Mount Saint Mary College
magazine Newburgh, New York
Spring/Summer 2011
48th annual Mount Saint Mary College Commencement
‘Embrace the journey’ MBA project puts students to work | Professor James Finn Cotter | To Russia with Skype
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The Mount is all about people. Our primary purpose is the education of our students in view of the vision and mission of our college. So, when we say it’s all about people, what environment do we provide for our students? First and foremost, an academic environment. Our classrooms, labs and other facilities serve our mission. Moreover, our number of resident students has grown, and this presents more opportunities to design a better living-learning environment. The Dominican Sisters of Hope have anticipated for some years the need to sell their Newburgh Center property. This spring, as unanimously approved by the Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees, Sr. Lorelle Elcock, OP and I signed a purchase and sale agreement for the Dominican Center, pending a due diligence period. A request for proposal was prepared to solicit financing offers. To enable Mount Saint Mary College to put the Dominican Center in use for the college, the Board of Trustees approved a $10 million capital campaign based on a study by Graham-Pelton. JMZ Architects and Planners, P.C., engaged in higher education planning for over 25 years, are helping us to determine the best use of
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine Volume 33, No. 2 the Center, with our input regarding living-learning spaces, parking, green space and other needs. The Mount is accomplishing much. As always, this challenges us not to rest on our laurels, but to improve constantly: as a community of lifelong learners in which we build for the common good. I invite you to read more about our people, programs, news and events at our website: www.msmc.edu God bless. Sincerely,
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM President
Mount Saint Mary College Board of Trustees chairman R. Abel Garraghan, Sr. Lorelle Elcock, OP, and Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM.
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Dear alumni, students, parents and friends of Mount Saint Mary College,
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A letter from the President
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
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 Sheila Fields Joan Gambeski Jane Hanley Michelle Iacuessa ’94 Justin Satkowski PHOTOGRAPHY Spencer Ainsley Dean DiMarzo Sheila Fields Joan Gambeski Nihal Mahawaduge Kristen Miller Erroyl Rolle COPYEDITING Sheila Fields Jane Hanley CIRCULATION 8,000 ©2011 EMAIL magazine@msmc.edu MOUNT SAINT MARY COLLEGE Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-0800 ADMISSIONS 888-YES-MSMC (888-937-6762)
Contents A world of opportunity for Mount graduates Aleschia Johnson ’11, former Student Government Association president, enjoyed a furry native (lion cub) during her study abroad experience in Africa. Johnson works as a residence director at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. More grads inside….
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Student Journal | MBA student Anna Andrianis is ready to go places MBA success | Capstone project benefits Orange County Partnership News from the Mount | New courses, conferences and more James Finn Cotter | An accomplished scholar and professor To Russia with Skype | Fulbright scholar connects two classes Law school lessons | Mount grad shares at pre-law lunch Knights in the Community | Athletes making a difference Playing for Josh | Players rally ‘round teammate in time of need Successful spring season | Knights find success A passion for teaching and basketball | Alumnus Michael Hoyt ’07 Alumni Notes| The latest news from Mount graduates Send your nominations | Alumni award picks sought Inaugural Gala Reception | Friends gathered to honor leaders Planning for your life | Tips from attorney Mark Stern Honoring family, helping students |Eileen McDonald Sassmann ‘66 Alumni & Family Weekend 2011 | Come home to the Mount
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On the cover - Preparing for Commencement: Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Mount president; honorary doctoral candidates (Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier; novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE; Capt. Scott Smiley of the West Point Warrior Transition Unit; James W. Taylor Jr., founder and CEO of Taylor Biomass Energy LLC); and R. Abel Garraghan, chairman of the Board of Trustees. Baier encouraged students to “embrace the journey” ahead. www.msmc.edu
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Ready to go places
STUDENT JOURNAL “
Having supportive professors and small classes at the Mount has helped me move closer to realizing my dreams.
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By Anna Andrianis ‘11 M.B.A. | Newburgh, N.Y.
tudying at Mount Saint Mary College opened my eyes to the importance of owning my future. Since I come from Brazil, earning my master’s degree in business administration has helped me advance in the English language and better understand American culture. The language barrier made getting my degree twice as challenging, because I had to learn how to properly interpret the language while doing coursework. With a bachelor’s degree in tourism, I enrolled at the Mount in 2008. I learned valuable life skills and professional expertise here. I have been able to juggle marriage, raising a small child, a fulltime job and school. My husband, Pano Andrianis, is a Mount undergraduate business student. He is an entrepreneur who has opened several businesses and continues to amaze me with his great business concepts. I opened (and closed) my own business. It was a car wash/auto detailing business, and that experience served as my internship. I had the chance to implement some of the concepts I learned in my M.B.A classes and apply them to a real busi-
ness. Participating in the capstone course also gave me real-world experience. I worked with fellow students as marketing consultants for the Orange County Partnership. We developed a marketing campaign for the retention and expansion of manufacturing businesses in Orange County. Having supportive professors and small classes at the Mount has helped me move closer to realizing my dreams. All my professors were smart and caring. They challenged me to work hard and be my best, and the experiences helped me grow as a person, even if it meant redoing assignments to put forth my best work. The professors who have influenced me the most include Moira Tolan, James Griesemer and David Rant. My education at Mount Saint Mary College has prepared me to advance in my career. I am eager to use what I have learned and to grow my own business someday. I am working on a business plan to open a gourmet Brazilian franchise in New York City. I’m excited about my future, but I will miss my professors and classmates, the college environment, the indoor pool and that gorgeous river view. n
Dr. David Rant, left, coached M.B.A. students as they fine-tuned their Orange County Partnership proposals.
MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Capstone connection puts M.B.A. students “to work”
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orking full time by day and studying for their master’s degrees at night, adult students in Moira Tolan’s research seminar on Planning and Implementation of Business Policy have also been giving back to their community. As part of their Mount Saint Mary College coursework, they’re helping to make Orange County, N.Y., a better place to live and work. Some 20 M.B.A students, working in groups of three or so, spent the spring semester serving as consultants to the Orange County Partnership, an economic development agency that seeks to expand the county’s tax base and create new and better-paying jobs. The students designed a strategic marketing campaign to attract manufacturing companies to Orange County. They also developed a campaign to promote the Business Retention and Expansion Program for the Orange County Partnership. Tolan, an associate professor of business, said an increasing number of students in the M.B.A program are opting for the capstone course, instead of simply writing a research paper. One of the most frequently cited weaknesses in business education today, explained Tolan, is the schism between the learned and the applied. Projects such as the Mount’s capstone
An M.B.A. team presents plan to the Orange County Partnership.
From left | Chris Harrison, Mara Wetzel, Christine Morelock, Jillian Rothwell-Iorio and Jason Franky developed a winning plan for the Orange County Partnership. class help to bridge that gap. The project prepares M.B.A students for today’s challenging and competitive business environment, said Tolan. It also gives them a sense of satisfaction because they can help their local economy, especially in today’s trying times. The students utilize principles that they have learned in management, law, finance, and marketing classes to solve real world business situations, she added.
