OWL
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Green! Greener! Greenest!
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outhern has been named one of the most environmentally responsible
Dear Friends of Southern, A foundation in the liberal arts is more important than ever before for college graduates preparing to enter the workforce of the rapidly changing economy of the young 21st century.
colleges in the U.S. and Canada by the Princeton Review, the educational
services company known for its test prep programs, and college ratings and guidebooks. The university is lauded in the fifth edition of “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges,” a free downloadable book available at Princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx. Southern received high praise in the guide, which notes: “Sustainability is integrated into everyday life on campus. SCSU’s Dining Services has become more environmentally friendly through trayless dining, cage-free eggs, and a commitment to buying locally grown produce. What’s more, the campus bookstore has championed recent initiatives such as selling a large line of recyclable products —
a news supplement for alumni and friends of Southern Connecticut State University
including notebooks, biodegradable plastic folders, sketchbooks created with
Jeff Selingo, the author of “College Unbound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students,” writes: “the skill sets students develop in the liberal arts are incredibly important to a future world . . . where the jobs of tomorrow just don’t exist today and the jobs of four years from now that everyone’s training for, today, might already be gone.” At Southern we strive to provide our students with both the workforcerelated, vocational skills and the intellectual tool kit needed to forge successful careers in today’s knowledge-based, global economy. As more than 90 percent of respondents pointed out in a recent national survey of employers by the Association of American Colleges and Universities: “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than a candidate’s undergraduate major.” The key point is that a good education — a Southern education! — is ultimately all about finding the right balance, much like life itself.
Mary A. Papazian, Ph.D. President
recycled vinyl albums, and t-shirts made from recycled bottles — promoting the use of e-textbooks to save paper, and even providing graduation gowns made of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles!”
outhern has won a Power of Change Award in the Top Building More (Great) SCategory for outstanding achievement in energy efficiency at the Green News state level. The award was presented in recognition of Southern’s new home for the School of Business, a state-of-the-art facility created by renovating the former student center. The building was applauded for its energy performance and its LEED gold certification, a mark of exceptional achievement in ecologically sound construction. This is the second time that Southern has earned a Power of Change Award. In 2013, Southern received the Innovation Award for strategies to successfully reduce electricity consumption in nine residence halls during the College Conservation Nationals. Southern placed fourth out of 98 colleges and universities Southern throughout the sustainability country in the coordinator competition in 2012. Suzie Launched in Huminski 2013, the Power of and Rob Klee, Change Award Commissioner program is a of the collaboration of the Connecticut Emily Hall Tremaine Department Foundation, the of Energy and Hampshire Environmental Foundation, and the Protection, Common Sense enjoy the Fund in conjunction awards with Connecticut ceremony. clean-energy experts.
GR ADUATION CELEBRATION
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ringing a healthy dose of humor and poignancy to the occasion, actor and activist Edward Asner delivered the undergraduate commencement address to the Class of 2014 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport on May 16. “Know thyself,” Asner told the graduates, segueing into a recollection of some of his most celebrated roles, including those in the films “Up” and “Elf.” “I don’t know whether I’m Lou Grant, Carl Fredrickson, or Santa Claus most of the time. By the way, you’re all off the naughty list,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “You are creating your own good fortune by being outgoing, optimistic, and opening up yourself to new ideas. . . . ,” Asner continued. “Experiment a little if you haven’t already. . . . Even if you fail, you win for trying.” Among the event’s highlights was the presentation of an honorary Doctorate of Science to entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter J. Werth Jr. He and his wife, Pamela, founded the Woodbridge-based pharmaceutical company ChemWerth. In 2001 they established the Werth Family Foundation, which provides critical support in the areas of education, health, and social science. On May 15, the university held two graduate commencement exercises at the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts for those earning advanced degrees. Graduates from the Schools of Business, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Sciences were recognized at an afternoon ceremony. Degree candidates from the School of Education were honored that evening. Coverage of the ceremonies, including stories on graduates who overcame tremendous adversity in their lives before earning their degrees, is at SouthernCT.edu/commencement.
