Mount Saint Mary College Magazine, Spring 2013 by Mount Saint Mary College

Mount Saint Mary College

magazine Newburgh, New York

Spring 2013

Knights find success at

Skyline Conference

3rd Annual Gala Reception | Working in the real world | Flourishing in the classroom

DO CE ME

We began the new year with some resolutions, some new goals. At the Mount, we continue to make new strides within our strategic plan. Some myths have arisen about higher education. A recent study by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities debunked the myths. Here are a few facts.

Myth: Private colleges enroll only white, wealthy, traditional students. FACT: Students at private nonprofit colleges are as racially/ethnically and economically diverse as their peers at four-year public universities. Many older, working and part-time students attend independent institutions. Myth: Many college graduates leave school with more than $100,000 in debt. FACT: The overwhelming majority of college borrowers have manageable loan levels. Myth: A college degree is no longer a good investment. FACT: Over the course of a career, a college degree is still the best investment one can make. Myth: Fewer students are choosing to attend private colleges. FACT: Enrollment at private colleges continues to grow, and the number of independent institutions has held steady for the past 30 years. Myth: All private colleges have billion-dollar endowments. FACT: Most private colleges do not have large endowments. Endowments provide institutions a financial bedrock. They are designed to serve

Myth: Private colleges are not affordable. FACT: Because of generous institutional student aid policies, private non-profit colleges remain affordable to students from all backgrounds.

IVER EM TAT

. B U R G H, N

MOU NT

Dear alumni, students, parents and friends of Mount Saint Mary College,

INT MARY C SA

E LEG OL

A letter from the President

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine Volume 35, No. 1 not only today’s students, but tomorrow’s. Trustees are legally obligated to manage the endowment prudently. Myth: Private colleges are not innovative or flexible. FACT: Private colleges are attuned and responsive to the changing needs of students, and to the financial, demographic and technological transformations affecting higher education and the nation. Mount Saint Mary College has roots in the ideals of Saint Dominic, with branches offering students a number of values and opportunities: strong academic preparation, applied learning via internships, clinical experiences, student teaching, campus activities to develop teamwork, and community service that develops both skills of mind and habits of heart. You’ll find a number of examples in this magazine, including a journey to Italy by student athletes just before the election of a new pope. You can also read more about our people, programs, news and events on our website, www.msmc.edu

God bless,

Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM President

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

The Office of Community Relations prepares this magazine for alumni, students, parents and friends of the College. EDITOR Janet Gianopoulos ART DIRECTOR Dean DiMarzo CONTRIBUTORS Matt Frey ’05 MSE ’10 Joan Gambeski Michelle Iacuessa ’94 Justin Satkowski GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sten Miller PHOTOGRAPHY Lee Ferris Joan Gambeski COPYEDITING Jane Hanley Mayde Pokorny CIRCULATION 8,000 ©2013 WEBSITE magazine.msmc.edu EMAIL magazine@msmc.edu MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-0800 ADMISSIONS 888-YES-MSMC (888-937-6762)

Contents

Nursing students gain experience

On the cover — Men’s swim team from left to right: Scott Colello Jr., bio; Ryan Murray, history; Mark Bohlinger, accounting; Sam Watson, math; and Conor Dowd, bio. See page 14. Photo by Lee Ferris/Mount Saint Mary College

Student Journal | Technology and Digital Media major Christopher DeFichy 2 Digital technology and media | A changing professional landscape 3 News from the Mount | New trustee, promotions and more

Working in the real world | Students gain experience through internships 6 Nursing their future | Nursing majors work at many area hospitals

In the classroom | Student teachers use innovation in learning

Academic Investiture | Freshmen honored for commitment

Culture of Life | New initiative teaches students to be the example

Swimming to victory | Teams excel at Skyline Conference

Journey of a lifetime | Knights visit the Vatican

Alumnus Profile | Patrick Quinn ’99

Alumni Notes | The latest news from Mount graduates

Vow renewals | Alumni return to reaffirm wedding vows

Friends for the future | Alumni mentor Mount students

3rd Annual Gala reception | Photos and coverage

15 MSMC Magazine online! www.msmc.edu/magazine Find more stories, photos and archived issues online.

www.msmc.edu

Student Christopher DeFichy readies a camera for use.

New media major helps student find passion STUDENT JOURNAL

hen I began my studies at Mount Saint Mary College, I wanted to be a high school math teacher. It took a few false starts, but when I heard about the new technology and digital media major, I knew I had found my true passion. Making movies, studying digital content and web production – that’s what attracted me to this major. I’d describe myself as energetic. I’m never really tired and I always have energy to get things done. And it’s a good thing, too. As a technology and digital media major, sometimes I have to run around to get a shot or to capture sound. I have to put a lot of hours into editing video, too. I made a twominute movie trailer recently for my nonlinear editing course, and it took me about 10 hours to complete. I had

By Christopher Defichy ’14 Major: Technology and Digital Media Miller Place, New York

an idea of how long it would take – I’ve done drawing and animation, and that took a long time, too – but I just didn’t expect it to take so many hours. I’ve certainly gained a new respect for video editors. But I enjoy doing it, and I want to get it right. Nonlinear editing is my favorite course so far, because it’s given me a chance to do so many new and interesting things. And instead of a paper, I can show my work in video form. I can let people see exactly what I did – all of the stuff I’m really proud of. I first came to the Mount for the great education program, but I stayed at the campus after I decided to switch my major because I really like the Mount community. Everyone is friendly and my teachers have been really good. Maureen Markel, professor of

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

mathematics and information technology, is one of the most influential professors I’ve had at the Mount. She was my teacher for a class on spreadsheets and databases, and she was very helpful. She always has time to discuss projects after class, and she really makes sure that her students understand the material. After I graduate, I’d like to use my Mount Saint Mary College education at a firm such as MSG Varsity, the first television, online and interactive network devoted to high school sports and activities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. As a sports fan, videotaping, editing the games and putting it all together for the public would be ideal for me. For now, I’m just looking forward to continuing my classes and learning more about audio and video production.

Melding digital media and technology

n today’s content-hungry, webbased world, the marriage of information technology and media studies has become a necessity, says professor Dean Goldberg, co-director of Mount Saint Mary College’s new interdisciplinary major in technology and digital media. “The digital landscape has radically changed many career paths,” Goldberg explained. “It’s changed how we use computers and how we talk to one another. The jobs that used to be under film or video production, some of the technical jobs that belonged in the analog world, are no longer relevant.” “The new environment is digital.” The Mount’s technology and digital media major, which debuted at the

“

Dean Goldberg and Maureen Markel share their expertise with students.

The digital landscape has radically changed many career paths. It’s changed how we use computers and how we talk to one another.

beginning of this academic year, provides skills to succeed in careers such as web content, corporate communications, healthcare, engineering and higher education. Emphasizing hands-on experience, courses include digital video production, dynamics of color and design, networking, nonlinear editing, interactive web design and digital illustration. Goldberg, of Arts and Letters, also leads the Mount’s popular communication and media production program, which features a video studio and editing suite with the latest nonlinear editing equipment, a Mount Media crew for real-world experience, and the Knight Radio station featuring a hightech control room and studio. Technology and digital media students enjoy these resources as well. Those taking the new major will leave the Mount with a rich cache of abilities that employers seek, said Maureen Markel, of Mathematics and

— Dean Goldberg, Communication Arts–Media Studies Information Technology, who co-directs technology and digital media with Goldberg. For example, 10 years ago, a video shoot would have an engineer. That job has morphed into digital capture assistant, who takes the digital film and downloads it into computer servers for editing. Anyone interested in a production job, Markel pointed out, “really needs to have computer training.” Goldberg added, “We see it as a new career path for those who want to go into the profession. They can get a really good background in entry level technical jobs on sets. If there are 50 jobs, 40 of them are going to be in the digital information technology field.” Stephen Nester, a senior from Newburgh, N.Y., says the major has given him plenty of exciting opportunities. “I like working with computers, and this allows me to do it,” said Nester. “I’ve got a lot of knowledge from the

networking classes. It’s been great so far.” According to Markel, technology and digital media appeals to students with a “creative bent,” like junior Robert Arneth from Chester, N.Y. Having switched his major from mathematics – information technology to technology and digital media, Arneth says that Markel has been very helpful to him throughout his Mount education. “She’s a great teacher,” he said. “She’s very big on helping students. That’s what I appreciate.” The future is looking bright for the new major and the students who take it, Markel said. “When it fully develops, we want to offer more with electronic music, video production and web content. The students will get a chance to be truly creative.” www.msmc.edu

News from the Mount

Longtime employees

he Mount recently applauded 23 employees for their longtime service. 35 years: Paul Schwartz, psychology (inset). 30 years: Margaret Keenan, custodial; and Susan E. Petronella, natural sciences. 25 years: Elaine O’Grady, admissions; and Louis Fortunato, business. 20 years: Carmen R. Vergaray, housekeeping; James Whitaker, operations; Thomas Dubetsky, security/safety; Joe Dzierzyk, grounds; and Stanley Pycior, his-

tory. 15 years: Norma Pettus, switchboard; Karen Ulrich, adult education; James Raimo, facilities and operations; Lee Zawistowski, human resources; and Carol L. O’Shea, campus store. 10 years: Candelaria Pinzon, housekeeping; Maria Fernandez, housekeeping; Karen Johnson, security/safety; Delbra Lane, security/safety; Kathleen Vazquez, finance; Amanda Maynard, psychology; Lee Fothergill, mathematics; and Frances Spielhagen, education.

