chr niclechroniclethe

news from the southern Vermont College — st. Joseph College Community

fall 2015

SyFy’s GhostHunters Investigate

InsIde: An Inaugural Year: The Power of Choice | The Looking Glass Online | sVC Athletics Update

It is hard to capture in words the exhilaratingjoy of last May’s SVC Commencement ceremony.We had many things to celebrate: the end of a suc-cessful academic year, the awarding of honorarydoctorates to former President Karen Gross andcommencement speaker Moustafa Bayoumi, thebeautiful May afternoon, and, of course, by farmost of all, the success of our new graduates!

By rough count I’ve participated in about 35commencements as a faculty member and admin-istrator. It’s easy to become jaded, as these cere-monies tend to follow a certain set of traditionsand protocols that don’t differ much from institu-tion to institution. So I was surprised and, frankly,

inordinately pleased that my first SVC graduation precisely and vividly captured what is so com-pelling about our small college—the intense sense of community endeavor, the pride all of us here takein our work together and the joy we all share in our students’ accomplishments. Commencementday was a distillation of all the reasons we at SVC do what we do, the culmination of our focus on stu-dent success and opportunity to grow and thrive.

I write to you near the end of the summer break, as I’ve had a chance to reflect on my first semes-ter at SVC and catch my breath and explore a little after moving to Bennington in the middle of whatseems to have been the worst winter in living memory. I am even more convinced than I was when

I got here that SVC is doing vital work that empowers students to pursue and ultimately, we hope,achieve their dreams. We occupy a critical niche in higher education, facing substantial headwindsbut also enjoying great opportunities to meet contemporary student needs because of our careful at-tention to individual students and our deep and abiding commitment to their potential.

Over the spring, I got to know many of our students and learned about others from colleagues oncampus. I heard about their struggles and challenges, along with great accomplishments and suc-cesses. I saw students who were first in their families to attend college finish their studies and walkacross that platform. I saw family and friends celebrate their students’ graduation, and I saw the SVCfaculty and staff share that joy and pride, sometimes bittersweet as we bade farewell to students wehave come to know and love. I experienced first-hand and in real time the College’s authentic alle-giance to our students.

After participating in commencement and getting to know our students, author Moustafa Bayoumicalled SVC “an extraordinary college with a just and noble mission,” as fine a compliment as any presi-dent could wish. I am glad he saw what I see when I look at Southern Vermont College. I hope you see ittoo. Thank you for your support.

LETTEr FrOM THE PrESIDENT: david rees evans

2 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

“...SVC is doing vital work that empowers students to pursue and ultimately... achieve their dreams.”

Board of Trustees

JOHN BAACKESCEO

L.A. Care Health Plan

SArAH DAHL, M.D.Physician (retired)

Private practice, Obstetrics and Gynecology

DAVID rEES EVANSPresident

Southern Vermont College

SUSAN HUNTErCommunity Leader

CArMEN J. LAWrENCE, ESQ.Partner

King & Spaulding, LLP

ALFrEDO QUIñONES-HINOJOSA, M.D.Professor of Neurological

Surgery and Oncology Director of Brain Tumor

Surgery Program,Johns Hopkins University

MArJOrIE "GrEGG" SWAINAuthor and Psy.D.

IrA WAGNEr ’83President, European Capital

Financial ServicesAmerican Capital Ltd.

DEBOrAH E. WILEY, CHAIrChair, The Wiley Foundation,

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 3

saTurday, decemBer 4 Please join the Southern Vermont College

community for the Inauguration of David rees Evans as 9th president of the

College. The President has selected a theme of community service,

The Power of Choice; Making a Difference, for the Inauguration and events l

eading up to it. Special guests from all over the country and SVC faculty and

students will participate. Please see svc.edu/inauguration for more details.

IdenTIfICATIOn ArT SVC’s new Admissions

Office in Wagner House has a unique way of ask-

ing prospective students to begin their visit; using

a mixed media participatory work of art installed

by California artist Mary Corey March. March cre-

ated a similar installation in the Everett Mansion,

called The Identity Tapestry, which asks partici-

pants to identify certain statements that repre-

sent where they are from and what they might

want for their future. At Wagner house, prospec-

tive students take a piece of hand-dyed yarn to

wrap around the statements they relate to,

marking where they are at the beginning of their

SVC experience and showing how they relate to

others on the same journey.

The theme is inspired by SVC’s commitment to our students and our community,

and inauguration week will engage faculty, staff and students in hands-on

service in the Bennington area. We will celebrate SVC’s dedication to offering

students diverse options to broaden their worlds, to giving them tools to

recognize and fulfill their personal and professional potential, and to providing

them with opportunities to develop a sense of purpose through local, national

and international internship and study programs, partnerships with local

businesses and organizations, and involvement with arts and culture.

