SPRING 2017
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editor’s inbox
FROM THE PRESIDENT
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IN THE LOOP
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ON THE HILL
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OUT & ABOUT
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SENSE OF PLACE
FEATURES
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Navigating the New Normal in Higher Education by President Susan D. Stuebner
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Solid Foundations: A Colby-Sawyer Couple Builds a Life Together by Kate Seamans
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PORTFOLIO
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THE SEASON IN SPORTS
CONNECTIONS
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ALUMNI NEWS
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CLASS NOTES
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IN MEMORIAM
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IN FOND MEMORY
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ARCHIVES Eight Generations of Giving: The Colgates
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EPILOGUE: Healing the Marines
SO ENJOYABLE I just received the fall magazine and it is spectacular. The strong design combined with fresh writing makes reading about Colby-Sawyer, past and present, highly enjoyable. Sally Williams Cook ’74 New York, N.Y. PROUD ALUM During an 11-day stay at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, I met several Colby-Sawyer graduates who were nurses and other professionals in the health care field. They all performed their jobs well. I am so proud to be a fellow alum! Anne Baynes Hall ’67 New London, N.H. STRUCK Just read the fall issue and it is terrific. Collectively, the articles capture what is unique about the college. The quote from Aaron Fan Feng ’14 really struck me: “I found the real me at Colby-Sawyer.” I enjoyed the interview with Sue, too, and learned a few things I didn’t know. Peter F. Volanakis, chair, Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees Hanover, N.H. SPECTACULAR The fall issue of Colby-Sawyer is spectacular! Susan Wright, trustee Hanover, N.H.
Colby-Sawyer welcomes letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit and condense them. Please send your letters to editor@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Kate Seamans, editor Colby-Sawyer College 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 Send address changes to alumni@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Colby-Sawyer College Office of Alumni Relations 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 /colbysawyercollege @colbysawyer /groups?gid=143715 /colbysawyercollege
CORRECTION It is with apologies that we note coverage of Commencement in the fall issue omitted the awarding of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Professor Emerita Rebecca Brewster Irving ’42 MT of New London. The degree recognizes an individual of humanitarian character and superior intellect whose life and work have brought about positive, far-reaching consequences for individuals and organizations. Professor Irving taught for 28 years in the Medical Technology Program from which she graduated. In the classroom, she told stories about conducting malarial research for the government in the Dominican Republic, held her students to exceptionally high standards, and advocated to find clinical placements at 75 hospitals in 23 states for her students. In 1978, Professor Irving was recognized with the Alumnae Service Award. She retired in 1982, respected by junior faculty (who noted that she appreciated and guided them with tremendous support) and beloved by students and alumni. Professor Irving stays in touch with her alma mater, regularly attending the Annual Faculty Emeriti Luncheon. She also maintains relationships with scores of former students, some of whom endowed a scholarship in her name that supports a student in a health care-related major whose values
reflect and exemplify Professor Irving’s strength and integrity as well as her desire to learn, educate and help others by “passing it on.” In 2011, in a testament to Professor Irving’s enduring contributions to the lives of so many students, their patients, and the college that formed the foundation of their careers, nearly 50 medical technology alumni traveled from their homes across the country to New London to reunite with their professor for a luncheon. Professor Irving told the group how proud she was of them and how especially grateful she was for the work they did during her tenure to raise $250,000 — one spaghetti supper, fashion show and popcorn sale at a time — to equip and support a laboratory at New London Hospital. According to a good friend, on the day Professor Irving was asked if she would accept an honorary degree from Colby-Sawyer, she had just read a letter from a former student who told her own life story and gave Professor Irving all the credit for her success. It was one of many similar letters received over the years. This is Rebecca Brewster Irving’s legacy: to give all that she has to the next generations and to hear the echoes of her care, expertise, guidance and love come back to her time and again. — Kate Seamans
cover: Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D., was invested as Colby-Sawyer’s ninth president on Oct. 14. The ceremony included remarks offered by these representatives of the staff, town, students, board, faculty and alumni: back row, l – r: Nancy Staszkiewicz, senior staff assistant, Student Development; G. William Helm Jr., chair, New London Board of Selectmen; Kevin N. Richardson ’18, president, Student Government Association; Peter F. Volanakis, chair, Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees; Patrick D. Anderson, Gibney Distinguished Professor of Humanities and college co-marshal. front row, l – r: Nancy Wilkins Kaplan ’55; President Susan D. Stuebner; Ann Page Stecker, professor of Humanities and college co-marshal. Photo: Gil Talbot this spread: Burpee Hall reflected in a spring puddle. Photo: Michael Seamans
editor Kate Seamans associate editor Kellie M. Spinney production manager Edward Germar graphic design Nancy Sepe class notes editors Tracey Austin, Mike Gregory printing R.C. Brayshaw & Company, Warner, N.H.
from the president
GREETINGS FROM COLGATE HALL. My time at Colby-Sawyer has affirmed the strengths I noted as a presidential candidate: Our students are extraordinary young people who excel in their coursework thanks to the combination of liberal arts, pre-professional majors and powerful experiential learning opportunities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the success of each student in remarkable ways. Our alumni are leaders in their professions and communities. I am grateful for the warm welcome all of you have offered and truly feel fortunate to be part of this special institution. I spent the first few months of my presidency identifying the strategic issues facing Colby-Sawyer. The most urgent question that emerged was the optimal size for Colby-Sawyer. As many of you know, our enrollment has fluctuated in recent years, growing as large as nearly 1,500 four years ago and settling at 1,100 this year. These changes impacted our finances. For the past two years, the college has been operating at a loss of more than $2 million, and the current year’s projections showed another loss of $2.6 million. To address our enrollment challenge, the college worked with an enrollment management consulting firm to examine how we can attract the best students at a predictable and realistic size and in a manner that helps us better manage our resources. To attend to the corresponding budgetary implications, Senior Staff and I consulted with administrative directors, academic department chairs and other members of the community to inform our review of our staffing models, our academic programs and our administrative structure. I hope you’ll read about the changes that grew out of this review in my piece “Navigating the New Normal in Higher Education” on page 24.
firsthand the compelling outcomes this institution creates. Our alumni are leaders in their professions and in their communities. On campus, I learn every day about how our students’ lives are transformed thanks to their experiential learning opportunities and the support they receive from our dedicated faculty and staff. I take very seriously my responsibility for stewarding this institution not just for today’s students, but on behalf of our alumni and future students. Like many other colleges across the country, we have had to make difficult decisions to ensure our sustainability. Yet I remain committed to, and confident in, the incredible power of a Colby-Sawyer degree to change lives. I am certain that Colby-Sawyer has a very bright future thanks to the talented students we attract, to the strong dedication our faculty and staff possess, and to the many examples of success our alumni exhibit. With thanks,
Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D. President and Professor of Social Sciences and Education
One of the greatest privileges I have had thus far is meeting with Colby-Sawyer alumni. They illustrate
above:
In November, Gretchen Richter-Massey ’82 and her husband Paul hosted an event at the Union League Club in Manhattan where President Stuebner was able to meet with alumni. Professor of Business Administration Chris Kubik’s Investment Management class, in the city to visit landmark financial institutions, also attended.
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The annual economic impact of Colby-Sawyer, long considered one of the Lake Sunapee Region’s greatest assets, has reached $100 million. The milestone confirms that the college’s influence extends far beyond its 200-acre campus and plays a defining role in virtually every measure of quality of life in the area. “Colby-Sawyer values its partnerships with the town of New London and the Lake Sunapee region. This vibrant community’s interest in the college helps us attract and retain students; they benefit from meeting community members who attend lectures, cultural events and athletic contests,” said President Susan D. Stuebner. “At the same time, we are proud to contribute in various ways to the area through the investments of our faculty, staff, students, and prospective students and their families.” Colby-Sawyer is New London’s largest taxpayer, sending more than $400,000 per year to the town. New Hampshire is the only state in which nonprofit educational institutions pay property taxes. The town’s second-largest employer, salaries, wages and benefits for college employees total $20 million, $12 million of which feeds back into the local economy through employee spending. Students and visitors account for another $5 million in local spending as they patronize businesses, recreate, and fill hotel rooms and restaurants. Tom Horgan, CEO of the New Hampshire College & University Council, has noted that the state’s
1,319
$20
1,205
MILLION annual impact on Lake Sunapee region
MILLION college salaries, wages and benefits
489
JOBS campus-related services
More than half of the college’s $65 million annual budget is invested back in its students in the form of financial aid and grants. Overall, the college spends $18 million on goods and services per year, making it an economic engine that drives innovation in education, sustainability and the workforce. Colby-Sawyer alumni can be found in nearly every facet of community life across the region. Colby-Sawyer also offers resources that enrich the lives of those in the region, such as art openings and exhibitions; lectures by popular authors, artists and filmmakers; as well as musical, dance and theater performances. The Dan and Kathleen Hogan Sports Center is a hub of interaction between town and college community members, as is the Susan Colgate Cleveland Library/Learning Center and the Windy Hill School. And, since 1998, the college’s continuing education program, Adventures in Learning, has offered courses on a wide variety of topics. Colby-Sawyer’s economic impact report uses the same methodology as the University of New Hampshire’s report and is based on enrollment data from the 2015 – 2016 academic year and data from the last fiscal year, which ended June 30.
$65
MILLION annual budget
COMMUNITY JOBS created
STUDENTS served by the college
$18
$12
$5
$400,000
MILLION college spending on goods and services
MILLION student and visitor spending
MILLION employee spending
data driven
$100
higher education institutions are “huge destinations for tens of thousands of students and families who come each year to look at our campuses, and … the students enrolled in our institutions are in many ways nine-month tourists.”
New London’s largest taxpayer
spring 2017
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in the loop
Annual Economic Impact on Region Reaches $100 Million
in the loop
Nursing Grads Receive Commendation from Governor For their professional success, future contributions to the health care of New Hampshire’s citizens, and their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their fellow citizens, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan recognized Colby-Sawyer’s exceptional 2016 undergraduate nursing class with a commendation at a meeting of the Governor and Executive Council held on campus in August. The commendation was presented to Associate Professor and Chair of Colby-Sawyer’s undergraduate nursing program Joan G. Loftus, DNP, RN, who was joined by recent graduates Amanda Chasse, Rebecca Hashem and Grace Lavoie. It notes nurses’ critical role in the health and well-being of New Hampshire’s families, communities and economy; the national workforce shortage in all areas of health care; and Colby-Sawyer’s part in addressing this challenge. One hundred percent of Colby-Sawyer’s 2016 undergraduate nursing class passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), on their first attempt (by comparison, the 2015 national pass average was 86.77 percent). Of the 33 graduates, 27 are employed as registered nurses in New Hampshire; 25 of them are at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/commendation. – r: Joan G. Loftus, DNP, RN, chair of the Department of Nursing; Rebecca L. Hashem, RN ’16; Amanda M. Chasse, RN ’16; President Susan D. Stuebner; Governor Maggie Hassan; Grace A. Lavoie, RN ’16; Susan A. Reeves, Ed.D., RN ’88, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions and Gladys A. Burrows Distinguished Professor of Nursing. l
First Graduate Program Colby-Sawyer’s first graduate program, a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), launched this fall with a cohort of 13 students, four of whom are alumni of the college’s undergraduate nursing program. In collaboration with Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the college’s longtime partner in the health professions, Colby-Sawyer developed the 37-credit program to meet the demand for higher education of the advanced generalist nurse. Program graduates will be eligible to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam. The M.S.N. degree may be completed in 21 months. Learn more at colby-sawyer.edu/msn.
A New Chapter After a lengthy application process completed in partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Colby-Sawyer will have its own chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), the honor society of nursing dedicated to advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. “This is yet another example of the quality of our nursing programs as well as the value of our partnership with DHMC,” said Dr. Susan Reeves ’88, dean of the Colby-Sawyer College School of Nursing and Health Professions and Gladys A. Burrows Distinguished Professor of Nursing. An induction and official chartering ceremony for the Psi Sigma Chapter will take place this spring.
PHOTO: GIL TALBOT
For the first time, Colby-Sawyer will send delegates to the biennial STTI convention this fall in Indianapolis.
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Student-Faculty Duo’s Short Film Wows Festivals FIVE FILM FESTIVALS have accepted “Solipsism,” a short film produced by the student-faculty team of Abhineet Kumar ’17 of Mumbai, India, and Professor of Humanities Craig Greenman. Kumar, a media studies major, has created several short films and videos while at Colby-Sawyer, and he guided much of the visual style of the film as its cinematographer and director. above:
“Solipsism” has been accepted by the Mumbai International Film Festival, the SNOB (Somewhat North Of Boston) Film Festival’s Indie Fest in Concord, N.H., the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Film Festival in Pune, India, and the Red Wasp Film Festival in College Station, Texas. The Oasis Short Film Festival not only accepted the film but also selected it as its October Film of the Month. Based on the philosophical idea that contends an individual’s own mind is the only thing one can know or be sure exists, the 10-minute film was shot in two days at Colgate Hall and Professor Greenman’s home. It opens with him teaching philosophy — as he does in real life — to an empty classroom until a student, played by Xiaoxiao Lu ’16 of Guangzhou, China, disrupts his routine. Conversations with Kumar motivated Professor Greenman to write a dialogue-heavy screenplay, and the two worked closely to create the film.
Still from “Solipsism”.
“What was most striking for me,” said the professor, “is how much I had to trust Kumar. It’s both a little disarming and really neat to trust somebody else to do the work they can do, and for you to do the work you can do.” Professor Greenman was new to the filmmaking process, but he contributed editing suggestions and selected the film’s soundtrack. Dan Kowalski, festival registrar of the Oasis Short Film Festival, cited the use of music to structure the narrative as a highlight of “Solipsism.” Kumar and Professor Greenman hosted a film screening and discussion for the campus community cosponsored by the Cultural Events Committee, the Teaching Enrichment Center, and the college’s film club, of which Kumar is president. The team plans to submit the film to more festivals, and Kumar is writing, directing and shooting a short film for his senior Capstone project. He’s applying to graduate film programs across the country. Watch “Solipsism” at colby-sawyer.edu/solipsism. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
Peptides to the Rescue Two biology majors were among a select few undergraduates chosen to present their research to the New Hampshire IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (NH-INBRE) External Advisory Committee last fall.
alternative method of treating bacterial infections by testing the efficacy of a specific peptide sequence on lab mice infected with E. coli.
In recent decades, many bacteria have become resistant to drugs. Scientists are rebuilding the arsenal against microbes by adapting peptides, a protein produced by all living organisms, to kill strains resistant to existing antibiotics.
Their combined efforts, said Dr. Fiering, “have enabled this very interesting research program to make rapid progress.” Duwadi and Shrestha incorporated this work into their Capstones and are working to publish their research in scientific journals.
Seniors Deepesh Duwadi of Dhading, Nepal, and Anishma Shrestha of Kathmandu, Nepal, worked with Colby-Sawyer’s Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences James Jukosky and Dartmouth College’s Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics Steven Fiering to develop an
Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/peptides. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
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by Kellie M. Spinney
PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
in the loop
CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES
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edia studies major Nathaly Abreu ’17, the daughter of Dominican-born parents and a native of the Bronx, has spent most her life defying stereotypes. “As a Latina, people think I’m crazy and sassy. Sure, I can be kind of sassy, but I don’t think that is because I’m Latina,” said Abreu. “I think it’s because that’s who I am.”
Another stereotype Abreu has encountered is the perception that she is undeserving of a college education. “Just because I am from an underprivileged area doesn’t mean I am uneducated or unworthy of going to college. I feel like a lot of people believe that,” said Abreu. “I want to break away from that stereotype.” Following her father’s death when she was four, Abreu’s mother raised her, her older brother and two older sisters on a less-than-modest housekeeper’s salary. Abreu knew paying for college would be a challenge, but after her siblings attended schools in the N.Y.C. area, she had hope that college would also be in her future. Hope came to Abreu in the form of Summer Search, a national college success nonprofit that helps low-income students develop the skills they need to become college- educated leaders who give back to their families and communities. Abreu was selected to join Summer Search as a sophomore after they partnered with her high school to identify students for their long-term program, which runs through college graduation. The program expanded her horizons immediately, first with a three-week camping adventure with Outward Bound Minnesota, and then with six weeks in Finland. When it came time to think about college, Summer Search helped Abreu identify schools. She visited several and chose Colby-Sawyer in large part because she knew she wouldn’t be just a number to faculty and staff. Abreu has committed to making the most of her time at Colby-Sawyer. She is a resident assistant and an A/V specialist for campus events; she is president of the Knitting Club and Mu Alpha Theta national mathematics honor society; and she’s a member of the Diversity Advisory Board, the Presidential Blue Key Society, Alpha Chi Abreu chose Colby-Sawyer in large national honor society and the Hispanic Latino Club. As a junior, she part because she took advantage of Colby-Sawyer’s relaknew she wouldn’t tionship with the Movies from Marlbe just a number. boro program, a semester-long experience at Marlboro College in Vermont where she was able to combine what she learned in Colby-Sawyer’s stagecraft course with hands-on filmmaking experience in her areas of passion: sound and lighting. But the experience that may have most affected Abreu during her college years — and made the young woman who’s committed to fighting stereotypes see that she holds some herself — was her internship last summer
in New York City with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. “Summer Search informed me of the opportunity, and I remember thinking ‘Makeup? No, thank you,’” said Abreu. “Then I went to their website and noticed they had a diversity and inclusion program. I liked that.” During her 10 weeks as a global external communications intern, Abreu worked with colleagues to support largescale projects with media monitoring, writing, research and social media assistance. “Coming into it, I thought it was going to be about makeup and not that big of a deal,” said Abreu. “But I spent a lot of time with executives who wanted to hear from me. It wasn’t for show. I learned a lot more than I would have if I’d abided by the stereotype I held about corporations like Estée Lauder.” In addition to changing her perceptions of the cosmetics industry, Abreu’s experience also made her consider her future. “I thought my internship was going to be something that looked good on my resumé, but it was so much more,” she said. “Estée Lauder was an amazing woman, entrepreneur and influencer who started her company with nothing but passion for her product. Estée Lauder employees are passionate, and they love what they do. And though I want to be ‘on set’ in some way, shape or form, my experience at Estée Lauder made me realize I also like working in external communications and that whatever I do, I want to be passionate about it.” Whatever career direction she takes, Abreu still has work to do on campus. Her Capstone project, a stage production about how inner-city youth escape their realities through art, is entitled “A Bronx Tale: The Vibrancy of a Culture Transmitted Through Art.” She will design, direct and stage manage a show featuring music, dance and spoken word, including two of her original poems as well as works by New York City-based artists. She will debut the production at The Susan Colby Colgate Scholars’ Symposium. “I hope the audience learns that at times there are misconceptions about inner cities, the Bronx in particular, and that the media plays a huge role in [creating and perpetuating] the stereotypes,” said Abreu. “And although this can inhibit Bronxites, it also pushes many of us to express ourselves through different art forms which, in the end, enhances the vibrancy of the Bronx’s culture.” ® Kellie M. Spinney is the communications and web content coordinator in College Communications. She holds a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.
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in the loop
Board Member Elected Colby-Sawyer’s Board of Trustees has elected William H. “Bill” Mitchell to serve a three-year term beginning May 1. A certified public accountant, Mitchell began a successful career in finance at Price Waterhouse before becoming a chief financial officer (CFO) in the cable television business. In that arena, he helped build TKR Cable Company into a $1 billion enterprise, leading to its sale to TCI in 1996. Since then, he has helped turn around and sell seven internet media companies, including Backcountry.com and Audible. He regards himself as an operating CFO who has addressed and resolved inherited Sarbanes-Oxley weaknesses at several public companies. He has also helped restructure internal planning and reporting strategies to foster enhanced transparent performance. Mitchell holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College and an M.S./ M.B.A. from Northeastern University. He has served in class and alumni officer positions for Dartmouth and in 2008 received the institution’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Mitchell is married to Debra Bray Mitchell ’77, ’79. They have three children and enjoy golf and skiing at their homes in Florida, New Hampshire and Utah. colby-sawyer.edu/giving
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282 Members, including a referee for the Special Olympics, a flutist with the Worcester Symphony Orchestra and a firefighter.
3.3 Average high school GPA; the national average is 3.0. More than a third of the class earned a high school GPA of 3.5 or better.
63 New students who will major in nursing; other popular majors are biology, psychology and business administration.
PHOTOS: JACLYN GODDETTE ’16
meet the class of 2020
The Real Deal This winter, students in Professor of Humanities Tom Kealy’s Introduction to Genre Studies course visited the Rauner Archives at Dartmouth College. They interacted with artifacts related to the works of William Shakespeare, including the 1623 First Folio edition of his collected works and cultural objects related to his plays, from massive volumes to tiny collections designed to travel almost as easily as an e-reader. The physicality of the materials was a powerful reminder that literature is an always living, always changing part of our lives. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16 above, left:
18 States represented.
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The 1623 First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s works, arguably the only reliable text for about 20 plays. Dartmouth’s copy is one of only 234 known to survive. above, right: Sociology major Annelise Jackson ’17 of Vermont peruses a book in the Rauner Archives.
Speed Interviewing Prepares Seniors for the Professional World
Countries represented.
35 Percent of the class that is firstgeneration, aligning with the national picture of undergraduates first in their family to attend a four-year college.
20 Have a family member who attended Colby-Sawyer. Emma Bidwell ’20 is the fifth in her family to attend.
1 Set of twins. Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/2020.
In a mock speed interview contest last fall, community business leaders interviewed students in Professor of Business Administration Beth Crockford’s senior seminar to sharpen their professional skills. Students had 90 seconds to answer a question before moving on to another interviewer; interviewers rated the students on the quality and delivery of their responses as well as their poise. Anh Le ’17 of Hanoi, Vietnam, received the highest score. Rachel Quaye ’17 of Westminster, Mass., claimed second and Lauryn Kmon ’17 of Litchfield, N.H., placed third. The event was made possible by a gift from Enterprise Holdings. Kimberly Smith, talent acquisition manager at Enterprise, was among the interviewers. A friend of the college, she sits on Colby-Sawyer’s Board of Advisers for ENACTUS and the Business Advisory Board. Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/speed-interview. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
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on the hill
PHOTO: KATE SEAMANS
ARTS CENTER TAKES SHAPE Construction of Colby-Sawyer’s long-planned arts center continues on schedule and on budget as winter turns to spring. By early February, the building was enclosed, heated and ready for windows to be installed. The 15,000-square-foot facility is made possible by gifts designated for the project. Scheduled to open for the fall 2017 semester, it will offer studios, a state-of-the-art black box theater and a fine art gallery with views of Mount Kearsarge, as well as faculty offices and outdoor art areas. “Anticipation is high on campus as faculty and students eagerly await the grand opening of the new arts center,” said Kathy Bonavist, vice president for Advancement. “While tuition is
the primary funding mechanism for our core educational programs, it’s the generosity of alumni and friends whose philanthropy provides depth and breadth to the educational experience.” “Going out to bid for our construction management company early in the process allowed Colby-Sawyer to hire North Branch in the very early stages of design,” said Bob Vachon, senior director for Facilities and Capital Projects Management. “This was key in creating an efficient process that supports accountability and a collaborative effort between the college, architects and builder. We have a unified and motivated team moving this exciting project forward.” — Kate Seamans above:
A panoramic image of the building’s interior taken from inside the future black box theater. To the left, the theater, faculty offices and studios are taking shape. Straight ahead, the large window will frame Mount Kearsarge. To the right, the lobby will someday buzz with opening day excitement for performances and exhibitions.
A Leader in Civic Engagement Initiative The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the country’s leading student affairs organization, selected Colby-Sawyer as one of fewer than 100 institutions nationwide to participate in the 2016 – 2017 NASPA Lead Initiative, which recognizes the college’s dedication to promoting civic learning and democratic engagement. Selection was based on Colby-Sawyer’s Office of Student Development’s democratic engagement programming, such as brown-bag lunch discussions, diversity dialogues and alternative spring-break service trips. The Lead Initiative offers selected institutions unique professional development opportunities and targeted resources, such as access to webinars and conferences. In return, Colby-Sawyer is required to track engagement and contribute to NASPA’s blog with posts on strategic planning.
As a participating institution in the Lead Initiative, Colby-Sawyer has committed to maintaining its leadership among American colleges and universities in encouraging students’ civic development. “This initiative will help emphasize and advertise the good work we already do while encouraging us to broaden our offerings,” said Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Robin Davis. Read more about the initiative at colby-sawyer.edu/lead-initiative. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
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Athletic Training Graduates Achieve 100 Percent Pass Rate
“The class understood the importance of preparation not only to achieve clinical proficiency but also to be successful on the Board of Certification exam,” said Assistant Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Education Program Theodore “T. J.” Smith, M.S. “They impressed me with their support of each other and their focus on group success. [The students] were also assisted by our preceptors who, in addition to their normal duties, provided encouragement, counseling and friendship to contribute to their development in becoming professional athletic trainers.” Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/at-pass-rate. – Kellie M. Spinney
Include Colby-Sawyer in Your Estate Planning Request our free booklet, Gift Strategies That Preserve Net Worth and May Increase Your Cash Flow, which provides you with: - Five strategies for giving assets to Colby-Sawyer - Examples of how Colby-Sawyer donors can reduce capital gains tax, increase cash flow, reduce taxes with a retirement plan gift, and more - A chart where you can list your assets and consider which you might contribute to advance Colby-Sawyer’s goals and mission
PHOTO: JACLYN GODDETTE ’16
One hundred percent of the 2016 athletic training graduates who sat for the Board of Certification passed on their first try. By comparison, the 2015 national first-time pass average among bachelor’s degree candidates was 77 percent.