New trustee

Elizabeth Ailes, H ’12, elected to an initial three-year term on the Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees, is a 20-year veteran of NBC News, CNBC, and America’s Talking, the forerunner of MSNBC. She has brought her journalistic focus to The Putnam County News & Recorder and The Putnam County Courier, as publisher of both papers.

Promotions at the Mount Tracey J. Niemotko, professor of accounting with tenure. Niemotko is a CPA and an attorney. Her textbook, “Accounting Basics: A Survival Guide for Students,” was published by KendallHunt. She is president of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants - Mid-Hudson Chapter, and was invited to the University of Volgograd, Russia to give a series of talks. Jenifer Lee-Gonyea, associate professor of criminology with tenure, has a forthcoming publication in the International Journal of Crime, Criminal Justice and Criminal Law; her previous works have appeared in the Journal of Research in Education; Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice; Deviant Behavior; and International Journal of Cultural Studies. She has also contributed to two textbooks. Glenn Reynolds, associate professor of history with tenure. He edited “Images Out of Africa: The Virginia Garner

Diaries of the Africa Motion Picture Project,” and has a second book under review. He has published articles in the California History Journal; Journal of Social History; Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television; and more. Jeanne Roth, associate professor of nursing with tenure. Much of her scholarship has focused on completion of her doctoral dissertation, and she has also given poster presentations and talks on professional opportunities in nursing and on early onset Alzheimer’s. Marie-Therese Sulit, associate professor of English with tenure. She authored four book chapters, a significant number of publications, and has given many conference presentations at professional meetings throughout the United States and abroad. Ann Corcoran, assistant professor of nursing. Much of her scholarship has been focused on the completion of her dissertation. Her chapter, “Introductory

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

Nursing Courses,” will appear in professor Priscilla Sagar’s book, “Transcultural Nursing Education Strategies.” Ann-Marie Uebbing, assistant professor of nursing, published “Appraisal of Spatial Association of Racial/Ethnic Disparities Between Late-Stage Diagnosis and Mortality for Female Breast Cancer,” has another article under review for the Clinical Advisor, and made presentations at professional meetings. Karen EberleMcCarthy is retiring at the end of this academic year with the title professor emerita of Spanish, after completing 37 years at the Mount. Early in her time at the college, she received a Fulbright Grant to study in Argentina, and she returned to publish significant articles and present papers at conferences.

Top 20 CPA

Students from Mount Saint Mary College recently finished in the top 20 nationwide in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants annual competition. More than 100 colleges and universities participated. The Mount Knights – Stephen Blomquist, Andrew Tomascak, Thomas Gambino and Jeremias Ramos

– researched taxation, Social Security and federal deficit. Margaret Treacy, a media studies/production major, produced a video explaining their solutions. Professor Tracey Niemotko, the team’s advisor, observed that the Knights were the only group from the northeast in the top 20.

Pet therapy In the wake of the tragic deaths at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., associate professor Debra Hrelic and her 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier are providing doses of pet therapy as a certified therapy dog team. The day after the attack, Hrelic was asked to visit the impromptu crisis and counseling center. “There were times when it was very intense and of course it was very sad, but it was also extremely rewarding. We touched many lives, and for that I feel blessed.” This semester, the busy professor is teach-

ing, supervising Mount students doing their clinicals at Danbury Hospital, and visiting the Newtown school.

Irish Education 100

Senior fellow

Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of Mount Saint Mary College, is an Irish Education Top 100 honoree for the third year in a row. Joining him on the list are James Finn Cotter, longtime Mount professor of English, and R. Abel Garraghan, completing nine years on the college’s Board of Trustees. Compiled by the Irish Voice newspaper, the list highlights top educators in America and the longstanding Irish commitment to excellence in education.

Robert Miller, assistant professor of religious studies, was named a senior fellow for the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. His area of specialization is Johannine literature, and areas of interest include Mariology, inter-textual studies and biblical typology. Miller recently presented a talk titled “The New Queen Esther: Mary as Esther at the Wedding at Cana” at the national meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association.

Debra Hrelic (right) and Caroline visit Newtown, Conn.

From left, Opeyemi Ifafore, Gabrielle Platt and John Reilly, history professor.

Presentations James Phillips, assistant professor of theatre, directed “Barefoot in the Park” by playwright Neil Simon at the Compass Rose Theatre in Annapolis, Md. Reviewers wrote the play “delivered in a big way,” had “brilliant direction,” and “director James Phillips has made stellar casting choices, each person uniquely fitted to their role…Phillips coaxes the perfect pacing from his cast as well.” At The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900, English adjunct Jerome L. Wyant presented a paper on “Ambiguity as a Lens to Interpreting D. H. Lawrence’s ‘Wintry Peacock.’ ” Opeyemi Ifafore and Gabrielle Platt joined the four-day Student Conference on U.S. Affairs, hosted at West Point, N.Y. The theme was “Leading in Lean Times: Assuring Accountability and Assessing American Priorities in an Age of Austerity.” Ifafore and her teammates were charged with creating U.S. foreign policy for Africa. Platt’s team created counterinsurgency strategies. According to history professor John Reilly, this is the first time that the Mount was able to send more than one student. www.msmc.edu

The Mount Experience

Nadirah Muhammad at the Masjid Al-Ikhlas Islamic Center of Orange County. The text on the Center is “Bismillah” – “In the name of God” – spoken before praying, eating and other important tasks.

N.Y. State senator Gustavo Rivera with Mount student Xiomara Loarte at the legislative office building in Albany.

Working in the

real world

Internships reveal essential skills, Mount advantage

iomara Loarte, on the pre-law track, recently headed to Albany to intern for a New York State senator. In the office of Gustavo Rivera, who represents the 33rd Senate District, Loarte researches bills and attends conferences and public hearings. “My experience has been amazing,” said the Mount Saint Mary College junior. “Our district staff and our Albany staff mesh really well together, and it shows in our work. Our senator is really proud of what we’ve accomplished.” The networking opportunities also make her internship experience very valuable. Closer to home, Dylan Dorrian, a history major, is in the local office of

assemblyman Frank Skartados. He researches organizations and political figures, and also takes on tasks such as responding to constituents “as not only voters but fellow New Yorkers.” “I will be able to look back on the essential skills that this internship has given me,” said Dorrian, “like being able to really get an understanding of people’s needs, and using my ability to find resources.” Whatever a student’s career aspirations, the Mount has connections. Stephen Blomquist, an accounting major, is sharpening his skills at Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell, LLP. He holds two internships there. “Doing the two internships gives me

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

a different perspective,” said Blomquist. “I’m getting two sides of the business, which will help me decide what I want to do.” Karen Staples, CPA, a tax partner, said Blomquist excels in his field of study. Another supervisor, Tonia Crown, CPA, an audit partner, added, “He’s a hard worker, quick learner and very professional. I would definitely like to hire him after he graduates.” Ita Rahilly, a certified public accountant at the firm, is on the Mount’s board of trustees. Also on the firm’s highly qualified team are Mount alumni, including recent graduates Sean Glander ’06, CPA, and Magda Reyes ’10, CPA. Nadirah Muhammad, a senior communications/journalism major,

Stephen Blomquist with Mount trustee Ita Rahilly, a certified public accountant at Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell, LLP.

crafts news releases and oversees social media at Masjid Al-Ikhlas, the Islamic Learning Center of Orange County. Faith is very important to the founder of the Mount’s Muslim Student Association. She could have gained valuable experience at one of the Mount’s many existing internship opportunities, but she helped blaze a new trail at the center. “I like to write, and I also like to help the community, so I’m trying to see how I can mesh the two together,” she said. “I’m trying to get the youth more involved.” While Muhammad sharpens her writing skills, Alexis Coronato, an English major, is learning to aid professionals at the Vassar Brothers Medical Center library. Most of the library’s resources are electronic, which is a principal reason the aspiring librarian chose the hospital-based internship. The more experience she has with specialized libraries, the higher the likelihood of securing a job in a rapidly changing career landscape. “I might go more in an academic direction,” said Coronato. “In this economy, employees need to be more flexible.”

Alexis Coronato is spending her semester interning at the Vassar Brothers Medical Center library.

