Keepers of Civil Rights” as the keynote speaker during the 5th Annual Commemoration Celebration in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, January 30 in Hilbert’s Swan Auditorium. Porter’s presentation was preceded by two screenings of her HBO Documentary – Gideon’s Army. As the founder of Trilogy Films, Porter became the director and producer of Gideon’s Army, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and appeared on HBO Documentary Films in July 2013. Gideon’s Army follows three young public defenders in the Deep South during their daily mission to counsel hundreds of defendants through the strained criminal justice system. As an alumnus of the Tribeca All Access program, Porter won the 2011 juried Creative Promise Award for Gideon’s Army. Realscreen named Porter one of their 2012 Doc Hot Shots 15 emerging directors to watch. Other Trilogy projects include Spies of Mississippi for ARTE Germany and PBS, and a documentary about celebrity Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli for the Cooking Channel. Porter also works in narrative features as executive producer on Serious Moonlight, written by Adrienne Shelley and starring Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton. Serious Moonlight debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures and domestically on Lifetime Movie Network. She is also an executive producer on The Green, an independent feature premiering on Showtime Networks and starring Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock) and Emmy®-winning

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Porter's presentation, which lasted an hour, included questions from the audience. She then answered more questions at a reception following her keynote address.

actress Julia Ormond. Before becoming a filmmaker she was the Director of News Standards and Practices at ABC News, and Vice President of Standards and Practices at A&E Networks. Dawn is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Georgetown University Law Center. She was a practicing attorney at Baker & Hostetler and ABC Television Networks before beginning her television career. For more information on the film go to: http:// gideonsarmythefilm.com/ and become a fan on Facebook at GideonsArmyFilm.

stay connected Follow us @HilbertCollege Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram HilbertCollege

HC Magazine | 2014

ONCAMPUS NEWS&NOTES

NEWS & NOTES HARRIS INTERVIEW WITH UNIVERSITY BUSINESS Denise Harris, Vice Provost for Student Engagement at Hilbert College, in a video interview talks with University Business about ensuring strong return on investment through restructuring of the student affairs office and focusing on retention. The video can be seen via the following link: http://www.universitybusiness.com/ article/there-business-model-moocs

ARTS AND SCIENCES

DMAC STUDENT SHOW - FALL 2013 The Digital Media and Communication department had a successful Student Show at the end of the fall semester. You can check out some of the work presented at last semester’s Student Show at this website - http://vimeo.com/album/2646140 GALLANT WORK FEATURED IN BUFFALO SPREE Hilbert Assistant Professor Chris Gallant recently produced a video feature for Buffalo Spree. The video is part of the Spree’s January issue where readers can learn about several Western New York artists who specialize in custom work. Check out his work here - http://www.buffalospree.com/Buffalo-Spree/January-2014/BespokeBuffalo-Video-and-more/

SOCIAL SCIENCES

KOLIN RADIO APPEARANCES Hilbert Professor Dr. Andrew Kolin appeared on the Progressive Radio News Hour with Stephen Lendman in January. You can listen to Dr. Kolin’s interview by going to this website - http://prn.fm/ progressive-radio-news-hour-andrew-kolin-010514/ He also appeared on the radio program The Gary Null Show, based in New York City, over the summer. Dr. Kolin’s interview has been included in a 10 CD set that is available for purchase on Gary Null’s website. http://www.gnhealthyliving.com/scripts/pfprodView. asp?idproduct=1232 HILBERT STUDENTS PRESENT AT PENN YORK CONFERENCE During the fall semester, a contingent of six students and two faculty members traveled to the 14th annual Penn-York Undergraduate Research Association Conference at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The PennYork Conference provides undergraduate students from northwest Pennsylvania and western New York an opportunity to present their research activities to students and faculty from area colleges and universities. Hilbert College has participated in all 14 Penn-York Conferences. This year Breana Cline, Lisa Gibson, Sarah Jentsch, Joe Pernick, Sarah Schmidt and Ailin Vega along with Dr. Shannon Lupien and Dr. Ed Pristach made the trip to Bradford to join approximately seventy other attendees. The conference showcased 43 oral presentations and 15 posters. These presentations were primarily

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from the social sciences, however, also included were the physical sciences and engineering. This year’s program included the following Hilbert student projects: “Academic Motivation and Class Level in Undergraduate Students” by Lisa A. Gibson “What is the Effect of Athletic Participation on Academic Performance?” by Sarah Schmidt “The Effect of Student Parenting on Undergraduate Motivation” by Sarah Jentsch “Perceived Effectiveness of Psychological Placebos in Athletic Tasks” by Joseph Pernick

