Saint Michael's College Magazine Spring/Summer 2025

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE SPRING/SUMMER 2025

“Saint Michael’s taught me that confidence is having the courage to take on new challenges and embrace opportunities with a growth mindset.”

LINDSAY KURRLE '93, COMMISSIONER OF THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

2

16 James Terlizzo ’67

20 The Catholic Principles of Social Justice by Rev. David Theroux, SSE ‘70 24 Landing the Dream Job: How a St. Mike’s Grad Found Passion for Filmmaking, Success with “Ms. Rachel” by Cassie Lathrope ’26

Photo by Jerry Swope

Cover photo by Sophie Burt ’26

26 Confidence Calisthenics: How Saint Michael’s Helps Students Strengthen Their Belief in Their Own Abilities by Jon W. Campbell ’04

32 Taking the Lead: St. Mike’s Student Discovers Confidence Through Spearheading Research Study by April Barton

36 A Decade of Growth and Transformative Experiences by Cassie Lathrope ’26

38 Driven to Serve by Lauren Read

40 Brains and Brawn by Corbin McGuire, NCAA.org

42 Chasing Fires, Not Receipts by Izzy Quam ’25

44 Lines That Linger: A Poet-Scholar Reflects on Dissonance and Dialogue

46 Faculty and Alumni Works

48 Career Connections 2025: Building Bridges for the Future by Sierra Leonard ’15

50 Commencement 2025

CLASS NOTES

53 Letter from the Alumni Board President by Pat Fitzgibbons ’89

54 Class Notes

62 In Memoriam

64 A Tradition Rooted in Friendship and the White Mountains by Pete Weber ’86

A Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

With Commencement

behind us, I find myself reflecting on the journey of the Class of 2025 and the many ways our students grow—academically, personally, and professionally—during their time at Saint Michael’s. This season of celebration offers not only a moment to recognize their achievements, but also a time to honor the community that supports them at every step.

Earlier this spring, I had the privilege of joining a group of students in Washington, D.C., for an immersive career exploration trip focused on government and global affairs. Whether walking the halls of Capitol Hill or connecting with alumni like NPR’s Tom Bowman ’77, the visit was a powerful reminder of our mission

in action: preparing students to engage with the world in meaningful and courageous ways.

That same week, another group of students met in Boston as members of our new Student Investment Fund (SIF) club, where they connected with alumni working at top financial firms. This inaugural trip was sparked by a generous $25,000 gift from Marie (McDonnell) ‘89 and Vince Colbert, P’24 and their son Dan ’24. Their support helped build momentum that led to an exciting announcement: a $100,000 gift from Drew Davis ’01 to establish a Student Investment Lounge right here on campus.

Throughout these pages, you’ll see three striking images submitted to this year’s Global Eyes Study Abroad Photography Competition This annual event invites study-

abroad returnees to share their international experiences and perspectives through photography— offering the wider Saint Michael’s community a glimpse into the transformational nature of global learning.

These experiences speak to the true strength of the Saint Michael’s— where alumni, donors, faculty, and staff come together to open doors and inspire futures. Our students are shaped by these opportunities, and they carry the spirit of connection, curiosity, and service with them long after they leave campus.

To the Class of 2025, you began your college journey during a time of global uncertainty, yet you arrived here determined to learn, grow, and make an impact. You’ve become thoughtful leaders and compassionate citizens, and you leave with the knowledge and character to meet whatever comes next.

And remember: no matter where life leads, this place will always be a part of your story. You are, and always will be, integral to this special community.

With gratitude and pride,

Richard

Plumb, Ph.D.

President,

Saint Michael’s College

President Richard Plumb surrounded by Saint Michael’s students at a Washington, D.C., networking event. (L-R) Lola Ribe Mozun ’27, Astrid Bakke ’26, Christine Dossou ’25, Madison Powers ’26, President Richard Plumb, Lily Maxted ’26, and Cassie Lathrop ’26.

CATEGORY WINNER

Fly fishing in the pristine rivers of Arthur’s Pass is an unforgettable experience, but the real magic begins when the sun sets. Surrounded by nature’s silence, beneath the Southern Cross, a special moment in New Zealand’s wilderness.

The Kroger-Krikstone Best of Show Award

“Southern Hemisphere” by Casey Arsenault ’25 New Zealand | Spring 2024

SAINT MICHAEL’S

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Spring/Summer 2025

Volume 25, No. 1

smcvt.edu/magazine

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Millie Rossman

MANAGING EDITOR

Michelle Jordan P’20

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

April Barton

Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12

Cailtin Herz ’26

Ellen Kane

Chris Kenny ’86 M’98 P’18

Cassie Lathrope ’26

Sierra Leonard ’15

Elizabeth Murray ’13

Izzy Quam ’25

Lauren Read

Terri Selby

Rev. David Theroux, SSE ’70

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sophie Burt ’26

Jerry Swope

MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD

Alaba Apesin

Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12

Summer Drexel

Gretchen Galbraith

Michelle Jordan P’20

Ellen Kane

Josh Kessler ’04

Millie Rossman

Terri Selby

Stephanie Snell

Jerry Swope

Saint Michael’s College Magazine (ISSN 0279-3016) is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications twice per year. The views expressed in the Saint Michael’s College Magazine do not necessarily represent the official policies and views of Saint Michael’s College.

POSTMASTER

Please send address changes to:

Saint Michael’s College One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439

SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Saint Michael’s College One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439

802.654.2556

SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu

©2025 by Saint Michael’s College. All rights reserved.

Voices from the Community

First, a big shoutout to Pete Weber ’86, who wrote in to share a story of enduring friendship and tradition—read it on page 64. Thank you, Pete! Your story captures the heart of Saint Michael’s connections—past, present, and future.

What I love most about the Saint Michael’s College magazine is that in every issue, you’ll find stories and photos of alumni, students, and faculty reflecting on their time at Saint Michael’s—and how it continues to shape their lives, now and into the future. It’s amazing to think that these lifelong connections all began on a small liberal arts campus in northern Vermont.

Even beyond the magazine, I love that the St. Mike’s spirit shows up in unexpected places—like spotting a Saint Michael’s bumper sticker on a random car in the city, or seeing a St. Mike’s baseball cap at an LA Dodgers game, far from Vermont but close in community.

Now a question for our alumni: What’s the first section you flip to in the magazine? Is it Class Notes? If so, maybe it’s because we’re most curious about our classmates—where they are, what they’re up to, and what milestones they’re celebrating.

We’d love to hear your story—how St. Mike’s helped shape who you are and the connections that still matter, even years later.

Warmly,

Michelle Jordan P’20 Managing Editor

P.S. I encourage you to wear more of that St. Mike’s swag—you never know what “new” connections your purple knight pride might spark around the globe. (And yes, send us those stories and photos too!)

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Send your ideas and impressions to: Via email: SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu

Snail mail: Saint Michael’s College Magazine,1 Winooski Park, Box 6, Colchester VT 05439

Share your thoughts on the magazine. Is there a story you think we should cover? Do you have a favorite section? Did one of the pieces in this issue spark a memory of your time at St. Mike’s? How did your time at Saint Michael’s College impact your life?

BEYOND THE GAME: TEAM IMPACT’S INFLUENCE AT SAINT MICHAEL’S

Since 2012, Saint Michael’s College has partnered with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that matches children facing serious illness with college athletic teams. Through these connections, young participants become honorary team members—attending practices, games, and team events—while student athletes gain meaningful lessons in resilience, leadership, and empathy.

At Saint Michael’s, teams like women’s soccer, softball, baseball, and women’s basketball have formed deep bonds with their Team IMPACT teammates. Most recently, the women’s soccer team welcomed Mariella Desjardin, a 12-year-old managing a kidney condition, into their program. These relationships leave a lasting mark, inspiring Purple Knights to see their roles as teammates—and community members—in a new and powerful way.

ST. MIKE’S COMMUNITY COMMITMENT: EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Saint Michael’s College has launched the St. Mike’s Community Commitment, a new initiative to make a private, liberal arts education more accessible. Beginning in the fall of 2025, students from households earning under $100,000 annually may qualify for full tuition coverage through federal grants and

institutional aid. The program builds on Saint Michael’s long tradition of supporting students from a range of financial backgrounds, offering greater clarity about costs earlier in the admission process. With this initiative, Saint Michael’s reaffirms its mission of access, equity, and opportunity—preparing students not only for careers, but for lives of leadership, service, and purpose.

PAUL OLSEN AND KAREN POPOVICH RESEARCH RANKED

Saint Michael’s College continues to shine in case research. In a recent study published in the Business Case Journal, Professor Paul Olsen, Ph.D., was ranked the fifth-most-prolific case research author with the Society for Case Research (SCR), with colleague Karen Popovich tied at seventh place. Even more notably, Saint Michael’s College ranked fourth among all colleges and universities for SCR publications, tied with San Jose State University. The study, conducted by Peters and Brooks (2025), highlights the College’s strong contributions to the field of business case research and the commitment of its faculty to academic excellence.

WATER FOR ALL EVENT UNITES CAMPUSES FOR GLOBAL IMPACT

Saint Michael’s College hosted its first-ever Water for All event, partnering with Saint Francis Xavier School to raise awareness about global clean water access. Supported by the College’s three institutes—Environment, Global Engagement, and Equity & Justice—along with MOVE, the day included STEM activities, a dynamic speaker panel, and a walk-a-thon fundraiser. The event was inspired by the work of alumnus Fr. Yvon Royer ’85 and Healing Waters International. Students, faculty, and staff from St. Francis Xavier came to Saint Michael’s to learn, serve, and make a difference, showing how local efforts can ripple out to create global change.

BUZZAROUND ALLIOT

Saint Michael’s College men’s ice hockey captured the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. Head Coach Damian DiGiulian’s team finished with 18 wins—the second-highest in program history—while setting new school records for goals-against average and save percentage.

NEW LOCKER ROOMS

Saint Michael’s men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer have a new home base: a fully renovated locker room featuring custom wood lockers—designed to fuel Purple Knight pride for seasons to come.

Photo by Jim Stankiewicz

Photo by Jerry Swope

Preparing Future First Responders:

SAINT MICHAEL’S INTRODUCES EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MINOR

BY CAITLIN HERZ ’26

Photo by Jerry Swope

Anew program of study was recently added to the list of academic options at Saint Michael’s College: a minor in Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Kate Soons ’92, professor of health science and the creator of the EMS minor, said that the interdisciplinary nature of the program aims to enhance students’ applications to medical and nursing programs by demonstrating their foundational knowledge and skills in human care.

“Emergency Medical Services absolutely integrates and interfaces with public safety—law enforcement and fire protection,” Soons said. “So I wanted to try to create a minor that appreciated just how interdisciplinary Emergency Medical Services is.”

The minor will be offered beginning in fall 2025.

Until 2022, Saint Michael’s students had to go to the University of Vermont to take courses and receive training for certifications in EMS.

“By bringing those programs to St. Mike’s, [we ensure that] students no longer have to travel for courses,” Soons said.

Soons added that these courses can cater to a variety of students who want to work in first-response healthcare, and that the minor prepares students to respond effectively to people from a range of cultural backgrounds.

The three courses required for the minor are Emergency Medical Technician, Introduction to Public Health, and Social Determinants of Health.

Soons said the minor covers knowledge necessary across several fields. So, for example, it would be pertinent to a student interested in the health literacy field, as well as to a student who wants to address environmental issues.

The program mirrors the general Saint Michael’s liberal arts education in that it has many applications across diverse fields of study, Soons said. Electives applicable to the program encompass a broad range of majors, including Health Science, Sociology, and Philosophy. Soons said this is so students can mold the field of study to their own interests, depending on what type of medical services they are planning to pursue.

A Knight Among Knights:

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE PROFESSOR KNIGHTED BY FRENCH GOVERNMENT

BY ELIZABETH MURRAY

Photos by Sophie Burt ’26

Professor Peter Vantine has borne the title of Saint Michael’s College Purple Knight over his more than a decade of teaching French at the College. Thanks to the French government, he recently got an upgrade to his knighthood.

Vantine, chair of the Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures Department, was recognized

as a Knight in the Order of Academic Palms (or Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques). Mustafa Soykurt, consul general of France in Boston, bestowed the honor upon Vantine during a ceremony on campus March 12.

“I am deeply touched by this recognition granted to me in the name of the French government, under the auspices of the Ministry

of Education,” Vantine said. “Everywhere in this world, here as elsewhere, education is essential. It is a need and a good. It is a gift that we deserve by the mere fact of our humanity. It is a sacred responsibility that every generation owes to itself to transmit to the following generation.”

The event, in part, was also a celebration of the continued ties to France that Saint Michael’s has through its founders, the Society of Saint Edmund.

Vantine received the honor for his commitment to promoting French language, culture, and education in the U.S., in Vermont, and at Saint Michael’s. He has taught classes on French language, literature, and culture at Saint Michael’s

Professor Peter Vantine being knighted by the French government.

since 2011, and he serves as the regional representative for New England to the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).

“It is your unwavering dedication, passion, and commitment to the French language and culture that we celebrate today,” Soykurt said. Soykurt pinned a silver medal to Vantine’s lapel to signify his knighthood, which was—fittingly— attached to a purple ribbon.

The ceremony featured remarks spoken in both French and English, drawing dozens of members of the College community and the local French community, including the Burlington-Honfleur Sister Cities organization, of which Vantine is a member. Dana Lim vanderHeyden, Ambassadress of Honfleur to the U.S., read a letter from residents of Honfleur who serve on the sister committee. VanderHeyden is wife to former Saint Michael’s College President Marc vanderHeyden.

“By bestowing this ribbon, France rightly thanks you for all you have been doing day after day since 2011 with students, whom [we] imagine to be just as passionate to scatter the petals of our country’s literature, and more particularly, that of the 19th century,” vanderHeyden read. “This violet, a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, and authority, could not have found a better teacher to flourish and develop.”

BY CAITLIN HERZ ’26

by Sophie Burt ’26

A club formed at Saint Michael’s demonstrates the wide-reaching applications of the skills students can gain through practice. Mock Trial Club president Ryann Edwards ’26 founded the club to pursue her passion for government. “I’ve always been on a pre-law track, and I was looking to implement that outside the classroom,” Edwards said.

The club currently has seven members, including Edwards and her co-captain Aidan Finnegan ’25 Students are assigned roles such as attorneys or witnesses for a specific case, and each session focuses on refining aspects of the trial.

Working with scenarios

The purpose of assigning a case in Mock Trial Club is to give students a specific legal scenario to help them understand legal processes and courtroom procedures, Edwards said. The club worked alongside Mark Patane, former assistant attorney general of the state of Vermont, who put together the case for Mock Trial.