Since M.B.A students come from a variety of occupations including for profit, nonprofit and public sector jobs, they complement each other in class with their diverse knowledge and skills, said Tolan. Tolan and faculty colleagues Mattson Atsunyo, James Griesemer, Reza Hossain and David Rant developed the capstone curriculum three years ago and incorporated it into the M.B.A program. Meghan Taylor, director of business attraction for the Orange County Partnership, graduated from the program last year. Her capstone project focused on creating a business plan for the Center for Adolescent Research and Development, and marketing the center’s 2010 conference. Mount students, Taylor said, are a “value-add” to the Orange County Partnership. They’ve provided a new perspective, with fresh ideas and creative ways of implementing marketing strategies for business attraction, retention and expansion. n www.msmc.edu
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News from the Mount Faculty promotions announced
Conferences & lectures
Ten Mount students presented research at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference. Alana DeTone, Christine Gizzi, Manuel Juarez, Mary McEwan, Gabriela Murphy-Goldberg, Louis Ponessi, Andre Santa, Gigianna Santiago, Alyssa Scagnelli, Rebecca Seepersad and Michelle Watch were advised by science professors Carl Hoegler, Margaret Larrousse, Lynn Maelia and Janet Petroski. … Two presented at the National Council for Undergraduate Research. … Students from the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience attended the Mid-Hudson American Chemical Society’s Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium. … The Center for Adolescent Research and Development held a conference on Adolescence in the 21st Century, with keynote speaker, Dr. William Damon, director of the Stanford University Center on Adolescence. … The Center for Aging and Policy co-hosted “Alzheimer’s and technology” and “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Mental Health Challenges across 3 Generations.” … Mount faculty held workshops at a Literacy Conference on campus. …
Above | Gigianna Santiago conducts research on music’s effect on the dive reflex with the assistance of biology/physical therapy major Stephen Doste. The Catholic and Dominican Institute presented lectures on health care ethics by Brother Ignatius Perkins, OP, Ph.D., plus Jewish and Catholic views of the Messiah with Drs. David Berger of Yeshiva University and Patrick Doering of Duquesne Univesity.
Ten Mount faculty have been granted promotions and/or tenure: Janine Bixler, Professor of Education with tenure Sr. Margaret Murphy, OP, Professor of Religious Studies Ludmilla Smirnova, Professor of Education Suparna Bhalla, Associate Professor of Biology with tenure Rezaul Hossain, Associate Professor of Economics with tenure Janet Petroski, Associate Professor of Chemistry with tenure Sarah Uzelac, Associate Professor of Psychology with tenure Nancy VonRosk, Associate Professor of English with tenure Peter Witkowsky, Associate Professor of English with tenure Karen Baldwin, tenure (Dr. Baldwin is an Associate Professor of Nursing and coordinates the MSN program.)
New courses Environmental Sustainability taught by Margaret Larrousse, assistant professor of mathematics, science and technology, examines the toxicity of various pollutants. Combinatorics with Zachary Kudlak, associate professor of mathematics, helped answer practical math questions. An interdisciplinary honors course on The Problem of Evil taught by professors Nicole Shea (literature), Michael Fagge (religious studies), Rae Fallon (psychology) and Stanley Pycior (history), focused on the Holocaust and current unrest in the world, and included a visit to the Holocaust Museum in New York City, where students met a survivor.
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From left | Che-la Devonshire; Ellen Kreuer (visitor); Michelle Barry; Sandra Wamsley; Jennifer Hanning; Alyssa Watkins; Nicole Shea (lead instructor); Kathryn Jane Magnotta; Jamie Cevetillo; Jerry Wyant (honors coordinator); Nick Post; Rae Fallon (instructor); Kerry Ulmer; Jill Robinson; Bill Fallon, Alexis Coronato (and friend); Bill Adams; Nora Ames.
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
From left | Liliana Peralta-Zapata, Sarah Fulton and Tom Kellett perform in the production of The Imaginary Invalid.
Students helping with tax forms.
Vital volunteers
On stage
From left | Charles Haviland and Brian Murphy performing in The Pirates of Penzance.
Keeping the faith Mount students were received into the Catholic Church during a Mass in May. Diana Torres, a biology major, and Tamara Seney, a former student, were baptized, confirmed, and received the Eucharist. Kelsey Hart, a history major, was confirmed. Front row, from left: Seney Torres; Stephanie Weaver (altar server
Students under the direction of Durward Entrekin, professor of music, and James Beard, professor of communication arts, presented Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance with graduating seniors Felicia Skinner, Joseph Candela and Joed Esperance.Students under the direction of James Phillips, assistant professor of theater, presented Moliere’s The Imaginary Invalid.
and an English major); Kelsey Hart, Anthony Iraola (graduate assistant). Back row l-r: Mark Levito and Dave Walz (sponsors), Paul Richmond (altar server/communication arts), Bishop Lagonegro, Irene RamosHenkel (sponsor), Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, president, and Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm., campus chaplain and director of campus ministry.
Mount seniors Marc Curry, Christopher Rollin, David Mirro and Kashmira Bhagwandeen, along with students Brittany Shatwell, Lauren Arneth and Marco Crescimanni, helped those in need fill out their tax forms. Congressman Maurice Hinchey praised that seniors and low to moderate income members of the Newburgh community “are getting the help they need with their taxes this year, thanks to these seven students.” Professors James Gearity, Louis Fortunato and Tracy Niemotko of the Mount’s business program, and Kathleen O’Keefe, coordinator of co-ops and internships, worked with PathStone to develop the IRS VITA opportunity. Students hosted a Spring Fling for elderly residents of the Johnes Home, co-sponsored by Aging United and the Higher Education Opportunity Program. A Relay for Life fundraiser netted $28,000 for the American Cancer Society. Graduating senior Rachel Freitas and other students volunteered for “Math Day” at an elementary school with Lee Fothergill, associate professor of mathematics. Mount students participated in more than 70 community service programs, including Habitat for Humanity work in Tennessee by seniors Kristen Fede, Amanda Vagnone, Amanda Fenn and Anne Siemon; tutoring children; volunteering at nursing homes and soup kitchens, and more. Che-la Devonshire, a nursing major; Sabrina Valdez, human services; Christopher Fandino, biology; and Kenneth Santos, information technology, served four “at-risk” youth as part of an employment mentoring program. The youths helped to test and deliver 35 computers for Sacred Heart Elementary School in Newburgh. www.msmc.edu
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A world of opportunity for grads M
Professor Fortunato “taught me how to conduct myself in the business world.
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Kelly McDougall ’11
ount Saint Mary College students cite individual attention and applied learning as impacting them in extraordinary ways.