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SPACE SHINES, THANKS TO GIFT At a reception last fall, the Business Administration Department honored Trustee Anthony H. “Tony” Librot ’94 and his wife, Susan, for their generous donation to renovate the department’s offices and public spaces on Colgate Hall’s third floor. The gift funded fresh paint and carpeting, nameplates for faculty offices and a reception desk. It also enabled branding the space as the heart of the department with wall wraps, display areas and messaging that tells the success stories of students and alumni. “I feel grateful to be able to give back to the school that gave me so much,” said Librot. After the reception, Librot gave an interactive presentation to Associate Professor of Business Administration Jody Murphy’s Accounting II class and reaffirmed the benefits of a liberal artsbased education. “Even if you work in business, I guarantee you will have to pull from every discipline to solve problems,” he told the rapt class. Librot, a partner and certified public accountant with Waldron H. Rand & Company, PC, received the Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2009. He and Susan have also included Colby- Sawyer in their estate planning. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
Contact Peg Andrews ’85 at pandrews@colby-sawyer.edu to request your booklet.
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by Kate Seamans Colby-Sawyer College celebrated the beginning of a new era of leadership with the investiture of Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D., as its ninth president on Friday, Oct. 14. The event, held on the Quad during the first day of Homecoming, was followed by a reception in the Marian Graves Mugar Art Gallery. PHOTO: GIL TALBOT
on the hill
Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D. Invested as Ninth President
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resident Stuebner assumed her duties July 1, after the college’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve her appointment. The investiture formally bestowed on her the authority of the office.
Chair of the Board Peter F. Volanakis presided over the investiture, which included his remarks and those of representatives of the student body, faculty and staff, alumni and the town of New London. Chair Volanakis recalled the input gathered from constituents about what type of person should be the president to lead the college through extraordinary challenges. “When I saw the collected criteria, I said, ‘Well, this will be easy. We’re just looking for God on a good day,’” he said. “In fact, being a college president, particularly one of a small, New England, residential, liberal arts, tuition-dependent institution, requires [a] … supernatural combination of talents … Sue Stuebner is that person.” In her remarks, President Stuebner expressed appreciation for the support she’s received from people on campus, in town and beyond. “I move forward with humility for the confidence you have placed in me, with considerable respect for the previous presidents and other campus leaders who have come before me, and with deep understanding of the significant responsibility I have to steward and lead this special educational community forward,” she said.
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above:
President Stuebner with former board chair Thomas C. Csatari, left, and board chair Peter F. Volanakis.
Despite daunting challenges, President Stuebner said she believes Colby-Sawyer is poised to continue to make a significant contribution to the world by committing to its strengths, especially in augmenting theory with hands-on, applied experience. “As we move forward, we must examine how our academic programs best fit with this learning mode,” she said. “We must equip every student with the ability to articulate to prospective employers the intersections of their liberal arts, pre-professional and experiential skills. We must raise funds for applied learning so students don’t have to turn down incredible learning opportunities for internships or research.” She also called on the New London and Colby-Sawyer communities to tell the world about the college. “Proudly wear your Charger gear,” she urged. “Include Colby-Sawyer prominently on your professional bio and tell your colleagues about the amazing education you received here. Refer a student. Hire an intern. Hire a graduate. Give as generously as you can.” “I see enormous potential and opportunity. We’ll face our share of complex challenges,” President Stuebner concluded. “But the quality of the education we deliver is very strong.” Watch the investiture ceremony at colby-sawyer.edu/investiture. ® Kate Seamans is the senior director of College Communications. She holds a B.A. from Colby College and an M.F.A. from Lesley University.
Thanks to the more than 300 of you who made Homecoming 2016 a wonderful weekend! See more photos at colby-sawyer.edu/homecoming.
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on the hill
Enviro Hacker Amanda Carrier ’17, an environmental science major from Monson, Mass., won the $500 Environmental Hackathon grant after competing against six other students at a Campuses for Environmental Stewardship showcase last fall. Carrier’s grant proposal plans to institute a rainwater collection system near the sustainable classroom. Working with Professor of Environmental Studies Leon-C Malan, Carrier will use the collected water to grow plants in the permaculture garden.
LIVING HISTORY: THE U.S. CONSTITUTION REDUX IN A COLGATE HALLWAY, SUSAN SAM-MENSAH ’18 wraps her left calf in cardboard, getting into the costume of a one-legged lawyer from Pennsylvania. Next to her, Jane Martina ’17 looks over her lines. They aren’t actors in the traditional sense but students in Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Education Professor Eric Boyer’s class POL 301: The U.S. Constitution.
“Simulations go beyond anything a textbook could say and insert students into a context where they are in charge of how things progress,” said Tom McGrath ’17, an HPS major who played George Washington.
For the first eight weeks of the class, students plunge into a simulation of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Their task is to design an effective system of government that balances competing interests and satisfies the budding nation’s entire population.
The simulation reminds students that flawed and factious men of many appetites wrote the Constitution, and many contemporary disagreements over the document can be traced back to the complicated political compromises that occurred in Independence Hall.
Simulations are elaborate role-playing activities that assign students roles to perform within the context of a specific scenario. Several disciplines at Colby- Sawyer use them, but especially the history and political studies (HPS) major. “None of the delegates got everything they wanted,” said Professor Boyer. “The process of “Simulations go beyond anything redoing the document from the ground up reveals to students how small changes could have drastic a textbook could say.” impacts.” Resources from Barnard College’s Reacting to the Past Series, which provides character biographies and objectives, help turn the classroom into a theater. Professor Boyer has used simulations for more Many objectives are practical matters, such as obtaining the “adoption of than seven years and, along with colleagues from popular election for the lower house.” Others relate to delegates’ personal Elon University and Lesley University, is designing matters. For example, Gouverneur Morris, the one-legged lawyer from Pennanother that focuses on the First Federal Congress sylvania, must dispose of a paternity suit; Ben Franklin scores points for and the Bill of Rights. hosting a dinner party. Wise students keep their objectives secret, lest other characters’ objectives oppose theirs. His U.S. Constitution class continues to deepen students’ knowledge about the most important Students often refer to the simulation as a game, but the play demands rigor: legal event in America’s history not just by reading Students must read Aristotle, Locke and Montesquieu before the first class, about the document’s origins but also by living and they’re graded on the content and delivery of weekly speeches as well as anew its creation by conjuring the people who on participation in parliamentary debate. shaped it. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16 14 colby-sawyer magazine
The Class of 2015 is achieving professionally and academically, according to a report compiled by the college’s Harrington Center for Experiential Learning. Six months after graduation, 92 percent of responding class members (44 percent) were employed (84 percent) or pursuing graduate studies (eight percent). Of those employed, 87 percent report working in a job directly or somewhat related to their major; 39 percent received a job offer from their internship site. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 82 percent of the national Class of 2015 is employed or pursuing graduate degree studies, as compared to Colby- Sawyer’s 92 percent. Colby-Sawyer’s Class of 2015 also exceeds the national average in employment by 26 percent, with just 58 percent of the national class reporting employment. Employers include the Center for Environmental Health, Colby-Sawyer, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Deloitte, Fidelity Investments, “I Have a Dream” Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase, Kennebunkport Historical Society, Massachusetts General Hospital, The Angiogenesis Foundation and the state of Vermont. Students reported pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Duke University, Radboud University in The Netherlands, Stony Brook University, University of North Carolina School of Law, University of Vermont and Villanova University School of Law. Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/2015-outcomes. – Aaron Records ’15
Fun, Games and a Thirst for Change
out + about
Class of 2015 Finds Success
by Matthew Nosal ’17 YARA MEHIAR ’17 is a public health major from Jordan. She completed her internship at Reclaim Childhood (RC), a nonprofit organization based in Amman, the capital of Jordan. During her internship, Mehiar worked to improve the health and quality of life of refugees through a daily summer camp focused on recreational sports.
was able to befriend, and be a positive role model to, female refugees from Syria, Iraq and Palestine as well as at-risk Jordanians.
“As a woman from the Middle East, I have a thirst for change, equal opportunity and stability,” said Mehiar, who is passionate about using her degree to improve the overall mental and physical well-being of the refugee population. Jordan has one of the highest number of refugees per capita in the world — 30 percent of the population, according to a 2015 census. Many of the refugees are young women and girls who are especially vulnerable to isolation, family separation, racism and mental health issues. RC has three objectives: to provide a safe space for campers to have fun, to connect community members who might not otherwise interact, and to use recreational sports to empower young women. “Getting exercise and playing sports are vital for girls in general, and refugee girls in particular,” said Mehiar. RC uses athletics as a window into discussions about mental and physical health, teamwork and gender equality. Mehiar organized the camp at its outset: On a typical day, she conducted research, wrote grants, assisted with fundraising, completed inventory work and recruited volunteers. Once the camp began, she facilitated activities. “Most campers had never played sports,” she said. “When I asked how they felt while playing … they overwhelmingly replied, ‘happy.’” She
“The more I talked and interacted with the girls, the more I learned about the difficult lives they lead and the traumatic experiences they’ve been through,” said Mehiar. “I felt honored to share moments of joy and tenderness with them as they struggled to maintain hope in the face of terrible crisis.” Mehiar’s thirst for change is far from satisfied. “I’ll research the benefits of sports and art therapy with refugee children for my senior Capstone project,” she said. “I couldn’t have found a better way to develop knowledge that’s helpful for my research, while gaining the skills required to work in this sector, than interning with Reclaim Childhood.” Matthew Nosal ’17 of Manchester, N.H., is a student writer in the Office of College Communications. He will graduate in May with degrees in English and creative writing.
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out + about
IN FALL 2016, the Department of Fine and Performing Arts presented “The Faculty Curates.” For the exhibition, faculty requested the work of an artist whom they admire or have been influenced by to be featured in the show. That artist’s work was shown with one of the faculty member’s original pieces, a context that garnered dialogue between the nationally recognized artists who appeared in the show and the passionate artist-educators who teach at Colby-Sawyer. Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/faculty-curates. left:
Falling Red Chairs by Liz Shepard.
PUBLIC HEALTH for the PUBLIC GOOD by Aaron Records ’15 ALESHIA CARLSEN-BRYAN ’08 is the senior assistant director of prehealth advising at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Global Education and Career Development Department. The biology major who once thought she’d be a veterinarian has engineered a path to success that fits into her passion for public health. While earning her master’s degree at Assumption College, she worked 30 hours per week as a graduate assistant at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). That position morphed into an administrative assistantship advising disability services, along with doing general and prehealth advising. Just as she received her M.A. in school counseling, WPI had an opening for an assistant director of academic advising and preprofessional programs. Carlsen-Bryan landed the position and discovered her passion for prehealth advising. Three years later, an MIT employee suggested she apply for an assistant director of prehealth advising position at the Cambridge campus. She got the job and has since been promoted to her current role. These days, Carlsen-Bryan is working toward a Ph.D. in health professions education at Simmons College in Boston.
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A Passion for Endometriosis Awareness While juggling work and school, Carlsen-Bryan makes it a priority to find time to volunteer with the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA). Endometriosis is a painful chronic disease endured by one in 10 girls and women worldwide. It causes the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, to grow in other parts of the body and can affect a woman’s physical, mental and social wellbeing. With no known cause or cure, Carlsen-Bryan has made it her prerogative to spread awareness of what endometriosis is — and what it isn’t.
... endometriosis is still largely a medical mystery, and misinformation is a serious problem. Through her work with MIT faculty, she’s learned from cutting-edge research on endometriosis — no small feat because endometriosis is still largely a medical mystery, and misinformation is a serious problem. For example, one common myth contends women with endometriosis can be cured if they get pregnant, but according to the EFA, this idea is dangerously false. Endometriosis has no cure, and pregnancy can reduce only some symptoms. CarlsenBryan has made it her mission to stop the spread of misinformation that can negatively affect women’s lives. Carlsen-Bryan does all this while commuting to Cambridge every day from her home near Worcester. Where others would be overwhelmed, she’s right at home — in fact, she’s just getting started. Aaron Records ’15 is a law student at Syracuse University. He holds degrees in philosophy and creative writing from Colby-Sawyer, and he was the 2015 – 2016 Presidential Fellow in the Office of College Communications.
I M P A C T TWO YEARS AGO, we announced our $60 million Power of Infinity Campaign. Based on the strength and potential of our college, we are building momentum and seeing the essential role of our alumni and friends and the infinite impact we have together.
$31 million raised
$60 million goal
The campaign has funded scholarship and programming as well as capital investments: Fine & Performing Arts Center Nursing lab The Stable (campus store)
foundations & organizations
alumni
President’s House Admissions lobby Admissions station
giving by constituency
Business Administration Dept. renovation
total: $30,943,909
Galligan’s Pub Library flooring parents
friends
YOUR ANNUAL FUND GIFT HELPS SUPPORT: Campus maintenance and beautification GIFTS TO THE COLBY-SAWYER ANNUAL FUND help pay for experiential learning and life-changing scholarships — as well as the day-to-day resources that support our transformational learning environment. Every gift to the Colby-Sawyer Fund also counts toward the Power of Infinity Campaign.
Faculty and staff development
Library resources Student life
Scholarships
Sustainability
$502,396 raised*
*As of March 1
$1 million goal by June 30
Technology
PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
out + about
RESEARCH ON HIGH: a season in phenology by Laura Alexander ’98
My research intersects two of my favorite pastimes — hiking mountains and observing native (especially alpine) flora. One day a week, from late May to August, I collect phenology data on 15 plant species at nine sites from Mount Washington’s base to summit.
PLANT PHENOLOGY describes the science of annual life cycle phases of plants, and collecting this data can help scientists understand how factors such as climate and elevation influence those cycles. I’m one of several people who do this work for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which has determined that plants now bloom as much as two weeks earlier in the valley than they have historically, but only two days earlier on the summit. This change is likely connected to climate change. Our data is also fed to the National Phenology Network, and Colby-Sawyer’s Alpine Communities field studies class uses it as well. AMC’s staff ecologist Doug Weirauch has been directing a research program to collect this data for years but has been limited to sites near the AMC’s high mountain huts where resident summer naturalists have collected data. Crucial to this work is that it be done regularly and accurately, which ideally means the same person does it on regular intervals. Anyone who’s hiked on Mount Washington knows the commitment it takes to go more than nine miles once a week all summer. And, the task of stopping at nine sites to identify, count and observe phenological phases on tiny alpine plants is a formidable one. Anyone who knows me, though, knows this work is right up my alley! The 15 species on my list include those that grow only in lower elevations, those that grow only in the alpine zone and some that grow from the valley to the alpine zone. Establishing my research sites presented two challenges: one was to find sites containing as many of the target species as possible that I could relocate by identifying markers, such as trail junctions or other distinguishing markers; the
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Alpine flora is adapted to live in a harsh environment subjected to cold temperatures, high winds and extended periods of cloud cover. They are perennial and of short stature. Altitude limits the growing season; consequently, flora quickly move through phenological phases in order to reproduce. This research has been eye opening — while I have always made an effort to witness the alpine zone’s early bloom, visiting the same sites weekly has showed me the speed at which these plants progress from emerging leaves to full foliage to colored and, finally, dropped leaves. At the same time, flowers bud and open, fruits ripen and go to seed.
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PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
I suspect my observations will lead to more questions as I continue to observe these plants. In the meantime, I’m lucky enough to merge my research, teaching and recreational interests in a place I’m happy to visit regularly. ®
SPECIES LIST: Bigelow’s sedge 1 Blue-bead lily 4 large leaves Bog bilberry 2 Bunchberry 3 Canada mayflower 4 small leaves Diapensia 5
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Hobblebush Goldthread
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Laura Alexander, Ph.D., is serving this academic year as the interim academic vice president and dean of faculty. She holds a B.S. from Colby-Sawyer and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in environmental studies from Antioch University New England. She was the 2009 recipient of the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2015, she was named the New Hampshire Environ mental Educator of the Year in the Higher Education/Non-formal category by New Hampshire Environmental Educators.
Professor Alexander’s data-collecting route: Park at Base Road, head up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Crawford Path and on to the summit of Mount Washington. above left
Labrador tea 6 Mountain avens 7 Mountain cranberry Painted trillium 8 Red trillium Starflower 9
PHOTOS THIS PAGE: Laura Alexander unless otherwise noted.
Trout lily
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PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
other was to find the highest elevation sites for valley species and the lowest ones for alpine species. My sites were along the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail to Lakes of the Clouds Hut, south along the Crawford Path to one site past the junction of the Monroe Loop, and then north along the Crawford Path to the junction of the Gulfside Trail. My two summit sites were off-trail, but I could get to them without damaging the ground cover by walking on rocks.
in the out + about loop
Giving Back with Every Cup
PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
by Jaclyn Goddette ’16
A
cup of hot tea holds more than just a strong, aromatic liquid. In its nearly infinite mutability, the beverage has served as a tonic, a centerpiece to social gatherings and even as the spark of a political revolution. For Nishchal Banskota ’15, a cup of his company’s tea holds the product of a small business and its commitment to corporate responsibility. Operating out of his home in Jersey City, N.J., Banskota manages Nepal Tea LLC’s operations. In the beginning, he devoted much of his time to creating tea blends from scratch by experimenting with bases and flavors. He also named the blends, drawing inspiration from his home country of Nepal.
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In addition to black, green, white and oolong tea, Nepal Tea offers unique blends such as Buddha’s Blend, a white tea with hints of orange, cinnamon and ginger; and Citrus Grove, a zesty white tea flavored with lemongrass, orange, lemon and lime. Customers can choose between loose leaf and tea bags. Banskota works hard to get his tea on store shelves, which involves identifying potential vendors and preparing samples. His pitch is that Nepal Tea isn’t just any cup of tea: it’s high quality, and you’re also giving back with every cup you buy. The tea is fair trade and certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “People are fascinated by the story,” he said. “Our model is a fun experiment that they get to join.” The tea leaves come from Banskota’s family’s tea estate and research center founded by his father in the 1980s, which means he can cut out the middleman and distribute directly to retailers. The estate, located in eastern Nepal at an altitude of 1,300 – 1,800 meters, lies at the foothills of Mount Kanchanjangha. Eight stores in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Massachusetts sell Nepal Tea, including The Stable, Colby-Sawyer’s store in Ware Student Center. “One way to meet the goals of the store is to showcase what makes the Colby-Sawyer family unique,” said Alison Seward, store manager. “I really liked the samples Nishchal gave me, and I liked the idea of selling products made by alumni.” The tea has been a popular product since she started selling it last spring.
NEPAL TEA was established in March 2016, but Banskota’s interest in integrating social responsibility with business began when he was a student. Banskota arrived at Colby-Sawyer in 2011 as a business administration major with a concentration in accounting and finance, and he had every intention of becoming a certified public accountant. By his senior year, however, studying the liberal arts had changed his heart. In 2014, Banskota and several other Colby-Sawyer students traveled to Nepal to volunteer at the country’s first free private school. The trip revealed to Banskota the reality of poverty, but it also gave him hope that small initiatives can alleviate inequalities. When he returned to school, he wondered how he could make a difference with his business degree.
Just weeks before Banskota graduated, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. New degree in hand, he returned home to help rebuild the country and reassess his career plan. Six months later, he decided to establish Nepal Tea and fulfill his father’s dream of bringing the family’s tea to the United States. In doing so, Banskota expanded the estate’s ability to provide opportunities such as educational scholarships to the children of the tea farmers who work there (2,300 scholarships so far), and housing for their families. Banskota describes launching Nepal Tea as “intense.” While working on the project, he lived with his brother without a source of income and devoted all his time to his business. “It was difficult watching my classmates get jobs and make stable incomes,” said Banskota. “At the same time, I knew this was going to grow into something big.” Banskota worked closely with Associate Professor of Business Administration Chris Kubik during this time. The two had served together on the committee that helped Colby-Sawyer achieve fair trade certification, and Banskota continues to view him as a mentor. This summer, the duo presented at the New England Regional Fair Trade Campaign’s annual conference. “Watching Nishchal grow a business is humbling,” said Professor Kubik. “He could find employment with a large U.S. firm, but he has held off on doing so in order to put his efforts and passion into his own business.” Though he offers his perspective based on his own industry experience, Professor Kubik says he mostly tells Banskota to follow both his heart and gut, and he reminds Banskota to remain confident in his business. Banskota hopes to get his tea into more than 30 stores and start a tea bar, but his main goal is to further the Nepal Tea brand. He attends national conferences, such as the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas, and hosts tea tastings. He has recently hired Sashreek Shrestha ’16 to help him with finance and operations. “I have more experience now, and I won’t repeat mistakes I made starting out,” said Banskota. “I know I am doing good.” In both senses of the word, he is. Learn more at nepalteallc.com. ® Jaclyn Goddette ’16 holds a B.A. in English and is the 2016 – 2017 Presidential Fellow in the Office of College Communications.
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sense of place 22 colby-sawyer magazine
COME ON IN Just in time for Homecoming in October, the college store The Stable opened in its new location across from Wheeler Hall in the Ware Student Center, thanks to a gift from Trustee Robin L. Mead ’72. Manager Alison Seward oversees a staff of six student employees, plus interns, who keep the shelves stocked. Popular Colby-Sawyer gear includes spirit shirts, vintage-style sweatshirts, blankets and water bottles. Special touches include ceramic mugs by artist Anthony Marrone ’10; glassware etched by Jake Daniele ’12, founder of Mainely Engraving; Nepal Tea imported by Nishchal Banskota ’15 (see story on page 20); plus faculty books and music, work by local artists and Colby- Sawyer maple syrup. “The Stable is a vital hub on campus,” said Seward. “Our renovated location is attractive, and we invite everyone to stop by.” Shop online at shop.colby-sawyer.edu. Photo: Michael Seamans
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feature
Navigating the New Normal in Higher Education by President Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D.
LIKE OTHER INSTITUTIONS, Colby-Sawyer College faces what many are calling a “new normal” in higher education that has emerged based on four main factors: changing student demographics, families’ willingness and ability to pay, a decrease in federal and state aid, and decreasing net revenue. These factors have had an impact on our institution, prompting us to ask how to address operating pressures that stem from decreased enrollment and revenue, which academic programs we can offer from a position of strength, how to restructure our work and resources, and how to remain true to our liberal arts roots. They have also made us analyze the size of the student body. As a result of these factors, as I mentioned in my letter [see p. 4], we’ve had to make difficult staffing and programming decisions. Colby-Sawyer isn’t alone in facing a complex and challenging environment, and despite the issues we face, I remain confident this institution will emerge, just as it has throughout its 179-year history, stronger and with increased clarity about its strengths and opportunities.
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Determining Our “Right” Size Colby-Sawyer is smaller now than in recent years. But is bigger better? One of the first questions we sought to answer when I arrived was that of Colby-Sawyer’s ideal size. In a competitive landscape, building a strong applicant pool is essential for achieving enrollment goals. In 2012–13, the college enrolled 508 first years and transfers for 1,415 total students. This year, we welcomed 280 new students for a student body of 1,102. This change stems from a couple areas, notably fewer nursing and international students. Until fall 2013, the nursing program was open enrollment; unlimited students interested in the program were accepted to the college but not to the nursing program until their sophomore year, if they met the requirements. The hope was that those who did not meet the requirements would remain at Colby-Sawyer in another major, but this often wasn’t the case. Now the college has shifted to a direct-admit program for the nursing major. This has reduced the number of first-year students interested in nursing from more than 100 to cohorts of 50, a number that better aligns with the academic and clinical resources of projected percentage change in the number of public high school graduates , by state : school years 2009–10 through 2023–24 .
Colby-Sawyer and our partner, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. The past decade also saw a tremendous initiative to recruit international students, primarily from developing countries. Thanks to this effort, Colby-Sawyer enjoys a strong international student presence, which adds diversity to the college and the town. A challenge, however, was that those students were heavily subsidized. For the institution to support as many as 40 new international students each fall at a high discount level isn’t sustainable. Since fall 2013, our applicants have decreased from 3,282 to 2,436. This summer, we engaged the enrollment management consulting firm Royall and Company, which works with hundreds of institutions across the country and has developed a massive data set that includes nearly every prospective college student. Royall is helping us grow not only our high school senior applicant pool but also to engage sophomores and juniors. The company’s research shows that students who connect with institutions as sophomores are 50 percent more likely to attend that institution. Our applicant pipeline will take time to develop, but Royall’s impact has been immediate: Our
changing student demographics COMPETITION: The Northeast has the highest density of public and private institutions:
Massachusetts, 114 · New York, 260 · Pennsylvania, 182 With fewer students graduating from high school, the competition to enroll them is fierce. The University of Maine system was the first public flagship institution in the region to offer in-state tuition to neighboring states for students entering fall 2016. Public flagship universities are also marketing their honors programs as offering an experience equal to that of a small private residential college. The changing demographics and heightened competition creates significant pressure on institutions to understand what size is realistic. COLBY-SAWYER STUDENTS REPRESENT: 27 states · 26 countries 80 percent hail from New England
5 percent or more lower in 2023–24 than in 2009–10 Less than 5 percent lower in 2023–24 than in 2009–10 Less than 5 percent higher in 2023–24 than in 2009–10 5 percent or more higher in 2023–24 than in 2009–10 source :
New England is projected to see more than a five percentage point decrease in the number of high school graduates between 2009–10 and 2023–24. The Northeast has a projected 10 percent decrease of public school high school graduates over that same period.
U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC.