OWL
Sightings
Scenes from Southern’s commencement exercises, including [FROM
TOP]
undergraduate commencement speaker Edward Asner and honoree Peter J. Werth Jr. and President Mary A. Papazian.
JACQUELINE TURCIOS, ’14
JAMIE LAWLER, ’14
SARAH GRECO, ’14
ELIZABETH FIELD, ’13
SCSU to Accept ‘Common App’
LOL
with
S
tudents who apply for admission to Southern will enjoy a more
LENO
streamlined process thanks to the university’s adoption of the Common
Application, popularly referred to as the “Common App.” This standard
application is accepted by more than 500 colleges and universities throughout the United States and several other countries. This fall, students will be able to apply to Southern for the fall 2015 semester using the Common App, instead of filling out a separate application. “Generally, schools that use the Common App see an increase of between 10 and 30 percent in their applicant pool,” says Kimberly Crone, associate vice president for enrollment management, who notes that Southern is committed to seeing an associated increase in enrollment as well. Alexis Haakonsen, director of admissions, concurs. “We are developing a comprehensive plan to communicate with students at every stage of the admissions process, continuing the very successful on-campus events for which Southern is well known, and involving the faculty and our alumni in the process,” she says. Use of the Common Application has grown significantly in recent years. During the 2012-13 school year, it was used by 723,576 people — a 48 percent increase in comparison to 2009-10.
Prior to performing, Jay Leno meets informally with Southern students.
C
omic great Jay Leno delivered the Mary and Louis Fusco Distinguished Lecture — and countless laughs — to a sold-out audience at the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts on May 9. Leno, who is slated to receive the 2014 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in October, presented a monologue and stand-up routine reminiscent of his more than two decades as host of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on NBC. A portion of the evening’s proceeds supports Southern’s Endowed Awards of Excellence, a meritbased scholarship program.
Standout Students
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uilding on a demonstrated commitment to community
service, the four recipients of Southern’s Henry Barnard Foundation
ELIZABETH FIELD, ’13
SARAH GRECO, ’14
JAMIE LAWLER, ’14
JACQUELINE TURCIOS, ’14
• Graduated in December with a
• Graduated with a degree in
• Graduated magna cum laude
• Majored in psychology,
4.0 grade point average, having
English, earning a 3.95 grade
with a degree in political
graduating with 3.9 grade
majoring in mathematics and
point average.
science and a double minor in
point average.
special education. • Member of the Honors College; co-authored papers for a
• Student representative on the
history and psychology. • Received the John W. Critzer
Psychology Journal and
Higher Education and vice
Valedictorian Award for the
member of numerous
number of academic journals.
president of the Student
highest grade point average
Distinguished Student Award cite career • Founding chapter president of aspirations ranging from education to Pi Mu Epsilon, the mathematics
Government Association.
among political science majors.
advocating on behalf of children. “That says so much about the hearts of these fine young women,” says President Mary A. Papazian. “And their academic success speaks for itself.”
honor society, and past president of the Mathematics Club. • Member of Southern’s Future
• Served as editor of the SCSU
state Board of Regents for
• Member of the Honors College and numerous academic and leadership honor societies.
• Overcame numerous adversities in life, including being homeless as a teen. • Attending the University of
Teachers Association and tutor
Connecticut School of Law with
to seventh-grade students in
a full scholarship, having been
New Haven.
accepted to five law schools.
academic honor societies. • Served as a research assistant/intern at Haskins Laboratories, assisting on two projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. • Prior to enrolling at Southern, served in the U.S. Navy.
