Nichols College Magazine by Nichols College

Volume 1 • Issue 3 • Spring 2006

NICHOLS COLLEGE M

How Nichols Got Its Groove Back

President Debra M. Murphy, PhD SPRING 2006 O NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Volume 1 • Issue 3 Spring 2006

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P RODUCT I ON

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Dorothy Millhofer A DVA NCEMENT

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Susan Veshi C OVER

STORY

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Deborah Mayerson C ONTRI B UTOR S

Samuel R. Bailey III ’67, Ken Burrill ’69, Brianne Callahan, Janna Cunningham, Jean Cutting ’97, Jonathan Frankel, Kelly Harris ’78, Jessica Lafortune ’06, Frank Lovell ‘71, Debra Murphy, Bill Pieczynski, Selena Reich ’00, William Ward ’06, Susan Tellier, Leo Tonevski, Stephanie Tunnera

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NonproﬁtDesign.com, Acton, MA P RIN TING

Mercantile/Image Press West Boylston, MA C OVER

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John Kennard Photography Chelsea, MA

NICHOLS COLLEGE PO Box 5000 123 Center Road Dudley, MA 01571-5000 508-213-1560 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., M–F www.nichols.edu Periodicals postage paid at Webster, MA, and additional mailing ofﬁces. NICHOLS COLLEGE Magazine (UPSP 390480) is published three times a year by Nichols College, Dudley, MA.

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Su ccess

FROM THE PRESIDENT COVER STORY How Nichols Got Its Groove Back: A Summary of “Financial About-Face” Transformation by Degree Nichols Campus Gets a Facelift A Physical Campus Transformed (1998–2005) ON CAMPUS Comings and Goings You Gotta Eat!: Staying Ahead of Students’ Tastes Nichols Honors Scholar Program Launched Stepping Out: Junior Ashley Stockbridge Spends a Semester in London Women Take the Ice MSgt Bert Quick: Man on a Mission…or Two A Place for Help FEATURES It’s All about Being Your Own Boss Dreams Come True at Sinnis Pub Interview with Steven Davis ’80 Sports Highlights—Winter ’06 • Student-Athletes Develop Bison Reading Program • Life Skills Competition Heats-up Nichols First Computer and Me Nichols Helps Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley

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ALUMNI A View from the Hill Alumni Relations Reports… Class Notes Catching up with Samuel R. Bailey III ’67 Catching up with Kelly Harris ’78 Catching up with Jean Cutting ’97 Nichols Remembers

THE LAST WORD Technology Is Not the Answer

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Getting Down to Business

N AN ARTICLE ENTITLED “FINANCIAL ABOUT-FACE,” VICE PRESident of Administration Susan Tellier and I described the ﬁnancial turnaround of Nichols College over the period 1998–2004. The article, which appeared as a cover feature in the July 2004 issue of Business Ofﬁcer, is summarized on the following page. It represents Act 1 and Act 2 of how the College got back on track and set the stage for Act 3—strategic positioning for the future.

ACT 1

The article describes our actions in the context of the College’s mounting financial challenges and the outlook for small private colleges in general. We outlined the Debra M. Murphy, PhD multifaceted approach that brought Nichols from the brink of financial disaster to the security of financial stability, clearing a path for growth and development. This process was initially one of strategic cutting. ACT 2

At the same time we reaffirmed Nichols focus as a business school and the College’s mission of providing a first-rate practical business education. During this period, Nichols floated a bond enabling strategic investment in critical areas. We began to invest in the faculty, the curriculum, student services and the physical plant. We re-engaged alumni and reached out to key constituencies, such as parents, prospective students and high school guidance counselors. Our outreach resulted in renewed confidence in our product and our mission. In this issue and in future issues of the magazine, you will read about some of the dramatic transformations that have taken place on the Nichols campus. You will also read about Nichols greatest strength—our ability to transform the lives of students. Alumni of every generation express profound gratitude to the faculty who coached and mentored them and made business come alive in the classroom. They attribute their success to Nichols supportive environment, our practical curriculum, and the encouragement to take on leadership positions. ACT 3

Today, Nichols has a dynamic, energetic and entrepreneurial environment. The turnaround complete, we are now poised to bring Nichols to new heights of success. In the next decade we will position Nichols for the next century. We will continue to invest in excellent faculty, offer a challenging and relevant curriculum, and attract highly talented students. In the coming years, we will also launch the Nichols brand to ensure that Nichols is widely respected and celebrated in the marketplace. As we look forward to the College’s bicentennial in 2015, I am excited about our promising future and by the prospect of engaging our alumni in reaching our full potential.

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How Nichols Got Its Groove Back A Summary of “Financial About-Face” Excerpted from the July 2004 Business Ofﬁcer

hen deficits are growing and investments are declining, the time available to manage a turnaround is short. The course of action we decided to take involved an aggressive, multifaceted approach for which garnering broad support provided the linchpin of our success. While certain targeted actions were likely more effective than others, we believe it was the combination that helped move the College back to financial stability in a short time frame. As such, our approach can serve as a model for other institutions—small and large—for regrouping and regaining a financial foothold. Robert J. Vaudreuil ’77, Chairman Nichols Board Under Debra Murphy’s leadership, the College’s financial turnaround was nothing less than astounding. With resourcefulness, creativity, and a concerted team effort, Nichols reemerged as a strong and vital college while remaining true to its mission.

• Develop a Doable Plan. During the first year of our turnaround, senior staff developed a realistic five-year model for eliminating the College’s deficits (by FY99 an alarming $3.9 million). We returned to operating surpluses two years ahead of schedule. • Look Inward. Through a trustee vote, we reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to business education. Curb appeal builds confidence. We initiated a bond issue to refinance the existing debt and build a new residence hall and a stateof-the-art recreational facility.

James W. Coghlin Sr. ’67 Nichols Trustee Nichols is a real success story. The College has been transformed as a result of keen leadership and strategic initiatives. Investments in campus beautiﬁcation, curriculum innovation and progressive faculty development gave Nichols new life and have enabled us to set the stage for an exciting future.

New construction, along with careful stewarding of the existing physical plant and a plan to address deferred maintenance, returned huge gains in enrollment and campus spirit. • Reach Outward. We sought to restore the conﬁdence of prospective students and high school guidance counselors, who expressed confusion about our focus. We reached out to alumni and donors. During the turnaround period, contributions rose from $1.3 million to $1.8 million in 2003. We invested in our curriculum, adding specializations in sport management (now our largest concentration), criminal justice, human resource management, and business communication. We established the online MBA and undergraduate business programs, opening Nichols to new geographic markets. We focused on student retention, established a department of advisors for ﬁrst-year students and created a four-year Professional Development Seminar to teach career skills and add polish and poise to our graduates. • Review Your Operations. We jettisoned non-essential or costly enterprises and worked hard to increase on-campus

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facility rentals, now at capacity during the summer. • Manage Your Money. We grew our cash and investments of $5.3 million, of which nearly $900,000 were restricted, to over $10 million. We instituted accountability measures for all budget managers, and we joined a buying consortium that annually saves the College six figures. • Factor in Further Growth. The pace of change at Nichols College during the five-year period was phenomenal. We regained a majority of our full-time enrollments; and net assets and the composite financial index have also improved, despite the fact that the College invested approximately $12.8 million in the physical plant during our recovery period. We are working to simultaneously address deferred maintenance needs and build an investment portfolio that will see us through future demographic uncertainties. We evolved into a dynamic, energetic group of employees who embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that we are trying to foster in our students. That single success should serve us well into and beyond the next decade. To read the complete article, go to www.nichols.edu/about.

David F. Lombard ’65 Nichols Trustee This is a critical time in the history of Nichols College. Debra Murphy took the helm and made tough decisions with characteristic grace and insight. In the process, the College reafﬁrmed its standing in the business of providing a practical and relevant education.

Transformation by Degree By Deborah Mayerson, Director of College Advancement

For a school that historically has described its students in humble, almost Lake Wobegonian terms, Nichols alumni are anything but average.

here’s R. Joseph Salois ’98, president of Atlas Distributing, Inc. in Auburn, Mass. Atlas employs over 125 people and has helped pioneer and position brands in New England, including Sam Adams, Harpoon, Corona, Snapple and Vitamin Water. There’s William J. Weyand ’66, a prominent three-time software CEO. He recently took the helm at MSC Software, a $300 million company based in Santa Ana, Calif. MSC has over 1,500 employees and does business in 23 countries. And there’s Wayne J. Archambo ’81, managing director at BlackRock, one of the hottest ﬁrms on Wall Street. BlackRock and Merrill Lynch’s Investment Managers recently merged in a deal reportedly valued at $8 billion.

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Joe Salois ’98 (left) worked his way up from a salesman to owner of Atlas Distributing and crafted the company’s hard-driving, ten-year strategic plan along the way. What is it that makes Nichols graduates attractive in the workplace? “It’s the work ethic,” says Salois, and he’s a great example.

ichols alumni are building wealth, creating jobs, and are well represented in the highest echelons of corporate America from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. So, what is it that makes Nichols students so attractive to prospective employers? “It’s the work ethic,” says Salois, a Nichols trustee and employer of Nichols students. “They’re hard-working, want to establish strong careers, and understand the importance of business relationships.” An avid runner and father of three, Salois is a great example of one determined to succeed. After graduating from high school in 1977, he worked for his father for four years, and later joined Atlas as a salesman. After rising to the position of general manager, he and two partners bought the company in 1994. While he worked and started his family, Salois took classes in accounting and marketing at Central New England College. In 1992, he transferred to Nichols because it was a place where students could put all the pieces together: strategy, accounting, ﬁnance and critical thinking. “The hours were intense,” he says, “but it was a terriﬁc experience. I decided to challenge

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myself to do well, and I learned the value of an education.” Atlas’ management team works hard at forming strong relationships and partnerships with their suppliers, the lifeblood of the distribution business. “We’re about building brands,” says Salois. “It takes a good effort by the distributor.” In 1984, Jim Koch was looking for a New England distributor for his new Samuel Adams Lager brand. The Atlas team heard Koch’s story, liked his products and decided to carry his brands. Others followed: Harpoon, Wachusett, Corona, Guinness and many more. Atlas partnered early with the microbrew segment and the business grew. They picked up other non-alcoholic brands along the way—ﬂedgling companies with good products, good people and a vision, such as Snapple, Vitamin Water and Red Bull, and these, too, have done well. Each year Atlas undergoes a strategic planning exercise to chart the course for the future. It also provides an opportunity to assess the overall business performance and to make adjustments if necessary. During each session employees are asked to critically challenge the mission statement. Comments Salois, “We examine whether it’s still relevant, whether it helps to guide us, and whether we are living up to it.” Challenging himself to do well is Salois’ modus operandi. His hard working passion runs deep throughout the

Bill Weyand ’66 (left) describes himself as a mediocre student, but by senior year, something clicked. Listening to a series of CEO lectures, Weyand noticed the executives had an ability to put complex business strategy into simple terms and to lead companies to better positions. He told himself “I can do that,” and he has… three times.

entire organization. Today, 125 Atlas employees service over 3,000 customers.

ill Weyand resembles more of a diplomat or statesman than the canny executive who has ridden the notoriously steep technology bell curve and come out ahead. In technology, says Weyand, “Nothing is ever status quo. In business today, you constantly have to reinvent yourself in order to capitalize on new markets and bring new value to the marketplace. You can be king one year and toast the next!” Weyand’s early career is a lesson in determination. He rose quickly at

Measurex, which was acquired by Honeywell Corporation in 1997 at the height of its business cycle. He served as CEO and president of Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC) from 1997–2001. In SDRC, Weyand inherited a company and an entire industry facing a major slump, and nothing short of a transformation was required if the software giant was to survive. Weyand proceeded to capitalize on the company’s lead in product data management, the merger of mechanical design automation tools with information and data management. He hired nearly 1,000 employees, set (and

met) tough sales targets and consistently beat ﬁnancial analysts’ expectations. Wall Street took notice as SDRC’s revenues climbed from $250 million in 1997 to $480 million in 2001. In 2001, EDS bought SDRC for over $1 billion in cash. It was the largest software takeover transaction of that year. In 2005, Weyand became CEO of MSC Software Corporation, based in Santa Ana, Calif. The company is the worldwide industry leader in virtual product development solutions—simulation software and services that help companies save time and reduce costs associated

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“We teach lifelong career skills,” with designing and testing manufactured products. Many of the products are Web-based, enabling collaboration by allowing clients to run simulations and to access engineering and custom software development services 24/7. Weyand often says that success comes down to several qualities: people skills become far more important than a degree or specialization (people do business with people), the ability to put complex issues into simple terms, and the appetite to learn from others who have honed certain skills. “Mentors have played a huge role in my life,” says Weyand, “and understanding what’s best in class, what the game changing events are, and always learning from the masters.” But this may simply be a diplomatic way of saying that Weyand was built for business. Currently, Weyand and MSC are navigating change. “The good news,” says Weyand, “is that MSC’s stock’s up almost 100 percent in the last 12 months, and the shareholders seem to be pleased with our progress as we reinvent the company, as well as implement our aggressive break-out strategy.” Despite his early self-proclaimed lackluster academic career, by his senior year in college, Weyand was a serious student. He thinks Nichols gave him an excellent grounding in business—his true calling. “I remember the creativity of the marketing professors who were able to present on a very practical level. In essence, Nichols gave me a wonderful practical business education. I realized that if anything good was going to happen with my career, I would have to take

says Director of Career Services Dawn Sherman.

ownership. That was the turning point,” says Weyand. “There’s definitely a transformation that takes place,” says Professor emeritus Rick Hilliard. “In a sense, the raw materials arrive as first-year students —and graduate as highly desirable products in the marketplace.” Hilliard, a management professor and former chair of the Nichols College Leadership Program, has taught a variety of business subjects for 20 years. The pronounced transformation of Nichols students is unique, and it’s attributable to both the type of students the College attracts and the close stewardship of their intellectual and professional development over four years. The Nichols classroom is a laboratory where shy students learn to speak out, where even freshmen in full business attire learn to give formal presentations, and where students fine-tune the skill of business communication.

y any measure, Nichols investment in the professional development of students has returned phenomenal results. Place-

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ment of seniors consistently tops 90 percent, and starting salaries are commensurate with our competitors, such as Assumption, Babson and Bryant colleges. “We teach lifelong career skills,” says Director of Career Services Dawn Sherman. What the Nichols faculty had done intuitively has been meticulously developed into the formal four-year Professional Development Seminar (PDS) required of all Nichols students. PDS begins with the basics of transitioning from high school to college and culminates with a student’s transition into the workplace. Preparation covers everything from time management, resume writing, mock interviewing, and the development of a portfolio. They also learn about career movement and the importance of reputation. PDS was developed in concert with a comprehensive curriculum review. The team, led by Sherman, sought input from a variety of academic and business constituencies. Today the much copied program is a model for colleges around the country. Says Hilliard, “The students give

formal business presentations in full business attire, and yes, they are all Power Point mavens by the time they graduate.” It’s a developmental area that many business schools ignore and yet, says Hilliard, it is one of the factors that differentiates Nichols students from their peers at other institutions.

managed $3 billion for institutional investors in small and mid value assets. In January 2002, Archambo moved to BlackRock where he was in charge of opening the Boston ofﬁce and leading a team of investment professionals in building up the ﬁrm’s equity capability. Founded in 1988 by a group of

to build BlackRock’s Boston ofﬁce into an important part of the ﬁrm. Wayne is a player coach —a great investor who leads people by example.” Having helped to shape this behemoth, what does Archambo know today that he didn’t know