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applications are already up 25 percent for fall 2017 and preliminary results suggest we’re on track to meet our goal of 305 new students.
feature
Royall’s partner company, Hardwick Day, is helping us understand at which size we can attract quality students who can succeed at Colby-Sawyer and how much financial aid they’ll require. The high-price, high-discount model used by private colleges makes it difficult to project size and revenue. Now that many colleges are operating with a discount rate in excess of 60 percent, larger enrollment doesn’t translate to greater financial flexibility. In fact, the modeling we did with Hardwick Day showed that we would yield the same level of net tuition revenue with an incoming class size that ranged from 250 to 290. After considerable analysis, we’ve determined that the college’s ideal size is about 1,100 students. Our goal for new students in fall 2017 is 305 (281 freshmen, 24 transfers), and initial reports suggest we’re on track to meet this goal. As our applicant pool strengthens, we’ll have the chance each year to revisit the predictive modeling and to address size, discount rate and quality – but probably only one variable at a time. Operating Within Our Means Colby-Sawyer’s decline in enrollment, and the subsequent decline in revenue, resulted in operating pressures. When I arrived in July, initial projections for our 2016–17 budget indicated a $2.6 million deficit, putting us on track for a third year of a $2 million deficit if we
didn’t take action. Since our analyses confirmed our size should be closer to 1,100 than the 1,500 achieved five years ago, we were forced to restructure how we deliver our education in a way that mirrors our enrollment and fiscal realities. I held multiple meetings with Senior Staff to review how to approach reductions with the least impact on the student experience. Senior Staff worked with directors, and Interim Academic Vice President Laura Alexander worked closely with the Academic Council, which is composed of the academic department chairs. We kept the Board of Trustees informed throughout the process as it became clear that personnel and programming restructuring had to be not only considered but implemented. We also held multiple all-campus meetings to keep faculty and staff informed. In early December, the college notified seven faculty and 11 staff members that their positions had been eliminated. An additional 11 staff positions were modified either in number of hours per week or months per year. We also decided not to replace 19 positions (five faculty and 14 staff) that were planned departures due to attrition. In total, 48 positions are affected. These changes will yield more than $2 million in savings over the next three years, which takes into account the timing required for faculty notice. These decisions were incredibly difficult, and I regret very much that they had to be made.
percentage change in inflation -adjusted mean family income by quintile : 1985 – 1995, 1995 – 2005, 2005 – 2015
percentage change
lowest 20% second 20% third 20% fourth 20% highest 20% top 5%
families’ willingness and ability to pay The U.S. economy has rebounded from the 2008 recession but its effects linger for many families. Until recently, families in all income quartiles experienced a negative change in inflation-adjusted income over the last decade. This trend has begun to shift in a positive direction but at a rate far less than in previous decades. Families — regardless of income level — feel pinched, and even when they realize the value of a private college degree, many believe they cannot afford the listed tuition price. The 2008 recession, coupled with a smaller number of students, has created a landscape in which prospective students and families have a heightened consumer mentality.
1985 – 1995
1985 – 1995 source :
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1985 – 1995
College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges, Trends in Student Aid 2016.
Our enrollment analyses also show that in today’s competitive market, it is advantageous to offer the most competitive financial aid packages to entering students. As such, the Price to Graduation Promise, which freezes tuition for returning students living on campus and making progress toward graduation, has been eliminated beginning with the Class of 2021. Making Strategic Decisions In addition to attending to how we operate, we also examined strategic questions related to what it means to deliver a quality education to our 1,100 students. In mid-October, Interim Academic Vice President Alexander and I met with members of the Academic Council and Executive Council. At their recommendation, Interim Academic Vice President Alexander met with the Academic Council to review each academic program according to these criteria: recruitment statistics; current enrollment; number of majors; Department of Labor projections for career placement; resources already invested in the program and/or the institution’s ability to fund resources required for a strong program and program quality. They also considered if neighboring or competitor institutions offer the program. Based on the review, five majors were approved for elimination: accounting, English, health care management, health promotion and philosophy. Importantly, most of these programs will still have a strong presence in our curriculum: Students interested in accounting can pursue the finance and accounting track within the business administration major; we will continue to offer minors in English and philosophy; and a health care management minor based in the
published tuition and fees and room and board (TFRB) dollars in thousands
The college will move to a four-year residency requirement starting with the Class of 2021. As an institution that serves predominantly traditional-age students, requiring students to live on campus will enhance their learning opportunities. We’ll use some of the additional revenue realized from this move to address deferred maintenance needs within the residence halls.
average published and net price in 2016 dollars , full-time undergraduate students at four-year institutions 1996–97 to 2016–17.
published tuition and fees NET TFRB NET tuition and fees
source :
College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges, Trends in College Pricing 2016.
decreasing net revenue In such a competitive and complex environment, the ability to set and meet realistic enrollment and corresponding net revenue goals is challenging. 40 percent of private colleges did not meet their enrollment or revenue goals for fall 2016. Exacerbating the decline in enrollment has been a rapid increase in the average discount rate, the level of institutional aid provided to students, to 47 percent. At private colleges, students from all income levels receive significant institutional aid to further enrollment. The result is that although the listed price of tuition has increased, revenue has stagnated. While it may seem logical to lower tuition to eliminate the high-price, high-discount model, private institutions that have pursued this approach saw enrollments and revenues plummet. Studies also show that families associate high price with high quality; parents in particular respond to high merit scholarships for their children.
average net price as a percentage of the total costs by family income
percentage cost
In addition to the savings from personnel restructuring, Senior Staff and I examined other ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. We identified additional savings of $410,000 through cost reductions in food service, health insurance premium structure, study abroad fees, and by reducing the compensation structure for our resident assistants. We may also introduce student fees our peer institutions already employ that will yield up to $250,000 per year.
public four-year private four-year for-profit four-year source:
U.S. Dept. of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Student Financil Aid, Academic Year 2013–14.
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decrease in federal and state aid As tuition increases, federal aid programs cover a lower percentage of costs, leaving families and institutions to make up the difference. Although the spending level on Pell Grants (federal grants for students from families that earn $60,000 a year or less) has increased, the actual amount available per student has remained mostly flat for the past 30 years.
33 PERCENT of Colby-Sawyer’s students receive Pell Grants.
75 PERCENT of Colby-Sawyer students receive federal loans. $27,000: The average Colby- Sawyer student’s federal loan debt at graduation — less than the average price of a new car.
$277: The average monthly student loan payment for Colby-Sawyer grads. Unlike a car, a Colby-Sawyer education is an investment that will appreciate and last a lifetime.
11.3 PERCENT: The national average default rate for repaying loans; Colby-Sawyer graduates’ default rate is just 4.4.
The U.S. Department of Education has reduced work-study funds, meaning institutions have to choose to eliminate student positions or fund positions with institutional funds. Families take on debt to help pay their portion of the cost and institutions must offer increased aid to attract students.
School of Nursing and Health Professions is in development. In the wake of these changes, media attention focused on why a liberal arts-based institution would eliminate the English and philosophy majors. Every student is still required to take English courses in writing and literature as part of the liberal education program, and creative writing remains a major. We have, however, no philosophy majors and only 18 English majors, nine of whom will graduate in May. As a small, tuition- dependent institution, we cannot continue to invest the resources necessary to offer a breadth of courses at the upper levels for majors with so few students. Difficult as it was to make these changes, if we did not, we risked trying to do too much. Moving Forward The first months of my presidency have been challenging, but they have also affirmed Colby-Sawyer’s many strengths. Our faculty and staff participated in meaningful ways to help us reach difficult decisions. Their commitment to our students and mission is profound. The teaching and learning that occurs here is inspiring. We remain an institution committed to the core values and benefits of a liberal arts education – one that promotes critical thinking, communication skills, problem solving and working within a diverse environment. Regardless of major, our students benefit from hands-on, experiential learning opportunities throughout their time with us. Recent studies show that most employers seek the kind of students Colby-Sawyer prepares. A 2015 survey of employers by the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that communication, teamwork, decision making, critical thinking and the ability to apply learning in real-world settings are the most desired qualities employers seek in graduates. Similarly, a 2014 Gallup Study shows that graduates are twice as engaged at work if they had faculty who cared about them, a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals, an internship that allowed them to apply their classroom learning, and a project that took a semester to complete. Colby-Sawyer’s approach to educating students incorporates all these aspects. Our students are gaining a high-quality education that provides them with essential skills not just for their first position but for a lifetime. I believe Colby-Sawyer’s future and our ability to transform lives — even within this new normal — remains very strong. ®
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SOLID FOUNDATIONS: A Colby-Sawyer Couple Builds a Life Together by Kate Seamans
W
hen David Rosso ’10 turned 18, his girlfriend Lindsey Brown ’12 whisked him away for his first visit to the Big Apple. Navigating New York City’s grid with confidence, she guided him from one landmark to another with unerring accuracy while he shook his head at the roar, stared up at the skyscrapers and wondered how anyone could ever be part of it. The city was, the Vermonter thought, overwhelming and unreal. Fast forward 10 years, and David is working on Madison Avenue as an assistant vice president with Credit Suisse’s Finance Business and Project Management Group. Lindsey is a head teacher at Greenwich Academy’s Cowan Center in Greenwich, Conn., where the couple lives. In between, there was Colby-Sawyer, years apart, a wedding, a house renovation, budding careers, and a growing sense of building a life together on solid foundations laid during their college years.
They didn’t meet at Colby-Sawyer, though. “We’ve known each other forever,” said David. “We grew up in Vermont but went to different high schools. A friend introduced us and we started hanging out, and then I went off to college.” David credits substantial aid from Colby-Sawyer, along with Head Coach Bill Foti and Assistant Coach Josh Pincoske, for getting him to the college, where he was a guard on the men’s basketball team and finished his career with 1,124 points. His coaches helped him become a pivotal member of the basketball team and set the foundation for his being part of a global team in the workplace. “I basically followed Dave to Colby-Sawyer, which I didn’t think I’d do,” said Lindsey. “But I had visited him there, and he’d made a really amazing group of friends who adopted me.” above:
David and Lindsey at their home in Vermont with beagles Toby and Bailey keeping an eye on things.
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She has stayed her course; Lindsey earned a master’s degree in literacy and is in her third year as a head teacher after starting as a preschool assistant. She teaches three- and four-year-olds, and has come to appreciate her education on a deeper level.
I miss Windy Hill. I didn’t realize then how lucky I was to have such an experience in a top-notch facility. “I’ve had so many colleagues say, ‘Wow, you have such an amazing foundation in teaching,’” said Lindsey. “Colby-Sawyer’s child development program gives you a lot of field hours; I graduated with experience working with children, not just reading and research and discussing teaching. I was teaching and learning from teachers all the time. Looking back, I’m so grateful. I miss Windy Hill every day. I didn’t realize then how lucky I was to have such an experience in a top-notch facility.” Ask David what his Colby-Sawyer education means to him, and he has a simple answer: “It means everything.” “Every professor knew my name and wanted me to succeed. If I needed extra help, they’d welcome me into their offices any time,”
he said. “I wasn’t just a number. I formed all these relationships with professors and students; we were so interactive, and that built the foundation of how I interact with people, how I got this opportunity. I can definitely thank Colby-Sawyer for my business foundation. I learned you never know who you’re going to meet, so always be ready to present yourself in a professional manner. Shake people’s hands, look them in the eyes, have your elevator speech ready. That’s how I fell into the banking world.” Falling is one way to put it, but really, David adjusted his goals to accommodate extraordinary opportunities. The reality is, David concedes, that jobs like the one he once envisioned with a professional sports team can be hard to come by. Accepted to graduate school, he decided instead to work for his future father-in-law’s excavation and property management business back in Vermont. He spent quite a bit of time at a property whose owner worked for Credit Suisse and, as David says, “one thing led to another.” Through that connection, he landed a sixmonth gig in the chief operating office (COO) at Credit Suisse’s North Carolina location. The offer meant a major decision: to leave Lindsey and New England. Lindsey, reprising her tour-guide role, nudged him in what appears to have been the right direction. “He wasn’t sure what to do, but I said, ‘Go for it,’” she said. “I told him, ‘You don’t have to stay; just see what it’s like.’”
PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
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Another attraction for her was the child development program. Since first grade, she’d wanted to be a teacher.
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dinner before they installed wiring, but two years later, the couple revels in the heat and light and running water. “It’s finished and we just love it up there. It’s our escape,” said David, who was in Colby-Sawyer’s first sugaring class and now helps with the family’s syrup production. “The city life is awesome and amazing, but it can be a lot. I love to fish. We like to be outside, so it’s nice to go up every weekend.”
PHOTO: MICHAEL SEAMANS
Lindsey’s found a way to bring Vermont back to Connecticut, using the farm setting to teach her students about everything from farm animals and pollination to ice cream production and the logistics of transporting produce. While early childhood education is her passion, she can also imagine a future in a kindergarten or first-grade classroom where she can use even more of her literacy skills and focus on project work and curriculum development.
In the COO, every day was different and expanded David’s knowledge about the bank and the industry. He turned permanent within three months and worked there until Lindsey graduated. Her sense of direction extends well beyond a map, though, and she had a plan. With an ill grandmother, Lindsey knew she didn’t want to move to North Carolina. “I told him, ‘I’ll get a job outside of New York City, and you’re going to go to work at Credit Suisse there.’ And he was like, it’s not that easy.” But sometimes, if you make it so, it is. While apartment hunting in Connecticut, Lindsey got a call for an impromptu interview at the Cowan Center that turned into a job offer the next day.
She can imagine another life for David, too, who last year won a Supervisor of the Year award for his work mentoring the high school internship program in his division at Credit Suisse. “Whenever he’s done with this crazy banking life, he would be a really good basketball coach or teacher,” she said. “He’s really good at connecting with high school students.” “Do I see myself in banking in 20 years? I don’t know,” David said. “I don’t know if New York will ever feel normal because it is so different from what I’m used to, but it’s definitely comfortable now. I’ll do it until I wake up one day and quit to become a Christmas tree farmer in Vermont.” He’s joking … maybe. Whatever the future holds for Lindsey and David, Colby-Sawyer will be part of it, with Friendsgivings and new memories, such as of the alumni event they attended in Greenwich this fall where they met President Susan D. Stuebner. “It was fun to meet others who had gone to Colby-Sawyer, and to meet Sue and hear about the direction the college is going in was nice,” said Lindsey. “When you leave school, you feel like you’re ready to go, but now I’m realizing I have this life because of my college experience, and I have more of an appreciation for Colby-Sawyer.” ®
“I was like, ‘All right. I’ve got the job and picked out an apartment you haven’t seen, but your mom and I like it, so now you have to get your transfer,’” Lindsey said. “It worked out.” The following year, they married in the state that holds their hearts, on the 250-acre farm Lindsey’s grandmother grew up on in East Dover, Vt. No one had lived in the 19th-century farmhouse for 30 years, and given the choice between buying a place in Greenwich or bringing the old place back to life, the newlyweds opted for the latter. Woodchucks used to run from the house when they pulled into the drive, and there was a memorable candle-lit Valentine’s Day
Your gifts help make a Colby-Sawyer education possible for our smart, motivated students. colby-sawyer.edu/giving
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out + about
Field Office Devoted to Community-Based Sustainability Opens in Franklin by Jennifer White ’90
Colby-Sawyer celebrated the grand opening of its field studies office for the Sustainable Learning Initiative (SLI) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 3. President Susan D. Stuebner and members of the staff, Senior Staff and Board of Trustees were joined by representatives from PermaCityLife and the city of Franklin to mark the occasion.
ribbon cutters, l
– r: Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of Sustainability Jen White ’90, Executive Director of PermaCityLife Todd Workman, Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield, Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner and PermaCityLife’s Community Development Coordinator Jenisha Shrestha ’14 gathered at the PermaCityLife storefront.
SLI IS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY for Colby- Sawyer students in the state’s smallest city, which is dedicated to using the principles of permaculture and sustainability to revitalize its downtown. Through Colby-Sawyer’s relationship with the nonprofit Perma CityLife and community partners, students work with stakeholders to explore, design and develop sustainable solutions to real and evolving community needs. As a complement to the SLI, Colby-Sawyer has launched an innovative three-year degree in community-based sustainability which allows students to save approximately 20 percent on the cost of their college education and gain professional hands-on experience while still in school. “Colby-Sawyer College is proud to partner with PermaCityLife and the City of Franklin. The collaboration allows our students to put their liberal arts foundational skills and their theoretical knowledge from their major into action solving real problems,” said Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner. “The students’ work is not hypothetical — they have a chance to contribute in meaningful ways to the revitalization of Franklin. This kind of investment by our faculty and students is exciting and enhances what we offer in the classroom.” The remodeled storefront at 357 Central Street will serve as the hub for partnerships and projects within the downtown, functioning as the main office for PermaCityLife and home base for Colby-Sawyer classes and interns who travel there to work with project partners. CATCH Neighborhood Housing, which recently began work on quality affordable housing in the former Franklin Power and Light Mill, will also use the space. The 45 apartments will capitalize on the historic features of the building while maximizing energy efficiency, resource conservation and community interaction.
PHOTO: JACLYN GODDETTE ’16
Todd Workman, executive director of PermaCityLife and the primary catalyst for the sustainable revitalization efforts, remarked, “Colby- Sawyer’s involvement lends credibility to the project and validates to residents and visitors alike that Franklin Falls is on the rise. Activating an empty storefront is always valuable, but having the college as a longterm collaborator shows that it is an innovator, brings youthful energy and creativity to our community, and gives others the confidence to come to town and start their own business.” PermaCityLife is dedicated to highlighting the rich history of the community while using innovative techniques that maximize the city’s resilience and sustainability. Like many cities across the country, Franklin was once a booming mill town with thriving businesses and social activities; when those industries left, it failed to find what community branding expert Roger Brooks calls its “second act.” It has some of the
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lowest incomes, property values and attainment of higher education, as well as some of the highest incidents of drug addiction, teen pregnancy and lead paint in the state. These challenges are balanced by a host of strengths that include a walkable downtown at the confluence of three rivers, stunning architecture, recreational opportunities, and a passionate and determined citizenship. In the last two years, more than 10 businesses have come to town, including Take Root Coworking, Outdoor New England and a volunteer-run coffee shop featuring New Hampshire-made products. Colby-Sawyer’s SLI creates skill-building opportunities by pairing the to-do lists of these pioneering project partners with the learning outcomes in majors across disciplines. During the fall, more than 90 Colby-Sawyer students breathed new life into the downtown. Professor of Fine and Performing Arts Hilary Walrod’s Identity System Design class collaborated with Professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences Stacey Watt’s class to create a comprehensive branding strategy and business plan for the emerging Franklin Falls Whitewater Park; Professor of Natural Sciences Nick Baer’s Aquatic Ecology students conducted analyses of aquatic life to assess water quality prior to the in-river modification and restoration for the park. The design for a new community garden in Franklin was underway in Professor of Environmental Studies Leon-C Malan’s Sustainable Food System class, while the college’s entrepreneurial business club, Enactus, authored a comprehensive business plan for the Twin Rivers Interfaith Food Pantry. Two students in Professor of Business Administration Jonathan McCosh’s Advertising and Social Media class outlined a communications plan for PermaCityLife and SLI, and senior Capstone research projects included a riparian invasive species inventory for the park, social sustainability research for CATCH Housing and website graphic design for Take Root Coworking.
Kelsey Forest is Certified Tree Farm Thanks to a student-led initiative, the N.H. Tree Farm Program recognized Colby-Sawyer’s 86-acre Kelsey Forest as the state’s newest member of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) during a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Field Day held on campus last fall. The ATFS promotes the sustainable management of forests through outreach to private forest landowners, and it requires applicants to develop a management plan based on strict environmental standards. Environmental science major Owen Krol ’17 of North Reading, Mass., and environmental studies major Jacob Conroy ’17 of Conway, Mass., presented the forest management plan they wrote with environmental science major Sarah Appleton ’17 of Andover, Mass., to SFI foresters. Following their presentation, Tim Fleury, a representative of the N.H. Tree Farm Program and field specialist for the University of New Hampshire: Cooperative Extension, formally updated the college’s application status. “The certification process in New Hampshire is fairly rigorous, and Colby- Sawyer met all the standards for becoming forest managers and longterm stewards in the tree farm program,” said Fleury. Krol, Conroy and Appleton conducted research for developing the forest management plan as part of the 2015 – 2016 Community-Based Research Project, an experiential, two-semester class all environmental science and environmental studies majors take in their third year. The trio worked with local foresters and Professor of Environmental Studies Leon-C Malan to collect data from the forest and calculate the species dominance, timber volume and total carbon storage of Kelsey Forest. The forest surrounds the Kelsey Athletic Campus and includes a 1.6-mile hiking trail. The students’ plan suggests how the college can sustainably promote the educational and public benefits of Kelsey Forest, and it outlines plans for a disc golf course and outdoor classroom. “Submitting the application to the tree farm program was an exciting prospect as it was in line with the college’s goals and interests as we had identified them,” said Krol. “It provided a unique opportunity to leave a meaningful impact on our college.”
This is engaged learning for the common good. ® Jennifer White ’90 is Colby-Sawyer’s director of Sustainability and an assistant professor of environmental studies. She holds an A.A. from Colby-Sawyer College, a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.A. from Naropa University.
In addition to recognizing the college’s commitment to sustainability, ATFS certification provides Colby-Sawyer with resources to keep Kelsey Forest healthy. The college’s responsible stewardship of the forest will be reviewed every five years. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
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portfolio out + about
publications and exhibitions
Tobolek, a book of poems by Associate Professor of Humanities Ewa Chrusciel, Ph.D., was published by Arterie Press in Poland; the cover was designed by Colby-Sawyer graphic designer Nancy Sepe, M.F.A. Professor Chrusciel’s next book of poems, Of Annunciations, will be published in English by Omnidawn Press in fall 2017. Professor Chrusciel also participated in a group reading from the Anthology of Poems, to which she contributed, and many other readings in Poland. In the fall, Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts Nick Gaffney, M.F.A., had images from his series “Behind Kmart” chosen for four juried exhibitions: Home Exhibition, Mills Pond Gallery, St. James, N.Y.; Structures Exhibition, Loosen Art, Cagliari, Italy; Man in the Landscape Exhibition, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vt.; and From the Pastoral to the Political Exhibition, Hera Gallery, Wakefield, R.I. You can see the complete series of images at ngaffney.net/portfolio/behind_kmart. above: Behind JC Penny #15, 2015, 12”x18” Pigment Print
Professor of Humanities Craig Greenman, Ph.D., edited and published Restoration: The Notebooks and Selected Letters of John Cook. A two-time mayoral candidate and restorer/landlord in Concord, N.H., Cook filled his notebooks with a wide-ranging confrontation with the human condition from a local perspective, while his letters home from the Vietnam War are heartfelt and informative. Professor Greenman initiated the project in part to publish the ideas and stories of everyday, extraordinary people. The New Hampshire Historical Society has added the book to its collection. You can find copies at The Stable, Colby-Sawyer’s college store.
Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Education Kathleen Farrell, Ph.D., wrote the instructor’s manual for a new textbook from Oxford University Press, Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach by Melissa J. Gillis and Andrew T. Jacobs. The manual contains chapter summaries and outlines as well as activities and discussion questions. The second edition of Winning Grants: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians by Pamela Herd MacKellar ’69 and Stephanie K. Gerding has been released by publisher ALA Neal-Schuman.
Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences Joshua Steffen, Ph.D., published two coauthored articles. “SUPRESSOR OF FRIGIDA (SUF4) supports gamete fusion via regulating Arabidopsis EC1 gene expression” was published in Plant Physiology in December 2016. “Genomic Rearrangements Considered as Quantitative Traits” was published in Genetics in February 2017.
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New Research on Old Texts Assistant Professor of Humanities Paul Robertson’s analysis of Paul the Apostle’s first-century letters that make up 13 books of the Bible has been published by the international academic printing house Brill. Released as part of a series that makes original contributions to the field of New Testament studies, Paul’s Letters and Contemporary Greco-Roman Literature: Theorizing a New Taxonomy can already be found in major research libraries.
This fall, Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts Mary Mead, M.F.A., exhibited her work in sculpture and printmaking in two exhibitions. She installed a large-scale sculpture at the annual SculptureFest at the King Farm site in Woodstock, Vt., and the Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., featured her print work in “2016: A State of Mind,” an exhibition meant to capture the essence of the current political landscape. You can see both works at marymead.net. below: Untitled, mixed media, 2016
“Paul is easily the most fascinating figure in Christianity,” says Professor Robertson. “He never knew Jesus, yet he’s our most prolific writer from that period. He was probably the figure most responsible for spreading Christianity … [yet] he was originally a Jew, and he persecuted Christians. Then he allegedly had this religious experience … What made him flip the switch?” The manuscript uses quantitative mapping to situate the apostle Paul in a previously unrecognized social and literary landscape with other writers from the Ancient Mediterranean. The wider implication of Professor Robertson’s research is that writing is a social, embodied act. Read an interview with Professor Robertson about Paul’s Letters at colby-sawyer.edu/robertson. – Jaclyn Goddette ’16
WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE COLBY-SAWYER Last summer, theodysseyonline.com published “Why You Should Choose Colby-Sawyer for College” by William Hyland ’19, a sport management major from Searsmont, Maine. When he visited campus for the first time, Hyland says, he fell in love with the location, the sense of belonging and the career opportunities the college provided. “By the time March rolled around, I had basically made up my mind on where I was going,” he writes. “Colby- Sawyer felt like home already and now it has become just that. That’s why I chose CSC, but why should others?”
Here are some of his reasons to choose Colby-Sawyer: ®® Because of its close-knit community and small class sizes. ®® Because of our athletic dominance across the North Atlantic Conference. ®® Because our location … allows for skiing, hiking and swimming. Did I mention free ski passes? ®® Because we cancel class to hike up Mount Kearsarge once a year. ®® Because we are committed to maintaining diversity and cross-cultural opportunities. ®® Because the classic Georgian architecture makes for a perfect backdrop to your walk to class. (And great Instagram photos.) ®® Because we offer on-campus events [that] bring in phenomenal singers, bands, comedians and political figures. ®® But most importantly, choose Colby-Sawyer College because by the time you settle in here, you’ll have found your second home.
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fate’s agenda by Kimberly St. Lawrence ’09
I MET RYAN ST. LAWRENCE ’07 IN FALL 2007. He was back on campus for an alumni soccer game. I was settling into my junior year and indifferent about finding love, but he made me laugh and was one of the most genuine individuals I’d met — the uninhibited, what-you-see-is-whatyou-get type. At such an intimate school, it was curious our paths had never crossed before. But fate tends to have its own agenda. Over the next several years, we grew up a little, grew together a lot, and ended up marrying in 2015 on a hilltop farm overlooking Mount Kearsarge. Our own special Mountain Day. We settled down in our native New Hampshire with rewarding careers and a rock-solid five-year plan that included travel, children and lots of time in nature. Then, while mountain biking on Aug. 13, just after our one-year wedding anniversary, Ryan suffered a crash that broke his back and left him paralyzed from the chest down. A doctor told us Ryan would never walk again. This prognosis is so common, I wonder if it’s medical protocol: Deflate all hope to curtail disappointment. With an injury where hope is all you have,
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this was the kind of news from which heartbreak splinters. And yet, we knew his fate was not for the doctors to decide. They didn’t know Ryan like we did. They’d never seen him claim a swim tournament or defend the Chargers on the soccer field. They’d never witnessed him flying through the last stage of an Enduro mountain biking race to claim a podium spot. They’d never experienced his stubbornness, playfulness or authenticity. And they certainly didn’t know how many people he would have behind him.