“Looking back, I would never have been offered this position if it weren’t for my internship... Experience is everything.” —Nick Jurgensen ‘10

Jacquelyn Mancini is doing sports psychology at the West Point United States Military Academy. She has observed both individual and team psychology sessions, where athletes gain a “training to a trusting mindset,” confidence and team building, goal setting, tension control, and energy and stress management. Among other tasks, she monitors their heart rates and records feedback. The internship was a good fit for Mancini, who plays soccer at the Mount. She enjoys applying her knowledge from an athlete’s point of view. “I’m learning how important it is to mentally prepare when playing a sport,

not just the physical aspect, the training,” she explained. Professor Rae Fallon’s courses, including the psychology of stress, helped her prepare. She also credits Robin Rosenberg from the Career Center. The Career Center offers a smorgasbord of opportunities for Mount students every semester. Many have received full-time jobs as a result of internships. In his junior year, Nick Jurgensen ’10, a business major, had an unusual request: airport management. Kathleen O’Keefe, associate director of the Career Center, was able to create an internship at Orange County Airport. “That’s one of the advantages of going to the Mount,” said O’Keefe. “Talk to me, tell me what you’re interested in, and we’ll see what we can do.” Thanks to his real-world experience, Jurgensen now works at Citation Air in Greenwich, Conn., which charters private flights for business. “Looking back, I would never have been offered this position if it weren’t for my internship at Orange County Airport,” Jurgensen said. “Experience is everything.” www.msmc.edu

The Mount Experience

Nursing their future in the community J

esse Segal is one of many Mount Saint Mary College nursing students utilizing medical skills in hospitals throughout the tri-state area. As part of his complex health clinical experience at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Segal takes vital statistics and blood samples and administers medication, among a host of other responsibilities. Under the tutelage of instructor Linda Ruta, Segal and four classmates attend to patients in the intensive care unit. “There’s a lot of hands-on care,” Segal said. “It’s like learning a new language – you have to put a lot into it.” In learning the “language” of nursing, Jill Saydlowski said that hard work is rewarded with a sense of fulfillment. “A triumph is when you come back next week and a patient is doing better,” she said. Alyssa Zordan said her work at St. Luke’s has been valuable and exciting. Everything she’s learned in other clinical experiences is coming into play. Ruta noted that in the beginning, it took the students about two hours to give all their patients medication. Now the process takes less than an hour.

“We always see improvement,” she said. “These are bright, effective students. They’re going to be wonderful nurses.” Ruta described the process of becoming a nurse “like an onion – there’s always one more layer.” Kasey Ronan has been building those layers up since she started her Mount education. Her St. Luke’s clinical has been instrumental to her development. “Being in ICU, there are tubes and wires in the room, and you have to work around them. At the same time you have to focus on the patient,” she said. “I learned what to do with critical patients in critical situations.” Segal says he’s encountered many new situations while stationed at St. Luke’s, each one increasing his skill set. Zordan added that the St. Luke’s staff is very supportive and helpful. Joan Cusack-McGuirk, vice president and chief nursing officer at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, said she was impressed with the Mount student nurses. “The only people I love more than nurses are nursing students,” she said. “The Mount does a really good job and

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

Mount nursing majors at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, from left to right: Jesse Segal, Jill Saydlowski, instructor Linda Ruta, Alyssa Zordan, Kasey Ronan and Kristen Lippert.

we’re pleased that they’re here. This is our future.” At Mount Saint Mary College, more than 40 percent of first year students aim for health professions. Sophomore nursing students don scrubs and stethoscopes and begin their applied learning semesters earlier than other colleges. Kristen Lippert said the extra realworld experience helped her to sharpen her nursing skills more quickly, and concentrate on more difficult situations in her senior year. “You’re not going to get away with just sitting around,” she said. “It’s real nursing.” Working with 30 to 40 hospitals, the Mount offers the only nationally accredited four-year nursing degree program in the mid Hudson Valley and boasts a high NCLEX-RN passage rate that consistently exceeds the state average.

Nursing major Che-la Devonshire takes care of a patient. At Orange Regional Medical Center (ORMC) in Middletown, N.Y., Mount nursing student Alexandra Klein recently witnessed twins being born. Klein, who is considering going into maternity nursing, couldn’t talk about the experience without grinning. “I love caring for babies; they’re a bundle of joy,” she said. “Maternity is a happy field. What a great experience.” Emily Blew said she’s pleased with the variety her ORMC clinical provides her. Che-la Devonshire agreed that her time at ORMC allowed her to explore many aspects of nursing, and get a feel for what she might want to focus on later in her career. “In this medical-surgical rotation, I’ve had the opportunity to work with all kinds of patients,” she said. “It gives me a chance to assess and comfort in different areas, and it also allows me to expand my education.” Natalia Miller said that the Mount instilled the skills to be successful. She cited instructors like Jeanne Roth and Ann Corcoran as pivotal. “I see a difference in our skills,” said Miller. “We feel much more confident. I know we can do what we set our minds to do, and go where we want to go.” Mount graduates work as registered nurses in the Northeast and beyond. At St. Luke’s, Margaret Deyo-Allers ’03 is director of clinical practice, ToniMarie Bouton ’88 is a registered nurse

Alyssa Zordan and Jill Saydlowski speak with Juan Mera, registered nurse at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. working in the operating room, and Cheryl R. Barnum ’91 is a member of the hospital’s orthopedic staff. Alex Peguero-Medrano, a 2012 graduate and registered nurse, began working at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Conn. in October. Also in Connecticut, at Danbury Hospital, Michael C. Emond ’95 is an assistant nurse manager and Irene L. Jagde ’88 is a registered nurse in the intensive care unit. For his maternity clinical, Nick Powell is stationed at Danbury Hospital. From before birth through postpartum assessment, Powell gets a wide spectrum of patients. “It’s pretty intense,” said Powell. Caring for newborns is a new experience, he said. “It’s so different,” explained Powell. “They’re so much more fragile. But I wouldn’t say it’s difficult – just something new to learn.” Mount students also provide community nursing, where the focus is on education and prevention. For her community nursing placement, Lisa Zylberberg, an RN to BS candidate, explained the dangers of smoking to sixth grade students at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School. “When I showed them what cigarettes are, what chemicals are in there – tar, ammonia, pesticides – their eyes just opened up,” said Zylberberg.

For her community nursing course, Michelle Espinosa taught prevention of sports injuries in the Arlington School District before finishing the semester at the Dutchess County Department of Health. Antoinette Iaquez-Samuelson taught flu prevention techniques to fourth graders at Cornwall Elementary School, and Jessica Curran discussed heart and lung health with students in the Wallkill School District. In previous semesters, students have aided post-op and chronic patients in their homes, participated in flu shot clinics, given presentations to nursing professionals on special topics, and more. For Zylberberg, the benefits of her community nursing course are already tangible. “The more you’re able to speak with patients and get information out of them, the more you’re preventing diseases from reoccurring,” she said. “In any facet of health care, you need to have open communication with patients.” Zylberberg credits Mount nursing professor Priscilla Sagar with not only being a great teacher, but also with inspiring her to complete her bachelor’s degree. Sagar used to bring her nursing students to a clinic where Zylberberg was working. “She used to say, ‘Why don’t you come to the Mount?’” explained Zylberberg. “I’m glad I did. It’s a great program and I’m really happy.” www.msmc.edu

The Mount Experience

Flourishing in the classroom

Innovating and learning from each other

n a winter afternoon at S.S. Seward Institute in Florida, N.Y., Michelle Watch led her living environment class in taking interactive notes. Spread throughout the presentation were engaging photos of frogs and insects, lively discussions and plenty of class participation from the ninth grade students. As they split into groups to complete the assignment, Watch showcased a model of an internal organ to answer an inquiry. “I love kids and I love discovery,” said Watch, a biology major. “It’s so enjoyable to see them interested in something, to be able to encourage learning and help them discover that learning is a lifelong process.” The placement with longtime science teacher Ernie Vanderkruik marked Watch’s first major teaching experience in public education. She remains with Vanderkruik for her second round, leading high school seniors in a college-level course. Vanderkruik observed that Watch is developing a keen sense of planning and flexibility, as well as gaining confidence in her teaching ability. “I cannot wait to continue working with her to see how she will inform my teaching,” he said. The Mount’s courses were vital in Watch’s preparation and evolution as a teacher. Chemistry professor Lynn Maelia had “a great influence” on her, she explained, adding that all of her professors encouraged her to succeed. “I got to see those professionals in action, and they really inspired me,” Watch said, of her Mount education. S.S. Seward principal Michael Rheaume is a 1991 graduate of Mount Saint Mary College with a degree in childhood education and special education. He credits the college with preparing him for success, particularly courses with Paul Schwartz (psychology), Kate Lindemann (philosophy) and Joan Miller (education).

Kelly Dempsey, a Mount student teacher and history major from Hicksville, N.Y., leads a discussion about immigration during a global studies class at Newburgh Free Academy. “I owe Dr. Miller a whole lot,” said Rheaume. “She’s an awesome teacher and a wonderful mentor.” Watch handles the occasional behavior management issues pragmatically, explaining, “The only way that you can learn about that, and prepare for that in your own classroom, is to learn how to do it during student teaching.” The blossoming teacher’s successes outweigh her struggles. Watch’s students often ask her questions that go beyond the material covered on the tests she administers. That’s a good thing, she said; in doing so, they demonstrate a higher level of learning. “You know the teaching profession was made for you when you’re able to have that kind of discussion with your students,” Watch explained. Watch’s experience has confirmed what she already knew. “This is what I want to do with the rest of my life.” The Mount’s nationally accredited education program earns high marks in preparing students for licensure. It’s not uncommon for Mount alumni to take the college’s student teachers under their wings. Working with Barbara Rubin, a 1993 Mount graduate with a degree in

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

history, Kelly Dempsey says the high school students at Newburgh Free Academy can teach her as much as she can teach them. “I’m really proud of making relationships with the students,” she said. “The more they feel you know them, the more they’ll give back.” Mount students often find the college’s many co-curricular and extracurricular activities useful in becoming a well-rounded individual. For Dempsey, a Mount basketball player, connecting to her students through sports is easy. Dempsey enjoys spending time with students at school basketball games, and in doing so, she learns more about their academic needs. “You can transfer that experience from the court to the classroom,” she said. At the Mount, professors Frances Spielhagen and Dolores Berlinghoff were instrumental in molding Dempsey into a confident teacher. Dempsey’s classmate, Christina Cruz, a math major, also accomplished her first student teaching experience at Newburgh Free Academy. Cruz is adjusting to her new responsibilities “nicely,” she said. “At first it can be nerve-wracking in front of the class-

room. You’re not sure how the students will react to you. But it’s a worthwhile experience. I’ve grown so much.” She’s learned how to project her voice, handle behavior issues and command her students’ attention. But perhaps her greatest accomplishment so far is her impact on the students. After reaching out to those who were struggling with the material, Cruz noted marked improvement in their grades. “That’s my triumph, when I see the students asking questions, wanting to learn and doing well,” she said. “I explain math to them, saying, ‘It’s not as hard as it looks.’ As soon as that light bulb goes off in their heads, you can tell that they get it.”