Wayne J. Archambo ’81 is managing director at BlackRock, one of the hottest firms on Wall Street. Says Archambo, “I was shy when I came to Nichols. Nichols helped me to gain self confidence.” Placement statistics bear this out— last year 95 percent of Nichols seniors obtained well-paying positions in the first sixth months after graduation. And recruiters echo the notion that Nichols attracts students who are focused, empathetic, hardworking and personable—all of the characteristics, says Hilliard, that represent the finer qualities of the “Millennial Generation.”

former Budleigh/Daniels man, Wayne Archambo ’81 was class yearbook editor, recipient of the Quincy H. Merrill award, a member of the admissions committee and a serious student. He double majored in economics and finance and worked two jobs to finance his education. After Nichols, he went straight to Babson College to earn his MBA and later received his CFA. Archambo has 18 years of investment experience, beginning with his first job at start-up Systematic Investors in 1983. He moved to The Boston Company in 1989 and then, became a founding partner of Boston Partners Asset Management in 1995. There, he

money managers, including Chief Investment Officer Keith Anderson ’81 (Archambo and Anderson met at Nichols on the first day of classes and have been friends ever since), BlackRock has consistently engendered superlatives and accolades from Wall Street analysts. In the past decade, the firm has increased assets under management—often through difficult markets—from $23 billion to $452 billion. During that period, the company’s stock rose from the mid-teens to more than $130 per share. By 2006, BlackRock was lauded as an “asset management powerhouse” worth about $8 billion. Today, BlackRock is one of the hottest firms on Wall Street. As this magazine goes to press, headlines swirl daily about Merrill Lynch’s recent acquisition of a large minority stake in BlackRock. The deal, reportedly worth $8 billion, brought BlackRock’s total assets under management to $1 trillion, making it the largest publicly traded fund company by assets. Says BlackRock co-worker Anderson, “Wayne is both a friend and a great business partner. He has played an instrumental role in helping

as a “shy” Nichols student? “In the investment business,” he says, “you learn something new every day. And you learn that you can’t take yourself too seriously. The investment management business is very humbling.”

n Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegone, all the men are strong, all the women are good looking and all the children are above average. Professor Hilliard points out, “Many of our students have reached the pinnacle of achievement on Wall Street after graduation and are earning astronomical salaries. Others may be earning less as coaches or teachers, but make an equally valuable contribution to our society.” Perhaps the Nichols College value proposition for aspiring undergraduates—many of them ﬁrst-generation college students—is the assurance of an interesting and satisfying lifelong career. Q

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Nichols Campus Gets a Facelift

L A S T I C S U R G E O N S A R E U S I N G N E W, more affordable facelift procedures to eliminate wrinkles and frown lines. Recovery is quick, but there’s still some painful bruising and swelling. In 1998, Nichols campus looked tired and old. Enrollment had plummeted down to just 646 students. The surgical team of Debra M. Murphy, PhD, and Vice President of Administration Susan K. Tellier stepped forward to work their magic on a campus severely neglected for 10 years.

supporting Nichols mission received priority, and a practical decision was made not to put money into buildings that may later be abandoned. The attractiveness of our physical campus was deemed vital for improving the success of our recruiting program; in fact, surveys of high school students show that good campus facilities are “very important” to their decision as to where to attend college. New construction of a residence hall and recreation center got priority, and this strategy helped us attract more prospective students and their parents.

P L A N T H E S U R G E RY

NIP AND TUCK

Long-range facility planning was completed to ensure the College maintained an attractive campus identity while making the best use of resources. Only projects

Many of the older residence halls were in disrepair, with leaking roofs, old furniture, and chipping paint. In addition, the entrance to our campus, Center Road, was an obstacle

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course—congested with parked cars and wrought with potholes. Research has shown that students living in residence halls typically have higher GPAs and are more involved in leadership opportunities on campus. Prospective students were asking for community living space with better furnishings, a sense of warmth, and greater privacy. So, Nichols residence halls became a top priority, and fundraising and leftover bond proceeds allowed us to make signiﬁcant improvements, as follow: • In 1999, residential suites in Kuppenheimer Hall were completely renovated. It now houses 43 students and is very popular with senior class members. • In 2000, the new brick and steel-framed Remillard Hall replaced some of the older wood-framed residence halls that couldn’t be brought up to building code. Remillard’s cluster concept provides housing for 200 freshmen and sophomore students, and its three ﬂoors offer a variety of room structures—single [for upper class and special need students] and triples with a shared bath.

renamed Lombard Dining Hall in 2005 after its benefactors. In 2000, Nichols Recreation and Athletic Center was built, complete with gymnasium, running track, racquetball courts, climbing wall, and exercise room. Even the timeworn Chalmers Field House got a brand new floor. Finally, in 2004, construction began on a new multi-purpose athletic stadium to serve six intercollegiate athletic teams. In an emotional ceremony during Homecoming 2005, Vendetti Field was named to honor Nichols coach and longtime athletic director, Mike Vendetti. There’s still some deferred maintenance to complete in 2006, including renovating Olsen Residence Hall which houses 70 students, and Academy Hall, which contains classrooms and offices. While Nichols self image runs much deeper than its transformed campus, rejuvenation has made us feel more confident: it’s lifted our spirits! And in spite of all the physical change, that “old Hill magic” remains intact. [See Exhibit “A Physical Campus Transformed (1998–2005)”]

• In 2001, Shamie Hall got new loft style furniture. It’s our largest residence hall with over 330 students in rooms with private baths. Shamie houses primarily ﬁrst-year students, but it also houses the Quiet Lifestyle, the Wellness, and the LINC (Living and Learning) communities. • Budleigh Hall received a major renovation down to the studs in 2003 and has accommodations for 84 students. Parking was removed from Center Road and two new parking lots were built, “N” near Kuppenheimer Hall and “M” near the soccer ﬁelds. In addition, roads were resurfaced and landscaping completed for major buildings. Smart technology was installed in classrooms in Davis Hall and in Davis Auditorium in the Library. Buildings got new boilers, new roofs, new furniture, and were painted from top to bottom. Even Nichols radio station, WNRC, got a new state-of-the-art home in Alumni Hall.

PUT ON A HAPPY FACE Dramatic enhancements were made to our dining facilities. Davis Café was built to accommodate on-the-go commuters. In addition, Nichols dining facility was renovated and

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A Physical Campus Transformed (1998–2005)

2001 • Conrad Hall renovated

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• New campus signs installed

• Kuppenheimer Hall completely renovated to suites

• Landscaping completed for all major buildings

• New boilers installed • Smart technology installed in Davis Hall

• New loft style furniture purchased for Shamie Hall

2000 19 9 8 President Murphy Takes the Helm

• Recreation and Athletic Center built • Remillard Hall built • Parking removed from College green • Campus roadways resurfaced

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2003 2005

• Alumni Hall completely renovated to include Internet Café and radio station • Parking lot “N” constructed

• Dining facility renovated and renamed Lombard Dining Hall

• Ingraham Room renovated

• Auditorium renovated

• Many buildings get new roofs

• Multi-purpose stadium opened

2002

2004

• Budleigh Hall completely renovated

• All exteriors painted

• Davis Hall gets a new science lab and Café a la Carte • Library’s Davis Auditorium gets 30 new computers • Currier Center renovated for handicap access

• Chalmers Field House flooring replaced • Construction started on new athletic field • Business Office renovated

• Conant Hall renovated and new roof installed

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Comings and Goings Randall V. Becker, treasurer, chief accounting officer and director of the Commerce Insurance Company, joins Nichols as a new trustee. He graduated from Nichols College in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and in 1996 with an MBA. Crystal Bickford, PhD, has been named interim associate dean for the Division of Graduate and Professional Studies. Bickford will continue to oversee the Academic Resource Center and the Testing Center, where Taryn Tompkins, assistant director of academic services, and Julie Errico, online proctor, will take on more responsibilities for day-to-day tasks. Bickford recently received her PhD in rhetoric and linguistics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. William (Bill) C. Pieczynski joins Nichols College as director of the Nichols Fund and will report directly to Joseph E. Cofield, vice president for advancement. Pieczynski will take a leadership role in expanding President’s Leadership Society membership and will make off-campus contact with individuals to strategically boost development efforts. Additional responsibility includes overseeing the Alumni Relations Office. Prior to joining Nichols, Pieczynski served in a variety of advancement capacities at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., most recently as assistant director of development. Pieczynski earned a bachelor’s degree in dual majors, business and history, at Catawba College and is

Sport Management Students Invited to Madison Square Garden This year, Nichols is one of ﬁve schools Madison Square Garden (MSG) invited to interview for sport management internships. On January 13th, 15 student-intern hopefuls accompanied Sport Management Chair Colleen Colles and Professor Timothy Liptrap to New York City to interview with Knicks staff. After listening to lectures about MSG operations, students watched the pre-game warmup from the ﬂoor. Later, from press row, they watched the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 105 to 94. (L to R): Top Row: Bryan Muenzner; Jameson Borey; Rob MacCallum; Matt Panzini; Jim McCabe; Anthony Gaines; Alex Aiello Middle Row: Johanna Murphy; Kara Cicchiello; Katie Mitchell; Jim Capuano; Professor Tim Liptrap; Professor Colleen Colles; Bob McDonald; Israel Gonzalez Front Row: Colin Shields; Meaghan Larkin

Why Smart Executives Fail On Feb 1st, Dr. Sydney Finkelstein, a Steven Roth Professor of Management at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, discussed his new book about corporate mistakes and failures as part of the Fischer Institute’s Leadership Symposium. (L to R): Professor Sydney Finkelstein and Fischer Institute Director Len Harmon

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10 Seniors Make Who’s Who Ten Nichols College students have been selected as outstanding campus leaders and named to the 2006 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. They join an elite group of students from more than 2,000 institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and several foreign nations. Students were chosen based on academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success. (L to R): Erica Mello; Meredith Harnett; Elizabeth Draper; Dr. Brian McCoy, dean of student services; Emily Barker; Jose Lora; Kristen Hill; Shannon Johnston (Absent: Jessica Lafortune; Jonathan Allia and Jon Nash)

Students Rock For Relief On November 10th, the Nichols College Auditorium rocked during a beneﬁt concert for our adopted family of Katrina victims, the Busby family from Clarksdale, Miss. The concert was sponsored by the Nichols Human Resource Club and featured an hour-long set by rock group Endway. Endway lead singer Morgan Dorr with Nichols fans

Criminal Justice on the Rise On November 18th, the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. held an all-day event on Nichols campus which focused on careers in criminal justice. Over 15 colleges attended to discuss career options in forensics, local and state police, and online and private industry security. (L to R) Event organizers: Jamie Munson; Maureen Butler; Katie Brothers; and Director of Career Services Dawn Sherman

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Comings and Goings

Nichols athletes set up stations to teach basketball skills

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currently completing a master’s degree in organizational development from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, N.C. Bill Coffey replaces Katie Sweeney Claire as director of sports medicine and will be responsible for directing practice and game coverage for 14 varsity teams, as well as determining and updating Nichols sports medicine policies and procedures. Coffey graduated cum laude from Bridgewater State College in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a concentration in athletic training. Prior to joining Nichols, Coffey was head athletic trainer for six seasons with Boston Red Sox minor league teams, single-A, double-A and triple-A. In this capacity, he evaluated injuries and rehabilitation and implemented research-based sport-speciﬁc exercise programs to prevent injuries. Matthew Haggard joins us as the Library’s new instructional services/ reference librarian. Haggard will be sharing reference desk duties and working with faculty to help develop students’ ability to ﬁnd, evaluate and use information. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Coastal Carolina University and a master’s degree in library and information science from Wayne State University. Before pursuing a career as a librarian, Haggard worked as a Latin teacher and then, in information technology for Pharmacia and Gerber Foods.

Count Me In! Over 60 girls and their mothers participated in the 20th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Feb. 11th, a free health and ﬁtness event organized by Nichols Athletic Center staff: Janna Cunningham; Emily Boosahda; Stephanie Tunnera; and Kelly Morrison. The theme was “Count Me In!” Girls received their certiﬁcates during halftime as Nichols beat Gordon in overtime!

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(L to R) Chicopee residents Victoria Campbell, Alex Roux, Sam Roux, and Casey Campbell get a hug from the NCAA mascot

Academic Majors Fair On February 7th, an Academic Majors Fair was held in the Auditorium to help students determine their major ﬁeld of study. Attendance was mandatory for all sophomores enrolled in Professional Development Seminar. Dan Davis discusses course specialization with Dr. William Lasher, ﬁnance program chair

Comings and Goings

Nichols Reaches Out to H.S. Guidance Counselors Nichols admissions staff mingled with high school guidance counselors at the Cape and Islands Guidance Association (CIGA) monthly meeting February 16th at the Hyannis Golf Club in Hyannis, Mass. Diane Gillespie, director of admissions and ﬁnancial aid; Kerry Barnes, counselor; and Professor Rick Hilliard interacted with an engaged audience during a 30-minute discussion on Nichols program offerings. Diane Gillespie (third from left) and Kerry Barnes (second from right) stand with CIGA’s executive committee

Fellowship Through Service Nichols College Rotaract Club was ofﬁcially certiﬁed into Rotary District 7910 in a ceremony on campus December 14th. (L to R) Top row: Robert MacCallum; Bryan Muenzner; Edward Egan; Andrew Jolda; Timothy Clark; and John Gilberto. Note that spiffy new banner! Bottom row: Hillary Scott; President Debra Murphy; and Cory Ververis

Alyson Slowik has joined the staff of the Advising Center as assistant director of advising. Together with Selena Reich ’00, Slowik will primarily advise Graduate and Professional Studies students. Slowik started her career at Nichols in 2002 as an adjunct faculty member in the English Department. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Connecticut State and her master’s degree in education from Sacred Heart University. On Feb. 17th Bob Fuqua, a native of Fiskdale, Mass., was hired as the new women’s soccer coach. Fuqua arrives at Nichols College after leading Springﬁeld Technical Community College (STCC) to the 2005 Women’s Soccer Junior College National Championship. A head coach at STCC since 2003, Fuqua led his teams to two National Junior College Final Fours and three NJCAA New England Region Championships. Q

KIDS NIGHT OUT! Services Community For ﬁve years, over 50 KIDS NIGHT OUT! programs have helped an estimated 6,000 local community kids burn off lots of energy using our athletic and recreation center. Fifteen Nichols staff and students supervise as kids climb the rock wall, play kickball and soccer, and complete arts and crafts activities. Monies raised support various women’s teams. Multi-sport player Erica Adams sets up a very popular candy table

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Y O U G O T TA E AT !

Staying Ahead of Students’ Tastes

tudents have to eat,” says Vanessa Drake, “and this is my opportunity to bring their voices to the discussion table!” Drake, a junior at Nichols, has recently been appointed to Sodexho’s ﬁrst Student Board of Directors to help its Campus Division shape product offerings. “I’m excited to be acting as a liaison between Nichols students and Sodexho,” comments Drake. Sodexho, a leading provider of food services headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., chose Drake and 14 other students from campuses across the country to provide insight and feedback into what today’s college students want from their campus dining experience. Based on the suggestions of the Student Board of Directors, a focus group was conducted that resulted in signiﬁcant changes to the menu choices offered. “We must continually seek new and better ways to listen to students and to give them services that they want— whether it’s food with a cultural twist, convenience, social atmosphere, or ambiance,” says Dennis Santelli, manager of Nichols Sodexho Dining Services.