Colby-Sawyer alumni rallied around us at DHMC, visiting, writing messages of support, fundraising, extending prayers. Ryan was transported to the ICU at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, just a stone’s throw from our alma mater. There was comfort being in familiar territory and confidence being in the care of the teaching hospital that had nurtured some of our dearest nurse friends. Colby-Sawyer alumni rallied around us there, visiting, writing messages of support, fundraising, extending prayers. We met other graduates and current students who cared for us like family, and in many ways, were family. Never had we experienced a
deeper sense of gratitude and community than in those dark hours. Never had we felt more reassured of the perseverance of humanity. When it comes down to it — when egos and trivialities are stripped away and we are at our most vulnerable — we realize we’re all in this life thing together.
Two Weeks in Thailand Last summer, Lindsey Hebert ’17, a biology major with a pre-vet concentration, spent two weeks in Thailand helping animals and learning hands-on what it’s like to be a veterinarian. Hebert, a Parker, Colo., resident, was part of a small volunteer team that provided care at a dog shelter for one week and worked with rescued elephants at a sanctuary for another. Boston-based Loop Abroad’s Veterinary Service program brings students to Thailand to volunteer alongside a staff veterinarian. The no-kill shelter, Animal Rescue Kingdom in Chiang Mai, is home to more than 100 dogs rescued from the streets or abuse. While Hebert learned what it’s like to be a veterinarian, she also made a difference in the lives of the dogs by diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds, and helping with sterilization surgeries.
From that point on, nearly every aspect of our lives would change. Every bit of faith and fortitude would be tested. Our patience as individuals and our integrity as partners would be challenged. We could easily slip down a dark side street of defeatism and self-pity, or we could begin a slow and painful ascent toward recovery. Support system in tow, we chose the latter. Through months of in-patient rehabilitation, through grueling hours of therapy, through small victories like flexing new muscles and big defeats like another week without sensation, we press on. Now several months into this journey, we’ve overcome so much, and yet we’ve just begun to peel back the corner of this experience to see what it holds for us.
Hebert then moved on to the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand, where she worked with the pachyderms and learned about animal rescue and conservation on a larger scale. The park is home to more than 40 elephants rescued from trekking, logging or forced breeding programs. Many suffer from chronic injuries. Hebert fed, bathed and cared for the elephants, and she learned about their diagnoses alongside an elephant veterinarian. The park is also home to more than 400 dogs and 100 cats, as well as rabbits and water buffalo. It’s sustained in large part by the work of volunteers like Hebert. ®
One of the most fascinating things we’ve learned about spinal cord injuries is that the brain never stops sending messages to the subinjury body. Never. It’s kind of romantic in that way. Even if the body doesn’t respond, the brain never gives up hope; it’ll keep sending that beacon so the body knows the way home. That makes us think that maybe this isn’t a tragedy. Maybe it’s a love story. Maybe hope will win out. Or maybe it already has. ® Kimberly St. Lawrence ’09 holds a B.A. in media studies. She is the senior marketing manager at Business & Legal Resources and host of The Mountain Report, which airs on Comcast SportsNet New England.
“I learned how to suture, make surgical incisions, draw blood, and examine many animals, from dogs and buffaloes to horses and elephants,” said Lindsey Hebert ’17.
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THE SEASON IN SPORTS FALL 2016/WINTER 2017 MEN’S SOCCER (10–7–1, 6–2–1 NAC) The men’s soccer team, selected to finish fourth in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) standings, went 6-2-1 and earned the third seed in the NAC tournament. Although the Chargers were upset in the first round, the team made its seventh straight postseason appearance and for the 21st time in 22 seasons. Under first-year head coach Charles Metz, Colby-Sawyer finished with a 10-7-1 overall record to register its third consecutive double-digit win total. Four of the Chargers’ losses were by one goal, including an impressive showing against 11th ranked UMass Boston. Junior Denali Sexton (Barrington, R.I.) was named the 2016 NAC Player of the Year and became the second player in program history to earn Player of the Year honors. (Goalie Mitch Stone ’97 was the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year in 1995.) Sexton was also named to the All-NAC First Team for the third straight season, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England First Team and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-New England Region Third Team. Sexton earned his second straight nod to the NSCAA Third Team to become the second Colby-Sawyer men’s soccer player with multiple NSCAA awards. (Aaron Cinquemani ’05 garnered NSCAA recognition in 2002 and 2004.) Sexton led the eighth most potent offense in the country (3.17 goals per game) with 33 points on 15 goals and three assists. Three of his goals were game-winners, including one in a 2-1 victory over Castleton. Sexton again ranked among the top players in the nation and finished 30th in goals, 43rd in points, 27th in goals per game (.83) and 41st in points per game (1.83). He’s scored at least 30 points in
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PHOTO: JOHN QUACKENBOS
sports
by Ryan Emerson
Senior captain Andre Clothier of New Zealand is the all-time leader in assists.
each of his three seasons and is the Colby- Sawyer men’s soccer programs all-time leader in career points (112) and goals (45) and is second in career assists to senior Andrew Clothier (Matamata, New Zealand). Clothier was named to the All-NAC Second Team. He finished second on the Chargers with 21 points on six goals and a team-best nine assists. He is the all-time leader in career assists with 29 and is fifth in career points with 65. Clothier ranked 40th in the nation in assists and 33rd in assists per game (.50). Senior Rick Prindiville (Hooksett, N.H.) earned his second straight All-NAC First Team honor after being on the second team as a first-year student and sophomore. The senior anchored a defense that recorded six shutouts and was the fourth stingiest backline in the league, surrendering just 1.46 goals per game. He added a pair of goals during the season, which included a game-winner at Eastern Nazarene. Sophomore Anthony Romeo (Albany, N.Y.) was named to the All-NAC Second Team. Romeo played and started in all 18 Chargers games as a defender. In addition to helping the backline preserve six clean sheets, Romeo collected the second most assists on the team with five.
Sophomore Jake Towle (Barnstead, N.H.) was selected to the All-NAC Sportsman ship Team. Towle recorded five wins in net for the Chargers and posted a 1.67 goals against average. He had a solo shutout and a pair of shared shutouts on the season. Towle collected 10 saves three times this season, which included games against nationally ranked UMass Boston and Middlebury. Junior goalkeeper Sean Babinski (Concord, Calif.) earned NAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping the team to a pair of conference wins. First-year student Devin Kelly (Lynnfield, Mass.) garnered NAC and ECAC Rookie of the Week accolades after scoring three times in a pair of wins against NAC foes. Kelly finished his first season ranked fourth on the team with 13 points on six goals and an assist. FIELD HOCKEY (11–6, 3–2 NAC EAST) The team set program records for overall wins and conference wins in a successful 2016 season. The Chargers saw an increase in victories for the fifth straight year and reached the NAC East semifinals for the second straight season. Colby- Sawyer finished 11-6 overall and 3-2 in the conference. Colby-Sawyer earned the third seed in the NAC tournament and traveled to Husson University for the semifinals for the second straight season. Despite a 5-3 loss, the young Chargers squad is poised to make another trip to the postseason next year. Sophomore Jordan Teixeira (Exeter, N.H.) and first-year student Kailyn Lapham (Medway, Mass.) were named to the All-Tournament team. The Chargers outscored their opponents 55-14 in the 11 wins, while half the team’s losses were by one goal. The team set single-season records in points (146), goals (60) and assists (26). Colby-Sawyer
ranked 15th in the nation with a 3.48 scoring average and 16th with 3.53 goals per game. The team also led the conference in each category. First-year student Alie Jones (Cape Neddick, Maine) turned in the most prolific season to date for the field hockey program. Jones was named NAC East and ECAC Rookie of the Year, and she became the second straight Charger to earn NAC Rookie of the Year honors (after Jordan Teixeira in 2015) and the first player to be named ECAC Rookie of the Year. She was also named to the NAC East All- Conference Team and ECAC All-Star Second Team. In conference play, Jones ranked in the top 10 in goals (4, T3rd), points (8, T8th), and shots on goal (9, T10th). Her NAC East game-winner came in a big 2-1 win over Thomas College with fewer than three minutes to play. Overall, Jones found the back of the cage 16 times, assisted on four goals, and posted three game-winners for a total of 36 points. In just her first collegiate season, she is the college’s single- season record holder for both points and goals. In the nation, she ranked 28th with 0.94 goals per game and 42nd with 2.12 points per game. She was selected as NAC East Rookie of the Week six times, was named ECAC Rookie of the Week once and was named to the Synapse Sports All-Rookie Team. Joining Jones as one of 11 student-athletes selected for the NAC East All-Conference Team were senior midfielder Allyse Mullen (Wilder, Vt.) and junior defender Jesse Murch (Poland, Maine).
Murch played and started in each of Colby-Sawyer’s 17 games and collected one defensive save. She was an instrumental part of three shutouts during the season, helping the team to a program record 11 wins. Murch and the Colby- Sawyer backline allowed the second fewest goals in the conference (30) and goals per game (2.03). Forward Teixeira represented the Chargers on the NAC Sportsmanship Team. She followed her impressive first year with another great season, tying for second on the team with 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Two of her goals were game-winners. The sophomore is already the all-time program leader in assists with 11 while ranking second in points (41) and fourth in goals (15). Sophomore Xena Ras (Medfield, Mass.) was the Chargers’ starting goalie in every game. She went 10-6 in the cage to set a single-season record in wins. Ras added three shutouts. She had a 1.93 goals against average to rank 67th in the nation. Ras earned one NAC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Junior Paige Viens (Middlebury, Vt.) and sophomore Sierra Schuster (Hopkinton, N.H.) also had great seasons, with 19 points apiece on eight goals and three assists. WOMEN’S TENNIS (12–1, 7–0 NEAC EAST) The team won its fifth straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East Division title with a 5-0 win over Husson. Again picked as preseason favorites, the Chargers went undefeated through conference play for the fifth straight year. The team wrapped up the fall with an overall record of 12-1 and a conference record of 7-0. The Chargers are 41-1 since joining the NEAC East Division in 2011. They resumed play in the spring with a few matches prior to playing the winner of the NEAC West Division in the NAC/NEAC Crossover Championship with a trip to the NCAA Tournament at stake. Colby-Sawyer was the top seed in the NEAC East Tournament and defeated Castleton, site of this year’s championship, 9-0 in the semifinals. The Chargers then cruised to the title with a victory over Husson in the finals. Junior Ashley Woodside (Hampden, Maine) was named Tournament MVP after winning all four of her matches. Juniors Evelyn Miller (Smithfield, R.I.) and Christine Hill (Wallingford, Conn.) also earned AllTournament honors.
The women’s tennis team went 12-1 and claimed its fifth straight NEAC East title.
PHOTO: COLBY-SAWYER ATHLETICS
PHOTO: MATT PLOUFFE ’17
Alie Jones led the Chargers with 36 points on 16 goals and four assists and was named NAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year.
Mullen was fifth on the team with 13 points on four goals and five assists. She started and played in all 17 games and was a leader on and off the field as a captain. Mullen solidified herself as one of the top players in program history with 36 career points on 13 goals and 10 assists, ranking in the top five in each category.
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Miller and sophomore Maddy Gemerek (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) were also named AllNEAC East First Team Singles. Sophomore Aislinn O’Connor (New Fairfield, Conn.) and junior Lauren Blanchard (Agawam, Mass.) were named All-NEAC East Second Team Singles. O’Connor also earned a nod to the NAC Sportsmanship Team. The duos of Gemerek and Woodside and Miller and O’Connor earned First Team Doubles distinction. Blanchard and Hill garnered Second Team Doubles accolades. Miller finished the fall with an impressive 11-1 record, which included wins over Division II opponents from Saint Michael’s and Southern New Hampshire University. She went 5-0 in conference play for the second straight season and earned one Player of the Week award earlier in the year. Gemerek was 9-3 on the season with a perfect 5-0 record against conference opponents. O’Connor led the Chargers with 12 wins in 13 tries this season, including a pair of victories over Division II opponents. Last year’s Rookie of the Year, the sophomore went 6-0 in conference play to push her
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NEAC East regular season winning streak to 11.
Lyndsay Ostler was named NAC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year.
Blanchard went 10-1 on the season, winning matches at numbers 5, 4 and 3. The junior went 4-0 in conference play and has won all 14 regular season NEAC East matches in her three-year career.
First-year student Peter Bakker (Barkham sted, Conn.) led the Chargers at the NAC Championship by finishing as the runner-up. He was named the 2016 NAC Rookie of the Year for his efforts. Bakker became the second Charger to earn Rookie of the Year honors (after Hayden Bunnell ’15 in 2011) and landed on the AllNAC First Team.
Woodside and Gemerek combined for a 10-5 overall record and an undefeated mark of 5-0 in conference action at the top doubles spot. Miller and O’Connor picked up where they left off last season, when the duo earned Second Team Doubles honors after going 20-6 overall and 7-0 in conference play. This season, they were 12-2 in all matches and 4-0 in the NEAC East. Hill and Blanchard collected a team-best 13 doubles wins this season. The tandem is 13-3 with a 6-0 record against conference opponents. Hill and Blanchard are 18-3 overall and 9-0 in conference action in three years as doubles partners. CROSS COUNTRY The men’s and women’s teams won the NAC championship. The women claimed their third straight while the men won their first crown. The women’s team was chosen as the preseason favorite and took home first place with a score of 36 points with five runners in the top 10. The men’s team was picked second in the preseason poll but won the title with an impressive 25 points after placing five runners in the top eight.
Junior Kody Frye (Keene, N.H.), first-year student Benjamin Jones (Enfield, N.H.) and seniors Brandon Legendre (Waterford, Vt.) and Scott Shaw (Norfolk, Conn.) also earned NAC First Team honors. First-year student Liam Fleming (Orford, N.H.), sophomore Bruin Smith (Cohoes, N.Y.) and senior Travis Yandow (Franklin, Vt.) earned All-NAC Second Team honors. Junior Stephen Bennett (Saugus, Mass.) represented Colby-Sawyer on the NAC Sportsmanship Team. Bakker, a four-time NAC and ECAC Rookie of the Week honoree, had an impressive debut season. He recorded four top-11 finishes, including a ninth place out of 99 to help Colby-Sawyer win the Roger Williams Invitational. He finished 10th out of 192 runners at the Emmanuel Saints Invitational where Colby-Sawyer placed third out of 23 institutions. Colby-Sawyer finished a close second at the Keene State Invitational where Bakker finished 11th.
The women’s cross country team won their third straight NAC title.
PHOTO: NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
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Woodside was named NEAC East Player of the Year after leading the Chargers to their fifth-straight perfect conference season. The 2014 Rookie of the Year has been a First Team Singles and First Team Doubles honoree all three seasons of her collegiate career. Woodside joins Ashlyn Ramsay ’16 as the only two Chargers to win both the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. Woodside went 9-5 in all matches at the top flight and completed her third-straight perfect conference slate with a mark of 5-0. She’s now 14-0 in conference singles matches after three seasons. Woodside ranks sixth in career doubles wins with 46 and is T-8th in total career wins with 82. She was a three-time NEAC East Player of the Week honoree this season.
PHOTO: NORTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
Shaw finished third at the NAC Champion ship in a time of 26:58.2 to earn his second straight nod to the first team. Legendre, a three-time NAC Runner of the Week, placed fifth with a time of 27:12.6. He has been an all-conference honoree in all four seasons, landing on two first teams and two second teams. Frye garnered first team accolades after placing seventh in a time of 27:24.8.
The men's cross country team earned the program’s first NAC title.
Jones was right behind Frye in eighth place in a time of 27:27.3 to also earn first team honors.
19:11.07 to place 27th out of 275 runners. Lopez was named NAC Runner of the Week earlier in the season.
Yandow earned second team honors by finishing 13th at 28:17.5, while Smith finished 14th at 28:19.3 and Fleming was 15th in 28:32.1 to collect second team accolades.
Parker also earned first team honors for the third time in her career after placing seventh in this year’s NAC Championship. She crossed the finish line in 22:09.7.
The men’s team finished the season with the program’s best result at an NCAA Regional. The Chargers placed 17th out of 56 with 568 points to set program records in each category and were the top NAC finishers out of eight teams competing. The women’s team was led by veterans at the NAC Championship. Senior Emily Lopez (Lincolnville, Maine), junior Nicole Morris (Salisbury, Vt.) and senior Kylee Parker (Winterport, Maine) were named to the All-NAC First Team. Parker also represented the Chargers on the NAC Sportsmanship Team. First-year student Alison Fairbairn (Dover, N.H.) and junior Lauren Oligny (Plaistow, N.H.) earned All-NAC Second Team accolades. Lopez, who earned her third straight nod to the first team, led the Chargers to a third consecutive conference title and finished in second place with a time of 21:14.6. Earlier in the season, she set a 5K record at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. She broke her own record of 19:19.72, which she set at UMass Dartmouth last year, with a time of
Morris placed eighth with a time of 22:32.6 to earn her first All-NAC First Team award. She was named to the second team last season. Racing in her first NAC Championship, Fairbairn covered the 5K course in 22:39.3 to place ninth and earn second team honors. Oligny, a two-time All-NAC First Team honoree, rounded out the Chargers’ top five finishes to clinch the 2016 NAC title. She placed 10th in a time of 22:45.1 to receive second team honors. The Chargers earned three top-three finishes during the season, placing second out of seven teams at the Keene State Invitational, third out of 13 teams at the Roger Williams Invitational and third out of 18 teams at the Emmanuel Saints Invitational. Colby-Sawyer also placed 10th out of 37 teams at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, as the team ran against Division I, II and III schools. The women’s team concluded the year with the program’s best finish at an NCAA Regional by placing 25th out of 59 institutions. The Chargers also recorded a program best 806 points and were the
top team among eight NAC institutions. Kylee Parker set a 6K record to lead the Chargers in 78th place out of 406 runners. She clocked in at 23:03.92 to beat the previous record set by teammate Lauren Oligny. WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (11–21, 6–1 NAC) The team reached its sixth straight NAC title match but had its five-match winning streak snapped by Maine Maritime. With only two seniors, the young Colby- Sawyer team played a tough schedule that featured multiple NCAA Tournament participants and finished the season with an overall record of 11-21 and 6-1 in the NAC. Eight first-year players appeared in at least two-thirds of the team’s matches. Colby-Sawyer earned the second seed in the conference and defeated Husson 3-0 in the semifinals before falling to the Mariners in the championship match. The Chargers have won 38 of 39 regular season conference matches since joining the NAC and 114 of 122 sets played. Sophomore Courtney Murray (Quincy, Mass.) and first-year student Naarah Cox (Boston, Mass.) earned NAC All- Tournament honors after leading the team in the postseason. Murray collected a team-best 12 kills in the championship match while Cox finished with eight total blocks, four kills and three digs. Senior Gabrielle Rodriguez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Cox were selected to the All-NAC First Team.
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PHOTO: JOHN QUACKENBOS
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284 digs and 3.51 digs per set. She ranked fifth and fourth in the conference in those categories, respectively.
Naarah Cox earned NAC First Team honors.
Rodriguez, who earned an NAC Player of the Week honor earlier in the season, led the Chargers with 216 kills and 53 service aces. She was also second on the team with 252 digs and fourth with 27 blocks. Rodriguez ranked in the top 10 in the conference in many statistical categories, including kills (4th), kills per set (9th, 2.08), aces (8th), block assists (9th), points (4th, 284) and points per set (8th, 2.7). She had five double-doubles on the season, with her most impressive coming in the season opener against Simmons when she had 16 kills and 19 digs. She finished her career with 781 kills, 759 digs, 126 blocks and 120 aces. Cox was an offensive and defensive force at the net in her first season. She led the team and the conference in hitting percentage (.283) and blocks (63). Cox also led the conference in block assists (54) and was second in blocks per set (.69). Her best match of the season came at Castleton when she had 11 kills on .421 hitting and five blocks. Cox finished third on the team with 146 kills.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (10–9–1, 6–2–1 NAC) The team won its fourth straight NAC title after defeating intrastate foe New England College (NEC) 1-0 in the championship match for the second consecutive year. Colby-Sawyer compiled a 6-2-1 conference record to earn the third seed in the NAC tournament. Colby-Sawyer is 47-4-3 in regular season conference matches since joining the NAC in 2011 and has won four titles in six years. First-year student Molly MacLure (Westford, Mass.) scored the game- winning goal in the team’s 3-2 victory over sixth seed UMaine-Farmington in the quarterfinals. After a 1-0 loss at Husson earlier in the season, the Chargers returned to Bangor, Maine, to play the second-seed Eagles. MacLure did it again, as she scored the game-winner in the second half to lift the Chargers to a 2-1 win and advance to a fifth straight title game, the 1-0 victory over NEC. Sophomore Abbie Sansoucy (Douglas, Mass.) scored the lone goal in the championship for the second straight season and earned her second consecutive NAC Tournament MVP award. MacLure, first-year student Sam Mitchell (Chester, N.H.), junior Corrie Hoyt (Lebanon, Conn.) and senior Rachel Quaye (Westminster, Mass.) earned All-Tournament honors.
The team drew nationally ranked Stevens in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the sixth ranked Ducks ended Colby-Sawyer’s season with a 10-9-1 record. The Chargers recorded their sixth straight season with double-digit wins. Hoyt, Quaye and senior Lizzie Jorgensen (Manchester, Vt.) were named to the AllNAC First Team. Quaye was also named to the NAC Sportsmanship Team. Sansoucy and junior Emily Martin (Amesbury, Mass.) were named to the AllNAC Second Team for the second year in a row. Jorgensen saved her best offensive season for her senior year. She played and started in all 20 matches in 2016 and led the team with 19 points on nine goals and an assist; one of those goals was the game-winner in a victory at Thomas. She was seventh in the conference in goals. Jorgensen also earned a nod to the ECAC Division III New England First Team. Quaye, a co-captain in 2016, was second on the team with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. She was named to the All-NAC First Team for the third time in her career and was selected to the AllNAC Sportsmanship Team for the second straight season. Quaye solidified herself among the all-time offensive threats for the Colby-Sawyer women’s soccer program, finishing her career ranked seventh in career points (62), tied for seventh in goals (25) and 11th in assists (12).
The women’s soccer team claimed its fourth straight NAC title.
First-year student Caroline McCoy (Longmeadow, Mass.) earned an NAC Defensive Player of the Week award during the season. Despite missing some time, the defensive specialist led the team with
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PHOTO: MIKE BROGLIO
First-year student Aspen Kinley (Wilson, Wyo.) represented Colby-Sawyer on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
Hoyt earned All-NAC First Team accolades for the third season in a row as a top defender in the conference. She started in all 20 matches and was instrumental in leading the team to six shutouts during the season, including in the 1-0 NAC Championship victory at NEC. Hoyt also garnered ECAC First Team honors. Alongside Hoyt, Martin played an integral role in the backline. The two-time All-NAC Second Team honoree earned one NAC Defensive Player of the Week award earlier in the season. In addition to her stout defending, Martin collected three goals, including the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Norwich in the season opener. Sansoucy helped the team on both ends of the field once again this year. She finished the season fourth on the team with 15 points on six goals and three assists. The defender also played a pivotal role in the team’s six shutouts throughout the
season. She was named NAC Player of the Week after scoring the game-winner in the NAC title match. MacLure finished third on the team with 16 points on six goals and four assists. She had a team best three game-winners. She was twice named NAC Player of the Week, NAC Rookie of the Week, ECAC Player of the Week and ECAC Rookie of the Week. Mitchell stepped right in as the starting goalkeeper and earned seven wins with two shutouts. She earned three NAC Rookie of the Week awards, one NAC Defensive Player of the Week honor and one ECAC Rookie of the Week award. ® Ryan Emerson is Colby-Sawyer’s Sports Information Director. He holds a B.S. from Western New England University and an M.B.A. from Providence College.
INFINITE CHARGERS: The 2016 Hall of Fame Class Since 2006, the Colby-Sawyer Athletic Hall of Fame has celebrated the athletes, coaches, teams and supporters who have set records, demanded excellence, forged lasting bonds and made dreams come true. On Oct. 16, during Homecoming Weekend, volleyball player Michelle Doody ’11, basketball player Terri Duffy ’10, basketball and lacrosse athlete Noelle Surette ’08, dedicated supporter Sally Shaw Veitch ’66 and the 1999 baseball team were inducted into the Hall of Fame, enshrining their spectacular contributions and achievements in an enduring legacy.
PHOTO: GIL TALBOT
Visit colby-sawyer.edu/2016-hof to read more.
Ethan Casson ’96 Named CEO of Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Hosts Students Sport management major and 2015 Colby-Sawyer Athletics Hall of Fame member Ethan Casson ’96 began his new role as the chief executive officer of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx in August. He returns to the Minnesota franchise where he spent 11 years as the vice president of corporate sales & services and game presentation. Casson was previously with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, where he held the positions of chief operating officer, chief revenue officer and vice president of corporate sales. He was an integral part of securing one of the largest naming rights deals in NFL history as the 49ers partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. for a 20-year, $220 million naming rights deal. For the second January in a row, Casson hosted students for a job shadowing experience with his organization. Sport management majors Natalie Ellard ’19 of Rockland, Mass., and Will Hyland ’19 of Searsmont, Maine, spent five days in Minnesota learning about all facets of the Timberwolves’ operation, from marketing and partnership sales to membership services and production. Learn more about Casson’s rise to the top at colby-sawyer.edu/casson. ®
l – r: Kevin Maccioli ’02, Rob Fagan ’01, Darcy LaFrance ’00, Adam Dow ’01, Shawn Herlihy ’01, Mark Smith ’99, Michelle Doody ’11, Tyler Blout ’99, Chris Lindquist ’99, Sally Shaw Veitch ’66, Dave Shoreman ’02, Ryan Smith ’00, Scott Lavigne ’01, Noelle Surrette ’08, Ryan Willey ’00, Terri Duffy ’10, Chris Cabe ’00, George Sylvester ’00, Eric St. Onge ’99, Dave Lindberg ’01, Coach Jim Broughton, Kurt Svoboda ’00 and Jason Frew ’00.
