The Extra Mile Fall 2007 by Southern New Hampshire University

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Go forth and lead. Leadership. Communication. Teamwork.

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Ed Ithier ’87

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Spotlight on Scholarships

President: Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc Editor: Michelle Dunn Content Editors: Richard Erskine, Woullard Lett, Frederick Lord, Heather Lorenz, Tiffany Lyon, Tom McDermott, Judy Timney Director of Publications: Patricia Garrity Graphic Design: Jason Mayeu Photography: Brian Crowley, Jeremy Earl Mayhew, Gil Talbot Proofreader: Ellin Jean, Jean Creative Services Printing: The Lane Press Inc. The Extra Mile is published two times per year by the Office of Marketing and Communications. Class Notes and changes of address may be sent to alumni@snhu.edu. Visit us online at snhu.edu for more university news and information about upcoming events. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Alumni and Community Relations, Southern New Hampshire University, 2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106

2007-2008 SNHU Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew “Mickey” Greene ’72 Vice Chairman Mark A. Ouellette ’77 Treasurer Bill McGarry Secretary Bradford E. Cook President/CEO Paul J. LeBlanc Board Members Howard Brodsky Michael Brody ’73 Cathy Champagne ’88 Clayton M. Christensen Stephanie Collins Rick Courtemanche ’73 Robert J. Decolfmacker ’78 Theresa Desfosses ’72 Robert Finlay ’92 Donald R. Labrie ’71 David Lee ’87, ’93 Frederic “Rick” Loeffler Kyle Nagel L. Douglas O’Brien Steven Painchaud Martha Shen-Urquidez Beverly Smith ’00 June Smith Thomas Tessier ’74 Raymond Truncellito Kimon S. Zachos Student Observer Benjamin Barkhouse Trustees Emeriti William S. Green Jacqueline Mara

William Trueheart Scholarship Lasting Memory Phil King ’00 and Michael Provencher ’00 wanted their beloved information technology professor, William Trueheart, to be remembered long after his retirement in May 2000. So they created a university scholarship in the associate professor’s name. “Professor Trueheart’s commitment to developing a student’s potential, his passion for teaching and his compassion for his students are just part of his legacy.” King said. For Trueheart, it was more than an honor; it was an opportunity to help students after he left the classroom. After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1980, Trueheart came to SNHU to teach information technology. For the next 20 years he worked to guide and educate the many young men and women who passed though his classroom. Though no longer teaching, he will be able to continue helping students by easing their financial burden through this scholarship.

“

Professor Trueheart’s commitment to developing

a student’s potential, his passion for teaching and his compassion for his students are just part of his legacy.

”

– Phil King ’00

“I’d hate for a student to be held back for financial reasons,” he says. “Knowing that this scholarship will help to give a student a chance in life to go somewhere really means a lot.” Members of the Trueheart family have offered to match each dollar donated, up to $2,500. Once fully endowed, the William Trueheart Scholarship will provide a legacy to his teaching excellence and provide support for IT majors. Awards will be based on academic achievement, involvement in university life and financial need.

To support the William Trueheart Scholarship or learn more about other giving opportunities, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 603.645.9688 or visit snhu.edu online.

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On the Cover

Departments

StayingConnected

Just because you’ve graduated doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye. SNHU alumni have found a number of ways to stay involved.

Features Teams on Tour

The men’s and women’s basketball teams got their game on in China last summer.

Makeup Master

School of Business grad Kris Soterion ’87 is making politics a bit prettier.

School of Business

School of Community Economic Development

School of Education

School of Liberal Arts

Sports

Alumni News

Class Notes

Honor Roll of Donors Report 2006-2007

Contents On the Cover – Sharing his Success Ed Ithier ’87 is a model of alumni involvement. He speaks in classes, networks with students and offers career-related advice, among other activities. He hopes students will see his involvement and support and be inspired to do the same after they graduate.

Write to Us!

Letters to the editor of The Extra Mile are welcomed and encouraged. Submission does not guarantee publication, and those letters that are published may be edited for style and length. Please include the writer’s name, the year of graduation if an alum, a daytime phone number and a return address. Letters may be sent by fax to 603.645.9676, by e-mail to snhumagazine@snhu.edu or by mail to the Office of Marketing and Communications, Southern New Hampshire University, 2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106-1045. The views expressed in The Extra Mile do not necessarily reflect those of the university’s trustees, administrators, faculty, staff and/or students.

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University Happenings

Director Departs

Dear friends, I am not sure there is a more idyllic place than a New England university campus in the early fall. Outside my window I can see the women’s soccer team practicing, two members of the freshman class (our largest ever) lugging armfuls of books toward Newcastle Hall and one of our faculty members in earnest conversation with a student as they walk to class. The days remain sunny and warm, at least for a bit longer. Unlike so many campuses, ours is not reawakening to a new academic year after a lazy, quiet summer. Southern New Hampshire University is a 12-month hub of activity. Our new class of M.F.A. students was here for a highly successful residency with acclaimed authors Richard Rhodes and Sy Montgomery. International community economic development students came from around the country and the globe to spend six weeks in class here in Manchester. This issue features one of them – Alicia Fitzpatrick, who is doing inspirational work with Zuni pupils on the reservation where she teaches. In this issue of The Extra Mile, you may also read about our basketball teams’ and coaches’ tour of China. Hospitality students in our BASHA program were here studying and have now fanned out around the country for internships at some of the finest hotels. Many of those internships were made possible by SNHU alumni. The role of alumni is the subject of our cover story. This is a place that has transformed lives for 75 years. It has the biggest business school in the state. With a federal grant it, created a groundbreaking three-year honors business program that saves students 25 percent on tuition (find me even one other program that creates that kind of

“The students look normal. They talk normal. But they are superheroes.”

Mickey Green ’72 (left) is the new chairman of the university’s board of trustees. Rick Courtemanche ’73 chaired the board for 10 years and remains a member.

savings). Our CED program is considered the best in the field. Our aforementioned M.F.A. program features the very best writers in America. We do all of this and still we haven’t lost our commitment to students who might be the first in their families to go to college, who might be juggling family and work and education, who might be serving in Iraq and taking classes online. I could go on and on. I love to see alumni put SNHU stickers on their cars, mount their SNHU diplomas on their office walls, brag to their neighbors and co-workers and celebrate the school where they earned their education. A final word about two of those alumni: After 10 years of guiding our board of trustees, Chairman Rick Courtemanche ’73 is handing the baton to Mickey Greene ’72. Rick will continue as a member of the board. I have appreciated his wise counsel and personal support and I am grateful that he remains part of our leadership team even as I look forward to working with Mickey. The two exemplify extraordinary dedication and ongoing engagement. Best wishes!

By Sarah Littlefield, student Jane Torrey spent decades creating a comfortable setting for student learning. Academic adviser Burton Reynolds found her one evening elbow-deep in trash, preparing classrooms for students after a day of vendor events. “Jane is not embarrassed or afraid to roll up her sleeves and dig right in,” he said. After serving 20 years as director of the university’s Seacoast Center (formerly the Portsmouth Center), Torrey retired in August. “SNHU works hard to create a community which is nurturing, humane and focused on individuals. Few people exemplify that ethos better than Jane Torrey,” SNHU President Paul LeBlanc said. “Jane has been a passionate advocate for her students and the inspirational spirit of the Seacoast Center: one part cheerleader, one part mother to all and one part taskmaster.” As director of the center, located at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, N.H., Torrey oversaw 300

Paul J. LeBlanc President

“Many of our students never thought they would go to college,” she said. “To watch them morph from someone who is anxious, unsure of themselves, into a confident graduate is awesome because it not only changes their life – it changes the life of every generation after them.

to 500 students and 25 to 30 faculty members per term, as well as a staff of five. She also managed the center’s budget; coordinated course offerings and schedules; recruited, hired, assigned, trained and evaluated adjunct faculty members; developed community and corporate relationships; and ensured academic integrity. With five other colleges operating within a five-mile radius of the Seacoast Center, competition for students is tough. Torrey responded by emphasizing exceptional service and community involvement. “You can tell when you walk into Jane’s organization, there’s a difference – the way the people, the administrative staff, treat you,” Reynolds said. Torrey had the utmost respect and admiration for her students and enjoyed being their cheerleader.