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

SMALL BUSINESS ALUMNI EXCHANGE As part of Professor Dan Roland’s BUS 334: Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship class, he welcomed Hilbert alums Kevin Monaco and Rick Schunke to be part of a Small Business Alumni Exchange panel last fall. Kevin Monaco graduated from Hilbert in 2001 and runs his own small business – Monaco Enterprises. Rick Schunke also graduated in 2001 and he runs the family business – Schunke Insurance. The agenda for the program included various questions from the students about owning and operating a small business. The questions covered a wide range of topics, including business functions, business plans, ethical issues, funding, best and worst experiences, and more. THRASHER PASSES NYS BAR EXAM Mark Thrasher, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Hilbert, recently passed the New York State Bar Exam. Congratulations Mark!

ADULT & GRADUATE

HILBERT GRAD STUDENT RECEIVES ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP Morgan Woodson is a current Hilbert graduate student pursuing her Master of Public Administration, and she was the recipient of the Hamburg Sunrise Rotary Scholarship Award. The scholarship was recently awarded by the Hamburg Rotary at the Veteran’s Day Dinner. Woodson was born and raised in Buffalo. In 2007, she enlisted into the United States Air Force. She was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 where she operated a pharmacy and assisted in the air evacuation of injured soldiers. During the deployment, Morgan fell ill and was evacuated to a medical facility in Germany. In 2011, she received a medical retirement from the Air Force. ADP STUDENT FEATURED IN NYS SENATOR'S NEWSLETTER Jennie Alessi, a student in Hilbert's Accelerated Degree Program, is featured in the Winter Rural Futures Newsletter 2013-14 from the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources and NYS Senator Catherine Young. The feature is a profile on Alessi, who serves as a School Resource Officer and rural police officer in the Gowanda Central School District. The profile notes that Alessi will complete her undergraduate degree at Hilbert in April, and she plans to continue her education by pursuing her master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

Lucky Numbers Luncheon a Great Success The Fourth Annual Lucky Numbers Luncheon was a great success and raised over $6,700 for scholarships at Hilbert. “I am extremely grateful to everyone who helped make the Lucky Numbers Luncheon successful for a fourth consecutive year,” Hilbert president Cynthia Zane said. “A special ‘Thank

You’ goes to everyone on the Lucky Numbers committee. The scholarship money raised will help make a tremendous impact for more Hilbert students.”

Christmas Comes to Life with Hilbert's Live Nativity A Live Nativity brought the Christmas story to life during Hilbert College’s 16th annual Christmas celebration on December 8. The celebration included a children’s Christmas party, complete with a visit from Santa, following the nativity. Featuring the Holy Family, shepherds, angels, the three wise men and animals in a small outdoor stable, the Live Nativity took place in the campus quad near the Campus Center. The Live Nativity dates back to 1223, when it was recreated by St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, which is the spiritual foundation of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hilbert’s founding congregation. Immediately following the nativity, the holiday celebration moved indoors for the children’s Christmas party in the Hafner Recreation Center. Free photos with Santa were available at the party, which also

included Christmas arts and crafts and games. Cookies and hot chocolate were also provided.

Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges Each year Hilbert College selects students based on the criteria Colleges. The students selected also become the finalists for the of scholarship, participation and leadership, citizenship and Man and Woman of the Year. Please join us in congratulating the service, and potential for future achievement for recognition following students selected for Who’s Who this year: in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Lawrence Oaks Robert Sporysz Teresa Adams Shawn Cronmiller Brian Gould Sarah Ott Eliza Stringham Jennie Alessi David Crouse Megan Gullo Rebecca Paolini Jennifer Szmania John Babocsi Sara Cunningham James Koszuta Joseph Pernick Douglas Takac Amber Bailey Amy Czuhanich Laura Lopez Hayley Ploetz Sarah Tubbs Robbi Bailey Mark Davis Tyler Loretto Sean Purtill Nicholas Tuttle Angela Borkowski Daniel Duzy Sean Lynch Matthew Rhinehart Adam Weaver Sean Manning Chelsea Borowski Matthew Erickson Christie Rossney Chelsye Wells Melinda Manzella Clinton Brown Molly Erickson Julie Rouleau Natalie Whitman Kelly Milne Christopher Busch Nicole Estep Sarah Schmidt Matthew Williams Melissa Milroy Massimo Cimato Roberta Gainer Amy Setlock Zachary Ziomek Jasmine Moore Alexis Clune Michael Gee Samantha Sieg Erika Murphy Chelsea Covell Jessica Gemmati

Zane Named to Power 250 by Business First Hilbert College President Cynthia Zane has been named to Buffalo Business First’s Power 250 – WNY’s Most Influential People for 2014. Business First published the 2014 Power 250 in early February -- a list of the 250 men and women who (according to Business First) wield the most clout in the eight-county region. The Power 250 is limited to persons who live and work in Western New York. It does not include owners of local businesses who live in other parts of America or the world.