And helping that “light bulb” go off in Cruz’s head is her cooperating teacher, Joanna Muller. “Anytime I have a question, she’s always willing to help,” said Cruz, whose future is looking bright; she wants to teach urban students who have difficulty in traditional classroom settings. “Coming from my background, you can do anything that you set your mind to,” said Cruz, a first generation college student. At the Mount, Cruz was motivated and inspired by professors Berlinghoff and James DiLorenzo. “They’re always finding a better way to teach so that we understand it,” she said. For student Christopher Vollaro, an English major, finding great ways

Service with a smile

A day after the Northeast was slammed by a foot of snow, 15 Mount students volunteered their time at Newburgh Ministry’s Winterhaven overnight shelter. The event marked the kickoff of Service Sunday. “At Mount Saint Mary College, according to our mission, we are here to educate the whole person,” said Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm, Mount chaplain and director of campus ministry. “We hope that through this experience of service, reflection, discussion and prayer, it will become part of them.” Chris VanHouten’s recent Marine Corps medical mission to the Philippines jumpstarted his desire to serve others. Now his focus is a lot closer to home. Newburgh native Tone’ya Bryant was also looking to make a difference locally. In addition to aiding her community, the

experience was valuable to her psychology studies. For Maria Greco, Winterhaven is a familiar place of hospitality and hope. Last semester, she and Alyssa Mann spent several days a month volunteering at the shelter. “I loved the experience and I loved working with people,” Greco explained. “I want to be a nurse, so I’m interested in changing people’s lives. Here, I could see the change.” That change includes some of the shelter users securing employment or completing diplomas, often with tutoring from Greco. The volunteerism mirrors a long history of service at Newburgh Ministry. As patrons filtered in, Natassia Solis, Nimmy James and Diana Gillette served dinner. Said Solis, “Jesus and his

to teach has become his passion. At Dutchess BOCES, Vollaro leads special education students under the watchful eye of Maria Sita, a 1999 Mount grad. “The experience so far has been really good. I’ve built up a good relationship with each of the kids,” said Vollaro. He said that Sita is an excellent educator. “She’s been really helpful to me; she doesn’t make me feel under pressure,” Vollaro observed. Creating a lesson for fourth through sixth graders can be difficult, but Mount educators taught him how to achieve that balance. “It was worth it to go through the Mount’s teaching program,” said Vollaro. “Now that I’m getting results in the classroom, it’s all coming together.” Front row: Tone’ya Bryant; Nimmy James; Maria Greco. Middle row: Amy Fuller; Julia Klingler; Nicole Cunningham; Jessica Burns; Nicole Allen; Natassia Solis; Sr. Mary O’Neill, PBVM, Newburgh Ministry; Alexander LaPoint, assistant director of campus ministry. Back row: Diamond Taitt; Alyssa Mann; Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm, Mount chaplain; Br. Nicolas Blackwell, O.Carm, campus ministry; Colin Jarvis, executive director, Newburgh Ministry; Chris VanHouten; Sr. Norma Carney, PBVM, LSW ‘66, Newburgh Ministry; Kenneth Santos; a Winterhaven volunteer; Diana Gillette.

disciples served others, so we should serve others too.” Jonathan Torres’s faith brought him to minister at Winterhaven last year. The sociology student later went to New Orleans to aid hurricane victims through the Nuns Build project. He and other volunteers rebuilt a home that was still in bad shape after Hurricane Katrina. By the time they left, the team had redone the drywall and ceilings, installed closets and begun restoring electricity. Torres is all too familiar with Mother Nature’s wrath, having spent days cleaning his family’s Bronx home after Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York last year. “I think it’s my calling to go out and help those in need,” he said. “The world has a lot of problems. It can make a difference if you change them.” www.msmc.edu

Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM (far left) applauds after a speech by freshman class president Bradley Moody (standing).

2013

Academic Investiture VPAA honors freshmen for academic commitment At the recent academic investiture ceremony, freshmen and transfer students were welcomed into the Mount Saint Mary College community as official degree candidates, and received the tassels that they will wear at commencement. Bradley Moody, freshman president, noted, “You have made great progress in your academics. Now it’s time to explore…it is in the realm of the unknown where growth and success are found. Graduation is right around the corner.” In her keynote address to the students, Iris Turkenkopf, vice president for academic affairs, discussed how the Mount will prepare them for the future. “Being an adult is much more than just reaching a specific age,” she said. Adults have “knowledge and skills to think through complex issues and make reasonable decisions,” as well as a fine-tuned “moral compass.”

Iris Turkenkopf, vice president for academic affairs, spoke about the journey to adulthood.

A Mount education, she added, helps build autonomous, reasonable and ethical adults with “a passion for lifelong learning.” Their years as a Mount student give “both time and the opportunity to take advantage of all that we offer,” said Turkenkopf.

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring 2013

“Keep an open mind, work hard, engage in discussions with your professors and fellow students, expose yourself to different ideas, meet new people, and learn how to collaborate and cooperate to achieve your goals.”

Left to right: Laura Lomolino, business; Kerry Maloney, psychology/physical therapy; Aaron Ricci, interdisciplinary; and Courtney Payoczkowski, psychology/ physical therapy

Culture of Life Committee. Front row: Michael O’Keefe, Jennifer Garton, Brian Klose, Caitlin Houlihan, Sandra Cefaloni-Henderson. Back row: Alexander LaPoint, Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm; Dolores Berlinghoff, Orin Strauchler, Danielle Lindner, Charles Zola. Not pictured: Laura Litwin, Antoinette Mirdita, and John Wright.

(Left) Aimee Caron, and Tabitha Paez

Culture of Life builds

selves and souls Mount Saint Mary College students are embracing the opportunity to better their minds, bodies and souls through the college’s Culture of Life Campaign, aimed at promoting moral integrity, offering a deeper understanding of positive culture and reflecting the mantra “Love Yourself, Be Yourself, Be the Example.” Sandra Cefaloni-Henderson, director of student activities and a Culture of Life committee head, explained that the program is meant to broaden students’ knowledge in the areas of respect towards oneself and others; moral development; self-image and self-worth; interpersonal and spiritual relationships; decision making; and safety. This comes through gatherings great and small. For example, more than 300 members of the Mount community packed the Hudson Hall auditorium to hear Kent Weeks discuss his book, “In Search of Civility: Confronting Incivility on the College Campus.” It was the first major event in the campaign. Culture of Life would see similar success with author Donna Freitas, who spoke about her book, “Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituali-

ty, Romance, and Religion on America’s College Campuses.” The talk was part of Wellness Week, a collaboration with many campus offices. Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm, a campaign committee head and the director of campus ministry, said Culture of Life is a way for students to search for truth in their daily lives, both in and out of the classroom. Hand in hand with the college’s motto, “Doce Me Veritatem” (Teach Me the Truth), the ideals are designed to help students reach their full potential as lifelong learners. “It’s one way of us living out the mission of the college,” explained Fr. Amodio, “by helping students not only in mind, but in heart and soul and body. When they grow in love of themselves, they will be of service to others and aid the community with what they’ve learned.” He added, “Whatever their major is, that will help them in society.” Committee members Brian Klose and Jennifer Garton, both communications/media majors, are planning an event to spread the word about the Mount’s Culture of Life Campaign to other campuses. The venture will also

serve as their senior project. Klose, Mount student body president, and Garton, vice president, say the results of the campaign are apparent in their peers. For students who have been attending Culture of Life events, Garton noted an increase in “respect that people have for others and for themselves.” Klose added, “I see students really putting to use what they learned, being better students, being better people. For example, they’re making better decisions with alcohol…they’re going to activities on campus.” Other Culture of Life events include a celebration of unity and diversity awareness; speaker Erica Austin’s “Keep Friendship,” a guide to making smart decisions regarding alcohol usage; and open discussions about relationship challenges. Culture of Life’s honest discussion of real-life issues facing college students – subjects Garton calls “elephants in the room”– are the backbone of the campaign’s success, she said. “This is going to help a lot of people grow,” concluded Klose. “It already has.” www.msmc.edu