“

Graduate student Steve Cook, an information technology operations manager at Liberty Mutual who has multiple SNHU degrees, said Torrey made him feel all his work was worthwhile. “She’s very sweet and well respected,” he said. “A lot of people are going to miss her.” Torrey inspired loyalty, respect and laughter, said Lauren Andresen, former associate director at the Seacoast Center. “It was exciting and enlightening to work with her,” she said. “Much of what I learned from Jane I will use the remainder of my professional life.” As retirement neared, Torrey likened her feelings to what students experience as they approach graduation. “How do you reinvent yourself after you’ve been one thing for so long? I guess that’s my next challenge,” Torrey said. “For one thing, I’m going to have fun.”

SNHU works hard to create a community which is nurturing, humane

and focused on individuals. Few people exemplify that ethos better than Jane Torrey.

”

– President Paul LeBlanc

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University Happenings

Director Departs

“The students look normal. They talk normal. But they are superheroes.”

Mickey Green ’72 (left) is the new chairman of the university’s board of trustees. Rick Courtemanche ’73 chaired the board for 10 years and remains a member.

Paul J. LeBlanc President

“

SNHU works hard to create a community which is nurturing, humane

and focused on individuals. Few people exemplify that ethos better than Jane Torrey.

”

– President Paul LeBlanc

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Our Name in Lights The university’s Web site address is helping light up the Manchester, N.H., skyline. The neon sign was raised on the roof of the downtown building that houses SNHU Online, the university’s distance education program, and can be seen from Interstate 293. It is about 8 feet tall and 37 feet wide. Each letter weighs about 100 pounds, for a total weight, including framing, of about 1,500 pounds. The lights are configured with custom-bent neon and total 550 feet with 227 volts. “We took pains to create an old-fashioned-style sign that would evoke a sort of 1950s look for a 21st-century educational offering,” President Paul LeBlanc said. The sign was designed by Jutras Signs, owned by Cathy Champagne ?88.

Go Teach for SNHU Online Southern New Hampshire University needs qualified, part-time online instructors. We have one of the largest online programs in New England, serving thousands of students in 22 time zones. If you have a master’s degree in an appropriate discipline, we want to hear from you. Extensive work and teaching experience are desired. Please send a resume and cover letter to TeachOnline@snhu.edu. SNHU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Visit www.snhu.edu/jobs and click on “Adjunct Faculty for Online Education” for a complete list.

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University Happenings

Teams on Tour The university’s basketball teams took on China over the summer. During the 11-day exhibition tour, members of the men’s and women’s teams competed against Chinese teams, held youth basketball clinics and did a lot of sightseeing in Shanghai and Beijing. “We have a major initiative to establish a presence in China – we recruit there and we hope to bring programs to the country. The basketball teams’ tour was a way of carrying the SNHU banner and of nurturing our relationships with our Chinese university partners, and was a way of building goodwill,” said President Paul LeBlanc. “At the same time, it provided our students and coaches an extraordinary learning opportunity.” LeBlanc has visited China in recent years to develop SNHU’s relationship with Chinese universities and was amazed at the popularity of basketball there. The traveling party consisted of the teams, coaching staffs and Athletic Department personnel, as well as family members and friends. SNHU trustee Martha Shen-Urquidez, who is based in Beijing and Shanghai, made all of the 6 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

In Her Words By Samantha Allen Being part of the SNHU women’s basketball team while touring through China was amazing. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget!

“How can you do that?” Pinkos said, laughing. “We all bought a suitcase coming back.”

arrangements, set up the games and oversaw the visit. Beijing Sports University, China’s premier athletic training facility, hosted the group. It was the first overseas trip for the women’s basketball program, and the team went prepared. Players presented “fun facts” about China before practices. The coaching staff found a Chinese language pronunciation Web site, and the group practiced basic phrases. Coach Karen Pinkos even arranged for a local restaurant to prepare an authentic Chinese dinner for the players, which they ate using chopsticks. There was one hardship – travelers were allowed only one carry-on bag each for the 11-day trip.

While in China, the teams hit the courts to take on Chinese university teams; the women’s team also faced a professional team. “It was very different than the style we’re used to,” Pinkos said. “It was very physical – much faster.” Both teams had victories. The women lost to the pros, but it was a learning experience, sophomore Andrea Lozeau said. “They were incredible,” she said. “It will help us because now we’ll be more physical than the teams around here.” The teams did a lot of sightseeing, too – they went to the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, future Olympic sites in Beijing and the Great Wall. “You can’t really have a grip on how

incredible the Great Wall is until you’ve seen it and climbed it,” Lozeau said. Coach Stan Spirou was stunned by the extensive development in the two cities. “Since China is going to be a major player in the world politically, economically and, I think, athletically, it was good to see it evolving from the ground up,” he said. The trip was good for international relations, LeBlanc said. “With China we have a growing partnership and rivalry,” he said. “In that context, it is important for the Chinese to meet and interact with Americans, to understand us better – as we must understand them – and to meet individuals and realize that for all of our

differences, we share a wide range of common goals and desires.” Contending with language and cultural differences brought the teams closer together, Pinkos and Spirou said. “A trip like this is twofold,” said Spirou, who has taken his teams to Greece in the past. “Basketball-wise, it gives us a chance to come together and create some team unity. More importantly, the kids got the chance to experience the cultures of the different country and hopefully brought back memories that will last a lifetime.” “It was good for them to step out of their boxes, out of their comfort zones,” Pinkos said. “They’ll be talking about this trip forever.”

When we arrived in Beijing, none of us really had any idea what to expect – small things like no toilet paper, bathroom situations, food and manners seemed to hit us hard – but we got used to the lifestyle very quickly and soon it became second nature. The Chinese culture surprised all of us, but the experience of being there has made me realize how lucky I am to live in the U.S. and that I might never be able to return to China in my life. So I tried a little bit of everything – jellyfish, eel, seaweed – “weird” food that I’m sure I will never want to know what it actually was – and you know what: I’m still alive! Trying new things and going to new places never hurt anyone. One of my favorite experiences in China was climbing the Great Wall. Words cannot even begin to describe its beautiful and majestic qualities. It seemed to go on and on forever – and I bet if we had preseason on that wall, there would not be a team in the Northeast-10 that would be as strong or fast! I remember a certain point on the wall where it was nearly vertical for climbing; I was on all fours attempting to scale it. There is amazing architecture in China. Shanghai had some of the most amazing buildings (and lights) that I have ever seen. Absolutely stunning! The China experience will be one that I will never forget. Fifty years from now I’ll be telling my grandchildren about playing basketball in China.

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University Happenings

In Her Words By Samantha Allen Being part of the SNHU women’s basketball team while touring through China was amazing. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget!

“How can you do that?” Pinkos said, laughing. “We all bought a suitcase coming back.”

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Business

SCHOOL OF

Makeup Master By Patricia Garrity

Kriss Soterion ’87 knows how to put your best face forward. Soterion is a master makeup artist. Pundits raved after she gave presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton a pre-debate makeover last summer. She’s powdered a number of highprofile faces, including politicians Pat Buchanan, Jimmy Carter and former President Bill Clinton, and done makeup work for the networks, the Discovery Channel, CNN and Food Network. She operates a salon in Manchester, N.H., and has created her own product line, Kriss Cosmetics. Who is the most interesting person to whom you have applied makeup? Soterion: It was actually one of the most important moments I ever did makeup. It was three days after the 9/11 attack. I was working for NBC Nightly News, applying makeup to Tom Brokaw but also to former President (George) Bush Sr. President Bush Sr. was making the first transcontinental flight from Texas to Logan Airport to let the American people know that it was safe to fly commercial airlines again … there were SWAT teams everywhere and I had to get special clearance. I realized that in that moment of time I was probably in one of the most dangerous places in the country doing makeup.

Have Brush, Will Travel School of Business alumna Kriss Soterion ’87 has helped a lot of people look their best.

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“

My biggest challenge is overcoming the stigma that being in the beauty industry is about vanity … but it’s remembering some of the powerful moments in history that I’ve shared in as a result of being a makeup artist that corrects my vision.