Bird
Ferdinand
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Jeff Scalzo noted that history professor Stanley Pycior was able to “present a wealth of interesting and useful knowledge in a charismatic way.” English professor Marie-Therese Sulit “stands out above the rest as a brilliant professor with genuine compassion for her students,” said Melissa Tiburcio, a psychology major. Caitlyn Lane, a human services grad, will attend New York Medical College for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She counts psychology professor Lawrence Force as “the best influence a student could ask for, always there with honest and helpful advice.” “Dr. Force showed me how important it is to network and get involved with things that I am interested in and to make a difference,” added Lane. Accounting professor Louis Fortunato has been one of the most influential professors in Kelly McDougall’s college career. “Not only has he pushed me in ways that I never thought I would be capable of in the classroom, but he has taught me how to conduct myself in the business world in the most professional and accurate way,” said the MBA student. “And Tracey Niemotko has been an inspiration when it comes to balancing all aspects of life, while still having a successful career that
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
you truly love.” Fieldwork has provided valuable experiences to launch careers. Nestor Hernandez called nursing professor Andrea Ackermann “an icon of courage, who demonstrates the value of determination and commitment and taught me to embrace my goals despite any difficulties.” The Mount’s “distinguished nursing program” has given Hernandez “wisdom and discipline to be a loyal, compassionate and efficient caregiver.” Hernandez gained knowledge, experience and creativity in planning caregiving strategies in clinical experiences at four hospitals, including Vassar Brothers Medical Center, where he plans to work. Alyssa Scagnelli will attend the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. The biology student interned at The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine, and the Animal Medical Center, both in New York City. “I worked side by side with some of the best veterinarians in the world,” said Scagnelli, “and was able to scrub into spinal surgeries and even get some hands on experience, including performing a spinal tap on a terrier.” Mount professors were instrumental in helping her move toward her goal. “I was always so impressed with
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I worked side by side with some of the best veterinarians in the world Alyssa Scagnelli ’11
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I have imported “music, promoted the station ... and am proud to say it is streaming live
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Brian Heitman ’11
their willingness to lend a hand,” Scagnelli observed, adding “their motivation and constructive criticism truly prepared me for veterinary school. At the Mount, I’ve received one-to-one guidance, I’ve spent a lot of time in the lab on research, and I’ve had opportunities that students at larger universities would not have.” Marcella Sgroi, a history/political science major, plans to enter law school. During her internship with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley from the 139th district in western New York, she helped get sponsorship for legislation, and learned a great deal about how government functions. A mock interview arranged through the Career Center resulted in a real job offer for communications major Mark Ferdinand. Hank Gross, president of Statewide News Network,
Inc., did the interview. In the role of roving reporter, Ferdinand will cover developing news stories and government meetings. He’s also learning to cut sound and video from his interviews for posting online, he noted. Another communication student, Brian Heitman, focused his senior project on revitalizing the campus radio station, Knight Radio. “What was once a single small room with a computer and some desk mics has turned into a beautiful station with state-of-the-art equipment for the control room, studio, server room, and lounge,” said Heitman, who is certain the college’s investment will serve students well. His project helped him learn the basics of operating a radio station. “I have imported music, promoted
Professor Andrea “Ackermann demonstrates the value of determination and commitment Nestor hernandez ’11
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the station through fliers, Facebook and Twitter, and am proud to say it is streaming live,” exclaimed Heitman. Max Glavnosky, who majored in psychology with a philosophy minor, interned at the Hudson Valley Veteran Family Support Alliance. He met with psychologists in the field of military www.msmc.edu
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I am more than “prepared to stand in front of my own classroom and teach
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TRACI SICK ’11
2011 Commencement
Right and below | Forty-eight newly-graduated nursing students received their pins in Aquinas Hall Theatre, with help from family and friends who participated in the ceremony.
psychology. Glavnosky is considering Marine officer candidate school. Traci Sick, an information technology major, cited the “grueling education program” with providing “skills to become a well-rounded educator. I am more than prepared to stand in front of my own classroom and teach with the confidence I have gained throughout my four years at the Mount.” She did student teaching and also completed a technology internship. The years have passed quickly, the seniors noted. They worked, formed friendships and gained competence while having fun: making memories that will last a lifetime. Melissa Bird, an English major/ education student, served as president of the academic council, and as vice president of the Delta Leadership Society, which promotes community service. “I loved being involved,” said Bird, lamenting that “most of all I’m going to miss my friends. They’ve become my family and it will be weird to be without them every day.” Jeff Scalzo agreed. “I’m going to miss all my awesome friends, plus the incredibly intelligent professors, the college mailroom with all the great co-workers, and the moments when I looked at the Hudson River and realized these were the best four years of my life.”n
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine |
Left | Michelle C. Bond ’99 addressed seniors at the Hooding and Awards ceremony. Below | The Baccalaureate Mass at Founders Chapel.
Right | The family that studies together: Amanda Truffi ’11, graduating with her mom Lisa Truffi ’11; congratulated by brother Michael Truffi, who just completed his freshman year; and dad Carl.
The Mount recognized 618 bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates during the May 14 commencement ceremonies, held on the Dominican Sisters of Hope Field
Right | Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Mount president with honorary doctoral candidates: Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier; novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE; Capt. Scott Smiley of the West Point Warrior Transition Unit; James W. Taylor Jr., founder and CEO of Taylor Biomass Energy LLC; and R. Abel Garraghan, chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Doubt your doubts and ‘accept the challenges ahead. ’
– Capt. Scott Smiley, first blind active duty Army officer
Above | Capt. Scott Smiley, commander of the Warrior Transition Unit, West Point shares a laugh with Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier.
Left | Lawrence Force, professor of psychology, presented the faculty awards to Mattson Atsunyo, professor of business administration, center, and Reva Cowan, associate professor of education and chair of the education program. www.msmc.edu
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James Finn Cotter An accomplished scholar
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t’s impossible to spend time with James Finn (Francis) Cotter without sensing that one is in the presence of an exceptional person. Like a millennial Renaissance man, he has navigated his life with his senses fully engaged, and his mind open to intellectual, natural and spiritual influences. For nearly half a century, Dr. Cotter has been an invaluable resource at Mount Saint Mary College. He’s taught in or chaired the humanities, arts and letters, and philosophy and religious studies divisions. As scholar, poet, author, critic, professor, philosopher, translator, mentor, seminarian, world traveler, father, husband, and grandfather, Cotter’s many roles have converged in a life and person full of substance and achievement. It’s clear why Mount students have felt themselves lucky to study under his tutelage. Cotter is the author of Inscape: The Christology and Poetry of Gerald Manley Hopkins; Beginnings: the First Quarter Century of Mount Saint Mary College; and A New Life: Learning the Way of Omega. As a scholar, he has
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penned articles on Gerald Manley Hopkins, Dante, Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Philip Sidney, and J.D. Salinger (his literary influences also include William Shakespeare). As poet and literary critic, he’s been published in America, Commonweal, The Hudson Review, The Nation, The New York Times, Sparrow, Spirit, Thought and other periodicals. Cotter is a celebrated translator of Dante’s Commedia, a seasoned theater and arts reviewer, a Fulbright-Hays lecturer (Algeria, 1970), a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, and president of the International Gerald Manley Hopkins Association for 30 years. He’s been the mace bearer at the Mount’s Commencement for as long as anyone can recall. He also found time to teach literature and philosophy full-time, write the Mount’s alma mater (1964), inspire any numbers of students and professors, and raise three children (Anne, James and John) with his wife Emily. Cotter received his bachelor of arts from Weston College, and a master of
