chronicle chr nicle the
fall 2015
news from the southern Vermont College — st. Joseph College Community
SyFy’s GhostHunters Investigate
InsIde: An Inaugural Year: The Power of Choice
| The Looking Glass Online | sVC Athletics Update
Board of Trustees JOHN BAACKES CEO L.A. Care Health Plan SArAH DAHL, M.D. Physician (retired) Private practice, Obstetrics and Gynecology DAVID rEES EVANS President Southern Vermont College SUSAN HUNTEr Community Leader CArMEN J. LAWrENCE, ESQ. Partner King & Spaulding, LLP ALFrEDO QUIñONES-HINOJOSA, M.D. Professor of Neurological Surgery and Oncology Director of Brain Tumor Surgery Program, Johns Hopkins University MArJOrIE "GrEGG" SWAIN Author and Psy.D. IrA WAGNEr ’83 President, European Capital Financial Services American Capital Ltd. DEBOrAH E. WILEY, CHAIr Chair, The Wiley Foundation, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
LETTEr FrOM THE PrESIDENT: david rees evans
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t is hard to capture in words the exhilarating joy of last May’s SVC Commencement ceremony. We had many things to celebrate: the end of a successful academic year, the awarding of honorary doctorates to former President Karen Gross and commencement speaker Moustafa Bayoumi, the beautiful May afternoon, and, of course, by far most of all, the success of our new graduates! By rough count I’ve participated in about 35 commencements as a faculty member and administrator. It’s easy to become jaded, as these ceremonies tend to follow a certain set of traditions and protocols that don’t differ much from institution to institution. So I was surprised and, frankly, inordinately pleased that my first SVC graduation precisely and vividly captured what is so compelling about our small college—the intense sense of community endeavor, the pride all of us here take in our work together and the joy we all share in our students’ accomplishments. Commencement day was a distillation of all the reasons we at SVC do what we do, the culmination of our focus on student success and opportunity to grow and thrive. I write to you near the end of the summer break, as I’ve had a chance to reflect on my first semester at SVC and catch my breath and explore a little after moving to Bennington in the middle of what seems to have been the worst winter in living memory. I am even more convinced than I was when
“...SVC is doing vital work that empowers students to pursue and ultimately... achieve their dreams.” I got here that SVC is doing vital work that empowers students to pursue and ultimately, we hope, achieve their dreams. We occupy a critical niche in higher education, facing substantial headwinds but also enjoying great opportunities to meet contemporary student needs because of our careful attention to individual students and our deep and abiding commitment to their potential. Over the spring, I got to know many of our students and learned about others from colleagues on campus. I heard about their struggles and challenges, along with great accomplishments and successes. I saw students who were first in their families to attend college finish their studies and walk across that platform. I saw family and friends celebrate their students’ graduation, and I saw the SVC faculty and staff share that joy and pride, sometimes bittersweet as we bade farewell to students we have come to know and love. I experienced first-hand and in real time the College’s authentic allegiance to our students. After participating in commencement and getting to know our students, author Moustafa Bayoumi called SVC “an extraordinary college with a just and noble mission,” as fine a compliment as any president could wish. I am glad he saw what I see when I look at Southern Vermont College. I hope you see it too. Thank you for your support. 2
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THE INAUGUrATION OF 9th PreSIdent dAVId eVAnS saTurday, decemBer 4 Please join the Southern Vermont College community for the Inauguration of David rees Evans as 9th president of the College. The President has selected a theme of community service, The Power of Choice; Making a Difference, for the Inauguration and events l eading up to it. Special guests from all over the country and SVC faculty and students will participate. Please see svc.edu/inauguration for more details.
The POwer Of ChOICe: MAKING A DIFFErENCE The theme is inspired by SVC’s commitment to our students and our community, and inauguration week will engage faculty, staff and students in hands-on service in the Bennington area. We will celebrate SVC’s dedication to offering students diverse options to broaden their worlds, to giving them tools to recognize and fulfill their personal and professional potential, and to providing them with opportunities to develop a sense of purpose through local, national and international internship and study programs, partnerships with local businesses and organizations, and involvement with arts and culture.