Sports events

Swimming to

victory T

he Mount Saint Mary College women’s swimming team captured its second straight Skyline Conference title with a dominant performance in the distance events on February 1. The men’s team also competed well and finished third. The women totaled 107 points at the meet to finish far ahead of second place Purchase College, who finished with 65. On the men’s side, the Knights finished third with 51 points, trailing Maritime with 166 and Purchase with 52. Freshman Lauren Becerra was the Knight star, winning all

three of her individual events on her way to being named Skyline Conference Swimmer of the Year. Becerra won the 1,000 freestyle (11:27.30), the 500 freestyle (5:37.67) and the 200 freestyle (2:05.89). In the 1,000 freestyle, sophomore Meghan Seaman was second in 11:41.87, while junior Deirdre Kenny completed a top three sweep with a time of 11:56.23. Freshman Elizabeth Stern and senior Rachel Johnson finished fifth and sixth, with times of 12:41.86 and 12:45.35, respectively. The Mount swept the top five

The women’s swim team. Seated: Rachel Johnson. First row: Sarah Kelleher, Tara Kayal, Lauren Becerra, Sandy Behre, Megan Pierce and Tricia LaSasso. Second row: Katie Harrington, Kassie Kayal, Meghan Seaman, Elizabeth Stern, Ellen Slocum and Alli Turnbach. Third row: Alissa Keyes, Deirdre Kenny and Danielle Rodriguez. Back row: Head coach Danielle Lindner and assistant coach Scott Rausenberger.

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

Men’s swim team from left, Conor Dowd, Jason Lorch, Sam Watson, Scott Colello Jr., Ryan Murray, Mark Bohlinger and Sean Sullivan. At top, Mount senior Kassie Kayal

The Knights visited Vatican City.

Head swim coach, Danielle Lindner places in the 500 freestyle. Following Becerra, the order was Seaman (5:44.25), Kenny (5:53.72), Johnson (6:04.93) and Stern (6:09.77). The women also won the 400 freestyle relay. Kenny, Seaman and Beccera teamed with senior Kassie Kayal for a first place time of 4:02.46. Other notable performances: junior Alissa Keyes, third in the 100 butterfly (2:39.07) and second in the 200 IM (2:34.37); Seaman, second place in the 100 freestyle (59.86); Kenny, second in the 200 freestyle (2:11.80); Kayal, third in the 200 backstroke (2:33.43); freshman Sandy Behre, third in the 200 breaststroke (2:55.49). On the men’s side, sophomore Ryan Murray led with three top-three finishes: second in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.91) and the 200 breaststroke (2:29.85), and third in the 200 freestyle (1:57.33). Freshman Sean Sullivan took third in the 1,000 freestyle (11:37.58) and second in the 500 freestyle (5:36.38). Fellow freshman Sam Watson put together a pair of third place efforts in the backstroke events, with times of 1:00.65 in the 100 and 2:15.01 in the 200. Junior Conor Dowd came away with a second place finish in the 200 butterfly with 2:23.43. First-year head coach Danielle Lindner was named Skyline Conference Coach of the Year on both men’s and women’s sides. Her men’s team won the conference’s sportsmanship award. Two weekends later, the Knights set several new school records at the Metropolitan Conference Championships.

Journey of a lifetime

he Mount Saint Mary College women’s soccer team enjoyed the trip of a lifetime over spring break, voyaging to historic Italy. There, they experienced diverse cultures while touring more than ten cities in six regions. The Knights also played soccer in Italy, competing in three matches and emerging with a 3-0 record. The team started in Rome, visiting the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the Catacombs of Rome. The Knights saw the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, where they viewed the fresco paintings of Michelangelo, and saw where cardinals gather for the papal conclave. The team also experienced some authentic Italian cuisine. After three days in Rome, the team traveled to the coastal town of Sorrento in Naples, and would later visit the island of Capri. In Naples, the team had their first international match against Napoli Calcio Femminile. The Knights came out with a 2-1 win and exchanged jerseys with the Italian players as a souvenir of their first international match. The Knights then moved on to Pompeii, touring the ruins of the ancient city. After that, the team traveled into a small town north of Rome, Fiano Romano, for the second match of the trip. Again, the Knights

The Knights prevailed over AC Aglianese. prevailed, this time by a score of 2-0. The next day, the Knights continued north into Tuscany. They toured a winery in the medieval town of Fattoria San Donato, and enjoyed local specialties, including cheeses, olives, sausages, breads and wine. Following lunch, the Knights prepared for their final match of the trip. In the town of Montecatini, Mount Saint Mary College took on AC Aglianese and claimed a 1-0 victory on a game-winning goal with less than two minutes to play in regulation. The team finished up with a tour of Florence, including a visit to the Gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti to see Michelangelo’s David. The Knights also made a stop in Venice, enjoying gondola rides on the canals, as well as tours of Saint Mark’s Square, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. — Reported by Colleen Jones ’14 www.msmc.edu

Sports events

Joseph Henain in action on the basketball court.

Henain on inaugural Allstate NABC Good Works Team

he National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and Allstate Insurance Company announced 20 men’s and women’s student athletes named to the inaugural Allstate NABC Good Works Team and Allstate WBCA Good Works Team. Mount Saint Mary College junior Joseph Henain of Hopewell Junction, N.Y. was selected to represent Division III. The award recognizes a unique group of student athletes who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement, which include building homes for the elderly, leading basketball clinics, reading to students and working with children with disabilities. “The men and women being recognized with this award have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on and off the court,” said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member

The 2013 Allstate NABC Good Works Team NCAA Division I (Name, Class, Position, School, Hometown) Langston Galloway, junior, Guard, Saint Joseph’s University, Baton Rouge, La. Jakob Gollon, junior, Forward, Mercer University, Stevens Point, Wis. John Mann, junior, Forward, Belmont University, Smyrna, Ga. Peyton Siva, senior, Guard, University of Louisville, Seattle, Wash. Tyler Thornton, junior, Guard, Duke University, Washington, D.C.

NCAA Division II, III and NAIA (Name, Class, Position, School, Hometown) Max Brewer, senior, Guard, Franklin & Marshall College, Park Ridge, N.J. Jake Greene, senior, Guard, LSUShreveport, Fry Creek, La. Joseph Henain, junior, Center, Mount Saint Mary College, Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Kevin Kotzur, senior, Center, St. Mary’s University, La Vernia, Texas Colton Overway, senior, Guard, Hope College, Holland, Mich.

of the 2013 NABC and WBCA Good Works Team selection panels. “Allstate commends these student athletes for their contributions and are very proud to introduce the inaugural NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams.” Athletic departments submitted 161 nominations for deserving student

athletes. From the nominations, two voting panels headlined by former University of Arizona student athlete, five-time NBA champion and college basketball analyst Steve Kerr, and former University of Tennessee star and 2012 WNBA championship team member Tamika Catchings, selected

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

Knights in the

community Senior Laura Santiago reads to students at Milton Elementary School.

Henain two 10-member teams, each featuring five student athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. “We believe in the potential of this exemplary program as an opportunity to promote the good works taking place in collegiate athletics,” said Beth Bass, CEO of the WBCA. “The Good Works Team recognizes student athletes who are conscientious and caring individuals who will continue to make significant contributions as civic leaders in communities across the United States.” Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2013 NABC Convention and 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Atlanta, where they will participate in a community project in the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team will be recognized during the 2013 WBCA Convention and at the 2013 NCAA Women’s Final Four in New Orleans, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA. “The NABC is pleased to honor 10 outstanding men’s basketball student athletes for their hard work and dedication to charitable and community service-related activities,” said Jim Haney, NABC executive director. “These student athletes have made a significant impact on the organizations they have served, and have shown outstanding character on the court, in the community and in the classroom.”

Knights lend voices for Read Across America events at local schools

The Mount Saint Mary College athletic department participated in Read Across America events on March 1 as part of the Knights in the Community service initiative. Members of the men’s and women’s track and field team served as guest readers at Milton Elementary School in the Marlboro

Central School District. Men’s basketball head coach Ryan Kadlubowski was a guest reader at Temple Hill Academy of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. Both groups read from books in the Dr. Seuss collection in celebration of the author’s birthday.