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | SPRING/SUMMER 2011
Dr. Cotter at Commencement 2010 arts in philosophy. He then earned a master of arts in English from Fordham University, and a doctorate in 1963. He began teaching English and philosophy at Mount Saint Mary College that year, and the Cotters bought a home in historic Newburgh, N.Y. He attributes his admirable zest and energy for life, and for his work, to being Irish. “We never sit still, never are satisfied. There’s always something more to do, more to learn.” “The Jesuits introduced me to a love for enjoying life in its many forms: intellectually, spiritually and naturally.” n
Mou n Sain t tM Colle ary g stud e ents in the U SA
d ogra Volg State rsity e Univ ts n e stud sia s in Ru
CLASSROOM CONNECTION
To Russia with Skype
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t’s not every day that professors at Mount Saint Mary College use voice/Internet protocol to dialogue with students and a professor in Russia. That newsmaker this spring was thanks to visiting Fulbright scholar Olga Lomakina, Ph.D., (photo at right) from Volgograd State University. Ludmilla Smirnova, a Mount professor of education, facilitated the discussion. In on the first conversation were Mount graduate education students Caitlin Stamp and Katrina Merkel, and Grant Reichert, a sophomore majoring in business. Students in the two far-flung river regions discussed education, the role of family, technology and media. “It was really interesting to see the direct face-to-face interaction,” observed Merkel. “I learned a lot. I never knew there were so many similarities between the two cultures.” In its application to the Fulbright Foundation, the Mount sought a scholar from outside North America with a broad understanding of multicultural communications across national divides, and of the educational implications. Lomakina had the right combination of expertise in curriculum and in methods of effective foreign lan-
Academic Investiture
Legal mediation Skype session guage teaching. Her career, including completing two doctoral degrees by age 27, has been “meteoric,” observed Jerome Wyant, associate dean of academic affairs, who was asked by Iris Turkenkopf, vice president for academic affairs, to help prepare the application. Lomakina, who spent spring teaching a graduate course, visiting classes and lecturing, revealed another gift at Academic Investiture, when her address about languages led to a screening of a video prepared by her
Russian students: speaking excellent English and delighting the Aquinas Hall Theatre audience. An April Skype video lecture on legal mediation in the United States was organized by business professors David Rant and Tracey Niemotko (both have juris doctorates), together with Lomakina, for Russian students and teachers. “This international network has become a regular practice,” noted Lomakina, “for the sake of cooperation and future exchange between Mount Saint Mary College and Volgograd State University in southern Russia.” Rant and Niemotko have been invited to visit Volgograd. The Mount was an early comer to new technology with its wireless campus. Lomakina kicked it up a notch with international flavor, having previously established connections for her university with schools in Brussels, London, and Dallas, Texas. And now, Newburgh, N.Y., is the newest prelude by this educational virtuoso. Wyant recently announced that Lomakina plans to form an international student research society, and that Mount pre-law student Sarah Joseph, a rising senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, intends to be one of the first participants. n www.msmc.edu
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“I majored in Dr. Nunnari” – Anthony Curti ’08
Lessons learned on road to law school
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hile finishing his juris doctorate studies, Anthony Curti ’08 made time to revisit his alma mater this spring, to encourage a select group of pre-law students. A focus on pre-law is possible in any Mount Saint Mary College degree program, noted Jerome Wyant, associate dean, who coordinates the honors and interdisciplinary studies programs at the Mount. The Mount has several faculty members interested in pre-law work, Wyant announced, introducing professors Edwin Teall (philosophy), David Rant and Tracey Niemotko (business attorneys), and founding pre-law advisor John Reilly (history). Influential faculty are essential, and another strength is dynamic alumni who return to touch base and inspire
their successors. Curti, who attributes his success to Mount faculty, noted that he took courses with Teall and Rant. “I majored in Dr. (Irene) Nunnari,” added the earnest future prosecutor, whose field was English. Curti’s point for the Mount students: “Everything you need to be successful is available to you here and now. Dr. Teall can tell you, when
At right | Business law professor David Rant brings Mount students on court-watching studies. This spring, they visited the U.S. Supreme Court and other sites in Washington, D.C. From left, Artiana Hadzibrahimi, Daniel Gaetano, Jessica Mlinar, Leanne O’Reilly, Eric Boesch, Brittni Guirguis, Rayna Burke and Sarah Joseph.
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
he advised me to take some business classes, I wasn’t sure. But I learned. Take advantage of the people here to help you.” Honor societies and clubs prepare one to be a leader and to speak in public. “Learn to think like a lawyer. Be a reader, be a writer, convey ideas,” Curti explained to the students. “It’s important for people to know who you are, so you can get good
Graduating senior Rachel Vega has appreciated her psychology and interdisciplinary courses at the Mount. recommendations.” Theater also prepared Curti for the courtroom. “Shakespeare courses, some student productions. I aspired to be the Dr. Nunnari of attorneys: a lifelong learner who exudes passion.” Law school is reading, he emphasized. “Not like a novel. It’s different reading, learning to flag what you might need. Being able to teach yourself is a credit to the professors at the Mount. They give it. At law school, it becomes your job. You have to live it.” In law school, everyone takes the same courses, and then one can decide on a specialty. Curti knew his aim: criminal law. “I think the best way to discover what you like, and even what you don’t, is to get some experience,” he said. “I worked for a prosecutor’s office, the Rockland County District Attorney’s office, and then the Orange County office.” He found it was a good fit. Among the select group of students absorbing Curti’s advice were graduating seniors Amanda Truffi and Rachel Vega. Curti’s talk hit home with Vega. She’s done solid work as a pre-law intern at Jacobowitz & Gubits, a full-service New York law firm with around 30 attorneys, plus paralegals and assistants. Vega gained great experience and
learned much from client meetings and from exposure to discovery, affidavits, research, courts, and tracking a case of criminal law from beginning to end. Beyond the books and the briefs, “I was shocked by how different the human side is,” said Vega, who believes she may gravitate to family law. A solid Mount student, Vega also shares with Curti a passion for justice. When asked about the characteristics he admires in a good attorney, Curti replied, “Respected, known to be truthful and honest. I’m going to do everything I can to work for that. Passion, of course. And it’s important to realize you don’t know everything. You’re always going to be learning. Be the type of person with a good reputation and you’ll be respected.” “Don’t let anyone say you can’t do it,” he added to his Mount successors. “You’re going to have to work hard. If you’re willing to work on it, nothing can stop you.” On May 8, 2011, Anthony Curti joined 200 newly-minted law school graduates at Pace University. He’ll sit for the state bar examination this summer. Meanwhile, he visited Mount Saint Mary College one more time on May 14, as Dr. Irene Nunnari proudly proclaimed the names of the newest Mount alumni: some 600 strong. n
Marcella Sgroi ’11, pictured with Angel Santana ’10 at the Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y., looks forward to law school this fall. Santana works full time for New York State Senator Jose M. Serrano.
AT THE MOUNT
Pre-law focus Students can focus on pre-law in any major program. It’s your choice at the Mount: • Accounting • Biology • Business Management and Administration (Finance, Marketing) • Chemistry • Communication Arts (Media Studies, Public Relations) • English • Hispanic Studies • History/Political Science • Human Services • Information Technology • Interdisciplinary Studies • Mathematics • Nursing • Philosophy • Psychology • Social Work • Sociology/Criminology In addition to communication, the interdisciplinary studies pre-law concentration includes accounting, business, history, philosophy and political science courses. www.msmc.edu
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Student Athletes Above| From left to right, Gable Herczeg, Tara McDermott, Lindsey Porcello chat with High Pointe resident Adele Esposito. Left | From left to right, Johanna Seidel, Jackie Ivan, Kristina Swyryt, Jillian Torre, and Annie Llewellyn prepare eggs to be hidden at Downing Park.