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news from alumni relations connections
COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE
Homecoming october
13 – 15, 2017
Make plans now for Homecoming 2017. Enjoy alumni and varsity sporting events, faculty-led workshops and talks, an alumni Mountain Day, and socializing with old and new friends. Don’t miss this chance to catch up with your classmates and your college! Reunion celebrations for the following classes will take place during Homecoming: 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012.
PHOTOS: GIL TALBOT
O’BRIEN and BRAY HONORED with Annual Alumni Awards at Homecoming 2016
JOIN US FOR AN EVENT NEAR YOU President Susan D. Stuebner looks forward to connecting with alumni across the country this year. Visit colby-sawyer.edu/alumni/events for details about events where you can meet President Stuebner and learn about her vision for the college. Colby-Sawyer thanks our recent event hosts: Anne Matternes Congdon ’66 Malvern, Pa. Bobbie Hamilton Hopkins ’48 Riverside, Conn. Gretchen Richter Massey ’82 New York City Beth Constantinides Meurlin ’70 Oak Hill, Va. INAUGURATIONS In recent months, alumni have represented President Susan D. Stuebner and Colby-Sawyer as official delegates to inaugural ceremonies at other institutions. We’re grateful to those who have accepted invitations: Maryann Blaisdell Anderson ’64 DuQuesne University Elizabeth Roland Hunter ’70 Mills College
ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD For 70 years, Ramona “Hoppy” Hopkins O’Brien ’46 (above, left) has lived by her father’s words: “Never forget your college after you graduate.” A loyal donor and longtime class correspondent, Hoppy is a wonderful ambassador for Colby-Sawyer. She’s hosted regional gatherings for alumni in her area, represented the college at other inaugurations and been a regular presence at campus reunions.
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YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD A Boston, Mass., native, Collin Bray ’06 (above, right, with President Susan D. Stuebner) is one of the city’s most successful realtors. He’s a managing partner with Century 21 Cityside and specializes in condominium and townhome sales. In 2013, he was named one of the country’s top 50 realtors under 30. Collin serves on the board of directors for Easter Seals Massachusetts and the nonprofit Boredom Busters. He’s membership chair for the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and a member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association. Collin graduated from Colby-Sawyer with a degree in business administration. He was a team captain, an all-star and a four-year starter on the basketball team. As an alumnus, Collin has been a regular attendee at college gatherings, has volunteered at student/alumni networking events, and is a dedicated Colby- Sawyer Fund supporter. Since 2012, he’s hosted students for internships and even hired some after graduation.
SEEKING ADMISSIONS VOLUNTEERS The Office of Admissions seeks energetic and enthusiastic alumni who wish to help Colby-Sawyer continue to attract outstanding students from across the country. If you’re interested in attending college fairs in your area and talking with prospective students, contact Admissions Counselor Reeve Fidler ’13 at reeve. fidler@colby-sawyer.edu or 603.526.3701.
Connect with the Alumni Office: alumni@colby-sawyer.edu 603.526.3722 ♦ 800.266.8253 facebook.com/colbysawyeralumni twitter.com/colbysawyer linkedin.com/groups?gid=143715 instagram.com/csc_alumni
class notes 1940
Judy Verrette Christiansen celebrated her 96th birthday. She lives alone, drives locally, walks 2 or 3 times a day, plays bridge and attends the theater.
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RUTH ANDERSON PADGETT ruthlajolla@aol.com Hello, survivors! Missed hearing from you this time around. I can, however, report on birthday phone calls with Nancy Dean Maynard and Shirley “Shal” Glidden Splaine, all of us wondering how we got to be 91! We are lucky to be able to enjoy great grandchildren and figure they are one of the major benefits of living so long. Nancy sounded wonderful and we laughed a lot. Great to be friends for 70+ years. Shal is busy as ever and planned to leave for FL after the election. We both love our gardens and have decided we can’t take care of both house and garden, so we’ve hired housekeepers. Because of our drought I have “planted” plastic flowers in my pots. They look pretty. Till next time, stay well and don’t fall.
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CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Marion Nickerson Paulson enjoys hearing what is going on at Colby- Sawyer. For the past 10 years, she has lived at the Village at Duxbury (MA), an independent retirement community with interesting activities. In Sept., Marion joined residents on a 6-day getaway to VT for a fun change of pace.
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PHYLLIS HARTY WELLS lesmase@gator.net Barbara-Jane “Beej” Smith Thompson keeps bumping into Colby-Sawyer gals! In Sept, she writes, “my country club bridge team played our semi-annual duplicate tournament at Bay Next Yacht Club. At one point, there were 4 alumnae at one table: Carol Weissenborn Smith and me, Debbie Bond Monier ’60 and Mary Ann Harman Wagner ’51. How’s that for a reunion? Love to all.” Fran Wannerstrom Clark called me in July while visiting her FL daughters. Since CT weather was in the 90s, she was prepared for FL’s summer weather. In Aug, she spent time with her son and her daughter-inlaw on Long Island. Their area has beaches to die for, beautiful old trees and quaint old cottages. It was hard for Fran to get back to reality. Fran and I were excited about the winning outcome of the Women’s Olympic Basketball Team in Rio. In Oct, Fran saw “Man of La Mancha” at Ivoryton Playhouse in Essex, CT. The son of a fellow resident at Covenant Village played Don Quixote. He has sung at the Met and has a fabulous voice. She purchased raffle tickets for the Benevolent Care Fund at her CCRC and won a wicker basket filled with Italian goodies. The only other thing she can remember winning was a 5 lb. bag of sugar as a Bingo prize at her church when she was a teenager! Fran’s on a quest to read as many of the classics she has missed as she can but fears it will take several lifetimes. She enjoyed a 2nd trip to FL in Oct and had a week with her wonderful daughters checking out Sarasota. The “girls” always manage to have fun together. Jan West
Williams had a busy year with too many visits to the “medical circus.” Husband Harry, 89, had to have some repairs. He’s okay, but all this delayed their annual vacation to their camp on Blue Mt. Lake in the Adirondacks where they do not have a television, a computer or cell phones, and the nearest store is 11 miles away. They do have a beautiful lake, a great dock, mountains and some interesting trails. Nancy “Hob” Hobkirk Pierson had a great but too-short summer. Husband Jim tore a tendon in his knee, had a detached retina and then wiped out on his bike at their Nantucket house. Generally, they’re in good health. Jim still drops into his E. Orange office most every day. They spend most of the year in NJ but Hob still likes to go to their VT house during the summer. It’s a great place for her to paint. Jim goes up most weekends as he can take advantage of the beautiful old golf club nearby. When in NJ, Hob has a longtime volunteer job counseling “down and out” men. Their 5 daughters are all fine and their grandkids are a fun group. They are scattered so they don’t see them often. They did manage to have a family reunion of 40 in VT last summer. A note from Cornelia “Nini” Hawthorne Maytag arrived in July. She was packing to visit CA. She sent the sad news that Emy Lu Simson Croke died last April. Emy lived in the mountain town of Empire, CO, where she and Kevin established a home and raised their 3 children. Nini and Emy Lu stayed in touch and met frequently in Denver. Nini stays busy and is grateful she has enough energy for all that she does! She organized an unusual walk for her CO Springs garden club. After meeting a woman who had been involved with bats for 20+ years, 30 of Nini’s garden club members watched bats in action in the beautiful Garden of the Gods. The guide used echo locators to track the bats as they left their caves at dusk. CO had an incredible autumn with temps in the 70s. Nini cherished each warm day, knowing what was “just around the corner.” In Oct, Nini spent time in NYC. She and Hob Pierson managed a short lunch together. It was Columbus
Day and the long parade made it difficult for Hob to get to NYC from NJ. Still, they enjoyed the time they had together! My next-door neighbor discovered I can use the computer and that I know quite a bit about graphics. Because of our affiliation with the University of FL, we have many lecturers from UF/ Shands Teaching Hospital speak on various subjects. My friend heads up the Oak Hammock Health and Wellbeing committee and was looking for someone to make fliers. I have now made about 14 and love using my imagination to design them for UF’s huge variety of subjects. Mase and I will celebrate 3 years at our beautiful CCRC. It’s the best move we’ve made. I’d love to hear more from those who haven’t written in a while.
1950
KATHLEEN VALLIERE-DENIS OUILETTE nanapa@beeline-online.net Ann Bemis Day writes: “My little family hasn’t had a chance to be together since we gathered in Maui in June 2015. My granddaughter, Meg, and her 2 school-age kids, who live in Brisbane, Australia, are planning a trip back to Gettysburg where her mom (my daughter, Deb) lives, in April. My grandson, Haven, is in Seattle and my twin granddaughters, Emma and Ruby, have graduated from Warren Wilson College in NC. I do see them a couple times a year. I’m still in my cottage here at Rivermead (ACCRC) and doing as much writing as I have time for. These ‘retirement homes’ have a ridiculous schedule of things to do every day, from aquatic volley ball to quilting clubs to exercise classes. I have formed a poetry-journal workshop that meets once a month. I just published my 11th Annual Poetry and Photo Engagement Calendar. I am on the board of the Monadnock Writer Group and belong to the Poetry Society of NH. Several of my poems have been published online and in literary publications. Peterborough is a good place to be if you like to write. I’m working on a poetry-photo memoir and Nature of Things Vol. 11. I always enjoy reading about our classmates and hope to see you at
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our 70th!” Unfortunately, I haven’t heard from anyone else, though hoping Jean Finley Doughty will tell me her news from Wilton, ME, and her wonderful family doings. One of her daughters has a blueberry farm and, for those of you who know ME, you must be aware that the blueberry is our state fruit! I have a publisher who stays in contact and hopes that I’m working on my second book. You all know that our great-grandson, Landon, who was diagnosed with rare Wilms Cancer when he was 5 years old, spent 7 years at St. Jude in Memphis, TN. Well, he now has “cured status,” is a handsome 16-year-old and will be going to college. Most copies of my Two Birds in a Box have been given to children’s hospitals, as the book is “dedicated to Landon and all children in hospitals who are waiting for their turn to fly.” Another book? Yes, but like Ann, I need more time! I am still writing my weekly column If Walls Could Talk and last week I learned of 2 more nearby students who had been welcomed to Colby- Sawyer. Tiara Meng ’19 of Athens, ME, will pursue a B.S. in biology and Haley Carver ’20 of Sidney, ME, will pursue her B.S. in nursing. I still produce and direct “Keeping Pace” and “Now You Know” for our local TV station and am a “professional volunteer” for everything I do. Speaking of doing, I’m diligently working on our community of Madison leaders to declare a Dr. H. Leslie Sawyer Day. He grew up right here in Madison, ME, attended school here and, when opportunity knocked, he became leader of the co-ed Colby Academy that grew into a certain women’s junior college in New London, NH. He would be especially proud that Colby-Sawyer is now an accredited 4-year college. Patricia Davis Hoffman would be delighted to hear from classmates. She writes, “Assisted living is a good fit for me now, near Charlotte, NC. My 2 children and 6 grandchildren are scattered in MA, NC and TX.” Gloria Demers Collins reports that she and John celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Nov 11. “He likes to tell folks we were married on Armistice Day and have been fighting ever since! What a guy. We stay pretty close to home
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these days but do manage to get our exercise in at Gold’s Gym 3 times a week. I have been sidelined from my classes at the Senior Center due to a bad knee…boo, hiss. Recently had lunch with my pal from Colby, Priscilla Johnson Greene, who resides in a retirement community. I do miss our shopping and lunch trips, but driving any distance has been a problem. Our son lives in Woodbridge, VA, which is about a half hour away from us… thankfully. Our grandson is fluent in Japanese and studying in Japan. Since he has a Taiwanese gal friend, he is learning that language as well. Granddaughter Kate works for the medical examiner in Dover, DE; forensic anthropology is her forte. She has a 4-year-old son and a 5-month-old daughter. Her hubby has taken a leave from the police department to watch the children.”
1951
ROBERTA GREEN DAVIS 107 Columbia Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081 Lynn Healy Nichols was disappointed to miss our 65th reunion, but she had an important event in her hometown, Waverly, PA, on the same weekend. She writes, “If in 2021 I am in the shape I’m in now, I’ll be there for my 70th! Fortunately, I am able to play golf 3 times a week (9-18-9 holes). After the holidays, I will head to Manasota Key, FL, for the winter where I hope to continue playing. If anyone is in the Venice, Englewood, Boca Grande, Fort Myers areas, give me a buzz at (941) 474-0376. I would love to hear from you. I do see Sheila Francis Dow several times each winter. Sadly, her husband, Tim, passed away last June. I recently connected with Nancy Shumway Adams ’52. I love reading the Colby-Sawyer Magazine! I am one of many proud graduates!” In Oct, Marguerite Cline Almy moved from MA to GA for 6 months. She reports, “I kayaked up to the day I left. I went for miles and spent so many hours stopping at interesting destinations. Our Town Landing was always free for docking. I’d get out and walk all over the village and have lunch outside, often. Sometimes I’d paddle to sandbars and go
swimming. I’ll really miss the water and will be anxious to get out once again on our return. I will do biking here in GA. I’ll also miss our family as they all live around us in the summer. Hope all is going well for my fellow ’51 grads. Have a wonderful fall and winter.” Elaine Wahlstad Littehales bumped into Ann Harrison Hadley—literally—in the checkout line in the supermarket one hot Aug. day. Elaine writes, “The fact that we recognized each other instantly speaks for itself! Though we both live in the same smallish town (I believe she grew up here) we never see each other, but drawing our grocery baskets into a relatively untrafficked area, we chatted for half an hour and promised that when the weather got cooler, we’d meet for lunch and tie up all the loose ends. Sorry to say I can’t give you a report on that meeting yet, but we had a lookquick-or-you’ll-miss-it snow flurry yesterday, so I think it’s time for lunch! Greetings to all the ’51s out there; there aren’t many of us left! But if you’re like me, when the leaves start to dazzle the eye, my heart always goes back to those sweet days on the hill! God bless.”
1952
MARILYN WOODS ENTWISTLE mainewoodsie1@roadrunner.com Sarah “Sae” Bond Gilson says the only thing she has to report is that they are happily still breathing and enjoying life in Hanover. Nancy Angell Turnage and Bob are longtime members of a congenial group of square dancers/bridge players who enjoy each other even if someone messes up or trumps their partner. My Bob and I, too, have found a delightful group of good old guys and a few nice women with Parkinson’s. With some caregivers, we all, in a circle led by PT Rebecca, do aerobics, weight work, bounce tennis balls and end the session with a game of keep-the-beach-ballin-the-air. It is all done with much silliness and good humor. In June, the gal who rear-ended Roger and Nancy “Shum” Shumway Adams didn’t think she had done enough damage and rammed them a second time, resulting in 4 months of rehab for both. They are almost
back to normal. Janet Holmes Thompson describes her year as filled with multigenerational gatherings, including the families of sisters Shirley Holmes Dunlap ’47 and Jean Holmes Duffett ’50. Many years ago, she and Ken took writing lessons to help them write family stories, a tradition her children love and that she is planning to continue. She encourages us all to do the same and preserve our memories. Betsey Borgerson Stevens ’52 MT, with husband Don and daughter Lisa, who lives in Miami, had a grand trip to Brazil. They visited 4 areas of that large country, then returned to their Cape home. Elizabeth “Betty” Carlson Salomon, in NJ, had large pink roses blooming on Nov 12! She walks daily on the beach in actual warm salt water! Sally “Itchie” Hueston Day had a wonderful dinner, thanks to her great grandson who gave her the first fish he ever caught. In June, Mary Lanius and 29 others (mostly Dames) went to London to represent the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, lineage societies of American women who own and support historical properties throughout the country. Their travels included properties associated with Winston Churchill and a trip to Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington, where Mary is an associate trustee. I’ll end this column urging you to please think positively about attending our 65th reunion!
1954
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Louise “Weezie” Moser Stoops writes, “We’ve had a great year celebrating our 59th anniversary. Spent 3 months in Hilton Head and then, after returning to CT, we left for 2 weeks in Tuscany with our whole family. Had a villa that slept 18 with a lovely pool. Found out we couldn’t rent a car because of our ages, so 2 of our kids rented vans and transported us to all the fabulous towns. We feel so blessed…4 kids and 8 grandkids, and everyone is loving and healthy!” A note from Ann Rosenbach Scott informed us that her husband, Roger, passed away Oct. 30. Glen Hobbs Harmon finds it a relief to spend the winter with
daughter and family in Austin. Jo-Anne Greene Cobban had the best growing gardens of the summer and continues full speed ahead with volunteer work and her many interests. Sachiko Mizoguchi Taneda reports, “As long as I am not too senile, I hope to keep up with my modest contribution. It is amazing I am surviving at almost 83, in spite of all the earthquakes, typhoons, epidemics and killings. I am always thankful and try to be independent, but at times I get too tired and the children have to help my husband and me. The campus must be gorgeous, especially at this time of the year!”
1955
GRETCHEN DAVIS HAMMER gdh777@earthlink.net The Class of 1955 extends a warm welcome to President Stuebner. We look forward to meeting her and working with her. The president invited Nan Wilkins Kaplan to represent the alumni at her investiture with a short speech. Nan believes she will be an excellent leader for Colby-Sawyer in these challenging times for higher education. Nan sees one of her granddaughters, who is from Italy, more now that she is at the U of VT. She looked forward to spending Thanksgiving with her. Nan adds that she has another granddaughter at CSC and is thrilled to have her close by. Nan is completing her 6th and final year on the local Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust Board, which she will miss as she has enjoyed doing her part to save land for tomorrow. She is searching for something to fill this gap but, knowing Nan, she will find something equally fulfilling. Her husband, Don, passed a year ago, and she misses him greatly but feels so fortunate to have had him by her side for 58 great years. Stephanie Brown Reininger writes that her fall Osher watercolor class, Keeping Your Brushes Wet, is about to end. She enjoys teaching Osher Lifelong Learning classes and will teach for them again in the spring term. Stephanie’s painting studio is in Lyme, NH, and she is also one of the artists at Long River Gallery there. Her website is theplayfulpainter.com, and I suggest you take
a look—it is really beautiful! Rosie Carhart Keenan has been busy organizing events for her high school class, including a reunion. My roomie, Eloise Hamel Becker, and I have been enjoying Facebook, writing back and forth often. Ellie is still involved in ice skating, though more by watching than by coaching. I love receiving films of skaters with her written descriptions, as her enthusiasm is so catching! She certainly had a great career coaching some of the US’s top skaters! Nancy Sellers Mion ’55 MT writes, “John and I are grateful to still be living in our lovely home we built 50 years ago. We have 12 grandchildren, including 2 little boys, 4 and 7, in China. We also have 2 great grandchildren in Atlanta, where 2 of our grandchildren are, but we have 8 grandchildren within an hour’s drive. I love being able to celebrate my birthday with Sara Hay Nichols ’54 and 2 other friends from kindergarten days. We are also close friends of Cornelia “Connie” Bingham Boland ’51, and I’m in touch with my roommate Cynthia Bryant Reavis ’54. We feel blessed and give thanks for our health, family and friends.”
1956
NANCY HOYT LANGBEIN enlangbein@gmail.com What a beautiful time of year in New London (Oct. 15-16) as we celebrated Homecoming and reunions. We arrived Friday for our 60th with Nancy Morris Adams, Nancy Hoyt Langbein, Carol Molander Linsley and Pat Thornton. The investiture of Sue Steubner, our ninth president, was on the Quad behind Colgate under clear skies. Good omen! The class of ’56 wishes her all the best in the years ahead. I hope if the president is in your area that you will take the opportunity to meet her; she is very warm and welcoming. Saturday, I heard author David Burpee give the history of the Burpee, Colgate and Colby families, and how all 3 shaped the town and established and maintained the college. I also heard Mimi Stewart Baird ’58 talk about her book He Wanted the Moon—a must-read being made into a motion picture. Saturday afternoon
was full of activities, a chance to meet the students and see our Chargers in action. The day ended with a reception at the President’s House for the older classes (’50’70) followed by dinner for all reunion classes. Happy to report that 2 classmates have granddaughters on campus: Emily Bear ’18 is my granddaughter and Abby Chapin ’20 is the granddaughter of the late Anne Wilcox Chapin. Marsha Smoller Winer and Nate flew to Venice in Sept and spent a few days there before joining a Crystal Cruise going to Rome. Good to hear from Arlene Annan DeMoss that she is enjoying the beautiful summer in CA and visiting her grandchildren. Ann Petty Germano enjoys gardening and is active in youth programs at the local and state garden club levels. She writes, “I keep busy with Rotary Club meetings and service projects. I must admit, sometimes it just feels good to sit down and put my feet up! Have not been bored in retirement!” Lise-Lotte Hindenburg Becker lives in FL with her partner and reports, “My son and his wife have moved to Boston from KS. She is now the dean of Arts and Science at BU. Their oldest son works for Google in CA and their other son is a sophomore at the U of KS. My daughter and her husband live in Seaford, VA. Their son is working in Madison, WI, as a software engineer. Their daughter is working part-time as a model and doing puppet shows for children in VA.” Judy Davis Somers says she has had to slow down because of a fall. She was sorry to miss reunion. Though she’s a “tried and true Yankee,” she loves living in SC! As for me, Nancy Hoyt Langbein, I keep in touch with Joan Potter Nelson ’54, Barbara Tucker ’57 and classmate Nancy Morris Adams, who all live close by. In Sept, Ed and I enjoyed a 7-day cruise on the Hudson River from New York City to Albany and back; stopping at several historic sites, and the best of all, West Point. Enjoyed many lectures on board (most informative) with great weather, nice people and yummy food. Highly recommend American Cruise Line. Colby- Sawyer’s new, much-needed art building will hopefully be ready by
fall. Looking forward to receiving more news from you for our next column.
1957
JILL BOOTH MACDONELL jillphotoart@yahoo.com Diane Shugrue Gallagher writes that Kim Yaksha Whiteley hosted a summer fete in Ocean, NJ, that included Lois Hanewald Ward, Robin McDougal, Emily Barry Lovering, Elizabeth “Bibby” Grayson Deal and Suzanne Vander Veer. Diane says they enjoyed swimming, long walks, longer talks and just getting together after 60 years. Annette Gingras Hobbs writes: “You have been a lifelong friend for all of us from Colby. The news is always interesting and I love hearing about friends. Will and I have lived in NM for 35+ years. Santa Fe is our home. Will is still a hiker and black diamond skier. I love the flat lands and do lots of walking. Our daughter lives in Denver and our son in Flagler Beach, FL. If any of the CO Colby graduates want to get together in 2017, I would love to be involved.” Adelaide “Happy” Anthony Griffiths writes that she and Clark still enjoy downhill skiing: “Last winter we were in France skiing at Courchevel followed by a few days in Paris. This winter to San Maritz … in May, a bareboat charter
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spring 2017
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sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands. I am still involved—more in an advisory role—with the herb garden at the Shaker Museum in Enfield, NH, which I designed and planted 29 years ago...I have my own garden to plant and maintain. I met the new president of Colby- Sawyer and am impressed by her and what she will bring to the college. The art center they have been talking about for years is under construction, and many of the dorms have had repairs done this past year. Suzanne Vander Veer and her friend Gary stopped in for a couple days again this summer.” Jan Eaton Atkins writes: “Got back in Oct from a trip to the Tetons where Courtenay and I met. A friend asked me to share her cottage that overlooked the mountains. In the morning, the bison would graze a few yards from the fence, and at night, we would drive around looking for elk and listening for their bugling. We heard them twice! Also saw moose and hiked up to the cabin where Courtenay lived the summer we met in 1958. Ate at Jenny Lake Lodge, where I waited tables for 2 summers.” Carol Glock Seving doesn’t notice any difference after having a big birthday this year. She writes, “Still driving slowly, living alone, except for the cat. Fred died last year. I enjoy doing needlepoint, going to the auction, volunteering at church and in the community. I like to play bridge. Often I think about learning how to play bridge in the basement of Page. Good memories.” Debby Kent Springer heads a weekly project at her church to feed, clothe and counsel the homeless. I, Jill Booth Macdonell continue to photograph and exhibit the homeless in Sacramento. I am also gathering information to put into a book/blog re: being old—giving a voice to “old” and the series of losses we encounter at age 80, i.e., grief, loneliness, spirituality—subjects that oftentimes aren’t shared. Please share with me any of your personal experiences that would help others. Life continues to unfold and become richer.
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1958
CYNTHIA GRINDROD VAN DER WYK cindyinhb@hotmail.com This fall I moved to Henderson, CO after 56 years in CA–I am still trying to wrap my head around this change! Charlotte Winchell Johansen spent 4 months in the small town of McCall, ID, located on a lovely lake surrounded by mountains that offer year-round sports. She writes, “Our youngest daughter has lived there 12 years with her boys, ages 12, 10 and 5. We’re fortunate to own a house there. The boys enjoy mountain biking, wake surfing, hiking and golfing with Grandma and Grandpa. They’re members of the ski team. It’s a healthy atmosphere for children, which keeps them occupied. Our 2 older daughters live in the Bay Area. Both have a son in college. One has 2 girls, a senior and sophomore in HS, the other’s daughter is a HS sophomore. Their lives are busy but we’re fortunate to visit often. I have tried to locate my roommate Martha Reed Jennings. If anyone knows of her whereabouts, please let me know. I was sorry not to attend the reunion this fall but we were in ID. In addition, congratulations to our classmate Mimi Stewart Baird on her book He Wanted the Moon. I would have enjoyed hearing her talk about this must-read!