“Our case was a murder case,” Finnegan said. “So we were trying to put together the pieces of who was where and when … like we were almost doing police work.”

Edwards said the club gets students out of their comfort zones, and it can appeal to a wide variety

of majors and minors. For example, witnesses are often portrayed by Theatre majors.

The valuable skills that come from Mock Trial are developed through practice, Edwards said, singling out public speaking and “thinking on your feet.”

A Mock Trial competition

In February, the club’s seven members attended a Mock Trial competition at Boston College alongside representatives of 15 local universities. The Saint Michael’s College team was randomly assigned the Boston College team in the debate competition.

Stephon Boatwright, assistant professor of political science and international relations, oversees Mock Trial Club and attended the competition, watching as Saint Michael’s won one of the rounds. “Everyone competed with a high level of professionalism,” Boatwright said. “Students had their scripts and arguments well-rehearsed, but it went beyond that as they were adapting and thinking like lawyers. It was clear how seriously they took it.”

Finnegan, now accepted into law school, emphasized how valuable Mock Trial Club was in furthering his skill set and career goals.

NEW SAINT MICHAEL’S MOCK TRIAL CLUB ENHANCES SKILLS ACROSS ALL MAJORS

Photo

CATEGORY WINNER

“Mourning” by Alexander Preis ’25 Netherlands | Spring 2024

Mourners in Amsterdam paid tribute to Alexei Navalny by laying flowers and candles at memorials in Dam Square. Navalny, who was a key opposition figure against Vladimir Putin, was reported dead on February 16, 2024, under controversial circumstances.

AQUARIUM GIVE BACK

In March, admitted students and their families gathered at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut for an inspiring event hosted by Saint Michael’s College Trustee Dr. Tracy Romano ’86. Romano shared her personal journey from Saint Michael’s College to her current role as vice president of research and chief Scientist at Mystic Aquarium. She emphasized the mission of the Edmundites and the profound impact it has had on her, highlighting her commitment to service, hospitality, and education. The event also included a warm welcome from the Admissions team and insights from Professor of Biology Declan McCabe, who shared his expertise as a teacher and researcher. Following the presentations, Romano provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium, which included a secure area dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and stranded marine animals, offering a unique glimpse into the vital work being done at the facility.

DIVING BOARD AND STARTING BLOCKS

The Ross Sports Center Pool has received some exciting new enhancements this past year. Thanks to the leadership and generosity of the Kane Family (sons Thomas ’25 and JJ ’27 are both members of the men’s team), alumni, and families, the women’s and men’s swimming and diving programs now have brand-new starting blocks and a beautiful new record board. A generous gift from former Purple Knight diver Frank Semcer ’89 has brought three-meter diving back to the Ross pool after decades of hosting one-meter diving only. (Despite not having a three-meter board, St. Mike’s varsity divers still competed in that category of competition, and they had to travel to and train at UVM.) The swim team is very grateful for this gift!

Hannah Bennett ’26 thanks Trustee Brian Lacey ’72 for helping her secure a summer internship with Estée Lauder in New York City this summer. Lacey, a marketing executive in children’s entertainment, got his start in marketing at Estée Lauder.

Photo by Jerry Swope

WASHINGTON, D.C.: ENGAGING IN GLOBAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE

Fourteen students participated in a three-day immersive experience in Washington, D.C., engaging in high-level conversations with alumni in global and national governance, public service, and global affairs. Funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant, the trip was led by Professor Jeffrey Ayres of the Saint Michael’s College Institute for Global Engagement, along with Ingrid Peterson and Joe Speidel from the Boucher Career Education Center. They were joined by Ellen Kane, vice president for institutional advancement, and Angela Irvine, director of sponsored programs and foundation relations.

A highlight of the trip was the April 3 alumni–student networking reception at the Dubliner, featuring special guest Tom Bowman ’77, NPR Pentagon reporter. The event welcomed close to 70 attendees and included a special appearance by Saint Michael’s President Richard Plumb.

BOSTON: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Fifteen members of the Student Investment Fund (SIF) club spent two days in Boston visiting alumni working in leading financial institutions. They were guided by faculty advisors— Professor Patrick Walsh, Economics Department chair, and Nicole Morris, LaMarche Endowed Chair and associate business professor. They were also accompanied by members of the Institutional Advancement team, who convened a networking event with 60+ local alumni: Chris Kenny ’86 M’98 P’18, executive director of stewardship and leadership giving; Tina Gorski-Strong, major gift officer; and Stephanie Snell, director for alumni and family engagement. The trip was made possible by a generous $25,000 gift from Marie (McDonnell) ’89, P’24 and Vince Colbert P’24. At the reception, it was announced that Drew Davis ’01 has committed $100,000 to establish a state-of-the-art Student Investment Lounge within the Business Department. This gift is being leveraged as a matching gift to cover renovations, future events, and program enhancements. If you would like to contribute, please visit smcvt.edu/giveback.

KNIGHTS ON THE MOVE

During the College’s spring break in March, President Richard and Mary Plumb and key advancement staff traversed the state of Florida meeting new and old friends at events hosted by alumni Cathy and Don Dion ’76 and Linda and John Wellington ’72. The Purple and Gold spirit was also represented at the Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, which over 40,000 people attend each year. All are welcome to join in next year when St. Mike’s plans to make a big splash at the 50th anniversary of the parade thanks to the support of generous alumni John Varsames ’73 and Bob Gagne ’63.

A sample of the Planned Giving Survey Results

THE SCIENCES

The #1 reason you give back to Saint Michael’s College is to foster our unique educational experience.

OF YOU HAVE THOUGHTFULLY INCLUDED ST. MIKE’S IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS. WELCOME INTO OUR HERITAGE CIRCLE, THE COLLEGE’S LEGACY SOCIETY

My daughter is a first-year student and the support she has received has been above and beyond. St. Mike’s has proven once again that the decision she made to attend there was the right move for her and her future success.

AMY JOHNSON, P’28

INDICATED YOU’D WELCOME FURTHER CONTACT BY THE COLLEGE 10 1. 2. 3. THE TOP THREE AREAS YOU LIKE TO GIVE TO ARE: LIBERAL ARTS ATHLETICS

Don Sutton, Bill Mazur, Tim Pedrotty, Mike Samara, Tom Ryan, Jerry Flanagan, Sue Duprat believed in me as a student leader and provided guidance when I didn’t realize I needed it. My success later in life can be attributed to the examples that these mentors provided.

ANONYMOUS ALUM AND STAFF MEMBER

These individuals, Jennie Cernosia, Mike Samara, Lou DiMasi, John Carvellas, nurtured my love of learning by seeing me not just as a student, but as a person and a member of the Saint Michael’s community. They supported me through both successes and mistakes, turning every moment into a chance to grow. I still carry those lessons with me—as a leader, a coach, and a parent—and I’ll always be grateful for my Saint Michael’s experience.

JASON SHARPE ’95

SMC served as a launch pad for me into adulthood with a sense of purpose. My experiences at SMC gave me the confidence and clarity to build a life for myself and future family that I had always envisioned.

JOHN DOWD ’80, P’15

Greg Jahne ’70 was the winner of the Planned Giving Survey Raffle. Greg poses here with his prize, a knit hat from the bookstore. Congratulations, Greg!

Patricia (Patty) McDonagh ’75

WOMEN’S VARSITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

BY ELLEN KANE

In January 2025, the McDonagh family, including Tucker McDonagh ’77, Michael McDonagh ’82, Kimberly, Timothy, and Todd, established the Patricia (Patty) McDonagh ’75 Women’s Varsity Scholarship Fund with a gift of $500,000. This fund was established in memory of their sister, who passed away the year after she graduated from Saint Michael’s College, to provide a financial aid scholarship to a female varsity Alpine skier or track athlete.

“Patty was an advocate for women’s participation in varsity sports before Title IX,” said Tucker McDonagh. “She was a very talented athlete who loved to ski and participated in many other sports, including track. She also established the first women’s softball league in her hometown of West Hartford, Connecticut. What people remember most about Patty was her infectious smile and compassion for others. She was always there to offer encouragement and support—she was just one of those people with a super positive attitude.”

Recently, a close friend of Patty’s, Jerome Doherty ’73, collected donations from many of her classmates to dedicate a ski locker in her name in the newly renovated Kelley Ski House.

“Our dear friend Patty McDonagh gave joy to all she embraced with her open, generous free spirit. Patty loved to ski with her many friends,” said Doherty.

There are 13 women on the Saint Michael’s varsity Alpine ski team. This past winter, they had success competing against top-tier schools, finishing in the top 10 for Slalom and top eight for Giant Slalom in every carnival. Helene Kristofferen ’25 won the overall Giant Slalom title this year for the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) league. Nine of the athletes are part of the EISA all-academic award, which is given to student athletes who maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA. With six seniors graduating this year, the scholarship will be helpful in recruiting and filling the open spots.

“This generous scholarship provides a studentathlete with the opportunity to reach their full potential both in the classroom and on the slopes—an opportunity they might not have had otherwise,” said Coach Angus MacLeod ’02.

Patricia McDonagh ’75

James Terlizzo ’67

A SURPRISE GIFT IN THE SEASON OF GIVING

BY TERRI SELBY

ames Terlizzo ’67 was not one to seek the limelight. A native of Stamford, Connecticut, he followed his brother (Matthew Terlizzo ’65) to Saint Michael’s to attend college. It was on the Hilltop that James Terlizzo developed a passion for history and decided to make that his life’s vocation. He was by all accounts an exemplary student, making the Dean’s List, becoming a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma, and being named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Terlizzo taught history for many years in the Stamford public school system, ultimately serving as the department chair for history and social studies at Stamford High School. Following the example of his mentors, Professors Edward J. Pfeifer and James O’Bierne, Terlizzo left a legacy of academic excellence and professionalism. His days at Saint Michael’s also made a lasting impact on him, as in retirement he split his time between Florida and Vermont.

Years ago, Terlizzo shared with classmate Richard “Rit” DiVenere ’67, associate vice president of Institutional Advancement, that he would “take care of Saint Michael’s in the future.” As was reflective of his retiring nature, he did not want to share details. True to Terlizzo’s word, Saint Michael’s was notified last winter that he had died and that the College would receive a gift from his estate valued at just over $400,000. Working with a financial advisor, Terlizzo included Saint Michael’s along with family and friends as beneficiaries of his life insurance policy and an annuity.

Although it would have been wonderful to thank Terlizzo when he was alive, that was not what he wanted, nor was it why he made this gift. So we celebrate him and his generosity now as this gift will benefit today’s students across all areas of their experience—academic, financial, and residential.

DiVenere recalls Terlizzo as a big man. Also big, apparently, was the place in his heart for his alma mater.

James Terlizzo ’67

SCHOLARSHIP REPORT 2024–25

$3.2M AVAILABLE IN NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS

340+

STUDENTS

RECEIVED A NAMED SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarships transform lives. Your generosity opens doors to life-changing opportunities for students at Saint Michael’s College— opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach. By making a Saint Michael’s education accessible, you are not only shaping skilled, critical thinkers but also nurturing compassionate, empathetic leaders committed to serving the greater good.

We are deeply grateful for your support. Your gift creates a ripple effect of lasting impact, empowering students to pursue their aspirations, realize their full potential, and contribute to a brighter, more just world.

Thank you wholeheartedly for your generous contribution toward my education at Saint Michael’s College. Coming from a large family with eight siblings, I know how challenging it is for my parents to support us all, especially with the added expense of my studies abroad. This semester, I was uncertain how I would cover some of my remaining tuition costs, so receiving this scholarship feels like a true blessing. Your kindness has not only eased a significant financial burden but has also renewed my faith in the goodness of people. I am deeply grateful for your generosity and for the positive impact you’re making on my life and the lives of others. Your support will go a long way, and I am sure that life will bring great things your way in return. The world truly needs more people like you, and I hope to extend the same compassion to others one day.

AMOS SCHRAMM ‘25

Your support has significantly impacted my education at Saint Michael’s, allowing me to pursue my majors in Accounting and Economics, as well as a minor in Business Administration. I sincerely value the chances I’ve gained, such as working at the library circulation desk and participating in the Student Investment Fund, which have enhanced my college experience. Your assistance not only reduces the financial burden of my education but also motivates me to strive for greatness and give back to the community in the future. Thank you for believing in me and making a difference in my life.

HANAE RHOUAT ‘25

Thank you so much for this opportunity. As a first-generation college student, I have struggled to pay for college on my own. This scholarship will allow me to further my learning and prepare for my future career. I am so passionate about teaching and supporting my communities. This means the world to me because I now can focus on my education rather than saving money for next semester. Thank you for your support and helping students like me to continue down their pathway to a meaningful career.

KELSEY EASTMAN ‘26

The Catholic Principles of

BY REV. DAVID THEROUX, SSE ’70

We find ourselves caught in a debate regarding the place, if any, of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the United States and particularly in higher education. What we may not realize is that the issues raised by the DEI movement, and their proposed remedies, have long been core concerns of the Catholic Church.

THE ROOTS OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is usually traced back to the publication of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891, “On the Conditions of Labor.” In the encyclical, the pope addressed the rights of workers to safe working conditions and their right to form unions in response to the unsafe and unjust conditions in place during the Industrial Revolution.

Closer to home in the United States, the Catholic Church in the late 1800s began to seriously consider the issues of social justice owing to the call of American Black Catholics for

equality and inclusion in the American Catholic Church as well as American society. The Catholic Church, proclaiming the universality of the Church in which all people were to be welcomed and included, appeared to be the best hope for Black people in the United States. Daniel Rudd, a Black Catholic journalist and activist, stated in the American Catholic Tribune, a Black-run publication, that the Catholic Church “is the only place on this Continent where rich and poor, white and black, must drop prejudice at the threshold and go hand in hand to the altar.”

Monsignor James Robinson, SSE ’53, M’61.

THE CALL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR JUSTICE, DIGNITY, AND EQUALITY

Rudd understood that the universality of the Catholic Church meant that God had intended all people, regardless of their differences, to be treated justly and with dignity, a claim we find echoed today in the principles of DEI. Rudd’s vision aligns remarkably with Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum. Both advocated for a society rooted in justice, dignity, and equality under the profound moral compass of Catholic tradition. The principles of social justice that Pope Leo XIII and Daniel Rudd promoted can be traced back to the Bible and the long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church regarding justice in society. Today, the Catholic bishops of the United States have encapsulated the Church’s teaching about social justice in seven

with dignity, regardless of its time and condition, because all human beings are created in the image of God (the imago Dei of Genesis 1:27).

The principles of DEI make a similar claim in the recognition that the diversity of humanity can never be the basis for discrimination among human persons. With similar words, the USCCB noted in their letter on racism, “We cannot be truly inclusive if we fail to acknowledge the inherent dignity of each person” (Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, 2018).