But the one that fills me with the most energy would have to be Bono from U2. I did his makeup at the Democratic convention in Boston. I was working with CNN and he was on “The Larry King Show.” That moment really was a zinger because he dropped his glasses down and he stared so deep in my eyes before I did his makeup. It’s almost like I received something from him that day. I’m not really sure what it was, but I think it might have been a blessing of some sort.

”

– Kriss Soterion ’87

they can act as if they do and they can step up to the plate and go and work that job that they have to work to keep their insurance. It’s times like that that I realize that this has nothing to do with vanity. But that is a huge challenge and the other, not so much today because I have my priorities in order, but for a long time it was a long lesson to learn balance between work and family and self-care.

How do you feel about your current celebrity status? Soterion: I’m chuckling because I think it’s really funny. I look at myself as somebody who provides a service to celebrities. Doing Hillary Clinton’s makeup has definitely put me on the map in a capacity that is greater than I have been in the past, but I still get up and do the same day. It wasn’t like a one-hit wonder makeover on Hillary Clinton. This is something that I have been doing since ’91. What keeps you going when times get tough? Soterion: Now I get that people that are successful have their priorities in order and they have a strong commitment to those priorities. For me it’s self-care and my prayer life … I have a wonderful husband of 19 years and three amazing boys, and when I’m making sure that the home front is my No. 1 thing, then anything else that I have room for will flourish. What is your biggest challenge? Soterion: My biggest challenge is overcoming the stigma that being in the beauty industry is about vanity. This is lipstick. This is just so frivolous. It’s not like I pick up my paintbrushes and it paints away homelessness or something. Sometimes I struggle with that, but it’s remembering some of the powerful moments in history that I’ve shared in as a result of being a makeup artist that corrects my vision. It’s also the moments where I’m working on a cancer patient and I’m helping them to be able to feel better about going through their day, with being able to make it look like they feel great so

Hillary’s Secret Weapon. Kriss Soterion ’87 was profiled in the Boston Herald for the makeover she gave presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton last summer.

Who was your favorite professor at SNHU? Soterion: Well, I’d have to say that my absolute favorite professor would be (retired Prof.) Lynda Gamans Poloian, who also happens to be my mom. I did have her as an instructor for my retailing class and I always joke around that she gave me a B. But the reason she is my favorite professor was she brought me up in education and really stressed the necessity of a good education as a foundation for further success.

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Business

SCHOOL OF

Makeup Master By Patricia Garrity

Have Brush, Will Travel School of Business alumna Kriss Soterion ’87 has helped a lot of people look their best.

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“

”

– Kriss Soterion ’87

Hillary’s Secret Weapon. Kriss Soterion ’87 was profiled in the Boston Herald for the makeover she gave presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton last summer.

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Community Economic Development

SCHOOL OF

Tilling Tradition By Woullard Lett, School of Community Economic Development

Alicia Fitzpatrick ’07 hoped her students at Twin Buttes High School on the Zuni reservation in Zuni, N.M., would do something more constructive when she heard them complain about lunches. When student Alex Jamon bemoaned the school’s lack of fresh produce, Fitzpatrick stressed to him the importance of finding solutions to problems rather than grousing about them. So he did. Jamon hatched the idea to create a new elective science class dedicated to creating and managing a school greenhouse and a traditional Zuni waffle garden. Through it, students enhanced their modern school lunch program by applying the gardening techniques their Native American ancestors used. “Zuni is traditionally an agrarian society,” Fitzpatrick said. “Agriculture and the Zuni religion are infused.” Fitzpatrick has enabled the students to make decisions. She sought and received support from the school administration and a grant from the Red Rock Coalition, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Parents, school staff and community members are participating as well. Students have created the garden and built a frame greenhouse to extend the growing season. They reflected on the waffle garden’s progress through photography, journaling and small group discussions. In addition to learning how to grow food, students have incorporated traditional Zuni practices into the school curriculum. The Zuni have lived in the area since the 1500s, making them among the oldest stationary Native American settlements in North America. Their active lifestyle and traditional diet of corn and other vegetables sustained their health. But with major upriver civil engineering projects affecting their water supply and a modern food supply consisting of government surplus foods, their health began a slow deterioration that resulted in skyrocketing diabetes by the 1980s.

Nature and Nurture Working on traditional gardens enables her students to shape the future, says teacher Alicia Fitzpatrick ’07.

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Students at Twin Buttes High School in Zuni, N.M., constructed a greenhouse so they could grow fresh vegetables for school lunches.

“

I developed the realization that people have the ability to not only co-exist with each other,

but work for a common goal. I see this as a platform for a fresh start in healthy living for the next generation of youth.

”

– Alex Jamon, student

Other projects have stemmed from the waffle garden project. The students demolished an old building on the school campus and turned the foundation into an outside classroom. They built benches for the school grounds using some of the wood. They also developed a water catchment system around the school building. “I had an interest in doing a project with youth that involved the community, but I also knew the idea had to come from the youth,” said Fitzpatrick, an international community economic development program graduate. The students plan to supplement school lunches and sell some of the harvest to the local store in Zuni, the beginning of a school agribusiness. “I developed the realization that people have the ability to not only co-exist with each other, but work for a common goal,” Jamon said. “I see this as a platform for a fresh start in healthy living for the next generation of youth.”

What is a waffle garden? Traditional Zuni waffle gardens are terraced, with perimeters of raised mud. The pattern created looks like a waffle from above. The design makes efficient use of space and conserves water, an important factor in the arid Southwest. Crops include droughtresistant varieties of corn, squash, beans, melons, cilantro, chili peppers and more.

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Community Economic Development

SCHOOL OF

Tilling Tradition By Woullard Lett, School of Community Economic Development

Nature and Nurture Working on traditional gardens enables her students to shape the future, says teacher Alicia Fitzpatrick ’07.

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Students at Twin Buttes High School in Zuni, N.M., constructed a greenhouse so they could grow fresh vegetables for school lunches.

“

I developed the realization that people have the ability to not only co-exist with each other,

but work for a common goal. I see this as a platform for a fresh start in healthy living for the next generation of youth.

”

– Alex Jamon, student

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C O V E R S T O RY

There is a saying in higher education that the difference between a good school and a great school is involvement of the alumni.

StayingConnected Hanging diplomas, talking about the university, mentoring and hiring students, attending events and supporting scholarships are just some of the ways alumni can advocate for the university. “We would like our alumni to interact with every stage of a student’s experience,” said President Paul LeBlanc. “Very few students have graduated from here without the help of others.” The university is fortunate to have many alumni visit campus, attend events, interact with and hire students, provide financial support and much more. “Alumni are critical to our success because they’ve lived the SNHU experience,” said Don Brezinski, vice president of the Office of Institutional Advancement.

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C O V E R S T O RY

There is a saying in higher education that the difference between a good school and a great school is involvement of the alumni.

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Be of Service

Back to School

and a very flexible schedule to go to school on the weekends and at night during the summer.”

“I like that it kind of takes me back a little,” he said. “A lot of it is the innocence of the questions, the wide eyes of kids wanting to learn. It’s off the beaten path from what I have to do every day.”

Finlay also has connected students to another organization he supports, Friends of Forgotten Children, which helps families in the Concord, N.H., area with food, clothing, household goods and holiday gifts. In September, student volunteers spruced up the building and landscaping and the university sponsored the organization’s grand re-opening. The organization also will employ SNHU work-study students. “When alums get involved, students see that upon graduation they still have a responsibility to give back to their communities, and SNHU can support them in doing that,” Jacobs said.

Rick Courtemanche ’73 and students Brienne Casey and Casey Snow advocate for “alternative break” community service trips.

Repair a fence, build a shelter for hurricane victims, read stories to at-risk children, serve up some stew or make a donation. The university serves the community in dozens of ways through its Center for Service and Citizenship, and alumni can help.

“It was an exciting trip to bring technology to an area that is in such desperate need,” Finlay said. “These kids are really doing a lot and accomplishing so much that the dollar return, especially for business graduates to realize, is unbelievable.”

“Alums becoming involved role-model the behavior and the philosophy we’re trying to develop on campus: a philosophy of service where we give back,” Center Coordinator Sarah Jacobs said.

Finlay has a successful career – he is now managing director of Hillcrest Management, a private investment group – and supports the university to give back.