Knights host Girl Scouts for National Girls and Women in Sports Day event Mount Saint Mary College student athletes designed and coordinated an event to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The Knights helped approximately 60 local Girl Scouts earn their “Fair Play” badges. “We thought National Girls and Women in Sports Day was a tremendous success,” said Danielle Lindner, men’s and women’s swimming head coach and co-coordinator of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, which sponsored the event. “We look forward to making this a yearly event.” The day featured rules and skills demonstrations for basketball, softball and soccer. There was also a classroom session during which the Knights spoke to the Girl Scouts

about the history of women in sports, Title IX and current female athletes. They also spoke about sportsmanship and positive body image. The event concluded with a wacky relay race featuring jump roping, scooter racing and balloon popping. Additionally, the college’s men’s basketball team hosted Newburgh Boy Scout Troop and Pack 105 for a day of basketball at the Kaplan Center. www.msmc.edu

Mount Alumni

The life of a dad ALUMNUS PROFILE Patrick Quinn ’99

s Hurricane Sandy slammed New York, Patrick Quinn ’99 was safe at home in California – but the Mount graduate’s devotion to his hometown of Long Beach, N.Y., inspired him to help the only way he knew how. “I grew up in Long Beach, N.Y., where most of my family, including my parents, still live,” said Quinn. “The night of the storm I was worried for two reasons. The first was obviously because of everything we were hearing about the severity of the storm, and the second was because I knew that most of the Long Beach residents weren’t evacuating. They had tons of false alarms in the past and pretty much everyone was planning on riding it out, not expecting very much damage, despite being a barrier island at sea level.” As the storm progressed through the night, people in Long Beach lost power. Quinn began receiving phone calls from friends and family asking him to relay information over to other people who weren’t able to leave their homes. “I figured the fastest way to get the information to the greatest number of people was by creating a Facebook page called Long Beach, N.Y. Hurricane Information Page, which could be accessed from smart phones,” explained Quinn. “I stayed up all night posting updates and relaying messages from person to person.” Overnight, a few hundred people joined the page, and soon after, the page’s membership had ballooned to 5,000 participants. Quinn created shared files to post names of missing people, or elderly individuals who needed check-in visits. “It was up to the people of Long Beach to help one another out,” explained Quinn. Soon, anyone could access the page

to get help rebuilding, find missing cars and pets, purchase new cars, and more. Quinn provided up-to-the-minute updates and found local places to start donation centers. “We found out that City of Long Beach officials were telling stricken residents to use our page as the most up-to-date and accurate information source for everything regarding rebuilding, getting power back to the city, cleanup efforts and more,” Quinn said. Quinn is currently head copywriter and editor for LifeSaver International Inc., and is responsible for all web content, print and marketing materials. The company makes saliva-based testing for a variety of things, such as pregnancy, HIV, diabetes and blood alcohol tests, “all from licking a stick.” They also have a sub-division working on a DWI simulator that would give an exceptionally realistic experience, showing how alcohol affects driving. Quinn wrote all of the content for the site. When asked how he obtained his position and how the Mount helped get him there, Quinn stated, “I had been laid off from an educational company a while back, and was on the hunt for

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

work in whatever industry I was able to find it in. All the while I was blogging about raising my kids and other things that I found amusing. With some friends I even made a website, www.getmydaddyajob.com, where I wrote about my job searching and had my daughter try to plead my case to potential employers. An old friend from Arizona saw the website and happened to be looking for a writer to do SEO work and blogging, and asked if it would be something I’d be interested in. After that it was just hunting down freelance jobs until I came across LifeSaver, where I am now. The Mount helped get me there by really fostering my creativity. I was in a few of the plays that the Mount put on and as an English major, I was exposed to writing styles and genres that I normally might not have gravitated toward.” Quinn is also the director of social media marketing and copywriter, as well as video producer, actor and partner for www.LifeOfDad.com. “LifeOfDad.com is the first social network for dads,” Quinn explained. “It started out as a blog by the founder of the site, Tom Riles, my brother-in-law, that chronicled the funnier aspects of

being a new father.” The site has grown to a place where anyone can create a “man cave,” his own space within the website. Users can upload videos, share pictures and start their own blog. It’s centered on fatherhood, but people can write about anything they want. The site currently features about 2,000 bloggers. “So far my experience with LifeOfDad has been filled with small successes and a few much larger ones. Some of the blogs I wrote were among the most shared and read on the website. The biggest impact I had on the site was coming up with and appearing in the marketing video, which involved a bunch of dads from all walks of life and from all across the country singing The Little Mermaid’s ‘Part of Your World.’ ” The video featured New York firefighters, a Chicago police officer, pavers, janitors, doctors and more, “all singing this very girlie song with reckless abandon,” Quinn stated. The effort was featured on “The Today Show,” The Huffington Post, Yahoo!, The Daily Mail UK and other

Keep the contacts you make at school with you as you move on in life. It’s easier than ever now with Facebook, so don’t let those relationships go stale. Keep current with your friends, mentors, and those you look up to and respect. They will be a valuable asset down the line some day. — Quinn’s advice to current Mount students media outlets. It was shared more than 300,000 times on YouTube. “I’m hoping that down the line, LifeOfDad will expand, and be bigger and better than ever. We are already developing LifeOfMom.com which should be coming out soon,” Quinn

said. “My hope is that I’ll be able to continue having a positive impact with the site and also work with LifeSaver, getting the word out about the medical device and being able to help people globally. I also hope that the success of the DWI simulator will help to save people on the roads. It would be humbling to know that the material I’ve written helped investors make the project a reality, and ultimately saved people’s lives.” When asked who had the greatest influence on him, Quinn replied, “I can’t really narrow it down to a single person, but to a department at the school: The Division of Arts and Letters. Mr. Beard, Dr. Nunnari and Dr. Entrekin were more than teachers and mentors, but became friends and a source for assistance and support. The lessons they taught went beyond the classroom and made me a more wellrounded student and person in the years following. They were the people I didn’t want to disappoint. I’m happy to say that I’m still friends with them to this day.”

Alumni Notes 1966

Jayne (Jarvis) Henninger and her daughter-in-law have co-owned Remedy Intelligent Staffing for 20 years. Eileen (McDonald) Sassmann is a secretary of the Greenway Trail Committee, recognized by the New YorkNew Jersey Trail Conference for its 10-mile marked walking route. Louise (Brooks) Town continues to have adventures as a travel nurse. She has experienced a tornado and President Reagan’s Library and Tomb in Simi Valley.

1969

Kathleen (Mullane) Kastrup is an adoption social worker at Connecticut Adoption and Family Services. She and her husband, Joe, lived in Dublin, London and Frankfurt, and have two sons and two grandsons. Sr. Carole Marie Troskowski was assigned to a Nigerian mission for almost five years, where she was elected General Superior of the Congregation for two terms.

1970

Sr. Jo-Ann Iannotti, O.P. published her first book, “Remember, Return, Re-

joice: Journeying from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.” She is art and spirituality coordinator at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, Conn.

1974

Barbara (Kiviniemi) Fornal retired after teaching elementary school for 33 years in the Marlboro School District, and is now a certified herbalist. Patricia Peters is retired and in 2012, traveled to Maui, Hawaii and Italy.

1975

Ginny Baresch moved from Rwanda to Namibia as the deputy director for management and operations at the

Center for Disease Control. Nancy (Rust) Sutherland retired from the Upper Pittsgrove School District in New Jersey in June 2012, after 35 years as a special education teacher.

1977

Leah (Palinkos) McFarland RN, BS, MS is a nurse manager at the VA Hudson Valley Health Care System. Susan (Moffo) Myklak had a women’s boutique store, Putogether, in Colorado Springs, Colo., for 17 years. She decided to retire in 2010. Michael Vega teaches in the New York City public school system. www.msmc.edu

Mount Alumni 1978

Births

Karen (Maruca) Shea retired in June 2012 after 32 years of teaching math in Massachusetts at Westwood High School, Longmeadow High School and Northeastern University.

1979 Roberta (Bednarski) Maureau retired from teaching and works for the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. She and her husband, Tom, will celebrate 28 years of marriage in June.

1980 Stephanie Collins retired in June after teaching for 38 years. Kelly (McMahon) Cook is working as a nurse practitioner at Stanford Hospital in California. Doris Hettinger-Mackey’s daughter, Julia, will be attending the Mount.

1982 Jean Marie (Olson) Fortunato received her 25-year pin for service to the Copiague Public School District in September.

1984 John Lynch retired from IBM Corporation in 2005 after 32 years. John is married with three children and one grandson. Sharon Leghorn Patsalos married George Patsalos in 1991, and has two sons. She earned an MSN degree in 2007 and a post-master’s nursing certificate in 2009 from the Mount. She is a nurse practitioner for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. Kathleen (Stuhler) Reilly is a home health aide and works for Partners in Care, run by the Visiting Nurses of New York.

1985 Karen (Fay) Bobinski is

Sabrina (Capecci) Rosen was promoted to supervisor of psychological services at Volunteers of America-Staten Island Early Learning Center.

1990 Nora Kate O’Connell

1971

Ava Marie Denaxas

2003

Gerri (Walotsky) Cass announced the birth of grandson Tyler, on December 21, 2012.

Melissa Moriarty Chaput and husband, John, welcomed son Cole Thomas, on April 16, 2012.

1993

2005

Kathleen (Connelly) O’Connell and husband, James, welcomed daughter Nora Kate, on September 14, 2012.

1995

Marie (Brunhuber) Lucas and husband, Bill, welcomed daughter Sydney Karolyn, in April 2012.

1999

Renee (Rascoe) DeGroat and husband, Kevin, welcomed son Avery, in November 2012.

a charge nurse in MAU at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Fayetteville, Ga. She has been married to her husband, Bo, for 27 years.

1986 Yonette Shepherd has been a New York City probation officer for 26 years. She has two children and one granddaughter.

1987 Keri (Myers) Naso and her husband, Vince, have been married for 18 years. Keri

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

William Denaxas and Margot (Everett) Denaxas ’04, welcomed daughter Ava Marie Denaxas, on October 2, 2012.

2006

Catherine (Schultz) Weber and husband, Robert, welcomed daughter Penelope Lila, on August 3, 2012.