1959
MARSHA HALPIN JOHNSON arnamhj@gmail.com Mary Cummins Wilson teaches violin to pre-college students in the WV U Community Music Program. Her students have entered the annual state competition for many years, and 2016 was the 35th consecutive year that one or more have been winners. Joan Blanchard McNulty still “lives the dream” at Lake Tahoe, where she enjoys parttime jobs such as hosting at the rec center and doing special projects at the village church and for a friend who owns Village Interiors. She is Nana to 3 grandsons: 1 in Reno and 2 in Traverse City, MI. Jean Des Barres reports that in mid-Oct, 3 CJC alums found themselves working in the same Hillary field office in
Fernandina Beach, FL. Susan Greig Alexander ’49 and Jean DesBarres see each other often. Margaret “Peggy” Chatellier Taylor was visiting with Jean and agreed to come into the office and help for a day. Margaret and Jean grew up in New London and were day students. Priscilla Tufts Bartle and Dick have settled in at Edgewood Retirement Community in N. Andover, MA. They knew quite a few people, which made for an easy adjustment. Marion Hill Dunn reports that she has a music store in Tallahassee called Stringfest/The Mando Shop. They sell instruments but do not offer lessons. Shirley Noakes looks forward to selling her CA home and making NH her “new” permanent address. Shirley writes, “At this point, 2 homes to maintain is a bit much, and about the only thing I will miss in CA is the climate. As winter approaches, I realize that even more, but there are many places to spend the winter. I started by spending 4 months this year (Jan-Apr) driving to FL and visiting friends both ways. The big highlight was visiting my Little Sister from CJC, Lucie Schirmer Gabel ’60, in Davenport, FL, and seeing Janet Champaign Merriam ’60 for lunch while there.” Carole Hamell Wenthen reports that she and Fred enjoyed a Canadian cruise in Aug. They looked forward to having their family for the holidays. Carole writes, “We will spend part of the winter in SC again. Our oldest son, Dave, is planning a FL wedding in Oct. Much excitement.”
1960
PATRICIA CANBY COLHOUN pccolhoun@gmail.com We had a spectacular fall here in New England. Sally Stevens Rood remembers this as the best time in New London and sends hugs to all. Sharley Janes Bryce visits her 2 daughters in Napa and Thousand Oaks, CA, as they travel from Portland, OR, to Tucson, AZ, each May and Oct. Charl Wolcott Gray sent a note about a reunion at Sharley’s Black Butte Ranch featuring Charl and her husband, Dick; Barbara “Bobbi” Taeffner Kulp and Tom; and Sharley and her husband, Graham. It was a 2nd reunion and they
agreed that they have not changed and enjoyed their times together. Charl and Dick are happy to be settled after 11 career moves. They built their home on Torch Lake, MI, which is a real draw for their 3 kids and 7 grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren are in medical school at the U of MI. Ann Parsons Klump spent 4 days with her brother in OH and took a 7-day cruise to Bermuda last June. Last fall she took a cruise from Boston to Fort Lauderdale via the Southern Caribbean. She loves cruising and said it was a reasonable vacation. Haydi Caldwell Sowerine and David were thinking about taking their family to Nepal this past Christmas break. Last year’s trip was canceled due to blockades at the Indian border; instead, they all went skiing in Sun Valley, ID. David and Haydi are doing a major rehab on a 100-yearold log house on their property in Big Fork, MT. They took a trip to the Midwest for the graduation of a friend’s daughter at the College of Wooster, then on to Dallas where Haydi hoped to visit Nancy Lucas Sheridan, her Colby tennis partner. They were also visiting friends from Kathmandu who live in New Orleans, Nashville and on to Lexington, KY to visit David’s sister. They will have biked the towpath of the Ohio Erie Canal. They also had plans to raft down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River last Aug. After many years, Betty Abel Lane ’60 MT and her CA husband returned to campus last fall for Homecoming while the foliage was at its peak. They toured campus and went to several lectures. They stayed near Lake Sunapee and took a boat tour. Betty got to see a lot of the historical venues that she missed while in college. They also enjoyed hearing the history of Colby-Sawyer and learning about the new programs. Hope to hear from her more often. Judy Butler Shea says life in the Adirondacks is full of her grandkids’ sports. She still enjoys golf, knitting, a book group, gardening and the challenge of learning bridge. She told me about Keeper of the Olympic Flame by Mike Burgess, featuring Jack Shea on the cover. The Olympics have played a big part in the Shea family life. I, Patty
Canby Colhoun, have gotten the READing program into the Boothbay Harbor Elementary School System. We (Charlie, my black Lab and I) have been working with 1st graders to help improve their reading skills. I am certified as a spiritual care giver, the prerequisite to the palliative care and hospice care companions courses I took in Nov. I live a short distance from a longterm care facility, and Charlie and I do weekly visits. I am on-call for hospice care. I serve as the vestry clerk for our little Episcopal church, which is within walking distance of my home. I play Mahjongg twice a week, Pickleball on Thursdays, hook rugs and volunteer at the Y. I was able to return to campus in Oct for the President’s Alumni Advisory Council Meeting. All the news was positive. There is an enrollment of 1,041 students, many more than when we were there. Our new president, Susan D. Stuebner, had wonderful ideas for our future. By the time you read this, I will have gone to Sebring, FL, for rug hooking school, to CO for Thanksgiving with my son and his family, and to Versailles, France, for Christmas with my daughter. Then I will have settled in for a long, cold winter. Glad to be back in ME.
1961
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Sally Reynolds Carlin spent the fall moving into a 1-floor condo just 5 blocks from her old house. She says everything is taking shape nicely and she is thrilled to be there.
1962
GAIL GRAHAM LEE gailcracker@comcast.net Hi, all. I have only heard from a few of you. Pam Smith Boehm has been married twice—once divorced, once widowed. Her 2 children live nearby in the Houston, TX, area. One has 4 biological children and the other 3 grandkids are adopted, 2 from Ethiopia 6 years ago. The grandkids range in age from 1 to 8. Barbara Russell Williams writes, “My husband, Steve, and I are both retired, he as manager for King County Parks and I as manager of the Bellevue Botanical Garden School Program. I
volunteer for our local historical society in their archives and present public programs on a variety of historical topics. I work at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. We enjoy visiting our grandchildren (Jack, 9, and Alison, 12) in Scottsdale, AZ, where our daughter and son-in-law live. Our son, Aaron, and his wife live nearby, which is great. We are leaving for a wonderful trip this fall to my hometown of Dover, MA, and will go on up to ME.” Marcia Mayer Snyder, Pat White Nash, Ellen Forbes, Jill Schofield Wainwright and I enjoyed our fall luncheon in Newburyport, MA. Jill had her knee replaced in July and is doing well. As for me, my lung cancer finally metastasized last spring, so I’ve been on a maintenance chemo program since. I’m still kicking, though without quite the same gusto. As always, stay well and have fun!
1963
DONNA DEDERICK WARD hungrytrout@comcast.net I did not receive any news over the summer and only 3 entries last fall. I know there’s lots going on with you, so please send me your news at any time. Frances “Lee” Montgomery had a great vacation last summer with the family on Squam Lake. She loves watching her grandsons at their athletic practices and games. Lee spends a lot of time working out, fighting the uphill battle against being 73, and was looking forward once again to a good ski year. Pam Rich Marston had twin grandbabies this winter, adding to 3 older grands. She looked forward to the busy household and fun that will ensue. Marion Ahbe Lord writes, “Life is simple between wintering in FL and summering in Western NC’s mountains. We do lots of traveling in the USA and around the world. I still talk to a few classmates, including Betsy Smith Budelman and Debbie Randell. Betsy and her husband, Frank, are coming to visit in NC in Oct. Since Betsy is back to playing tennis, a big match is scheduled with Betsy in the #1 position.” As for me, Donna Dederick Ward, Cliff and I had a great season at our VT country inn, Meadowood Farm. Just 4 miles from Bennington College,
we host parents and families throughout the year for events like graduation and parent’s weekend. Families also stay here for student pickup and drop-off during the school year, holidays and just for visits. We have reservations during the winter months, so we will only be able to spend only 2 months in FL, one in Naples and one in Bokeelia on Pine Island. We’re looking forward to relaxing, the warm weather and, of course, the fishing. I’m 5 years post-chemo and radiation for breast cancer, feeling great, and in much better shape than before.
1964
KATHRINE CONATHAN REARDON kathyr1230@aol.com On July 16, Marcia Kromer Langeland’s son, Jon Hanlon, married Katie Ladouceur at a lovely inn overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. They have bought a house in Duxbury, MA. Marcy is very lucky to have all her children and grandchildren living close to her. Joan Williams Laundon has a new grandson, Julian, who joins big brother, Graham, 4. They live in Middletown, RI. Joan’s daughter, Brooke, is in her 2nd year as assistant principal at La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego. Joan had her 2nd back fusion surgery in 3 years in Nov. Hopefully, she is back to leading her active life. Ann Frankin Ewig and Tom have been busy traveling. They took a barge cruise with friends on the Erie Canal and a paddle wheeler on the Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans. Lee Norris Gray spent the summer recuperating from back surgery, then enjoyed a mini-vacation in Bermuda between hurricanes. She also enjoyed a reunion lunch with Ellen Terhune Schauff, Mary-Lynn “Mimi” Rand Jost, Cathy Wood Hallsworth and Liz Ridley Mills in early Oct. Lee and Rick spent the winter in Bonita Springs, FL. They plan a summer family reunion for their 50th anniversary. Diane “Dee” Rogers Penachio lives in Ipswich, MA, with her husband of 44 years, Arthur. She has 2 stepchildren and 5 wonderful grandchildren. Dee retired after 40 years at Pan Am and Delta
and is now a real estate agent on the North Shore, and she loves every minute. She and Arthur travel as much as they can. They have fallen in love with small-ship cruising and went to Maui last fall. It has been great reconnecting with Dee on Facebook. There are quite a few from our class on there, and we love seeing the pictures everyone posts.
1965
SUSAN WOODRUFF MACAULAY susanmaca@gmail.com I received wonderful news from a few, but gosh, ladies, I just know we have a class full of stories, travels and doings. I hope you will humor me with lots of news for the next issue! Email me or find me on Facebook. Tina Biggs Ferraro stopped in Santa Fe last fall on her way home from a wedding in CA for a wonderful visit with Susan “Suzie” Hewson Wise and her husband, Joe. Tina then spent a few days with Georgie Sawyer Hutton, who lives down the road from the Wises. She and Georgie played in a 2-day golf tournament and won their flight. Tina also saw Ann Hodgkinson Low in New London at the investiture of our new college president, Sue Stuebner. Mary “Nicki” Fultz Dillon reported on Facebook that her family had 12 days in ME in Aug. Ann Gorman Schenck says she and Tim are retired in Centreville, DE, in a deck house surrounded by a forest; they’ve celebrated their 47th anniversary. Their daughter, Sarah, is a physician and mother of 4 wonderful boys, and she lives only 10 minutes away. Ann takes courses at the U of DE Lifelong Learning Branch, serves on community boards and enjoys traveling with Tim. She remembers her wonderful times at Colby and especially the great friends whom she will never forget. Dorothy “Darcy” Holland lives in her sweet Marsh Cottage, situated in the middle of The Great Marsh in Newbury, MA. Although retired, she remains busy and works twice a week at a boathouse, making mast hoops for wooden sailboats across the globe. Darcy also takes online courses
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and travels. In 2015, she sang the Duruflé Requiem at Carnegie Hall, and in 2016, she stayed at the famous Gasparilla Hotel in Boca Grande, FL. As for me, Susan Woodruff Macaulay, John and I celebrated our 47th anniversary, and travel seems to fill most of our time. Last year, we took a wonderful 15-day repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona and stayed there and in Madrid for another 6 days. Last May, we spent a week in Albuquerque and at Ojo Caliente Spa (highly recommended). In June, we traveled to Las Vegas for the IMA conference and board meeting, then flew to Long Beach, CA, to visit our son, Craig, and his wife, Veronica. In late July and Aug, we spent 10 days in CO and then drove to Fargo, ND, to John’s 55th HS reunion. In Oct we visited family in New England and flew to Jacksonville, FL, for John’s board meeting. At home, I go to water aerobics, play Bunco, shop and lunch with dear friends, and am active in our Episcopal church.
1966
SUSAN WEEKS weeksie1228@gmail.com I write this report just 2 weeks after our 50th reunion. Although I could not attend as I was recovering from an intestinal infection, by all accounts it was a success. Sue Chapman Melanson wrote a wonderful recap that was posted in the Facebook group for our reunion; read it at bit.ly/CSC1966. My life is
Linda Redland Klemmer ’66 and Susan Stierwald LaRosa ’66.
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busy with volunteer activities. I learned Mah Jongg this fall (just to keep the old gray matter charged up!), which I always thought of as something only “old ladies” played, so I guess I am now officially counted among that demographic. Our yearly fall trips to the Boston Symphony Orchestra have started up again, which is a nice respite after a busy summer working in the garden. I wish you all best wishes for 2017. Jan Sargent Simblist writes, “I’m so glad that I went to the 50th reunion. I had no idea who would be there, but I felt it was an important trip to make. Being a med tech, I claim both classes of ’65 and ’66; it was most convenient to join in the festivities this year. The fall colors and full moon were spectacular on Lake Sunapee Friday evening. Saturday, I attempted to climb Mt. Kearsarge, but was disappointed that my 71-year-old body had to give up about 2/3 of the way. A charming student from Albania interviewed me for an oral history project. After, we had much to talk about, as I had lived in Belgrade. Saturday evening, those who attended the banquet had a great time chatting and reminiscing about those trips to Dartmouth. At brunch on Sunday at the home of Suzanne Simons Hammond, I realized I had a thread of connection with each person there, either as another med tech, dance club, concert choir, or just experiencing the happenings of the turbulent ’60s from the same vantage point. This year I retired from my longtime position with Quest Diagnostics. Helping out with my dad and all his trips to the hospital during the past few years has been draining. He passed away last summer at age 93. Now I am making sure all is well with my mom. She was my travel companion to NH, as she had retired to the area and had lived in neighboring Grantham at Eastman for 25 years before returning to MA. Carlyn Cleaves Kroitzsh shared her “love story” at age 68! After her husband, Martin, passed away in 2012, her daughter Jodi moved in to keep her company, along with her husband, 5 children and numerous pets! Carlyn writes, “In Jan 2014, I got up the courage to sign up with
Christianmingle.com, and lo and behold, I met this fabulous gentleman who just swept me off my feet! Imagine that happening at age 68! We were engaged 2 weeks later on Valentine’s Day, making plans to be married that summer. However, Jodi decided to throw us a fabulous engagement party in mid-March and, so to the surprise of most of the guests (excluding family and close friends who were in on it), we got married a few hours before the party and arrived at the soirée as husband and wife! We live at Jim’s farm in his apple orchard in Hebron, ME (not far from my home where the kids live), and are very happy enjoying our combined families – a total of 5 adult children and 9 grandchildren! I believe you have received from Babbie Dorman Conroy the story of our mini reunion at Cape Cod. It was great fun being with my longtime Colby pals and having them all meet Jim! I just felt I needed to share some good news at this stage in our lives. As we get older, we begin to lose parents, family members and close friends, but my little story just happened to have a happy ending. We know we won’t make it to our 25th anniversary, maybe not even our 10th, but we are making the best of every day we have together, and that’s what counts!” Kitty Harper Goldsmith was nursing her husband, who had major back surgery. She had a good time at the reunion but felt a little sad that more than 9 classmates didn’t show up. Joyce Chapman Cerny and her husband are traveling as much as they can. Her son Matt is a detective with the NYPD, so that gives them an excuse to enjoy the city. This past Sept they went to Amsterdam and Bruges, Belgium, and had beautiful weather. Joyce’s roommate Molly McAdams Morizon traveled from her home in France to meet them in Belgium. Last Dec they were all together in Paris, and next year Joyce hopes that she and husband Alain will be able to go to her daughter Molly’s wedding. In June Barbara “Babbie” Dorman Conroy and 4 ’66 grads and 2 ’67 grads from Best Dorm celebrated their friendships of 50+ years in Dennisport, MA. In attendance were Babbie and husband,
Frank from Essex, CT; Nancy Fitzherbert Walker ’67 MT and husband Ron from Hindhead, Surrey, England; Dorothy “Deedee” Wolcott Stockman and husband Allan from Marana, AZ; Carola Howard Howe from San Rafael, CA; Carlyn Cleaves Kroitzsh and husband Jim from Hebron, ME; and Linda Walker Fuerst and husband Michael from Cornish Flat, NH. Babbie writes, “We were terribly disappointed that Marcia Quimby Troy from Duluth, MN, was unable to join us due to a health issue. We rented a lovely house near the water and spent 5 days exploring the Cape Cod National Seashore. We dined on delicious lobsters and fried clams, strolled on beautiful beaches and experienced a fantastic whale watch on the ocean, where we saw numerous humpback whales. We looked back on our years at Colby Jr. as we perused yearbooks and my scrapbook that spans 50 years. We reminisced about all the times we have seen each other since 1966 and exclaimed at how blessed we are to still be close friends despite our geographical locations and divergent lifestyles.” Kathie Kock Hewko, from Petaluma, CA, completed her 92nd Golden Gate Bridge swim just days after her 70th birthday. Visit bit.ly/kathiehewko to read an article about it. Natalie Rice Ireland had a wonderful trip to Cuba in April 2016, calling it a fascinating place she definitely recommends. Her son, daughterin-law and 2 grandchildren (ages 9.5 and 12) moved back to Tucson last summer, having been gone 3 years. Natalie’s daughter and her family (Nate 3.5 and Eli 1.5) are still in MD, enjoying a busy life. Natalie writes, “I continue with my volunteer work, which I find very fulfilling—maybe even more than actual paid work ever was! I get to a Silver Sneakers exercise class as often as I can and hike around the beautiful Tucson area every weekend with my hiking buddies. I had wanted to get to our 50th reunion but the timing just didn’t work out. I’ll get to the 55th!”
1967
SIS HAGEN KINNEY kinivan06@gmail.com Deborah Brakeley is in private practice as a counselor and collaborative divorce coach and child specialist in Vancouver, BC. She works part-time and that “feels just right for now” because it leaves her more time for “other endeavors” such as photography, skiing, paddle boarding, board work and her 7 grandchildren. Mrinalini “Meera” Narain Rao was stateside with her husband, Dileep, traveling from their home in New Delhi. They visited relatives in San Francisco, NYC, and Greenwich, CT. They also visited with Sallie Macintosh in Kittery Point, ME, at her newly renovated house and went to Washington, DC. Their last visit here was 4 years ago, when they visited not only Sallie but also Colby-Sawyer. Meera says that if any alums visit India, please stop by. Thanks for the news, Meera! And, even though you were just here, I hope you’ll return for our 50th Reunion this Oct! I’ve had several emails and Facebook exchanges with Whitney McKendree Moore; I believe she and Ann Lincoln Mitchell plan to go to our 50th reunion. Whitney and husband Barry were planning to spend time in the Hilton Head Island area this winter Sallie Macintosh ’67, center, enjoyed the company of classmate Meera Narain Rao ’67 and her husband, Dileep, who were visiting the United States from their home in India.
with the hope of finding some place south of the Mason-Dixon line to which they can retire. We will be interested to hear about your trial run there, Whit! Anne Baynes Hall had quite a year! She was in the hospital over Easter with a high heart rate caused by a flutter. She had a heart ablation to correct that, and a second flutter was discovered that causes a low heart rate. To correct that, she was scheduled for a pacemaker, but before that could be placed, a hematoma developed in her left leg; then a clot was discovered and a filter was placed. She spent 11 days at DHMC and met several CSC graduate nurses, along with other CSC personnel there. She also said that “a hematoma in the leg is no fun” – she couldn’t even move it, and when the nurses did it was very painful. By the time you read this, Anne hopes the pacemaker will finally be placed and her leg will be fine. She is able to telecommute for her volunteer work at Colby-Sawyer as well as for the Bishop’s office in Concord. Anne also says she knows her sister, Janet Baynes Benzie ’71, will be able to assist after the pacemaker insertion for a week or so. By the time you read this, Anne, we hope your new year finds you pretty much “back to normal”! And that brings us to me, Sis Hagen Kinney. Like Anne, I am scheduled for a heart ablation and trust that by the time this goes to press, I will be feeling better. I tell you, this “getting old” stuff is not for sissies! In addition to having atrial fibrillation, I have been experiencing pain in my hip and am looking for a steroid shot in my spine to get rid of it! It was quite a summer of inactivity for me, though my husband, Bobby, and I did go to Asheville, NC, in July with my younger brother and sister-in-law. We also managed to go to Appomattox, VA, in Aug to meet with Kinney family members for a memorial service for an aunt of my husband’s. And, of course, there have been several trips to Williamsburg, VA, to visit and/or babysit for our youngest grandchild and spend an afternoon at either Busch Gardens or Water Country USA! So we did have some fun over the summer. After spending Thanksgiving with neighbors in the
mountains, we returned to Fuquay-Varina, NC, for the winter. I must remind all of you about our 50th (!) reunion. How did time fly by so fast? Fifty years is just so “out there” and unbelievable! Anyway, I hope that more of you will attend than have responded to this last request for news. Whitney McKendree Moore and Ann Lincoln Mitchell are planning to go, so how about you? I hope I can get my roomie, Leslie Williams MacFarlane, and maybe even some more Pageites to come, too! Thus, here’s a challenge: Let’s get more women returning who lived in Page Hall from the Class of 1967 than from any other dormitory! That means: Nancy Hess Coleman, Judy Stronach Sauer, Jane French Rieck, Wendy Weinstein Fish, Katherine Pantlind, Wendy Beach Barry, Mary Crist Burwell, Betsey Anker Gramer, Anne Jennings Feeley, Bette Boyle Scarangella, Deborah Smith, Karen Kaiser Falone, Taydie Poor Drummond, and our then-graduating 3rd years, Laura Overman Gill and Robbie Bell. I know that many of you went on to a 4-year college and graduated; but Colby was your beginning and I would love to see all of you there once more!
1968
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Merritt “Merf ” McWilliams Andruss writes, “I rarely see anyone sending news from our class, but since next year will be our (GASP) 50th reunion, I hope we can get together some of the old class to come back. I’ve seen Dorothy ‘DeeDee’ Waldinger Bentley a couple of times and talked briefly a few years ago with my roommate Ann Tuckerman Hall; I’ve seen Susie Kurtz Klorig and Mary Reath at a few HS reunions but would love to get a bunch of us together next year and truly catch up. After going back to school (UPenn) for my master’s in nursing, I have been a nurse practitioner for the past 20 yrs, practicing in AK for 11 of them. Am back in Philadelphia with husband Peter and enjoying more time with our 7 grandchildren on the East Coast. Would love to get more info from all you classmates out there;
now that we are in the computer era and it’s easier to send in notes, please do! Aline Feinstein Shapiro, where are you? I remember many fun times at Colby and hope to get some feedback from old friends.”
1969
DEBORAH ADAMS JOHNSTON navypub@aol.com Laurie Rendall Coursin retired as a certified nurse midwife and lives in an “intentional community” in Putney, VT, within walking distance of the Quaker Meeting House where she is active. Laurie loves her new life in this small town. She lost both mother, 98, and brother-in-law, 64, last year and reminds us to appreciate each day as a blessing. Her son, 30, is moving to Lucknow, Canada, with his girlfriend to take over her parents’ organic farm. Laurie keeps busy taking a weaving course, helping her sister in Boston and helping with her 50th HS reunion. Meredith Bennett MT and husband Tom are retired and living in Free Union, VA, near Charlottesville and the UVA. Until recently, they were very involved with caring for their parents. Meredith’s mother, Jeane Morrison Bennett ’37, died in March. Now they are turning their attention to property repairs and maintenance—long-neglected eldercare for their house and yard!
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Their dog keeps them busy, too, as does traveling and the usual retired person activities. Pamela Herd Mackellar published a revised version of Winning Grants, Second Edition: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians. Debi Adams Johnston loves living in author Pat Conroy’s low country outside Beaufort, SC. Her 3 older children live overseas, 2 in London and one in Naples, Italy. Her youngest is in Los Angeles. All wonderful places to visit, but her grandchildren are growing up too fast and too far away. JoAnn Franke Overfield MT, our class agent for fundraising, was on campus in Oct for the investiture of the new president, Sue Stuebner. It was Homecoming weekend and the campus was busy. She went shopping at the new campus store, The Stable, located in Ware Student Center. As our agent, she asks all of us to support the Colby-Sawyer Fund. Small colleges like CSC need this annual fund to provide assistance in many areas on campus. JoAnn says our class is light on giving (and news!), and she would love to see us boost our giving numbers this year. She reminds us that CSC gave us our start, even if we graduated from other 4-year colleges. And, in this modern age, we can simply click online to donate, no stamps or envelopes required. You can also email news to share with your classmates.
1970
GAIL REMICK HOAGE gail@michaelsschool.com We had good representation at Homecoming, with a visit to a campus sparkling with colorful foliage. Classmates attending the President’s Alumni Advisory Council (PAAC) meeting were Heidi Rice Lauridsen, Valerie “Val” Turtle, Ann Lozier Rohrborn ’71 MT, Ellie Goodwin Cochran ’71 and Sara Gray Stockwell ’71. Sally Heald Winship ’69 was also on campus. We send our congratulations to one of the college’s new trustees, Beth Constantinides Meurlin, who began her term in the fall. Another highlight was attending the investiture of the college’s 9th president, Sue Stuebner. The Class of 1970 sends her our support and very best
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wishes! If you haven’t already, go to colby-sawyer.edu, click on Alumni, and under Homecoming, click on the Flickr Albums. Fourteen of us are in our 45th Reunion photos shown under the “Alumni Fall Festival 2015” album. Summer reunion with what I call “The Magnificent 7” ended in VT on Lake Champlain with Beth, Val, Lynn Winchester, Deborah “Deb” Marcoux Deacetis, Karen Dunnett, Susan Pomerantz and me. Great time at Beth’s camp. Jane Birnbaum retired in 2009 and is part of a therapy dog team through Pet Partners. She writes, “Java Joe, my 3-year-old brown cocker spaniel, and I visit Norwalk Hospital, Veterans in West Haven, CT, and area high schools and libraries for stress relief during exams.” Wendy Hazen sent an order of 2017 Wendy Hazen Watercolor calendars to Stonewall Kitchen to be marketed as the “Local Artist” of the southern ME area. After 17 years of Wendy Hazen Designs, she says it is nice to have a little recognition boost! Her calendars are also available in New London at Serendipity Boutique, owned by Natalie “Tally” Loomis Jones ’68.