Knights in the Community are making a difference
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he Mount Saint Mary College athletic department rounded out another successful year of Knights in the Community with several stand-out projects during the second semester.
Women’s soccer at High Pointe On Sunday, April 10, members of the Mount’s women’s soccer team spent an afternoon with a number of senior citizens at the High Pointe Senior Apartments in Newburgh. The Knights served cake and coffee while exchanging life stories with the residents. The senior citizens enjoyed the laughter and camaraderie, and had no problem doling out life advice to the women on the team. During a visit with 80-year old Clara, Mount Saint Mary College senior Gable Herczeg toured Clara’s
apartment and learned all about her Ukrainian family. “Meeting Clara made me realize how important it is to know where one comes from, and the importance of family,” said Herczeg, a business major from Bethel, Conn.
Women’s tennis at Downing Park Easter egg hunt The Mount’s women’s tennis team joined forces with the City of Newburgh on Saturday, April 16 for the annual Easter egg hunt at Downing Park. More than 100 children, ages 3 - 11, attended the event along with their families. After helping to hide the eggs and fill baskets with candy, the Knights distributed prizes donated by a variety of Newburgh community organizations. Each child in attendance left
with a prize and a smile, according to women’s tennis head coach, Lorraine Brady. “Our team had a wonderful experience interacting with the community of Newburgh,” continued Brady. “We’re looking forward to being an annual participant at the event.”
Baseball and softball a hit with the Walden Little League The Mount’s baseball and softball teams pitched in at the Walden Little League to mentor and teach prospective Little Leaguers for the upcoming season. During January and February, the Knights conducted clinics on Friday and Saturday afternoons for up to 20 children at a time. “This is a great opportunity for us to get out in the community and share our skills and experience,” said Mount Saint Mary College baseball head coach Steve Sosler. “It’s been really nice to see the smiles on the faces of the kids every week.” n
Above| The Mount’s softball and baseball teams held sports clinics to build the skills of prospective Little Leaguers.
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
Photos courtesy of Nihal Mahawaduge
Players come together for teammate in need
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o support Josh Depew, a Mount Saint Mary College student-athlete who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the college hosted “Play for Josh,” a fundraising baseball game. The game between the Mount and SUNY Orange drew more than 1,000 people to Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill on May 9, 2011. SUNY Orange defeated the Mount by a final score of 5-3. But the big winner of the evening was the Friends of Josh Foundation, a support organization set up to pay for Depew’s hospital expenses, treatments, and travel expenses. Combining the proceeds from tickets, a prize raffle, a 50/50 drawing, and many generous donations, “Play for Josh” raised nearly $9,000 for Josh’s foundation. Together with Mount Health Services and the “Be the Match” Bone
Marrow Registry, many of the fans in attendance were also screened as potential bone marrow donors for the national registry. Depew was first diagnosed with ALL in 2008, while competing as a student-athlete at Southern Connecticut State University. After being diagnosed in March, Depew began chemotherapy and the cancer went into remission in May. He transferred to SUNY Orange in 2009, and pitched for the Colts baseball team during the spring of 2010 while undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. Depew transferred again, this time to Mount Saint Mary College for the fall semester of 2010. As the team’s top pitcher this spring, Josh made seven starts and was set to lead the Knights to the Skyline Conference playoffs. But during a routine checkup, Depew learned that the cancer had returned
Left | Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Josh Depew, Former Mount baseball coach Lou Arrotta, and current Mount baseball head coach Steve Sosler gather near the dugout before the game. Above| Josh Depew and teammates.
CONTRIBUTIONS To make a donation to the Friends of Josh Foundation, checks may be written to “Friends of Josh” and mailed to the college’s athletic department at: Mount Saint Mary College Friends of Josh (ATTN: Steve Sosler, Baseball) 330 Powell Avenue Newburgh, NY, 12550
in a more aggressive form. He began chemotherapy sessions on Friday, April 15 and will need a bone marrow transplant to prevent a future recurrence of the cancer. n
The Knights take a knee before the game.
www.msmc.edu
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Student Athletes Successful spring season for Mount sports MEN’S TENNIS
Record: 11-6, 6-1 Skyline
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Record: 4-9, 3-5 Skyline
SOFTBALL
Record: 21-13-1, 9-5 Skyline
Highlights: On their way to the second most wins in Mount program history, the Knights defeated Skyline rival, St. Joseph’s College, on April 3. The Golden Eagles had won 20 consecutive matches against conference opponents and were the two-time defending champions. Mount Saint Mary would record a second victory over St. Joseph’s in the Skyline tournament semifinals to advance to the championship match. Unfortunately for the Knights, they would lose to Farmingdale in the finals.
Highlights: Despite a tough start to the season, the Knights closed out the year with three consecutive victories over Skyline opponents, Bard, Maritime, and Sage. In a rematch of last year’s showdown with Maritime to decide the final playoff spot, the Knights narrowly edged the Privateers, 8-7, thanks to three goals from Sharon Cranwell. Mount Saint Mary qualified for the conference tournament for the second year in a row, but was defeated by Farmingdale in the quarterfinals.
Highlights: The Knights won their final six games of the regular season and qualified for the Skyline tournament with two wins over Purchase College on April 16. In the tournament, Mount Saint Mary dropped an opening round game to Farmingdale, but rebounded nicely to defeat Old Westbury in the next round as Ashley Peel’s two-run single in the bottom of the sixth sent the Knights to a 2-1 victory. NYU-Poly defeated the Mount in the loser’s bracket final to eliminate them from the tournament.
Awards: Freshman Greg Jacob (pictured) was named to the Skyline first team. Fellow freshman Stat Willand earned a spot on the second team.
Awards: A pair of sophomores, Erin Murray (pictured) and Kaileen Spadaro, both garnered all-conference recognition as members of the Skyline second team.
Awards: Junior Lacey Kehlenbeck was named to the Skyline first team. Seniors Sarah Johnson and Jackie Governale, sophomore Caitlin Maynes (pictured), as well as freshmen Brittany O’Brien and Chelsea Hepburn nabbed spots on the allconference second team.
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
Mount Alumni A passion for teaching and basketball BASEBALL
Record: 17-16, 10-6 Skyline Highlights: Upon returning from Florida, Mount Saint Mary jump-started its conference season with a sweep of Old Westbury on March 20. An up-and-down year ensued, but the Knights closed out the regular season with four consecutive victories and a two-game sweep of NYU-Poly on April 26 sent the Knights to the Skyline tournament as the fourth seed. With a big early lead in the quarterfinals against Old Westbury, the Knights would concede runs in each of the final four innings to lose, 10-7, and be eliminated from postseason play. Awards: Junior Max Tecce (pictured) and freshman Vinnie Carminati each earned a spot on the Skyline all-conference second team.