THE INAUGUrATION OF9th PreSIdent dAVId eVAnS

INAUGUrATION EVENTSsVC education symposium | Thurs., Dec. 3, 2:25 pm, Faculty dis-cuss The Power of Choice, Everett Theatre

Men’s & women’s Basketball | Thurs., Dec. 3, 6 pm and 8 pm,Mountaineer Athletic Center

Inuaguration Ceremony | Friday, Dec. 4, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Ben-nington Center for the Arts, Investiture ceremony featuring Ver-mont Poet Laureate Sydney Lea and other honored guests,followed by reception at the Center

Inaugural Art Installation | Themed art exhibit in the President’sHonor, Check Web site below for details.

Campus Tours | Schedule to be posted on Web site below.

faculty symposium displays | Burgdorff Gallery, ongoing.

For more information, visit the Web site: svc.edu/inauguration orcontact robin Yearwood: ryearwood@svc.edu or 802 447-6319.

The POwer Of ChOICe: MAKING A DIFFErENCE

4 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

C O M M E N C E M E N T

1 Class of 2015 Salutatorians (from left to right) Jamie wiley of

Bennington, Vermont and ryan Long of Canaan, Conn., with

Valedictorian haley Omasta of Danbury, Conn.

2 President david evans quoted John Donne’s, “No man is an island

entire of itself…” in his remarks. “Donne reminds us that each of us

is part of a larger whole,” Evans said, “I hope that you will always,

no matter what career you are in, remember to look out for others

and not make yourself an island. Sometimes that is the best, most

rewarding job we can do.”

3 Student Ben horowitz poses with Faculty speaker renee Merges,a former New York prosecutor and CJ professor, who told the

graduates: “The brief persuasive argument I attempt to make

today to you, SVC Class of 2015, my jury today, is to convince you

of the importance of going forward into the world in your various

fields to DO JUSTICE.”

4 Brooklyn College professor Moustafa Bayoumi author of HowDoes it Feel to Be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America,

was awarded an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters and ad-

dressed the graduates as Commencement speaker, encouraging

them to look out for each other in this life, saying, “Alone, we are

atomized individuals. Together, we make a society.”

5 Former SVC President Karen Gross was awarded an Honorary

Doctorate of Humane Letters from the school at Commencement.

Gross told the graduates she was honored to share a degree with

this class, and urged them always to ‘color outside the lines.’

6 Kevin and Kacie salva, father and sister of student ChristopherJohn (CJ) salva, who passed away in 2012, accepted a degree

awarded Honoris Causa to CJ. Salva told the graduates, “remem-

ber, nothing worth having is easy ….so Never Give Up reaching for

your dreams and they will eventually come to you.” Never Give

Up is the name of the scholarship CJ’s family has established in his

name at the College.

7 Class speaker Meagan fleming of Gansevoort, N.Y., told her

classmates, “We owe it to our parents, to our professors and

especially to ourselves to fill our stories and our world with light,

love and passion. It is time today to believe that we are capable

of anything.”

8 Graduate hanifah Presley of Brooklyn, N.Y., shared a poem with

the students and was also the recipient of the The Edward H.

Everett Award, which acknowledges a student’s numerous con-

tributions to the Southern Vermont College community.

9 President evans congratulates Nicole Sousis, the first of three

recipients awarded certificates from SVC’s College Steps program,

which provides students with cognitive impairments an opportu-

nity to participate in a modified two-year college experience.

10 Faculty, staff and division chairs lined up on the terrace of

Everett Mansion before the ceremony began.

11 Graduates and their families showed off their goods after

Commencement.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11

88th Commencement May 9, 2015

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 5

It seems fitting that James “Jay”White, Southern Vermont College’snew provost, is a man with an eyeon the stars. As provost, White isresponsible for the college’s entireacademic endeavor, everythingfrom making sure there’s enoughclassroom space to hiring talentedfaculty and giving them develop-ment opportunities. White, who started at the college onJuly 1, will serve as the provost anda professor of physics. his specialtyas an educator before getting intoadministration was astrophysicsand he hopes to bring his love of as-tronomy to the independent col-lege’s campus in Bennington.

White said he hopes to organizesome unofficial events that thecommunity can join to look at anexpected meteor shower in August,the total lunar eclipse in Septem-ber, and other astral events beyond.

“I know that when the Leonidmeteor shower rolls around in no-vember, I’m going to have somepeople out there with me at 2 a.m.trying to watch those beautifulstreaks of light,” he said.Before coming to the college, Whiteworked as the executive director of

SVC’s new provost, James (Jay) C. White II

looks to the starsBY PATrICK MCArDLErUTLAND HErALD STAFF WrITEr(rEPrINTED WITH PErMISSION FrOM THE NEWSPAPEr.)

About Provost white: Originally a farmboy

from Tennessee, he received his Bachelor of

Science degree with a major in Physics from

Birmingham-Southern College and his Ph.D.

degree in Astronomy from Indiana University,

Bloomington. His wife, Lisa M. White, is a CPA.

The couple has two children, sons Sebastian

Artemis and Alistair Clyde.

An astrophysicist by training, White is a Fellow

of Great Britain’s royal Astronomical Society

and an American member of the International

Astronomical Union. He is the past editor of

Mercury, the magazine of the Astronomical

Society of the Pacific, and a former Executive

Director of that international organization. In

the past, he was author of the regular feature

“Sky Almanac” in Country magazine, creator

and writer of “Science Matters,” a weekly

science column syndicated by the New York

Times television syndicate, and a guest

on radio and television programs around

North America.