“

Dining Dish from Students

Drake got started as a representative at Sodexho’s monthly Dining Dish Committee meeting. “Students prefer to informally express their likes, or dislikes to me as we share a meal together,” says Drake. “It’s usually minor, like wanting a certain type of ice cream or salad dressing. But I watch HGTV’s Food Network, so a lot of ideas that I bring to the Dining Dish Committee come from there.” In addition, Drake notes that Sodexho takes the dining hall sug-

Dennis Santelli, manager of Nichols Sodexho Dining Services; Vanessa Drake, Nichols ambassador of food; and Sue Tellier, vice president of administration, stand before the portrait of the Lombards, benefactors of functional and comfortable enhancements to the Nichols dining experience

gestion box very seriously and follows up in a timely manner. “Sodexho couldn’t have chosen a better student,” says Santelli about Drake. “She’s mature and very responsible, and the feedback I’ve gotten from headquarters is that she’s one of the best representatives.” Sodexho is providing Drake with an all-expense paid trip to Malibu, Calif., over Spring Break. There, student representatives from across the United States will taste meals made by some of the most famous chefs in the country as they discuss campus dining. “I’m above very excited right now,” says Drake.

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“I found out about the trip on January 19th, and it will go down as one of the best days of my life!” A Flexible Food Plan and Homey Space

At Nichols College, the meal plan consists of 15 meals per week in Lombard Dining Hall and $150 a semester in Bison Bucks. Bison Bucks are loaded onto a student’s ID card and can be used for purchases in the Snack Bar, Davis Café, as well as from campus vending machines. In addition, Bison Bucks can be used to make purchases from Subway or Domino’s Pizza. And thanks to a generous gift from

David F. and Susan D. Lombard, Nichols dining hall was transformed into a homey space that includes new: ceiling; lights; tables and chairs; booths; wireless access; enhancements to the lobby; and a ﬂat screen television (located in a cozy nook). “Dining is a key element to our successful four-year residential college program,” comments Patricia Allen, director of housing and residence life. “Our aspiration is to build a ﬂexible and relaxed dining experience that promotes community.” A Goal of Healthy Choices

Sodexho’s Wellness Program offers a variety of nutritious options for the health conscious student that limit sodium, calories, cholesterol and fat. Santelli notes that Nichols students particularly love chicken tenders, tater-tot casserole, stir fries and hot pasta tosses. But, there’s plenty of campus “favorites” that present temptations, too, including freshbaked bread, hamburgers and fries, hot cheesy pizzas, and nachos. A Tufts study found that most students earn failing marks when it comes to good nutrition: almost 70 percent of students get fewer than the recommended ﬁve servings of fruits and vegetables

each day. At Cornell University, researchers found that students gain an average of four pounds during the first 12 weeks of their freshman year. Reasons for the weight gain include difficulty adjusting to being away at college, the temptation to eat what you want, and the need to indulge in snacks to fuel those latenight study sessions. About two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight. In a survey completed by the NDP Group, a market research firm, thin is still in, but in the last 20 years, Americans’ attitudes toward weight seem to be shifting from rejection towards more acceptance. The NDP survey also showed that the number of people who said “I would like to lose 20 pounds” jumped from 54 percent in 1985 to 61 percent in 2005. Health Services Lends a Hand

Nichols Health Services has made great strides in helping students understand the importance of healthy choices. It sponsored a six-week Spring Challenge (2004) focused on increasing physical activity, eating more fruits and vegetables, and coping with stress, and a Great American Weigh-in (2005) which calculated an individual’s body mass index.

A survey of 202 Nichols students taken in Fall 2005 found that the top four topics of greatest interest were exercise (65.6 percent), nutrition (59.2 percent), stress (59.2 percent), and weight loss (58.4 percent). And Nichols RN, Cheryl Duval, notes, “My top priority in 2006 is to provide information sessions on these topics.” In addition, Sodexho brought in a well-known nutritionist, Ann Selkowitz Litt, to speak to students about the importance of good eating habits, and this presentation was mandatory for all Nichols athletes. She’s the author of The College Student’s Guide to Eating Well on Campus. “I think nutritional options are very important to athletes such as myself,” comments Drake, who is captain of the women’s ice hockey team. “For most athletes, it’s important to eat plenty of protein. I try to stay away from convenience foods, like burgers and fries.” In Drake’s leadership role, she’s setting a great example for her fellow students. Q

Nichols Honors Scholar Program Launched

new Nichols Honors Scholar Program has been launched to give undergraduate students the opportunity to be recognized for outstanding academic achievement. To be eligible, a student must have a current GPA of 3.2 or higher, a minimum of 29 credit hours and a maximum of 75 credit hours earned. Participating students complete additional study requirements to earn an extra fourth credit in 300-level or 400-level courses. After achieving a B+ or higher grade in each of the three courses, students are qualiﬁed to apply for entrance into a senior-year Honors Scholar Seminar. Initiated by an Honors steering committee comprised of Professors Edward Warren, Mauri Pelto, and Hans Despain, the Nichols Honors Scholar Program was approved by the Faculty Senate, the Curriculum Committee, and the Faculty Assembly. For Spring 2006, students selected honor courses across the curriculum in business communications, economics, English, environmental science, history, human resource management, management, and political science. At Commencement, students completing the program with a 3.3 GPA or higher will earn an academic mark of distinction as a Nichols Honors Scholar. This special recognition will be testimony to the hard work and special talent of our ﬁnest students. Q

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STEPPING OUT Junior Ashley Stockbridge Spends a Semester in London

shley Stockbridge ’07 of Stoneham, Mass., had just started thinking about packing a suitcase for her semester abroad when a series of bomb attacks on London’s transport network killed more than 37 people and injured close to 700. It was July 7th, and after a flurry of emails with Len Harmon, director of the Fischer Institute, she was reassured that attending the British American College London (BACL) for the Fall 2005 semester would be safe. BACL is located in the center of London at Regent’s College, and Stockbridge had never been away from home for more than a couple of weeks—and never outside the U.S.! “If you had met Ashley before her trip to London, you would be amazed at how she has grown as a student and as a person. She was very motivated to have this experience, but because she hasn’t traveled very much, she was a little uncomfortable about what she was getting herself into and whether she could handle such a dramatic change,” says Harmon. “She’s clearly very bright, and it makes my job so fulfilling to see how the semester in London changed her perspective about the world and about her experience at Nichols College.” Nichols agreement with Regent’s College permits our students to take academic coursework where all credit hours are transferable. Students pay the same fee for their meal plan and tuition, as well as keep all financial aid packages. The only out-of-pocket expenses are the airfare to and from London and spending money. To be eligible, Nichols students must 18

Director Len Harmon and Ashley Stockbridge stand in front of the Currier Center on campus

Time to Adjust

Ashley’s room with a view—it’s the one with the balcony on the left!

have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have earned junior-level status. In addition to completing an application, each candidate must be recommended favorably by two members of the faculty and by the dean of student services. Not everyone can attend Regent’s; it is a competitive program with a limited number of openings. “We also evaluate how the students follow up after the initial meeting,” says Harmon. “Ashley was always well prepared with questions for each meeting.”

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Stockbridge’s father decided that it would be advantageous to accompany his daughter to London one week early to give her time to adjust. Together, they planned to explore the 19th largest city in the world with its population of over 7 million. After ﬂying into the world’s busiest international airport, Heathrow, they stayed at the four-star White House Hotel located next to Regent’s Park. Stockbridge says she spent the next days taking at least four double-decker bus tours so she could better understand London’s layout. A Peaceful Oasis

“In order to fully appreciate the Regent’s College London campus, you need to visit it yourself,” says Stockbridge. “It’s

Roomates Margherita Columbo-Pastorelli (“Mita”) from Monaco and Robin Sheehan from Calif, USA

Ashley runs into an old high school chum, Stonehill College junior Kristen Palermo, as she walks down the Champs Elysées in Paris. Note Arc de Triomphe in background

In Amsterdam, if the shoe ﬁts, you buy it! Ashley purchased a right-sized pair for her Mom

amazing that such a peaceful green place exists in such a busy city.” The campus was built in 1913. A quadrangle of classrooms at its heart is surrounded by green lawns, gardens, tennis and basketball courts, and the beautiful ornamental gardens and lakes of Regent’s Park. When Stockbridge got assigned to a triple student room in Reid Hall, she was pleasantly surprised that one of her roommates had a Boston Red Sox blanket. “It made me feel right at home,” she says. And although the 240-student dorm had communal bathrooms, Stockbridge got one of the few rooms with a balcony overlooking the quad. “I met students from all over the world,” says Stockbridge, who believes that the diversity of Regent’s gave her a unique learning environment. She believes these new relationships have changed her outlook in profound ways. “I’m more open to a different point-ofview and more ﬂexible when dealing with other people and situations.”

In front of the Coliseum in Rome with Fairﬁeld University friend Johanna Duska

A gondola ride around the canals of Venice is a must

Checking Out World Cities

Stockbridge’s coursework included a Women’s Psychology course to satisfy her psychology major requirements. Plus, she took exciting electives that can’t be experienced elsewhere—like watching a Shakespearean play at The Globe Theatre or visiting an AngloSaxon burial ground. She was happiest when out of the classroom experiencing the best London has to offer. Stockbridge also took side trips to Dublin, Ireland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Venice and Rome, Italy; and Paris, France. As a day trip, she took the Eurostar train which runs under the English Channel to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris. As she walked down the Champs Elysées, someone called out her name, and when Stockbridge turned around, there was her hometown neighbor from Stoneham, Mass.!

It’s evident that international student exchange at the college level plays a critical role in building bridges across cultural differences. One of Stockbridge’s closest friendships was with a Muslim student, Hisham Saif from Yemen, and she’s now trying to talk him into getting a Nichols MBA. “I know I’ve changed,” reﬂects Stockbridge. “I’m more independent, more motivated, and have this incredible desire to keep traveling and exploring the world. I strongly recommend the Regent’s College experience to other Nichols students…I tell everyone, ‘It’s the best college credit you can earn!’” Q

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Women Take the Ice

n December 5th, the Bison women were sprinting down the ice after a vulcanized puck. “It was a tough game,” recalls Captain Vanessa Drake. “Most of the UConn Club members had already played Division I and were there just for fun. They skated like speeding bullets.” At that game, Nichols goalie Katie Harris dislocated her shoulder trying to cover the puck; so, sophomore defenseman Erica Adams stepped up to cover the net. While Adams is an experienced 20

lacrosse goalie, she was momentarily confused by the goal tending differences. “In lacrosse, you have to stay on your feet…stay tall…and you’re not allowed to cover the crease,” comments Adams. “It was a challenge just to stay low.” “The goalie has to be the best skater on the ice,” notes Nichols Head Coach Bob Martin. “You have to have great balance. Adams is one of those players who soaks up the game; she gets better every time she plays.” But the injury to Harris hurt the young Nichols club team with its roster of only one goalie— three goalies is the norm.

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The Rush to Recruit

It’s no surprise that recruiting top talent is the number one priority for Martin and his assistant coaches, Meredith Moutran and Jonathan Bachman. All are determined to grow the team in skill and numbers in order to achieve NCAA Division III status. “An increasing number of talented players are hearing what Nichols has to offer. The program is growing, and right now, it’s an exciting time!” comments Moutran. “Ice hockey is such a unique sport for women,” continues Moutran, who believes Division III is tailored for the

Nichols student wanting a well-rounded college experience, one that balances academics with participation in several team sports. “Since hockey starts in mid October and goes until the ﬁrst week in March,” says Martin, “Nichols coaches have to cooperate when wooing the multi-sport player.” Nichols current game roster of nine players is decidedly short when most club teams carry 21, and Division III teams have up to 30 players on the roster. “It can be frustrating,” says Drake. “When the opposing team has a full bench, and they see our starters, they assume they’ve got the game under their belts. But what they don’t know is that our Bison never give up.” Right now, Coach Martin is working with a mixed bag of players in terms of skill. “This year, it’s not about the score,” he says. “It’s about the effort these women make every time they get on the ice. They just never quit.” Coach Martin and his assistant coaches run practices and recruit new players at different tournaments, such as Hockey Night in Boston and the Chowder Cup. They also attended over 30 games to watch prospective players at the 2005 Connecticut Polar Bear 21st Annual Christmas Tournament. “There are lots of high school women’s hockey players,” comments Martin, “but there aren’t enough teams on the collegiate level to meet the demand for women wanting to play this sport competitively.” “Every Saturday Coach Martin scouts at least two games to recruit more women,” says Drake. “He’s got an impressive list, and we’re hoping for 12 new freshmen. That will sure kick us up a notch competitively,” she says enthusiastically. The Nichols College women’s ice hockey program began during the 2003–04 school year to attract women who love the competitive rush. The club achieved recognized student organization status in 2004 and has continued to

2005–2006 Nichols Women’s Ice Hockey Team

strengthen its membership. Now a member of the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association), the team is competing regularly during the 2005– 06 season and practicing at its home rink in Pomfret, Conn., located 15 miles from the Nichols College campus. “More ice time would deﬁnitely help,” says Drake. “We lost ﬁve straight weeks of practice over winter break because we didn’t have funding for ice time or to cover our meals on campus.” Ice Hockey the Way It Should Be

Women’s ice hockey is fast paced and virtually ﬁght free. Team tactics rely more on precision passing and positioning than physical obstruction and intimidation, and the wrist shot usually substitutes for the slap shot. Although body checking is not allowed in women’s ice hockey, Adams says, “There’s a lot of physical contact, and you’re going to get hit no matter what. The refs just look for blatant abuse.” “The most common penalties are body contact and tripping,” says Martin. “Refs call all or none of the body checking penalties, and I prefer that my players be aggressive in the ﬁrst period. Once we know where the ref ’s at, we adjust.”

Captain Vanessa Drake

Passionate Roots in North America

Women’s ice hockey is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the world, with the number of participants increasing 400 percent in the last 10 years! Over the past two years, there has been a 50 percent increase in girls and women registered with USA Hockey and a 40 percent increase in all-female teams. Some of the increased participation is the result of the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where the US women’s team upset the Canadians to win the ﬁrst women’s ice hockey gold medal in the Winter Games. There are leagues on all levels, from the National Women’s Hockey League to recreational teams. In the past, most of the top female players in Massachusetts either had to attend a prep school or join an elite team. Now, clubs are springing up in an attempt to ﬁll some of the need for quality players. But the hotbed of women’s ice hockey remains Minnesota, where there are 175 teams and 10,000 females playing the game!

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Freshman Ali Peters takes a slapshot on the net

Seniors, defenseman Maria Kowarick and goalie Katie Harris, defend the net

Lacing Up at an Early Age

Some of the Bison interviewed said they are drawn to the sport because of its speed, the importance of teamwork, and the work ethic. Most agreed that it’s important to start playing at a young age so that necessary skill work is mastered. “I started to skate when I was 4 years old and then got into ﬁgure skating,” says Drake. “When I hit the rink, all my troubles seem to go away.” While it was okay for her to ﬁgure skate, her parents weren’t thrilled about their daughter’s wish to play ice hockey. But Drake’s talent landed her a spot on the Assabet Valley Girls Hockey team, one of the best programs in the country. At the same time, she played for her Arlington High School varsity ice hockey team. Adams put on skates when she was 10 years old and was fortunate to get

The Bison regroup during a Norwich University game Feb. 4th

an opportunity to play forward on her high school ice hockey team in Braintree, Mass. A criminal justice major, Adams is pleased with the amount of recruiting going on. “I like the fact that I’m helping to build the program for the future!” For Drake, when she’s on the ice,

Head Coach Bob Martin Head Coach Bob Martin was a starting defenseman for Becker College in Worcester, Mass., where he was captain for three years. He stayed on as a coach at Becker College after graduation. Martin has been with the Nichols College women’s ice hockey program since it started in 2003 and works full time as the College’s associate director of admissions. Coach Martin may be reached at Robert.Martin@nichols.edu, 508-213-2274.