ALUMNI PROFILE Michael Hoyt ’07
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ith more than 2,500 basketball points under his belt by the time he graduated, there was no doubt that Michael Hoyt had a stellar basketball career at Mount Saint Mary College. To make it official, he was named the Skyline Conference Player of the Year during his senior year at the Mount. He was also a great student off the court. As a freshman, Hoyt wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do after college. He first was a communications major, and after a few classes, realized it wasn’t for him. He found that teaching was. “My family, friends, and coaches convinced me that I not only would be a great teacher, but that I would love it because I have always loved kids,” said Hoyt. Hoyt had a chance to play professional international basketball, but the summer after he graduated, he reevaluated what he wanted his future to look like. “Somehow, I felt that basketball was more behind me than it was in front of me. It was time for me to move on and get my teaching career started,” said Hoyt. “But I took away so much from it. Basketball taught me and made me who I am today,” said Hoyt. “Leadership, trust, teamwork, hard work, respect, and determination are all really useful life skills I’ve learned over the years.” Hoyt is currently drawing on those life skills in teaching second grade in the Florida Union Free School District in his hometown of Florida, N.Y. “My favorite part is seeing the kids grow throughout the year, and the endless rapport that I can build with
them. To have the kids believe that I care about them, and to gain their respect and trust is truly rewarding.” Did the teacher have a mentor? “Assistant coach Sal Mineo recruited me to come to the Mount and coached me for all fours years that I played. He was one of the first people to influence me to become a teacher,” said Hoyt. Hoyt’s most memorable moments as a student were “of individual accomplishments, but more importantly, the accomplishments of the teams,” he said. “The memories of the people and coaches I met, seeing my family at every game — the entire journey from day one was priceless. I would like to give a shout-out to the 2004-2005 Skyline Championship team that I was a part of in my sophomore year!” Hoyt’s younger brother Joey decided to come to the Mount when Mike was a junior, making for an even richer college experience, full of great memories. “It made me happier than he ever knew, and just growing up with him for another two years together at college meant the world to me,” said Hoyt. Hoyt’s advice to current Mount students is sound and tested. “Work hard, find yourself and be yourself. Make every minute count and enjoy the time you are there. It is going to fly.” n www.msmc.edu
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Mount Alumni Alumni Notes 1983
Christine Baker
Sean Hollywood
Lisa Morris
Laurie Ann (Iuzzini) Lawrence received her Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction from Lincoln Memorial University in July 2010. She currently teaches at Woodland Elementary School as the gifted ed (K-5) teacher, in Stockbridge, Ga. She and her husband, Dennis Lawrence ‘86, live in McDonough, Ga. with their two sons, Michael and Andrew.
1990
Rhonda (Keenan) Altonen is a librarian of education and emerging technologies at University of Colorado Health Sciences Library, Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo. Her husband, Brian, is a biostatistician with Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
Marriages 1995 | Shannon Whitfield was married to Eric Kessler on May 15, 2010 in Princeton N.J. They reside in Marlboro, N.J. 1999 | Colleen Hatton married Michael McCrann on February 12, 2011 at St. Rose of Lima Church, Massapequa, N.Y. A reception followed at The Riviera, Massapequa, N.Y. The bride’s aunt Regina (Seelig) Sikorski ‘73 was in attendance as well as Jane (Larke) MacMellville ‘99, Christopher ‘96 & Bernadette (LaParle) ‘99 Walsh, Stavros ’98 & Anya ‘99 Konstantinou, Kerry (Purcell) Stauder ’99, Sugenny
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Maria (Santiago) Telera works full time as an assessment case manager for Alere Health Services and has received her certificate as a certified case manager.
1991
Carrie-Ann (Hartmann) Greiner is a special education teacher in the Warwick Valley Central School District. Her son, Eric, is in sixth grade and her daughter, Morgan, is in the fourth grade. CarrieAnn also continues to work with her husband, Walter, in his catering business.
children, Saffy, 9, and Liam, 8. Their family website is at www.usticke.org
1994
Edward Hanley recently completed his master’s degree at Adelphi University and received New York state certification K-12. He completed his health certification in May. Currently he is the head soccer coach for the Lindenhurst High School women’s soccer team on Long Island.
Alec Usticke works for Xerox Corporation in Manhattan. He resides in Peekskill, N.Y. with his wife Jill (Gale) Usticke ‘91 and their two
Lisa Morris has recently been appointed director of marketing for the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union. She is responsible for managing the marketing and public relations efforts for the credit union.
DiCicco - Brandon
Miller - Newell
2008 | Melissa Tetler and Jake Cohen Donnelly were married on October 30, 2009.
December 28, 2010 at the Cadet Chapel, West Point, N.Y. They live in Fayetteville, N.C., where Daniel is stationed at Fort Bragg as a member of the 82nd Airborne.
1992
(Bonhomme) Flowers ‘98 and Arleen (Perez) Guevara ’99. The couple live in Massapequa Park, N.Y. 2000 | Kristen DiCicco and Christopher Brandon were married on November 12, 2010 in their Hagerstown, Md. home. 2007 | Matthew Moran was married this past November. The reception and ceremony were held at Bear Mountain, N.Y. Shortly after graduating from the Mount, he was offered a job with Yahoo! in Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale, Calif., where he is employed as an engineer.
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
2010 | Virginia Miller married 1st LT Daniel Newell on
1995
Christine Baker was recently inducted into the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame for her athletic achievements in high school and at the Mount. She is one of four women inducted in the Hall of Fame’s 18- year history. She was also a finalist for the 2011 Sundance Screenwriter’s Institute for her feature film script based on the life of Emily Dickinson. Christine is president of CB Creative, Inc., an integrated communications consulting firm in Nyack, N.Y.
1996
Sean Hollywood was promoted to division chief at Howard County Government department of finance. He oversees the accounting and financial reporting for grants and other special revenue in the county. Sean is also a licensed CPA in the state of Maryland.
1997
Angela Brust is an education instructor at the Commission on Economic Opportunities Youth Build Program. Jim Kelly made a career change after teaching seventh-grade English for 10 years and now works with children with autism. He is working at Occupations Inc. as a community support supervisor and provides support and services for families of autistic children all over Orange County, N.Y., both in their homes and in the community. He married Rebecca, a speech pathologist for Bea-
Births 1992 | Sean Creighton and his wife Ayanna have a new addition to their family. Shiloh Dorothy Creighton was born on November 27, 2010 at Greenwich Hospital in Conn. Shiloh weighed in at an 8 lbs. and was 21 inches long. 1996 | Georgia (Allison) Weinmann and her husband Dr. Dale Weinmann welcomed a new son, Arlo Sam, on March 28, 2011. He joins big sister Ruthie, 5. 1997 | Rebecca (Parkhurst) Lynn welcomed Penelope Parkhurst Lynn to the world on July 22, 2010. Penelope joins big brother Jake, 4, and big sister Abby, 3. 1999 | Karen (Toomey) Chenel announced the birth of her son, Michael Paul Chenel Jr., born March 31, 2010. 2002 | Christopher McCracken and Christine (Bain) McCracken welcomed their first child, a healthy baby boy, on February 14, 2011. Liam Patrick McCracken was born at 8:56 am and was 8 lbs. 15 oz. and 21 inches long. The family resides in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Michael Murin
Liam Ray Denaxas
Joseph ’02 and Angela (Bailey) Strahl ’03 welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Austin John Strahl, on August 14, 2010. 2003 | Jenny-Ann (Harris) Lally and Richard Lally announce the birth of their first child, a son, Timothy Ryan, on June 3, 2010 at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 21 inches long.