HC Magazine | 2014

HILBERTBLUEPRINT FACULTY/STAFFNOTES

for Student Success: A Four-Year Program for Intellectual Growth and Lifelong Learning

PART TWO

HILBERT

Introducing the new

by Dr. Anthony D. Hughes

Professor Hilbert College English Program

Introduction:

Part two of this series reflecting on Hilbert’s Blueprint for Student Success will primarily focus on the final two years of coursework required of all Hilbert graduates. Briefly, during their junior year, students are required to successfully complete PS 402 Junior Symposium, an intensive, seminar style discussion course in which students critically examine and debate current affairs taken mainly from the headlines of The New York Times. The final culminating, curricular requirement of their senior year involves the successful completion of the now relatively ubiquitous Senior Capstone. The Capstone requires students to demonstrate that they have thoroughly absorbed the entire range of the college’s Liberal Learning goals as well as the knowledge-based skills of their respective majors. These skills are now fully incorporated into the entire design of the Blueprint’s sequence of coursework with great intentionality. Essentially, Hilbert’s Blueprint for Student Success begins with the first day they set foot on campus, and ideally, supports them all the way through until the last day that they walk across the stage during graduation and receive their degree.

The Junior Symposium:

Having completed the Blueprint’s first two years of mandatory coursework, students move on to the more challenging junior year requirements, the primary bridge course being the college’s PS 402 Junior Symposium. Junior Symposium courses are co-taught by three Hilbert professors from different disciplines. One of the key aspects of this course is to provide students the opportunity to listen to multiple perspectives on a variety of current social issues from not only an increased variety of interdisciplinary perspectives but also an increased variety of student perspectives. Students and faculty generally glean these topics from The New York Times--a required daily reading for all students. A great deal of students’ in class time is purposely devoted to collaborativelearning activities with fellow students and engaging in student-led discussions and debates, often discussions that emphasize and hone students’ abilities to develop and support an argument during a critical debate. Such discussions teach students how to develop well-reasoned and critically thoughtful arguments but also encourage all participants to

DID YOU MISS PART ONE OF DR. HUGHES' THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE HILBERT BLUEPRINT? Check out the Fall 2013 Hilbert College Magazine - Digital Edition at www.hilbert.edu/hilbert-magazine

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learn how “to agree to disagree” in an atmosphere of civility and openmindedness concerning what are very often complex, “hot” issues of the day. All the Junior Symposium courses include larger enrollment, approximately 50 students, than the 20-25 or so found in a typical Hilbert classroom. Unlike many of the earlier required Blueprint courses such as the GS 101 Foundations Seminar in which class sizes are intentionally limited to low enrollments so students to get extra attention, the Junior Symposium intentionally enrolls a large number of participants in order for the students to be exposed to a far greater variety of perspectives from a larger classroom population. These greater numbers include their fellow students but also their professors who voice their own discipline-specific opinions on the issues at hand. Therefore, the courses expose students to both the argumentative styles and the discipline specific perspectives that each professor brings to the classroom as well as the perspectives of a more diverse student population. Among a variety of goals, Symposium classes are designed to help students begin to “think outside the box”, and, equally important, to listen outside the box. They begin to hear what Dr. Christopher Holoman, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs, calls learning to deal with “uncomfortable facts”. Uncomfortable facts include any ideas that take students out of their comfort zones, ideas that go against their grain, that seriously challenge them to question and sometimes rethink their previous philosophical views of the world. Students begin to realize that “the truth” is sometimes a very slippery object, but it is vital to open one’s mind and consider uncomfortable facts, that very often we may be quite certain we absolutely know the truth, only to find that we were light years away from it. In many

cases, students begin to experientially understand another key Franciscan value: namely, the importance of tolerance. Moreover, as professor Herb Kauderer, who has taught the course for several years has said, “It’s important that students realize that understanding someone else’s point of view does not necessarily require that one accepts it.” Indeed, this highly challenging ability to have just the desire, without fear or defensiveness, to understand another’s perspective is a critical life skill that everyone needs to learn at some point in their life. Ideally, when it has been effectively taught via the Blueprint’s Junior Symposium, we have provided our students with an invaluable life skill.