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she’s totally focused on winning. As captain, she has many hopes for the Nichols team, including plans to increase play from 12 games a season to close to 18 next year. “NCAA Division III status would mean a lot fewer headaches,” Drake emphasizes. “We wouldn’t have to worry about funding as much. We’ll get there eventually; we just have to take it one game at a time.” Q

MSgt. Bert Quick: Man on a Mission…or Two By Selena Reich, Assistant Director of Advising

ert Quick, First Sergeant with the 439th Operational Support Squadron at Westover Air Force Base, is a busy man these days. A Nichols College military student, Quick was in the process of finishing three courses this semester to complete requirements for a BSBA by spring of 2006, when he received orders to deploy to Manas, Kyrgyzstan, in January 2006 for a period of four to six months. This is not the first time Quick has had to deal with this particular scenario. While pursuing an Associate in Business Administration degree at Nichols, he traveled extensively for the military. Despite the continued trips however, he managed to complete that degree and is now close to completing another. How is it possible to manage a full-time job, a family, and frequent overseas travel? For Quick, it’s a combination of pure motivation and drive, coupled with a Nichols College program that addresses the unique needs of military personnel and their families. Born on Tyndall AFB in Florida to a military couple, Quick was “an Air Force brat” for his first 18 years. His family was stationed in a number of places, including the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and several states throughout the U.S. “Hence my penchant for military life,” says Quick. “I followed in my dad’s footsteps and joined the Air Force in January 1984.” Quick’s first assignment brought him to March AFB in California where he was hand picked to serve on a Special Projects Unit in the Pentagon working directly for Pete Aldridge, the secretary of the Air Force. This was quite an honor considering no airman had ever been

selected to serve in this specialized unit before, and it proved to be the beginning of a string of professional success stories for Quick. Three years later, he was offered a job by the president and CEO of the Charles Stark Draper Engineering Laboratory in Cambridge, Mass., where he took a civilian position working military programs on behalf of the laboratory. Although he was activated in 1990 for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm for a period of 13 months, he continued his work in the private sector until he was activated once again following the events of 9/11 in 2001. For his work, Quick has garnered numerous awards and recognition from the military, including a meritorious service medal, two Air Force commendation medals, and three Air Force achievement medals. And that’s not all. As a Nichols College student, Quick has maintained a GPA of 3.9 in his major area of study. He has taken accelerated courses that run on base at Westover, as well as selfpaced online courses, to reach his educational goals without

missing a beat. As a member of the U.S. military, he has taken advantage of the Tuition Assistance Program that covers tuition costs for active duty military personnel. The ease of getting to and from classes (on base) and online classes sold Quick on Nichols. “Nichols has an incredibly strong reputation as a quality school for business,” he says. “Most important though, is the College’s responsiveness to the student. Nichols has grown its student population at Westover and that speaks volumes.” MSgt. Quick has been a constant motivation to his colleagues and an advocate for higher education. He has led through his own example and has guided several current students into the Nichols College degree programs with a “let’s do it together” approach. He credits his own academic success to the Nichols faculty whom he describes as “great teachers…prompt, timely, and knowledgeable” — attributes he equates to being a perfect ﬁt for the military. When he isn’t busy

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MSgt. Bert Quick: Man on a Mission…or Two with school and his military activities, Quick enjoys a variety of leisure activities that include poker, bowling and football. A dedicated father, he danced with his daughter, Maggie, age 9, in a production of “The Nutcracker.” His oldest daughter, Alison, is a student at the University of New Hampshire studying American Sign Language as a communications major. Quick presently resides in West Springﬁeld with his wife, Betsy.

Quick intends to complete his BSBA online from Kyrgyzstan and begin his Master of Business Administration degree with Nichols College upon his return home. The Nichols College community is proud to count MSgt. Bert Quick among its ranks and wishes a safe stay overseas and a speedy return to the states. Q Note: Bert Quick was deployed Jan. 13th for six months.

A Place for Help By Jessica Lafortune ’06

veryone on campus calls it the “ARC,” short for Academic Resource Center. Students think of it as a place to go to for some help, for some relief, and for the skills that will make their classes a little easier. Although it’s a tutoring center on campus, the staff caters to day students, as well as evening and online students. Staffed by 13 students, all who excel in their area discipline and are certiﬁed by the College Reading and Learning Association, ARC provides training to help pinpoint the challenges students have in their studies. More importantly, the tutors help turn those challenges into strengths. Over one third of the day student population uses the center each year. Students in the Division of Graduate and Professional Studies, who must often balance a busy schedule of classes, work, and family, have several options for using the ARC: visit the ARC during its hours of operation to see if there is a tutor available (Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.,

Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, and Sunday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.); schedule an appointment with a tutor (508-213-2200); or, for long-term help, schedule weekly sessions or block appointments. Easier still, students can access help online and submit questions or assignments, by following these steps: 1. Go to http://www.nichols.edu/ academics/ARC/online.htm 2. Review the listed classes 3. Scroll down and click on the appropriate link (either Math, Accounting or Writing) 4. Fill out the form 5. Attach your paper if you wish 6. Click submit After the form is submitted, the student receives an automated email stating that the response time can take up to 48 hours (because the ARC staff is small). Future plans are underway. ARC is in the process of posting help handouts online for students to access from their homes and dorms. Discussions of instant messaging and chat rooms have also been brought to the table, but these enhancements will require the right technology and staff. Whether students decide to stop

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Sophomore James Appleton gets homework help from ARC accounting tutor, Andrew Perna

by, schedule an appointment, or contact the ARC online, they can always ﬁnd assistance at the ARC. Tutors help students strengthen their learning process, and we’re always glad to help! Q Jessica Lafortune is a tutor specializing in writing, history, psychology, and academic preparation.

It’s All About Being Your Own Boss Savvy business owners, alumni Bill Daly ’94 and Greg Daley ’93, work hard for their money. Multiunit franchise development seems to be their primary goal. When interviewed for a Nichols homepage story, both were casually dressed in shorts and polo shirts. They were attached to their cell phones but talked leisurely about their love for Nichols College and Trump’s television show, The Apprentice. Why Nichols College?

With only an “e” separating their last names, Bill Daly and Greg Daley developed a steadfast friendship at Nichols. Both married their college sweethearts, also Nichols grads. In their early 30s, Bill and Greg epitomize what practical, real-world education can do. “You can’t hide or get lost at Nichols,” remarks Bill, who specialized in management. After having some academic trouble in his freshman year, Bill credits Professor Tom Lelon for saving his hide. “He taught me how to communicate, and that’s everything in business.” Greg Daley, who specialized in marketing, agrees: “Nine out of ten graduates from our classes are successful in business because they know how to speak effectively.” Greg adds that he and Bill used Professor Bill Lasher’s book as a reference when writing their multiunit business plans, proving that there’s lots of opportunities out there if you have a ﬁre in your belly and a plan. Most importantly, their Nichols friendships are lasting ones. Greg uses classmate Mike Okenquist ’93 as his taxman, and every year, Greg and Bill (and 12 other foursomes of Nichols

Nichols own Bill Daly ‘94 and Greg Daley ‘93 make a Dunkin’ difference!

grads) golf for a scholarship honoring classmate Dan Cardin ’94, who died from cancer. Says Bill Carven ’94, head football coach at Nichols, “These are great guys and close friends. After the golf tournament, everybody goes to Greg Daley’s house for a cook out. It’s a testament to Nichols that ten years after graduation, everybody remains really close.” Why Trump’s The Apprentice?

Nobody grabs a solid-gold trend better than Donald Trump. And he’s proven he’s street smart—who else would trademark the catchphrase “You’re ﬁred!”? Greg feels The Apprentice is reality television at its best. “The show’s about taking risks” he states emphatically. “You have

to make decisions–right or wrong.” Taking the multiunit route is a major decision not to be taken lightly. Consider the size of their endeavors. Bill and his partners, including his dad (Big Bill, Sr.), his sister, and another partner, own 13 stores. And Greg owns five franchises, covering two states, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Bill and Greg are part of a growing number of franchisees who see multiunit development as a great way to expand and increase profits quickly. They come to the multiunit table with management skills, financial resources, business acumen and a lot of drive. They embrace Trump’s advice to entrepreneurs—do your research, go with your gut, and don’t worry about nay-

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It’s All About Being Your Own Boss continued

RE ME M B E R

I T

Dreams Come True at Sinnis Pub By William Ward ’06

sayers. When it turns out to be a good thing, family and friends will be right behind you. After graduation, when life wasn’t so sweet, Greg recalls how he got a “suit and tie” sales job in Boston selling paper products to corporations. After a long conversation with his college buddy, Bill, he got hooked up with Bill, Sr., who worked for Dunkin’ Donuts corporate. Greg became a Dunkin’ Donuts expert on encroachment, literally counting cars coming down a road. “Trafﬁc patterns are important when you’re in the franchise business,” he muses, reﬂecting on his good luck in developing such expertise. Bill got his feet wet working the Dunkin’ Donut counter in his senior year of college and then, managing multiunit stores for other owners. He clearly got great direction from his dad and has a love for pleasing the customer. Unlike Greg who wants to retire in ten years, Bill plans to continue working the counter two hours a day for the rest of his life. In the end, it’s all about being your own boss. With lots of sweat and a close circle of family and friends, Nichols alumni and franchisees Bill Daly and Greg Daley are realizing their Dunkin’ dreams. Little Known Facts

Greg Daley was called “Kicker” in college because he kicked ﬁeld goals for the football team. Bill Daly is a descendent of William Penn, the founding father of Pennsylvania. Q

veryone has a dream, and Nichols grad and Sinnis Pub owner, Jeffrey E. Sinni ’97, is no different. Although he told his campus buddies that he hoped to open a bar and grill, “I really didn’t think it would happen,” he admits, “and I didn’t realize that my accounting and ﬁnance classes with Professor John Armstrong would help make my dream come true.” After graduating, Sinni accepted a lucrative ﬁnancial analyst position at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He spent eight years working there but kept thinking about a bar and grill. He fell in love and married his wife, Sherrie, and bought a home in Quinebaug, Conn. “We were both making very good money,” he says, “and living the good life, but I couldn’t stand the thought of working at a desk for my whole life… it just wasn’t me.” Sinni started working part time as a bartender at Legends Pub to learn the day-in and day-out operations. This reinforced his conviction that he could mesh education with work experience. After saving for years and using the equity on his home, he was able to obtain a loan, purchase Legends Pub and do necessary renovation. In 2004 Sinnis Pub opened, and Jeff and Sherrie started working 80 hour weeks. “We weren’t earning much,” he comments, “but we loved what we did and were committed to making our place a success.” Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Sinni reﬂects, “I knew I couldn’t just open the doors and expect customers; I needed a draw.” Because he loved playing college football and rugby, he decided to create group events that encouraged camaraderie—the same team atmosphere experienced in athletics. Sinnis Pub started pitch and pool leagues and sponsored a softball team. After a year and a half of operation, the Pub has been transformed into a meeting place for people to connect with old and new friends. Sinni comments. “I know a large part of my success has been my own hard-work ethic, but there’s no doubt that a business education helped, and now I’m living my American dream.” Q

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Interview with Steven Davis ’80 CHAIR OF THE NICHOLS FUND How did your Nichols degree help you in your career?

My Nichols College degree really provided a great foundation. Nichols gave me the background in a number of different areas and really did a great job preparing me for all that I encountered as I entered the workplace. Nichols students really develop a unique balance of book smarts and street savvy which positions us well in the job market. What is your fondest memory as a student?

I would have to say it was all the great friendships I developed during my years at Nichols. As a small school, Nichols gives you the opportunity to know basically everyone on campus. Within that population, I was fortunate to develop some life-long friendships. Not a week goes by that I don’t have contact or communication with someone from my Nicky U days. You celebrated your 25th reunion last year during Homecoming 2005. How has the College changed since you graduated?

Wow! The campus looks great. There are quite a few new dorms and new classrooms. The new athletic facility has me wishing I was back on campus again. Even the food in the cafeteria is great. Nichols has done a terriﬁc job keeping up with the times. Why do you give to the Nichols Fund every year?

Nichols has played a big part in whatever success I have today, and I am happy to give back to Nichols as recognition of that. When I ﬁrst arrived at Nichols, I was a mediocre student at best. Somehow,

somewhere, Nichols hit that button that changed me. I became more focused and more driven. I started enjoying classes instead of dreading them. My grades improved, and I started to make the Dean’s List. Any school that can impact that type of transformation has a lot going for it. You also attend alumni receptions in your area. Why do you feel it is important to stay in touch with your alma mater?

When I attend alumni functions, I may meet someone for the ﬁrst time; but with the Nichols connection, we form an immediate bond. Within 30 seconds, it’s as if we’d known each other for a lifetime. As a parent with a son looking into colleges, why should a prospective student consider Nichols?

the rounds, visiting schools throughout New England, including Nichols. Nichols is the only school that we visited that had a focus on life after college. Admissions counselors provided yearly statistics on the percentage of students who had jobs at graduation. They explained some of the training they provide to enhance a student’s ability to ﬁnd the right job. As a parent, I felt conﬁdent that Nichols was not only interested in providing a great education but also, in focusing on where it all leads. If you could give any advice to future student leaders, what would it be?

There are several variables to success, such as luck and timing, but there is one constant: you get out what you put in. Much of your success is dependent upon you. Q

I have a son who is a senior in high school, and we have been making

2005–2006 Alumni Donors Help us reach our goal! 1500 1,500

1,412 1200 1,077 year to date

900 600 300 0

2004–2005

2005–2006

2006 goal

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BY STEPHANI E T U N N E R A, S I D

he old saying is, “Records are made to be broken.” Well, that is very true for the Nichols College winter athletic season. Between the men’s hockey team and the women’s basketball team, records have come crashing down. The excitement around both teams had the campus talking about the accomplishments the Bison teams captured with each game played. HOCKEY The men’s hockey team has incorporated 13 freshmen on the team. These athletes have gone above and beyond expectations. After a 4-17-2 season in 2004–2005, secondyear head coach Lou Izzi was not afraid to mix new blood with 10 returning Bison skaters. The rookies added some much-needed speed and scoring punch to the Bison offense, while the veterans supplied stability on the roster. Nichols ﬁnished the season with an 18-7-2 overall record and 10-3-2 record in the ECAC Northeast, which

was good enough for fourth place in the conference. The Bison have set a new hockey record of most consecutive wins in a single season with 10 straight games. It just happens to be the first time since 1978–79 that ice hockey posted a winning record. The 2005–06 team is the first team since 1994–95 to advance to tournament play. The Bison won the first game in the ECAC Northeast tournament, 6-5, over Wentworth. In the semifinal, Nichols lost to UMass-Dartmouth, 6-2. Here are some of other records and accomplishments the 2005– 06 Bison team has reached: • Led the nation in Div. III hockey competition and the ECAC Northeast in scoring offense with a 5.63 goals per game average. • Set a new Bison record with most team points scored in a single season with 388 points (old record 311, 1970–71 team). • Set a new Bison record with most team assists in a single season with 236 assists (old record 179, 1970–71 team).

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Men’s Hockey 2005–2006 Season New 10 Game Winning Streak Jan. 14

Worcester State

14-2

Jan. 15

Brockport

3-2

Jan. 21

Franklin Pierce

11-4

Jan. 22

Wentworth

4-2

Jan. 29

Johnson & Wales

5-2

Jan. 31

Skidmore

6-3

Feb. 4

Framingham

12-2

Feb. 7

WNEC

8-1

Feb. 9

Assumption

8-5

Feb 15

Stonehill

4-2

• The Bison scored 152 goals, which is a new record for most goals scored in a single season. The old Bison record was 132 goals. • The 18 victories earned by the 2005–2006 Bison team is a new record for most wins in a season. The old record was 16.