1971
ELLIE GOODWIN COCHRAN elliegc@myfairpoint.net Greetings! We are pretty lean on notes this time, and I know we had a small showing for our 45th reunion, so fair warning: We are starting to plan our 50th now and hope many of you will plan ahead to make it a record turnout! I, like many of you, am in the midst of caring for elderly parents, dealing with our own failing parts, and providing daycare for grandchildren, but let’s pull out all the stops for our 50th. We enjoyed a busy summer, and this fall my husband was having the first of his knee replacements. We can’t wait for him to be able to get back to all the things we enjoy doing, and I know many of you are having the same experience. Heather Weimont Ciardelli reports that she and her husband, Michael, have been running Ciardelli Fuel Company in Milford, NH, for 35 years, taking over from his parents. Now onto the 3rd generation and
The September wedding of Mary Beth McEvoy Webster’s daughter provided a wonderful opportunity for these longtime Colby-Sawyer pals to get together. The ladies, from left to right, included Heidi Scheller ’75, Marybeth McEvoy Webster ’76, Brigid McEvoy Berry ’75, Janet Spurr ’76 and Anne Tilney Brune ’76. The gentlemen on each end — Charley Scheller (Heidi’s brother) and Sandy Wis — were close friends of the ladies during their college days and remain so to this day.
their 2 sons are officially “in charge.” Heather still works in the office, but has greater flexibility and enjoys spending time with her 4 young grandsons. She is thrilled that they all live close and hopes there might be a granddaughter one of these days. You can see the family history on www.cfuel.com. Hope to hear from more of you next time.
1972
LINDA KELLY GRAVES dikeroka@aol.com Lisa Feldmeier Clark lives in Naples, FL, 5 months a year, and in Manlius, NY, the rest of the year. She would enjoy hearing from anyone in the Naples area. Lisa has been retired for almost 3 years and just welcomed her 7th grandchild (2 boys, 5 girls). The oldest one is driving! Lisa asked about Kate Dixon-Rose’s B&B on Cape Cod, as she had read an article about it. I sent her contact information—let us know if you wind up staying there, Lisa! Carlyle Claypool Conrad has great memories of Colby Jr and hopes to reconnect with Joanne Hill Munyon, Patty Brown Kinnunen and Nancy Gillen Kunis. Carlyle is retired from OT; she’s busy with grandchildren, and her mother lives next door in Duluth. Last summer, I enjoyed a mini-reunion with Nancy Bianchi Miller and Deborah Ross Chambliss as we celebrated Nancy’s third son’s wedding in VT in July. It was a fun weekend and, as always, good to
visit with each other and party into the night. I also spent time with Lydia Biddle Thomas last summer. Lydia remains busy in NYC with her business of helping others to organize their homes, files and lives. You are a brave soul, Lydia! Congratulations to Brooke DeLench, selected to present at the 2017 International Olympic Committee at the World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport this March in Monaco. I enjoyed a great weekend in New London last fall at the President’s Alumni Advisory Committee meeting, where I caught up with Martha Cary Shuster, Diane Hallock Robbins and Robin Mead. The campus looks great, and the college is in good hands with President Stuebner. Colby-Sawyer continues to offer amazing opportunities, innovative programs and life-long skills to its students. With our 45th reunion this year, I strongly encourage you all to return to campus this Oct to see the new arts building, which will be completed by then, and to hear and feel the strength and beauty of the college. Being on campus always reminds me of the foundation we received there: the support, the education, the confidence we developed in our abilities, ourselves; not to mention the wonderful friends and adventures we had. So, start planning to return to New London, and let’s remember to be grateful for opportunities afforded us, and enjoy our stories and a great reunion!
1974
SUSAN BROWN WARNER warners@optonline.net Since retiring from Pfizer, Inc. in Groton, CT, 8 years ago, Amy Banford Jakowski has been working with glass. A commissioned piece was installed in Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, MA, in Oct. Amy’s studio is called Aspinock Springs Studios. She does fused glass and her husband took up pottery in his retirement.
1975
JILL MCLAUGHLIN GODFREY jillgodfrey25@gmail.com Marsha Meyer Hall’s youngest son, Greg, was married last summer in Detroit, MI. Marsha and husband, Steve, are setting off on a Windstar Cruise and then retiring to one of their favorite places, Charlevoix, MI. Marsha would love to hear from any Colby women who are in the MI area. Jill McLaughlin Godfrey had 2 daughters married last year. In May, Devon wed on the water in Mystic, CT, and in Sept, oldest daughter Blair was married in Lancaster, PA. Sandra “Sandy” Comstock and Nancy McIntire Zemlin and her husband, Ray, were able to join the Godfreys in Mystic for a fabulous weekend wedding! We would love to hear from the rest of you, just a quick line to catch us up and tell us what you are doing and where you are living. Cheers to the Class of 1975!
1976
JANET E. SPURR spurr1@msn.com Mary Davenport Phelan writes, “When you read this, I’ll have retired for the 2nd time. Not being a retiring sort of person, this new life ahead is exciting and a bit scary. I started work on Wall Street in the spring of 1976 during my internship for my Colby-Sawyer business degree and went back to it the day after graduation. I’ve worked fulltime for 40 years; 30 in financial management and 10 as my church’s office manager/secretary/chief cook and bottle washer. If there was a chance of participating in or learning something new, I took it. The reality is I’m strong, healthy, have an
awesome marriage and, from this base of support, I want to try things I’ve never done or wanted to do before. Now I have a craving to work with children, which is counterintuitive to my work background. I want to make a difference in children’s lives; from what my daughters tell me, I did a pretty good job with them, so why not branch out? Dec 23 was my last day then I’m off elsewhere for a month before returning to CT. Wish me luck. and if you have words of wisdom and/or encouragement, email me! Dorothy “Dotty” Clapp Hodgkins and her husband “semiretired” to Martha’s Vineyard in June. She writes, “I worked for the summer at the Edgartown Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing Program and had a blast. Being semiretired will allow us to spend all winter at our home in Culebra, Puerto Rico, and we will return to our home on Chappaquiddick in the spring for another great season.” In Sept, Mary Beth McEvoy Webster’s daughter Liz was married. It was a great mini reunion and a great wedding, with Heidi Scheller ’75, Charley Scheller (Heidi’s brother), Marybeth McEvoy Webster, Brigid McEvoy Berry ’75, Janet Spurr, Anne Tilney Brune and Sandy Wiss. Charley and Sandy are still a big part of Colby-Sawyer. Dorothy “Dottie” Rush Sullivan was getting ready to pack up her home on Martha’s Vineyard, where they spent about 7 months that she said flew by, to head back to Rochester, NY, for winter. She writes, “We had many visitors, but the highlight was the baptism of our 2nd grandson, Brecken Sullivan, on Oct 1 at St. Elizabeth’s in Edgartown. Many family members were here to enjoy the event. We are lucky to be able to telecommute with our business, Sullivan and Associates Wealth Management, LLC. I feel very blessed. I hope my fellow classmates are doing well.” To celebrate her 60th birthday, Barbara Carroll went on safari to Kenya and Tanzania. She says, “What an amazing trip! The highlight was a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see 2 baby elephants I am fostering! I can assure you, everyone needs an elephant in their life—and these little ones could not be more beautiful
and charming. One ran his little trunk up my arm and kissed my chin! I was over the moon! Looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the ‘Best 60’ group soon. Check out the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to foster your own little one!”
1977
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Mary Farrand-Cox has been a yearlong resident of Charlotte, NC, with a clinical coordinator position for Ambulatory Care at Novant Health, Presbyterian Hospital, and is obtaining her master’s in healthcare informatics. Lynn Lovelett Elizondo became a grandmother on Oct 13. Her daughter and son-in-law named their son Reuben Stephen. The new family lives in Pittsburgh, while Lynn is still in Cincinnati.
1978
JODY HAMBLEY COOPERRUBIN jcooper323@aol.com Greetings, classmates! Our class notes were scant or nonexistent the last couple issues, so I’m glad to have heard from a couple of you for this one. Hope you are all doing well! Rebecca Reeves has retired from J&J after 23 years and loves her new freedom. She is certified in chair yoga by the Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA, and enjoys instructing folks and seeing the benefits that people of all ages and capabilities are able to realize from this practice. Rebecca was quite impressed when she met President Stuebner at an Oct alumni event in Malvern, PA, hosted by Anne Matternes Congdon ’66. There were 4 med tech (ASCP) alumni in attendance whom all spoke of their solid med tech backgrounds and thank Miss Irving for that! Linda Simon Miller, Jane Venie Earls ’79 and Diane Guilbault DeBiasi ’79 had a “mini reunion” in Oct. at Jane’s house in Concord, NH. They had a blast catching up and comparing grandparent notes—Diane has 2 grandsons and Linda has 2 granddaughters by her daughter, Hannah, and husband, Willis. Linda loves having a baby in the family and spends as much time as possible visiting the Kings in Truro, MA. Linda’s son, Alex, and his college
sweetheart, Vanessa, married last Aug and live on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Linda and her husband planned on spending Thanksgiving with them, along with the King family, and looked forward to getting away from milking the cows for a bit. Linda still sells their milk to Farms for City Kids/Spring Brook Farm in Reading, VT, and the “Reading” cheese made from their cows won First Place for Raclette cheese at the American Cheese Society Annual Competition. If you see it in your dairy case, try it—it’s delicious! Linda works at DHMC but plans to retire within the next 2 years. She would love to hear from other classmates (and so would I) and is wondering if anyone knows where Meredith Meyer Tinkham might be these days. Not much news from me, your class correspondent. I had a wonderful summer with beautiful weather here in New London except that that there wasn’t a lot of rain. My husband, Tom, is a senior project manager for Herman Miller Inc., and travels quite a bit. I sometimes get to tag along and have spent time in Bentonville, AR; San Francisco; Toronto; and Houston. We attended Tom’s niece’s wedding in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico, last April and had a wonderful time exploring that beautiful historical city. We also spent a week in Sept visiting Tom’s daughter, son-in-law and 15-month old grandson in Gilbert, AZ. I started working full-time again in Sept as a service adviser at Marshall’s Garage in Elkins, NH. I was “filling in” for the daughter of Carla Pearson Marshall ’76, Devon, while she was on maternity leave after having her 2nd child, daughter Sydney. I also found time to visit my son Josh and daughter-in-law Samantha, who live in Jersey City and work in Manhattan, which is always a high point for me! Wishing you all the best in 2017 and hoping, as always, that I will hear from more of you in the next issue.
1979
Debra Bray Mitchell dbraymitch@gmail.com I encourage you all to “Like” the Colby-Sawyer Facebook page— there is lots of information on what
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is happening on campus. There are groups for specific teams, classes and experiences you can join, too. Paula Magnanti ’79 MT founded a company, Strategic Healthcare Solutions, 17 years ago in Sudbury, MA. After leaving CSC, Paula went on to earn her med tech degree from Northeastern U. Her consulting firm provides services for clients in innovation, healthcare IT, health information management and health and wellness services. She has 2 nieces and 2 nephews. Heidi Caswell Zander is a professional painter/gallery owner based in Rockport, MA. You can check her out at TidalEdgeGallery.com. A shout out to my roommate and bestie, Barbara McKenzie Holch ’78, for hosting a spectacular wedding in her Annapolis, MD, backyard for her oldest son, Charlie. Wendy Holch Blume ’85 and I were the CSC representatives for this special and intimate affair. Bill and I had the pleasure of meeting President Stuebner, and we encourage all of you to welcome her to our campus. She is experienced, energetic and has a great vision for our college. Bill and I also made the climb to the top of Mt. Kearsarge just as the leaves were starting to turn. The views and memories of past hikes up the mountain that overlooks our school came flooding back along with thoughts of many of you. Have a happy, healthy 2017. I look forward to hearing from you.
1980
NATALIE HARTWELL THRASHER LifeGrd121@aol.com Hello, Class of 1980! I so appreciated hearing again from Dana Peters Frizzell. We both shared fond memories of CSC and those great friends that we would so love to hear from. A shoutout to my niece, Meghan Mamlock ’17, who’s completing her senior year and is an excellent swimmer on the CSC team. Jane Reed Fecto has moved into a house they built in Marlborough, NH. I’m calling on you to send me a bit of news and updates in your lives. I’m all ears, my dears!
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1981
PAMELA AIGELTINGER LYONS pamalyons@verizon.net Alicia Abbott reports, “My husband, Will, and I have lived in Holderness, NH, for 23 years. I am the administrator of the Squam Lakes Conservation Society (SLCS) and Will is VP of Policy and Land Management with the Society for the Protection of NH Forests (SPNHF). We have 3 children: Will works in education and is earning his master’s in education at Plymouth State U; Jacob is in sales in the Plymouth area; and Tirzah works in the geology dept. of Northern IL U and is earning her master’s degree. I reconnected with Jennifer Kimberley Savage ’80, spending a day traveling around Squam Lake.” I, Pamela Aigeltinger Lyons, am fortunate to spend time every summer on Lake Sunapee, and I enjoy checking out the improvements going on at CSC! My daughter Jennifer, after graduating from Bucknell is now working at Accenture in DC. She is in touch with Lois Coerper Randall ’80. My youngest, Paige, is pursuing a degree in education. Would love to add more info to our class notes, so please stay in touch!
1984
DIANE PLACE STATKUS d.statkus@comcast.net Laurie Hansen ’82 writes, “After graduation, I went to UNH as a recreation major then worked at Pinkham Notch as an after-school leader and taught swimming at various places in NH. In 1998, I transitioned to working with senior citizens, first teaching water exercise then doing a variety of activities and trips. Now I work at the Peabody Home for the Aged in Franklin, NH, as an activity assistant. This past year has been busy. I went on my first cruise to AK, which was so amazing! I saw glaciers, more bald eagles than ever before, kayaked in Ketchikan and saw my old Girl Scout leader who lives there. I also spent a week in Canada in Sept. I just got a kitten named Ollie, have an older cat named Jasmine, and a dog Izzy. I have kept in touch with Jennifer “Niffer” Tucker Perley ’81 and Darleen Chamberlain ’81. I got
l – r: Laura Hockmeyer ’91, Larisa Kezema ’92, Lisa McIntyre Matschner ’90 and Deirdre Meredith Busse ’90 celebrated their 25th reunion by hiking Mount Kearsarge for the Alumni Mountain Day event during Homecoming Weekend.
together with Laura Crossan Van Ryswood after my mother died and found out her parents live at the same retirement community as my aunt and uncle.” Theresa Grella told me, “My daughter was married last May in Aruba, and we had a Roaring ’20s-themed Jack and Jill. My good buddies Margaret Carroll Thrasher ’83 and Marion Quinn McElwee were there to share the fun.” As for me, Diane Place Statkus, Robin Gagne-Wright and I shared a few solemn moments and hugs at her mother’s funeral. It was sad, but good to know that CSC connection was deep down. My husband, Mike, and I purchased a small summer place in Freedom, NH, in a community that shares beachfront on Lake Ossipee. The mountains and foliage remind me of my years at summer camp in Strafford, NH, owned by the late Jan Cooper Adams ’36, and, of course, New London. Our son Michael is a freshman at Keene State. See a theme here? Have a wonderful spring and summer, and keep the mail coming with new updates! Remember, you can find me on Facebook or email me anytime!
1986
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Karen Craffey Eldred writes, “Many of us celebrated our 30th reunion at Homecoming in Oct with spectacular fall weather and a ton of laughter. Susan “Bermie” Gibbons
Gray, Molly O’shea Piercy, Sally McDermott Morse, Sandra CouchKelly, Rose Randall Hicks, Marcie Eckert Stockwell, Betsy Civetta Pontius and Christine “Cricket” Palmer ’87 shared a home on Lake Sunapee and reminisced about college as if it were yesterday. Bermie, Karen and Cricket took a cruise on Lake Sunapee (we had not done that since graduation!) and got to spend some time with Liz Merriam Kyle, Sandy Beattie Hand ’85, Leslie Colmer Estrella ’85, Christine Smith Grande ’84, Polly Birdsall Martinson ’83 and Terry Hastings St. Pierre ’85. We attended the CSC dinner and caught up with Liddy Kimball Wilson and Eileen Fisher Power. Marnee Ennis Saltalamacchia, and Nancy Teach ’70/’84 also came by the house to catch up. Everyone looked great and had good stories to tell about their lives. So many have kids in college and the couple of us with younger children took some good advice. We look forward to our next laughter fest.” As of July 1, Karen Williams Jason was acting VP for Operations at Bridgewater State U. The promotion became permanent Jan 1. In May of 2015, she received her 3rd graduate degree, an MBA, from BSU and this fall is teaching her first graduate class as a part-time faculty member in the College of Education and Allied Studies.
1990
JANETTE ROBINSON HARRINGTON janetteharrington13@gmail.com Lisa Matschner says it was great to see old friends at Homecoming in Oct. She writes, “I am still running with friends but also guiding visually impaired runners for Disney races. My oldest is a freshman at UTPB, is a swimmer and studies mechanical engineering. My daughter is a HS freshman, plays volleyball and made 2nd all-conference team. My youngest son, in 7th grade, runs and plays soccer.”
1991 Donna Studley ’97 and Amie Pariseau ’97 took in the sights and some great tennis over the summer at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.
1988
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Melissa Clemons Russell reports, “My husband and I and our 2 pups have immersed ourselves in the world of Stuart, FL, and went through our first hurricane, which was what our neighbors called dodging a big one. I call it a dry run for the future. I stay busy and continue to research my family genealogy when visiting New England, in addition to enjoying Jazzercise and going to Dolphins football games. The ultimate game will be in Jan when the Dolphins and Patriots play on New Year’s Day. I grew up watching the Pats, so it’ll be a win/win for me. Bruce works hard at ITS telecom in Indiantown and on his commute home he crosses the bridge over the St. Lucie River with a quick but fabulous view of the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean to our little paradise in Sewall’s point.”
GRETCHEN D. GARCEAUKRAGH redsoxfan78210@yahoo.com Theresa Sombric Westgard lives in Sweden. She is studying for her Ph.D. in medical science at Gothenburg U.
1992
ELIZABETH BRYANT CAMP ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu JENNIFER BARRETT SAWYER jjmasawyer@comcast.net Hi, everyone! No news this time around, but I hope you are all making plans to return to Colby-Sawyer this fall to celebrate our 25th reunion Oct. 13–15. Can you believe it’s been 25 years? I can’t wait to catch up with everyone and share a fun weekend on campus.
1994
JULIE A. CAMP camp_julie@hotmail.com STACEY BANKS NIEMAN sniemana@gmail.com Facebook brings us all closer and allows us to catch up with old friends, but it is still nice to get these updates from everyone! Lynne Medailleu writes, “I have just begun my 16th year working for the
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Marlborough Public Schools in MA. I began as a 5th grade math teacher, morphed into an ESL teacher, and now am director of the English Learner Education program for the district. We have close to 900 students in the program at varying levels of English proficiency, and they amaze me every day. I got into the ESL/EL area of education after living in Cali, Colombia, for 3 years teaching 1st and 2nd grade in a bilingual school. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to travel extensively, become fluent in Spanish and, most important, meet my husband, Luis Fernando. We settled in MA shortly before I began working in Marlborough. All of our time is now spent with our children, Gabriela, 11, and twins Erik and Carolina, 8. And that sums up the past 22 years!” Patty Randall Berry and Dan live in Mattapoisett, MA, with their 3 children. Patty reports, “Dan is the executive director of the Emilson YMCA in Hanover, MA. I am back in school and it feels great! I am attending BU’s School of Theology seeking a Master’s in Divinity. I also work part- time as a Christian education director. I am not sure what God has in store for me. It’s been quite an adventure already!”
1997
AMIE PARISEAU pariseau75@comcast.net DONNA M. STUDLEY donna.studley@gmail.com LAUREN CALVARESE TAUSCHER lauren_tauscher@yahoo.com Amie Pariseau crossed a big item off her bucket list: for her 40th birthday celebration: She went to Wimbledon and had an amazing experience. She still can’t believe she was there to walk the historic grounds and watch some greats play on the grass. She’ll cherish the memories forever. The summer of grass tennis continued when Donna and Amie enjoyed the hot sun of Newport, RI, for the International Tennis Hall of Fame Inductions and Tournament. They loved the place when they played in an annual doubles tournament for CSC, and they still do! Amie also played in the Chargers Club Tennis Classic with the assistant tennis
coach from way back in the day. She would love to see more tennis alums this year, so keep your eyes open for the 2017 date and play! Donna has been busy with home renovations, a new dog and trying to keep up with her active little guy, Austin, who loves watching and playing any sport. Donna ran into Kelly Keough Bordkan ’98 while taking a walk through a Halloween store of all places; it is a small world and CSC peeps are everywhere. Laura Powell sends greetings from PA. She works at the Junior League Thrift shop and recently ran her 11th marathon. Colleen Cross Carlson is teaching and loves sharing some of the old CSC “folklore” with her 6th graders.
1998
JAMIE GILBERT KELLY sportsmassage01@hotmail.com CHRISTOPHER G. QUINT christopher.quint@gmail.com I, Jamie Gilbert Kelly, started a new job last year as a paraoptometric assistant for an optometry office. I love the new stress-free job! My husband and I built a house and moved in a year ago. It’s a great location for our 3.5-year-old to play. Last summer I met up with Frank Abel ’97, Shane Hoover ’99, Phil Manning ’97, Chad O’Neil ’99, Seth Hurley ’99 and Nick Bertsimas ’99 and had a great time at our yearly Page Hall summer party. Chris Quint has been busy. He and wife Kim built a house in Aug 2015. In Jan 2016, he started up his new communications consulting company. And, he recently finished the Stonecat 50 miler where he met up with Martin Binette. This was Chris’s 2nd 50-mile trail ultra-marathon! Awesome job, Chris! Make sure to send Chris or me any updates as we all want to know what is going on with our class!
1999
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Hilary Sherman Hawkins works in the trauma program at DHMC. She writes, “Mike and I now have 7 grandchildren! 4 of our 5 children live in UT, which is great for them but sad for us. Wish we were closer! Our youngest child, Zylis, is 15 and competing nationally in free ski. He
spring 2017
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connections Sara Hammond ’01 and Mollie Ruben were surrounded by Colby-Sawyer friends on their wedding day. l – r: Jena Roth Falconi, Cara Falconi ’99, Jennifer Buck Carney ’02, Brendan Carney ’02, Sara, Mollie, Nikki Barletta Callahan ’05, Amy Callahan ’02 and Director of Athletics and Women’s Basketball Coach George Martin.
attends Stratton Mountain School in VT. Skyler is 21 and a junior at the U of UT. Trevor is married with 3 children, works for the UT National Guard, and competes in body building. Chris is married with 2 children and works for Kneaders in UT. Zach has 2 boys and is working for Cloward H2O and will be running the next Boston Marathon! Mike and I continue to make maple syrup at our home and enjoy all that New England provides.”
2000
TARA SCHIRM CAMPANELLA taracampanella@gmail.com JENNIFER PRUDDEN MONTGOMERY jprudden@yahoo.com Hey, Class of 2000! Hope everyone is doing well. I, Jen Prudden Montgomery, live in Melrose, MA, and teach 3rd grade in Andover. My husband, Brian, and I are busy with our 4-year-old Davis and 1-year-old Taylor. I have recently started teaching fitness and spinning classes at local gyms. John-Paul “JP” Sanieski
bought a house with his girlfriend in Worcester. He works as an operations manager for Gleason Johndrow Landscaping, which specializes in commercial landscape and snow management for all of MA, CT Southern NH and RI. I was lucky to spend a weekend this summer with Katie Sykes Follis, Matt Follis and their family, and Zanna Campbell Blaney and her family at Zanna’s lake house in NH. Hayley Cozens Buonopane wrote to say, “My husband Joe and I welcomed Lucy Rose on April 12, 2016. She is an amazing baby; we are very blessed!” Hello, CSC classmates, it’s me, Tara Schirm Campanella! I have been busy with moving to Coarsegold, CA, near Yosemite National Park. We bought our first home here with some gorgeous property that has mountains, big oak trees and a creek. After 12 moves with the Navy, it is nice to have a forever home. My husband, Jon, just retired after 22 years in the Navy, returning from his final deployment last May. I was
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promoted to payroll manager for the Yosemite Unified School District. It is a challenging position, but I am ready for a full-time career now that my husband is home for good. Jennifer Wallerstein McPhee says, “I’m living in Tempe, AZ, with Ben and our kids, Cash and Vivian. We always enjoy the company of our visitors escaping the cold weather. I spent 5.5 weeks last summer in MA to avoid the AZ inferno and plan on making it an annual trip. I went to my 20th high school reunion (yikes) and caught up with Andrea Goupil Stone ’99. I hope to see more CSC friends next summer!” Carla Breen reports, “As you may have heard, if you keep up with me on social media, I am going through chemo AGAIN. In Sept 2015, my cancer returned and I went through 17 rounds (36 weeks) of chemotherapy, ending this past May. The remission was short-lived, unfortunately, and 8 weeks later, the cancer had recurred and spread. I am now going through chemo again for an undetermined amount of time/ rounds. During my chemo holiday, I was able to spend a wonderful weekend on the Cape in July with Shannon Goodfellow Sherman, Katy Grow Heider, Sarah Lloyd O’Connell ’01 and Kristin Ozana Doyle ’01.” Carla, everyone sends our thoughts and prayers for your healing. Melissa Weymouth wrote, “I still work for USA Volleyball, in Colorado Springs, CO, and last summer I spent Aug in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. It was an incredible experience, with our Men’s and Women’s indoor teams, as well as our Women’s Beach team, taking home the bronze medal! On Oct 9, I married my best friend, Jeff, in Denver, CO. It was a wonderful day surrounded by friends and family.” Congrats, Melissa! Maryellen Skulski De Vivo and her husband, Bob, tired of weekly trips from Boston to do the things they loved in NYC so they sold their house and moved. They love life in the Big Apple, seeing shows on Broadway and going out on the town whenever they can. Melissa Labrie Ashley writes, “Jason and I welcomed our second child, beautiful Benjamin, in Sept. Amelia just turned 7 and is a proud
big sister. Being a stay-at-home mom is the greatest joy of my life. We continue to enjoy sunny San Diego where my husband is stationed at the Naval Base.” Congratulations on your new addition, Melissa!