INAUGUrATION EVENTS IdenTIfICATIOn ArT SVC’s new Admissions Office in Wagner House has a unique way of asking prospective students to begin their visit; using a mixed media participatory work of art installed by California artist Mary Corey March. March created a similar installation in the Everett Mansion, called The Identity Tapestry, which asks participants to identify certain statements that represent where they are from and what they might want for their future. At Wagner house, prospective students take a piece of hand-dyed yarn to wrap around the statements they relate to, marking where they are at the beginning of their SVC experience and showing how they relate to others on the same journey.
sVC education symposium | Thurs., Dec. 3, 2:25 pm, Faculty discuss The Power of Choice, Everett Theatre Men’s & women’s Basketball | Thurs., Dec. 3, 6 pm and 8 pm, Mountaineer Athletic Center Inuaguration Ceremony | Friday, Dec. 4, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Bennington Center for the Arts, Investiture ceremony featuring Vermont Poet Laureate Sydney Lea and other honored guests, followed by reception at the Center Inaugural Art Installation | Themed art exhibit in the President’s Honor, Check Web site below for details. Campus Tours | Schedule to be posted on Web site below. faculty symposium displays | Burgdorff Gallery, ongoing. For more information, visit the Web site: svc.edu/inauguration or contact robin Yearwood: ryearwood@svc.edu or 802 447-6319.
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COMMENCEMENT 88th Commencement May 9, 2015
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1 Class of 2015 Salutatorians (from left to right) Jamie wiley of 6 Kevin and Kacie salva, father and sister of student Christopher Bennington, Vermont and ryan Long of Canaan, Conn., with John (CJ) salva, who passed away in 2012, accepted a degree Valedictorian haley Omasta of Danbury, Conn. awarded Honoris Causa to CJ. Salva told the graduates, “remember, nothing worth having is easy ….so Never Give Up reaching for 2 President david evans quoted John Donne’s, “No man is an island your dreams and they will eventually come to you.” Never Give entire of itself…” in his remarks. “Donne reminds us that each of us Up is the name of the scholarship CJ’s family has established in his is part of a larger whole,” Evans said, “I hope that you will always, name at the College. no matter what career you are in, remember to look out for others and not make yourself an island. Sometimes that is the best, most 7 Class speaker Meagan fleming of Gansevoort, N.Y., told her rewarding job we can do.” classmates, “We owe it to our parents, to our professors and especially to ourselves to fill our stories and our world with light, 3 Student Ben horowitz poses with Faculty speaker renee Merges, love and passion. It is time today to believe that we are capable a former New York prosecutor and CJ professor, who told the of anything.” graduates: “The brief persuasive argument I attempt to make today to you, SVC Class of 2015, my jury today, is to convince you 8 Graduate hanifah Presley of Brooklyn, N.Y., shared a poem with of the importance of going forward into the world in your various the students and was also the recipient of the The Edward H. fields to DO JUSTICE.” Everett Award, which acknowledges a student’s numerous contributions to the Southern Vermont College community. 4 Brooklyn College professor Moustafa Bayoumi author of How Does it Feel to Be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters and addressed the graduates as Commencement speaker, encouraging them to look out for each other in this life, saying, “Alone, we are atomized individuals. Together, we make a society.”
9 President evans congratulates Nicole Sousis, the first of three recipients awarded certificates from SVC’s College Steps program, which provides students with cognitive impairments an opportunity to participate in a modified two-year college experience.
10 Faculty, staff and division chairs lined up on the terrace of 5 Former SVC President Karen Gross was awarded an Honorary Everett Mansion before the ceremony began. Doctorate of Humane Letters from the school at Commencement. Gross told the graduates she was honored to share a degree with 11 Graduates and their families showed off their goods after this class, and urged them always to ‘color outside the lines.’ Commencement. 4
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SVC’s new provost, James (Jay) C. White II
looks to the stars BY PATrICK MCArDLE rUTLAND HErALD STAFF WrITEr (rEPrINTED WITH PErMISSION FrOM THE NEWSPAPEr.)
I About Provost white: Originally a farmboy from Tennessee, he received his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Physics from Birmingham-Southern College and his Ph.D. degree in Astronomy from Indiana University, Bloomington. His wife, Lisa M. White, is a CPA. The couple has two children, sons Sebastian Artemis and Alistair Clyde. An astrophysicist by training, White is a Fellow of Great Britain’s royal Astronomical Society and an American member of the International Astronomical Union. He is the past editor of Mercury, the magazine of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and a former Executive Director of that international organization. In the past, he was author of the regular feature “Sky Almanac” in Country magazine, creator and writer of “Science Matters,” a weekly science column syndicated by the New York Times television syndicate, and a guest on radio and television programs around North America.