2

Principle Two: Call to Family,

Community, and Participation

Social Justice

principles that are meant to guide Catholics in their treatment of all people. They are detailed below.

Principle One: The Life and Dignity of the Human Person

The first principle of life and the dignity of the human person is foundational to all the rest. As noted by the United States Conference of Catholic bishops (USCCB), “The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society” (Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching). Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in 1984, during his tenure as archbishop of Chicago, introduced the notion of “a seamless garment” of life, today often expressed as “a consistent ethic” of life. All life is to be treated

The second principle reflects the social nature of human life. Due honor is to be given to communities of people, be they families, local polities, or nations. The USCCB wrote, “We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and wellbeing of all, especially the poor and vulnerable” (Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching). The social

nature of human life finds its truest expression in how each and all relate to others, especially in marriage and family life. The principles of DEI state a comparable value that all are to find welcome and inclusion as well as to have full participation in society. In “Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good” (2020), Catholic Charities USA noted, “Indeed, because the church is ‘catholic’—that is, inclusive and universal—the diversity of peoples, languages, cultures, and colors among us must not only be tolerated, but also cherished and celebrated.”

Principles Three and Four: Rights and Responsibilities; Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

3+4

The third and fourth Catholic principles of social justice state that each person in the human community has a right to life and the means to sustain that life, especially the poor and vulnerable. Similar to the principles of DEI, the two Catholic principles call for equity. The USCCB wrote in Open Wide Our Hearts, “We must confront

As part of the M.O.V.E program, Saint Michael’s students Chayma Bouzenag M’25, Courtney Boyle ’28, and Nora Young ’27 prepared and served lunch for the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) guests.

Photo by Jerry Swope

structures of sin and promote policies that remove barriers to equity for marginalized communities.”

Only when individuals in society work to guarantee the rights of all can everyone in the social order find what they need not only to survive but also to thrive. Additionally, only when the needs of the poor and the vulnerable are put first do individuals in society act responsibly in implementing the mandate of Jesus to feed the hungry and to give water to the thirsty, to clothe the naked and to care for those ill and imprisoned, and to provide shelter to the homeless as well as a final resting place for those deceased (Matthew 25:31–46). All have a duty to care for others.

The DEI principle of inclusion finds a comparable value in the Catholic Church’s call to be in solidarity with others and to see others as brother and

sister. The USCCB stated in Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, “The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

Principle Five: The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

The principle of the dignity of work and the rights of workers calls to mind Rerum Novarum, wherein Pope Leo XIII called for the just treatment of workers and the right of workers to be in relationship with capital in the determination of working conditions and just payment for work. Pope John Paul II, on the centennial of Rerum Novarum’s publication in 1991, noted that work is not only the means by which workers sustain their lives and contribute to the common good of society; it is also an essential quality of human life.

Like the God in whose image humans are created, the person is called to create and to renew the world through labor. There is a dignity in work that must be protected not only to ensure the just treatment of the workers but even more to enable the workers to achieve the fullness of their humanity. As noted by the USCCB in Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching, “Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.”

If indeed work contributes to human development, it becomes the responsibility of society to ensure that everyone has access to meaningful work. The principles of DEI are instrumental in achieving this goal. By ensuring that diverse communities of people in a nation have access to work and are included equitably in the acquisition of work,

DEI PRINCIPLES AND CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Human Dignity and Solidarity

Belonging (related to inclusion) Family, Community, and Participation

Justice in Opportunity Rights and Responsibilities

Equity Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Fair Treatment Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Inclusion Common Good and Participation

Advocacy for Change Care for Creation and Promotion of Peace

The Catholic Church teaches that every person is created in the image of God, deserving of respect and inclusion regardless of background. Diversity emphasizes unity across all human differences.

The Church emphasizes that humans are social beings meant to participate in society, reflecting inclusion and fostering belonging in all communities.

Ensuring equitable access to opportunities aligns with the Catholic belief that everyone has a right to what is necessary for human decency (e.g., education, employment, and healthcare).

Equity involves creating systems that ensure fair outcomes, similar to the Church's call to prioritize the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable.

Promoting fair wages, equal opportunities, and safe working conditions reflects the Church's teaching on the dignity of labor and workers' rights.

Inclusion fosters solidarity and a community where everyone belongs, reflecting the Catholic teaching that all people should have opportunities to participate fully in society.

Advocating for systemic change and fairness echoes the Church’s call to care for the earth and work for peace and justice in society.

“We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. We are one human family.”

the principles of DEI go hand in hand with the Catholic principle of finding dignity in the labor each person contributes to establishing the common good of all.

Principle Six: Solidarity

The Catholic principle of solidarity recognizes the importance of standing in union with others in the formation of society and the preservation of justice in society. The USCCB made the claim, “We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. We are one human family.” This claim stands in response to the question God asks Cain in the Book of Genesis after Cain has killed his brother: “Where is your brother?” To which Cain responds, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The question asked by God is pointed in that the answer is implied in the question: We are responsible for one another. In their pastoral letter Open Wide Our Hearts, the USCCB further defined what it means to be in solidarity with others when they observed, “Solidarity means standing beside the marginalized, not as saviors, but as siblings.”

Dr. Matthew Petrusek, writing on the relation of DEI to CST for Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (February 15, 2023), made the point that solidarity is comparable to the DEI principle of inclusion. Petrusek noted that when one is speaking about inclusion and solidarity in terms of the economy, in a society where individuals are harmed by the usual operations of the economy in which some are privileged and others not, the DEI principle of inclusion works to open the doors of the economy to all. In a like manner, the Catholic principle of solidarity seeks to ensure that those who employ

others are aware of their obligation to ensure equal access for all people despite their differences.

Principle Seven: Care for God’s Creation

The seventh principle of CST aligns the call to protect the planet with the obligation to protect God’s people. Pope Francis particularly emphasized the link between the good of the earth with the common good of humanity in Laudato Si’ when he wrote, “Care for creation is care for the poor—those most affected by environmental degradation.” As noted in the principles of DEI, change environmental justice to Advocacy for Change intersects with environmental justice and the care of human beings in that harm done to the environment has its consequence in harm done to people. The USCCB noted in Renewing the Earth, “Damage to the environment is damage to the fabric of life—and ultimately, to human life itself.” Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ concluded, “The cry of

the earth and the cry of the poor are one and the same.”

The seven principles of social justice, rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, emphasize that every human person is created in the image of God and therefore possesses inherent dignity and rights. The USCCB believes that we are called to live in community, protect the vulnerable, uphold the dignity of work, and care for creation. These principles, like the DEI principles, guide us to build a just society by promoting the common good, standing in solidarity with all people—especially the poor and marginalized—and ensuring that every person is able to participate fully in the human family. Together, the principles form a moral framework rooted in love, justice, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rev. David Theroux, SSE ’70, Vice President of Edmundite Mission, regularly shares reflections in his weekly blog, which can be found on the Saint Michael’s College website at smcvt.edu.

Students at work in the hoop house.

Landing the Dream Job:

How a St. Mike’s Grad Found Passion for Filmmaking, Success with “Ms. Rachel”

BY CASSIE LATHROPE ’26

As a junior at Saint Michael’s College, Ashley DeLeon ’23 took her first film class at the urging of her advisor. Although she was hesitant at the beginning of the semester, she soon discovered a passion for editing and filmmaking that eventually launched her career. In 2023, DeLeon took a filmmaking job for Ms. Rachel, one of the most popular children’s educational YouTubeturned-Netflix series in the United States. And today, DeLeon can be seen channeling her passion for media into changing the future of children’s educational television programming.

Ms. Rachel has become a wildly successful show watched by millions of families. DeLeon is now working on tasks as varied as animation, audio, and even front-ofcamera work, having her own segment on the show.

Netflix recently began licensing episodes of Ms. Rachel, and since then, the children’s series has reached the top spot on Netflix Kids. As Ms. Rachel expands its reach, DeLeon is able to play a key role in its growth.

Honing her craft and finding a calling

Reflecting on the journey over the last two years, DeLeon credits much of her success to the wellrounded education and confidence she gained during her four years at Saint Michael’s College.

“I was so well equipped coming out of school, I knew that I would do well. I had so much support— I was just surrounded by people encouraging me,” DeLeon said. “I wasn’t afraid to apply to big things, because I knew that I had it in me to do it. And that confidence came from St. Mike’s.”

DeLeon spent four semesters at Saint Michael’s College honing her writing and journalistic skills working for the student-run publication The Defender, convinced her place in life was meant to be

Photos Courtesy of Ms. Rachel

journalism. It was not until her junior year that DeLeon learned her passion for media extended beyond the newsroom and into filmmaking, writing, directing, animating, and even acting.

DeLeon’s time as a Digital Media and Communications (DMC) major played a crucial role in her preparation to join the Ms. Rachel team—especially in learning the many varied skills she uses in the professional world.

“DMC is a multidisciplinary major, and it is a rare gem in academia,” DeLeon said. “I was able to jump into the critical examination, but also the research side of media, and at the same time produce media. In many college programs, you’re doing one or the other.”

Professors like Kimberly Sultze and Jon Hyde were especially influential in DeLeon’s academic career. She said their guidance and encouragement constantly pushed her creatively.

“They are the reason why I am where I am today,” DeLeon said. “I have no shame admitting that—it really is the truth. I call them my creative enablers. No matter what big creative idea I would have, they would always encourage me to go for it and to think even bigger.”

Hyde emphasized how rewarding it was working with DeLeon from the beginning of her career at Saint Michael’s College.

“She was always incredibly curious about big-picture issues and learning how to become fluent in nearly all forms of media to reveal important stories that people needed to hear or see,” Hyde said. “After teaching for over 30 years, it’s

definitely one of the highlights of my entire career to see her succeed in the ways that she has. But don’t blink—I know there will be more to come.”

Zeroing in on children’s educational media

While a student at Saint Michael’s College, DeLeon was editor of The Defender for three semesters, worked at the Media Creation Studio during its first year, was on the Student Government Association E-Board, and was a part of the Community Health Action Network.

These activities outside the classroom helped DeLeon establish skills in public speaking, leadership, organization, adaptability, and working within a small team, all of which have helped her succeed in her role at Ms. Rachel. It was during her DMC Senior Seminar that DeLeon focused her interest solely on children’s media, a project that later secured her the position working for Ms. Rachel.

“When I took senior sem, I was like,‘… I’m going to focus entirely on children’s media, because this is

the thing I think I want to do when I graduate,’” DeLeon said. “And then in Professor Hyde’s TV Studio Production class, my very final project, [I produced] two videos that were tailored to preschoolers.”

She added, “That project is the main driver for me getting the job that I have now because I took that leap.”

As Ms. Rachel continues to grow under the new partnership with Netflix, DeLeon will remain at the forefront of the team shaping children’s educational programming. DeLeon’s ability to take creative risks and learn new skills speaks to the foundation she built in her four years at Saint Michael’s College.

Looking to the future, DeLeon wants to continue on this path of providing education through media and is hopeful for where her career will take her.

“I just love educating people through media,” DeLeon said. “So, really, the dream is to just continue what I’m doing wherever it takes me. As long as I stick to my purpose, the dream is being fulfilled.”

Ashley DeLeon ’23 sharing the spotlight on Ms. Rachel’s television show.

How Saint Michael’s Helps Students Strengthen Their Belief in Their Own Abilities

BY JON W. CAMPBELL ’04

by Laura Liedo

hen he begins a new semester, Brian Collier, a professor of fine arts and design at Saint Michael’s, likes to tell students about the near-catastrophe of his first big show. It happened long before he started teaching, when he was invited to exhibit his work at a prominent contemporary art space in Buffalo, New York.

He was slated to give an artist’s statement as the exhibit opened. He was nervous—he wasn’t accustomed to speaking to a crowd—but he had written down his remarks, and decided he’d be OK if he just read them aloud.

As he stepped to the front of the room, disaster struck.

“They turned off every light in the space. I mean, it was pitch black, and I could not read a word of my text,” Collier remembers. “That was when the panic really hit me hard.”

What followed, Collier says, was a kind of out-of-body experience. “I blacked out,” he says with a laugh. He doesn’t remember much about the following few minutes. Speaking into the darkness, he winged it as convincingly as he could.

When the lights came up, he was sure he had just embarrassed himself, but to Collier’s surprise, everyone seemed to think he’d done fine. The worst had happened, and he’d emerged unscathed.

That close call with disaster became a source of confidence that would help him through countless other presentations, he says, and that’s why he tells the story every year. The undergraduate artists in Collier’s classes spend the semester making and sharing creative work in ways that can make them feel incredibly vulnerable. If they’re going to succeed in the course, they’ll need the confidence to take risks—and sometimes that will mean flirting with disaster.

Collier isn’t unusual in making confidence building a key part of his approach to teaching. Education at Saint Michael’s takes many forms, whether business courses, athletics, service programs, the study of fine arts, or something else—but confidence runs through virtually all of them.

In some cases, it’s course work and explicit instruction that helps build confidence. In other cases, it’s different experiences that allow students to take risks and gain confidence on their own. Whatever the specifics, Saint Michael’s unique approach to learning ensures that all students come to believe in themselves: in their skills, in their knowledge, and in their ethical and moral commitments.

As we spoke with faculty, students, and alumni, we found that a focus on self-assurance is woven into the fabric of a Saint Michael’s education in ways that aren’t always obvious.

Illustration

Photos by Jerry Swope

LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION

“A liberal arts education pushes you to take classes you’d never choose on your own—and that’s a good thing. It helps you grow into a more well-rounded person, but it also humbles you. You realize you’re not an expert in everything, and that it’s OK to lean on others. That kind of learning builds confidence in a different way. I’m an Economics and History major, but right now I’m taking a painting class— something I never imagined doing—and I genuinely enjoy it. Experiences like that shift your perspective and make you see the world, and yourself, differently.”

SAMUEL BOGER ‘25

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

DOUBLE MAJOR: ECONOMICS AND HISTORY

Cognitive science tells us that repeated success in a given endeavor can help to build confidence by releasing reward chemicals in the brain. The mechanism is simple: Success feels good, and that makes us feel like succeeding again. But the converse is also true: Failure can hurt, and make us avoid whatever experience made us feel that way. Therefore, building confidence means maximizing successes—even if they’re small wins at first—and minimizing painful failures.

Collier helps his students build confidence through a process of graduated risk taking. Students are asked to present and explain their work constantly, first to peers in small groups, then to the class as a whole, and eventually to the entire community in public exhibitions.

That kind of training—call it confidence calisthenics—can be highly effective. It’s not unlike an athlete’s training regimen, in which drills and exercises help make a given physical activity second nature.