(continued on page 11)

a nonprofit, the Astronomical So-ciety of the Pacific in San Francisco,and the chairman of the physicsdepartment at rhodes College inMemphis. At rhodes, a dean en-couraged White to pursue a careerin academic administration. “Oneof the things I discovered was I re-ally like facilitating things for otherpeople,” he said.

After three positions in Pennsyl-vania, as provost at GettysburgCollege, vice president for aca-demic affairs at Washington & Jef-ferson College, and head of schoolfor an independent girl’s boardingschool, White decided he wantedto take a position at a liberal artscollege.

“I love the breadth of learning. Ilove the fact — and I think I live thefact — that the interconnectednessof how we know about the worldand the human condition is reallyimportant and it’s fueled by allthese multiple vantages,” he said.SVC attracted White because it’s asmall college.

White said he was looking for acollege that not only made hands-on experiences available but ex-pected them of its students. he said

6 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

Music Professor/director eric despard made hisdebut with the Barrington Stage Company thissummer in their Broadway production of The Manof LaMancha, as an onstage performer and as partof the orchestra. The musical, a winner of 5 tonyAwards and based on the great novel Don Quixoteran for 38 shows.humanities Professor heather Lanier will present atthe nonfictionow Conference at northern Ari-zona University in Flagstaff, AZ in late October,on the subject of the essaying Memoir.director or residence Life emily schiavoni has been appointed Corporate relations Chair to the northeast Association of Colleges and University Officers.

Interim dean of Admissions dan summers II has been selected to participate in the national College Board’s enrollment Leader-

ship Academy (eLA). The eLA is a yearlong professional development program that cultivates the next generation of enrollment

leaders through sessions focused on leadership skills and key enrollment management issues. The sessions will be facilitated

by educational professionals including enrollment managers, researchers and other specialists. Selection of candidates was

based on their leadership skills, potential for contribution in the field of enrollment management and commitment to college

access. Summers has been a member of SVC’s Office of Admissions for six years and currently oversees all operations and

functions of the Office.Correction: In the Spring issue of The Chronicle, Assistant Professor Sarah Knapp should have been identified as a board member for theVermont Women in higher education.

Associate Professor Jeb Gorham’s business students will beworking on several community collaborations this fall whichwill give them hands-on experience in the field, in moreways than one. Students in the Facilities Management (FM)class will join forces with hop hollar Farm, a hops farm andproducer of farm-brewed craft beer just across the Vermontborder in Petersburg, nY. Students will work with the own-ers to help brainstorm and develop plans for their 150-acreoperation including the concept of a future resort-type/des-tination. Gorham toured the farmstead this summer withMcCormick division Chair stacey hills and director of Career de-velopment Betsy dunham and was excited about this collabo-ration. “With the popularity of craft beers today, it was great

to see their operation starting from the ground up, with thehops fields already in its second year,” Gorham said. “This isgoing to be a fun project.” Gorham’s FM students will alsowork with the new owner of the Sage Street Mill property(the former Vermont Arts exchange building) in north Ben-nington, presenting ideas and project pitches for the facility.Students in the SVC Sports Management major program willmeet with Bennington College students and the local tennisfacility to develop a plan for tutoring and mentoring localyouth. “This collaboration will likely include more partners—other schools, community garden projects for healthy eat-ing, educational tutoring opportunities and more,” ProfessorGorham stated.

Southern Vermont College

Faculty and Staff Updates

MCCOrMICK dIVIsIOn Of BUsIness sTUdenTs TO GeT exPerIenCe In The fIeLd, InCLUdInG The hOPs fIeLd

MCCOrMICK dIVIsIOn Of BUsIness sTUdenTs TO GeT exPerIenCe In The fIeLd, InCLUdInG The hOPs fIeLd

desPArddesPArd sChIAVOnIsChIAVOnI sUMMerssUMMers

In May, SVC’s Baccalaureate

nursing program was awardedaccreditation by the Commis-sion on Collegiate nursing edu-cation (CCne). President david

evans made the announcement with a statement to the College communitypraising the program and SVC nursing leaders--division Chair Mary Botter,Ph.d., and the faculty and staff, who developed the new BSn program andshepherded the accreditation process. “This division is committed to excel-lence in nursing and has worked diligently to meet the standards of a rigor-ous nursing and healthcare program,” evans said.

“We are proud of the new Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program,”Botter stated. “The CCne accreditation affirms the quality of our curriculum,faculty and the College. Our students benefit from a strong academic cur-riculum based on the art and science of nursing as well as outstanding clini-cal learning opportunities in local and regional healthcare organizations.”

The CCne granted the accreditation at its April 2015 meeting with the determination that SVC fully met the Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate Programs. The accreditation is retroactive to the date of thesite visit in October 2014, and extends to June 30, 2020, the maximum timeperiod granted to new programs.