University trustee Rob Finlay ’92 became involved with the service office last spring, when students installed computers at rural primary schools in South Africa. Finlay contributed $10,000 to the effort. Trustees Theresa DesFosses ‘72, Rick Courtemanche ’73 and Mike Brody ’73, among others, also contributed.

“SNHU gave me a chance,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship when I went to school there,

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Courtemanche’s involvement with the center began with a gift to support an alternative spring break trip to help Hurricane Katrina victims in Pass Christian, Miss. He ended up going with them. “It really makes me feel good that we’re doing the right thing – that they’re involved, that they’re engaged, that we’re providing an experience that goes beyond the classroom,” he said. Alumni are role models, contacts and mentors for students, he said. He has helped students in many ways, including offering advice and writing recommendations. “It keeps me motivated, it keeps me young, it keeps me energized; it challenges me,” he said. “How could it not be anything but a win-win?” Join the 75 Acts of Service effort by sending your service project plans to serve@snhu.edu. Check www.snhu.edu for 75th anniversary and 75 Acts of Service updates.

mation and experience to offer students, he said. Plus he enjoys being back in the classroom.

Donahue’s longevity in the industry and career growth is a good example for students, Torrey said.

Scott McKenzie ’97 and his children are big fans of Penmen hockey and lacrosse.

Some alumni find themselves back in the classroom years after graduating. Alumni offer students a professional perspective and information they can use when deciding on careers. Chris Thompson ’01, manager of business development for the American Hockey League’s Springfield Falcons, has worked in a sport management and marketing agency, for the league and for a team. He talks to Dr. Doug Blais’ sport management students about various career paths they can take and offers advice. He does it in part out of gratitude for the contacts faculty helped him make when he was getting started. He also feels it is important to “stay connected to your roots.” “They went to bat for me,” he said. “What SNHU offers – you can’t put a price tag on it.” Blais ’88 and ’90 appreciates the connection a fellow alumnus can make with his students. “They reinforce some of the messages we’re giving. Then students say, ‘I guess Blais does have a clue, he does

know what he’s talking about,’” Blais said, laughing. “They get the sense that could be them in five years.” Neil Donahue ’82 was looking for something he could do for the university when he reached out to Assistant Professor Susan Torrey. A regional sales vice president for Compass Group, which provides food service for Microsoft, Fulton’s Crab House, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Academy Awards and other well-known organizations and high-profile events, he speaks to hospitality students about this segment of the food service industry that he said “often goes unnoticed.”

“He introduces them to a world that they really haven’t been exposed to,” she said. “It’s much more vivid than what an instructor or textbook can show.” Former basketball player Ed Ithier ’87 and ’92 (pictured on cover) has been visiting classes for 11 years. He hopes students who see alumni contributing are inspired to do the same after they graduate. “In any successful university, students need to see alumni, people who have had great experiences, come back and try to support the institution,” said

“Ours is kind of a sleeping giant,” he said. “Not too many people know about it until they’ve exhausted the other ‘Main Street’ avenues.” Working alumni have a lot of infor-

Chris Thompson ’01, with student Nicole Dumond, enjoys speaking with students about his varied career path.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 15

Be of Service

Back to School

and a very flexible schedule to go to school on the weekends and at night during the summer.”

Rick Courtemanche ’73 and students Brienne Casey and Casey Snow advocate for “alternative break” community service trips.

“Alums becoming involved role-model the behavior and the philosophy we’re trying to develop on campus: a philosophy of service where we give back,” Center Coordinator Sarah Jacobs said.

Finlay has a successful career – he is now managing director of Hillcrest Management, a private investment group – and supports the university to give back.

“SNHU gave me a chance,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship when I went to school there,

14 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

mation and experience to offer students, he said. Plus he enjoys being back in the classroom.

Donahue’s longevity in the industry and career growth is a good example for students, Torrey said.

Scott McKenzie ’97 and his children are big fans of Penmen hockey and lacrosse.

“Ours is kind of a sleeping giant,” he said. “Not too many people know about it until they’ve exhausted the other ‘Main Street’ avenues.” Working alumni have a lot of infor-

Chris Thompson ’01, with student Nicole Dumond, enjoys speaking with students about his varied career path.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 15

Ithier, a product sales specialist with Xerox. “My motivation behind it all is to give students the sense that yes, anything’s possible, because I think a lot of times students don’t know what’s ahead of them.”

Alumni on Board

Talking Up Help Wanted the “U” Simply telling other people about the university is a great way for alumni to contribute.

Ithier speaks about sales-related topics, including motivating sales forces and building customer relationships, in marketing instructor Micheline Anstey’s classes. He also critiques students’ final project presentations. Students see the value of an SNHU education and how it’s used in the real world, Anstey said.

“Word of mouth will drive admissions,” Brezinski said. That’s certainly been the case with Teresa Prim ’89, of Chicago. The community economic development and real estate finance consultant influenced at least seven School of CED graduates to enroll in the program. Prim and her husband, Sequane Lawrence ’96, also spread the word when hosting their annual African-American community economic development networking event.

“The bottom line is that he encourages them to work hard now while they’re in school as this is where their work ethic and character are revealed,” she said. It’s his way of saying thank you. David Lee ’87 and ’93 loved SNHU so much that he persuaded his daughter, Carole, to attend.

“

I know when I was there, there were alumni who helped me, and I always valued that and appreciated that.

”

– Ed Ithier, ’87

David Lee ’87 and ’93, newly elected alumni board president, is so devoted to the university that he persuaded his daughter, lacrosse player Carole Lee, to turn down bigger scholarship offers to attend SNHU.

The athletics program drew Scott McKenzie ’97, a Nashua Center student, to campus; years after graduating, his whole family has ties here.

“I really love the school, especially the sports. It’s a family thing,” he said. “It was a great honor to have my daughter get a scholarship and play up there.”

McKenzie used to take his son to SNHU hockey games. He was so impressed with the team that years later he still presents an annual award of his creation – the Fire and Ice Award -- to a member of the team. He now brings his daughter, 11, to lacrosse games; he has been a guest speaker in classes; and his wife, Susan McKenzie, teaches math in the undergraduate day school.

Alumni have a vested interest in staying involved, which helps strengthen the university, Lee said.

“Here I always felt that I was somebody,” he said. “And people would go out of their way to help me.”

16 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

“The more the university improves over the years, the more your degree means,” he said. Robin (Sorenson) Kazes ’97 volunteers for the President’s Cup Golf Tournament, Alumni Weekend, the annual wine festival and other activities, especially those that raise money for student aid. “When I came on campus, I was paying for college myself. (The university)

found ways that I could get money. I got the Alumni Scholarship as well,” she said. “Otherwise I would have walked away from college.” Alumni events are great networking opportunities for alumni, too, she said. “It’s not even about careers and jobs and resumes,” said Kazes, manager of accounts payable and payroll for Scrivanos, which provides services for Dunkin Donuts’ 120 stores and 1,500 employees in four states. “You find yourself in a position where you can ask for advice.” Finally, Kazes volunteers simply because it’s fun. “I always think of it as being selfish,” said Kazes, a member of the alumni board. “I know if people get involved with the school, they’re going to have a good time.” Learn more about alumni activities and ways you can become involved by visiting www.snhu.edu/alumni online.

“I believe the program really enhances people’s skills,” she said. Staying connected also benefits her professionally. “There are still resources and information that I’m able to get from the program, either through my peers or by contacting the instructors directly,” she said. Work is a frequent topic when Amy Moy ’02 helps with recruiting. A graduate of the 3Year honors business program, Moy recently accepted a marketing and sales position for Mighty Innovations, a hightech Web applications company. She speaks at 3Year program networking events and prospective student open houses, often to parents who want to know about her career. “Parents always want to hear about life on campus and getting a job after,” she said. “It’s a two-way benefit: There’s a lot you can add for those students. I am amazed that every time I go back to an event, I connect with someone who is beneficial in my personal or professional life.”

Using SNHU’s Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center is a winwin for alumni, according to Director Jim Kuras. The center is always looking for alumni to help students with informational interviews, resume help, mock interviews and mentoring, and is always seeking news of internship opportunities and job openings. Strong connections can be made through the career center. The mock interview service helped Ithier get his internship. The person who hired him went to another company, then hired Ithier for a job after he graduated.