For Aidan Robin ’27, a member of the Saint Michael’s Alpine ski team, training on the slopes is physical, of course, but confidence is also an essential component of racing.

“Everything in the sport kind of ties back into confidence and believing in yourself and everything that you’re doing,” says Robin. Weeks of preparation with his coaches and teammates culminate in a race that will last barely 60 seconds, and the only way to execute in that moment is to believe you can do so.

SAFE PLACE TO FAIL

“I learned a lot about confidence through failure. During my second year, I was a core team leader for the Civil Rights Alliance through MOVE. We were a small group, mostly new members, trying to plan our first advocacy panel—and it completely flopped. Every speaker we reached out to said no, and when we finally pulled something together, no one showed up. But instead of giving up, we used what we learned and created a panel this semester that was the most attended event in the program’s history. St. Mike’s is the kind of place where you’re supported enough to fail, try again, and grow from it. That’s what builds real confidence.”

KYLEE LEGG ‘25

ADAMS, MA

DOUBLE MAJOR: GENDER STUDIES AND SOCIOLOGY MINOR: ART & DESIGN

“For me, personally, a lot of that confidence comes from my preparation and the quality of my training and how focused I am during training,” Robin adds. The College’s approach to cultivating inner strength can look quite structured and deliberate, as in Robin’s training on the slopes. But the school also fosters confidence simply by making a wide

range of challenging opportunities available to students.

Yamuna Turco ’25 is the kind of student who seizes every opportunity that comes her way. In her time at Saint Michael’s, she has organized a large-scale research study, interned with a local TV news station, and traveled abroad; she even won the title of Miss Vermont in 2023. It was the College’s focus on life beyond campus that made her want to attend in the first place.

“What really drew me to St. Mike’s was the emphasis on social justice and community involvement,” Turco says. “It was super important for me to be involved in the community that I live in, instead of staying in an isolated bubble.”

Her efforts have challenged her and haven’t always gone smoothly. While studying abroad in Vietnam, Turco came down with an illness that ultimately required hospitalization. It was the kind of experience that can be scary or even dangerous when you’re far from home. Turco wasn’t facing it on her own, however, and she was able to contact school representatives who helped her find healthcare and deal with medical insurance, and with that support, she was soon back on her feet.

Turco’s experience highlights an important element of the College’s approach to boosting students’ belief in their own abilities: the emphasis on supported risk taking. Students are asked to get out of their comfort zones—to display their artwork for critique or travel 8000 miles from home— but it’s not a sink-or-swim proposition. Faculty guidance ensures students can take controlled risks,

the kind that provide those chemical rewards in our brains.

Confidence shows up in our responses to the challenges we face in our work or studies. And it’s also a part of how we carry ourselves in the world. Saint Michael’s aims to produce not just accomplished professionals and scholars, but also whole people with a well-developed sense of ethical responsibility.

Those less tangible goals are the domain of Crystal L’Hote, professor of philosophy and ethics and the chair of the Philosophy and Ethics Department. In The Nicomachean Ethics, L’Hote explains, Aristotle describes virtuous confidence as a form of self-knowledge, a truthful assessment of one’s abilities. Under his concept of the “golden mean,” virtuous confidence is bounded by recklessness on one side and fearfulness on the other. On the most basic level, confidence is seeing oneself with clear eyes.

For L’Hote, the College’s whole approach to education is tailor-made to produce this kind of knowledge of the self.

“One of the things that I think is so helpful about a liberal arts education, or what we might just call a well-rounded education, is that students come to know their capacities and also their limits,” L’Hote says. “They’re trying lots of different things and figuring out what they’re naturally inclined to— and what requires more work.”

For more than 35 years, Saint Michael’s students looking to expand their world have done so via Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts, the school’s volunteer service program, more commonly known as MOVE. The MOVE program

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

“What makes St. Mike’s special isn’t just the education—it’s all the opportunities outside the classroom that help you grow. Through clubs, campus jobs, leadership roles, and travel, I’ve built a foundation I feel confident in. I wouldn’t normally say this, but I’ve developed a résumé I’m proud of. I can walk into a job interview and say, yes, I have a degree—but here’s what else I’ve done: I’ve taught and researched abroad, worked in public service on campus, welcomed new students as an Orientation leader, and served as SGA president. On a small campus like this, those kinds of experiences are everywhere if you’re willing to jump in—and they’ve made all the difference in how I see myself and what I’m capable of.”

JARRETT SWEET ’25

FLETCHER, VT

DOUBLE MAJOR: SECONDARY STUDIES AND EQUITY STUDIES

CAMPUS

“I started working on campus my first year, and that early opportunity made a huge difference. It made me feel good—like I had a place here. Even though I wasn’t a peer mentor yet, I worked with [Purposeful Learning] and became a liaison for my class. That role, simple as it was, put me in situations where I met key people on campus. I’d walk with Heidi St. Peter to things like International Coffee Hour or big meetings across campus. Being face-to-face with so many people right away gave me confidence and helped me build even more connections from there.”

NICHOLAS M. WRACKER ’26

COLUMBIA, SC

DOUBLE MAJOR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS

MINOR: CHEMISTRY

facilitates volunteer efforts with students at public schools in the Burlington area, and annual trips farther afield, to places like the Deep South and Latin America.

The personal growth that happens in these programs is multidimensional, says MOVE director Lara Scott. MOVE missions are overseen by faculty, but they’re largely driven by participants. Students are asked to handle the logistics of travel, to create programming, and to communicate

with stakeholders on their own— significant responsibilities for undergraduate-age students. These activities have a dual benefit, helping both the communities served and the students themselves, Scott says.

“A critical part of how we approach service in the community is this idea of reciprocity. So there’s certainly stuff that we are giving, but there’s also stuff that our volunteers are gaining,” Scott says.

Aside from skills developed while organizing complex projects, the missions themselves offer another kind of personal development, by providing students insight into lives that are often very different from their own.

Scott is particularly proud of a long-running program that facilitates weekly volleyball games between MOVE volunteers and residents of the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, a women’s prison in South Burlington. Every other week, a group of volunteers travel to the facility to play volleyball and socialize with the women there.

“It’s a chance, I think, to disrupt assumptions and disrupt stereotypes that might exist about folks who are navigating the correctional experience,” Scott says. That kind of volunteer work can shift perspectives, and that new awareness can bolster students’ belief in themselves.

Sometimes improving self-esteem requires a reassessment of one’s own abilities, and often, that’s possible only with help from a mentor. The small class sizes and tight-knit community at Saint Michael’s make a kind of mentorship possible that’s much more difficult at larger institutions. Garrett Clark ’12 experienced that phenomenon firsthand.

ALUMNI AND COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES

“I came to Saint Michael’s because I believed it could provide the opportunities I was looking for—starting a Mock Trial Club, getting involved in leadership roles, and connecting with alumni in law. The College delivered on that promise, and those experiences have really shaped my confidence. Whether it was getting involved in the Pre-Law Society, being encouraged to double major, or receiving mentorship from professors and alumni, I’ve felt supported every step of the way. The smaller community here allows for genuine connections—like when I met with alumni during a Career Center trip to D.C. and built relationships that continue to guide me. It’s the combination of meaningful opportunities, mentorship, and the belief that the school has in me that’s made all the difference in building my confidence and pushing me to pursue my dreams.”

RYANN EDWARDS ’26

BARNSTABLE, MA

DOUBLE MAJOR: POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS

CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

“The best professors are the ones who genuinely care about what they’re teaching and challenge you to go deeper into the material. When they’re engaged, it makes you want to be engaged, and that’s when learning really happens. It’s the same with my on-campus job. Working for George Goldsworthy, Manager of Print Services, over the past four years has given me a consistent opportunity to take on more responsibility, which has helped me build my confidence. Both in the classroom and at work, being pushed to do more and learn more has shaped my growth— and that’s what has really built my confidence over time.”

PAUL GUEVREMONT, JR. ’25 PAWTUCKET, RI

DOUBLE MAJOR: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

As a star defensive lacrosse player in his hometown of Hingham, Massachusetts, Clark had, by the time he arrived at Saint Michael’s on a lacrosse scholarship, cultivated a personal identity as an athlete, but not necessarily as a student. After his first semester, his GPA was around 3.2, which is just about average. For Clark, that sounded OK—his focus was still on athletics— but those around him disagreed.

“The first week back, second

semester, my First Year Seminar teacher sent me a message and said, ‘Hey, come to my office hours, we need to talk,’” Clark recalls. “Basically the conversation was: You’re not performing to your potential, and you have a lot more to offer.”

It was a “tough love” conversation that he wasn’t thrilled about at the time, Clark says, but it prompted him to reassess his own abilities. He started taking more challenging classes in accounting and business, and found that he excelled in them. Clark credits his burgeoning confidence for pushing him through a prestigious master’s degree program at Boston College and all the way to his present-day career as a financial auditor.

Like other community members we spoke with, Clark says the education he experienced at Saint Michael’s helped prepare him for life’s subsequent challenges. Students leave campus with a strong sense of self and the knowledge that they’ll be able to overcome whatever obstacles they face. Whether through his course work, athletic accomplishments, or off-campus activities, Clark says his time at the College helped lead him to where he is today.

“I think the liberal arts foundation that St. Mike’s gave me—in terms of problem solving, experiential learning—all of those things really [created] the foundation that I’ve continued to build upon,” Clark says. “And I don’t think I’d be in the same position without it.”

CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

“When I saw a job posting for a photographer and videographer in the marketing office my very first week as a first-year, I never thought I’d actually get it—but I did. I didn’t have much experience, but St. Mike’s believed in me anyway, and that belief changed everything. Over time, I was given more responsibility, and with that came a huge boost in confidence. That experience even led to an internship in France, which is something I never would have imagined for myself back in high school. I used to be nervous just going to events alone—now I walk into any space, talk to anyone, and feel totally at ease. That trust and support helped me grow into someone who’s not afraid to show up, take chances, and go after big opportunities.”

SOPHIE BURT ‘26, MADISON, CT

MAJOR: DIGITAL MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

MINOR: DIGITAL MARKETING

TAKING THE LEAD

St. Mike’s Student Discovers

Confidence through

Spearheading Research Study

BY APRIL BARTON

Photos by Patrick Bohan

Student researcher Colby Fane-Cushing ’25 demonstrates the experiment setup for a virtual reality (VR) meditation study funded by NASA in 2022.

Colby Fane-Cushing ’25 arrived on the Saint Michael’s College campus with the goal of becoming a doctor.

That dream was briefly in flux when the Colchester native and baseball player struggled through his first year. However, he credits his professors and the school community for helping him and believing in him until he was able to work toward success. He put in the hard work, and the successes certainly followed.

At Saint Michael’s, Fane-Cushing became a student researcher on a virtual reality (VR) meditation study that was conducted with support from NASA and the National Science Foundation—a huge boon as Saint Michael’s is the only small liberal arts college on the project. The project was led by Psychology Professor Melissa VanderKaay-Tomasulo and Biology Professor Dagan Loisel. Fane-Cushing began work on that project as a sophomore.

Later, tapping into his experience as a former student-athlete, he had an idea for a related study. He became the principal investigator on his own project, even leading a team of student researchers, in studying stress relief for in-season athletes.

During his college career, FaneCushing took on opportunities that few (non-Saint Michael’s) undergraduate students get to explore. Fane-Cushing is on track to graduate in spring 2025 with a major in Neuroscience and minors in Public Health, Chemistry, and Biology. He describes himself now as confident and a leader, and he is more certain than ever of his desire to pursue medicine.

Finding out whether virtual reality can reduce stress for athletes

After working on a scientific research project that studied VR meditation’s effect on stress and immune response, Fane-Cushing wondered about the benefit to a particularly stressed campus population: student athletes. As a Saint Michael’s baseball player for three of his college years, Fane-Cushing knew that the pressure to perform sports and academics at the highest levels, in addition to finding time to eat and have a social life, puts a lot of strain on student athletes, particularly during their playing season.

For this project, he wanted to see the effects VR meditation could have on the body and mind over time—unlike the original study, which had subjects attending just one session.

Deploying the study was tricky, however. Subjects couldn’t be told they were being monitored for stress because it could compromise the data. They were told it was a lifestyle study. Subjects came in for pre-testing and filled out questionnaires.

That pre-testing period was a particularly tough week for FaneCushing, who wrote all the protocols and questionnaires for the study in addition to preparing for a couple of tests in his other classes. He said that in retrospect, he didn’t balance his time well, but it was a good lesson in time management.

During the three-week study in fall 2024, subjects came to the lab twice per week for in-person sessions and completed a third session

Student researcher Madeline Van Winkle ’22, center, worked with Psychology Professor Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo, right, to monitor fellow student researcher Colby Fane-Cushing ’25 while he demonstrated the VR meditation experiment setup in 2022.

on their own outside the lab. Subjects wore a blood pressure cuff and a sensor to measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate during the in-person sessions. They also gave saliva samples twice per week that would be used to measure the body’s immune response to stress.

During one of the early sessions, a participant was having motionsickness issues that would be problematic for both the subject and the study. Fane-Cushing used quick thinking to solve the problem.

“I took the headphones because I had learned in behavioral neuroscience with Professor Tomasulo that a lot of balance comes from your ears,” Fane-Cushing said, explaining that

minus the headphones the test was able to continue, albeit without the auditory portion. “So, 8:15 in the morning, I felt like Superman because I thought I’d saved the study.”

By the end of 2024, all the collected data was just beginning to be analyzed, but Fane-Cushing was already pleased with the results.

“One of the participants actually mentioned that not only did they feel better in terms of their overall health, but they felt themselves,” Fane-Cushing said. “With every single thing in their life, they felt more control.”

Fane-Cushing said ultimately that’s why you do research—to help people. “To know that you helped someone right then and there, it was

very good to hear and very rewarding,” he said.

The experience also gave FaneCushing valuable self-knowledge: that he can handle running and working with a team, that he enjoys doing research, and that he can use these skills while helping people—all things he said doctors do.

“It further reinforces … that that is something that is for me and that I want to do,” he said.

Fane-Cushing is planning future studies for with more participants and a longer time frame, taking and improving upon what he learned from the fall study.

“To know that you helped someone right then and there, it was very good to hear and very rewarding.”

The Saint Michael’s difference Fane-Cushing said that he’s had more opportunities, access to professors, and support at Saint Michael’s than have many of his high school friends who went to large universities. He’s grateful for all the College has given him and feels even more prepared for his future.

One thing he pointed out is how rare it is to be a research assistant as an undergraduate student, and rarer still to be a principal investigator. But Saint Michael’s gives students that opportunity.