SVC utilizes several local and regional healthcare organizations for clinicaleducation, including a partnership with Southwestern Vermont health Care(SVhC), which also employs many SVC graduate nurses. SVhC Chief nursingOfficer Carol Conroy was pleased by the SVC accreditation news, as an affir-mation of the quality of the SVC program. “It is so important to have a high-quality nursing program within our community,” Conroy stated. “We haveseveral SVC graduate nurses on our staff, and they provide the exemplaryprofessional practice one would expect at a Magnet-designated hospital.”

SVC’s division of nursing offers the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSn)degree with two tracks. The Pre-Licensure BSn track is designed for indi-viduals who wish to achieve a BSn and upon graduation be eligible to sit forthe nCLeX-rn examination. The rn-BSn track is designed for registerednurses who wish to continue their education and achieve a BSn.

Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of education as a national accreditation agency, CCne is an autonomous accrediting agency contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCne ensures thequality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and post-baccalaureate residency programs in nursing. The CCne is the only nursing-accreditingagency dedicated exclusively to the accreditation of bachelor’s and graduate-degree nursing education programs.

SVC students who earned their degree in therigorous radiologic Sciences degree programthis May went on to receive a 100 percent passrate on the American registry of radiologictechnologists (Arrt) examination in radiog-raphy. This was also the largest graduating classfrom this major at SVC.

In addition to the pass rate, SVC studentsscored high marks. “Our students have gener-ally been above the national grade average andthe national pass rate,” according to Linda Lip-pacher, Program director of radiologic Sci-ences for the John Merck division of Scienceand technology at SVC.

SVC President david evans remarked, “Theoutstanding success of our radiographic tech-nology students in taking the Arrt exam is atestimony to both their hard work and thequality of our program, which combines astrong liberal arts foundation with a directpathway to a great career. I am proud of ourstudents and the faculty and staff who helpedprepare them to be so successful.”

The Arrt is the world’s largest credentialingorganization that seeks to ensure high-qualitypatient care in radiologic technology. The Arrtexamination accesses the knowledge and cog-nitive skills required of the staff technologist atentry into the profession.

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 7

SVC rECEIVES NUrSING ACCrEDITATIONBY COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NUrSING EDUCATION (CCNE)

2015 rAD SCIENCES GrADUATES GET

100%PASS rATE ON ArrT ExAM

PHOT

O Cr

EDIT:

GAr

rET H

ArKA

WIK

It was 2007 and the beginning of my freshman year at SVC.I was naive to the school’s paranormal past when my room-mate and I had a run in with “the little girl.” We heard voicesand laughing and suffice it to say, we couldn't sleep at all thatnight. The next day I spent hours researching the accounts ofhauntings on campus. I read stories from teachers, alumniand historians, all with similar experiences. I then wrote anemail to the popular SyFy program Ghost Hunters, one of myfavorite tV shows. eventually I got used to the ghosts and itbecame an exciting—and at the same time—normal part ofmy school routine.

Flash forward seven years, having long graduated from SVC,I get a phone call out of Los Angeles. It was from rob Cam-pagna, the executive producer of Ghost Hunters, telling me hewanted to shoot an episode at SVC. Communications AdvisorSusan Biggs and I spent the early part of the summer coordi-nating schedules with each other and hollywood. Scouts fromthe show came out to the east Coast and toured the school. Theproducers loved SVC not just for its ghostly background, butfor its uniquely beautiful and historic setting.

Before I knew it, lights, cameras and sandwich lackeys werebuzzing around the grounds. It was amazing to see the vastamount of equipment and hard work that goes into produc-ing even one episode of a television show. The productioncrew was here for nearly two weeks, looking for great camera

8 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

LOnGTIMe fAns — Alumna Leigh Meola ’11 got to meet and min-

gle with the Ghost Hunters cast as they investigated alleged

hauntings at the College. From left to right in the Everett Mansion’s

Burgdorff Gallery are cast members Dustin Pari, Dave Tango, Steve

Gonsalves, Meola, Kj McCormick, Samantha Hawes, Justin Hawes

and Leigh’s mom, Terry Meola.

angles, setting up shots in areas where stories were recorded,and interviewing witnesses. Then came the moment I finallygot to meet the Ghost Hunters cast, including the main inves-tigators Jason hawes, founder of The Atlantic Paranormal So-ciety (tAPS) and Steve Gonsalves. I must admit I was a littlestar struck (though not nearly as much as my mother, whodrove all the way from new Jersey to watch the whole ordeal);to host tV stars at our little school was indescribable!

here’s how the show works: As the person who contactedthe program, I am called ‘the client.’ The main investigators

Working with the Cast and Crew of Gh

wATCh: southern Vermont College’s investigation onsyfy’s Ghost hunters program entitled, “darker Learning.”for the exact air date, check the syfy.com/ghosthuntersweb site or the sVC facebook page/svcalumni (and whileyou are there, share your own sVC ghost story!)