Alumni looking for jobs can use the center for job-hunting assistance from center staff and from other alumni. “Alumni help each other – that’s one of the most value-added aspects of the higher education community,” Brezinski said. “Just hearing (an applicant) is a Southern New Hampshire University alumnus in a job search ought to make you want to talk to them.” Please contact Jim Kuras at j.kuras@snhu.edu for more information.

“We all know that the world revolves around who you know,” Kuras said. “Students understand that relationships are built over time.” The center has an online mentoring program as well as campus recruiting through career and internship fairs and Resume-o-Rama days, where employers critique student resumes. (The next career fair will be in March.) Kazes had a great experience with an accounting student she brought to Scrivanos for an internship. “It brought a little SNHU to my place of business,” she said. The center soon will launch online resume-writing and interviewing modules, which will feature sponsorship opportunities for companies. Kuras also hopes alumni will use the online SNHU Recruit system to post jobs openings online.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 17

Alumni on Board

Talking Up Help Wanted the “U” Simply telling other people about the university is a great way for alumni to contribute.

“

I know when I was there, there were alumni who helped me, and I always valued that and appreciated that.

”

– Ed Ithier, ’87

The athletics program drew Scott McKenzie ’97, a Nashua Center student, to campus; years after graduating, his whole family has ties here.

“I really love the school, especially the sports. It’s a family thing,” he said. “It was a great honor to have my daughter get a scholarship and play up there.”

Alumni have a vested interest in staying involved, which helps strengthen the university, Lee said.

“Here I always felt that I was somebody,” he said. “And people would go out of their way to help me.”

16 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 17

Education

SCHOOL OF

Progressive Portfolio

Peggy Zola ’07 has found e-portfolios to be a much more attractive and comprehensive way to showcase her skills. “It was awesome to see the final product,” she said. “It was really nice to look at … and everything is there that you need.”

they proceed through their programs,” said Susan Gifford, administrator of the TQE grant. “Institutions with teacher preparatory programs are strongly encouraged to adopt an e-portfolio as part of the accreditation process. It’s the best decision for quality programs, for the state of New Hampshire and ultimately for the candidates.”

Zola sent hers to the school that ended up hiring her. “This is the tool to use if you want to sell yourself. Oldfashioned portfolios are cumbersome; ePortfolio adds value to the resume and to the interviewing process,” she said. “The entire team involved in the interview can view the e-portfolio together, making the process much more collaborative.” Beyond Paper In addition to being less cumbersome, e-portfolios allow for the inclusion of more varied and creative material. For example, students can upload video vignettes of themselves teaching classes, as well as examples of their lesson plans. Electronic portfolios can be sent in advance of a job interview, allowing a principal to preview a new teacher’s ability and gain insight into his or her disposition in the classroom.

By Judy Timney, School of Education

Alumna Leann McCormack’s college portfolio continues to wow her employer, even now that she is on the job. “I received a very positive response from the principal who hired me, and I’m probably going to be on the technology committee at my new school because of it,” said McCormack ’07, an elementary education graduate. McCormack’s work isn’t in a leather-bound, plastic-sleeved binder or case; she keeps her portfolio on her computer. During her last semester, McCormack participated in a School of Education pilot program for Chalk and Wire’s ePortfolio software. She found Digital Advancement that an electronic portfolio can encompass E-portfolios are helping School of quite a bit more than a case or binder Education graduates get hired. bulging with paper.

18 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

These “digital resumes” are going online at the university this fall, beginning with the School of Education. The technology enables the school to better train tomorrow’s teachers and give them a digital avenue to help them find work. SNHU introduced ePortfolio using a Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant through the state Department of Education. “Paper resumes are giving way to electronic portfolios,” said Associate Dean Ellen J. Kalicki. “The state strongly recommends that all education students have e-portfolios because they’re an excellent assessment tool, but they can also be very helpful for new graduates looking for employment as they can easily be shared with prospective employers via the Internet.”

E-portfolios are more than digital resumes. They are intended to be a valuable part of the learning process as well. For example, instructors can electronically assess student work. Students upload their work, be it videos, PowerPoint presentations, a series of lesson plans or their philosophy of education. Imbedded grading frameworks electronically assess the material and provide feedback to students and instructors. Instructors can determine students’ levels of competency, which in turn also informs instruction.

Not Just for College E-portfolios are used by students at universities across the country, including Pennsylvania State University, Indiana University and Stanford University. Now their use is trickling down even to the elementary school level. McCormack recently showed a group of veteran teachers in her district how to create an electronic portfolio. Just as they do at the college level, e-portfolios could help teachers and administrators at all levels track student growth and development. “At first the technological aspect was intimidating,” she said. “But once I showed them how to upload ‘artifacts,’ the teachers were relieved to see how easy it was to use.”

Prior to a student’s graduation, faculty and staff will use the tools to determine whether he or she has met state standards for pre-service teachers. “E-portfolios allow candidates to electronically display their body of work to determine points of progress as

“

This is the tool to use if you want to sell yourself. Old-fashioned portfolios are cumbersome; ePortfolio adds value to the resume and to the interviewing process. – Peggy Zola ’07

”

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 19

Education

SCHOOL OF

Progressive Portfolio

By Judy Timney, School of Education

18 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

“

This is the tool to use if you want to sell yourself. Old-fashioned portfolios are cumbersome; ePortfolio adds value to the resume and to the interviewing process. – Peggy Zola ’07

”

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 19

Liberal Arts

SCHOOL OF

Mother Nurture

“

There were nights that they didn’t know where they were going to sleep with their babies, and they risked losing them to the system. Some nights they stayed with me.

”

– Verneesha Banks ’00

Milwaukee Child Welfare. (Several staff members have since enrolled in the PCMH.) “When I go into the field, I cross paths with other students and graduates of PCMH,” she said. “I pick up on a lot of similar values and beliefs.” In addition, the University of Wisconsin recently hired Banks as its primary foster parent trainer. Finally, she also has started Wraparound’s Mobile Urgent Treatment Team for kids who have mental health issues. The team provides access to on-site crisis response from mental health experts. She always has her eye on the next child she can help. “This is something that I’ll be doing as long as I can walk and have all my functions,” she said, chuckling. Verneesha Banks ’00

When she was working as a social worker for Wraparound Milwaukee, an agency that serves children with serious emotional disorders who are at risk of being removed from their homes or hospitalized, Banks adopted a 15-year-old boy who had been in 30 foster homes. “The kid couldn’t stand one more move,” she said. “Now he is going to college this fall.”

By Susan Maslack, School of Liberal Arts

Verneesha Banks ’00 started having kids when she was 15. She was more fortunate than many girls in that situation; her parents were supportive and took care of her son so she could attend school. “I had two parents who, despite my mistakes, stepped up and believed and helped me do whatever I could do, no matter what,” the Milwaukee resident said. Those early experiences and her love of children have motivated Banks in her career. Since becoming a social worker, The Mother in the Shoe Banks, now 35, focuses on helping famiVerneesha Banks ’00 nurtures lies in crisis. She has been particularly foster children at home and at work. drawn to young mothers.

20 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

“There were nights that they didn’t know where they were going to sleep with their babies, and they risked losing them to the system,” she said. “Some nights they stayed with me.” Banks’ career is entwined with her personal life. While a student in the university’s Program in Community Mental Health, she welcomed a foster child, a cocaine-addicted baby, into her home. She has since adopted her. “Her prognosis then was not good, but (now) she’s a beautiful 7-year-old and doing very well,” she said.

The “mother in the shoe,” as Wraparound Milwaukee Deputy Director and fellow PCMH alum Mary Jo Meyers ’00 calls her, now has six children. “It always seemed that my education process and my child-rearing process connected, in not only professional ways but personal ways,” she said. “Three of my kids have special needs, and I know not having the educational background that I wouldn’t be able to do it.” As a consultant and trainer, Banks works with families who have children in out-of-home care and need to return to their communities. She and Meyers train others around the country to use this community-based support model. They also have trained every case manager in the Bureau of

“My parents instilled in me a spirituality and faith that has made a big difference for me and taught me that faith is about people,” she added. “I believe that God gives everybody a gift, and God has given me this gift of children and my ability to care for them. When God gives you a gift or gives you a calling, he also gives you the resources to succeed.”