Liam McCracken
Alicia (Hock) Plevritis and Peter Plevritis announce the birth of their first child, a son, Elias John Plevritis, on September 30, 2010. 2005 | William and Margot (Everett) Denaxas ’04 became proud parents to a son, Liam Ray Denaxas, who arrived on February 7, 2011 weighing 7 lbs. and 9 oz. Ashley (Hendryk) Murin and husband Bill Murin welcomed the birth of their son, Michael Gregory Murin on July 7, 2010. Michael is the third grandchild of Kathy (Hand) Murin ‘73.
Shiloh Creighton
Elias Plevritis
Stay connected! “Like” us on Facebook at www.msmc.edu/facebook Read more online at www.msmc.edu/alumni www.msmc.edu
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Mount Alumni ingtonville School District for the past 5 ½ years. Previously, she was a junior accountant for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and treasurer for the Village of Maybrook. She is a member of New York State Association of School Business Officials (NYSABO) and chairperson of NYSABO treasurer’s steering committee.
con Central School District, in 2007. They live in the Town of Newburgh, happily, with two labs and a miniature dachshund, Sadie. Donna (Jones) Vitrone is currently a fifth grade teacher at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Shrub Oak, N.Y. She is married with two children, Michael, 5, and Taylor, 2.
2008
Mount Alumni: Share your news!
Wappingers Junior High School special ed team run by Mount grads
Just visit the website at www.msmc.edu/notes
Left to right: Mary (Russo) Moen ‘00 teaches ELA, Renay (Siper) Cerrato ‘94 teaches math, Angela Kline ‘08 teaches social studies, and Robin (Dering) Rose ‘80 teaches science.
2000
Joe Polvere is in his 10th year teaching fifth grade in the Tenafly Public Schools. Joe is also working as an adjunct professor for New Jersey City University, Bergen Community College, and Rockland Community College. He is the vice president of the teachers’ union in Tenafly.
2004
Antoinette Atsunyo recently started a new career as a
licensed agent with New York Life Insurance Company at their Hudson Valley headquarters in New Windsor, N.Y. You can contact her at aatsunyo@ft.newyorklife.com
2005
Justin Schiedel received his M.A. in engaged humanities with emphasis in mythology and depth psychology from
Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, Calif.
2006
Cheryl Gross has been named controller of the City of Newburgh. She has more than 30 years of experience, including 12 years in municipal and school district accounting, and has served as district treasurer of Wash-
Christina Buechel received her M.S. from Marist College in information systems management in December 2010. Christina is currently working at Elant as an IT technician.
2009
Desiree Razzaia graduated in 2010 from Fordham University with her master’s in social work and a specialization in social work and the law. She is currently working at Connecticut Renaissance Adolescent Outpatient Program, YES! (Youth Equipped for Success), as a clinician. Desiree is working toward her LCSW. She also meets with BSW students from a
In Memoriam Victor Conticchio, father of Robert Conticchio ‘87, passed away on March 6, 2011. Maureen J. Erb, mother of Patricia (Erb) Ferrari ‘73, Barbara (Erb) Giardina ‘82 and grandmother of Philip Giardina ‘13, passed away on December 22, 2010. Sandra Grant, mother of
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Doris Green, mother of Diane Green ’10, passed away on March 31, 2010.
Susan (Bolton) Kunkel ’74, sister of Carol (Bolton) Hamilton ’74 and sister-inlaw of Jean Adams Bolton ’69, passed away on March 26, 2011
Karen (Hanrahan) Johnston ‘80, spouse of Ned Johnston, and sister of Peggy Hanrahan ’79, passed away on January 6, 2011.
Catherine Pampinella, mother of Frances (Pampinella) Hawthorne ’68 and Elizabeth (Pampinella) Monahan ’75 passed away on
Keewana Grant ‘09, passed away in February 2011.
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
April 16, 2011. Lillian Rogowski, mother of Cheryl Rogowski ’84, passed away on April 15, 2011. Ruby Romanko ’96, spouse of Mark Romanko, passed away on November 14, 2010. Salina (Lewis) Smith ’84, spouse of Harvel O. Smith,
Alumni awards local university, assisting with supervision as they complete their internships working with adults and adolescents involved in the CT Court System. “I wish the best for the current students at the Mount and hope that my fellow alumni are doing well!”
2010
Emily Alsdorf is working as a nurse on a medical/surgical floor at Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. It’s a trauma center, so they deal with a lot of fractures and car accident survivors. The work is challenging, but different every day. Austin Dugger is currently a senior day habilitation specialist at Abilities First, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves people of all ages who have disabilities. Austin, along with two coworkers, runs a classroom for developmentally disabled adults, ages 25-78. “I love my job and I come home happy knowing that I assisted in making each client’s day better.”
passed away on February 9, 2011. Ken Thomas, spouse of Mary Thomas ’75, passed away on December 8, 2010. Kathleen (Ezzo) Wittman ’75, spouse of Craig Wittman, passed away on September 6, 2010.
Nominations please! Alumni reception on Long Island From left, Harry Steinway, Patty Farrell ’92, Chris Dougherty ’95, Mary Ellen Diver ’78, Ed Hanley ’94, Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Mount president and Karen Gassmann-Davis ’69.
Alumni reception in Stamford, Conn. Lynn Stanaitis Maschi ‘87, Christopher Viviano ’95, Anne Ferrara Chiapetta ’81, Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, and Patricia Hayes Axtmayer ’73.
The Mount Saint Mary College Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Alumni President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College to be presented during Alumni and Family Weekend. The Distinguished Alumni Award has been given since 1976 to an alumna/us who has contributed to society through his/her work. The President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the College and recognizes an alumna/us for outstanding service to the Mount through alumni work and benefactions for the support of the college. To submit a nomination, contact Michelle Iacuessa ’94, director of alumni affairs, at Michelle.Iacuessa@ msmc.edu or 845-569-3217.