t seems fitting that James “Jay” White, Southern Vermont College’s new provost, is a man with an eye on the stars. As provost, White is responsible for the college’s entire academic endeavor, everything from making sure there’s enough classroom space to hiring talented faculty and giving them development opportunities. White, who started at the college on July 1, will serve as the provost and a professor of physics. his specialty as an educator before getting into administration was astrophysics and he hopes to bring his love of astronomy to the independent college’s campus in Bennington. White said he hopes to organize some unofficial events that the community can join to look at an expected meteor shower in August, the total lunar eclipse in September, and other astral events beyond. “I know that when the Leonid meteor shower rolls around in november, I’m going to have some people out there with me at 2 a.m. trying to watch those beautiful streaks of light,” he said. Before coming to the college, White worked as the executive director of
a nonprofit, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in San Francisco, and the chairman of the physics department at rhodes College in Memphis. At rhodes, a dean encouraged White to pursue a career in academic administration. “One of the things I discovered was I really like facilitating things for other people,” he said. After three positions in Pennsylvania, as provost at Gettysburg College, vice president for academic affairs at Washington & Jefferson College, and head of school for an independent girl’s boarding school, White decided he wanted to take a position at a liberal arts college. “I love the breadth of learning. I love the fact — and I think I live the fact — that the interconnectedness of how we know about the world and the human condition is really important and it’s fueled by all these multiple vantages,” he said. SVC attracted White because it’s a small college. White said he was looking for a college that not only made handson experiences available but expected them of its students. he said (continued on page 11)
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Southern Vermont College
Faculty and Staff Updates Music Professor/director eric despard made his debut with the Barrington Stage Company this summer in their Broadway production of The Man of LaMancha, as an onstage performer and as part of the orchestra. The musical, a winner of 5 tony Awards and based on the great novel Don Quixote ran for 38 shows. humanities Professor heather Lanier will present at the nonfictionow Conference at northern AridesPArd zona University in Flagstaff, AZ in late October, desPArd on the subject of the essaying Memoir.
sChIAVOnI sChIAVOnI
sUMMers sUMMers
director or residence Life emily schiavoni has been appointed Corporate relations Chair to the northeast Association of Colleges and University Officers. Interim dean of Admissions dan summers II has been selected to participate in the national College Board’s enrollment Leadership Academy (eLA). The eLA is a yearlong professional development program that cultivates the next generation of enrollment leaders through sessions focused on leadership skills and key enrollment management issues. The sessions will be facilitated by educational professionals including enrollment managers, researchers and other specialists. Selection of candidates was based on their leadership skills, potential for contribution in the field of enrollment management and commitment to college access. Summers has been a member of SVC’s Office of Admissions for six years and currently oversees all operations and functions of the Office. Correction: In the Spring issue of The Chronicle, Assistant Professor Sarah Knapp should have been identified as a board member for the Vermont Women in higher education.
MCCOrMICK dIVIsIOn Of BUsIness sTUdenTs TO GeT exPerIenCe In The fIeLd, InCLUdInG The hOPs fIeLd Associate Professor Jeb Gorham’s business students will be working on several community collaborations this fall which will give them hands-on experience in the field, in more ways than one. Students in the Facilities Management (FM) class will join forces with hop hollar Farm, a hops farm and producer of farm-brewed craft beer just across the Vermont border in Petersburg, nY. Students will work with the owners to help brainstorm and develop plans for their 150-acre operation including the concept of a future resort-type/destination. Gorham toured the farmstead this summer with McCormick division Chair stacey hills and director of Career development Betsy dunham and was excited about this collaboration. “With the popularity of craft beers today, it was great 6
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to see their operation starting from the ground up, with the hops fields already in its second year,” Gorham said. “This is going to be a fun project.” Gorham’s FM students will also work with the new owner of the Sage Street Mill property (the former Vermont Arts exchange building) in north Bennington, presenting ideas and project pitches for the facility. Students in the SVC Sports Management major program will meet with Bennington College students and the local tennis facility to develop a plan for tutoring and mentoring local youth. “This collaboration will likely include more partners— other schools, community garden projects for healthy eating, educational tutoring opportunities and more,” Professor Gorham stated.
SVC rECEIVES NUrSING ACCrEDITATION
2015 rAD SCIENCES GrADUATES GET
BY COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NUrSING EDUCATION (CCNE)
100%
n May, SVC’s Baccalaureate
nursing program was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate nursing education (CCne). President david evans made the announcement with a statement to the College community praising the program and SVC nursing leaders--division Chair Mary Botter, Ph.d., and the faculty and staff, who developed the new BSn program and shepherded the accreditation process. “This division is committed to excellence in nursing and has worked diligently to meet the standards of a rigorous nursing and healthcare program,” evans said. “We are proud of the new Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program,” Botter stated. “The CCne accreditation affirms the quality of our curriculum, faculty and the College. Our students benefit from a strong academic curriculum based on the art and science of nursing as well as outstanding clinical learning opportunities in local and regional healthcare organizations.” The CCne granted the accreditation at its April 2015 meeting with the determination that SVC fully met the Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate Programs. The accreditation is retroactive to the date of the site visit in October 2014, and extends to June 30, 2020, the maximum time period granted to new programs. SVC utilizes several local and regional healthcare organizations for clinical education, including a partnership with Southwestern Vermont health Care (SVhC), which also employs many SVC graduate nurses. SVhC Chief nursing Officer Carol Conroy was pleased by the SVC accreditation news, as an affirmation of the quality of the SVC program. “It is so important to have a highquality nursing program within our community,” Conroy stated. “We have several SVC graduate nurses on our staff, and they provide the exemplary professional practice one would expect at a Magnet-designated hospital.” SVC’s division of nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSn) degree with two tracks. The Pre-Licensure BSn track is designed for individuals who wish to achieve a BSn and upon graduation be eligible to sit for the nCLeX-rn examination. The rn-BSn track is designed for registered nurses who wish to continue their education and achieve a BSn. Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of education as a national accreditation agency, CCne is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCne ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and post-baccalaureate residency programs in nursing. The CCne is the only nursing-accrediting agency dedicated exclusively to the accreditation of bachelor’s and graduate-degree nursing education programs.