“Whether you like research or not—the fact that you can find out whether you do at St. Mike’s is so important,” he said. “Being able to say

you want to be a Ph.D. or an M.D. for the research aspect is one thing, but being able to know before you spend the money and apply, and find out later that you don’t want to do it, is another.”

He said he’s also had a more involved advisory relationship than his former high school classmates because he has been able to talk through which classes best meet his goals. What’s more, he said the access to professors is much greater at the College.

“There’s an open-door policy almost all the time,” he said. “You always know where the professors are because they’ll write notes on their doors like ‘Hey, I’ll be back in a little while, I’m just getting food,’ or their door is open. Being able to have a conversation, being able to email, and getting an email back pretty quickly—or really anything— is awesome.”

Fane-Cushing said he came to college without a lot of confidence in himself, but through support and experience, he found his confidence. He recommends students ask for help if they need it, just like he did. Now, he is paying it forward: He tutors students who could use some help and is instructing others on how to do scientific research.

His research study experiences also taught him about managing people and schedules, managing his own time, and how to be a leader— all invaluable skills as he prepares for life and career outside Saint Michael’s College.

Colby Fane-Cushing ’25, second from right, poses with fellow student researchers and Saint Michael’s College professors at the Eastern Psychological Association’s annual meeting in 2023. The team attended the meeting in Boston to present their findings related to a study on how VR meditation can affect stress levels. (Photo courtesy of Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo)

A Decade of Growth and Transformative Experiences: FARM REACHES MILESTONE

BY CASSIE LATHROPE ’26

Adecade ago, the 1.7 acres of empty land behind the Saint Michael’s College observatory began a transformation into what has become a resilient farm producing thousands of pounds of crops each growing season.

The Farm at Saint Michael’s not only gives back to its community by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables, but also provides students at St. Mike’s hands-on experience in working the land.

This year is a special milestone for the Farm and the College: its 10th growing season. But that official beginning in 2015 actually followed a longer tradition. The growing history on campus dates back to the 1980s with the first formal garden program, known as the Hunger Gardens. At that time, members of the Society of Saint Edmund, the College’s founders,

collaborated with students to grow and donate produce to local food shelves.

Following the Hunger Gardens initiative, a quarter acre of land became an organic garden known as the Garden Program, which was established in 2008 at the “mouth” of what is now the Natural Area. This area has now been repurposed into a food forest by the Ecological Restoration class.

Kristyn Achilich ’05, M’20, director of the Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Institute for the Environment, as well as a senior sustainability officer and instructor, was hired by Saint Michael’s College 10 years ago with the goal of starting a farm that would engage students.

“Before coming here, looking at education, workforce development, I felt that higher ed and liberal arts had a huge role to play in the work of complex systems and the stuff of agriculture and environmental resilience,” Achilich said.

Each year, interested students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to engage in growing practices at the farm while learning about soil health, food justice, and even climate consciousness. The Farm at Saint Michael’s College, staying true to Achilich’s goal of being ingrained in academics, provides inspiration and hands-on learning for a number of courses, including science classes and First Year Seminars.

The Farm also offers a wide variety of opportunities for involvement outside the classroom, ranging from one-time volunteer commitments to a

13-week intensive internship during the summer.

Christine Gall was hired in 2021 and now leads the Farm and Food intensive, a two-credit semester-long course offered in the spring and fall, introducing students to the land and best practices for taking care of it.

“I’ve routinely heard from some students that the Farm has become the cornerstone of their Saint Michael’s College identity and experience,” Gall said. “When they look back on college, they’re going to think about their ongoing work with the farm.”

Julia Murdick ’25, an Environmental Science major, said the Farm has provided an opportunity to get hands-on in her area of study. Murdick decided to work on the Farm as a summer employee following her sophomore year after working on a farm in her hometown for several years.

“I found the atmosphere and community to be extremely motivating and valuable to my education, and I found a lot of fulfillment working and learning on the Farm,” Murdick said.

Since that first summer, Murdick’s role within the Farm has only grown. Following her summer employment, she decided to take the Farm and Food intensive class with Gall as well as become the Farm and Food maintenance and operations coordinator, working with THRIVE and running the in-person farmstand.

The THRIVE food pantry at Saint Michael’s opened in 2022 on the second floor of Alliot Student Center.

The Farm’s hoop houses full of produce ready to harvest.

The pantry provides the campus community with access to free hygiene products, canned food, and fresh produce from the farm. Since its opening, the food pantry has distributed over 700 pounds of resources to the community at Saint Michael’s.

Along with making produce donations to THRIVE, the Farm collaborates with Sodexo, the food provider for St. Mike’s, to supply as much produce as possible to the Green Mountain Dining Hall. The Farm also provides a gathering space for community members, including faculty and staff, during the summer months through its Salad Days program. Those who attend get to enjoy a meal made with freshly picked produce, learn a little bit about the Farm, and enjoy conversation and sunshine.

Participation at the Farm declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has bounced back and continues to grow several years later. Achilich and Gall both said they are excited for what’s next at Saint Michael’s Farm.

The potential is boundless. For example, one-third of the Farm’s land currently remains set aside for orchard production. Its fruit trees were planted 9 years ago.

“The trees were set to mature at 7 or 8 years old,” Achilich said. “So the potential that’s up in the orchard now, it’s always been there, and it’s new for the first time. That whole third of the farm has really come alive.”

The Farm continues to evolve as it reaches its 10th anniversary this year. For Murdick, who graduates in May, the Farm was a defining experience of St. Mike’s.

“The Farm truly transformed my college experience,” Murdick said. “The space gave me a place to retreat and disconnect from traditional academic life, while also giving me a place to expand and grow my knowledge on topics that I am passionate about.”

DRIVEN TO SERVE

BY LAUREN READ

Service to one’s community can come in all shapes and sizes. For proof, just take a look at the student athletes at Saint Michael’s College. These Purple Knights have carried the mission of the College forward and continued to serve after graduation.

Two Saint Michael’s alumni were recently recognized for going above and beyond to serve their communities, each in their own way.

Learn more about two extraordinary members of the Class of 2009, and what they have done to serve.

FROM PURPLE KNIGHT TO PURPLE HEART

John Lescure ’09 may hold Purple Knight records and have a full trophy case from his time at Saint Michael’s College, but he now holds another, significantly more important, piece of hardware.

Lescure, a major in the Vermont National Guard, was awarded the Purple Heart in December 2024 after he and two fellow soldiers saved the life of another after being injured themselves during a mission in Iraq.

“It’s interesting; a lot of people want to say congratulations when they hear about a Purple Heart and getting an award. This is one of those ones that you don’t expect to get. All of us were in this dangerous situation, all of us were gone from our families for a year. The three of us just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and get recognized today,” Lescure said in a media report about receiving the award.

Lescure was a member and captain of the men’s tennis team during his time at Saint Michael’s. He is currently the record holder in doubles wins (37), and he held the

overall victory record (65) until it was broken in 2023.

He also twice earned Northeast-10 Conference All-Conference accolades, both for his doubles play.

Now, he leads a different team and does so with distinction. Lescure has served in the Vermont National Guard for 17 years. He was serving in northern Iraq on December 25, 2023, when he, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas Fazio, and Sergeant Alex Jarvis were injured in a drone attack. Despite their injuries, the three men demonstrated exceptional valor by continuing their mission and performing a medevac operation to transport a fellow soldier to a higher level of care.

The Purple Heart is the oldest military award. It is given in the name of the U.S. president to any member of the U.S. armed forces who has been wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Lescure will be the keynote speaker at the Military Heritage Reception during Reunion 2025 on June 7 at 2 p.m. in the Farrell Room of Saint Edmund’s Hall.

Photo courtesy of the Vermont National Guard

John Lescure ’09 awarded the Purple Heart.

COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND Sergeant Ashley Harkins ’09’s commitment to service doesn’t end when she clocks out. In November 2023, that commitment led to her saving a woman’s life.

Harkins risked her life to save a woman from falling 100 feet off a bridge. Her heroic actions earned the NCAA Award of Valor, which is presented to a coach, administrator, or current or former NCAA studentathlete who, when confronted with a situation involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery.

“I had to help somebody. I did my job that day,” Harkins said in an NCAA.org report. “To me, I don’t really think I did anything that spectacular. I feel like I did what anybody should have done to help somebody in their time of need.”

Harkins, a former Saint Michael’s softball athlete now working as a Connecticut state trooper, was just ending a shift when a call came in reporting a suicidal person on a bridge. Harkins arrived on the scene to find a woman sitting on the fiveinch ledge of the bridge.

While her colleague, Sergeant Matthew Belz, attempted to talk to the woman, Harkins moved to the other side of the narrow ledge, scooted a few feet toward the woman, and then maneuvered herself to

Ashley Harkins ’09 received the NCAA Award of Valor after risking her life to save another. The images below, captured by her body cam, show the moment in action.

have one arm and one leg on each side of her.

Harkins then gripped the fence and secured the woman to the fence with her body to keep the woman from falling. The woman was able to regain her footing and climb over the fence to safety.

Harkins did all this with no safety equipment holding her in place.

“When she climbed back, I think that was probably the scariest moment for me because she let go with her foot, and I was afraid she was

going to fall,” Harkins said in an interview with NCAA.org. Before that moment, she said, “I didn’t think about being scared. I just thought about what we need to do and how we [could] accomplish it.”

Harkins was awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism, which recognizes individuals for acts of extraordinary bravery, and was presented the NCAA Award of Valor for her actions at the NCAA Convention in January 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Brains and Brawn

BY CORBIN MCGUIRE, NCAA.ORG

Photos by April Barton

On the field, they’re defenders. In the lab, they’re trailblazers.

At Saint Michael’s College, Melanie Winters ’25 and Abby Roman ’25 are balancing two demanding worlds: Division II athletics and high-level neuroscience research. The two seniors recently contributed to a peer-reviewed article on a discovery that may challenge longstanding theories about Alzheimer’s disease. The joint research study with the University of Vermont identified the site where the progressive deterioration of brain cells takes place.

SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES

Winters and Roman have contributed to the cutting-edge research while thriving as student athletes. Roman plays lacrosse. Winters plays soccer and recently added lacrosse.

Winters, a Neuroscience major from Montpelier, Vermont, transferred to Saint Michael’s after a year at Plattsburgh State. Her interest in the brain became deeply personal in 2021, when her brother was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

She knew the research was about the brain, Winters said. “That was enough to intrigue me to pursue it.”

She joined the lab during her junior year, diving into immunolabeling— identifying antigens, usually proteins, in tissue samples—and mastering techniques like pipetting.

“I’ve had a really hard time comprehending how groundbreaking this research project is and how it has the potential to change science,” she said.

Roman, a Biology major from Falmouth, Massachusetts, was drawn in by a developmental biology class

Melanie Winters ’25, standing, presents to her co-authors on a recent publication related to Alzheimer’s disease. Abigail Roman ’25 (second from left), Neuroscience Professor Ruth Fabian-Fine, and Biology Professor Adam Weaver participate in the discussion.

taught by Ruth Fabian-Fine, a neuroscientist leading the project.

“I was just blown away,” Roman said. “There are all these hypotheses of what’s going on in Alzheimer’s and different neurological disorders, but there isn’t really any answer. Her research was taking it from a different perspective.”

THE ATHLETE EDGE

Fabian-Fine, who competed in fencing at Frankfurt University, said the same qualities that make Winters and Roman standout athletes allow them to thrive in the lab. “They have determination. They have commitment,” Fabian-Fine said. “I credit athletics for it. … It’s always the athletes that are the best students.”

Like many first-time researchers, both students felt unsure of themselves early on. But that didn’t last.

“They’re so proficient now. These are undergraduate students, and this work is way above undergraduate level,” Fabian-Fine said.

TEAMWORK, PERSPECTIVE

Winters said values from sports—especially teamwork and communication—translate directly to the lab.

“Going all in with whatever role you’re given is super important, whether it’s sports or your academics or the workplace. Really embracing your role,” said Winters.

“I think the communication that it takes to be a research student is very similar to the communication it takes to be on a [sports] team,” she added. “There are so many moving parts all at once, and being able to communicate with one another is [key].”

Perspective has also been key for Winters and Roman to thrive in and

out of sports. “It’s a privilege to be stressed out. … it’s a privilege to have this opportunity and be able to do all the things I am doing,” Winters said.

Roman carries that same perspective into her work—whether it’s research, sports, or volunteering. At the College, she’s also involved with the SMC Buddies program, which matches students with adults in the community who live with intellectual or physical disabilities.

“When I’m at research, I try to just be a researcher,” she said. “When I’m at SMC Buddies, I try to just be at SMC Buddies and not think about all the work that I have to do when I get home.”

SMALL COLLEGE, BIG IMPACT

Because it has fewer than 1,500 undergraduate students, Saint Michael’s “gives you that chance to show off almost. If you really want to do great things, people will actually notice because you’re in such a small community,” Roman said.

“Even though it’s a smaller school, the resources are endless,” Winters added. “There’s so much support.”

Their coaches believe the student athletes’ impact flows both ways— from lab to field and back again. Soccer head coach Wendy Elles said of Winters: “Melanie is using her platform to raise awareness and contribute to Alzheimer’s research. The time commitment is significant, requiring her to balance the demands of training and matches with her research work, but her passion for making a difference fuels her relentless dedication.”

Lacrosse head coach Ashley Snow, who has coached Roman for two years, described her as an “extremely well-rounded, dedicated, and driven individual. … Not only is Abby a standout student, performing potentially groundbreaking research, she is also a crucial piece of our defensive end on the lacrosse field.”

CHOOSING SPORTS

Both Winters and Roman credit college athletics with shaping their identity—and their future.

“I wouldn’t be here without lacrosse,” said Roman, who was recently accepted into the neuroscience graduate program at the University of Vermont and plans to continue working on Fabian-Fine’s research. “I’m definitely glad I ended up picking Saint Michael’s [which had a lacrosse program]. I feel like it’s made me a more balanced and well-rounded person.”

Winters, pursuing several graduate school options while considering medical school down the road, echoed that sentiment. She said that being on a team offers “the type of character development you don’t really get anywhere else. Obviously in classes you have the expectations to get your homework done, get good grades ... but there’s something different about sports.”

A longer version of this story originally appeared on ncaa.org and has been adapted for publication in Saint Michael’s College magazine.