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BASKETBALL The ice hockey team is not the only record setting Bison squad. The women’s basketball team under ﬁrstyear head coach Lynne Cinella has excelled on the court. The team is currently 20-8 and ﬁnished 16-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison won 13 straight games, which is now a new school record for most consecutive victories in a single season. In 1982–83 the Bison won 10 straight games. Individual records fell as well, as freshman MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, NJ) broke Tricia Lyons record of most assists in a single game when she dished out 15 vs. Anna Maria on Feb. 7th. Lyons had the record of 12 assists in 1987–88 against WNEC. Skarzenski also owns the record for the most assists in a single season with 195. The old record was 133 set in 1988–89 by Dee Reed.

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In the same week, Skarzenski captured another Bison record. She had seven steals in a 62-61 overtime victory over Gordon College on Feb. 11th, giving her the record for most steals in a single season. Skarzenski finished the season with 108 steals. The old record of 73 steals was set by Dee Reed in the 1987–88 campaign. On Feb. 2 in a Bison win over Roger Williams, 66-51, junior Stacey Hejwosz (Dudley, MA) tied a women’s basketball record for most 3-pointers made in a game. Hejwosz shot 6-for-9 from the 3-point arc and finished with 27 points. The six 3-pointers tied Kris Katori’s career record. Senior Heather Clarke (Henniker, NH) finshed as the second all-time leading women’s scorer. She finished the season with 1,446 points, just 37 points from the record of 1,483 career points set by Linda Rose in 1991. Clarke led the Commonwealth Coast Conference in free throw percentage with an impressive .909.

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Women’s Basketball 2005–2006 Season New 13 Game Winning Streak Jan. 19

Regis College

62-60

Jan. 24

Anna Maria

71-56

Jan. 26

Newbury College

68-37

Jan. 28

Curry College

69-53

Jan. 31

Eastern Nazarene

67-44

Feb. 2

Roger Williams

57-50

Feb. 4

Endicott

57-50

Feb. 7

Anna Maria

68-54

Feb. 9

Curry College

57-53

Feb. 11

Gordon College

Feb. 14

Eastern Nazarene College

78-50

Feb 18

UNE

67-51

Feb 21

Wentworth

62-61, OT

84-79 (2 OT)

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Student-Athletes Develop Bison Reading Program BY JANNA C UN N IN G H A M

leven Nichols College student-athletes are completing community service with Dudley Elementary in Dudley, Mass. In the Bison Reading Program, each student-athlete has been matched with a class of students in either the second, third, or fourth grade. Once a month, the student-athlete goes into his/her classroom for an hour to read, to tutor, and to talk with the children about the importance of education. On December 2, 2005, the Bison Reading Program kicked off. The program was developed by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). The mission of SAAC, a student-athlete leadership group representing all 14 athletics teams competing for Nichols, is fourpronged: to serve as a liaison between the student-athlete body and the college administration; to provide an opportunity for student-athletes to share ideas and discuss issues; to encourage unity and communication among teams, athletes, faculty, and the community; and to implement programs which will encourage academic achievement, good health, and community service. “I am having an awesome experience. I really enjoyed reading and talking with the kids,“ said Doug Patterson, a junior

ABOVE: Katie Mitchell, senior on women’s basketball team, sits among students during a December visit to Dudley Elementary School RIGHT: Jermaine Baskerville,

sophomore on the men’s basketball team BELOW: Rob McDonagh,

junior on the football team

football player. Kathryn Mitchell, a senior member of the women’s basketball team, says, “Reading to the second graders at Dudley Elementary School is a great experience. The kids seem to love all of the athletes from Nichols and really looked up to us. I think we enjoy the reading time as much as they do!” In response to the student-athletes ﬁrst visit, each class of children sent personalized, handmade Holiday cards to their student-athlete reader as a thank you. Q

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Soccer players cheer for victory at the hockey game

Life Skills Competition Heats-up BY JANNA C UN N IN G H A M

his fall the Nichols Athletics Department initiated the Life Skills Competition Cup where teams compete to increase participation in CHAMPS/Life Skills programs and events. The program has already proven to be a successful motivator for our student-athletes. Teams participate in several Life Skills categories, such as community service, cultural enhancement, and support for other teams at sporting events. Individuals may earn points for their teams, but more points are awarded if several team members are involved. The competition was developed by Matt Drayton of the University of New Hampshire. “I came up with a game board concept that included all of our teams and had speciﬁc categories that I felt met the needs of our athletic department,” Drayton says. The concept has been adopted at Nichols and altered to emphasize areas of improvement speciﬁc to Nichols student-athletes. One of the more popular categories, “Athletes Supporting Athletes,”

earns a team 100 points if at least 75 percent of its members attend the game of another team. In the “Above and Beyond” category, creativity counts. Team members who dress in Nichols clothing, paint their faces, or show enthusiasm and Bison spirit can earn as many as 25 bonus points. Prizes awarded at the end of each semester include a team dinner or extra funding toward a trip. Coaches are supporting and getting involved in the effort. Many check the ranking board posted in the Field House every day to see their team’s progress. Some encourage their teams to attend cultural events worth 50 points or to work on a community service project worth 100 points.

One of the more popular categories, “Athletes Supporting Athletes,” will earn a team 100 points if at least 75 percent of its members attend the game of another team.

Ice hockey players Brian Barsh, Keith Fink, Corey Horner support the men’s soccer team

The competition has been intense. The hockey team shot out to a hot start in the fall and continued to keep the lead throughout the semester. A number of the hockey players dressed up in wild green clothing and attended a number of soccer and football games. The team also earned points by volunteering to work football games and attaining a team grade point average of 3.0. The hockey team ﬁnished the semester with 1,235 points, followed by the softball team with 925 points. The impact of the Life Skills Competition Cup is undeniable. It has increased attendance at games and cultural events, and no matter which team wins top honors, every student-athlete involved beneﬁts by serving their community, working hard in the classroom, and supporting other athletes. Q

Creativity counts.

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Nichols First Computer and Me By Ken Burrill ’69

arrived on the Nichols campus in the fall of 1967. I already had an associate’s degree and had served four years in the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, I was trained as an electronics technician and worked on large communications systems. I had also spent one year debugging 24-bit and 16-bit computers for Honeywell Corporation in Framingham, Mass. During that time I worked on the link trainers for the NASA Gemini and Apollo missions. The Fall semester came and went, and in January of 1968, I heard a rumor that the school was going to buy its first computer. I got my resume and two letters of recommendation together and went to see the Dean of Men Robert Eaton. He said that he couldn’t help me and suggested that I go see Dean of Faculty Charles Quinn. He suggested that I go see President Gordon Cross. When I presented my materials to Dr. Cross, he told me that he could not even read them, but would keep them and get back to me. February came and went, and then March, and I had forgotten about the computer. I secured a summer job at Perkins Foundry in Bridgewater, Mass. (my home town to this day), stoking a blast furnace. It was a job that I really didn’t want to do, but I had worked there before, and the money was good. April, May and then finals. As I was taking my marketing final exam in the gym, Dr. Ernie Phelps, a proctor, told me to report to the President’s Office after the final. So much for the exam. I could not figure out why the president wanted to see me. When I reported to the

President’s Ofﬁce, I found him talking with Dean Quinn and two other men. They turned out to be IBM salesmen. Dr. Cross had asked them to interview me for a position to work around the computer. The salesmen and I started talking. I was tired and started telling them what I thought of IBM, which wasn’t good. We then started talking about torodial memories. The conversation became very deep technically, and the salesmen could not follow the conversation. (Remember, I had just come from a job with Honeywell on the computer test ﬂoor. I had been troubleshooting torodial memories for six of the 12 months I had worked there.) One of the salesmen quickly left and returned with Dr. Cross and Dean Quinn. The salesmen reported that I knew more about computers than they did and recommended that the school hire me. The school did. I called Perkins Foundry and said I would not be

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returning to work. After Memorial Day 1968, I returned to an empty campus. No computer, no students, no teachers. School didn’t start until late July, so I kept busy painting dorm rooms on the Hill. During that summer, I made $2.00 an hour. Nichols gave me a room for the summer and sent me and Marsha Jordan, who worked at the College, to IBM Fortan IV programming school in Waltham. You see, I knew in detail how a computer worked but had never used one. When I returned to Nichols in August, I found an IBM 1130 computer located in the basement of Conrad, under the President’s Ofﬁce. It had a single disk about the size of a large pizza that stored 2.5 MB. Its main input device was IBM cards. The main output device was an IBM Selectric Printer built into the console. In the classroom across from the computer room was a key punch machine and, I think, a card sorter. In the fall of 1968, Dr. Cross asked me to teach a class on computer programming to the faculty. At the end of the training, two of my instructors wrote, punched and ran a small program. I had a computer at my disposal 16 hours a day on weekdays and 24 hours a day on the weekends and holidays. I could experiment and create and write whatever I pleased. I remember one Friday evening, I found a three dimensional TicTac-Toe game in the IBM 1130 instruction book. The program was several pages long but I wanted to try it. I started working on it around midnight. I had all of the cards punched and was ready to start compiling the program. By

Nichols Helps Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley 2 a.m. I was ready to run it. The night watchman, whom I had worked with painting the previous summer, opened the classroom across the hall. The game was four levels by four squares. I drew the four grids on the blackboard and numbered the squares. I tried the game, and I lost. The night watchman gave me his move, and I entered it into the computer while his wife stood in the hall and relayed the instructions. He played several games that night and lost all of them. After that, he came down at lunch time every day to play the machine. He never did win. I would do as much of the homework on the computer as I could, to test this or that. One time, I came to my statistics class with my homework done on green bar paper. The night before, I had found that the Fortran IV would print 32 decimal places, but was only accurate to six. When I was called on in class, I gave the answer to three decimal places. The instructor joked and asked if that was the best the computer could do. I then gave him the answer to 32 decimal places. He was stumped and could not determine if it was right, or wrong—his book only went to five decimal places. In the 1968–1969 school year, the last year for the forestry program, I was asked to write a program for a contest Nichols was having with other schools. I wrote the software, and it worked. At the end of that year, I was invited to the Foresters Dinner held in a farmer’s field north of Nichols. Each student brought something they had hunted, and it was the best feed I ever had. I left Nichols on June 7, 1969, never to return as a student again. On June 9, 1969, I started work at Raytheon Corporation, thanks to Dr. Phelps and Nichols first computer. Q

This occasional feature in Nichols College Magazine provides a forum for alumni to reflect on their Nichols experience. Please submit your reflections—what brought you to Nichols, what you remember most, what impact Nichols has had on your life—to: alumnioffice@nichols.edu.

(L to R) Professor Mauri Pelto and Boys & Girls Club Program Director Jeff Bourgette review the site before launch

he Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley announced the launch of their ﬁrst-ever website, www.bgcwebsterdudley.org. The site was a gift from Nichols Professor Mauri Pelto and his web design class. Nichols students Kelly Bray, Cindy Lafortune, Jason Filler, Matt Roy, and Maria Kowarick met with Club Program Director Jeff Bourgette in early October 2005 to determine navigation, content and images. “I’m always looking for opportunities where learning isn’t just from a book,” says Pelto. “We really enjoyed working with Jeff because he’s so organized!” Pelto noted that the project was both useful to the Boys & Girls Club organization and an educational challenge for his students. Links on the site give an overview of club programs and services developed to instill a sense of competence and belonging to local boys and girls. Navigation links include: sports, ﬁtness and recreation, the arts, health and life skills, education and career development, and character and leadership development. On the website, members of the Webster-Dudley community are encouraged to donate to the club’s wish list: games, AA batteries, digital cameras, laser printers, and art supplies. In addition, this year, Nichols College is contributing the services of two work-study students, sophomores Jenna Lovett and Nicholas Abbott. Both assist in the Boys & Girls Club’s game room and help elementary students complete homework after school. Q

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A View from the Hill By Frank Lovell ’71, President, Nichols Alumni Board of Directors

s the current president of the Nichols College Alumni Board of Directors, I want to share with you an exciting new venture that your alumni board has initiated. Over the past year, a committee headed by Kristy Cullivan ’00 MBA ’02 has planned and written a proposal to begin a mentoring program involving teams of three: a freshman, a junior and an alumni board member. The objective is to create a bond between an incoming freshman and a junior to strengthen the Nichols College experience and between a junior and an alumnus to nurture future career opportunities. We feel this three-way interaction will strengthen the connection between students and alumni. The program was approved by President Debra Murphy and will begin on a trial basis this year. Last October, I attended Homecoming and was able to meet with many alumni who traveled to Nichols to renew friendships and see the many positive changes on the Hill. I represented alumni at the dedication of the Michael J. Vendetti Field, one of the more dramatic changes on campus. It was a super event! Many alumni supported the funding of the field in various ways, and I would like to personally thank them. Nichols alumni have also supported the College by hosting socials, writing notes as class scribes, and serving as class agents. These activities, along with their financial support, are commendable and much appreciated. Nichols can be very proud of its alumni, who have been successful in many different areas, including John ’72 and Stephen ’80 Davis in manufacturing; David Lombard ’65 in publishing; Keith Anderson ’81, Oliver Birckhead ’42, Robert (Kuppy) Kuppenheimer ’69 and Bob Stansky ’78 in finance; Joseph Ronchetti ’62 in skin care and beauty product administration; James Dunbar ’51 in security; Joe Salois ’98 and Tom McIlvain ’67 in distribution; Cynthia Casey ’78 and Kathleen Marcum MBA ’90 in banking; Jerry Fels ’66 and Bob Vaudreuil ’77 in insurance; Bill Weyand ’66 in management; John Harrison ’68 in advertising; Henri David ’64 in marketing; and Howie Chong ’64, Artemus Ham ’70 and Tom Niles ’63 in real estate. The accomplishments of these and many other alumni reflect the well rounded and practical education we received at Nichols College.

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I recently retired from Brown Brothers Harriman in Boston after 33 years and wanted to do volunteer work. I have been involved with several charitable and nonprofit organizations over the years, but my first thought was Nichols. I offered to volunteer two days a week in college advancement and was pleased when President Murphy invited me to join the Nichols family. For many of us who have worked so long and so hard, it is not always easy to just stop when we retire. For the past nine months, my work in the Advancement Office has been stimulating and exciting. I invite my fellow retirees to join me in volunteering at Nichols. Help is needed in many different areas, in Dudley, as well as all over the United States. We can tailor your interests to where Nichols needs the most help. I am fortunate to have an opportunity to return to Nichols and give back to a great institution that helped me to become successful in the business world. Nichols College is stronger with your participation; so if you have time to spare, please consider getting involved. I’d like to hear from you at 508-213-2282 or fjlovell@nichols.edu. Regards, Frank Lovell

Alumni Relations Reports... By Brianne Callahan, Director of Alumni Relations

he Student Alumni Society (SAS) has been formed to promote the interests of and understanding between Nichols College students of the past, present and future. Officers are now working diligently to recruit motivated students to help them achieve the Society’s mission. SAS provides students with leadership opportunities and experiences that enhance their education and promote Nichols spirit through involvement in alumni activities. Their first assignment is to help market the Annual Alumni Golf Tournament. Also, SAS members will be assisting with Homecoming 2006, among other events. An event has been scheduled in April for graduates of the last decade (GOLD). A cruise aboard the Spirit of Boston will allow GOLD Club members to network with recent graduates from colleges in the New England area. For the third consecutive year, our Boston event has sold out. Tickets to see the hit musical “Wicked” at the Opera House were all sold within days of our announcement of the event on the Nichols website and through Nichols & Sense, our email newsletter. Prior to the play, an alumni reception will be held at P.F. Chang’s. You’re invited to join us at Coral Seafood in Marlborough, Mass., for a wine tasting event on Thursday, May 11th. The Vin Bin has graciously offered to allow alumni and guests to sample five wines while enjoying hors d’oeuvres from Coral Seafood. Please bring your business cards to be entered in our raffle. The 28th Annual Alumni Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 15th. Please remember that this event has sold out in years past and is sure to do so again. Invitations will be mailed within the next few months to past players. If you have not played in the past, a registration form is currently posted on our “Events” page

SAS ofﬁcers surround Brianne Callahan (L–R) TOP ROW : Ryan DePesa ’08, vice president; Rob MacCallum ’07, president (L–R) BOTTOM ROW: Chelsea Blair ’09, publicist; Jenn Zajac ’08, secretary

on the Nichols website (www.nichols.edu/ 9-even.htm). Homecoming 2006 will be held during the weekend of October 13th. Classes that end in a one and six will celebrate a reunion. The classes of 1956 and 1991 are hard at work making plans for the weekend. If you are interested in helping plan something for your class, please contact the Alumni Relations Ofﬁce. We’ve added many new activities this year, so please watch your mail in late summer for the schedule of events. Leo Tonevski has joined Nichols College as the new alumni relations coordinator.