PASS rATE ON ArrT ExAM
PHOTO CrEDIT: GArrET HArKAWIK
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SVC students who earned their degree in the rigorous radiologic Sciences degree program this May went on to receive a 100 percent pass rate on the American registry of radiologic technologists (Arrt) examination in radiography. This was also the largest graduating class from this major at SVC. In addition to the pass rate, SVC students scored high marks. “Our students have generally been above the national grade average and the national pass rate,” according to Linda Lippacher, Program director of radiologic Sciences for the John Merck division of Science and technology at SVC. SVC President david evans remarked, “The outstanding success of our radiographic technology students in taking the Arrt exam is a testimony to both their hard work and the quality of our program, which combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a direct pathway to a great career. I am proud of our students and the faculty and staff who helped prepare them to be so successful.” The Arrt is the world’s largest credentialing organization that seeks to ensure high-quality patient care in radiologic technology. The Arrt examination accesses the knowledge and cognitive skills required of the staff technologist at entry into the profession. SVC/SJC CHrONICLE
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Working with the Cast and Crew of Gh
It was 2007 and the beginning of my freshman year at SVC. I was naive to the school’s paranormal past when my roommate and I had a run in with “the little girl.” We heard voices and laughing and suffice it to say, we couldn't sleep at all that night. The next day I spent hours researching the accounts of hauntings on campus. I read stories from teachers, alumni and historians, all with similar experiences. I then wrote an email to the popular SyFy program Ghost Hunters, one of my favorite tV shows. eventually I got used to the ghosts and it became an exciting—and at the same time—normal part of my school routine. Flash forward seven years, having long graduated from SVC, I get a phone call out of Los Angeles. It was from rob Campagna, the executive producer of Ghost Hunters, telling me he wanted to shoot an episode at SVC. Communications Advisor Susan Biggs and I spent the early part of the summer coordinating schedules with each other and hollywood. Scouts from the show came out to the east Coast and toured the school. The producers loved SVC not just for its ghostly background, but for its uniquely beautiful and historic setting. Before I knew it, lights, cameras and sandwich lackeys were buzzing around the grounds. It was amazing to see the vast amount of equipment and hard work that goes into producing even one episode of a television show. The production crew was here for nearly two weeks, looking for great camera 8
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angles, setting up shots in areas where stories were recorded, and interviewing witnesses. Then came the moment I finally got to meet the Ghost Hunters cast, including the main investigators Jason hawes, founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (tAPS) and Steve Gonsalves. I must admit I was a little star struck (though not nearly as much as my mother, who drove all the way from new Jersey to watch the whole ordeal); to host tV stars at our little school was indescribable! here’s how the show works: As the person who contacted the program, I am called ‘the client.’ The main investigators
LOnGTIMe fAns — Alumna Leigh Meola ’11 got to meet and mingle with the Ghost Hunters cast as they investigated alleged hauntings at the College. From left to right in the Everett Mansion’s Burgdorff Gallery are cast members Dustin Pari, Dave Tango, Steve Gonsalves, Meola, Kj McCormick, Samantha Hawes, Justin Hawes and Leigh’s mom, Terry Meola.
host Hunters at SVC
BY LeIGh MeOLA ’11 leigh meola is a 2011 graduate of SVC’s nursing program, now working at Berkshire medical Center in Pittsfield, mA, as an rn with a main focus on surgical
nursing.