2007

Meghan (Longo) Earley and husband, David, welcomed son Riley Patrick, in February 2012.

taught for 23 years. Laurie (Brown) Vang is now dean at ITT Technical Institute in Bradenton, Fla.

1988

Michelle Maher earned a PhD from Syracuse University in the Cultural Foundations of Education in May 2012.

1992 Cynthia Winfield is teaching nursing at Southwestern Illinois College.

1993 Maggie Laboy Chu, NYPD, plans to retire and study for the NCLEX, after nearly two decades on the force.

1995 Christine Baker’s film script, based on the life of Emily Dickinson, was optioned. She is preparing for a summer of hiking for Walk4Good, the non-profit organization she launched.

1996 Andre Loubier was promoted to staff vice president at WellPoint, Inc.

1997 Thomas Fuller is a healthcare consultant for Treo Solutions in Troy, N.Y. He lives near Albany, N.Y. with his wife, Carla, and their 18-month-old son, Elijah. Rachel (Cook) Wilson was named director of Orange County’s Youth Bureau.

1998 MaryKay (Hollenbeck) Messenger sang the National Anthem at the Stand Up For Heroes benefit on November 8 at the Beacon Theatre, N.Y.

Gregory King released a contemporary gospel CD. He and his wife, Sylvia, live in Maricopa, Ariz. Leona Faust is a special

education high school teacher for the Yonkers Public Schools, teaching integrated algebra. Brigid Kraus now teaches psychology at the Mount, as well as at Metropolitan College of New York and at Briarcliffe College.

1999 Mark Gamarra relocated to Los Angeles, Calif., where he’s an entertainment accountant.

2000 Andy Checo is the marketing director for MundoFOX, the newest U.S. Spanish-language broadcast network, launched last year. Melissa Valcarcel-Serrano is the executive producer of News12 Bronx and News12 Brooklyn.

2001 Joseph Polvere won the Teacher of the Year award for Ralph S. Maugham School in Tenafly, N.J., and Tenafly’s District Teacher of the Year.

2003 Brian Denisar is a senior project manager for HITT Contracting in Fairfax, Va. Bradley Mott is a certified nurse case manager and works for the Warrior Transition Unit in West Point, N.Y. Dr. Matthew Flanagan has his own chiropractic office, Flanagan Chiropractic, in the Village of Walden. Alicia (Hock) Plevritis works at IBM Poughkeepsie as business operations lead of the Supplier Connection Program. Nick Shannon is executive director of the Chamber Foundation of Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Kathy (Schreeck) Wright lives in Monroe, N.Y. with her husband, Scott, and three daugh-

ters. She is a personal trainer and dance teacher.

2004 Antoinette Atsunyo is a case analyst for the Hudson Valley office of New York Life.

2005 Diane (McLean) Lee is a financial analyst for USMA Resource Management Office and plans to complete an MBA at the Mount. Thomas Quackenbush wrote “Night’s Dream Series,” published by Double Dragon Publishing. His first book was contracted for a mini-series. Gregg Weatherby’s third book of poetry, “Approaching Home,” was published in February by Finishing Line Press. Gregg is a lecturer in the English department at SUNY Cortland.

2009 Donna Fritzsch-Long is a regional account manager working for BCD Travel. She teaches catechism at St. Colomba in Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Michael Ciaffone is an RN in the Cardiothoracic Surgical ICU of Hackensack University Medical Center, and is enrolled in the master’s in nursing program at the Mount.

2010 Jennifer Nunez earned a master’s in criminal justice from Monroe College in 2012. She works for Lantern Community Services as a tenant service coordinator. Magda Reyes earned her CPA certification in October and was promoted to in-charge accountant for Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell, LLP.

Marriages 1977

Susan Moffo married Robert Myklak in July of 2012.

1993

Alisa D’Amico married Christopher LaRue on October 26, 2012, in Latham, N.Y. Kathleen Pierce Cejkovsky ‘92 was maid of honor and Kimberly Seidel Di Curcio ’93 was a bridesmaid. Laurie Russo Skelly ’92, Timothy Skelly ’93 and Kelli Baldwin ’92 attended.

1999

Carolyn Galdo married Darwin Gallegos on December 3, 2011. They reside in Douglaston, N.Y.

2009

Joseph Bomba married Dana Conroy ‘11 on September 29, 2012 in Worcester, N.Y. Megan Hayton ‘10 and Djamilia Iagia ‘11 were bridesmaids. Daniel Wade ‘09 was a groomsman.

In Memoriam Leanne Baresch ’73, sister of Ginny Baresch ’75, passed away in January 2012.

Thomas Myers, father of Keri (Myers) Naso ’87, passed away on September 6, 2012.

Henry J. Chaya, father of Ellen (Chaya) Abate ‘75, Edward P. Chaya ‘86 and Barbara Chaya ‘88, passed away on January 29, 2013.

Joanne Nocilla ‘73 passed away on January 27, 2013

Stephen Cox ’01 passed away on November 27, 2012.

Liz Holmes-Rosenberg, mother of Trisha (Holmes) MacKay ‘88, passed away on December 15, 2011.

Patricia (Welch) Donahue ’72 passed away on January 22, 2013. Karen (Houlihan) Golden ’81 passed away on December 22, 2012. Diane (Dolan) Iannuzzi ’67 passed away on Friday, November 16, 2012.

Jennifer O’Beirne ’92 passed away on November 29, 2012.

Norman Rosenberg, adoptive father of Trisha (Holmes) MacKay ‘88, passed away on November 4, 2007. Julie Salantrie ’80 passed away on May 18, 2012. Rishawn Smith ‘12 passed away on December 16, 2012.

Ruth Meissner, mother of Paul Meissner ’10, motherin-law of Deborah Meissner ’10 and grandmother to Kyle and Tyler Meissner, passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2012.

Natividad Torres, grandfather of Melissa Cruz ’09, passed away on January 13, 2013.

Karen Myers, mother of Keri (Myers) Naso ’87, passed away on February 15, 2012.

Mary Ann Wallace ’69 passed away on August 19, 2012.

Patricia (Ambury) Trible ’69 passed away on December 7, 2012.

www.msmc.edu

Mount Alumni

MSMC alumni renew their vows

n February 23, 2013, Mount Saint Mary College alumni who met or got married at the Mount gathered to renew their wedding vows. Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm, chaplain and director of campus ministry, and Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of the college, concelebrated the ceremony. “What a wonderful and meaningful idea it was to hold such a special event for all the couples,” said Brian Carrington ’75. “Denise and I will always count our blessings that we met at the Mount. It was always a special place; small classes, great professors, beautiful campus, great education, just a great environment for our college experiences. We have many relationships which began at the Mount and continue today, some 40-plus years later.”

MSMC alumni gather to renew their wedding vows in Founders Chapel, Mount Saint Mary College, on February 23, 2013. Joseph ’95 and Jeannine ’95 Monserrat with Fr. Kevin Mackin and Fr. Francis Amodio.

See more photos from the vow renewal ceremony and other alumni events online at www.msmc.edu/flickr

Giving the gift of life

rian Carrington ’75 didn’t realize when he chose to attend Mount Saint Mary College that he would meet the love of his life, Denise Slabicki ’74 – and that she would give him the gift of life. Brian and Denise met through a mutual friend, Susan Charbonneau Atkins ’75. The trio attended Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, Conn. together, although Brian didn’t know Denise at the time because she was a year ahead of him. One day, Susan offered Brian and Denise a ride home from the Mount. “Denise and I met one another because of Susan, who always had a car because of her family’s auto business. I recall that Susan was driving a Rambler that day, and Denise and I literally met in the back seat,” said Carrington. After 27 years of marriage, Brian was diagnosed with polycystic kidney dis-

Brian and Denise (Sablicki) Carrington renew their vows in Founders Chapel ease and required a kidney transplant. Denise pledged hers, hoping that she would be a perfect medical match – and she was. “The year leading up to the transplant was challenging, since Denise needed to remain 100 percent healthy for us to proceed,” said Brian. “All went

22 Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

according to plan, and this year, on August 6, 2013, we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the transplant. Denise gave me the ultimate gift: the gift of life. Every day, I think about the fate involved in this story: we met 41 years ago, married 37 years ago, and she saved my life 10 years ago. It all began at the Mount.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www. organdonor.gov), more than 105,000 people are waiting for organ or tissue transplants with three-fourths of them needing kidneys. “People don’t realize that they can give the gift of life by donations, including bone marrow, lobes from livers, kidneys, and more,” said Brian. “A national organ network is available to help those who would like to give. Also, becoming an organ donor upon death is an enormous gift as well.”

Sean Creighton discussed his professional journey with communication major Teresa Conigliaro.

Christopher Phillips, chief financial officer for medium and small business at IBM, speaks at the event.