He comes to Nichols from the Office Services Department at Mirick O’Connell Law Firm in Worcester. Leo is an avid tennis player and has given private lessons for multiple tennis camps within the state. Currently he is pursuing a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Science in Professional Communication at Clark University. If you would like more information on any of the above events, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at 866-622-4766 or email alumnioffice@nichols.edu.

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class notes Please send your news directly to your class scribe. If you do not have a class scribe, news may be forwarded to classnotes@nichols.edu. Digital images are preferred, but please do not crop them! The higher the resolu-

tion the better—300 dpi (dots per inch) is best—and no less than 100 KB in size. Digital images may be sent directly to the Alumni Relations Ofﬁce—classnotes@ nichols.edu. Prints may be sent to: Nichols College, Alumni Relations Ofﬁce, P.O. Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571.

RIGHT:

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Loughran 1950 BELOW:

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Abel 1950

ABOVE:

Mr. and Mrs. Art Nielsen 1950 LEFT: Mr and Mrs. Jim Cochran 1950

1940 Class Scribe RICHARD MCLELLAN 3436 Button Bush Dr. Zellwood, FL 32798 (407) 886-5539 MnDMcl@aol.com

1950 Class Scribe

Dick reports that he has no news to share this time.

ROBERT RISK 309 Conestoga Rd. Wayne, PA 19087-4009 (610) 688-8242

1948

Albert “Jack” LaBonte has been married 53 years, has two children, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Jack has lived most of his life in Somersworth, NH. Recently a new housing development was named for him. It has 37 units of service-enriched housing for senior citizens and handicapped individuals. The Somersworth Housing Authority & Community Development Corp. was thrilled to agree to name the facility after Jack. He is very worthy, having given 44 years to a career in community services in both the public and private sectors and serving admirably as past executive director of both the Somersworth and Laconia housing authorities. Jack was nominated for Citizen of the Year in 2005 and received New Hampshire’s Vaughn Award for State Volunteer in 2002. Jack has achieved the following: Christmas Parade Marshall in 1993; member of the N.H. State Com-

Class Scribe STANLEY FINN 70 Franklin St. Northampton, MA 01060-2039 (413) 586-0886

Larry Student attended Breakfast with the President during Homecoming 2005. He sat with Coach Mike Vendetti and spoke of their hometown, Leominster, MA. He extended his congratulations to Coach Mike and was deeply impressed with the new multipurpose ﬁeld. Larry was owner of Student Brothers Shoe Stores in Leominster, Fitchburg, and Gardner.

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mittee on Aging; board member for Somersworth Food Pantry; board member for Homemakers of Stafford County; Pastoral Council, Holy Trinity Church; former trustee of Frisbee Memorial Hospital; and board member for Stafford County Community Action. Here are other photos of couples during the Class of 1950 Reunion Dinner celebrated on Saturday evening during Homecoming. Correction: Art Nielsen attended Homecoming 2005 along with his classmates.

1953 Class Scribe CLEM DOWLING 53 Morningside Ave. Waterbury, CT 06708-2028 (203) 574-3522

1954 Class Scribe WILLIAM GALLAGHER 7122 Oak Fairway Tulsa, OK 74132 c1895@aol.com

It was great to hear from Ken Maurer. He and his wife, Joanne, are in good health and looking forward to traveling the USA in a home on wheels when Jo ﬁnally retires. Ken is already retired from the USAF. My wife and I recently celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. Also, I just completed my Diplomate in Philosophic and Chiropractic Standards, a 320-hour fouryear course. I’m still practicing chiropractic on a full-time basis, in Sapulpa, OK. I was the ﬁrst graduate from Nichols College to enter the chiropractic profession, and am now in my 48th year of practice. My grandfather practiced medicine and surgery for 57 ½ years, and was a Dartmouth College graduate. I have another nine years to go to catch up to him.

1956 Class Scribe ARTHUR FRIES 225 Via San Remo Lido Isle Newport Beach, CA 92663-4411 (949) 673-7190 friesart@hotmail.com

Dick Schachet recently retired after 40 years in the Rabbinate and moved to Portland, OR. His wife, Barbara, passed away suddenly a year ago. He mentions that he always has room for Nichols alumni to crash if they come to Portland to visit so feel free to contact him if you are in the area. Below is some information that he wanted to share with his classmates. Dear Fellow Alumni of the Class of 1956: What happened in 1956? The following was heard on the Nichols College (then NJC) campus: “I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.” “Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before $2,000 will only buy a used one.”

“Did you hear the post ofﬁce is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?” “When I ﬁrst started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.” “I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.” “Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday they’ll be making more than the president.” “I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.” (Maybe Nichols will get them so Ms. Riopel can teach us.) “There is no sense going to Seattle or Portland anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel.” (Would you believe I now live in Portland?) I wonder what you and I will be like 50 years from now. Find out! Join us at our 50th reunion at Nichols on the weekend of October 13, 2006. Please notify Ray Faucher (raymond.faucher@snet.net), one of our co-chairs. He has details about the hotel and the dinner. By the way, my roommate Artie Fries (friesart@hotmail.com or (800) 567-1911) and Tom Keith (barbekeith@aol.com) are also co-chairs. We would love to make this our best Homecoming ever. 50 years? Seems like such a short time. For me it is 11 grandchildren later. No, I won’t insist that you see the pictures. Of course, if you ask…. My best to you, and I really hope to see you during the beautiful foliage season of New England. Please contact me at lvrabbi@comcast.net with any questions.

Please send all class updates to your Class Scribe.

1957 Class Scribe KENT TARRANT 45 Valley View Dr. P.O. Box 496 Hampden, MA 01037-0496 (413) 566-5130 kent@samnet.net

1962 Class Scribe CHARLIE HOWE May-September 383 North 3rd St. Surf City, NJ 08008-4926 October–April 17468 Cornﬂower Ln. Punta Gorda, FL 33955 (941) 575-8150

Hello from sunny Florida. Sorry about not having some info in the last magazine but, quite frankly, not too much news has been coming through via email or phone lately. J.T. Turro and I have been keeping in touch. Kate and I always look forward to John and Adele visiting. John tells me that congratulations may be in the ofﬁng for one of our classmates in the near future. Will keep you posted. What a nice tribute to Mike Vendetti by having the new athletic facility dedicated in his name. I regret not being able to attend the ceremony and being a part of the wonderful day. Thank you Mike, for being who you are and such an important contributor to the Nichols family. Congratulations to the Class of ’63 and their driving force, Bruce Haslun, who outdid us again in the 2005 Nichols Fund. No challenges this year, but we’ll try to do better. Pete Judd is still sending me emails and trying to keep me focused on political correctness. Last I heard he and his wife were headed for the Bahamas on their new sailboat. Look forward to hearing from him about their winter. I thought that I’d put a little pressure on a few of you. We’d like to hear from Rene Langevin, Bob Hiler, Dick Knoener, Steve Posner, Bill Welch, Tom Vangel, John Hula, and Bill Edmunds. Write, email or call. Till next time.

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1963 Class Scribe BRUCE I. HASLUN 16 Briar Park Dr. Greer, SC 29651 hashardt@charter.net

In November 2005, I had cataract surgery on both eyes. I’ve always believed in miracles, for instance, graduating from Nichols, but this truly is another one. I began wearing 1.5 magnifying “readers” when I was 28 years old. I think we called them Ben Franklins. I regressed all the way to 3.0 cheaters, and then had to get serious with “big boy” glasses, then bi-focals, and then progressives. I write this in pen and ink without any glasses. I love to do crossword puzzles and no longer need even cheaters to do them. I read an average of four books a month and when my eyes get “tired,” I wear 1.5 magniﬁers. Each eye took 15 minutes, and the most physical pain was an IV stick in the back of my hand. On January 21, I turned 68 years old. I calculate that my eyes are 40 years younger than the rest of me. I keep asking my good doctor, “What else can you point that dang laser gun at?” Best part of scribing is getting your notes and cards and, of course, Christmas brings those aplenty. Gene and Ann Cenci report, “Life is good but moving at a very rapid pace!” Their card pictures a moonlit scene of a New England village town common. Reminds me much of Falmouth, MA, where Carol and I talk about retiring. (Anyone have realtor contacts in that town?) On second look, I notice the snow. So exactly what is wrong with retiring to the Carolina coast? (Anyone have contacts on Edisto or Fripp?) Speaking of the Carolinas, George and Florence Euler wished us all, “Happiness and Joy,” but also mentioned, “Warmth.” Guess they’re thinking about their acreage in North Carolina. Had a little white stuff out on Long Island, did y’all? John ’62 and Adele Turro wrote that they’re heading for their place in Florida in late February and staying through March. They expect to see Hugo Pagliccia, Ken Beyer ’60, Dick Makin ’62, and Charlie

Howe ’62. John writes, “We could have a Justinian Council reunion!” If so, I’d love to be invited, but at least say “hey” to all the Green Coats. John asked for John Miles, his old T. Hall roommate, I believe, and I sent phone numbers, etc. John wrote a second letter: “Been trying to locate him for 40 years. Chatted for half an hour…. We hope to get together in January.” And that’s another reason I love scribing. I’ll expect some long news from you guys after your reunion. Also John and Adele have absolutely promised, chipped in stone, signed in blood, they will stop here at The Briar Patch on their way back to Connecticut. Pete Brusman wished us all “Happy Holiday,” quickly followed by a disclaimer about hating that PC greeting. Me too, Pete, so hope you had a Merry Christmas. Pete and Diane live in Williamsburg, VA, and many of you have asked me to convey the following question to Brother Peter: When you go to the grocery store or to Home Depot, do you have to wear knee britches, shoes with silver buckles and a powdered wig? Just asking! In October, they were cruising down the Saone and Rhone in La Belle France. Finally, to cap off what sounds like a pretty fantastic year, a second grandson, Aidan Andrew. The peripatetic (you could look it up) Ross and Gloria Chambers write, “Hola,” a word I suspect is used mostly on “The Other Coast.” Here we just say “hey.” Ross says they didn’t get in much traveling this year—just Baja, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec. Happily for them, in 2006, they expand their horizons with plans to go biking and kayaking in Costa Rica then off to Spain, Mallorca, Portugal, North Sound of Vancouver Island, Oregon and New Mexico. Just as I was beginning to feel the need for a nice long nap, Ross mentioned that he and Gloria would love to see us; that bourbon is available out in Neverland. (Funny, I thought only white wine!) He promised their part of the continent won’t ﬂoat off in the Paciﬁc while we are there. I’m tempted, Ross! Are you sure about the bourbon?

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Art Tozzi wishes us all greetings. He’s enjoying retirement from the Marine Corps and Northrop Grumman (formerly Westinghouse Defense), living close by two daughters; two and soon to be three grandchildren up in Wilson, NC. Now, classmates, I ask you to pause a moment and reﬂect. The Toz as a grandfather? Well, yeah. I kind of see it too, as a matter of fact. Says he spends lots of time motor cycling the back roads of the Carolinas. Head those handlebars south, old son, and come on down here to Greer. Would be terriﬁc to see you again! John Miles says things like his heart, which as you will remember was not behaving well last time I wrote, seems to be improving and he sees “more ups than downs, but not going to get too cocky yet.” However he signs off, “Got to get ready to pick up a friend and drive out to the gun club for an afternoon of cribbage and shooting.” I can remember when John and I considered an afternoon of vermin hunting at Webster dump and two bucks worth of dimeys at Red’s Café, a visit to the “the club.” Boy, you starting to get artsy on me? On January 21, my good wife spirited us away to the West Indies, Antigua Island,

Goodall, Class of 1964 (L TO R) TOP ROW: Harvey “Earl” Sykes; Mike “Bosco” McCarthy; Steve “Lefty” Besner (L TO R) MIDDLE ROW: Carl “Gillis” Gilbert; yours truly, Carl “Swede” Swenson (L TO R) FRONT ROW: Barry “Gordo” Gordon; Bob “Gus” Gascoyne

for our sixth visit. Two weeks of lying on the beach, reading good books, cocktails at noon, long and lazy lunches, civilized afternoon naps, long swims before cocktails at six, dinners at eight, dancing to the slow ones until midnight. Not a hiking boot, kayak paddle or running shoe to be seen. However, we did dress for dinner. “Life,” as Toz winding up his note, says, “Couldn’t be better!” Hope it’s the same with y’all, but good or not, we’d all love to hear from you. God bless you and yours and our great country.

1964 Class Scribe WARREN BENDER 3604 Kingsley Dr. Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 (843) 215-1277 wb1277@sccoast.net

Another year shot by. Mothers were right when they said the older you get the faster the years go by. Heard from Carl “Swede” Swenson, one of my Goodall Hall mates. He read my last Class Notes and saw mention of Red’s Tavern. He was nice enough to send a picture he had of us in front of that fine establishment. Notice the lounge on the left and the open door to the bar where many hours were spent sharing our study notes. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Gordon, Sykes, or Besner, drop me a line. I have a list of the whole 1964 class, about 30 have email addresses should you want one. “Swede” owned his own office equipment business in Hartford for 25 years and now works for Corporate Express. He has three sons (one a past Nichols hockey player) and five grandchildren. Sounds like things have worked out well and after 40 years I do appreciate him getting in touch. Wish more of you out there did the same. I spent the week of January 30th in Orlando with Bob Hood ’66 at his time share and had a great time. His son and grand-daughter also live there. “And the Beat Goes On”

Catching up with… Samuel R. Bailey III ’67 Phoenix, AZ Employment: Detective, Media Relations Unit, City of Scottsdale Police Department Greatest lesson I learned from a Nichols faculty/staff member was the support and respect for the student/individual trying to make a difference. The faculty as a whole was there for me as I struggled academically those first two years. Two of the standouts were professors Ernie Phelps and Manny Pimental. Unbeknownst to me at the time, even Herbie, the campus cop, may have had more influence than he or I realized. My Nichols BBA degree in management provided the knowledge necessary to acquire that first position as a production scheduler for Malden Mills Inc. in Lawrence, MA. That company’s president/CEO, Aaron Fuerstein, would later be renowned for his management philosophy following the almost total destruction of the business by fire many years later. My classmates would be surprised to learn that upon graduation, I served with the U.S. Army in Frankfurt, Germany, during the Vietnam War. Following my years at Malden Mills, I pursued a career in law enforcement. For the next 29 years I chased the “bad guys” as a patrolman in Amesbury, MA, then as a Child Sex Crimes and homicide detective with the Scottsdale, AZ, Police Department’s Violet Crimes Unit. Other assignments include undercover vice/prostitution, fraud, and arson. I am currently assigned as the department’s spokesperson and will retire in July 2006. What a ride! If Nichols started a time capsule in 1967 my contribution would have been a road map for future students with a designated route to that party city, Beantown. (I would also have suggested a Bermuda venue for Spring Break!) And somewhere, possibly engraved, the words by A. L. Tennyson, “So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.”