This
summer leigh married SVC classmate robert murawski ’12.
interview the client on camera, then do their stealth-work accordingly, spending a few overnights at the school with high tech equipment, such as digital thermometers, electromagnetic frequency (eMF) meters, thermographic and night vision cameras, handheld and static video cameras, digital audio recorders (for electronic voice phenomena or eVPs) and laptop computers. Afterwards, the team spends several days analyzing all of the data for evidence of possible para-
normal activity. Then comes the ‘reveal.’ That’s the part where they tell me (the client) what they found. Under contract with the studio, I cannot share any of their results until the show airs this fall, and I can’t wait to have everyone view what I was lucky enough to experience! Soon the whole country will know more about Southern Vermont College, the place many of us know and love and the harmless inhabitants that make SVC such a cool place to live. As investigated by:
MeeT Ghost hunters cast member and motivational speaker dustin Pari, at sVC on Thursday, Oct.29. 6 pm (open to community) and 8:30 pm (for sVC students only).
wATCh: southern Vermont College’s investigation on syfy’s Ghost hunters program entitled, “darker Learning.” for the exact air date, check the syfy.com/ghosthunters web site or the sVC facebook page/svcalumni (and while you are there, share your own sVC ghost story!)
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The Looking Glass
LAUNCHING SVC HUMANITIES STUDENTS’ DIGITAL PUBLICATION
BY MOrGAINE SEGUrA ’16
earlier this year, humanities Professor Michelle deal sent a movie and music reviews or news articles, while others, such group of four students to a Forum for Undergraduate Student as senior Psychology major Allie Thoresen, excelled behind editors (FUSe) conference at Bennington College. deal felt the scenes with Web design and social media management. FUSe would help these future student editors “figure out Thoresen said of her tLG experience, “Being a part of this strategies for management, deadlines [and] content” for a team has helped me prioritize and organize my workload and newly proposed stuhas given me the opdent-run digital pubportunity to express my lication. deal also creativity the way no organized a phone inother class ever has.” terview in which SVC Other staff members, alum Mike donoghue such as seniors de’71, a longtime reShawn hamlet and porter for the BurlingQuinten Scott chose to ton Free Press, introduce video and providing these and other multimedia segother students in her ments. Scott found that media class with intLG provided him with sight and advice from the opportunity to his years of journalistic MUsInG AT fUse: — SVC students attend Bennington College’s Forum for combine his love for experience. Undergraduate Student Editors (FUSE) before launching their own online sports and video proArmed with stratepublication. From left, Paige Sweeney ’15, Meagan Fleming ’15, Andrew duction. hamlet, cogies picked up at Manley’15 and Morgaine Segura ’16. host of tLG’s sports FUSe, advice from an show, the MAC Pack, industry professional, and guidance from Professor deal, found his participation in tLG allowed him to expand his ideas Managing editors Andrew Manley ’15, Morgaine Segura ’16, and show off his hard work. Media editor Manley and Scott and Paige Sweeney ’15 set out to develop a sustainable, stu- began collaboration with CAt-tV, Bennington’s non-profit teldent-run publication. After discussion, the staff decided to evision station, offering tLG staff the opportunity to learn the name their publication The Looking Glass (tLG), a name they ins and outs of tV production with help from CAt-tV’s profelt reflected its creative, inquisitive and diverse nature as duction coordinators, Beq Lendvay and ryan Scutt. Scutt, who well as the history of the College and its origins as home to is working closely with deal and Segura, sees tLG “acting as glass mogul edward everett. the bridge between SVC and the Bennington community.” today, tLG boasts a wide range of information and opportLG hopes to continue to unify communities by collabotunities for involvement for the entire Bennington and SVC rating with a variety of organizations for funding, support, community. Professor deal found it “inspiring to watch the and content. Along with funding from SVC’s Student Govstudents take ownership of their roles and find their own ernment Association, tLG recently received a $15,000 grant niche.” She spoke to the versatility of tLG’s setup, explain- from the edwin S. Webster Foundation. These generous coning how one radiology student took the practicum to fulfill a tributions will fund the publication’s Web site and equipment mandatory requirement and found she was “able to explore for producing new content. her academic interests through weekly articles.” Some stuVisit lookingglass.svc.edu for information on campus dents, explained deal, “discovered their potential for film events, sports, commentary and insight on local and global and broadcasting, while [others] preferred the management happenings. Follow on Facebook: lookingglassSVC or twitside of publishing and producing content.” ter: lookingglassSVC. to submit content please contact ProSome members of tLG staff found their niche in writing fessor deal, mdeal@svc.edu or Morgaine, msegura@svc.edu. 10
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U.S. DEPArTMENT OF EDUCATION
renews TrIO fUnds AT sVC SVC has once again earned the award of funding for the federal trIO Student Support Services (SSS), in a grant totaling 1.3 million dollars from the U.S. department of education starting in Fall 2015. The federal trIO SSS program, established in 1968, provides assistance to students who are underrepresented in higher education, including students who are the first in their family to attend college, students from modest income backgrounds and students with disabilities. SVC’s trIO program was first funded in 1978 and has helped hundreds of students attain a four-year degree over its thirty-seven year history. SVC was one of 968 colleges and universities nationwide that was awarded the trIO SSS grant for 20152020, according to an announcement from the U.S. department of education on July 17. Out of 968 institutions, six in Vermont were awarded. The trIO program
SVC’s new provost, Jay White
at SVC is the only such program at a private college in the state of Vermont. Academic support for SVC students includes tutoring, support for students with disabilities (such as access to assistive technology), academic counseling, enhanced mathematics support, career development and counseling, peer mentoring and academic advising. “This is wonderful news for our students and wonderful news for SVC,” said Catherine McKeen, director of the College’s Center for teaching and Learning. “The trIO program is a vital help for our students. First-generation and underrepresented students face many obstacles in their path to a four-year degree, and many would not graduate without this support. The trIO program helps students open the door to a better life through college education.” Information on the academic support program at SVC is available at svc.edu/academics/support.html.