Innovative Practice The Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce has selected Southern New Hampshire University’s Graduate Program in Community Mental Health as an “Innovative Practice in Workforce Development.” The coalition will highlight the program in its Registry of Innovative Practices. The university’s mental health program seeks to develop leaders and promote improved service outcomes in the field of behavioral health and to increase the number of family members and people in recovery working in the field. It has sites in Manchester, N.H.; Burlington, Vt.; Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau, Wis.; and Anchorage, Alaska.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 21

Liberal Arts

SCHOOL OF

Mother Nurture

“

There were nights that they didn’t know where they were going to sleep with their babies, and they risked losing them to the system. Some nights they stayed with me.

”

– Verneesha Banks ’00

By Susan Maslack, School of Liberal Arts

20 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 21

“

Star Search

It’s like you are courting the most beautiful girl in high school. You go from the flirting stage to the point where you think you have a date for the prom, and then the next thing you know she dumps you and goes with someone else.

Women’s basketball coach Karen Pinkos spent 16 years recruiting at the Division I level before coming to Division II SNHU two years ago.

By Tom McDermott, Sports Information Director

The art of recruiting is a big part of being a successful coach, though it often goes unnoticed. Coaches at Southern New Hampshire University go the extra mile to land top recruits. The list of talented athletes who have worn the Penmen “blue and gold” over the years is impressive. Men’s basketball coach Stan Spirou has learned that it is not an exact science. Just because an athlete was a standout in high school does not always mean he or she will perform that well in college. There also are times that a lower-profile recruit unexpectedly blossoms. Come Play with Us

He has also learned to watch for unforeseen Recruiting players involves travel, prospects, such as Wayne Robertson, a persuasion, luck and patience. two-time All-American who led SNHU to

22 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

back-to-back national semifinal appearances in the mid-’90s. “We got a call to take a look at this player in Toronto,” said Spirou. “We made the trip and I was not interested in the player we went to see, but noticed Wayne and fell in love with the kid.” The hard part was persuading the extremely shy Robertson to leave home for a strange city 600 miles away. Spirou knew he had to get him on campus for an official visit, an important part in the recruiting process that often seals the deal. “He was not very receptive to our offer, but once we got him on campus and he had a chance to see the school and meet the team, he felt much more comfortable,” Spirou said.

”

Sports

PENMEN PRIDE

– Stan Spirou

and paperwork involved in getting recruits cleared to attend school in the U.S.

Swedish native Tobias Svantesson, a two-time All“Just like at the Division I level, the month of July is American, was another of Anderson’s successful our busiest time,” Pinkos said. “There are AAU tour- international recruiting efforts. naments all over the country “We worked really hard to get all month long that we need to him, and he ended up being be seen at. It’s crazy, but it is a one of the best goalkeepers in great chance to see some of the program history,” said players we are interested in, Anderson. “The best part is and you almost always end up that he stayed with the program discovering someone you were after graduation and still serves not aware of.” as our goalkeeping coach.” Travel is a big part of recruiting. Spirou, Pinkos and Anderson It’s far from glamorous. stressed the importance of Men’s soccer coach Dave developing relationships not Anderson made his first only with the recruits, but also recruiting trip to Nigeria last with their parents and high winter. Even with assistant school coaches. Unfortunately, coach Emeka Ezeugo, a native the closer you become with a Nigerian, accompanying him, recruit, the harder it is to let go things did not go smoothly. when he or she decides to After arriving in Nigeria, they attend another school, they said. discovered their next flight was cancelled and wasn’t “It’s like you are courting the most beautiful girl in being rescheduled. Their only option was to drive. high school,” Spirou said, laughing. “You go from the The bumpy ride took 11 hours and two old taxis, flirting stage to the point where you think you have a Anderson said. They stopped once, for bread and date for the prom, and then the next thing you know water. They finally arrived at their far-from-luxurious she dumps you and goes with someone else.” hotel at 3 a.m. “It can work both ways,” Pinkos said. “There have been “That was a miserable day, but in the end it was worth times when I have had to tell a recruit that we are no it,” said Anderson. “Two of the players I went over to longer interested, and that is a very hard thing to do.” see accepted our scholarship offer.” In the end it comes down to being a good salesperson, The challenges of recruiting internationally extend and like any good salesperson, a coach had better be beyond travel. Coaches must decide on prospects after prepared to spend countless hours on the road. getting only one, maybe two, chances to see them play. “I tell people that coaches are like cowboys,” Spirou They must maintain contact once they return home, said. “If you are going to do it right, you better be despite significant time differences. Then, if an offer is ready to spend a lot time alone on the range, just accepted, they must navigate the visa-related red tape you and your horse.”

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 23

“

Star Search

Women’s basketball coach Karen Pinkos spent 16 years recruiting at the Division I level before coming to Division II SNHU two years ago.

By Tom McDermott, Sports Information Director

He has also learned to watch for unforeseen Recruiting players involves travel, prospects, such as Wayne Robertson, a persuasion, luck and patience. two-time All-American who led SNHU to

22 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

”

Sports

PENMEN PRIDE

– Stan Spirou

and paperwork involved in getting recruits cleared to attend school in the U.S.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 23

Penmen SPORTS Numbers SHORTS

Deb Robitaille

John Delanoy

Felicia Brum

by the

157

– Career hits posted by softball player Felicia Brum ’07, who replaced Nikki Cote ’06 as the program’s leader in career hits during the 2007 season.

– Points totaled by women’s lacrosse player Jennifer Parro during the 2007 season, a new program record. Parro, who also broke the record for assists in a season (46), led all Division II players in assists per game (3.29) last spring.

– Number of wins posted by the softball team during the 2007 season, breaking the previous record of 23 set in 2006.

– Number of SNHU studentathletes who earned Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic honors during the spring of 2007. SNHU’s 16 selections ranked second only to Bentley College. The women’s lacrosse team led the way with six selections.

– National ranking earned by the women’s lacrosse team during the 2007 season, marking the first national ranking in the four-year history of the program.

24 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

Hall of Fame

Athletic Director Chip Polak has announced the addition of William Beane, John Rootes and the 1989 men’s soccer team to the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The honorees will be inducted Jan. 19. With the addition of the 2007 inductees, the SNHU Athletic Hall of Fame now consists of 79 individuals and one team. Beane and Rootes both served as head men’s soccer coaches at the university, while the 1989 men’s soccer team still owns the distinction of being the only team in the history of SNHU athletics to win a NCAA National Championship. Beane could be considered the “Father of Penmen Soccer,” as he was the program’s first coach. He spent four seasons, from 1965 through 1968, on the sidelines and led the team to a combined 21-7 record during his first two seasons. He did dual duty as head baseball coach during that time and led the Penmen to back-to-back NEIBA titles in 1967 and 1968. Rootes, coach of the 1989 national championship team, averaged 16 wins a year during his 10 seasons at SNHU and remains the winningest coach in program history. He led the team to a 22-2-0 record during his rookie season in 1988 before posting a 22-1-2 mark and a national title in 1989. He led the Penmen to six NCAA Tournament appearances during his 10 seasons. He posted a 169-30-10 during his time at SNHU and currently ranks as the fifth winningest coach in the history of NCAA Division II men’s soccer. SNHU claimed the title following a 3-1 victory over Final Four host North Carolina-Greensboro, behind two goals from sophomore sniper Archie Harlow. Rootes now is head coach at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

Bernstein, McGuire Named Top Athletes Sophomore Ashley Bernstein and senior David McGuire were named the 2006-2007 Female and Male Athletes of the Year during the university’s 42nd annual athletic awards ceremony. Sophomore Julie Kraus (women’s lacrosse) was honored as the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and junior John Delanoy (men’s lacrosse) Julie Kraus was named Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Seniors Carolyn Mahoney (women’s soccer) and Ken Burlage (hockey) were selected for the Sportsmanship awards. Seniors Felicia Brum (softball) and Pat White (men’s soccer) received Unsung Hero awards. Bernstein led the softball team to a record 24 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament. McGuire led the men’s soccer team to a 9-7-5 record, its sevent straight appearance in the Northeast-10 Tournament and its 13th David McGuire overall appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament this fall. Women’s Lacrosse Earns First National Ranking The women’s lacrosse team earned its first ranking in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division II national poll.