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 9

MeeT Ghost hunters

cast member and

motivational

speaker dustin Pari,

at sVC on Thursday,

Oct.29. 6 pm (open

to community) and

8:30 pm (for sVC

students only).

host Hunters at SVC

interview the client on camera, then do their stealth-workaccordingly, spending a few overnights at the school withhigh tech equipment, such as digital thermometers, electro-magnetic frequency (eMF) meters, thermographic and nightvision cameras, handheld and static video cameras, digitalaudio recorders (for electronic voice phenomena or eVPs)and laptop computers. Afterwards, the team spends severaldays analyzing all of the data for evidence of possible para-

normal activity. Then comes the ‘reveal.’ That’s the partwhere they tell me (the client) what they found. Under con-tract with the studio, I cannot share any of their results untilthe show airs this fall, and I can’t wait to have everyone viewwhat I was lucky enough to experience! Soon the wholecountry will know more about Southern Vermont College,the place many of us know and love and the harmless inhab-itants that make SVC such a cool place to live.

leigh meola is a 2011

graduate of SVC’s nursing

program, now working at

Berkshire medical Center

in Pittsfield, mA, as an rn

with a main focus on

surgical nursing. This

summer leigh married

SVC classmate robert

murawski ’12.

BY LeIGh MeOLA ’11

As investigated by:

movie and music reviews or news articles, while others, suchas senior Psychology major Allie Thoresen, excelled behindthe scenes with Web design and social media management.Thoresen said of her tLG experience, “Being a part of thisteam has helped me prioritize and organize my workload and

has given me the op-portunity to express mycreativity the way noother class ever has.”

Other staff members,such as seniors de-Shawn hamlet andQuinten Scott chose tointroduce video andother multimedia seg-ments. Scott found thattLG provided him withthe opportunity tocombine his love forsports and video pro-duction. hamlet, co-host of tLG’s sportsshow, the MAC Pack,

found his participation in tLG allowed him to expand his ideas

and show off his hard work. Media editor Manley and Scottbegan collaboration with CAt-tV, Bennington’s non-profit tel-evision station, offering tLG staff the opportunity to learn theins and outs of tV production with help from CAt-tV’s pro-duction coordinators, Beq Lendvay and ryan Scutt. Scutt, whois working closely with deal and Segura, sees tLG “acting asthe bridge between SVC and the Bennington community.”

tLG hopes to continue to unify communities by collabo-rating with a variety of organizations for funding, support,and content. Along with funding from SVC’s Student Gov-ernment Association, tLG recently received a $15,000 grantfrom the edwin S. Webster Foundation. These generous con-tributions will fund the publication’s Web site and equipmentfor producing new content.

Visit lookingglass.svc.edu for information on campusevents, sports, commentary and insight on local and globalhappenings. Follow on Facebook: lookingglassSVC or twit-ter: lookingglassSVC. to submit content please contact Pro-fessor deal, mdeal@svc.edu or Morgaine, msegura@svc.edu.

earlier this year, humanities Professor Michelle deal sent agroup of four students to a Forum for Undergraduate Studenteditors (FUSe) conference at Bennington College. deal feltFUSe would help these future student editors “figure outstrategies for management, deadlines [and] content” for anewly proposed stu-dent-run digital pub-lication. deal alsoorganized a phone in-terview in which SVCalum Mike donoghue’71, a longtime re-porter for the Burling-ton Free Press,providing these andother students in hermedia class with in-sight and advice fromhis years of journalisticexperience.

Armed with strate-gies picked up atFUSe, advice from anindustry professional, and guidance from Professor deal,Managing editors Andrew Manley ’15, Morgaine Segura ’16,and Paige Sweeney ’15 set out to develop a sustainable, stu-dent-run publication. After discussion, the staff decided toname their publication The Looking Glass (tLG), a name theyfelt reflected its creative, inquisitive and diverse nature aswell as the history of the College and its origins as home toglass mogul edward everett.

today, tLG boasts a wide range of information and oppor-tunities for involvement for the entire Bennington and SVCcommunity. Professor deal found it “inspiring to watch thestudents take ownership of their roles and find their ownniche.” She spoke to the versatility of tLG’s setup, explain-ing how one radiology student took the practicum to fulfill amandatory requirement and found she was “able to exploreher academic interests through weekly articles.” Some stu-dents, explained deal, “discovered their potential for filmand broadcasting, while [others] preferred the managementside of publishing and producing content.”

Some members of tLG staff found their niche in writing

10 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

LAUNCHING The Looking GlassSVC HUMANITIES STUDENTS’ DIGITAL PUBLICATION BY MOrGAINE SEGUrA ’16

MUsInG AT fUse: — SVC students attend Bennington College’s Forum for

Undergraduate Student Editors (FUSE) before launching their own online

publication. From left, Paige Sweeney ’15, Meagan Fleming ’15, Andrew

Manley’15 and Morgaine Segura ’16.

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 11

SVC has once again earned the award of funding for thefederal trIO Student Support Services (SSS), in a granttotaling 1.3 million dollars from the U.S. department ofeducation starting in Fall 2015. The federal trIO SSSprogram, established in 1968, provides assistance to stu-dents who are underrepresented in higher education,including students who are the first in their family to at-tend college, students from modest income back-grounds and students with disabilities. SVC’s trIOprogram was first funded in 1978 and has helped hun-dreds of students attain a four-year degree over itsthirty-seven year history.