1966

1967

Gerald Fels, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Commerce Group Inc., has been named CEO to succeed Arthur Remillard, Jr., the founder of Commerce Insurance Co. who will retire in July. “Jerry’s leadership, expertise, ingenuity, dedication and experience in this business…leave me confident that Commerce Group will continue to build on its past successes,” Remillard said in a statement.

Gary Mattila retired from General Motors after 35 years. He was a member of Dealer Development for American Suzuki, which is an afﬁliate of GM.

Please send all class updates to your Class Scribe.

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1968 Class Scribe FRANK CIANFLONE c/o Maxiglide Box 415 Stow, MA 01775 (978) 897-2317 f.cianflone-maxiglide@charter.net

Hello to all the boys of the Class of ’68. Much time has gone by and so quickly. We who remain are pushing on the big 6-0. We have all had our ups and downs and gone in so many different directions. Now, before all our brain cells melt away, can we go back in time and remember that promise we made to each other on graduation day—to always be friends, keep in touch and wish the best for each other? We became of age at a time when it was much more difﬁcult to stay in touch. That can be our excuse. Life has a way of forcing one to live in the present, but now we have earned the luxury of reﬂection. I know I am not the only one who at times wonders what the hell ever happened to this guy or that guy, guys who did not make it to graduation or guys before us or in the year or two after us. In the almost 40 years since our graduation, much has happened that maybe one or two of us might know of Doug Cameron (am I the only one who expected to see him driving a cab in Boston?), or the Scott Laws and the Bill Angells of our past world? Is Drew Niedringhaus still race sailing in San Diego? Is Jon Altpeter one of the boys of Enron? Is Charlie Petrillo still the cement king of NYC? Is Mike Carney in jail and did John Nelson put him there? Tree Schunder, Eddie Allard, Ray Jones, Paul Gayle, Mike Newman, Jeff Gould, and so many more... What I am trying to say is that our class has been silent and therefore invisible in this magazine. It’s time to share what you know and about whom! No gossip, just the facts Jack. Let us bring ourselves up to date; it could be fun, could be interesting. Contribute fellas! Maybe if we can get the ball rolling it might be fun to have our own website, complete with embarrassing photos, and build up excitement to our 40th reunion in 2008.

Tell me your stories or I’m going to have to tell you mine. John Schunder retired after 33 years in the Department of Public Works in Northborough, MA. He worked for the Town of Northborough since 1972 and has lived in the town his entire life. As DPW director, Schunder oversaw the highways, the public ways, parks, cemeteries, and served as town warden for the town. Schunder helped with numerous projects to improve the town, such as Ellsworth-McAfee Park, which was once an abandoned field on Route 135 used for DPW materials. Schunder was an All-American lacrosse player and was inducted into the Nichols College Hall of Fame. Dana Tschirch reports all is well and he and his wife of 37 years, the lovely and talented Dodie Tschirch, are currently living in Northport, NY, out on Long Island. Dana served in the U.S. Navy after Nichols and trained to become a helicopter pilot. After the Vietnam era came to a close, Dana found his way back to the Providence, RI, area and started a custom jewelry box business which he eventually sold in 1996. In career change mode, Dana attended Boston University’s Corporate Education Center for computers and earned certification as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. He joined this center before moving to Long Island, and is now a technology manager for Advanced Career Technologies. Dana is currently overseeing network expansion and services for the Town of Huntington. The Tshirchs’ son, Ryan, is a recent graduate of SUNY Stonybrook and is exploring post graduate studies in pharmacology. Dana would love to hear from his old buddies from Nichols. Word is George Zeiner has a marketing position with American Airlines and is currently living in Plano, TX, with his wife.

1969 Class Scribe ROBERT KUPPENHEIMER 4627 Tremont Ln. Corona del Mar, CA 92625 bob.kuppenheimer@nuveen.com

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Ken Burrill writes: “Thirty-six years… and I feel most of them in my back. My 17-year-old daughter is “at present” planning on starting as a freshman at Nichols this fall. So, I have been on the Hill and back several times with her. However, her plans can change without notice. I am still working with computers as I have been ever since I left Nichols. (See As I Remember It, page 32.) I am currently writing software for Hasbro Inc. in Pawtucket, RI. One database stretches from Pawtucket to well inside China. On a trip to the Hill a year or so ago, I got the idea of checking out my old dorm room. It is now an instructor’s office and several dorms are gone. Donna Rose (Donovan) Kerley, wife of Jim Kerley, died on October 31, 2005. In addition to Jim, she is survived by two sons, Jeffrey of Gulfport, FL, and Brian of Wellesley Hills, MA; a daughter-in-law, Melissa; and granddaughter, Athena Rose. Edward J. Palmerino was elected by the trustees of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to serve as the Institute’s new vice president for finance and treasurer. Palmerino, who has served as the Institute’s controller since 2001, will oversee all of the purchasing, accounting, and business systems for the Institute as well as internal audit and facilities management. HHMI’s finance department oversees an Institutewide annual budget of more than $660 million. Its 106 employees and outside contractors support the work of 321 HHMI scientists and their research teams, and a grants program that awards $80 million annually to help strengthen education in medicine, biology, and related sciences. Prior to joining HHMI, Palmerino was a financial director for the American Red Cross for 11 years, including six years as the national director of accounting. He lives in Prince William County, VA, with his wife, Carol, and has two children, Christopher of Leesburg, VA, and Tricia Jenkins of Loudoun County, VA. Gil Rochon has been semi-retired since 1994. He still works part time for Industrial Transfer, a company based in Dudley, MA, where he serves as director of sales. Since 1994, he and his significant other, Trudy

St. Pierre, split their time between Ware, MA, and Stuart, FL. They spend about six months per location. Gil reports that he spends a lot of time doing his two favorite things: fishing (both freshwater and saltwater) and traveling. This past year, he has been to Alaska, Washington, and Costa Rica. At each location, they did sightseeing and fishing. In January 2006, they went on a seven-day cruise to the Western Caribbean. Gil reports that life has been good to him and that his health is quite good. He sees his sons and their families quite often. His middle son, Daniel, and his wife had his first granddaughter last summer and Gil mentions that she is adorable. His oldest son, Glen, is a GM at Legal Seafoods in Boston. Dave Weyant writes: “Kuppy, Thanks for the great letter. I remember seeing Jimmy Jackson at one of our reunions on the Hill before a football game, the last time that I saw Skip Thayer. I believe Merrill was still standing then. I don’t know about you, but whenever I go up to the Hill and see Merrill missing, it really gets to me. So many great memories there. We all had a great time at the West Point social last fall. I had no idea that some of the faculty members had been going to an Army game for years while I was also there. We will do it again this fall—I hope more alumni will come. Not much more to say. I am still working hockey games at West Point— my 36th season—and also started working lacrosse games a few years ago. Speaking of lacrosse, Army now has a sports hall Gil Rochon ’69 and a sailfish he caught during a trip to Costa Rica

Catching up with… Kelly Harris ’78 Jacksonville, FL Employment: Chief Operations Ofﬁcer/ Partner, Firehouse Subs Greatest lesson I learned from a Nichols faculty/staff member was from many professors, coaches, administrators, and classmates as well. In all, I learned that I was responsible for myself, and that life was left up to me, not anyone else. To make life worthwhile, I had to set goals and work hard, to persevere and never give up, and to stay the course. I learned that knowledge is power, and that comes from preparation. Lastly, which should be ﬁrst, I learned that in life we take care of each other, whether it’s my neighbor, teammate, church, wife, or kids. Life is too short to take for granted. We all must enjoy every single day we have, with God’s help. My Nichols degree helped me to communicate with all types of people, and it also prepared me for the obstacles that life generates. My classmates would be surprised to learn that my company has grown to the level that it has. Our accolades include Entrepreneur of the Year from Ernst and Young and one of the top 200 franchise companies in the country. If Nichols started a time capsule in 1978 my contribution would be: This is a tough one, but I can tell you that my dream while at Nichols was to open up a restaurant company by the time I was 30, and have a lot of my Nichols buddies helping each other build a company we could be proud of. While that didn’t start at 30, it certainly did start, and so far the ride has been great.

of fame and Tom Cafaro is pictured in the lacrosse section. He still holds all time lacrosse records.”

1972 Class Scribe DONALD JAEGER 8 Lord Joes Lndg. Northport, NY 11768 jaeger@ajaeger.com

Graham MacDonald has retired as the deputy ﬁre chief of the Fire, Rescue, EMS Department for the Town of Manchester, CT.

1975 Marc Emmi has been named president of Uniﬁed Marine Inc., the Naples, FL, based manufacturer of SeaSense brand marine and trailer accessories. He succeeds Steve Marc Taugher who passed away Emmi in late 2005. Emmi is a 21-year veteran in the marine industry and came to Uniﬁed last year from Wellington Leisure Products Inc. in Madison, GA, where he served as group vice president of sports for eight years and vice president of consumer and commercial sales for two years. Prior to Wellington, Emmi was a national

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accounts manager at Crowe Rope for ten years. Emmi resides in Watkinsville, GA, with his wife, Karen, and their two daughters, Nina and Mary.

Nancy (Robinson) Rodick and her husband, Marty, welcomed their new son this past fall. Andrew Robinson Rodick arrived on September 19th and weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. Big brother, James, happily welcomed him to their new home in Millis, MA.

1978 Class Scribe WILLIAM FRASER 12915 Letando Ln. Cypress, TX 77429-3554 (281) 376-5922 wifra@wci78.com

1980 David Rice has been appointed vice president/GM of New England for The Davis Companies in Marlborough, MA. The Davis Companies has been recognized over the past 20 years by Inc. Magazine, Boston Business Journal, and the Worcester Business Journal as one of the fastest growing privately owned companies in Massachusetts. Since joining Davis in 2004, Rice has spent the last year as corporate vice president of sales overseeing sales and marketing strategies nationwide. Rice will now be responsible for all sales, recruitment and operations in the New England region for administration, accounting-ﬁnance, manufacturing, and production disciplines. Rice resides in Medway, MA, with his wife, Nicole, and three daughters Taylor, Kaetlin, and Sydney.

1991 James F. Paulhus

banking career with Worcester County National Bank in 1981. Paulus resides in Auburn, MA, with his wife, Bonnie, and daughters, Nicole and Jaclyn.

DONNA SMALL 4905 Bay Harvest Ct. Clemmons, NC 27012 (336) 712-1053 (home) (336) 692-5157 (cell) dsmall9242000@yahoo.com

1983

1992

Class Scribe

Christine Savastano is engaged to be married in June 2006 to Christopher Manzi in New Haven, CT. Chrissy is director of development and operations at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, MA, and Chris is a pharmacist with UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester. They currently live in Marlborough.

MICHAEL DONEHEY (508) 376-5469 (phone) (509) 376-5043 (fax) mdonehey@hotmail.com

1988 Class Scribe DIANE BELLEROSE 90 Lebanon St. Southbridge, MA 01550 (508) 764-6077 spongedicat@aol.com

1981

1989

James F. Paulhus has joined UniBank as executive vice president and senior lending ofﬁcer. In his new position, Paulhus is responsible for planning and directing the activities of the entire loan division, which includes commercial, consumer, and mortgage functions. He is also a vital member of the bank’s senior management team, participating in the formulation of bank-wide strategies, decisions, and policies. Paulhus has almost 25 years of bank management experience. He came to UniBank from Bank of America, where he was market president for Central Massachusetts. He began his

Tom and Lisa Devine have recently adopted their second child from China. Tom and Lisa are very active with the Fischer Institute Alumni Associates. Tom will be going to Iraq in a few months.

Class Scribe

1990 Kathleen Marcum MBA, president and CEO of Millbury Credit Union in Millbury, MA, has been named one of two new members to the 2006 Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

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1993 Class Scribe JOHN J. LAREAU Tax Manager Greenberg, Roseblatt, Kull & Bitsoli PC (508) 791-0901 jlareau@grkb.com

Danielle Troiano ’94 reports that Scott Quinn and his wife, Carol, welcomed baby boy Liam Henry into the world on September 5, 2005, celebrating Labor Day in a slightly different way. Also welcoming Liam into the family’s home in Charlotte, NC, was big brother Colin, 2 years old.

Please send all class updates to your Class Scribe.

Catching up with… Jean Cutting ’97

1994 Class Scribe

Virginia Beach, VA

DANIELLE TROIANO 553 Grafton St. Shrewsbury, MA 01545 (508) 845-6604 thedwoman@yahoo.com

I will be graduating from the New England Culinary Institute of Vermont in June with an associate’s degree in culinary arts and Graduation with Distinction honors. After internships at Chef Jody Adams’ Rialto restaurant in Cambridge, MA, and Chef Patrick O’Connell’s Inn at Little Washington in Washington, VA, I plan to begin my culinary career in New England.

1995 Class Scribe CHRIS SAENGVANICH 700 Princeton Blvd. Apt. 29 Lowell, MA 01851 nc95scribe@comcast.net

See 1996 for information on Joseph Mazzarelli’s ﬁrst born. Cher (McCarthy) Spada and husband, John Jake, gave birth to son, Vincent, on June 9, 2005, weighing 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 22 inches long. He joins his brother, Zachary, who is two years old.

Employment: Resource Manager/Comptroller, Department of Navy Greatest lesson I learned from a Nichols faculty/staff member was to keep it real. Having professors who brought real-world issues into the classroom made the assimilation from college to business that much easier. My Nichols degree helped me to obtain a fast track career within the federal government. My classmates would be surprised to learn that I moved away eight years ago and stayed away. If Nichols started a time capsule in 1997 my contribution would be: I haven’t the foggiest idea, especially since I was a non-traditional commuter student.

1996 Class Scribe GARY WATSON 25 Lakeside Ave. Webster, MA 01570 (508) 943-5504 gmwatson@yahoo.com

Robert Lafrance currently works for a CPA firm part time. He also teaches math and science to 6th and 7th graders in Springfield, MA. Danette (Tatro) Mazzarelli ’96 and her husband, Joseph Mazzarelli ’95, have announced the birth of their first child. Joseph Lexander, “Alex,” on December 14, 2005. Joe works as an account group manager at Access TCA Inc. located in Whitinsville, MA. Danette is a tax supervisor for PFPC Inc. in Westborough, MA. They reside in Northbridge, MA.

1997 Class Scribe

Joseph Alexander, son of Danette (Tatro) Mazzarelli ’96 and Joseph Mazzarelli ’95 Zachary and Vincent, sons of Cher (McCarthy) Spada ’95

COLLEEN (REILLY) SAENGVANICH 700 Princeton Blvd. Apt. 29 Lowell, MA 01851 (978) 970-1139 cbreilly97@yahoo.com

Joseph Lato has been named head football coach at Weston High School in Connecticut. Lato also teaches physical education

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and health. Lato played fullback and linebacker and was captain of the football team his senior year at Nichols. Before being named head coach at Weston, he served as an assistant coach for nine seasons. While an assistant at Newtown for three years, he helped them win a league championship and one state semiﬁnal appearance. The past six seasons he has been defensive coordinator at Masuk High School and has helped that program win two SWC Championships and make three state championship appearances.