“”

It's important that students realize that understanding someone else's point of view does not necessarily require that one accepts it. -- Hilbert Professor Herb Kauderer

The Senior Capstone Requirement:

The Senior Capstone is the culminating, educational experience for all graduating seniors. In essence, it is meant to provide students with the opportunity to synthesize their entire four-year educational experience at the college. The Senior Capstone provides all students with the opportunity to reflect upon, process, and demonstrate that they have gained a mastery of all the Blueprint’s range of educational skills and discipline specific knowledge. By its very nature, the Capstone requirement is far less of a generic skills acquisition experience than the students’ original First Year Experience program with its GS 101 courses focusing on essential learning skills for entering freshmen. The Senior Capstone is very much an individually defined departmental experience for students which is geared to reinforce the primary skills of their specific majors and the college’s overall Liberal Learning Goals. Since every program has its own specific skill set and knowledge base, the design and nature of the Capstone requirement is determined by every individual program on campus, and therefore, it seldom looks the same in any two departments. For example, the Senior Capstone could be--but is not limited to-special projects, internships, and research papers. Whatever form it may take in each department, the spirit of the Senior Capstone is to synthesize the students’ four-year educational experience and support the college’s mission to produce "informed citizens dedicated to serving

and strengthening their communities." It is the final testing ground in which students demonstrate of a solid grasp of all the critical thinking skills and discipline– specific knowledge they have mined from their four years on campus. Seen from this perspective, it is an invaluable and remarkable milestone in the student’s entire holistic learning experience, and when seen from the broad view, it creates the opportunity for students and faculty to recognize the remarkable range of knowledge our students have absorbed during their time at Hilbert. Moreover, students have the opportunity to reflect upon the wide range of quantitative and qualitative territory they have crossed, for they have successfully mastered not just the particular skills and disciplinespecific knowledge in their majors but also the broader critical thinking and lifelong learning skills and ethical Franciscan growth demanded by the Blueprint’s required courses and the college’s Liberal Learning Goals. Indeed, if the faculty and the students have met their individual learning objectives, the Senior Capstone project, research paper, or Honors presentation is the finish line when our students truly get to shine.

Conclusion:

One unexpected benefit for the entire college of instituting Hilbert’s Blueprint for Student Success is it has provided faculty, administration, and students the critical opportunity to assess how well the college’s promised objectives are meeting the needs of our students. This self-assessment was essentially required by the very nature of the development and implementation of the Blueprint’s design, a design which, interestingly, took on a life of its own. For example, the Senior Capstone has not necessarily always been a formal requirement; it has always “been around” so to speak, but in a catch as catch format; some programs had one, others didn’t; moreover, the college’s Service Learning program slowly evolved over the course of several years and was pursued by a variety of professors eager to expand their courses; lastly, somewhere along the way, the concept of the Junior Symposium was discussed by a variety of campus factions, and again, a few adventurous professors decided to bite the bullet and eventually it became a highly successful pilot program. One of the many benefits of institutionalizing this series of originally “silo” programs that we now call the Blueprint is we discover that such programs do not just suddenly fall into our laps fully born and ready to go; countless administrative and curricular pieces had to slowly fall into place over the course of several years as pockets of professors and administrators pursued

their individual passions. Very simply, programs such as the First-Year Experience and GS 101 Foundations Seminar both evolved because the college happened to be blessed by receiving a Title III Grant. Moreover, it had no Service Learning initiatives, Junior Symposium, or Senior Capstone that were required in every department. In short, every piece of the college’s Blueprint for Student Success was initially built from the ground up to suit the particular needs and goals of Hilbert College as a whole. Then suddenly, as often happens, a vision materialized concerning how these programs might meld into a highly effective, integrated program. Seen from this light, the Blueprint for Student Success is not only a remarkably effective model for assisting students to achieve academic excellence, but it also became a model program revealing the very nature of how a large, complex educational systems may follow a variety of evolutionary flight paths. In some cases, as with The Blueprint, they do not necessarily need to begin, quite reasonably, with a plan which is then pursued. On the contrary, as with some directorial styles, the film is allowed to grow organically out of itself as the work takes on a life of its own. A good friend of mine often says, “Things don’t usually go the way I plan them; they usually go better.” Happily, in the case of Hilbert Blueprint for Student Success, our stillevolving model grew into a program that was quite possibly far better than one we could have ever initially envisioned. In this particular case, in light of variables such as the Title III Grant, it was a model that we could have never planned or possibly foreseen. Fortunately for Hilbert’s faculty and students, Hilbert is an institution which values and encourages experimentation. Thus, The Blueprint that we know today was allowed to grow organically until all its components formed a coherent whole. Sometimes, ironically, the best visions are the ones that come at the end, and not at the beginning of the process.