SVC was one of 968 colleges and universities nation-wide that was awarded the trIO SSS grant for 2015-2020, according to an announcement from the U.S.department of education on July 17. Out of 968 institu-tions, six in Vermont were awarded. The trIO program

BACK TO SCHOOL SErVICE

U.S. DEPArTMENT OF EDUCATION

renews TrIO fUnds AT sVC

Mountaineer Scholars and student leaders spent a few pre-semester days prepping for food distribution at the local foodcupboard, hIS Pantry, a ministry of Sacred heart St. Francisde Sales parish in Bennington. Ivan Figueroa, director ofMountaineer Scholar Program and diversity Initiativeshelped facilitate the days of service.

at SVC is the only such program at a private college in thestate of Vermont.

Academic support for SVC students includes tutoring,support for students with disabilities (such as access toassistive technology), academic counseling, enhancedmathematics support, career development and counsel-ing, peer mentoring and academic advising.

“This is wonderful news for our students and wonder-ful news for SVC,” said Catherine McKeen, director of theCollege’s Center for teaching and Learning. “The trIOprogram is a vital help for our students. First-generationand underrepresented students face many obstacles intheir path to a four-year degree, and many would notgraduate without this support. The trIO program helpsstudents open the door to a better life through college ed-ucation.” Information on the academic support programat SVC is available at svc.edu/academics/support.html.

SVC’s new provost, Jay White(continued from page 5)

he knew some colleges tried to create a personalized experi-ence for students but found it hard to accomplish.

“But when you have a small student population like we dohere, you can almost turn it into, certainly with broad ex-pectations, almost a boutique kind of experience where yourespond individually to the needs and also, really, the capa-bilities of the students. I just, I absolutely love that,” he said.White said he also like SVC’s commitment to helping students, who might be the first in their family to attend college, get into and successfully graduate from college.

While he pointed out that he’s only been at SVC a fewweeks, he said one of his early ideas is to take the ideasbrought up in the “Quest for Success” classes, which are designed to help students become part of the college community, and add some elements or “threads” to otherclasses so after four years they will weave a “colorful tapestry of ideas.”

BaseBallThis spring, the team narrowly missed the New England Collegiate

Conference postseason, going 16-18 overall on the year for its

most wins since 2011 and second-most in program history. Fresh-

man niko d’Agnese was tabbed the NECC rookie of the Week twice

during the spring, junior rJ Pingitore was named the NECC Player

of the Week once and freshman righty Jean-Carlos Berasgoico was

chosen as both NECC and ECAC DIII New England Pitcher of the

Week one time. The Mountaineers crushed their way to the most

runs scored in a single game, downing University of Maine at

Presque Isle 28-2. Three players made their way to the team’s 100

Hit Club during the year, and the squad continued to support the

fight against childhood cancer by collectively shaving their heads

for the third straight year. Senior Cody LaBadia was named to the

All-NECC Second Team while junior richard rios was tabbed with

an All-NECC Honorable Mention.

After completing his senior season and receiving his bachelor’s

degree in Criminal Justice, Chris nicastro Jr. became the first for-

mer Mountaineer to receive a paid professional baseball contract

as he signed on with the Virginia Marlin’s affiliate, the VCardinals,

of the World Baseball Pro League.

12 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

sOfTBallThe softball team went 11-14 in the spring, tying the program wins

record that was set in 2014 while just missing the conference

playoffs. Senior emily fleming and junior rachel robtoy were both

named All-New England Collegiate Conference Honorable Men-

tions, Fleming for the second straight year. The Mountaineers split

a doubleheader with NECC foe Lesley University, picking up the

program’s first win in 12 all-time meetings against the Lynx with

a 6-3 victory. Fleming was electric from the circle, striking out 114

batters on the year to blow past the previous SVC single season

record of 89; she also became the first Mountaineer in team his-

tory to record a sub-4.00 earned run average, tallying a 3.7 ErA

to finish her career with a Southern Vermont-best 5.23. Fleming

totaled 258 strikeouts in her time at SVC while fellow senior hay-ley Mcdonald was close behind with 247 career K’s.

WOmeN’s lacrOsseWomen’s lacrosse made it to the New England Collegiate Confer-

ence playoffs in its debut season, taking the No. 5 seed with a 4-

9 overall record. The Mountaineers grabbed the team’s first-ever

win with a 14-12 decision at Daniel Webster and then secured its

first home victory with a tight 12-11 triumph over Bay Path that

helped get them to the postseason. Sophomore defender Laurennesshoever garnered an All-NECC Honorable Mention while the

Mountaineers were voted by league coaches to take home the

Team Sportsmanship Award. Sophomore Melodie Orrell set the

program goals record with a total of 43, 10 of those coming in a

win at Mitchell College. Classmate emily Lesure wasn’t far behind

with 34 goals, and she also set the season draw control record

with 54. Orrell received the NECC Player of the Week honor in the

first week of the season while freshman Taylor Brewer grabbed

the NECC rookie of the Week laurel two weeks later.