RESEARCH OFFERS NEW INSIGHTS INTO ALZHEIMER’S

A groundbreaking study led by Saint Michael’s College Professor Ruth Fabian-Fine, in collaboration with the University of Vermont, offers fresh insights into the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Fabian-Fine’s discovery of a previously unknown “waste canal system” in the human brain stems from her extensive research on the larger neurons of Central American wandering spiders. Her research revealed that the canal system internalizes waste from healthy neurons but can swell catastrophically, leading to degeneration of brain tissue—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

The research, supported by the Vermont Biomedical Research Network and published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, involved a multidisciplinary team, including Dr. John DeWitt of University of Vermont, Professor Adam Weaver of Saint Michael’s, and two St. Mike’s students. They collected evidence that strongly suggests that neurodegeneration in human brains has underlying causes similar to those observed in spider brains, providing a new avenue for understanding and potentially treating Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Fabian-Fine’s innovative approach, bridging invertebrate and human neuroscience, exemplifies the profound impact of cross-species research and highlights undergraduate students’ significant contributions to advancing scientific knowledge.

Photo by April Barton

Abby Roman ’25

Melanie Winters ’25

Photo by Jim Laskarzewski ’86

Photo by Jim Laskarzewski ’86

Chasing Fires, Not Receipts:

SAINT MICHAEL’S ALUM USES HIS DEGREE IN THE COLLEGE’S FIRE STATION

BY IZZY QUAM ’25

When Kyle Wentzel ’18 came to Saint Michael’s, he had no intention of joining the College’s Fire and Rescue squad. But then a fire alarm went off in his first-year dorm, Ryan Hall, during Orientation, and the engines rolled up to the door.

“The fire engine came, and it was all branded with St. Mike’s, and I thought that was really cool,” Wentzel said.

Today, he is the full-time fire chief of the Saint Michael’s College Fire and Rescue Department.

Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue operates 24/7, responding to calls both at the College and in surrounding towns. In 2023, Fire and Rescue responded to more than 3000 calls in the greater Burlington area. The bulk of the squad is made up of student volunteers who are trained by and who earn certifications through the department.

Wentzel joined Fire and Rescue as a first-year student and served all four years at Saint Michael’s as he studied Business Administration and Accounting. After he graduated in 2018, Wentzel pursued a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Vermont and worked in UVM’s central finance office.

Wentzel was still involved with Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue in the time following his graduation. He started as a bookkeeper, then became volunteer assistant chief. In March 2024, he became the full-time fire chief—one of the few paid positions in the Fire and Rescue department.

For Wentzel, the choice to leave his job at UVM and return to Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue in this capacity came down to what fulfilled him most, both professionally and personally. Most of all, he wanted to work with students to give them the same positive experience he had had on the Fire and Rescue squad when he was in their shoes.

“Looking back at my time as a student, I see how much I grew as a person,” Wentzel said. “I look at how incredible some of the stuff we do is. I came back to be a part of that.”

Wentzel’s workload varies depending on the time of year and staffing. Most days, he is at the station and ready to respond to calls with students and to make sure

things are on track with the fire department.

“I am not a ‘typical’ fire chief,” Wentzel explained, adding that he does not do building code inspections and enforcement like many other fire chiefs. “My primary role is to keep the department moving and making sure that the students are well supported.”

Wentzel said his background in business and accounting helps with many of the daily tasks, and his overall work is a bit more varied, as chief of a fire department on a college campus.

Wentzel makes sure students are on top of their academics and up to date with their training while he manages the relationships Fire and

Photo by April Barton

Kyle Wentzel ’18 has been fire chief for Saint Michael’s College Fire and Rescue since March 2024.

Rescue has with other local fire and rescue departments. He also tackles larger projects, including building out Saint Michael’s class offerings. For example, he has been working to build a firefighter certification class for credit as well as a class that has firefighting and emergency management components.

Wentzel’s favorite part of the job is meeting the volunteers who come into the department as first-year students and then seeing how they’ve changed when they graduate.

“It is obviously bittersweet to see them go, but it is the beginning and culmination of their experience here,” Wentzel said. “To watch students grow over that time is very fulfilling.”

SUPPORT THE SUTTON FIRE & RESCUE SCHOLARSHIP

Honoring Donald “Pappy” Sutton, founder of Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue, this scholarship has empowered over 150 student first responders. Help us grow the fund to $1 million by Pappy’s birthday—December 26, 2025—and continue a legacy that saves lives and transforms students. Give today at smcvt.edu/giveback and designate your gift to the “Sutton Fire and Rescue Scholarship.”

YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE SINCE 1969 55+

ONE OF THE FEW ALLSTUDENT VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE UNITS IN THE U.S.

6

MINUTES TAKEN TO RESPOND TO A CALL, ON AVERAGE

3700+

EMERGENCY CALLS RESPONDED TO ANNUALLY

300+ SQUARE MILES OF SERVICE AREA COVERED

24/7

EMERGENCY RESPONSE— DAY OR NIGHT!

40+ STUDENT VOLUNTEERS BALANCING SCHOOL AND SERVICE

50+ POUNDS OF GEAR CARRIED BY FIREFIGHTERS

Lines That Linger:

A Poet–Scholar Reflects on Dissonance and Dialogue

Photo from Dissonance by Kristin Dykstra. Used with permission of the author.

Kristin Dykstra, distinguished scholar in residence and director of the First Year Seminar at Saint Michael’s College, is making waves with her 2025 book, Dissonance. Winner of the third annual Phoenix Emerging Poet Book Prize, Dissonance dives into contemporary themes with depth and originality. It was also chosen by Admissions for the 2025 Saint Michael’s College Book Award.

In this Q&A, Dykstra shares her thoughts on her writing, winning a prestigious award, and how literature sparks critical thinking.

Why did you choose Dissonance for the title of this collection of poetry?

It’s a flexible term, permitting many interpretations. I considered different titles along the way. These focused on the foothills and ridgelines around the dirt road at the center of the book, because place plays a big role [in it]. But two poets who saw the manuscript, Cal Bedient and Urayoán Noel, argued for Dissonance instead. I’m grateful that they did, because I can now see that they were right.

Here are a few things channeled into the title. I grew up around a lot of music, and while harmony gives us pleasure, it speaks most powerfully in partnership with moments of dissonance. I was also thinking about writing something that resists reducing Vermont to stock imagery from marketing (especially for tourism) and media—a work that would open more deeply into the space, into the realities that people live. There’s also a connection to the field of 21st-century poetry: I’ve been interested in contemporary works that explore the use of research, which takes us outside our own individual points of view on the world. In creative works encompassing research, there’s a fundamental tension between one’s own perspectives and what we learn to see through other people. Learning from this tension helps me think about relevance.

How does it feel for your first full-length book of poetry to be recognized with the Phoenix Emerging Poet Book Prize from the University of Chicago Press? It came as a total surprise—I didn’t expect Chicago to publish Dissonance, let alone recognize it with the prize. The Phoenix Poets series goes back to the 1980s, and it’s a great honor to become part of their list. Representing the press at events means that I get to spend time with fellow writers who are doing current, impressive projects of their own. It’s energizing to be in that space.

What do you hope readers will take away from Dissonance?

Like a lot of contemporary poets, I write in a way that has been called “tabular.” Poetry often throws people off if it doesn’t proceed in a logical, efficient A > B > C order. You don’t have to search for a straightforward statement, if the collection might be more like an experience that plays out with time. Readers can move forward and backward, up and down, around a book. Dissonance works not only with words but with white spaces, like a lot of music, where the interplay of sound and silence is core to the experience. There are also photographs.

In other words, reading this kind of book can be like listening to a long musical work: Patterns emerge with time, as you get to know it, gradually. I never feel like I grasp a long work of poetry or music the first time—most of it bounces off my mind. The reward builds with more exposure. So I suppose that Dissonance could grow in the mind with repeat visits, and because of that dimension of time, the takeaway will intertwine with a reader’s own thoughts, experiences, silences.

To read full Q&A with Kristin Dykstra, visit smcvt.edu/magazine

Dissonance

By Kristin Dykstra (University of Chicago Press)

This new collection by Saint Michael’s Distinguished Scholar in Residence Kristin Dykstra pairs poems and photographs to explore themes of climate change, borders, and community. Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, the book offers a compelling reflection on the tensions and connections shaping our world.

Discovering

Our Six Simple Truths and Their Rich Promise of Happiness, Peace, and a Life of Consequence

By Ralph Karanain ’77 (Page Publishing)

This simple self-management discipline is structured around six common truths. Karanian shares how readers can adapt them to ultimately enjoy the rich promise of happiness, peace, and a life of consequence far more easily and sooner than he did!

Water on the Moon

By Frederick “Skip” Burkle Jr., MD ’61 (McFarland)

In this memoir, Burkle shares his story as a pioneer in global disaster medicine. He served in three major wars and multiple country conflicts, and escaped assassination attempts during his position as the interim health minister of Iraq. Burkle’s story reveals the challenges of practicing medicine in war-torn areas; he dealt with complex political and power struggles, negotiations, and the poverty-filled aftermath of conflict.

Canzoni Natalizie Italiane (Italian Christmas Carols)

By Dr. William Tortolano (Windborne Productions, Inc.)

Dr. William Tortolano, professor emeritus at Saint Michael’s College, selected, harmonized, translated, and edited a group of Italian Christmas carols. All are presented in both languages.

The New Atlas of Vermont Trout Ponds

By Peter Shea ’69 (Wind Knot Publishing)

This second edition includes more than 100 destinations where the angler can bypass the high or low water conditions plaguing our rivers and streams. Vermont’s trout lakes and ponds offer the angler five months of reliable water conditions.

Born a King

By Monica A. Joyal ’78 (Self-published)

Born a King traces the King family back to Ireland. John W. King was the governor of New Hampshire for three terms and retired from public service as the chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. His sister was the author’s aunt and the youngest King sister. Included are family stories of John King’s connection with John and Bobby Kennedy, as well as his input into the war in Vietnam.

Who Is God?

By Kate Pelletier ’04 (Self-published)

In this book written for children, Jesus’s “I am” statements are introduced through simple language and symbolic hand-drawn artwork. This beautifully illustrated book helps share the Christian message warmly and meaningfully, offering a gentle approach to understanding profound gospel truths without overcomplicating them.

Horse Tales

By John A. Giovanni ’67 (Self-published)

This collection of 58 narratives delves into a diverse array of life experiences. Although the title suggests a focus on horses, the book encompasses a broad range of stories reflecting on various aspects of life, informed by the author’s background as a longtime educator and coach in New York.

Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Story of Courage in a Savage Storm

By Michael Tougias ‘77 (Little, Brown)

The author tells the story of two boats from Hyannis, Massachusetts, that were hit by a 90-foot rogue wave in 1980. Of the eight crewmen, only four survived, and one—Ernie Hazard—spent two and half days in the North Atlantic in late November. The Coast Guard called his survival “the Thanksgiving miracle.” This bestseller is now available in an adult and a young adult version.

Twinnie’s Truth

By Frank Aliazzo ’60 (Palmetto Publishing)

This memoir chronicles the author’s journey from growing up in Ozone Park, New York—a neighborhood known for its association with organized crime in the 1960s— to becoming a lawyer in a family deeply entrenched in the legal profession. Aliazzo shares real-life stories about friends, conmen, relatives, detectives, murderers, and gangsters he encountered, offering a candid glimpse into the complexities of his community and the legal world.

Three Books on West African Music

By Royal Hartigan ’68 (Hudson Music of New York)

Dancin’ on the Time, West African Eve Rhythms for Drum Set, and West African Rhythms for Drum Set have been reissued in enhanced digital formats integrating audio and video elements to enrich the learning experience. They document Hartigan’s work over 30 years as a jazz artist around the world, living in Ghana, West Africa, inspired by his time at Saint Michael’s.

Dreams and Mirrors: A Memoir

By Garry Schaedel ‘77 (BookBaby)

This deeply personal narrative intertwines the author’s journey through trauma and healing with professional insights from his career in public health. Schaedel recounts his experiences growing up in a dysfunctional family in New Jersey and eventually getting a fresh start at Saint Michael’s College. He candidly shares details of his physical and emotional abuse and the long-term effects the abuse had on his life.

Career Connections 2025: Building Bridges for the Future

BY SIERRA LEONARD ’15

Career Connections 2025 was a day of professional growth and networking for Saint Michael’s College students. Hosted in partnership with the Boucher Career Education Center and the Alumni Board of Directors, this reimagined event continued the tradition of connecting students with alumni and local business leaders to foster career exploration and job opportunities. Given the 100+ students participating and more than 70 alumni donating their time, the event showcased the strength of the Saint Michael’s network in supporting career development and post-graduate preparedness for students.

The day began with Table Talks, in which students engaged in smallgroup discussions with professionals from various industries, gaining valuable career insights and practical advice. The Employer Spotlight job fair featured more than 15 organizations, including the City of Burlington, Howard Center, OnLogic, PetraCliffs, and Vermont Captive Insurance, offering students immediate access to current job and internship opportunities.

The day concluded with the alumni networking reception, where students connected one-on-one with alumni mentors.

With enthusiastic participation from students, alumni, and employers, Career Connections 2025 was a resounding success, reinforcing the strength of the Saint Michael’s community in supporting students’ professional growth.

Special thanks to Pomerleau Real Estate for its generous sponsorship of this event.

A highlight was the keynote address by Lindsay Kurrle ’93, Vermont secretary of commerce and community development. She shared how her liberal arts education at Saint Michael’s prepared her to tackle any professional challenge, emphasizing adaptability, resilience, and the power of the Saint Michael’s network.

Photo by Sophie Burt ’26

Brian Langenfeld ’95, VP and managing counsel of MFS Investment Management, and newly appointed vice president of the

Alumni Board, talking to students during Career Connections Day.

CLASS OF 2025 HONORED DURING ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT

BY ELIZABETH MURRAY

Leading with compassion and standing with those on the margins were central messages delivered to members of Saint Michael’s Class of 2025 during the College’s 118th Commencement on May 11, 2025.

Approximately 370 students obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees during the ceremony. Sixteen students were also recognized for completing graduate certificate programs. Three honorary degrees were awarded to the band Phish, founder of Dismas of Vermont Rita Whalen McCaffrey, and founder of Homeboy Industries Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J. Boyle, whose organization has become the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world, also served as Commencement speaker for the Class of 2025.

Several other speakers were members of the undergraduate and graduate cohorts. Margrethe Frøland of Rælingen, Norway, delivered the undergraduate address and Carol A. Goodrich of Georgia, Vermont, gave the graduate address.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

THE

“Paris Painter Painting Paris” by Sophie Burt ’26 France | Summer 2024

In the heart of Montmartre, a street painter captures the essence of Paris through vibrant portraits of people at famous landmarks while he himself is at one of those iconic locations.

Letter from the Alumni Board President

Hello, friends!

I hope that everyone is doing well and getting ready for the summer. This has been an amazing year at St. Mike’s, and those of us on the Alumni Board have had a wonderful year together.