Sports

PENMEN PRIDE

Honors and Milestones Squire and Delanoy Cop National Honors Women’s lacrosse coach Mary Squire and men’s lacrosse player John Delanoy were recognized at the national level. Squire was named Division II National Coach of the Year by womenslacrosse.com and was named Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year. She guided the Penmen to a record 10 wins and its first national ranking last spring. Delanoy was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division II All-America team. An honorable mention selection at midfield, he becomes the second player in program history (Mike Hutnick, 2006, was the first) to earn All-America honors. The Best of the Rest Hockey players Brandon Hammermeister and Dominic DiMarzo earned all-conference honors after leading the Penmen to a 12-14-1 record and an appearance in the semifinals of the Northeast-10 Tournament. Hammermeister recorded his 100th career point during the season. Men’s basketball player Sam Carey recorded his 1,000th career point during the 2006-07 season. Senior Jason Smith was named all-conference in baseball; teammate Ryan Thompson recorded his 100th career hit and teammate Rob Hennessy recorded his 100th career strikeout. Seniors Felicia Brum and Tara Moriarty, sophomore Karissa Bettencourt and freshman Andrea Clausi were named all-conference after leading the softball team to a record 24 wins. Brum closed out her career with a school-record 157 hits, while Moriarty recorded her 100th career hit. Junior Mary Bradford and sophomore Ashley Bernstein recorded their 100th career strikeouts. Softball coach Deb Robitaille was voted Northeast-10 Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.

Graduate student Lisa McEachern and sophomores Libby Parent and Julie Kraus collected all-conference honors in women’s lacrosse. Parent and classmates Maura Murphy and Jennifer Parro all recorded their 100th career points during the season. Parro totaled a program-record 46 assists and 66 points and closed out the year as the Division II national leader in assists per game. All-conference honors in tennis went to senior Pedro DePaula and juniors Melissa Ramos and Amanda Nason. DePaula earned all-conference honors for the second straight year after going 9-2 at No. 1 singles. All-Academic Selections The women’s lacrosse team placed six members on the Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic team – graduate student Steph Bouley, senior Julie Lancaster, junior Lucretia Joy and sophomores Kraus, Parent and Murphy. Kraus has maintained a 3.98 cumulative GPA during her two years at the university. The SNHU softball team had four members named to the Northeast-10 All-Academic team. Selected were seniors Ashley Smith and Brum, junior Laurie Boland and Bettencourt. Men’s lacrosse players Chris Dindler, Mike Panora and Delanoy also earned all-academic honors. Delanoy is a finance/economics major with a 3.69 cumulative GPA. The women’s tennis team placed two members on the Northeast-10 All-Academic team. Juniors Amanda Nason and Lauren Nigrelli were second-team selections. Baseball standout Jason Smith was a Northeast-10 allacademic selection, as were Megan Shay of the women’s basketball team and Hammermeister.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 25

Penmen SPORTS Numbers SHORTS

Deb Robitaille

John Delanoy

Felicia Brum

by the

157

– Career hits posted by softball player Felicia Brum ’07, who replaced Nikki Cote ’06 as the program’s leader in career hits during the 2007 season.

– Number of wins posted by the softball team during the 2007 season, breaking the previous record of 23 set in 2006.

– National ranking earned by the women’s lacrosse team during the 2007 season, marking the first national ranking in the four-year history of the program.

24 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

Hall of Fame

Sports

PENMEN PRIDE

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 25

Alumni News

Where Are They Now?

What’s NEW? Please submit news about births, marriages, careers and more. We would like the information to help us maintain accurate records. Mail to the Office of Alumni and Community Relations, SNHU, 2500 N. River Rd., Manchester, NH 03106-1045, fax to 603.645.9663, e-mail alumni@snhu.edu or fill out the Alumni Datasheet Form online at www.snhu.edu/alumni.asp. The deadline for the Spring 2008 issue is Dec. 10. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Last name First ____________________________________________________________________________________ Middle/Maiden ______Class year ____Day __________________Center (if applicable) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________________ City State ZIP

Dave Landry ’83 helps a student hone his IT skills. Miquel De Los Santos, a junior in college and an alumnus of the Technology Training Program, now works for ABCD and Verizon Business. He jokingly calls himself the program’s “poster child.” “There is a hidden talent in each of the kids,” he said. “Now I am a mentor for the students both technically and personally. It is great to watch them grow.”

Dave Landry ’83, John Xintaras Jr. ’99 and Attila Galuska ’99, through their employer, Verizon, are teaching low-income Boston-area teens information technology skills that will help them in their scholastic and professional careers. For three years, Verizon Business has partnered with Action for Boston Community Development Inc., the largest independent, private, nonprofit human services agency of its kind in New England. ABCD serves more than 100,000 low-income individuals and families annually while working to eliminate poverty. Verizon Business provides a 15-week Technology Training Program at ABCD for approximately 30 teenagers from lowincome families each year. The original

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aim of the program was to teach basic Microsoft Office systems, such as Word and Excel. But instructors quickly found that many of the students were more advanced, so the program switched to Web site design and broader information technology skills. Landry, vice president of billing for Verizon Business, has been with the program from the beginning. He gets tremendous satisfaction from working with the students. “I am now learning (HTML) with them, trying to read ahead before class,” he said. “It’s great seeing how students put it all together. The creative product blew me away.” “It’s a different experience from the usual workload,” Galuska added.

Once the 15-week program is completed, students present their completed Web sites to family, friends and city officials. They are then placed in paid internships through ABCD’s SummerWorks program.

Where are you now?

____________________________________________________________________________________ Home e-mail address Work e-mail address Employment/Promotions ____________________________________________________________________________________ Position Start date ____________________________________________________________________________________ Company name ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address

Landry, Xintaras and Galuska were connected before they joined the training program. Xintaras and Galuska knew each other from classes.

Marriage

“Attila actually tutored me when I was injured as a student,” Xintaras said.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Month/Day/Year

Landry interviewed Xintaras and Galuska at SNHU for positions with Verizon, where they have worked since.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Spouse’s full name Class year (if SNHU alumnus/a)

Xintaras just finished his first year working with the program and also finds it very rewarding. “I get a great sense of helping others and will continue to work with the program,” he said. “The students are the best part.”

For more alumni news, visit Don’t forget to fill out the What’s New form and let us know how and what you are doing.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone

snhu.edu

____________________________________________________________________________________ City State ZIP

Birth/Adoption ____Boy ____Girl

Date born ____________________ Date adopted ______________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ Full name What else would you like your classmates to know? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ I am interested in learning more about alumni activities and volunteer opportunities. Please contact me via: ____E-mail ____Phone ____Mail Announcements that are incomplete cannot be considered for publication.

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 27

Alumni News

Where Are They Now?

26 | The Extra Mile | Fall 2007

Once the 15-week program is completed, students present their completed Web sites to family, friends and city officials. They are then placed in paid internships through ABCD’s SummerWorks program.

Where are you now?

Landry, Xintaras and Galuska were connected before they joined the training program. Xintaras and Galuska knew each other from classes.

Marriage

“Attila actually tutored me when I was injured as a student,” Xintaras said.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Month/Day/Year

Landry interviewed Xintaras and Galuska at SNHU for positions with Verizon, where they have worked since.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Spouse’s full name Class year (if SNHU alumnus/a)

For more alumni news, visit Don’t forget to fill out the What’s New form and let us know how and what you are doing.

____________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone

snhu.edu

____________________________________________________________________________________ City State ZIP

Birth/Adoption ____Boy ____Girl

Date born ____________________ Date adopted ______________________

The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 27

Class Notes

’75 Edward F. Luciano, of Rumford, R.I., is a business education teacher for the Putnam Board of Education. Rumford has been teaching high school business education classes for more than 30 years. ’82 Susan (Williams) Stanewick, of Concord, N.H., is the assistant commissioner for administration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health. ’83 Jeffrey M. Crouse, of Enfield, Conn., received a Master of Arts degree in education with a concentration in higher education administration from the University of Connecticut. Edward N. Emond, of Laconia, N.H., was elected to the board of directors of the Association of School Business Officials International. Emond is the business administrator for the Laconia School System. Robert J. Montminy, of Candia, N.H., is the owner of and certified public accountant for Montminy Financial Services.