HC Magazine | 2014

FACULTY/STAFFNOTES ALUMNIBOARDEVENT

HILBERTALUMNIBOARD presents HILBERTALUMNI event at Beauty and the Beast at Shea's Performing Arts Center Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. $43.00 per ticket Please register by April 1, 2014

For more information or to register for this event, please contact Tori Felser at vfelser@ hilbert.edu or 716-926-8884

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See how much more you could save with your Hilbert College alumni discount from GEICO.

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geico.com/alum/hilbert 1-800-368-2734 | Local Office

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Discount amount varies in some states. One group discount applicable per policy. Coverage is individual. In New York a premium reduction may be available. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2013. © 2013 GEICO.

Love

FINDINGLOVEATHILBERT ALUMNINEWS

by Tori Felser '12

is in the air.... @

Within the halls of Hilbert College, students find knowledge, career opportunities, kinship, and sometimes even love. While many believe that college is often an ideal time to find a mate, the number of individuals who marry their college sweethearts is actually quite small. Surprisingly, only 1% of the population marries their college sweethearts, but on the campus of Hilbert College, love seems to flourish frequently. While maintaining relationships can at times be challenging, true love found its way for these Hilbert matches. Criminal Justice majors Michael ’10 and Shannon ’10 Kowalski met in Dr. Jim Golden’s Sociology class. “We had mutual friends and a few other classes together so we began hanging out outside of class. We realized we didn’t live far from each other, so we began carpooling to school daily,” said Shannon. Michael and Shannon began taking

the same classes, worked together on homework and papers, and went to school events together. The couple has been together for seven years and was married June 15, 2013. Living in Depew, Shannon works as a Transportation Security Officer for theTSA, while Michael works as a Police Officer for the ECMC Police Department. Also married recently were Criminal Justice alumnus Paul Coleman ’12 and Forensic Science alumna Stephanie Smith ’13. The couple met ironically, after both joined the cross country team, while neither actually enjoyed running. “She was the greatest, most beautiful girl I’d ever met. She was extremely down to earth…although not much of a runner,” confessed Coleman. The duo loved attending campus events together, specifically the Quad Party. “During our last Quad Party, other students were winning fish as prizes. Everyone kept giving them to us, so we

ended up with at least eight fish. Sad to say, they passed away very shortly after,” reminisced Coleman. Stephanie lived two hours away from Buffalo, so if it weren’t for Hilbert Paul admits, they would never have met. Paul is currently working at Women and Children’s Hospital as the Pediatric Office Supervisor, while working on his Masters in Executive Leadership at Daemen College. Stephanie is working at Harris Hill as an Activity Leader, while also working on her Master’s in Education at Medaille College. CJ Commuter students Melissa Szymanowski ’12 and Tom Weber ’10 were introduced a week prior to Melissa starting at Hilbert at a party hosted by a mutual friend. “I only went to the party because I knew I would meet someone who was going to the college I was about to attend,” stated Szymanowski, adding, “and even then, I

Shannon '10 and Michael '10 Kowalski

Stephanie '13 and Paul '12 Coleman

Melissa Szymanowski '12 and Tom Weber '10

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was only interested in Tommy as a friend.” The couple exchanged phone numbers, chatted in the cafeteria in passing, and hung out together with friends. It wasn’t until one of Melissa’s friends began dating one of Tommy’s friends that their relationship became more serious. “I tell him daily, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think the boy I met at a summer party would be the love of my life,” said Melissa. The couple is engaged and living in Maryland, where Melissa works for the Montgomery County Police Department. Tommy left for boot camp training for the Marine Corps on October 20, 2013. The Hilbert tradition lives on for couple Jerry and Peggy Queen, who have a daughter, Caitlin, who currently attends Hilbert College. Jerry '78 and Peggy '78 Queen met in 1976 before Hilbert became a four year college. The couple, both Paralegal majors, had almost all of their classes together, as Hilbert was such a small school at the time. In addition to classes together, the couple also worked together under Sister Tiburtia as work-study students in the library. While they were both commuters, Jerry living not too far from campus in Hamburg and Peggy commuting from Angola, the couple still spent a lot of time together on campus. Two of their favorite activities were the Christmas Party and also the Spring Event (similar to Quad Party) that were held on campus. Jerry and Peggy went on their first “official” date in May of 1977 and were married five years later in February 1982. The couple celebrates 32 years together this year and are proud to say that they still remain friends with many of their Hilbert peers. The Queen’s now reside in Hamburg, while Peggy works for HSBC