Support the Annual Fund with a Mount credit card Mount Saint Mary College has partnered with the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union (HVFCU) to offer a Visa Platinum credit card exclusively for Mount Saint Mary College alumni. Alumni who live, work, worship, or attend school in Dutchess, Ulster, Orange or Putnam counties in New York, or who are related to a current HVFCU member, are eligible to apply for the card. By carrying your Mount Visa from HVFCU, you show school pride as you use it, and you also help to enrich the Annual Fund. A donation is made to the Annual Fund with each card issued. The Mount’s Annual Fund ensures that financial resources are available for the college’s greatest needs, including scholarships, programs, technology and athletics. Every donation counts. Each Mount-branded HVFCU Visa Platinum credit card issued helps the fund grow. Show your school pride while also get-
ting all the great benefits of an HVFCU Visa, including the option of a low-rate card or one that offers reward points or cash back. For more information on how to get your Mount Visa Platinum credit card from HVFCU, visit hvfcu.org/msmc. You can also stop by one of HVFCU’s many convenient branches or call 845-4633011. Don’t wait. Show your pride for Mount Saint Mary College and get your card today! www.msmc.edu
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Friends of the Mount
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Inaugural Gala Reception F
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riends of Mount Saint Mary College, trustees, alumni, faculty and staff gathered together on December 3, 2010 for the Inaugural Gala Reception. The Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence was bestowed upon David S. MacFarland, president and CEO of Riverside Bank, and Dr. John A. D’Ambrosio, president of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. The Joseph A. Bonura Award for Leadership Excellence is presented to individuals or institutions that show, through professional accomplishments, the same commitment to quality, concern for neighbors and shared prosperity that exemplify the career and character of Joseph A. Bonura. Bonura is a highly esteemed friend
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View more photos from Mount events Visit www.msmc.edu/flickr to see the latest photos from Mount Saint Mary College
of Mount Saint Mary College, whose entrepreneurial spirit and impressive generosity have benefitted many in the Hudson Valley community. Bonura and his family have been involved in the food service and hospitality business for over 30 years on both sides of the Hudson River. Bonura is dedicated to providing the highest quality hospitality and excellence in food service to the Hudson Valley, whether it’s dinner for two or a party for 600. David S. MacFarland has more than 40 years of banking experience. As a participant in over 20 organizations in Orange and Dutchess counties, the scope of his community involvement
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is extensive. MacFarland has served on boards or committees to advance education at all levels, and has worked with SUNY Orange, Mount Saint Mary College and SUNY New Paltz. D’Ambrosio has served as the president of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce for over 25 years. D’Ambrosio has become a fixture within the regional business community serving on a multitude of boards including Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties (former chairman of the board), Orange County United Way, Orange County Community College Foundation and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. n
Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
PHOTO GALLERY 1. Peg Edwards and Bill Kaplan. 2. From left, Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, Mount president; Dr. John D’Ambrosio, Joseph A. Bonura, Jr., David MacFarland. 3. From left, Abel Garraghan, Mount chairman of the board of trustees; Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, and Tim McElduff Jr. 4. From left, Barbara Malley, Sue Koval and Alexandra Laubacker.
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5. Sr. Ann Sakac, Mount president emerita.
10. From left, Vincent and Jean Minuta, Joseph Minuta.
6. Marilyn D’Ambrosio and Mount trustee Susan Najork.
11. Nancy Smith, Carol Smith, Peter Bardunias, Jean Minuta (bottom row), Mary Cooper, Jimmy Smith, Greg Cooper and Vincent Minuta (top row).
7. From left, Regina McGrade, Eileen Taylor, Nancy Smith.
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8. Master of Ceremony, Dutchess County Sheriff, Butch Anderson. 9. From left, Mount trustee Jimmy Smith and his wife Nancy, with Charlie and Joanne North.
12. From left, Sr. Joann Boneski ’65, Sr. Lorelle Elcock ’66, Sr. Patricia Sullivan ’64, Sr. Margaret Anderson ’67, Sr. Ann Sakac, Sr. Frances Irene Fair, Sr. Lucy Povilonis ‘72.
www.msmc.edu
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Mount Saint Mary College Magazine | Spring/SUMMER 2011
Honoring family by helping Mount students
Eileen McDonald Sassmann establishes McDonald Family Scholarship Fund
“T
he knowledge I acquired and the life skills I learned at Mount Saint Mary College helped me immeasurably in my career,” said Eileen McDonald Sassmann ’66, during a recent campus visit.
One of a handful of mathemathics majors in her graduating class, Sassmann retired from IBM in 1998 as a senior technical staff member – a designation achieved by about 10 other women in IBM worldwide at that time. “The Dominican Sisters instilled a sense of empowerment among their students that if we were determined and worked hard, we could achieve anything we set our minds to,” Sassmann said. Sassmann’s work included the conceptualization, design, implementation, and review of operating systems
Rosary Heights for IBM mainframe computers used by NASA, universities, and major retailers among other customers. “I’ve been fortunate to be part of the ‘early days’ of both the Mount and IBM programming, and have seen them both grow into such successful organizations,” said Sassmann. “I spent a good deal of time with Sr. Marie Genevieve, who taught math. Though I was not convinced, Sr. Marie Genevieve was certain that I would
become a teacher. I guess we were both right, since during my tenure at IBM I regularly mentored my colleagues, many of whom went on to senior leadership positions.” With deep gratitude for the education she received at the Mount, Sassmann has established the McDonald Family Scholarship, to be awarded annually beginning in September 2011 to a deserving female student from the village of Wappingers Falls, town of Poughkeepsie, or town of Wappinger. “As the recipient of a Mount scholarship myself, I’m delighted to create a scholarship fund to help other young women who have ambitious dreams and career goals,” shared Sassmann. “Initially, I was planning to establish a scholarship fund as part of my estate. I decided it would be great fun to give something now while I can enjoy being part of something bigger for Mount students. My dad would be proud to have our family honored by this fund, which will help others.” Sassmann’s recent visit was like a trip down memory lane. “I have fond memories of my time at the Mount,” recalled Sassmann. “My freshman year I lived at Rosary Heights in Balmville (section of Newburgh). Our dorm room featured a small terrace with French doors overlooking the Hudson. I remember looking out at the first completed span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, which opened in the fall of 1962.” “For the next three years, I lived in the Villa Madonna and earned enough seniority to live in the tower room. We were a diverse yet close-knit group
Eileen McDonald Sassmann ’66, right, visits with Sr. Pat Sullivan, during a recent visit to the Mount campus. Learn how you can support the Mount Visit www.msmc.edu/giving or contact the College Advancement Office at 845-569-3215.
of students, faculty, and mentors. I’m so pleased that this same sense of family continues at the college today,” noted Sassmann. Helping others is a way of life for Sassmann, who is active with many groups, including Mount Saint Mary Academy high school alumni, for which she serves as president of the Alumni Association. “I feel fortunate to be helping both the Mount and the Academy during this historic period as the Mother House will be transformed into a new, dynamic center of learning for the college,” said Sassmann. As a charter member of the Wappinger Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council, Eileen works with others to preserve and improve both quality and quantity of water in local and regional watersheds. She is an officer of the Wappinger Greenway Trail Committee, board member of Grinnell Library, and an active parish council member of St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls. n www.msmc.edu
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Save the Date
Alumni and Family Weekend September 30 – October 2, 2011
S
ave the date and pass the word! Alumni and Family Weekend is September 30–October 2, 2011. Alumni and Family Weekend is for ALL alumni and students, and will recognize the anniversary classes of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. Start making plans to come back and visit with friends and favorite faculty members you may not have seen since graduation. Autumn is a magnificent time to visit the Hudson Valley and discover how Mount Saint Mary College has grown since you were last here. Please visit the Mount’s website at www.msmc.edu for the latest information.
2011
Anniversary Year Reunion Gift Challenge
Attention Anniversary Classes: 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 Show your Mount pride! Participate in the 2011 Anniversary Year Reunion Gift Challenge. For more information or to make your gift, visit www.msmc.edu/alumni.