Saluting New
HALL OF FAMERS Former Southern women’s basketball standout Kate Lynch, ’08, was inducted into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame, becoming the third SCSU graduate to receive the honor. She joins former inductees Kateema Riettie, ’03, a two-time NCAA Division II national champion in the javelin, and soccer sensation Theresa Uliano Krusewski, ’01, M.S. ’05, who holds many Southern records, including most points (186), goals (75), assists (36), and gamewinning goals (25). Lynch’s career as a student-athlete is equally impressive. A member of the Owls’ 2007 NCAA Division II national championship team, she remains Southern’s all-time leading scorer (1,779 points). Lynch is head women’s basketball coach at Molloy College. Previously, she led the Community College of Rhode Island to national prominence and was named the 2013 Russell Athletic/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in the junior/community college category. Lynch also was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of [FROM
New Graduate Degree Offered
I
LEFT]
Program
Fame in 2014. She joined fellow 2014
coordinator Lee
inductee, Fran Vandermeer, ’88, who
deLisle and Jim
was honored for her contributions as a
MacGregor, chairman
referee. A basketball and volleyball
n 2010, the average annual salary for agents and business of the Recreation and managers of artists, athletes, and public figures was $97,760, Leisure Studies according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — and the field is Department expected to grow much faster than most through 2018. Southern’s new M.S. in sport and entertainment management — an entirely online program — prepares graduates for a variety of leadership positions in the industry, including careers in coaching and team management, higher education recreation, marketing and merchandising, talent booking, public relations, festival and mega-events management, and much more. Information on the 36-credit program, offered through the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, is at SouthernCT.edu/sportentertainment.
official for more than 30 years, Vandermeer also is a member of the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame and the New Agenda Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2007, she received the SCSU Alumni Citation Award, recognizing her accomplishments in her field. She is the head volleyball coach at Smith College in Massachusetts.
Summer | 2014
A CAMPUSWIDE CELEBRATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
Owl Thing
IT’S AN
Come out for the parade of floats, the alumni tent party, the Homecoming football game, and much more.
OCTOBER 18
(203) 392-6500
YOUR
ALUMNI ATHLETES UNITE
THEIR
Gift Future
Calling all Owls! Owl Athletic Alumni Parliament, a special evening for all
You’re invited to the inaugural
former Southern student-athletes and coaches to reconnect and reminisce. Held in conjunction with Southern’s Homecoming weekend festivities, the event will take place on Oct. 17 from 7 p.m. — 11 p.m. at Il Monticello in Meriden, Conn. All former Owls are encouraged to attend, with proceeds benefitting Southern’s current student-athletes and teams. Tickets for the event are $65 per person and include beer, wine, and soda; hot and cold appetizers; carving and pasta stations; and a dessert station with coffee and tea.
Register online
SouthernCT.edu/go/ioaap For more information, contact Michael Kobylanski at
Keep a Southern education within reach of talented and deserving students — and help the university create a climate of excellence.
(203) 392-6005 or KobylanskiM1@SouthernCT.edu.
Please make a gift to our students today by returning the envelope provided or by visiting us online at giving.SouthernCT.edu. OWL
Sightings
OWL
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Summer | 14
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID 01152 Permit No. 1035
Alumni Association 501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 SouthernCT.edu Address Service Requested
Degree IN Hand
T
he Go Back to Get Ahead program provides a second chance for those who started college but did not complete their education. The limited-timeoffer from the state of Connecticut lets returning students take one three-credit course per semester for free at Southern and any of the 16 partner institutions in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system — up to a total of three courses. The program is open to Connecticut residents who attended college prior to Dec. 30, 2012 who: • Previously enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program but did not finish it. • Completed an associate degree and now want to earn a bachelor’s degree. Full eligibility information is available at GoBackToGetAhead.com or call toll free 1 (844) GBTGA-CT; 1 (844) 428-4228. The program is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and will end when funds are depleted, so connect today.
Explore Southern!
Undergraduate OPEN HOUSE Sunday, Oct. 19 SouthernCT.edu/ admissions/ undergraduate (203) 392-5644 (888) 500-SCSU
Graduate Studies OPEN HOUSE Saturday, Oct. 25 SouthernCT.edu/grad (203) 392-5240 (888) 500-SCSU