and Jerry works for Gigli, LLC. While Hilbert is home to many alumni couples, Hilbert is also flourishing with faculty and staff matches. Professors Randy '10, MS '13 and Donna '99 Zimpfer have been together for thirteen and a half years. “Randy and I met in prison; we like to call it a love story,” joked Donna. The couple both worked for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision full time while also teaching at Hilbert. Randy and Donna began as friends with mutual respect for each other in their positions at the prison. Randy was Donna’s boss by rank but they never worked the same shift, so he wasn’t her direct supervisor. “I was drawn to him because he never treated any of his subordinate staff like he was better than them, and he never used his rank [as Correction Lieutenant] to intimidate them either, but simply to teach them,” said Donna. Donna began working at Hilbert while Randy was pursuing his Bachelor’s degree on campus. The couple shared many lunch dates, which were extremely special to them as they didn’t get to spend a lot of time together. Donna was also able to present her husband with his diploma at his graduation. “I was so proud. I could barely speak,” Donna said. In addition to being a thirty-year veteran with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Randy is an adjunct instructor at Jamestown Community College and at Hilbert. Dr. Ron and Kate Eskew met in 1980 through the Hutchings Psychiatric Hospital in Rochester, when Kate was training to create mobile offices. Ron was working

as a Geriatric Psychologist when Kate approached him to help with the program. “He was very qualified to help, but he was also very cute!” joked Kate, adding, “Look at him! How could you not want him on your team?!?” The couple dated for five years before they were married. They had very similar interests in psychiatric services and other common interests, but there has never been a great deal of crossover between home life and work life. They went on to explain that their marriage has remained successful because important boundaries must be created for individuals who work together. “Family and work are separate. While we may go home and tell a story or two, as most other couples do when discussing their day, we don’t obsess about work,” stated Kate. The couple has three children, two boys and a girl, who grew up on the campus of Hilbert. Before working at Hilbert, Ron worked for the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. “My kids used to refer to the Center as the ‘big castle,’” Ron said. “They didn’t understand what I did there or who I worked with. It became very difficult to work someplace that my kids could never visit. Going full time at Hilbert created the perfect family atmosphere. We were constantly going to Halloween parties, and Christmas parties, and so much more,” Ron explained. “Hilbert became home.” Around Valentine’s Day, we are reminded of the strength of these Hilbert couples and the time they shared together. Every day Hilbert brings more and more couples together as they learn and grow. Whether it is Hilbert alumni, faculty, or staff, all of our couples had one important thing in common; Hilbert became a home to all of them.

Peggy '78, Caitlyn '15 and Jerry '78 Queen

Randy '10, MS '13 and Donna '99 Zimpfer

Kate and Ron Eskew

HC Magazine | 2014

ALUMNIASSOCIATION ALUMNINEWS

he purpose of the Hilbert College Alumni Association is to advance the interests of the college, to develop and foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the college and its alumni by providing educational

opportunities, social programs, services and benefits. The alumni association strives to build ties and relationships among alumni and students at the college, to provide alumni input on college concerns and to link the college of today and tomorrow with its heritage of excellence, commitment, and service.

HILBERTALUMNI

Log in to hilbert.edu/alumni to read additional class notes and to discover the many ways to connect with other alumni and the Hilbert community

Marriages

Criminal Justice major David (’11) and Ayla Kramer were wed on December 21, 2013 in Dunkirk, NY.

Births

Ashlee Hayes ’13 Communications major, welcomed a new daughter, Alani Hayes to the world December 20, 2013.

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Honors

LENTENFISHFRY The Hilbert Alumni Association will hold two Lenten Fish Fry Dinners. Friday, March 7, 2014 & Friday, April 4, 2014 Both are 4:30-7 p.m. in the Hilbert College Campus Center Adult fish fry dinners will cost $10.00; children dinners are $6.00 (include Grilled Cheese sandwich or Chicken Nuggets and Fries. Proceeds from raffle baskets at the dinners will benefit the Hilbert College Alumni Scholarship Fund. For more information: Tori Felser - 716.926.8884 vfelser@hilbert.edu

Dan Jachlewski ’99 accepted a new position as Executive Recruiter at EGW Personnel.

Kolleen (Sullivan) Woodcock ’12 recently received her Master’s degree in Higher Education and has accepted a position as Director of Career Development at Merceyhurst University.

Jessie Roland-Bystrak ’12 has recently accepted a position as a Correctional Officer for the New York State Department of Corrections.