1998 Class Scribe EMILY (SEIFERMAN) ALVES 100 Forbes St. 1st Floor Riverside, RI 02195 Millie.176@hotmail.com

Congratulations to Carrie LaBelle who recently became engaged to John LaRoche. Carrie currently resides in Danielson, CT. She is employed as a business teacher at Woodstock Academy and runs three Curves locations. The wedding is set for July 8, 2006. Brian Daniels recently celebrated the birth of his daughter, Samantha Rose. Brian married Andrea Solomon in 2003 and is currently employed as a realtor for Century 21 in Londonderry, NH. Jessica Jost wed Shad Plante in October 2005. Jess is currently an assistant controller for Beals and Thomas Inc. in Worcester, MA. She and her husband reside in Winchendon, MA.

1999 Class Scribe TONY VOLPONE avolpone@hotmail.com

Robert P. Wells ’99 MBA ’01 and Shelley M. Roy ’00 were married in Westport, NY, on September 4, 2005. The weekend cele-

2002 Class Scribe

Robert Wells ’99 MBA ’01 and Shelley Roy ’00

bration was held at Camp Dudley on Lake Champlain. Cassandra Liberatore served as maid of honor. Best men were Brian McCoy and Tim DiNicola. Moira McDonough was ﬂower girl and Andrew McCoy was ring bearer. Robert is employed by Akibia Inc. in Westborough, MA, and Shelley is employed at Commerce Insurance in Webster, MA.

2000 Shelley M. Roy recently married Robert P. Wells ’99 MBA ’01. Please see 1999 Class Notes for more details.

2001 Class Scribe DAVID TWISS (978) 979-7658 david.twiss@comcast.net

(L to R) TOP ROW:

Jeffrey Tkacs ’04; Michael Charpentier ’03; Matthew Gray ’03; Matthew Altieri ’03; Adam Gray ’03; James “Boomer” Zappola ’03; Timothy Crowley ’03; Michael Sprino ’03; Brian Beauparlant ’03 (L to R) FRONT ROW:

Patrick Flynn ’00; Stacy (DeNardis) Flynn ’92; Amanda Ford ’03; Colleen Flynn; Timothy King; Amanda Cameron ’03; Matthew Laing ’03

NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE O SPRING 2006

PRINCESS TUCKER Payroll Manager Connecticut College (860) 961-2743 (cell) (860) 848-1471 (fax) ptucker4057@sbcglobal.net

Please join me in congratulating Jessica L. Poulin and John J. Oleski, who were married on October 29, 2005, at the Sturbridge Host Resort Hotel in Sturbridge, MA.

2003 Class Scribe KIM SERINO Conﬂuent Surgical Inc. serinokj@hotmail.com

Amy Champagne married Paul Johnson on October 22, 2005. Amy is currently working as the vice president of administration/HR at Topper & Griggs Group in Plainville, CT. The wedding was attended by numerous Nichols College alumni. Colleen Flynn ’03 MBA ’05 and Timothy King were married on September 24, 2005. Many of their guests and bridal party were Nichols alumni. The couple was married by former Nichols College chaplain and current professor, Fr. Conrad Pecevich. Timothy is currently employed as a commercial lines underwriter at Commerce

Insurance in Webster, MA. Colleen is working for Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA, as their assistant director of ﬁnancial aid. They are currently residing in Webster. Sgt. John P. McCarthy writes: “Hello to everyone! I have been serving in the U.S. Army since two weeks after graduation. I am assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. I served in Iraq and was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Purple Heart for wounds received. I later served in Afghanistan and am scheduled to commence Ofﬁcer Candidate School in Fort Benning in Georgia in January 2006.” Jesse Plouffe recently accepted a job as a product developer for the International and Classics Division at New Balance Athletic Shoes Inc. His responsibilities include the design and development of the Classics line.

Kim Serino and Matthew Krumsiek ’05 purchased a home in the summer of 2005. Kim has been working at Conﬂuent Surgical Inc. for the past two years and has been promoted to human resource associate. Matthew has been employed at the accounting ofﬁces of Kevin P. Martin & Associates as a staff accountant. Both are enjoying their work and love their new home together.

2004 Class Scribe ERIN CHENETTE 87 Tory Fort Lane Worcester, MA 01602 (781) 939-1723 echenette@gmsus.com

Gifts of Bequests Generous Nichols College alumni, parents, spouses, faculty and friends choose to make a difference for future students and faculty by including Nichols College in their will. It is never too early to include the College in your estate plans. Bequests are easy to make through your will, and charitable bequests to benefit Nichols reduce the size of your taxable estate and may provide significant estate tax savings. You can choose to direct your gift to be used as an outright unrestricted gift to Nichols College, or you might choose a restricted gift to establish a scholarship, support a professorship or benefit a particular area of the College. A permanently named and endowed gift will provide income in perpetuity for your designated purpose. We recommend that you consult with your attorney, and ask that you call Vice President of Advancement Joe Cofield to discuss your wishes. And we encourage you to let us know if you are including Nichols College in your estate plans, so we can properly recognize your generosity. For more information, please contact Joe Cofield, vice president of advancement, at 508-213-2428 or joe.cofield@nichols.edu.

Vincent Bertolino and Lisa LeVierge were engaged this past December. The two are currently enjoying time in their new home in Northbridge, MA.

2005 Class Scribe MICHELLE BROWN slmz018@yahoo.com

Matthew Krumsiek recently purchased a home with Kim Serino ’03. Please see 2003 Class Notes for more details. Kim Serino ’03 reports that Steven Lerner works at Capstan Atlantic in Wrentham, MA. He has been promoted numerous times in the past few months and currently serves as the manager of information technology. Steven has purchased a home in Mansﬁeld, MA.

Maximize your Charitable Giving and Reduce Your Taxes on Stock Options If you have non-qualified stock options granted by your employer, you might be facing a good news /bad news situation. Given the market’s recent perfomance, the current price of your company’s stock may be significantly higher than the exercise price of your stock options. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the sale of your stock options is taxed as income, not as capital gains, no matter how long you’ve had the options. To turn this into a win/win situation, why not consider making a direct gift to Nichols College? This will help Nichols by maximizing your charitable gift to assist with critical goals such as building student scholarship funds, refurbishing our campus, and attracting and retaining the best and brightest faculty and will save you money on taxes. For more information please contact Joe Cofield, vice president of advancement, at 508-213-2428 or joe.cofield@nichols.edu.

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A LUMNI

Alumni Wine Tasting

J U LY 2 – 1 0 , 2 0 0 6

JOIN US!

Please join President Debra M. Murphy and hosts Kim McCarthy ’92 and Chris McCarthy ’92 MBA ’97

THURSDAY, MAY 11th 6:30 PM Guests will sample ﬁve wines selected by The Vin Bin and enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Coral Seafood

Coral Seafood Restaurant 29 South Bolton Street Marlborough, MA 01752 $20 per person RSVP by May 1, 2006 866.622.4766 alumniofﬁce@nichols.edu

A Tuscan Villa in Chianti N

ichols College Alumni Relations Ofﬁce is partnering with other New England colleges to offer an exclusive educational and travel experience to Chianti, Italy. Infused with a luxuriously temperate climate and a wealth of artistic treasures, the undulating hills of Tuscany are blanketed with verdant vineyards and silvery olive groves, the legacy of a 3,000-year history of great food and extraordinary wine. Consummately Italian, yet uniquely Tuscan, Chianti is a land of bucolic farmsteads, dreamy castles and swaying cypress trees.

Great Accommodations Seven nights in Marcialla at the deluxe Tuscan Villa Tavolese. Great Food • Three full meals each day, including a breakfast buffet, a two-course lunch, a threecourse dinner. • Some meals are served at local restaurants and feature a culinary experience of authentic regional specialties. • Welcome and Farewell receptions • A Farewell Dinner at the private Castle of Santa Maria Novella.

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Exciting Travel • Guided tour and wine tasting at the Castello Di Monsanto • Tour of iconic Pisa with its famed Leaning Tower • A walking tour of Lucca • A tour of the Tuscan Hill Country, including San Gimignano and Colle de Val D’Elas • Guided tour and free time in spectacular Florence • Walking tour of Siena • Private cooking demonstration by the chef at the Villa Tavolese For a brochure, call your Alumni Relations Ofﬁce today at 866. 622.4766.

S RRI EA M INNI CMH EOML O ME M B E R S

in memoriam Herbert Calef ’52

David R. Howland ’62

Frederic P. Coffey ’66

Herbert “Clint” Calef died on December 19, 2005. Born in Providence, RI, Calef graduated from Hartford High School in White River Junction, VT, before attending Nichols Junior College. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Calef worked at Green Mountain Studios and later at the U.S. Post Ofﬁce in Hanover, NH, until his retirement. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in White River Junction and enjoyed collecting music records. His survivors include a nephew, Charles Park; a niece, Karen Herman; and several cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Jeanette Park.

David R. Howland died on January 9, 2006. Howland was born in Johnson City, NY, and lived in Webster most of his life. He was a graduate of Bartlett High School and Nichols College, where he earned his BSA. He worked as a truck driver for 35 years for the former P. Wajer & Sons and for ABF in Worcester. He later worked at Blackstone Valley Golf Course with other retirees. Howland was a member of the United Church of Christ in Webster and the Greendale Peoples Church in Worcester. He is survived by wife, Sandra; son, Robert, and his wife, Charlene; daughter, Kim; two grandchildren, Allie and Justin; siblings, John and Carol; and eight nieces and nephews.

Frederic P. Coffey died on November 8, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; three children and their spouses, Kevin and Doreen, Brian and Ginger, and Eileen and Gary Gerard; and grandchildren, Erin, Madison, Courtney, and Jack.

Albert Lepper Jr. ’54 Albert “Ozzie” Lepper Jr. died on November 28, 2005. Lepper was the driving force behind the restoration of the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous Co-founder Bill W. The Wilson House, originally built in 1852 as a hotel, had been closed since the early 1970s until Lepper and his wife, Bonnie, reopened it in 1989. Since reopening, the Wilson House has offered space not only for AA meetings, but other spin-off groups such as Al-Anon, which focuses on the impact alcohol has on spouses and friends of alcoholics. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The Wilson House Restoration is a nonproﬁt foundation, and Lepper was a member of its Board of Directors. Lepper is survived by his wife; seven children; and nine grandchildren.

John P. Moynihan Sr. ’64 John P. Moynihan Sr. died on November 22, 2005 in Cleverdale, NY. Moynihan was an insurance agent and broker with Loomis and Lapan Agency for over 40 years. He was a Glen Falls Elk. He is survived by three children, Molly Elizabeth of West Hartford, CT; John Philip Jr. of Simsbury, CT; and Thomas Scott of Malta, NY; three grandchildren, Perry, Alex, and Caitlyn; a brother, Judge G. Thomas Moynihan, and sister-in-law, Joan, of Cleverdale; several nieces; nephews; and extended family. Nichols College was notiﬁed of his death by former classmate, Philip B. Donnelly.

Jeffrey T. Jones ’76 Jeffrey T. Jones died in September 2005, according to information received by the Alumni Relations Ofﬁce from his daughter, Jennifer Gilmore.

Laurie A. (Ringer) Graham ’84 MBA ’02 Laurie A. Graham died on January 26, 2006. Graham worked at Daniels Insurance Agency in Westborough, MA, for 20 years. She was an active parishioner and religious education teacher at St. Mary’s Church in North Grafton. Graham was the mother of two children, Nicholas and Marybeth. She is also survived by her mother, Susanne (Faron) Martin; her father, Harvey Ringer, and his wife Patricia; and siblings, Carol and James.

CORRECTION: Viyella Henderson was

a member of the Class of 1995. She was appointed to the Nichols College Board of Trustees in 1997 and resigned in 2000 due to her illness.

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T H E

LA ST

WORD

Technology Is Not the Answer Why Computers Have Not Simpliﬁed Our Lives By Jonathan D. Frankel, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems

s a professor of management information systems, my job is to teach students about using technology. These days, businesses must integrate technology into their core competencies to gain or maintain a competitive advantage, and therefore, successful business students must understand technology—especially as it evolves. But using any technology effectively is a daunting task for a number of reasons. First, you must be aware of it. Second, you need to understand the benefits it provides. Third, you need to acquire the technology. Finally, you need to know, at least to some degree, how to use it. Let’s look at an example, something we’ve all come to love—and hate—email. Email was invented to improve communications. While the bits and bytes of an email message have certainly changed how we talk to one another, it can be argued that communication has not been improved by email. Recall the first time you heard about email, perhaps a friend or younger relative wanted to send you a note. You’d heard about the Internet but didn’t really understand how, or if, it related to email. Once you understood what it was—and you realized that email enabled you to communicate with your friends for free—you decided that you had to have it. So you went out and got a computer, got connected to the Internet and figured out how to use your first Microsoft application, Outlook. Sounds simple now, but think back to all the expense and frustration you probably went through before you successfully sent or received your first email.

Now, several years later, consider whether communication has been improved. Have you stopped using your telephone, or going to the post ofﬁce? Are there certain people with whom you exclusively use email? Is this an improvement? Sure, email is a great medium for communication, but is it a panacea that has improved what humans have been doing since the beginning of time? Clearly email hasn’t solved any problems—in fact, it has created a whole host of new ones (cheap V1agRa anyone?). But used properly, email is a wonderful tool. It allows us to see pictures of our grandchildren, or plan a dinner party, faster and much more simply than any other media. Which brings me to the main point: Technology is not the answer. Rather, recognizing how and when a technology can and should be used, and perhaps, more importantly, when it cannot or should not be used, provides the competitive advantage that businesses seek. Let’s take the email example one step further. There was a period of time in the late 1990s when email was rapidly being adopted as a viable communication medium, but attachments (pictures, word documents, PDF ﬁles, etc.) were not widely understood by either email receivers or their computers. In fact, in the early days of attachments, you were more likely to get a virus from an attachment than to successfully open it. Once again, just because you could send anything over the Internet did not mean that it would be received successfully. Receivers had to learn how to use attachments and teach their computers to understand them—only then could the technology

NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE O SPRING 2006

be a solution. Until everyone involved understood how attachments worked, they only caused complications and made email more complex than it had to be. Clearly, technology is a wonderful thing. But for businesses, and business students, the key is not technology alone, but using it successfully that can make all the difference. There are too many “technology solutions” that end up on the scrap heap because they are not properly implemented. The irony is that oftentimes technically inferior products become successful because they are easily implemented, while great solutions are ignored. Q

STAY CONNECTED! Chances are your “best of times” were at Nichols. Do you remember these memorable moments? • The amazing 13-4-2 record of the men’s hockey team • Donning cowboy and pumpkin outﬁts for a Halloween party • The superb lacrosse coaching of Dr. Wiley • The camaraderie of Budleigh Your alma matter and classmates want to keep in touch with you! Sign up for the alumni email newsletter Nichols & Sense by sending your email address to: alumniofﬁce@nichols.edu

alumniofﬁce@nichols.edu

SPRING 2006 O NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Nichols College Alumni Association 28th Annual Golf Tournament Saturday, July 15 • 1 p.m. • Webster Dudley Golf Club

$85 per golfer includes: dinner, 18 holes of golf, Florida scamble, two carts per group, beverages on course, special prizes and gift bag!

Questions? Call Dick Schefﬂer ’63 at 508.213.2442 Registration forms are available at www.nichols.edu/alumni/events

PO Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571-5000