Friends for the future Alumni mentor Mount pre-professionals

dozen successful Mount graduates recently returned to campus to mentor a new generation. The Meet a Mentor Dinner, organized by Alumni Affairs, provided the college’s forward thinking pre-professionals a chance to gain valuable insight into the work world while breaking bread with a variety of Mount alumni. Christopher Phillips ’04, chief financial officer for midmarket (medium and small business) at IBM, credited his Mount mentors with helping him to begin his professional journey and take calculated risks, thus growing professionally and personally. “I’m a big believer in mentors,” said Phillips. “I’ve been both a mentor and mentee. I was really delighted with the opportunity to come back and share how my mentors accelerated me to the position that I have today.” He told the students, “A mentor who helps you make a plan and keeps you accountable to it will help drive you. Very simple career advice – build a framework, execute and keep moving forward.” Mount grad Kathleen Murphy Spangler ’74 teaches second grade at the Washingtonville Central School District. She extended to education students at

the event an offer to observe her classes. Spangler recently accepted Christine DeRubba, a history major, as a student teacher. For many education students, there is no greater mentor than their cooperating teacher. Thanks to the Mount’s rigorous preparation of teacher candidates, Spangler is excited to have DeRubba in her classroom. “I speak from experience when I say that Mount students are held to a higher standard,” she said. “They dress and act like professionals.” Sean Creighton ’92 earned a degree in communications from the Mount and went on to found Boulevard One Marketing Consultation, a strategic marketing firm. This is the third year Creighton has attended the dinner. In the past, students have emailed him afterward looking for advice. Creighton is happy to oblige. “I try to help out and make sure that folks have some good opportunities when they graduate,” he said. Some of Creighton’s Mount mentors included James Beard, Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, and Irene Nunneri. Robert Meagher ’95 said that his first mentors were fellow students. More than a decade later, Meagher is still thriving in the business field, having

Kathleen Murphy Spangler mentored Catherine Lipsky, English/education (left) and Alexandra Brady, math/education. started his own company called LMB Professionals. Meagher’s triumphs were inspiring for Kenneth Santos, an information technology major. “He’s giving a lot of good feedback,” said Santos. “This is all great information I can use.” Nicholas Shannon ’03 discussed his experiences as executive director of the Chamber Foundation of the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce. “I want to give the students an idea of the experiences I’ve had since graduating from the Mount, and how the Mount has prepared me,” he said. Angela Oliveri, a communications – public relations major, was excited to see what the recent event had to offer. “[The alumni’s] transition from college to their current careers and how they did it, their advice and reassurance that we’re in the same boat – it’s very helpful and very enjoyable,” Oliveri explained, adding of Shannon, “He’s got a lot of useful experience and advice. He’s a great mentor.” Other Mount alumni who mentored students at the dinner were Lynne Ejercito ’77, director of patient services at Orange County Department of Health; Maria Verrigni ’83, business and technology leadership transformation leader at IBM; Lisa Neer ’97, school psychologist at Highland School District; Craig Filippini ’03, G ’08, chief information officer at SRSsoft; Sean Glander ’06, certified public accountant at Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell, LLP; Maura DiNardo ’08, a forensic psychologist; and Amy DeSouza ’11, RN - Telemetry/Critical Care Stepdown Unit at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, N.Y. www.msmc.edu

Friends of the Mount

Alan Velazquez ’16, Robert Dyson, Stephanie Jacks ’16, Joseph Borden ’16 and Fr. Kevin E. Mackin OFM, president of MSMC

Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president of the Mount; Joseph Bonura; honorees David Bagley, treasurer and Mary Madden, president and CEO, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union; and honorees Joseph and Andrea Kirchhoff

David Bagley, William Kaplan and Steve Williams

MSMC 3rd Annual Gala Reception

Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and Joseph and Andrea Kirchhoff honored

riends of Mount Saint Mary College, trustees, alumni, faculty and staff gathered together on November 30, 2012 for the 3rd Annual Gala Reception. The Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence was bestowed upon Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and Joseph and Andrea Kirchhoff. The Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence is presented to individuals or institutions who, through their professional accomplishments and approach to management, have shown the same commitment to quality, concern for neighbors and shared prosperity that have exemplified the career and character of Mr. Joseph A. Bonura, a highly esteemed friend of Mount Saint Mary College. The Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union (HVFCU) is a full service, not-for-profit financial institution that offers solutions to more than 253,000

individuals and businesses throughout the Hudson Valley. With $3.6 billion in assets, HVFCU is one of America’s largest credit unions and the largest local financial institution in the Hudson Valley. Originally serving Poughkeepsie IBM employees and their families, the credit union has grown to provide a full range of financial products and services to anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Putnam Counties. With more than 850 employees, including many Mount Saint Mary College employees, HVFCU offers more than 20 branch locations, a nationwide ATM network and a robust Internet and mobile banking system. HVFCU recognizes that its strength lies in the strength of its members, and so giving back to the community is very important. In addition to spon-

Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING 2013

soring many nonprofit and community events, HVFCU provides leadership in the form of board and committee members for local nonprofits. Many of the credit union’s managers participate in a variety of roles, such as HVFCU president/CEO Mary Madden, who is a member of the President’s Advisory Council at the Mount. The Mount was also pleased to honor Joseph and Andrea Kirchhoff. Joseph and Andrea have been married for 27 years, residing on their farm in Salt Point, N.Y., where they raised their four children: Kyle, Troy, Samantha and Layla. Joseph founded Kirchhoff Companies in 1985 and Kirchhoff Construction Management in 1991. With hard work and a great team, the company gained an outstanding reputation. In 2009, Kirchhoff Construction merged its operations with Consigli Construction to form Kirchhoff-Consigli Con-

Patricia Welch Donahue 1950-2013

Patricia Welch Donahue ’72 Memorial Nursing Scholarship established

James Smith, Joseph Kirchhoff and Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM Carl Meyer; Dr. Al Gruner, chair, Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees; and Robert Dyson

struction Management, whose mission is to provide an expanded array of services and a further geographic reach, with five offices now throughout New York and New England. An active member of the community, Joseph serves on several boards of directors. He received the Poughkeepsie Journal’s Business Person of the Year Award in 2009, Dutchess Community College’s Man of the Year, the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation’s Business Excellence Grand Award in 2007 and has been honored by numerous other organizations for his active role in the community. Andrea grew up in Dutchess County and worked as a nursery school teacher at Rainbow’s End Child Development Center and Northern Dutchess Day Care Center. While fortunate to be

able to stay home to raise their four children and run a farm, Andrea has also done much to serve our community. She has served as a deacon and an elder at The First Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Valley. Andrea was also president of the board at Saint Joseph’s School in Millbrook, has been a sub for Meals on Wheels, and is on the board of The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. She is very active in that organization’s fundraising efforts. The 4th Annual Gala Reception honoring Charles North, president and CEO of Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Terry R. Saturno, president and CEO of Orange County Trust Company with the Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence will be held December 6, 2013.

View more photos from the 3rd Annual Gala at www.msmc.edu/flickr

A new scholarship award is available to nursing students this year, named for alumna Patricia Welch Donahue ’72, who died in January following a brief illness. “Tricia was the best – a dear friend, nursing colleague, educator and exemplary healthcare professional who helped so many, both in our country and abroad,” said Mary Ellen Scannell Doherty ’72. Doherty continued, “I wanted to establish a scholarship fund so that Tricia’s legacy would be remembered, and could help other students pursue their nursing careers at the Mount.” Tricia, called “Pat” by her family and many Mount friends, attended the college from Catholic Central High School in Troy, N.Y., and went on to earn her master’s in human services from Boston University. Her career spanned five decades of service, including teaching at two colleges, delivering babies, public health and emergency room nursing, and hospice care. She is survived by her husband, Dennis, a West Point graduate, and their three children, Kathleen, Brian and Shawn, all of Tulsa, Okla. The first Patricia Welch Donahue ’72 scholarship will be awarded in August 2013 during Academic Convocation to a full-time senior nursing student who demonstrates a commitment to academic and clinical excellence. For more information about making gifts to this or other scholarship funds, contact Joan Gambeski in the Office of College Advancement at 845-569-3218 or joan.gambeski@msmc.edu www.msmc.edu

Mount Saint Mary College 330 Powell Avenue Newburgh, NY 12550

Mount Saint Mary Academy/High School reunion

n keeping with their annual tradition of gathering on campus the first Saturday in October, graduates, faculty and associates of Mount Saint Mary Academy/High School enjoyed the company of one another this past fall. Celebrants traveled from all over the country to reminisce and share new stories.

The 50th reunion celebrants presented the Class of 1962’s gift to Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM for the Campaign for the Dominican Center. The Mount Saint Mary Archives Room, where yearbooks and memorabilia will be housed, will be dedicated to the Mount Saint Mary Academy Class of 1962 when the college’s new library opens.

Mount Saint Mary Academy – Class of 1962 graduation.

Back row, from left: Karen Fogarty Schwingel, Sharon Murner, Clover Norcross Douglass, Patricia Nocton, Judith McLaughlin ’66, William Schwingel, Jean Wassi Caulfield, Jimmie Douglass. Front row (left to right): Kathleen Kane Kissel, Margaret (Peggy) Olley Scribner, Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Eileen McDonald Sassmann ’66, Kathleen Martel Sileno.

From left: Rose Talbot (MSMC ’68), Joan Rhoda Academy classmates Kathleen Martel Marvel, Michele Marino Sileno and Judith McLaughlin with their (seated left) Maria Impelyearbook photos. littiere Colandrea, and Catherine Sheehan.

From left: Kathy McClurg Robasco, Joan Donahue ’76, Mary Ann Cupo Harkins, Cecilia McClurg Cooney, Carol Ann Jones Smith and Jeanne Conrad Beers.