AThLeTICs UPdATe: MOUNTAINEErS DIVISION III SPOrTS

LAUren nesshOeVer

rOLAnd hernAndez

KIrsTen BUChAnChrIs nICAsTrO

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 13

OuTdOOr TracK & fIeldSouthern Vermont completed its first varsity season of outdoor

track & field, the combined team making great strides and im-

provements over the course of the spring. The men’s 4x100 meter

relay team set a school record of 8:53.50 at the regis College In-

vite while sophomore Justin ferguson became the first Moun-

taineer to compete in the steeplechase, running the course at

regis in a time of 10:03.00. Sophomore davante Jordan tallied a

6.71 meter long jump record at the Albany Invitational in April, and

sophomore shelby whitman sprinted to a 1:05.10 showing in the

400 meter dash at the same meet to set the new school record.

meN’s VOlleyBallMen’s volleyball had a record season in the spring, tallying the first

above-.500 campaign in program history. The Mountaineers went

16-11 overall, notching the most wins ever for the team. They

made it to the New England Collegiate Conference playoffs for the

fifth straight season before being knocked out by regis in the

semifinals. The squad was then invited to the Eastern College Ath-

letic Conference Division III tournament for the first time in pro-

gram history. Freshman stewart ramirez was named the NECC

rookie of the Week four times throughout the season en route to

being named the Conference rookie of the Year and an All-NECC

First Team member. Seniors Joey dighton and scott fitzgeraldwere each named the NECC Player of the Week three times over

the course of the year. Dighton and classmate herson Canta joined

ramirez on the All-NECC First Team while Fitzgerald garnered an

All-NECC Honorable Mention. Senior Tino escovedo was also voted

by league coaches as the NECC Defensive Player of the Year.

maJOr aWardsSVC Athletics continued the tradition of honoring the top male and

female athletes at the annual year-end banquet. Women’s

basketball junior Amber flagg received the Scott McKenzie Sports-

woman of the Year honor for the second time in a row while

baseball senior sal sciara took home the Scott McKenzie Sports-

man of the Year laurel. Melodie Orrell, a sophomore on both the

women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, was donned with the

Mountaineer Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award, and the

Mountaineer Male Scholar Athlete of the Year honor went to men’s

volleyball captain scott fitzgerald.

NeW VOlleyBall cOacHscott fitzgerald, a two-year player for Southern Vermont’s men’s

volleyball team, was named the new head coach for both the men’s

and women’s programs in July. Fitzgerald made his mark on the

record books while wearing the Mountaineer uniform, racking up

the fourth-most kills (452) and third-most service aces (67) in

team history after just two seasons with SVC. A Pyschology major

at SVC, Fitzgerald was named to the New England Collegiate

Conference Spring All-Academic Team in both 2015 and 2014.

sPrING all-academIc TeamTwelve SVC student-athletes who played either winter or spring sports

made their way to the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference Spring

All-Academic Team, six collecting academic all-conference honors for

at least the second time in their collegiate careers. See the Web site:

svcathletics.com for a complete listing.

by Mike nosek ’10, director of sports Information

PATrICK MCGOVern

TInO esCOVedO

sCOTT fITzGerALdMeLOdIe OrreLL

sAL sCIArAAMBer fLAGG

After Gabriel Kendall ’91 graduated from SVC she earned hermasters in secondary education at eastern Connecticut StateCollege. She currently teaches history at Coventry highSchool in Connecticut. Kendall’s daughter, Vanessa, has beenaccepted to SVC starting in the fall of 2015.

Travis Guy LeBel ’89 is serving his second year as President ofthe Swanton Missisquoi Lions Club.

Lt. Lloyd dean ’81 retired from theBennington Police department after33 years of service. he celebrated hislast day there surrounded by friends,family and colleagues. during dean’sparting address he called for a mo-ment of silence, “for all of the police

officers out there who have not made it and had an end ofwatch.” dean will continue his work in law enforcement as adomestic violence investigator for the Bennington CountySheriff’s department.

frank B. Orr ’67 retired from the U.S. Army in 1995. he cur-rently holds a position as the co-chair of the Fort Benning,Georgia, retiree Council and is a member of the SergeantsMajor Association. Orr is also a docent at the national InfantryMuseum in Fort Benning.

zach Garafalo ’09 is currently the Money Follows the Person(MFP) Peer Outreach and referral Program director for thenew York Association on Independent Living. Garafalo was inWashington, d.C. in April as a panelist at a policy forum for

the US equal employment Opportunity Commission.

reverend william h. fix ’85 received his seminary degree inchurch ministries and religious studies and is currently a li-censed minister in Massachusetts.

Brenden shea ’14 celebrated his engagement with his highschool sweetheart and many SVC alumni friends: PierreMassena ’14, sara Burds ’14, shawnee webster ’14, Jordan Bassi ’15,stephanie Pelletier ’14, Catrina Cecchini ’14 and Corey sylvester ’16.