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BACK TO SCHOOL SErVICE
he knew some colleges tried to create a personalized experience for students but found it hard to accomplish. “But when you have a small student population like we do here, you can almost turn it into, certainly with broad expectations, almost a boutique kind of experience where you respond individually to the needs and also, really, the capabilities of the students. I just, I absolutely love that,” he said. White said he also like SVC’s commitment to helping students, who might be the first in their family to attend college, get into and successfully graduate from college. While he pointed out that he’s only been at SVC a few weeks, he said one of his early ideas is to take the ideas brought up in the “Quest for Success” classes, which are designed to help students become part of the college community, and add some elements or “threads” to other classes so after four years they will weave a “colorful tapestry of ideas.”
Mountaineer Scholars and student leaders spent a few presemester days prepping for food distribution at the local food cupboard, hIS Pantry, a ministry of Sacred heart St. Francis de Sales parish in Bennington. Ivan Figueroa, director of Mountaineer Scholar Program and diversity Initiatives helped facilitate the days of service. SVC/SJC CHrONICLE
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AThLeTICs UPdATe: MOUNTAINEErS DIVISION III SPOrTS
ChrIs
nICAs
TrO KIrsTe
n BUCh
LAUren nesshOeVer
An
sOfTBall
rOLAnd hernAndez
BaseBall This spring, the team narrowly missed the New England Collegiate Conference postseason, going 16-18 overall on the year for its most wins since 2011 and second-most in program history. Freshman niko d’Agnese was tabbed the NECC rookie of the Week twice during the spring, junior rJ Pingitore was named the NECC Player of the Week once and freshman righty Jean-Carlos Berasgoico was chosen as both NECC and ECAC DIII New England Pitcher of the Week one time. The Mountaineers crushed their way to the most runs scored in a single game, downing University of Maine at Presque Isle 28-2. Three players made their way to the team’s 100 Hit Club during the year, and the squad continued to support the fight against childhood cancer by collectively shaving their heads for the third straight year. Senior Cody LaBadia was named to the All-NECC Second Team while junior richard rios was tabbed with an All-NECC Honorable Mention. After completing his senior season and receiving his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Chris nicastro Jr. became the first former Mountaineer to receive a paid professional baseball contract as he signed on with the Virginia Marlin’s affiliate, the VCardinals, of the World Baseball Pro League. 12
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The softball team went 11-14 in the spring, tying the program wins record that was set in 2014 while just missing the conference playoffs. Senior emily fleming and junior rachel robtoy were both named All-New England Collegiate Conference Honorable Mentions, Fleming for the second straight year. The Mountaineers split a doubleheader with NECC foe Lesley University, picking up the program’s first win in 12 all-time meetings against the Lynx with a 6-3 victory. Fleming was electric from the circle, striking out 114 batters on the year to blow past the previous SVC single season record of 89; she also became the first Mountaineer in team history to record a sub-4.00 earned run average, tallying a 3.7 ErA to finish her career with a Southern Vermont-best 5.23. Fleming totaled 258 strikeouts in her time at SVC while fellow senior hayley Mcdonald was close behind with 247 career K’s.