I was just on campus for Commencement, and it was such an honor to be welcoming the Class of 2025 to our alumni ranks. This terrific class has already accomplished so much—I’m excited for them and know they are starting a journey to do great things and represent us well.

The theme of this issue of the magazine is “confidence”—and the timing for this theme couldn’t be more appropriate. Thinking back to my own Commencement—held on Mother’s Day 1989—I would not say that I was the most confident person on earth. What will my career look like? Where will I live? Will I see my classmates again?

But as the years have gone on, I have realized that the tremendous support I received from the faculty, the staff, and the Edmundite community prepared me—and all of us— to face the challenges that we would experience during our lives.

As I said at Commencement, none of us left here knowing all of life’s answers, but we left knowing we were prepared to handle the questions. And that’s a good start!

President Richard Plumb and his team are creating a structure for the College designed to ensure that subsequent generations will have the same opportunity to learn and enjoy St. Mike’s that we did.

What excites me most, though, is our focus on making the current students’ experience at St. Mike’s as special and memorable as the one

that we all shared. In particular, the academic programs and structure feel much more aligned to meet our students’ academic needs— preparing them very well for life after college.

Change is tricky, but our board remains enthusiastic about the future look and vision for the school, such that I know it will position the College for success for the next 120 years.

And now, as always, a few quick announcements:

First, our Alumni Board wants you! This year, we have opened up board nominations to everyone. If you would like to join, or know someone we should consider for the board, please drop one of us on the board or Stephanie Snell, director for alumni and family engagement, a note and we’ll add you to the mix (smcvt.edu/abod).

Second, the Alumni Office is planning multiple regional events across the country in the coming year, and there’s likely one happening near you! You can find an event at: www.smcvt.edu/alumni.

Try to find the time to reconnect at one of these gatherings—they’re a great reminder of our college experiences and a chance to share our stories.

Finally, it’s not too soon to start planning to attend Alumni and Family Weekend, September 19–21. It’s a perfect time to reconnect with campus and see Vermont in all its glory.

I end this note with mixed emotions. My term as president of the Alumni Board ends with the board’s first meeting in September. I will greatly miss my time on the board, but especially the people with whom I am honored to have served. It’s been an overwhelming privilege representing my fellow alumni, and I will look forward to serving St. Mike’s in new ways. I leave feeling like we have accomplished much during challenging times, and I know that Jillian Charest, Class of 2004, is going to be an amazing new board president starting this fall.

At St. Mike’s, we received a powerful education in one of our country’s most beautiful places. I’m so grateful for the impact it continues to have on my life.

I hope to see you soon!

Pat Fitzgibbons ’89 President, Saint Michael’s College Alumni Association

CLASS NOTES

1960

Frank Aliazzo says, “Just got my first book published called Twinnie’s Truth. It is available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and in bookstores throughout the United States. It’s about my twin brother, Ronnie ’60, and I, who both became lawyers, Ronnie working as assistant district attorney of the homicide bureau in Queens County and me in private practice, and it’s about some of the clients we represented, some of whom movies like Goodfellas were written about. The book seems to be doing well. It took me over a year to write it, but it was fun doing it.”

See Books & Works, page 47.

1961

Frederick M. Burkle, Jr., M.D., former St. Mike’s Commencement speaker, has published a new book: A Hidden Hero

See Books & Works, page 46.

1963

(1.) Bob Parker and Mike Sweeny recently shared several days of memories at Mike’s and

wife Nicole’s hometown of Honolulu, HI. Bob and Mike attended both high school (St John’s Academy, Plattsburgh, NY) and St. Mike’s together. Pictured: Bob ’63, Marilyn, Nicole, and Mike.

1967

(2.) Rich and Terri (Gouvin) M’81 Feeley celebrated Rich’s 8oth birthday as well as their 57th wedding anniversary at dinner with family at the Bluebird Barbecue restaurant in Burlington, VT. They are retired in Ocala, FL, and Malletts Bay, VT. Pictured are son Brad Feeley ’91, Pierre Gouvin, son Seth Feeley (Fordham U ’93), Robin White, Terri M’81, and Rich

1969

(4.) A Class of ’69 luncheon has become an annual tradition for the past several years. Several members of the Class of ’69 and ’68 recently gathered at Coconut Jack’s on Bonita Beach, including Paul Murphy ’69, John Verret ’68, Tom Kelley ’69, Bill “Moose” Trudeau ’68, Jeff Sullivan

’69, Bob Minetti ’69, Bob O’Donnell ’69, Dennis O’Connor ’69, Pete Pesenti ’69, and Mike Renzulli ’69.

1973–74

(3.) In November, a group of ’73 and ’74 alumni who shared a house in Burlington during senior year met up for some fun in Florida. Tom Dobson ’73 says, “Through our celebration of friendship, we shared many laughs and good memories from the days at St. Mike’s.” Enjoying their reunion in Florida were John Hayes ’73, Cynthia and Mike ’73 DiRosa, Dan Beaton ’73, Tom Dobson ’73, Phil Diglio ’73, Billy ’74 and Teeta Langlands, Kevin Goddard ’73, Jerome Doherty ’73, and John Kiernan ’73.

1977

Ralph E. Karanian has completed his book Discovering Our Six Simple Truths and Their Rich Promise of Happiness, Peace, and a Life of Consequence, “a thought-provoking work that presents the tools

and knowledge for readers to create a life filled with purpose, happiness, and peace. Whether you’re a recently minted graduate seeking advantage in the long game of life or you’re further along in your journey and questioning whether you’re best applying yourself to desired outcomes, my book likely contains your answer,” writes Karanian.

See Books & Works, page 46.

Garry Schaedel writes, “recently published a memoir about my troubled upbringing. I was born and raised in New Jersey in a family of 10. Both my parents were physically and emotionally abusive, and both became alcoholics. But luckily I came to St. Mike’s, and my journey to recovery began. It would take decades, but I made it!

My book is published and available by an entity called Bookbaby.com. It is also available on Amazon. All proceeds from the sale of my book are going to the Burlington Boys and Girls Club and the King Street Youth Center.

My primary goal in writing the book was my hope to provide clear, easy-to-comprehend information to those who have had similar experiences. Helping children was so important to me. I spent many years with the Vermont Health Department working on school-age health issues. I bring to the book some easy-to- understand information that can help the reader on their journey. In 2014 the American Academy of Pediatrics gave me its Child Health Advocate Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the health and well-being of children in Vermont.”

See Books & Works, page 47.

1978

Paul Galbraith acted in a new short film for release in 2025, The Cupcake Chronicles Vol 2: The Cupcake Shop Ghost

(5.) Paul Galbraith also shared a photo of a production of the musical Godspell in honor of the 50th anniversary/Reunion for the class of 1975. Michael Donovan ’75 was Judas in the cast. The play was directed by Donald Rathgeb and was one of the first productions permitted outside Broadway.

1979

Ed Johnson and Donna King-Johnson (Trinity ’80) celebrated a wonderful 40th wedding anniversary year in 2024 with time with family in Massachusetts, including their two grandchildren, travel to favorite spots, time with friends including in Vermont, and time to continue to explore North Carolina. “We continue to jointly operate our business consulting entity, which provides us additional opportunities to engage. Donna also finished a successful Toys for Tots campaign, and Ed finished a year on the Durham City Planning Commission. Best to all!”

1980

(6.) Barbara Nagy writes, been going through family photos and found this image from the late 1970s. I believe Mr. Popecki, the library director, is at the far right. My dad, Alex Nagy of the Journalism Department, is at the center, smiling. Behind him is Richard DiLorenzo, Chemistry, then Don Sutton I think. I’m not at all sure who the others are. Thought other alumni might enjoy this look back.”

1982

(1.) Michael Petridis retired four years ago and has gone from 500 knots as a fighter pilot to now five knots as captain on his sailing yacht, where he has traveled to Bermuda and then down to the Caribbean. Mike also sailed across the Atlantic two years ago.

1983

(2.) Joseph P. Hurley III was appointed an associate justice of the Massachusetts District Court by former Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker, Jr., on March 25, 2022. Joe is a circuit judge assigned to district courts in Southeastern Massachusetts. Prior to his appointment, Joe served as an assistant clerk magistrate at the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, MA, for 24 years.

1986

(3.) Tom Caron (on the left) was recently named co-chairman of the Jimmy Fund, along with former Red Sox All-Star Brock Holt. The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, comprises community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide

compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. Since 1953, the Boston Red Sox have partnered with the Jimmy Fund.

Lisa Marchionda Fama ’83 and Brenda Kelly Kim, both of Marblehead, MA, are the sole columnists for the Lifestyle section of the Marblehead Weekly News. “Brenda owned that page for ages,” Lisa said, “but when a spot opened up, she generously recommended me.” Brenda said, “When the editor was looking for someone to add to the Lifestyle section, I knew Lisa would be a great fit, and it’s always fun to work with SMC alums!” Follow them both at their respective blogs, “TheSoberWidow. com,” and “brendalkk. blogspot.com.”

(4.) Maria College President Lynn Ortale, Ph.D. has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). The ACCU serves as the collective voice of U.S. Catholic higher education, strengthening and promoting the Catholic identity and mission of its members. “I am honored to join the ACCU Board of Directors and represent Maria College and bring the voice of the Sisters of Mercy to the table,” said Dr. Ortale, who also serves on the board of the Council of Independent

Colleges of New York. “As a professional shaped by my own Catholic education experience, I am committed to serving ACCU to help navigate the challenging higher education landscape, while maximizing the impact of Catholic higher education through the transformative power of missiondriven education.”

(5.) Richard Gallerani writes, “The monks of Newark Abbey and Saint Benedict’s Prep School in Newark, NJ, where I have been teaching for 24 years, asked me if they could use a watercolor painting I did of the bell tower of the Abbey church for the monastic community’s official cards. I am both humbled and honored that the monks chose my painting for this.”

2000

(6.) Brad Cronin was recently appointed as assistant fire chief at the Avon Fire Department in Avon, MA. Brad began his firefighting career with Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue.

2001

Paul Frail announces that he was recently promoted to senior principal researcher for Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions for the development of environmentally conscious

industrial water solutions to remove phosphate and aquatically toxic chemicals.

2002

(7.) Kazuko Suzuki Carlson, who has been teaching at UVM since graduating from St. Mike’s and recently won a prestigious National Teaching Award from the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, writes, “I am working on advocacy of Japanese education in New England and thought that this information may be useful to advertise in the alumni booklet both for St. Mike’s and for Japanese education in general. The

Consulate General of Japan in Boston invited me to give a speech about the teaching award and to help build strong relationships with other teachers of Japanese in the New England area.”

2004

Kate Pelletier, associate professor of English at Connecticut State Naugatuck Valley, has independently published and illustrated her third book and first children’s book. Who Is God? introduces Jesus’s “I am” statements through simple language and symbolic hand-drawn artwork. This beautifully illustrated book helps share the Christian

message warmly and meaningfully, offering a gentle approach to understanding profound gospel truths without overcomplicating them. The book is available on Amazon.

2005

Courtney (Butler) Allenson was recently promoted to senior reflections (memory care) and engagement director with LCB Senior Living.

2007

The Kittell, Branagan, and Sargent (KBS) accounting firm announced in January the

promotion of William “Bill” Keyser, CPA, to shareholder. Bill joined KBS in 2007 and has been integral to the firm’s success over the past two decades. In addition to his professional excellence, Bill is deeply involved in the community. He served on the junior board for the Vermont Wish Project, part of Make-A-Wish. He is also actively involved with the Association of General Contractors of Vermont, participating in various community events.

2011

(1.) Katherine Hackett and her husband, Navid Vafaei-Najafabadi, welcomed a baby girl, Charlotte, on January 11, 2025.

2013

(2.) Dylan Lavallee, Katie Mischke Lavallee, and Olivia Kiely Lavallee of Williston, VT, welcomed Reilly Azalea Lavallee on December 9, 2024.

(3.) Fallon Preite and Ryan Tierney shared a photo of their wedding on August 31, 2024, in Topsfield, MA. The photo of alumni who joined them for their special day includes: Danielle Bowe-Baroudi ’13, Nate Bowe ’13, Meg Boylan ’13, John Anderson ’14, Olivia (Doty) Hollows ’13, Kyle Esposito ’13, Alex

Dalton ’13, Fallon Preite ’13 (bride), Ryan Tierney ’13 (groom), Fallon Young ’19, Branden Young ’19, Mike Thompson ’13, Thane Preite ’19, Dre Moll ’13, Dennis Stanton ’13, Emily (Magee) Zalzal ’13, and Shannon (Moore) Ocel ’13

2014

(4.) Christina Prudenti married Luke Graci on October 5, 2024! The former co-Orientation leaders had a lot of St. Mike’s representation. In attendance were: Dylan Somer ’14, Charlotte Gavell ’14, Robert “Ziggy” Gosiewski ’80, Renee Mennonna ’14, Lauren DiBona O’Connell ’14, Julie Mullowney ’14, Amanda Souza ’14, Gina Pandolfo ’14, Kierstyn Callahan Connors ’14, Luke Graci ’14, Danny Connors ’14, Christina Prudenti Graci ’14, Nick Rucci ’14, Aris Touloumtzis ’14, John Prudenti ’12, Maddie Craig ’14, and Katie Hodges Olson ’14

(8.) Gracie Thorpe and her husband, Tyler Thorpe, welcomed their son, Jeffrey Joseph (JJ) Thorpe, on July 25, 2024.

2015

(5.) On July 13, 2024, Jessica Gandini and David Weiss married at

the Lake Bomoseen Lodge in Vermont. Alumni in attendance were: Michael Roberto ’12, Mary Hall Roberto ’14, Peter Soons ’82, Maurice Paquette ’15, Sean Morrissey ’16, Rachel Carpenter ’15, Jim Gandini ’85, Elaine Ezerins ’15, Emily Goodwin ’15, Colleen Gilliatt ’15, Harrison Miller ’16, Michael Wojcik ’16, Mark Flowers ’15, Sam Johnston ’15, Catherine Vu Morrissey ’15, Emily Polo ’15, Emily Laughlin Paquette ’15, David Weiss ’15, Jessica Gandini Weiss ’15, Chloe Boutelle ’15, Monique Poisson ’15, Mary Margaret Doane Miller ’16, Rebekah Balch Johnston ’16, Kate Tobin Soons ’92, Leslie Lindquist ’05, and Jessica Terrill Estabrooks ’07

2016

(6.) Many alumni joined Thomas and Erika McElmury for their wedding in Nahant, MA. In the photo top row are Kyle Potter ’11, Henderson Charles ’16, Semiu Khalid ’16, Will Davis ’16, Michael Rafferty ’76, Kelsey Miller ’16, and Sam Hammond ’15, and in the front row are Andrew Palacios ’16, Danielle Potter ’11, Nicole Noelting ’16, Erika McElmury, and Thomas McElmury ’16.