HC Magazine | 2014

SUPPORTINGHILBERT ALUMNINEWS

BPO at Hilbert College

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra played for a sold-out crowd of 450 people on December 3, 2013 at Hilbert College’s William E. Swan Auditorium. The orchestra, led by associate conductor, Matthew Kraemer, performed their Holiday Pops show complete with holiday classics including the signature Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long, “Carol of the Bells," and selections from The Nutcracker. Bass, Marc Webster, graced the stage to provide his strong voice for four of the selections. In addition to the traditional line-up, Board of Trustee Chairperson, Gretchen Wylegala, impressed the crowd with her conducting talents on the selection “Sleigh Ride.” Another guest conductor opportunity will be available at next year’s show. This event marked the sixth BPO performance at Swan Auditorium. We look forward to welcoming the orchestra back onto campus on December 2, 2014. Mark your calendars now! For questions about the event, please contact engagement officer for alumni and events, Stephanie King at stephanieking@hilbert.edu or 716-926-8938. Marc Webster

Gretchen Wylegala

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Matthew Kraemer

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ALUMNINEWS ATHLETICSNEWS

Whitman Notches 1,000 Career Points

Senior Natalie Whitman scored her 1,000th collegiate point from the foul line late in January in a game against D'Youville College. Whitman failed to score in double figures in only three games this season. She also averaged a double-double this season, with 16.5 points per game and nearly 12 rebounds per game. Whitman brought 232 points from St. Andrews University and proceeded to add more markers over the course of the next season and a half since transferring in January 2012. Whitman averaged 13.5 points per game in the 56 games dressed in blue and white before this season.

Natalie Whitman

Weaver Becomes First Hawk with 1,000 Kills Senior outside hitter Adam Weaver became the first Hilbert College men's volleyball player to earn 1,000 kills in his career and that number will surely continue to grow with most of the 2014 season left to play. In his first three seasons, Weaver tallied 236, 287, and 311 kills, respectively. He is on pace to shatter those numbers in his final season at Hilbert. He already has multiple AMCC Player of the Week awards under his belt this year. Weaver became the Hawks' all-time kill leader last season and continues to build on that mark throughout the 2014 campaign. Adam Weaver

Ratajczak Becomes Hilbert's Career Dig Leader Junior libero Ryan Ratajczak became Hilbert College's career dig leader after his 16 dig-performance in early February. Ratajczak had 239 and 262 digs in his first two seasons, respectively. Ratajczak is on his way to surpassing both of those this season, with more than half the season remaining and his best digs per set average of his career.

Ryan Ratajczak

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ALUMNINEWS

New Student-Athlete Lounge in Hafner The old 'snack shack' has been converted into a studentathlete lounge. A few athletic staff members and students rolled up their sleeves and pushed through a good-old-fashioned 'Do It Yourself' project. They were able to recycle an under-utilized space in Hafner and turn it into a student-athlete friendly study lounge. Student-athletes now have the ability to sit comfortably on couches and tackle home work between classes or while they wait for practices to begin. The lounge has three student-access computers and counter space with stool seating for those who have a writing or research project due. The lounge will be student-staffed until 11:30 pm each night.

Hilbert College Basketball Summer Camp Dates Announced The Hilbert College Athletic department has announced the dates for its very successful and popular summer basketball camps which will be held in late June through mid-July 2014. Coach Rob deGrandpre offers two weeks of the boys camp which, this summer, will run from June 29 – July 3 and July 13 – July 17. Coach Rob Peterson offers one week of girls camp and this year it will run from July 6 – July 10. Check-in on the first day of camp is always on Sunday from 2:30 – 4 pm. Each camp concludes on Thursday at 3:00 pm. Campers are given the choice of staying on campus for the week (resident camper) or commuting daily (day camper). Resident campers arrive on Sunday and depart on Thursday with all meals included in the tuition payment. Day camp runs from 9am through 9pm with lunch and dinner included in the tuition payment. Cost for each week is $365 as a resident camper and $275 as a day camper. It is recommended that campers register early in order to secure a spot in camp. Discounts are available: register prior to June 1 and receive a $20 discount per registration; groups of six or more

receive an additional $10 discount when all applications are submitted together in the same envelope. All campers will receive a personal evaluation, a reversible jersey and camp water bottle. For more information on the Hilbert College's Boys basketball camp, please contact head men's basketball coach Rob deGrandpre at (716) 926-8803 or rdegrandpre@ hilbert.edu. For information on the Hilbert College Girls basketball camp, please contact head women's basketball coach Rob Peterson at (716) 926-8775 or rpeterson@hilbert. edu.