WOmeN’s lacrOsse Women’s lacrosse made it to the New England Collegiate Conference playoffs in its debut season, taking the No. 5 seed with a 49 overall record. The Mountaineers grabbed the team’s first-ever win with a 14-12 decision at Daniel Webster and then secured its first home victory with a tight 12-11 triumph over Bay Path that helped get them to the postseason. Sophomore defender Lauren nesshoever garnered an All-NECC Honorable Mention while the Mountaineers were voted by league coaches to take home the Team Sportsmanship Award. Sophomore Melodie Orrell set the program goals record with a total of 43, 10 of those coming in a win at Mitchell College. Classmate emily Lesure wasn’t far behind with 34 goals, and she also set the season draw control record with 54. Orrell received the NECC Player of the Week honor in the first week of the season while freshman Taylor Brewer grabbed the NECC rookie of the Week laurel two weeks later.
by Mike nosek ’10, director of sports Information
PATrICK MCGOVern
OuTdOOr TracK & fIeld
sCOTT fITzGerALd MeLOdIe OrreLL
TInO esC
Southern Vermont completed its first varsity season of outdoor track & field, the combined team making great strides and improvements over the course of the spring. The men’s 4x100 meter relay team set a school record of 8:53.50 at the regis College Invite while sophomore Justin ferguson became the first Mountaineer to compete in the steeplechase, running the course at regis in a time of 10:03.00. Sophomore davante Jordan tallied a 6.71 meter long jump record at the Albany Invitational in April, and sophomore shelby whitman sprinted to a 1:05.10 showing in the 400 meter dash at the same meet to set the new school record.
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SVC Athletics continued the tradition of honoring the top male and female athletes at the annual year-end banquet. Women’s basketball junior Amber flagg received the Scott McKenzie Sportswoman of the Year honor for the second time in a row while baseball senior sal sciara took home the Scott McKenzie Sportsman of the Year laurel. Melodie Orrell, a sophomore on both the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, was donned with the Mountaineer Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award, and the Mountaineer Male Scholar Athlete of the Year honor went to men’s meN’s VOlleyBall Men’s volleyball had a record season in the spring, tallying the first volleyball captain scott fitzgerald. above-.500 campaign in program history. The Mountaineers went NeW VOlleyBall cOacH 16-11 overall, notching the most wins ever for the team. They scott fitzgerald, a two-year player for Southern Vermont’s men’s made it to the New England Collegiate Conference playoffs for the volleyball team, was named the new head coach for both the men’s fifth straight season before being knocked out by regis in the and women’s programs in July. Fitzgerald made his mark on the semifinals. The squad was then invited to the Eastern College Ath- record books while wearing the Mountaineer uniform, racking up letic Conference Division III tournament for the first time in pro- the fourth-most kills (452) and third-most service aces (67) in gram history. Freshman stewart ramirez was named the NECC team history after just two seasons with SVC. A Pyschology major rookie of the Week four times throughout the season en route to at SVC, Fitzgerald was named to the New England Collegiate being named the Conference rookie of the Year and an All-NECC Conference Spring All-Academic Team in both 2015 and 2014. First Team member. Seniors Joey dighton and scott fitzgerald were each named the NECC Player of the Week three times over the course of the year. Dighton and classmate herson Canta joined ramirez on the All-NECC First Team while Fitzgerald garnered an All-NECC Honorable Mention. Senior Tino escovedo was also voted by league coaches as the NECC Defensive Player of the Year.
sPrING all-academIc Team Twelve SVC student-athletes who played either winter or spring sports made their way to the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Spring All-Academic Team, six collecting academic all-conference honors for at least the second time in their collegiate careers. See the Web site: svcathletics.com for a complete listing. SVC/SJC CHrONICLE
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Class notes After Gabriel Kendall ’91 graduated from SVC she earned her masters in secondary education at eastern Connecticut State College. She currently teaches history at Coventry high School in Connecticut. Kendall’s daughter, Vanessa, has been accepted to SVC starting in the fall of 2015.
the US equal employment Opportunity Commission. reverend william h. fix ’85 received his seminary degree in church ministries and religious studies and is currently a licensed minister in Massachusetts.
Brenden shea ’14 celebrated his engagement with his high Travis Guy LeBel ’89 is serving his second year as President of school sweetheart and many SVC alumni friends: Pierre the Swanton Missisquoi Lions Club. Massena ’14, sara Burds ’14, shawnee webster ’14, Jordan Bassi ’15, Lt. Lloyd dean ’81 retired from the stephanie Pelletier ’14, Catrina Cecchini ’14 and Corey sylvester ’16. Bennington Police department after Karim elsayed ’15 has been accepted 33 years of service. he celebrated his into the Charles Koch Institute Fellast day there surrounded by friends, lowship Program this fall. he is curfamily and colleagues. during dean’s rently working with State Budget parting address he called for a moSolutions as a policy fellow in Washment of silence, “for all of the police ington, dC. elsayed reports that he is officers out there who have not made it and had an end of busy networking, participating in watch.” dean will continue his work in law enforcement as a debates on foreign policy and making new friends. he plans to domestic violence investigator for the Bennington County create an initiative which will foster dialogue between the Sheriff’s department. Arab community and republican Party. frank B. Orr ’67 retired from the U.S. Army in 1995. he curAt the end of June, Muffie harvey ’81 once again rode her horse rently holds a position as the co-chair of the Fort Benning, from Bennington to Burlington, a two-week journey she has Georgia, retiree Council and is a member of the Sergeants embarked on twice before to help raise funds and awareness Major Association. Orr is also a docent at the national Infantry for the fight against breast cancer. SVC students and staff on Museum in Fort Benning. campus where she started her journey, came out to wish her zach Garafalo ’09 is currently the Money Follows the Person well. Funds raised support the American Cancer Society and (MFP) Peer Outreach and referral Program director for the the Pink ribbon Foundation. Muffie is currently a faculty new York Association on Independent Living. Garafalo was in member of the College of St. Joseph and a food service direcWashington, d.C. in April as a panelist at a policy forum for tor for Fitz-Vogt & Associates.