2001
KIMBERLY MORRISON MILLER morrisonkimberly@hotmail.com Thank you to everyone who sent updates. I hope everyone who was able to attend our 15th reunion this year had a nice time! I look forward to hearing from others with updates in the future. Sara Hammond writes, “I love working as an assistant judicial case manager at the Essex Probate and Family Court in Salem, MA. It was a busy summer, as we bought a home in Jamaica Plain, MA, and were married on May 21, 2016, at Steel and Rye. It was great to reconnect with classmates at Homecoming (and our 15th year reunion) in Oct.” Sarah Outten Horan and her husband, Michael, enjoy life in Easthampton, MA, with their sons Brody and Connor. Sarah keeps super busy as a work-at-home mom but is grateful she doesn’t miss all of the “little” moments with her boys. Katrina Ryan has exciting news: “I moved to the DC area in Sept and started a new job with the Data & Marketing Association (DMA) as director of membership. While I’m looking forward to taking advantage of all the history and touristy things to do, I certainly miss walking with Kim Morrison Miller all the time in Raleigh!” Brooke Morin Black says her family and she are doing great and loving life in SC. Brooke was promoted to head of the girl’s lacrosse team at Wando High School (where she teaches).
2002
NICOLE FOWLER MARTIN nicole.martin3@gmail.com CHERYL LECESSE RICHARDSON cheryllecesse@gmail.com After working 14 years for Early Head Start, Kelsey Barbari LaPerle now teaches preschool at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School— the same school from which she graduated. She writes, “I
now have summers off and will spend school vacations with my family. Last summer we did a lot of traveling, camping and biking, and we look forward to even more of the same this summer!” Mike Derr had a busy 2016! In Feb, he was awarded the 2015 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement from the American Society of Engineers (ASCE)–Lehigh Valley Section, for being lead geotechnical engineer on a project for Camelback Ski Resort. This was the largest ski-in/ ski-out indoor waterpark project in the U.S. Mike was also elected president of the ASCE Lehigh Valley Section Board. In this position, he has started an education and professional outreach committee linking engineering professionals with middle and high school students in eastern PA. Mike started coaching his son Owen’s soccer team and loves yelling at 6-yearolds. He looked forward to getting back to NH this winter to see everyone on Mount Sunapee. Neill Ewing-Wegmann writes, “After 11.5 years, I left my prepress design job at the printers and am now a production designer and account manager for Trueline Publishing, a business-to-business trade journal headquartered in Portland, ME. I had a well-received art showing at a gallery in downtown Portland over the summer. My wife and kids are doing great as well.” Mitchell Leet lives in Chesterfield, NH, with his wife and 2 sons. He took over the family business in 2013, shortly after getting married.
2003
LISA NOYES HARDENBROOK litha81@hotmail.com My husband, Adam, and I purchased a home in Exeter, NH. I am now only minutes from work at Core Physicians, where I am in my 13th year. In Oct, Natasha Deane O’Donnell, Kayde Czupryna Gower and I traveled to Warren, ME, for the wedding of Jenny Woodbury King! Michelle Labrie Strand and Matt Strand caught up with good friends Mark Miller ’02, his wife Ellie, and 2 sons; and Brian Schrader ’04 and his wife, Becky Boardman Schrader ’06, at Okemo Mountain Resort in VT for the
Hops in the Hills Beer Festival. Mark and his family live in WA, so everyone tries to meet up at least once a year. Lida Vanasse finished her 3rd Ironman in Louisville, KY. She had awesome weather and it was a great day. The Ohio River was calm for the 2.4-mile swim, the rolling hills were beautiful for the 112-mile bike ride, and the 26.2-mile run went through Louisville and by Churchill Downs. After 9 years of teaching grade 3 in Salem, NH, Karissa Pignone Fitzell is now in her 3rd year of teaching grade 3 in Derry, NH. Karissa and her husband welcomed their 3rd daughter, Rayna, to the family in June. She joins Sophya, 6, and Eliza, 4. They live in Salem and enjoy the adventures life as a family of 5 brings. Erica Pockell Alexander was married in Sept in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC. Jazarae Kirchdorfer McCormick flew up to be part of the wedding. Erica has lived in Raleigh, NC, for 9 years. She works in Durham as the culinary director/chef at Carolina House residential eating disorder treatment facilities. She comes to NH several times a year to visit family in the Chester/Derry area. Erica says that one day she will move back up here, but she isn’t ready yet. Congratulations to Hester Rock Glaeser, who married Al Glaeser on Aug. 27 in Sturbridge, MA, as well as to Jenn Ljungvall MacCormick Winslow Mooney was born to Signe Linville ’06 and Mike Mooney ’02 on June 9, 2016. He loves being a little Charger!
and fiancé Ryan, who welcomed Madelyn Mae Benoure to their family on Sept 20.
2004
ERIC J. EMERY ericemery6@msn.com Kacy Viles welcomed Tyler Benjamin to the family in Jan. 2016. His big sister, Vanessa, loves him very much. Kacy is the head toddler teacher at a Montessori school in Quincy, MA.
2005
MONICA MICHAUD MILLER michaud_monica@hotmail.com Chris Beaudet and Gwen O’Neil Beaudet celebrated their 10th anniversary with a trip to Camden, ME. Amy Lancaster Baker and family welcomed their 2nd daughter, Scout, in June. Jenni Beaulieu Calvi had daughter Zooey on Mar 9; she joins 2 brothers. Jenni and her family have moved to central CA for her husband’s job as a Navy pilot. Jenni is eager to return to work as an RN in her new hometown. Kristofor Kebler was married Aug 27. Roommates Andrew Williams and Adam Naparsteck attended. Euginnia Manseau Seyferth married Brodie Seyferth on Sept 23. Cody “Cota” O’Leary married Eddie Ogiony on Labor Day Weekend at her parents’ home in VT. Kelly “KJ” Krasco and Chris Burke were her bridesmaid and bridesman, and other Colby- Sawyer guests included Coach Bill Foti and his wife Kathy, Maddie Hawkins ’12, Katie Arsenault, Amy Beaton Burke ’07, Andrew St. Clair ’06, Andrew Cousins ’09, Terri Duffy ’09, Chris Condon and Jody Moore Condon ’07. It was a day filled with amazing food and beer, great music, and lots of friends and love. Tim Bradley and Andrea Griecci Bradley ’04 live in Salisbury, MA, and welcomed daughter Penelope Joan on Mar 15. Monica Michaud Miller has taken on the role of pre-k instructional coach and coordinator for the local school district. She enjoys the challenge and is quite busy but misses the connections made in the classroom with students. Monica and her family are enjoying their new house and all the toys they can use on the acres of land they now have. Ben
Holley and Katie Harrigan Holley welcomed their 3rd daughter, Abigail Christine, in June. Sisters Ava, 4, and Alexandra, 2, are thrilled to have a real live baby to play with! Ben is VP of global growth for UnitedHealth Care and based at the NYC office. Katie has taken on the role of life coach, aka stay-at-home mom, managing the chaos that 3 kids under 4 have to offer and loving every minute of it!
2006
KARA JEAN BORDEAU kjbordeau@yahoo.com ANNE MARIE COULTER anne.marie.coulter@gmail.com Kristen Pobatschnig was accepted into an artist residency in Ajijic, Mexico for the month of March 2017. Her focus is on water, as she will be located in the heart of Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. The WREN Gallery in Bethlehem, NH, showed her work for the month of Feb; see colorsinspace.com. Brianne Koch Nye married James Nye on June 10 and Kerrie Garvey, Sarah Blaisdell and Courtney Gaughan attended. Krystal Heins Searah began the school year as Merrimack Valley School’s new library media specialist after earning certification from Plymouth State U. MacCormick Winslow Mooney was born to Signe Linville and Mike Mooney ’02 on June 9– he loves being a little Charger! Jessica Winkler has completed her M.S.N. and is working toward a doctorate of nursing practice at Sacred Heart University. Her husband, Matthew, notes that she’s testified before the CT State Senate and is proud of her Colby-Sawyer roots, often recommending the college to aspiring nurses.
2007
STEPHANIE JAQUES GUZZO stephanie.guzzo@gmail.com ASHLEY HELEN RODKEY rodkeyah@yahoo.com Kristina Garrison married Jonathan Sellers on Sept 24 in Freeport, ME. Amy Beaton got married here at CSC! Lauri Baudanza Dublikar married Dominic Dublikar on Oct 8 in Manchester, NH. They live in Manchester and she works at SNHU. Ashley Rodkey lives in
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connections Happy couple Shayln McEntire Johanson ’10 and Max Johanson ’10 are surrounded by CSC friends on their November wedding day. back row, l – r: Brian Doucette ’09, Trevor Davis ’08, Ryan Murray ’09, Julia Steese ’09, Eileen Endyke ’10, Sarah Zirnkilton ’10, Shayln and Max, Liz Cotreau ’10, Mickey Lapan ’10, Kim Shannon ’10, Rich Currid ’10, Jarrett Lowe ’10. front row, l – r: David Fleishman ’10, Justin Varney ’10, Brittany Mailman ’10, Amanda Jones Doucette ’10, Mike Johnson ’10, Mark Nailor ’10 and Evan Campbell ’09.
western MA and is a preschool special ed teacher for students with autism in Chicopee. Nicole Kenney lives in Durham, NC, and is a Clinical Nurse III at Duke Cancer Center in the Radiation Oncology and Sarcoma clinic. She works with pediatric and adult patients and loves it. She is a charge nurse and preceptor for incoming RNs, along with caring for orthopedic oncology patients and patients receiving radiation. Nicole recently completed her 7th annual Light the Night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Cary, NC, in honor of her mom. She and her team raised $3,800 of Duke’s $11,300 total, and Nicole was asked to lead the litany of remembrance poem at the remembrance ceremony by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of NC.
2008
SARAH HEANEY PELLETIER sh.heaney@gmail.com Krystle Martin Murphy and husband, Michael, welcomed daughter Evelyn in Jan. 2016. Krystle is the director of childcare at Kendal at Hanover’s Children Center. John Bosse married Carmen Pinto in Windham, ME, on June 3. They live near Salt Lake City, UT. Ashlee Willis Brabant married John Brabant on June 11 at Church Landing in
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Meredith, NH. Katharine Managan accepted a position in merchandising for Grocer’s Supply in Houston.
2009
NICOLE POELAERT COSTANZO npoelaert@yahoo.com ELIZABETH CRESSMAN ecressman1986@yahoo.com Elizabeth Cressman has been involved with the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children and helped establish 2 play spaces for young children and their families residing in homeless shelters. She has also helped coordinate donations for area shelters, including a book drive and a school supplies drive. Elizabeth helped children get involved with Foundation projects such as having them decorate art canvases to hang in the shelters and assemble art supply care packages. Nicole Poelaert Costanzo welcomed her daughter, Callie Marie, on June 10. Callie weighed 10lbs, 14 oz. and measured 21.5 inches long! Abby Cramer started a job as digital asset manager/digital archivist for Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, MA. In addition to receiving her master’s in public administration from Norwich U, Stephanie Manyak married Nicholas Gendron in Castine, ME, on July 2. They live in Savannah, GA, where Nick is
stationed as an officer at Fort Stewart Army Base; Stephanie works as a nonprofit administrator at Memorial U Medical Center. Aubrey Thomas is the development officer at Northeastern U’s College of Arts, Media and Design. Julie Thurston Drouin married Bill Drouin on Goose Rocks Beach in ME, and they moved into their first home in Southern NH. She is a mental health clinician with Lahey Health Behavioral Services, where she does outreach work in schools around the Haverhill/Methuen, MA area. Andrew Pillsbury ’08 and Melissa Estabrook Pillsbury welcomed their 2nd son, Theodore David, on Sept. 19. He weighed 9 lbs, 11 oz. and measured 21.5 inches!
2010
BRITTANY JUDITH MAILMAN bjmailman@gmail.com Leslie Dunn McLaughlin married Doug McLaughlin ’11 Feb. 27. Best day ever surrounded by many Colby-Sawyer alumni! Rachel Bourne and Matthew Tremblay tied the knot last summer. Amanda Jones Doucette and Brian Doucette ’09 welcomed Madelyn Hathaway Sept. 30 at 3:38 p.m. She was 6 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long. Big brother Camden loves her! Last year, Elaina Kennedy taught in Springfield, MA, but she he has moved to start a new job as a teacher at the Boston Higashi School in Randolph. Elaina teaches
students with autism and loves her new school. She is still creating and showing artwork and had an art opening in Jan at Gallery A3 in Amherst, MA. Shayln McEntire Johanson and Max Johanson ’10 were married Nov 20, 2015, at The Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME. Jamie Church moved back to New England after 3 years in South FL. He lives in Boston, where he has started a career in commercial finance.
2011
JOHN CHARLES MCCARTHY johnmccar.11@gmail.com Kayleigh Flynn Mertz married Kameron Mertz ’12 July 31 in Chichester, NH. Andrea Hoyt graduated last year with a master’s degree in elementary education from Curry College. She is now a licensed teacher in MA and works for Whitman-Hanson Public Schools. Ashley Godin is back in school in the Cardiac Echo Program at MA College of Pharmacy. It is a 2-year accelerated program, and Ashley hopes to work in a hospital as a cardiac sonographer. Emmanuelle Menos moved to NY. She has taken a position as an admin coordinator at the CUNY School of Public Health in their Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health. Ashley Blais LeBlanc married Chris LeBlanc ’14 June 4 in VT. Katie Murray works at the UVM Medical Center coordinating
l – r: Lindsey Santoro ’08, Ryan Willis ’04, Tarren Bailey ’06, Ashlee Willis Brabant ’08, John Brabant, Shannon Lange Silva ’07, Bobby Silva ’07 and Christine Francis Boothby ’07 pose for the CSC group photo at Ashlee’s wedding.
clinical trials led by the Children’s Oncology Group in Pediatric Oncology. She is also taking classes at UVM for a master’s in public health. In her spare time, Katie has been coaching youth soccer and basketball. Meghan Steele Horan was promoted to Education and Outreach Manager at the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) at UCLA. Her role includes coordinating the day-to-day educational and professional development programs for grad students and postdoc researchers. Corey Vancura ’12 and Moriah McGlenn married July 9 in Starksboro, VT.
2012
PHOTO: TARREN BAILEY ’06
COURTNEY ELEANOR PIKE courtney.e.pike@dartmouth.edu KASSANDRA LOUISE PIKE kassandra.pike@gmail.com Jayme Severance ’14 is a proofreader for a sustainable science nonprofit and will be an intern at Calypso Communications, a PR,
marketing and design firm in NH. He also does contract copywriting on occasion.
2013
MARIA CIMPEAN mcimpean1@gmail.com Pengxiang “Sean” Ding returned to China after working in Boston for a year. He joined a top Chinese private equity firm and serves in its international acquisition arm with foci on incubators, accelerators and artificial intelligence companies. His team’s deal flow radar covers the Greater Boston area and Bay Area, as well as Europe. Sean would like to reconnect with alumni who are in these fields. Devin R. Wilkie is starting a nonprofit in VT, Young Liberals, “to foster and encourage cultural, civic and political participation” among young adults.
2014
CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Jenelle D’Isidoro earned her master’s in teaching at Rivier U and teaches English at her alma mater, Pinkerton Academy, in Derry, NH. Yangjinqi “Vigil” Yu writes, “I am getting my master’s in industrial ecology from Chalmers U in Sweden. I just got a research analyst job offer from Ellen MacArthur Foundation and soon will work on a project to discover the circular economy potentials in China. I also run the blog circle-island.com, where I post about sustainability issues.
2015
MOLLY PAONE mollypaone@gmail.com Our class is settling into adult life, embracing job opportunities, continuing our education and starting families. Building on her child development background, Christina Guertin is a pre-k teacher at Mid-Coast ME Community Action,
a Head Start program in Bath, ME. Anthony Despres is a 6th grade science teacher at Higgins Middle School in Peabody, MA. As a student, Serene Chua was active in The Navigators, a student-focused Christian nonprofit organization. She now works for their chapter at BU and loves interacting with the students. Sociology major Phedorah Rosiclair has earned her master of science in PR from Syracuse U and is practicing public relations and public affairs at an integrative marketing agency. Aaron Records is in his first year at Syracuse U College of Law, where he does pro bono work for the Syrian Accountability Project, a group that frames potential war crimes in Syria for use by prosecutors in a future special court. Congratulations to Michelle Upham and her fiancé, Copeland Miller, on the birth of their daughter Leah in July. Chelsea Bakos has worked as a graphic designer for CBRE/New England for a year. She writes, “I started as a
JUST ADD THE ONES YOU LOVE
The best days of your life happened at Colby-Sawyer. Let us help you create new memories at the place you already love. colby-sawyer.edu/weddings
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In Memoriam: Trustee Emeritus Richard “Dick” Dulude Richard “Dick” Dulude, 83, trustee emeritus and resident of Georges Mills, N.H., and Vail, Colo., died Sunday, Jan. 1, at home in New Hampshire.
Colby-Sawyer friends gathered to celebrate the February 2016 wedding of Leslie Dunn McLaughlin ’10 and Douglas McLaughlin ’11. l – r: Cameron Sardelli ’10, Jon Madge ’10, Deb MacEachern LaPan ’11, Lauren Campiglio ’10, Catilin Pond ’10, Leslie Dunn McLaughlin ’10, Douglas McLaughlin ’11, Richard Brassor ’11, Sonja Paquette Brassor ’13, Katherine Lee ’11 and Kevin Molinaro ’13.
junior designer and was promoted in July to graphic designer. My work ranges from marketing collateral such as outdoor signage, posters and brochures to branding buildings.”
2016
HERMELLA “ELLA” TEKLE hermella.tekle@my.colby-sawyer.edu I am a graduate student at the George Washington U College of Political Management, with a concentration on strategic public relations. I’m also a senator for George Washington Graduate Students Association. I work in business operations for Meltwater Group, a global leading firm in media intelligence, with clients in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Our D.C. office is a few
blocks from the White House. Laura Young Collins writes, “I’m proud to say my hard work and dedication to my studies have paid off. After graduation, I had a 6-week internship with graphic designer Nancy Sepe in the Office of College Communications before moving on to an internship with an advertising company in Portland, Maine. After three months of getting to know the advertising world as an intern, I was offered a full-time position as a graphic designer. I use the skills I acquired at Colby- Sawyer every day, and I am forever grateful to the college for giving me an education that has helped me succeed in a career I am passionate about.” ®
Dick was born in Dunbarton, N.H., in 1933. He graduated from Concord High School and earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Syracuse University. He also completed the Senior Executive Program of the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With his wife, Jean, Dick enjoyed traveling the world, and they often included their children and grandchildren. Dick loved the mountains, lakes and the preservation of these resources. Their property in New Hampshire is in a land trust designed to protect natural areas from development. Dick was elected to the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees in 2005 and began his first of three three-year terms as a member of the Finance and Enrollment Management (chair 2006-2010) committees. He also served on the Audit, Board Organization, Executive (vice chair 2008-2011), Human Resources and Investment (chair 2012-2014) committees. Dick, along with Jean, belonged to the college’s Heritage Society, which recognizes those who provide for Colby-Sawyer’s future through a bequest or deferred gift. Dick’s bright smile was always a welcome sight, and he was known as a gracious and kind presence who will certainly be missed. “I only had the opportunity to meet Dick briefly, but I have heard from so many what an effective, warm and gracious leader Dick was,” said President Susan D. Stuebner. Dick was a retired vice chairman of Corning Incorporated. He joined Corning in 1957 and served a distinguished career with the company until his retirement in 1993.
SEE YOUR CLASS NOTES PHOTOS ONLINE Did you submit a photo for the Class Notes section of Colby-Sawyer but don’t see it here? We receive so many that we can’t include every photo in the magazine, but they can all be viewed at colby-sawyer.edu/classnotesphotos. Take a look there and continue to send us your interesting, high-resolution photos with captions.
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Chair of Colby-Sawyer’s Board of Trustees Peter F. Volanakis, who retired as president of Corning Incorporated in 2010, remembers Dick as a “formidable executive and a warm, thoughtful, generous man.” ® Read more at colby-sawyer.edu/dulude.
in fond memory 1933 Esther Morrison Kindley March 8, 2016 1934 Helen Corey Penick January 1, 2014 1935 Bessie Wilner Grad November 7, 2016 1937 Marguerite Bartlett Rowe October 8, 2016 1938 Helen Rudd Doriss January 4, 2016 Evelyn Seaton Treibor May 15, 2016 Barbara “BJ” Symonds Ayers September 26, 2016 1940 Sylvia Woodman Slater August 5, 2016 Elizabeth “Libby” Reynolds Magnus October 3, 2016 1941 Constance Hathaway Kelly September 2, 2016 1942 Ruth O’Brien Wentzel December 6, 2016 1943 Marilyn Maier Feinberg January 15, 2016 Janet Wallis Shea May 11, 2016 Rosamond Jones Hannum July 25, 2016 1944 Rosamond “Roz” Holt Haley May 26, 2016 Pauline “Polly” Tringa Beckley August 7, 2016 Margaret Kentfield Burkey September 1, 2016 Janet Peters Gardiner October 16, 2016
1945 Mary Boudette Hendershott February 7, 2014 Evelyn Simm Butler May 18, 2016 Mary Harder Long September 11, 2016
1952 Barbara Genre Cotter August 8, 2016
1946 Mary Jane Carter Heyward April 14, 2016 Shirley L. Holmes October 1, 2016 Natalie Callahan O’Laughlin November 21, 2016
1954 Joanne Ripley Spencer November 6, 2016
1947 Dorothy Fitch Adamson May 28, 2016
1956 Janet Burgbacher Nilan February 13, 2007 Jane Beeson Beaven September 17, 2014 Pamela Scott Heydon August 29, 2015 Carolyn Ann Fantasia October 17, 2015 Joanne Faragher Weppner October 26, 2016 Elizabeth “Betsey” Ferguson Jump November 29, 2016
1948 Mary Lorimer Harrison June 2, 2006 Jean Klaubert Friend May 1, 2016 Anne Getchell Floyd August 28, 2016 Dorothy Bublinec Kostick November 27, 2016 Katherine “Kay” Heinrich Clark December 2, 2016 Nancy Dexter Aldrich December 15, 2016 1949 Joanne Brown Remington May 19, 2014 Sally Woodbury Handy August 21, 2016 Donna Oosting Muenzberg August 21, 2016 Barbara “Bobbie” Laurie Prescott October 1, 2016 Priscilla Allen Walton October 12, 2016 1950 Ruth Shonyo Trask July 26, 2016 1951 Elizabeth Braley Pyle June 3, 2012 Margaret “Shelley” Bindloss White December 12, 2016
1953 Sally Heald October 23, 2016
1955 Margaret “Joan” Sylvester Day August 30, 2016
1958 Kathleen McAlear Mitchell June 1, 2015 Marcia S. Cohn December 1, 2015 Marcia Watkins Maytham October 1, 2016 1960 Andrea Woronka Enos July 12, 2016 Patricia Molinari Barbone July 14, 2016 1961 Joan Booth McGaw February 15, 2013 Jane B. Copeland October 18, 2016 1963 Helen Cochran Dicke December 1, 2016
1964 Rosemarie Meloro Prescott April 19, 2004 Borden Burck Stevens April 3, 2014 1965 Lois V. Gilbert-Fulton February 3, 2016 1966 Laura Braman Corcoran September 9, 2016 Margaret Fletcher McIntosh September 20, 2016 1967 Nancy E. Cook December 28, 2010 1969 Jennifer Lawrence Braverman November 15, 2016 1970 Cheryl Noonan Crapo June 14, 2016 1974 Kathleen Stavros Bundy August 7, 2016 Nancy Halsey Mastin November 30, 2016 1982 Nancy Paloian-Breznikar November 16, 2016
FORMER FACULTY Rosamond “Roz” Holt Haley May 26, 2016 Robert J. Owczarek August 29, 2016 Laura Braman Corcoran September 9, 2016
FORMER STAFF Michie Bickford January 18, 2017
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Eight Generations of Giving: THE COLGATES by Kelli Bogan
FOR THOSE WHO WALK THE WINDY HILL of Colby-Sawyer College, certain names become part of your vocabulary: Colby, Burpee, Cleveland, Kelsey, Colgate, Sawyer. These are the places you live, the halls where you learn and the fields where you play. But what’s behind the names? How many students and alumni know that those names represent gifts given to the college because of a love for, and belief in, this place that they call home no matter how long it’s been since they stepped foot on campus? These pages are too few to cover every such gift and name, so I will highlight one family that has given a great deal to the college and still has a tremendous love for it: the Colgate family. It’s impossible, however, to talk about the Colgate family without mentioning the Colby family. Our first lady principal and daughter of one of the college’s founding fathers, Susan Colby, married James Boorman Colgate — yes, that Colgate, he of the university in New York and the toothpaste. Susan’s brother, Robert, married James’s sister, Mary. And so the Colbys became the Colgates. Susan and James had two children, James and Mary (Mellie); Robert and Mary had three children, May, Jessie and William. All five became involved with the institution that grew into Colby-Sawyer.
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JOIN US for the Grand Opening Celebration of the Colby-Sawyer College Art & Design Center ON EXHIBIT Inner Visions: Selections from the Collection of Beverly Stearns Bernson ’55 Featuring work by major outsider artists Public Opening Event: Friday, Oct. 13 Learn more at colby-sawyer.edu/events Untitled (Cabellero) 1933. Martin Ramirez, crayon on paper, 25 ½” x 23 ½”