Bonnie A. Vadala, of Newmarket, N.H., is a fulltime teacher for Rye Elementary School. Vadala is a certified personal trainer for Great Bay Athletic Club and is also a parttime freelance makeup artist for Chanel.

’88 Scott W. Averill, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., was elected to the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County. He is an executive vice president for Independent Health in Buffalo.

Keith M. Wagner, of The Woodland, Texas, is the owner of Wagner Insurance, an insurance agency that serves all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Patrick D. Murphy, of Kearsarge, N.H., is the division manager of Heartland Payment Systems. Edwin Vincente Sanabria, of Leominster, Mass., is director of the Central Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities. Chunde Shi, of Beijing, China, is a senior systems analyst for the Science Applications International Corp. Derek TenBroeck Jr., of Pepperell, Mass., is the principal of TenBroeck Insurance Group. William “Bo” Yerxa II, of Waldoboro, Maine, is the president of the board of the Maine Citizens Leadership Fund. ’89 Beth (Bachand) Ammerman, of Blackstone, Mass., is the store systems user support manager for the TJX Companies in Framingham. Wendy Lee Parker, of Hillsboro, N.H., was named to the 2007 New Hampshire Union Leader’s “40 Under Forty” list.

Dennis J. Riley, of Norwich, Conn., was appointed by the state Senate president to a four-year term on the state of Connecticut’s new Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board.

’90 Diane E. Catino, of Bridgewater, Mass., is the staffing coordinator for Bridgewater State Hospital.

’84 Debra Achramowicz, of Clinton, Maine, is the owner of Debra Achramowicz CPA, PA.

Sadig Abdel Marouf Ibrahim, of Port Sudan, Sudan, is in charge of the economic planning and international cooperation in the Red Sea. Ibrahim also occupies a post of government project coordinator in a joint project between the state and UNDP for poverty alleviation and governance.

Gary DeStefano, of Lake Oswego, Ore., is the new president of Nike global operations. ’86 Edward F. Davis III, of Lowell, Mass., is the new police commissioner of the Boston Police Department. Syahrizal Yusuf, of Tangerang, Indonesia, is the senior vice president heading the debt capital market division for Kim Eng Securities.

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Benjamin Markham, of Houston, Texas, is the vice president of operations and a member of the board of directors for W.E. Lyons Construction Co.

’91 Ike Ofoje, of Aiken, S.C., is the men’s head soccer coach at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Ofoje has been named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year and has led the Pacers to the most successful season in the program’s history. Yvette Pinzon, of Winter Park, Fla., is the president of Filmvest. ’92 Rosita Alexander Snagg, of Stubbs, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is the secretary of the Ministry of National Mobilization, Social Development and Local Government for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Yvon J. Gagnon, of Manchester, N.H., is a senior buyer for BAE Systems and is also a certified purchasing manager. Gagnon is a youth minister at his church. ’94 Kelly L. Boston, of Portsmouth, N.H., was promoted to Portsmouth Finance as the site controller of Lonza Biopharmaceutical Business. Hannah E. Gladstone, of Waterville, Maine, is the director of student life for Thomas College. Héctor Meléndez, of Summerville, S.C., is a retired chief petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard after 21 years of service. Meléndez is currently working as a maritime law enforcement instructor for 3/Comms/Titan at the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy in Charleston. Tami (Reynolds) Robertson, of Baton Rouge, La., is the girls basketball and golf coach for St. Michael’s High School. ’95 Denise M. Moore, of Orange, N.J., is the coordinator of health and human services for Orange.

Roland Bechard, of Charlotte, Maine, is the career aspirations program director at the School Union 106 in Calais.

Jason B. Soucy, of Avon Lake, Ohio, is the tournament director for IMG Golf.

Ronald E. Biron, of Manchester, N.H., is the new assistant dean for the School of Business at Southern New Hampshire University.

’96 Victoria L. Magnell-Crowley, of Rockland, Mass., was promoted to manager of Contractor Resources for FedEx.

Brian K. Jackson, of Egg Harbor City, N.J., was awarded the 2006 George Lynn Volunteer of the Year Award, presented annually by the United Way of Atlantic County. Jackson is the executive assistant to the president at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

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’71 Samuel E. Lewis, of San Antonio, Texas, is a training manager for the U.S. Air Force Civil Service. Lewis manages all of the Air Force vehicle maintenance courses.

’87 Mohamad Noor Wahab, of Petagas Sabah, Malaysia, is the director of planning and development for the State Social Welfare Department in Sabah, Malaysia.

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Achievements

’93 Michael Boisvert, of Campton, N.H., was promoted to officer of Meredith Village Savings Bank.

Beena Mahat, of Nuwakot, Nepal, is a program manager for the Family Planning Association of Nepal. Jane F. Millett, of Brunswick, Maine, is a broker for Welcome Home Realty. Dennine (Ladd) Roy, of Savannah, Ga., is a certified paralegal with The National Association of Legal Assistants.

Lungisani Kunene, of Natal, South Africa, is the process manager for the Msunduzi Local Government.

Kevin M. McGuire, of Milford, N.H., is the senior director of operations for UnitedHealthcare in Hooksett.

John C. Taylor, of Londonderry, N.H., is the principal consultant and master facilitator for Career Mobility, LLC, a talent solutions consulting practice.

Nawina M. Nyirenda, of Washington, D.C., is senior program assistant for the National Academy of Science.

’98 Angelique M. Clifton, of Oceanside, Calif., is the owner of Angelique Accounting Service. Sonya A. Grenier, of Tewksbury, Mass., is the services operational accountant for Cognos Corporation. Charlene M. Ledoux, of Mason, N.H., is a certified music practitioner and a cello instructor. Ledoux is a member of the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra and VA-National Medical Chorale and Symphony Orchestra. Melissa (Conti) Sipe, of Richmond, Va., is an assistant commissioner for the Colonial Athletic Association. Harold R. Tessendorf, of Macon, Ga., is the executive director of the Macon Area Habitat for Humanity. ’99 Michael B. Johnson, of Morristown, N.J., is a brand manager for Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceutical Inc. Gregory C. Scott, of La Palma, Calif., is president and chief operating officer for Weingart Center Association. David A. Turcotte, of Lowell, Mass., earned a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts. ’00 Diane R. Blomgren, of San Jose, Costa Rica, is an administrator at the Rasur Foundation.

Shawn M. Small, of Quincy, Mass., is the assistant vice president for JPMorgan Chase.

Adam N. Davidoff, of North Woodstock, N.H., is the international sales manager for the Loon, Waterville Valley and Cranmore ski areas.

’97 Peter A. Chamberlin, of Warner, N.H., was named the finance director for the town of Wolfeboro.

Deborah S. Degenova, of Portsmouth, N.H., is a business operations manager for McKesson Corporation.

Ozlem Turk, of Istanbul, Turkey, is the guest service agent for Volantis Yachting. ’01 Senait Gebreegziabher, of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is the deputy country director for Save the Children Federation in Sri Lanka. John A. Henderson, of Baltimore, Md., is a housing specialist for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Corey N. Johnson, of New Ipswich, N.H., is a realtor for ERA, The Masiello Group. Vicente Emmanuel Pajaro, of Marikina, Philippines, is a general manager for Pavicem Merchandising Corporation. Michelle (Husson) Pillsbury, of Manchester, N.H., is an executive chef for Haverhill Country Club. ’02 Ester M. Alcantara, of Modesto, Calif., is a supply officer for the U.S. Navy. Nasir Abdi Arush, of Manchester, N.H., was named to the 2007 New Hampshire Union Leader’s “40 Under Forty” list. Richard A. Bardellini Jr., of Northfield, N.H., was named vice president of manufacturing at New Hampshire Ball Bearing. Kevin B. Crean, of Arlington, Mass., is the human resource manager for Twins Enterprise Inc., a family owned company specializing in the manufacturing of licensed headwear and sporting apparel. Shawn P. Dupont, of Merrimack, N.H., is a retirement specialist for Fidelity Investments.

For more alumni news, visit

snhu.edu The Extra Mile | Fall 2007 | 29