shea engagement party
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Muffie rides again!
IN MEMORIAM The southern Vermont College community extends its deepest sympathy to the friends and families of the following alumni and friends of the College who have recently died.*
SALVA GOLF TOUrNAMENT 2015 Friends and family of Christopher John (CJ) Salva traveled to rochester in June to participate in the annual CJ Salva “Never Give Up” Golf Tournament to raise scholarship funds in his memory. Salva was a student at SVC when his life was cut short in a tragic accident. SVC President David Evans and other staff traveled to the tournament to participate. The Salva Fund, now an endowed scholarship, has raised over $60,000 to benefit other students. For more information, contact Colleen Little at clittle@svc.edu.
James e. Bevis ’64, died June 1, 2015
david Mariani ’68, died June 23, 2015
Sister Gertrude Conway, died June 13, 2015
Gary raymond niles, died June 13, 2015
Theresa harrington, died June 4, 2015
Mary Jean Paradise ’76, died May 3, 2015
Amonda davids ’45, died August 2015 *notifications received by September 1, 2015
MAKe IT MeMOrABLe.
UPCOMING EVENTS friday and saturday, sept. 25-26 | Fall Festival/Family Weekend Tuesday, sept. 29 | Graduate School Fair saturday, Oct. 3 | reunion for SVC staff and alumni from 1975-1985. saturday, Oct. 24 | Admissions Open House Thursday, Oct. 29 | Ghost Hunters Cast Member Dustin Pari, Everett Theatre wednesday, nov. 11 | President Evans talk, “Sustaining Tradition: Turkish Ceramics, Tourism, and the Craft revival” Green Mountain Academy in Manchester. saturday, nov. 21 | Admissions Open House friday, dec. 4 | Inauguration of SVC President David Evans For more information, please contact Sdamon@svc.edu or visit the SVC web site, svc.edu.
CHOOSE SVC: A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS SETTING FOr YOUr WEDDING, CONFErENCE Or GrOUP MEETING Southern Vermont College’s 371- acre estate, set on the side of Mount Anthony in Bennington, Vermont boasts one of the most-breathtaking views in New England. At the pinnacle of the estate is Everett Mansion, a 27-room English/Norman-style home built in 1911. As the main administration building for the College, the Mansion offers a variety of storybook settings, indoors and out, for any special occasion. • For group meetings from 20 – 200. • A variety of location options (when school is not in session) to meet your budget needs. • Special rates for Alumni of the College. For more information, contact: Samantha Damon, (802) 447-6357, at weddings@svc.edu or visit svc.edu/weddings.
Keep Us Posted… Southern Vermont College loves to hear about what alumni are doing. We want to know about your career, family life, awards, trips and more! Send your submissions to alumni@svc.edu or by mail to development Office, Southern Vermont College, 982 Mansion drive, Bennington, Vt 05201. SVC/SJC CHrONICLE
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The Chronicle is produced by the Office of Communications Southern Vermont College Susan Biggs Senior Advisor Communications Marion Whiteford Assistant Director of Communications Samantha Damon Development Specialist Mike Nosek ’10 Sports Information Director Katerin Design Design & Production Photo credits: Samantha Damon Max Flatow ’05 Garrett Harkawik Mike Nosek Marion Whiteford
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sOUThern VerMOnT COLLeGe PresenTs: FAll FeSt FAmily Weekend SAturdAy, SePtemBer 26, 1 Pm – 5 Pm Food | Music/Entertainment | Fun activities for all ages Localvore Tastings: try regionally produced wines, beer and coffee Makers Market: Crafts by local artisans | Artist Quick-Talks SVC Athletics Action: Men’s and Women’s Soccer vs. Daniel Webster College Games for kids | Mansion tours For more information, email sdamon@svc.edu or visit svc.edu/fallfest. “Like” us on Facebook at southern Vermont college alumni. Follow us on Twitter at @sVcalumni. support the future of the college and give today. Your donation, no matter what size, impacts the lives and education of SVC students. Thank you for your support of Southern Vermont College!