Karim elsayed ’15 has been acceptedinto the Charles Koch Institute Fel-lowship Program this fall. he is cur-rently working with State BudgetSolutions as a policy fellow in Wash-ington, dC. elsayed reports that he isbusy networking, participating in

debates on foreign policy and making new friends. he plans tocreate an initiative which will foster dialogue between theArab community and republican Party.

At the end of June, Muffie harvey ’81 once again rode her horsefrom Bennington to Burlington, a two-week journey she hasembarked on twice before to help raise funds and awarenessfor the fight against breast cancer. SVC students and staff oncampus where she started her journey, came out to wish herwell. Funds raised support the American Cancer Society andthe Pink ribbon Foundation. Muffie is currently a facultymember of the College of St. Joseph and a food service direc-tor for Fitz-Vogt & Associates.

Class notes

14 SVC/SJC CHrONICLE

shea engagement party Muffie rides again!

SVC/SJC CHrONICLE 15

Southern Vermont College loves to hear about what alumni are doing. Wewant to know about your career, family life, awards, trips and more! Sendyour submissions to alumni@svc.edu or by mail to development Office,Southern Vermont College, 982 Mansion drive, Bennington, Vt 05201.

Keep Us Posted…

I N M E M O R I A M

James e. Bevis ’64, died June 1, 2015

Sister Gertrude Conway, died June 13, 2015

Theresa harrington, died June 4, 2015

david Mariani ’68, died June 23, 2015

Gary raymond niles, died June 13, 2015

Mary Jean Paradise ’76, died May 3, 2015

Amonda davids ’45, died August 2015

The southern Vermont College community extends its deepest sympathy tothe friends and families of the following alumni and friends of the College whohave recently died.*

*notifications received by September 1, 2015

SALVA GOLF TOUrNAMENT 2015

Friends and family of Christopher John (CJ) Salvatraveled to rochester in June to participate in theannual CJ Salva “Never Give Up” Golf Tournamentto raise scholarship funds in his memory. Salvawas a student at SVC when his life was cut short ina tragic accident. SVC President David Evans andother staff traveled to the tournament to partici-pate. The Salva Fund, now an endowed scholar-ship, has raised over $60,000 to benefit otherstudents. For more information, contact ColleenLittle at clittle@svc.edu.

Southern Vermont College’s 371- acre estate, set on the side of Mount An-

thony in Bennington, Vermont boasts one of the most-breathtaking views

in New England. At the pinnacle of the estate is Everett Mansion, a 27-room

English/Norman-style home built in 1911. As the main administration build-

ing for the College, the Mansion offers a variety of storybook settings,

indoors and out, for any special occasion.

• For group meetings from 20 – 200.

• A variety of location options (when school is not in session)

to meet your budget needs.

• Special rates for Alumni of the College.

For more information, contact: Samantha Damon, (802) 447-6357, at

weddings@svc.edu or visit svc.edu/weddings.

MAKe IT MeMOrABLe.CHOOSE SVC: A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS SETTING FOr

YOUr WEDDING, CONFErENCE Or GrOUP MEETINGUPCOMING EVENTSfriday and saturday, sept. 25-26 | FallFestival/Family Weekend

Tuesday, sept. 29 | Graduate School Fair

saturday, Oct. 3 | reunion for SVC staffand alumni from 1975-1985.

saturday, Oct. 24 | Admissions Open House

Thursday, Oct. 29 | Ghost Hunters CastMember Dustin Pari, Everett Theatre

wednesday, nov. 11 | President Evanstalk, “Sustaining Tradition: Turkish Ce-ramics, Tourism, and the Craft revival”Green Mountain Academy in Manchester.

saturday, nov. 21 | Admissions Open House

friday, dec. 4 | Inauguration of SVCPresident David Evans

For more information, please contactSdamon@svc.edu or visit the SVC web site, svc.edu.

Office of advancementsouthern Vermont college982 mansion driveBennington, VT 05201-6002802-447-6317svc.edu

address service requested

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PAidBennington, Vt 05201

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The Chronicle is produced by theOffice of CommunicationsSouthern Vermont College

Susan BiggsSenior Advisor

Communications

Marion WhitefordAssistant Director of

Communications

Samantha DamonDevelopment Specialist

Mike Nosek ’10Sports Information Director

Katerin Design Design & Production

Photo credits: Samantha Damon

Max Flatow ’05Garrett Harkawik

Mike NosekMarion Whiteford

Inquiries: alumni@svc.edu

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“Like” us on Facebook at southern Vermont college alumni.

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sOUThern VerMOnT COLLeGe PresenTs:FAll FeSt FAmily Weekend SAturdAy, SePtemBer 26, 1 Pm – 5 Pm

Food | Music/Entertainment | Fun activities for all agesLocalvore Tastings: try regionally produced wines, beer and coffee

Makers Market: Crafts by local artisans | Artist Quick-TalksSVC Athletics Action: Men’s and Women’s Soccer vs. Daniel Webster College

Games for kids | Mansion toursFor more information, email sdamon@svc.edu or visit svc.edu/fallfest.

support the future of the college and give today.Your donation, no matter what size, impacts the lives and education ofSVC students. Thank you for your support of Southern Vermont College!