(7.) Brianna McKinley and Daniel Hack were married on September 21, 2024, at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, VT. Eighteen Saint Michael’s College alumni were in attendance, plus cross-country running and Nordic ski coach Molly Peters (Brianna was on both teams). St. Mike’s graduates in attendance: Mike Wojcik ’16, Jason Swadel ’17, Jonathan Norton ’17, Kristen McCarthy ’16, MaryMargaret Pickman ’17, Chris Toomey ’17, Daniel Hack ’16, Brianna McKinley ’16, Sean Walkama ’17, Mary Margaret Miller ’16, Harrison Miller ’16, Lauren Walkama ’17, Zoe Doucette ’16, Chloe Boutelle ’15, Julia Snyder ’17, Elizabeth Cubberley ’16, Samuel Fogg ’16, and Hallie Bergwall ’17

(9.) Alex Barley and Liz Callahan got married at the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel at Saint Michael’s on April 27, 2024, with a reception following at Waterworks. Alumni of the Class of 2016 in attendance included Silas Rainville, Joe Murphy, Sam Laves, Charlie Merry, Alex Barley, Liz Callahan, Owen Dayton, Maria Valentyn, Renée Bousquet, Hannah Owen, Lexi Goyette Cibotti, Matt Cibotti, and Brian Teed.

2017

(1.) Claire Cavanaugh and Jared Zuke were married on November 2, 2024, at River Winds Farm & Estate in Saco, ME. St. Mike’s alumni in attendance included Jen Marshall ’91, Marissa Landry Grunvald ’17, Jared Zuke ’17 (groom), Claire Cavanaugh ’17 (bride), and Tyler Adkins ’07. Photo by Sam Nappi Photography.

(2.) Alison Bourgeois (now Parkin) married Benjamin Parkin on October 26, 2024. From left to right: Katrina Wiesner ’17, Chris Schneider ’16, Hailey Dubuque ’17, Emily Bogart ’17, Ben Parkin, Alison Bourgeois ’17,

Mary-Margaret Pickman ’17, Kristine McLarney ’17, Bethany Ramrath Chase ’17

(3.) Katie Petrozzo earned her Ph.D in Philosophy from the University of Utah in May 2024. Jennifer Toner and Peter Cook traveled to Utah to celebrate the occasion.

Jennifer Toner and Peter Cook traveled to Utah to celebrate the occasion. Katie was a Philosophy and Psychology double major at SMC and pursued grad school after encouragement from her mentors, Dr. Crystal L’Hote and Dr. Melissa Vanderkaay-Tomasulo. She joined the Department of Humanities at Illinois Institute of

Technology in fall 2025 as a tenure-track assistant professor.

2018

(4.) Jaclyn Proctor and Connor Duffy were married in October 2024 in Princeton, MA. Jaclyn notes that they began dating after their first year and will celebrate their 10th dating anniversary in May. The alumni who joined them for their wedding included (top row) Kristin Funsten ’18, Allie Campbell ’18, Ali Bonenfant ’18, Ben Warnock ’18, Teddy Galgano ’18, Molly Wyatt ’18, Mike McCarthy ’17, Brian Shearer ’18, and in

the bottom row Thomas Boullier ’18, Connor Duffy ’18 (groom), Jackie Proctor ’18 (bride), and Frankie Esposito ’18 (maid of honor).

2019

(5.) Mariah Newman married Benjamin Thornton at the Red Barn in South Berwick, ME, on July 12, 2024. The following alumni were in attendance (back row): Tom Newman ’82, Rich Bernache ’82, Charlie Beliveau ’82, Ted Morris ’86, Kacey Connor Morris ’86, Todd Astor ’91, Robin Astor M’94, Dave Baird ’19, Marissa Moore ’19, Maggie McKeon ’19; (front row): Sadie Kaplan ’19, Emily

Hanf Scheuch ’19, Kelley Gilhooly Baird ’19, Mariah Newman Thornton ’19, Benjamin Thornton WPI ’20, Erin Morris Newman ’83, M’99, and Barbara Catalano-Hey ’83

(6.) Another St. Mike’s love story was celebrated at the wedding of Emily Durette and Matthew Cotter. They were delighted to have many SMC alumni as guests. Pictured: David Durette ’85, Denis Collet ’85, Stephen Osgood ’86, Brendan ’89 and Sue Cotter P’19, Cassandra Devaney ’18, Julia Colasanti ’18, Hunter Goodwin ’19, Cole Reilly ’20, Connor McGuirk ’19, Brendan Morris ’19, Shannon Wilson ’19, Megan

LeCours Romeo, Dane Johnson, Alexandra Matteo Caforia, Cameron Caforia ’19, Matthew Downing ’19, Danielle Easton ’19, Megan Robinson ’19, Meghan Smith Wilson ’19, and William Moriarty ’20

(7.) Nicole Ouellette and Andrew Koerner were married on August 10, 2024, in Middlebury, VT. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Marcel Rainville, SSE, at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Middlebury College campus. The reception, held at Tourterelle Restaurant and Inn (New Haven, VT), was DJ’d by Mike Toomey ’92. St. Mike’s alumni in attendance included:

Kerri Leach ’04, Lance Reynolds ’19, Branden Young ’19, Austen Tallman ’18, Gabrielle White ’19, Ryan Hay ’19, Katie Neal Strange ’19, Kylie Bryce ’19, Fallon Newman Young ’19, Nellie Putur ’19, Melanie George ’19, Matt Logue ’19, Martha Phelps ’20, Megan Breen ’19, Erin Newman Baslow ’01, Ian Montgomery ’22, Peter Tallman ’20, Jonathan Guy ’18, Pat Thornton ’19, Jack Morrison ’19, and Zack Maroon ’18.

(8.) Kara Hettinger married Aaron Deeter on May 27, 2023, in Winona, MN. Twenty-four Saint Michael’s alumni flew in from all over the country to attend.

Saint Michael’s College takes pride in its alumni and joyfully shares the news of their lives and achievements. Publishing these alumni messages does not reflect any endorsements or positions taken by the College.

(9.) Allison Cullen Ferreira celebrated her marriage to husband Nate back in December of 2023, surrounded by her St. Mike’s classmates!

Rev. Joseph McLaughlin ’66, SSE, H’18

Colchester, VT, died February 21, 2025

Fr. McLaughlin grew up in Boston; after his Saint Michael’s undergraduate years, he completed advanced degrees at University of Saint Michael’s College, Toronto, Canada. Later he pursued studies at major universities in Ireland, Switzerland, and Boston.

He was ordained an Edmundite priest in 1970 and served the Saint Michael’s faculty (Religious Studies) and trustees (including serving as chair while SSE superior

Louise W. Stafford ’72

Farmington, CT, died February 16, 2025

Stafford was one of the first three women to receive a bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s. She later served on the College’s Alumni Board (1994–97), was Alumna of the Year in 1997 and 2022, and was a class agent (2007–08). She returned to campus generously and frequently to share her story as one of the first women graduates.

Born in Hartford, CT, Stafford led a life of love, dedication, and accomplishment.

Lois McClure H’08

Shelburne, VT, died January 26, 2025

McClure received an honorary degree from Saint Michael’s in 2008. She and her husband, J. Warren “Mac” McLure, were instrumental in establishing the College’s Journalism Department in 1973, and she established the J. Warren & Lois H. McClure Journalism Scholarship at the College in 2005.

McClure, a Burlington native, and her husband were prominent, visionary philanthropists and community volunteers for decades. Lois grew up in a family that had managed the Burlington Free Press since 1890. She attended Vassar College before her first marriage, which ended in 1951, and in 1954 she married Mac. As they raised their blended family, newspaper business brought them to Rochester, NY, with annual summer returns to Vermont. They moved to Key Largo, FL, in 1975. Lois eventually returned to Vermont full time.

general, 1986–90) and was active with Colchester Fire District No. 1. He was later an emeritus professor. The College presented him with an honorary degree in 2018, and he received major teaching and alumni awards.

He is survived by a brother, two sisters, and extended family, including niece Erin Thomas ’04.

After Saint Michael’s (where she earned a degree in English literature), she did graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, before building a long and successful career in West Hartford real estate office management and commercial interior design. She loved the beach and had unwavering devotion to her children, golden retrievers, and animal rescue. Stafford is survived by two sons, a daughter, and extended family.

Their philanthropy accelerated notably in this era, and a legacy of generous matching gifts included such beneficiaries as the University of Vermont (UVM) Library and a wing of UVM Medical Center. In 1994–95, the couple established the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation as a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation. After Mac died in 2004 from Alzheimer’s disease, Lois continued major philanthropy on many fronts, including the Shelburne Museum and in housing, respite care, career training, eldercare, and more.

Besides her husband of nearly 50 years, Mac, she was predeceased by two daughters. She is survived by a daughter, a son, two stepsons, and extended family, including granddaughter Monica McClure ’15.

In Memoriam

We are saddened to learn about the loss of our beloved alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College.

To read their full obituaries, please use the listed URL or QR code below. Our deepest sympathies are extended to their families and loved ones.

1950

Leonard J. Tyl

1951

Claude A. Trombly

Kenneth S. Raffol

1952

Edward J. Keating

Arthur J. Loveley

1953

John R. Sullivan

Denton E. MacCarty

Richard A. Clifford

Norman J. Lacharite

1954

John J. Pierce

1955

Samuel C. Bridgers

John A. Buckley

1956

Richard J. Howrigan

William M. Cogan

1957

J. Andrew Glutting

Daniel J. Kennedy

1958

Eugene A. Dugas

Rosario V. Cannizzaro

1959

Jean G. Poutre

Anthony R. Salvato

F.M. Taylor

Earl F. Callanan

1960

W. Geary Andrews

Edmund J. Lynch

John H. Zurlo

1961

James L. Pratt

John E. Klag

Richard P. Torykian

George A. Hinerth

George E. Bouffard

1962

Timothy J. Tomasi

John P. Vassak

George V. Cestaro

1963

George K. Riley

Thomas E. Dunn 1964

Edward M. Olander

1965

Terrence C. Flukes

John J. Lynch

Kevin Slane

1966

Joseph M. McLaughlin 1967

Charles A. Frascati

Stephen R. Tilton

Joseph D. Duffy

Charles T. Smith

James M. Terlizzo 1968

Raymond J. Pentkowski

Denis J. Hauptly

Bruce A. Wilder 1969

Stanley S. Koch, Jr.

R. William Freston

Richard P. Lynch

John D. Topping

Vito A. Colapietro

1972

Bruce J. Fischer

Michael T. Prisco

Edward W. Graham

Louise W. Stafford

1973

David G. Quinn

Kevin R. Callahan

1975

Jeffrey Sperber

1977

John F. Guardino

Rosanne C. Kilty

1978

Eileen A. Martin

1979

Marie M. Walbridge

Timothy W. Burke

1980

Christopher M. LeDonne

Mary E. Flynn

1981 J. Ryan Stample

1984

Norman A. Brunner

Robert J. Hanley

Mary A. Ray

1987

Thomas W. McIllwraith

1993

Scott A. Renzoni

Mary P. Messerle

1996

Philip J. Paul

1997

Daniel C. Teter

2004

Alyssa M. Clark

2005

Kimberly M. Messier

2013

Joe Cadigan ’13

FACULTY, STAFF, AND FRIENDS

Thomas B. Andersen

David N. Bell

Susan L. Breeyear

Phyllis S. Firkey

Lois H. McClure

Thomas P. Salmon

A TRADITION ROOTED IN FRIENDSHIP AND HIKING MOUNTAINS

By Pete Weber ’86

hen I read the “We Want To Hear From You!” section in the most recent edition of the Saint Michael’s College alumni magazine, the prompt—“How did your time at Saint Michael’s impact your life?” stopped me in my tracks. It struck a chord and nudged forward a story I’ve been meaning to share for quite some time.

This story begins in 2003, when a group of us Saint Michael’s alumni began gathering in the fall for a weekend of connection, food, laughter—and, most importantly, hiking. Our base camp has been my home in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and our primary goal has always been summiting Mount Monadnock, though we’ve sometimes substituted other nearby peaks when needed.

The first gathering was born of concern and love: My best friend from St. Mike’s, John “Spooner” Adamson ’85, had been diagnosed with cancer. Five of us college friends who used to hike Mount Mansfield, ski Smugglers’ Notch, and tackle Tuckerman’s Ravine—Andy Biache ’85, Doug Dinizio ’85, Andre Casavant ’85, along with Spooner and me—came together to hike the longest, hardest trail on Monadnock: the Pumpelly Trail, which closely resembles the kind of hike you’d find in the White Mountains.

In 2005, we returned with two more St. Mike’s alumni, Joe Prevost ’85 and Chris Ozmun ’85, for another fall hike. Then, in March 2006, Spooner passed away. That fall, I floated the idea of getting together again. To my surprise and joy, everyone came back—this time bringing wives, partners, and even young children. That became the beginning of a lasting tradition.

We’ve now hiked Monadnock together 20 times. Along the way, we’ve welcomed more friends and family

into the fold. This past fall’s summit crew even included three second-generation hikers—children of our original St. Mike’s crew—among them Spooner’s son Sean, a proud member of the Class of 2019.

Over the years, we’ve endured other losses. Our friend Andre passed in 2014, and Spooner’s wife, Renee, passed in 2016, both from cancer. In 2020, the day before Thanksgiving, I was diagnosed with cancer myself. After surgery and radiation, I still managed to make the climb the following fall. These hikes have become a celebration not only of the friends we’ve lost, but of the deep, sustaining connection we’ve kept.

We set aside one weekend a year to reconnect, reminisce, and make new memories. That this tradition now includes our children is an unexpected and beautiful ripple effect—an affirmation of how meaningful these bonds continue to be.

Looking back, it’s humbling to realize how much of this story began at Saint Michael’s. I met these friends in Alumni Hall and spent unforgettable days at the old St. Edmund’s Hall—“Ed’s Place,” now Salmon Hall. (Fun fact: I salvaged the original Ed’s Place sign back in the mid-’80s, and we still pose with it for a group photo at the end of each hiking weekend.)

After graduating in 1986, I crashed on Spooner’s floor in Boston’s Back Bay while job hunting. That led to a job at Liberty Mutual—and to meeting my wife. I stayed with the company for nearly 35 years.

None of it—none of it—would have happened without the relationships that took root at Saint Michael’s College.

It started with hikes and ski trips. It became a lifelong tradition of friendship, remembrance, and joy. Who would’ve thought? But what a gift it’s been.

Saint Michael’s College

One Winooski Park, Box 6

Colchester, VT 05439

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