HC Magazine | 2014

FRANCISCANREFLECTIONS FRANCISCANFOOTPRINTS

ALUMNISPOTLIGHT

HILBERTSTRONG by Stephanie King

THOMAS DOODY '97 : : SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR : : MERRILL LYNCH For any avid competitive runner, the opportunity to receive an invitation to participate in the Boston Marathon is a dream come true and an accomplishment well-earned. On April 21, 2014, Hilbert College alum and Hamburg, N.Y. native, Tom Doody ’97, will be able to live out that dream. Competing in marathons isn’t anything new for Doody. He’s raced in the Dublin, Ireland marathon twice, the NYC Marathon, the Rock & Roll Marathons in San Diego, Calif., and in Arizona along with a full Ironman, a half Ironman, and many smaller triathlons. He also returns to Buffalo, N.Y. every year to participate in the Ride for Roswell. For Doody, a Business Management graduate and 2013 recipient of the Dominique Thompson Hilbert Alumnus of the Year award, the chance to run in this marathon, however, will hold an even greater value to him given the tragic events that occurred during last year’s race. He will also be competing in honor of raising funds for three organizations that hold a special place in his heart: The Pat Tillman Foundation, Roswell Park Cancer Research Center and the Boston One Fund. What does he hope to accomplish by participating in this marathon? “To finish for one,” he jokingly said. “But it’s really an interesting opportunity after everything that happened last year. It’s a way to kind of honor the people who were injured last year. It’s a way for me to use this exposure, use this experience,

to give back to some other organizations that are very worthy.” Doody tries to demonstrate the Franciscan values of hope, peace, service, joy, integrity, respect, compassion and vision as well as encompass the true spirit of Hilbert College in his everyday way of life. He says he owes a lot of who he is now to Hilbert and the people he met here along the way. “Professors Pat Heraty and Dan Roland, specifically, were extremely instrumental in me opening up and finding assets within myself that I didn’t know were there previously,” he said. “They really kind of encouraged me and pushed me to get involved and to take leadership aspects. I was really active on campus and really started to spread my wings.” “When I moved out to Arizona I didn’t really know a whole lot of people out here so that ‘getting involved’, that ‘joining organization’ stuff… I just kind of built upon that and started networking out here and that kind of led to everything else.” Doody hopes to finish the marathon in four hours or less and celebrate his 40th birthday in the most epic way possible. During his time in Boston, he plans to visit both the bombing site on Boylston Street and the elementary school in Newton, MA to pay tribute at the respective memorials. “It’s going to be a great experience,” he said. “It’s going to be an extremely emotional experience too race morning and everything so I’m sure it’s just going to be crazy there.” Doody resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife and two daughters. For more information or to support Doody’s efforts please email him at tjdoody@yahoo.com.

FRANCISCAN VALUES Compassion Hope Integrity Joy Peace Respect Service Vision

spring winter

Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

St. Francis of Assisi

FEBRUARY 8, 2008

BPO@HILBERT The Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra first performed at Hilbert College’s Swan Auditorium on February 8, 2008 under the direction of Maestro JoAnn Falletta. Hilbert President Cynthia Zane coordinated the agreement that brought the BPO to Hilbert. The BPO is often referred to as Buffalo’s cultural ambassador. The BPO performance at Hilbert has evolved into a Holiday Pops Concert held annually in December. The BPO@Hilbert College is the signature event on campus. Few artists are as important to the fabric of their communities as JoAnn Falletta, acclaimed by The New York Times as “one of the finest conductors of her generation.” Since stepping up to the podium as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the fall of 1999, Maestro Falletta has been credited with bringing the Philharmonic to a new level of national and international prominence. In 2009, for the first time in its 74-year history, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra won two Grammy Awards for the Best Classical Performance and Best Classical Composition. Falletta served as commencement speaker at Hilbert’s 51st Annual Commencement in May 2012. Since 1940, the orchestra’s permanent home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen with an international reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States. The BPO has toured widely across the United States and Canada including the Florida Friends Tour with JoAnn Falletta in March 2010. The BPO has rekindled its distinguished history of radio broadcasts and recordings, including the release of 27 new CDs of a highly diverse repertoire on the NAXOS and Beau Fleuve labels. HC Magazine | 2014

HILBERTCOLLEGE

5 2 0 0 S o u t h P a r k Av e . | H a m b u r g , N Y 1 4 0 7 5 Parents: If this magazine is addressed to a graduated son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please clip the address label and return it with correct address to the address shown above.

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